Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
When enemies do not become friends: Experimental evolution of heat-stress adaptation in a vertically transmitted parasite

Strict vertical (parent-to-offspring) transmission of symbionts may be associated with benevolence and mutualism, because host reproduction and symbiont transmission are linked. Nonetheless, many such symbionts do reduce host fitness costs and the factors driving their evolution are unclear. Using microcosm populations of Caedibacter taeniospiralis, a vertically transmitted bacterial symbiont of the protozoan Paramecium tetraurelia, we investigated evolutionary change under permissive conditions (26°C) and under heat stress (32°C), over 150 host generations. We found evidence for symbiont adaptation to heat stress, involving increased infection persistence and, consequently, higher rates of vertical transmission. For certain genetic backgrounds, heat-stress adaptation was associated with higher proliferation of infected lines at 26°C, suggesting cost-free evolution of super-generalists. Despite a general decrease in symbiont virulence relative to ancestral strains, infected evolved lines still showed substantial reductions (>20%) in population growth. There was no sign of a temperature-specific reduction in virulence or protection of the host against heat stress. Our results show that obligately vertically transmitted symbionts can still qualify as ‘parasites’ and evolve adaptations that do not help their hosts. Long-term infection persistence might require additional mechanisms, such as the symbiont-mediated ’killer trait’ in this system, allowing the selective elimination of uninfected individuals in the population.
Source of the Great Recession

We incorporate two structural shocks associated with balance sheets of both the financial and nonfinancial firms in a medium scale New Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model. The structural shocks in the model are assumed to possess stochastic volatilities with a leverage effect. Then, we estimated the model using a data-rich estimation method and utilized up to 40 macroeconomic time series. We found the following three pieces of empirical evidence in the Great Recession (Dec. 2007–Jun. 2009) worsened further by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. First, the net-worth shock of financial firms had gradually declined prior to a huge decrease of net-worth of nonfinancial firms. Second, the net worth shock of nonfinancial firms accounted for large weight of the business cycles after the Great Recession, in terms of the data-rich approach with the SV of structural shocks, unlike the standard DSGE model. Third, the Troubled Asset Relief Program would have immediately worked to improve balance sheets of financial institutions, although it would not have stopped worsening those of the corporate sector for a while.
Behavioural ecotoxicology of the brown shrimp, Crangon crangon : changing colour in polluted environments

The brown shrimp, Crangon crangon has a great ecological value in UK estuaries and coastal areas and it is also a commercially important species. It utilizes chromatophores (specialized cells containing pigments) to match its background, changing its colour either from pale (pigments contracted) to dark (pigments expanded) or vice versa, thus becoming almost invisible in its environment. Chromatophores also protect the shrimp (at least in the larval stages) from UV light. The control of pigments depends on hormones, secreted by the shrimp as a response to different stimuli (e.g., light, temperature and colour of substrate). Contaminants are found often and consistently in estuaries, due to human activities along the coasts and can potentially affect behavioural responses, acting as anthropogenic stressors. The use of colour change as a behavioural marker of pollution is considered here, as a potential effective tool to assess the initial stages of biological alteration in aquatic organisms. To test the efficiency of this novel technique, brown shrimp have been treated with non-lethal concentrations of cadmium (Cd) plus two different antibiotics [Gentamicin (Gt) and Furazolidone (FZN)] and arsenic (As). A great interindividual and interpopulation variability in response to the use of heavy metals and antibiotics was found. Therefore, colour change ability in the brown shrimp is not a sensitive behavioural ecotoxicological marker to detect early stages of contaminations in the environment, at least for Cd, As, Gt and FZD. Finally, given the high level of total As often detected in seafood, a speciation analysis was performed in the dosed specimens. The quantification of the various As species through time suggest the possibility of the brown shrimp to bio-transform inorganic arsenic (iAs) into the less toxic organic form [arsenobetaine (AsB)]. This has relevant implications for aquaculture and fisheries of crustaceans in areas contaminated by inorganic As: shrimp can be consumed by humans even if grown in contaminated areas, and potentially could detoxify water from iAs. However, more investigations are needed, leaving this field open to applied studies in the field.
Radiation dose in coronary 64-slice CT angiography (CCTA) in routine clinical practice

Poster: "ECR 2013 / C-1037 / Radiation dose in coronary 64-slice CT angiography (CCTA) in routine clinical practice" by: "E. C. Resta1, F. Secchi2, V. G. Nardella2, G. Di Leo1, F. Sardanelli2; 1San Donato Milanese/IT, 2Milan/IT"
Apprentissage statistique à partir de variables catégorielles non-uniformisées

Les donnees de type tabulaire contiennent souvent des variables categorielles, considerees comme des entrees non numeriques avec un nombre fixe et limite d'elements uniques, appeles categories. De nombreux algorithmes d’apprentissage statistique necessitent une representation numerique des variables categorielles. Une etape d'encodage est donc necessaire pour transformer ces entrees en vecteurs. Pour cela, plusieurs strategies existent, dont la plus courante est celle de l'encodage one-hot, qui fonctionne bien dans le cadre de l'analyse statistique classique (en termes de puissance de prediction et d'interpretation) lorsque le nombre de categories reste faible. Cependant, les donnees categorielles non-uniformisees presentent le risque d'avoir une grande cardinalite et des redondances. En effet, les entrees peuvent partager des informations semantiques et/ou morphologiques, et par consequent, plusieurs entrees peuvent refleter la meme entite. Sans une etape de nettoyage ou d'agregation au prealable, les methodes d'encodage courantes peuvent perdre en efficacite du fait d'une representation vectorielle erronee. En outre, le risque d'obtenir des vecteurs de tres grandes dimensions croit avec la quantite de donnees, ce qui empeche leur utilisation dans l'analyse de donnees volumineuses. Dans ce document, nous etudions une serie de methodes d’encodage qui permettent de travailler directement sur des variables categorielles a grande cardinalite, sans qu'il soit necessaire de les traiter en amont. A l'aide d'experiences menees sur des donnees reelles et simulees, nous demontrons que les methodes proposees dans le cadre de cette these ameliorent l'apprentissage supervise et ce, en autre, du fait de leur capacite a capturer correctement l'information morphologique des entrees. Meme avec des donnees volumineuses, ces methodes s'averent etre performantes, et dans certains cas, elles generent des vecteurs facilement interpretables. Par consequent, nos methodes peuvent etre appliquees a l'apprentissage statistique automatique (AutoML) sans aucune intervention humaine.
Functional genomics of extracellular proteins of Phytophthora infestans.

ii Dedication. iv Acknowledgements. v Vita. vii List of tables. xii List of figures. xiii Chapters 1. Literature Review. 1 EST Mining and Functional Expression Assays Identify Extracellular Effector Proteins from the Plant Pathogen Phytophthora infestans Abstract. 27 Introduction. 29 Materials and Methods. 33 Results . 41 Discussions. 51 Acknowledgement. 61 References . 62 The Pipg1 Gene of the Oomycete Phytophthora infestans Encodes A Fungal-Like Endopolygalacturonase Abstract. 8
An Energy-Maximising MPC Solution to the WEC Control Competition

The WEC Control Competition is a benchmark devised to compare energy-maximising controllers for wave energy converters, first in simulation, then in real time, using a scale device in a tank test situation. For the first round of the competition, the evaluators have provided a model of a leg of a Wavestar-like device, in the WEC-Sim simulation environment. The evaluation is based on an energy-related criterion computed on six irregular waves. IFPEN’s solution is an energy-maximising model predictive control (MPC), composed of an estimation algorithm for wave excitation force moment, using measurements (or estimations) of float displacement and velocity and PTO moment; an algorithm for short-term wave force prediction from present and past wave excitation force estimates, where no information about wave elevation is used; a real-time compatible MPC algorithm using wave force prediction, which maximises the average produced electric energy, taking into account the nonlinear PTO efficiency law.
Constrained Predictive Control of Three-PhaseBuck Rectifiers

In this paper, constrained optimal control of a current source rectifier (CSR) is presented, based on a mathematical model developed in Park’s frame. To comply with the system constraints an explicit model-based predictive controller was established. To simplify the control design, and avoid linearization, a disjointed model was utilised due to the significant time constant differences between the AC and DC side dynamics. As a result, active damping was used on the AC side, and explicit Model Predictive Control (MPC) on the DC side, avoiding non-linear dynamics. The results are compared by simulation with the performance of a state feedback control.
Navigating identities in global work: Antecedents and consequences of intrapersonal identity conflict

What happens when global workers identify with their culture, organization, work unit profession, and team all at the same time? Workers may experience these identities as compatible, or in conflict, with one another. The purpose of this article is to reveal attributes of global workers that lessen intrapersonal identity conflict, and to show that doing so is critical for thriving in global work, in order to help these workers learn how to navigate their various sources of identity. We empirically examined identity conflict among 122 workers of a multinational mineral refining firm, who worked across five locations globally. Our findings revealed that the higher the tolerance for ambiguity and resilience, and the stronger the team identification, the less the intrapersonal identity conflict experienced, and the more the workers thrived at work, experiencing simultaneously greater learning and physical vitality. Identity conflict explained variance in thriving beyond that explained by the strength of identification with specific identities, such as national cultural identity or team identity. These findings extend prior research which has focused on the strength of a single identity or the relationship among two identities, and is the first to show effects of individual characteristics on identity conflict and the impact of identity conflict on individual thriving among global workers. We discuss implications for theory and practice.
'Un'Fair Machine Learning Algorithms

Ensuring fairness in algorithmic decision making is a crucial policy issue. Current legislation ensures fairness by barring algorithm designers from using demographic information in their decision making. As a result, to be legally compliant, the algorithms need to ensure equal treatment. However, in many cases, ensuring equal treatment leads to disparate impact particularly when there are differences among groups based on demographic classes. In response, several “fair” machine learning (ML) algorithms that require impact parity (e.g., equal opportunity) at the cost of equal treatment have recently been proposed to adjust for the societal inequalities. Advocates of fair ML propose changing the law to allow the use of protected class-specific decision rules. We show that the proposed fair ML algorithms that require impact parity, while conceptually appealing, can make everyone worse off, including the very class they aim to protect. Compared with the current law, which requires treatment parity, the fair ML algorithms, which require impact parity, limit the benefits of a more accurate algorithm for a firm. As a result, profit maximizing firms could underinvest in learning, that is, improving the accuracy of their machine learning algorithms. We show that the investment in learning decreases when misclassification is costly, which is exactly the case when greater accuracy is otherwise desired. Our paper highlights the importance of considering strategic behavior of stake holders when developing and evaluating fair ML algorithms. Overall, our results indicate that fair ML algorithms that require impact parity, if turned into law, may not be able to deliver some of the anticipated benefits. This paper was accepted by Kartik Hosanagar, information systems.
Analysis of pullulanase secretion from Klebsiella pneumoniae strain K21

ANALYSIS OF PULLULANASE SECRETION FROM KLRESTRLLA PNEUMONIAE STRAIN K21 Michael G. Komacker Strains of the Gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae secrete pullulanase, a maltose-inducible starch debranching enzyme that exists as a cell surface bound intermediate. Three classes of secretion mutants were obtained by transposon Tnf# mutagenesis. Class I and class III mutants carry Tnî 7 insertions in pullulanase secretion genes. Class II mutants carry insertions in regulatory loci that are required for the high level expression of pullulanase and other maltose-inducible genes (the maltose regulon). One such locus appears to correspond to a previously unknown locus. The phenotypes of the secretion mutants and the analysis of E,coIi expressing pullulanase and/or cloned pullulanase secretion genes suggest that pullulanase secretion functions are involved in translocating pullulanase across the outer membrane and in releasing it from the cell surface. Most if not all pullulanase secretion genes are located to both sides of the structural gene for pullulanase (pulA), Pullulanase was found to be a lipoprotein. Surprisingly, secreted pullulanase also carried lipid. However, strain K21 differed from other strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae by its ability to secrete not only acylated pullulanase but also a second, unacylated form of pullulanEKse. Strain K21 is also unusual because of its ability to secrete most pullulanase during logarithmic growth. This pullulanase corresponds to the unacylated pullulanase, with the remaining secreted pullulanase being acylated and secreted during stationary phase, as is the case for most or all pullulanase of other strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Strain K21 is also unusual because of the high level expression of the maltose regulon, including pulAy in the absence of maltose. This property, including the unusual features described above, may be a consequence of the selection of strain K21 for high level commercial production of pullulanase. Models for pullulanase secretion are discussed and approaches towards increasing the efficiency of commercial pullulanase production by strain K21 are outlined.
Investigation of Zr‐doped ceria for solar thermochemical valorization of CO2

This study belongs to the estimation of the CO2 conversion ability of Ce1−xZr xO2 (CZ) materials performing multiple thermogravimetric CO2 splitting (CDS) cycles. By varying the molar concentrations of Zr in the range of 0.05 to 0.5, the CZ materials were prepared by using co‐precipitation method. By employing various analytical methods, the physical properties such as phase and elemental composition, crystallite size, and particle morphology of the as‐synthesized CZ materials were recognized. The systematic estimation of the reactivity of each CZ material was performed by conducting multiple cycles in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Obtained findings indicated that Ce0.7Zr0. 3O2 (CZ30) and Ce0.85Zr0. 15O2 (CZ15) were proficient towards producing maximum amounts of O2 ( nO2 ) and CO ( nCO) than other CZ materials. It was further understood that, to achieve higher nO2 and nCO as compared with CeO2, the molar concentration of the Zr should be in the range of 15% to 35%.
Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Add-On Therapy of Sitagliptin to a Very Small Dose of Glimepiride Versus a Small Dose of Glimepiride Over Eighteen Months

Background: In patients associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, sulfonylureas (SUs) are being prescribed less frequently, and in smaller doses, to avoid hypoglycemia and body weight gain. On the other hand, since dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors only infrequently induce hypoglycemia and weight gain, more than 60% or 70% of Japanese patients associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus are currently being treated with DPP-4 inhibitors. However, the long-term effects of DPP-4 inhibitors on glycemic control and ? -cell function have not been thoroughly elucidated. Methods: The present study was designed to compare the long-term efficacy and safety of a daily administration of 50 mg sitagliptin added to a very small dose of glimepiride, SUs, of 1.1 mg (SIT group), versus a small dose of glimepiride added by 1 mg to its basal dosage, i.e., 2.1 mg (SU group) up to 18 months in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sixty patients, aged 20 to 75 years with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between 7.4% and 9.0% on glimepiride with or without metformin, were randomized into two groups. If the target (HbA1c ? 6.9% or fasting plasma glucose level ? 130 mg/dL) was not achieved, sitagliptin or glimepiride, respectively, was increased. Results: After 18 months, HbA1c had significantly decreased to 7.1-7.2% in both groups (P < 0.01). Plasma levels of insulin and proinsulin remained unchanged during the study. However, the proinsulin/insulin ratio was significantly lower after 6 months and thereafter only in the SU group. Homeostasis model assessment-? cell (HOMA-? ) demonstrated a significant augmentation at some points during the study in both groups. No severe hypoglycemic episodes or body weight gain were seen in either group. Conclusions: Add-on therapy of 50 mg of sitagliptin to a very small dose of glimepiride at 1.1 to 1.2 mg/day, or a small dose of glimepiride at 2.1 mg/day, proved effective for improving or maintaining glycemic control without deterioration of ? -cell function over 18 months. J Endocrinol Metab. 2019;9(6):171-179 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jem621
Reference percentile for height, weight and BMI among children/adolescents of Karachi Pakistan

Pakistani children of school going age significantly differed from WHO references in which overweight and obesity were significantly higher and underweight was lower than normal when compare to WHO references. Due to this huge discrepancy and lack of data, there was a dire need to establish age appropriate BMI ranges for Pakistani population. The basic aim of the study is to find out the BMI ranges among the school going children/adolescents of Karachi Pakistan. A cross sectional study was conducted among children belonging to different ethnic groups in primary, middle, secondary schools and Maddarsa (religious educational institutes) of Karachi. Height in centimeters (cm) and weight in kilogram (kg) were measured. BMI was calculated using height and weight. WHO’s BMI graph was used to find out the percentile for labelling underweight, normal healthy individual, overweight and obese. A total of about 1244 samples of children and adolescents aged seven to eighteen years were included. The mean age of the study participants was 12.96±2.8 years, in which boys having mean age of 13.1±2.7 years while for girls mean age was 12.66±2.8 years. The mean height (cm) and weight (kg) among the study participants were 146.92±15.84 and 41.20±15.69 respectively. Among younger age group, the girls were taller than the boys but after reaching the age of 15 the girls having approximately the same height up to the age of 18th and as for boys, the findings were vice versa. Majority of the participants reported normal BMI while for over abnormality, the higher prevalence of participants being overweight rather than underweight when comparing with the WHO references. Measures must be taken to assess what current set up is doing right, and then it must be implemented at a larger scale.
Combined Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) Reduces AIDS-Related and Non-AIDS-Related Mortality: A Temporal Analysis from Time of Seroconversion(SC)

Objectives: To estimate changes of AIDS and non-AIDS mortalities from 1996 to 2010 comparing (2004-2010) vs. (1996-2003) periods from the time of HIV-seroconversion (SC). Methods: Data derived from an Italian multicentre prospective and open cohort; competing risks approach was applied estimating the cumulative incidence functions (CIF) for AIDS and non-AIDS deaths over time from SC with delayed entries in the two cART periods. Cox-cause-specific hazards models were applied to estimate relative hazards (RH) of AIDS and non-AIDS related deaths. Results: Of 2,249 individuals with known SC date followed from SC and from January 1996 to December 2010, 1,779 were survived, seroconverted or followed during 1996-2003, while 1,715 during 2004-2010. A total of 278 deaths occurred from 1996 to 2010: 197 in the early years of cART [61 (31%) non-AIDS deaths], and 81 during more recent cART period [48 (59%) non-AIDS deaths]. The CIF of AIDS related deaths was higher than CIF of non-AIDS related deaths in the early period [for instance, estimates at 15 yrs from SC: CIF of AIDS-related death = 0.15 (95% CI: 0.12-0.19 ) and CIF of non-AIDS related = 0.09 (95% CI: 0.07-0.12)], whilst in 2004-2010 period the CIF of non-AIDS related deaths was slightly higher [estimates at 15 yrs from SC: CIF of non-AIDS related = 0.03 (95% CI: 0.02-0.04) vs. CIF of AIDS-related death = 0.02 (95% CI: 0.02-0.04)]. Comparing the two periods by Cox proportional-cause-specific models, the hazard was lower for AIDS deaths than for non-AIDS related deaths [RH of non-AIDS deaths from last viral load (VL) < 200 copies/mL was 0.60 (95% CI (0.35-1.03)], while of AIDS-deaths was 0.32 (95% CI: 0.17-0.62), both RH relative to (2004-2010) vs. (1996- 2003)]. Conclusions: Considering early years of the cART period as a reference, we observed a decrease in both AIDS and non-AIDS-mortalities. In more recent cART years, non-AIDS mortality tended to decline less than AIDS-relatedmortality since HIV-SC, even after effective cART.
Extended clinical evaluation of a computer system for intrapartum fetal monitoring

A variety of systems for centralised viewing of fetal signals during labour are currently available, allowing simultaneous monitoring of multiple tracings in one or more locations. Display of maternal vital signs, ST signals and an electronic partogram are available in the majority of these systems. A few of them have incorporated computer analysis of cardiotocographic signals or combined cardiotocographic and ST data analysis. Computer analysis may elicit real-time alerts for healthcare professionals when changes associated with fetal hypoxia are detected. Central fetal monitoring systems have been installed in a large number of maternity hospitals in industrialised countries, but there is still limited evidence of their impact on perinatal indicators, on the behaviour of healthcare professionals and on related health costs.