Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A FLEXIBLE ESTIMATING EQUATIONS APPROACH FOR MAPPING FUNCTION-VALUED TRAITS

In genetic studies, many interesting traits, including growth curves and skeletal shape, have temporal or spatial structure. They are better treated as curves or function-valued traits. Identification of genetic loci contributing to such traits is facilitated by specialized methods that explicitly address the function-valued nature of the data. Current methods for mapping function-valued traits are mostly likelihood-based, requiring specification of the distribution and error structure. However, such specification is difficult or impractical in many scenarios. We propose a general functional regression approach based on estimating equations that is robust to misspecification of the covariance structure. Estimation is based on a two-step least squares algorithm, which is fast and applicable even when the number of time points exceeds the number of samples. It is also flexible due to a general linear functional model; changing the number of covariates does not necessitate a new set of formulas and programs. In addition, many meaningful extensions are straightforward. For example, we can accommodate incomplete genotype data, and the algorithm can be trivially parallelized. The framework is an attractive alternative to likelihood-based methods when the covariance structure of the data is not known. It provides a good compromise between model simplicity, statistical efficiency, and computational speed. We illustrate our method and its advantages using circadian mouse behavioral data.
Demonstration of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA in urine samples from healthy humans whose sera contain B. burgdorferi-specific antibodies

Since the possibility of asymptomatic infection with Borrelia burgdorferi has been suggested by a positive serology found in healthy subjects, we hypothesized that these subjects might excrete borrelial DNA sequences in urine as happens in patients with Lyme borreliosis. We found borrelial sequences by nested PCR in the urine samples from 3 of 13 healthy B. burgdorferi antibody-positive adults but not in urine samples from 79 antibody-negative healthy controls. After therapy with doxycycline, the urine samples were repeatedly negative for B. burgdorferi DNA. We conclude that urinary excretion of borrelial DNA sequences may occur in seropositive healthy subjects during asymptomatic infection. Demonstration of such sequences in urine must be interpreted cautiously and may not necessarily prove a borrelial cause of disease.
An architectural perspective on service adoption: A platform design and the case of pluggable cross-border trade compliance in e-commerce

ABSTRACT Current e-commerce architectures rely on a small number of monolithic application systems. The adoption of innovative IT functionality within these architectures is a tedious and complex task. The purpose of this article is to present a design for a novel platform architecture to improve the pluggability of e-commerce services. More precisely, the pluggability of services in current architectures is described, a platform architecture is introduced, and its effect on pluggability is evaluated by means of a prototype. The enablers for this architecture are the recent innovations of web programming interfaces, delegated resource access, and client-side web application frameworks. Those technologies are common in social media and their potential in enterprise computing is revealed in this work, based on the example of a trade compliance service for cross-border retail. The results of this study suggest that the architectural design has merits as it improves the pluggability of e-commerce services. Hence, e-commerce companies should consider a paradigm shift and move from using self-contained application components to a platform-based adoption of complementary services.
P-channel, vertical insulated gate bipolar transistors with collector short

P-channel, collector-shorted, vertical insulated gate bipolar transistors with hexagonal and square cell geometries were studied. The presence of the collector short, surrounding the edges of the device, resulted in a linear I-V region before the conductivity modulation region sets in. The effect of poly-Si overlap and JFET dosage on forward drop and breakdown voltage were analyzed for hexagonal and square DMOS cell geometries. In contrast to the conventional IGBT, the turn-off time increases with increasing collector current A maximum controllable current of -5A (-710A/cm2was measured when switching into -300V at room temperature. The built-in anti-parallel diode formed between the collector short and the deep n+ short in the DMOS cells has also been character ized.
Gas Temperature Determination of an AC Arc Discharge at Atmospheric Pressure in Air Using a Mach&#8211;Zehnder Interferometer

To determine the gas temperature of an alternating current (ac) (50 kHz) arc discharge at atmospheric pressure in air, a Mach–Zehnder type interferometer was built, utilizing an He-Ne$(lambda=6328 hboxAA)$laser source with vertical polarization and a power of 5 mW. Upon introducing the arc discharge into one of the interferometer arms, a displacement of interference fringes takes place with respect to its position without the discharge. Keeping in mind that displacement of the fringes is related to the difference of the optical path with the variation of the refraction index and with temperature change in the discharge zone; the latter was determined from the displacements of the interference fringes. At the center of the discharge channel, a temperature near 3000 K was calculated, diminishing gradually to room temperature toward the discharge borders. This temperature value at the center of the channel agrees with results previously reported in similar discharges. This is an alternate method for the diagnosis of plasma parameters used in the production and treatment of materials.
Price dispersion in neighboring countries in the Western Balkans - the case of the Macedonian tomato industry.

The aim of this paper was to analyze the degree of change in price and co- movement of prices between markets. The distinctiveness of the study is that it introduced a single product (highly perishable product) price relationship analysis between a pair of spatially separated markets in the countries of the Western Balkan. This study attempts to comprehend to what extent the Macedonian domestic market is integrated into the regional markets, as well as to understand the relationship between the spatially separated regional markets. The data refer to the domestic Macedonian market and four different regional markets (Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro), as major importers of Macedonian fresh tomatoes. These countries were part of a common market until the 1990’s and in the past period transited to a market economy. The method used is common time series analysis through unit root test, co-integration test and causality test. The study showed that the Macedonian economy, especially in terms of the tomato industry, is highly vulnerable and dependant on external markets. Future developments do not only depend upon the advances in the country, but also on developments in the export destinations. This also applies to the other concerned countries in the regions. The main finding is that a small country such as Macedonia is absorbed by developments in other countries in the region. This finding is supported by the results of the study that demonstrated a high level of co-integration between the domestic and regional markets.
A linear programming approach to constrained robust predictive control

A receding horizon predictive control algorithm for systems with model uncertainty and input constraints is developed. The proposed algorithm adopts the receding horizon dual-mode (i.e. free control moves and invariant set) paradigm. The approach is novel in that it provides a convenient way of combining predictions of control moves, which are optimal in the sense of worst case performance, with large target invariant sets. Unlike earlier approaches which are based on QP or semidefinite programming, here computational complexity is reduced through the use of LP.
The Lipidomes of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, Semliki Forest Virus, and the Host Plasma Membrane Analyzed by Quantitative Shotgun Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACT Although enveloped virus assembly in the host cell is a crucial step in the virus life cycle, it remains poorly understood. One issue is how viruses include lipids in their membranes during budding from infected host cells. To analyze this issue, we took advantage of the fact that baby hamster kidney cells can be infected by two different viruses, namely, vesicular stomatitis virus and Semliki Forest virus, from the Rhabdoviridae and Togaviridae families, respectively. We purified the host plasma membrane and the two different viruses after exit from the host cells and analyzed the lipid compositions of the membranes by quantitative shotgun mass spectrometry. We observed that the lipid compositions of these otherwise structurally different viruses are virtually indistinguishable, and only slight differences were detected between the viral lipid composition and that of the plasma membrane. Taken together, the facts that the lipid compositions of the two viruses are so similar and that they strongly resemble the composition of the plasma membrane suggest that these viruses exert little selection in including lipids in their envelopes.
Differences in Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication Regimens According to Psychiatric Diagnosis: Results of a Korean Population-Based Study

Objective: To identify the relationship between various types of psychiatric disorders and adherence to antihypertensive medication. Methods: We obtained data from claims submitted to the National Health Insurance, which covers almost the entire Korean population. Of the total of 2,454,844 patients who received prescriptions for antihypertensive medication during 2004, the study used data from 158,982 patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders and 2,295,862 patients without psychiatric disorders according to International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision. We measured cumulative medication adherence (CMA) and compared the rates of appropriate level of adherence, defined as CMA ≥80%, between individuals with and without psychiatric disorders. We used multiple logistic regression to identify differences in antihypertensive medication adherence according to the type of psychiatric disorder. Results: Adherence to antihypertensive medication regimens was lower among patients with dementia, alcohol use disorders, psychotic disorders, and mood disorders—accounting for 15.4% of the patients with psychiatric disorders. On the other hand, the majority of patients (82.8%) who had substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, neurotic and somatoform disorders, and behavioral syndromes showed greater adherence. Overall adherence was higher in those with psychiatric disorders than in those without psychiatric disorders after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors (odds ratio = 1.03, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.02–1.04). Conclusions: Adherence to medication is reduced in patients with various types of psychiatric disorders, usually those accompanied by functional impairment. Effective strategies for improving medication adherence should be tailored to individual levels of function and psychopathology. NHI = National Health Insurance; ICD-10 = International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision; CMA = cumulative medication adherence; OR = odds ratio; CI = Confidence Interval; AOR = adjusted odds ratio; SMI = severe mental illness.
Auditor Independence and Audit Risk: A Reconceptualization

The principles‐based U.K. regulatory framework for auditor independence (Chartered Accountants Joint Ethics Committee 1996), which was adopted in 1997, identifies threats to independence in fact, independence in appearance, and the safeguards that control these threats. These principles are incorporated in the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC 2001) ethics framework. Drawing on six case studies of interactions involving significant accounting issues between audit engagement partners and finance directors in U.K.‐listed companies, we analyze the threats and safeguards to auditor independence in fact that are relevant to the outcome of each interaction. Despite the U.K.'s comprehensive regulatory framework for independence, audit quality control, and independent inspection of firms, not all the interactions have a fully compliant outcome. Independence in fact is compromised where the safeguards in the framework are insufficient defense against the threats, particularly regarding intimidation and.
Immunoregulation of Dendritic Cells by the Receptor T cell Ig and Mucin Protein-3 via Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase and c-Src

The receptor T cell Ig and mucin protein-3 (TIM-3) has emerged as an important regulator of innate immune responses. However, whether TIM-3–induced signaling promotes or inhibits the activation and maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) still remains uncertain. In addition, the TIM-3 signaling events involved in this immunoregulatory function are yet to be established. In this article, we report that TIM-3 crosslinking by anti–TIM-3 Ab inhibited DC activation and maturation by blocking the NF-κB pathway. After Ab-mediated crosslinking, TIM-3 became tyrosine phosphorylated, which then sequentially bound and activated the nonreceptor tyrosine kinases Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk) and c-Src. Activation of Btk–c-Src signaling in turn triggered the secretion of some inhibitory factor (or factors) from DCs that inhibited the NF-κB pathway and subsequent activation and maturation of DCs. Silencing of Btk or c-Src abrogated the inhibitory effects of TIM-3 on DCs. These results demonstrate an essential role for Btk–c-Src signaling in TIM-3–induced DC suppression. Thus, in addition to demonstrating an inhibitory role for TIM-3 signaling in DC activation, we define the molecular mechanism by which TIM-3 mediates this effect.
Use of Remote-Sensing Imagery to Estimate Corn Grain Yield

ground-based booms, aircraft, or satellites—is a potentially important source of data for site-specific crop manRemote sensing—the process of acquiring information about obagement, providing spatial and temporal information jects from remote platforms such as ground-based booms, aircraft, or satellites—is a potentially important source of data for site-specific (NRC, 1997). Obtaining temporal information that is crop management, providing both spatial and temporal information. detailed and spatially distributed from other site-specific Our objective was to use remotely sensed imagery to compare differ- crop management methods is difficult and expensive ent vegetation indices as a means of assessing canopy variation and (NRC, 1997). Where available, remotely sensed images its resultant impact on corn (Zea mays L.) grain yield. Treatments show spatial and spectral variations resulting from soil consisted of five N rates and four hybrids, which were grown under and crop characteristics. One potential advantage of irrigation near Shelton, NE on a Hord silt loam in 1997 and 1998. remote-sensing imagery is that it is not limited by samImagery data with 0.5-m spatial resolution were collected from aircraft pling interval or geostatistical interpolation, as has been on several dates during both seasons using a multispectral, four-band implied for grid-sampled soil test data (Moran et al., [blue, green, red, and near-infrared reflectance] digital camera system. 1997). Imagery was imported into a geographical information system (GIS) and then georegistered, converted into reflectance, and used to com- For more than 30 yr, remote sensing has been envipute three vegetation indices. Grain yield for each plot was determined sioned as a valuable source of information for crop at maturity. Results showed that green normalized difference vegeta- management. The pioneering research of Colwell (1956) tion index (GNDVI) values derived from images acquired during showed that infrared aerial photography could be used midgrain filling were the most highly correlated with grain yield; to detect loss of vigor from disease in wheat (Triticum maximum correlations were 0.7 and 0.92 in 1997 and 1998, respectively. aestivum L.) and other small grains. One of the earliest Normalizing GNDVI and grain yield variability within hybrids im- digital remote-sensing analysis procedures developed to proved the correlations in both years, but more dramatic increases identify the vegetation contribution in an image was the were observed in 1997 (0.7 to 0.82) than in 1998 (0.92 to 0.95). This ratio vegetation index (RVI), created by dividing nearsuggested GNDVI acquired during midgrain filling could be used infrared reflectance (NIR) by red reflectance (Jordan, to produce relative yield maps depicting spatial variability in fields,
Can pale, soft, exudative pork be prevented by postmortem sodium bicarbonate injection?

Previous attempts at eliminating the problem of PSE pork by genetic selection or rapid postmortem cooling have been only partially successful. A new approach, namely, postmortem injection of sodium bicarbonate (SBC), was tested on halothane-positive gilts. Sixteen pigs were used to establish a suitable SBC concentration. At approximately 15 min after death, the longissimus of one side of the carcass was injected with 10% (by weight) of . 2 to . 4 M SBC solutions containing . 7% NaCl (wt/vol). All concentrations resulted in a higher ultimate pH, improved muscle color, and reduced drip loss. In a second experiment, with 23 pigs, . 3 M SBC was injected into the longissimus and the biceps femoris at either 15 min or 24 h after death and with or without inclusion of . 7% NaCl (wt/vol). Compared with controls, the 15-min SBC + NaCl injected samples had darker color (L* of 47 vs 53 in controls), higher ultimate pH (5.6 vs 5.3), lower drip loss (5% vs 10%), and increased protein solubility (140 vs 115 mg/g). Injection at 24 h reduced drip loss (from 10% to 5.7%) but did not correct the color defect. The SBC alone and SBC + NaCl treatments had essentially the same effects in reducing drip loss, increasing ultimate pH, and improving color; but the SBC-NaCl injected samples had improved juiciness and flavor compared with SBC. Early postmortem sodium bicarbonate injection seems to prevent the development of PSE pork when injected into carcasses of halothane-sensitive pigs.
Rapid orientated cloning in a shuttle vector allowing modulated gene expression in Bacillus subtilis.

An expression vector for systematic protein overproduction in Bacillus subtilis has been constructed. It derives from pDG148 and combines the main property of this vector, i.e. conditional expression of the gene in response to isopropylbeta-D-thiogalactopyranoside, with (i) rapid orientated cloning by a ligation independent procedure and (ii) a ribosome binding site of high translational efficiency. When used for overproduction of several proteins in B. subtilis, this vector gave good levels of protein synthesis.
Improving Bayesian Mixture Models for Colour Image Segmentation with Superpixels

The large computational demand is one huge drawback of Bayesian Mixture Models in image segmentation tasks. We describe a novel approach to reduce the computational demand in this scenario and increase the performance by using superpixels. Superpixels provide a natural approach to the reduction of the computational complexity and to build a texture model in the image domain. Instead of relying on a Gaussian mixture model as segmentation model, we propose to use a more robust model: a mixture of multiple scaled t-distributions. The parameters of the novel mixture model are estimated with Markov chain Monte Carlo in order to surpass local minima during estimation and to gain insight into the uncertainty of the resulting segmentation. Finally, an evaluation of the proposed segmentation is performed on the publicly available Berkeley Segmentation database (BSD500), compared to competing methods, and the benefit of including texture is emphasised.
Cleavage of procaryotically expressed human immunodeficiency virus fusion proteins by factor Xa and application in western blot (immunoblot) assays

The proteins p15 and p24 of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 gag gene were expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli for detecting antibodies against the acquired immunodeficiency virus by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis. These fusion proteins contain amino acids 1 to 375 of the E. coli beta-galactosidase linked to the viral protein(s) by a recognition sequence for the specific protease factor Xa. They are obtained in large amounts in insoluble inclusion bodies. To avoid ambiguous results caused by cross-reaction of sera with bacterial proteins in Western blots, we purified the recombinant fusion proteins and subsequently removed the bacterial part of the fusions by cleavage with factor Xa. The cleavage mixtures were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes. The viral proteins obtained by this method did not contain any bacterial proteins or protein fragments. Thus, false-positive results in HIV Western blot analysis with bacterially expressed HIV proteins can be excluded with these purified recombinant viral antigens.
Statistical delay fault coverage and defect level for delay faults

A quantitative delay fault coverage model is discussed to provide a figure of merit for delay testing. System sensitivity of a path to a delay fault along that path and the effectiveness of a delay test are described in terms of the propagation delay of the path under test and the delay defect size. A statistical delay fault coverage model is established. A defect-level model is also proposed as a function of the yield of a manufacturing process and the statistical delay fault coverage. <<ETX>>
Poor intentional inhibition in individuals predisposed to hallucinations

Introduction. Intentional inhibition deficits have been found in hallucinating individuals with schizophrenia using the Inhibition of Currently Irrelevant Memories (ICIM) task. This study sought to investigate whether similar difficulties are found in healthy individuals predisposed to hallucinations. Methods. The Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale-Revised (LSHS-R) was completed by 589 undergraduate students, from which high- and low-predisposed groups were drawn. On the ICIM task, participants were asked to identify within-run picture repetitions, requiring them to inhibit memory traces of the same items seen in previous runs. Results. Compared to the low LSHS-R group, the high LSHS-R group showed significantly increased false alarms on critical “inhibitory” runs (incorrectly identifying previous-run items as within-run repetitions), but no group differences were found in first-run false alarms or in the identification of within-run targets. These results were specific to hallucination predisposition and could not be explained by other schizophrenia-related characteristics. Conclusions. Individuals predisposed to hallucinations show subtle, though consistent difficulties with intentional inhibition similar to patients with hallucinations. These findings demonstrate a continuity of cognitive processes in individuals predisposed to hallucinations and in patients with schizophrenia who hallucinate, consistent with a common neurodevelopmental pathway.
I CanFly - Can You? The 10th Canadian Drosophila Research Conference, Jasper/Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The 10th CanFly (Canadian Drosophila Research Conference) meeting took place June 1-4, 2009 in Jasper National Park, west of Edmonton. This year's meeting has over 100 participants representing over 30 different research groups from every region of Canada, as well as several groups from the United States and Europe. Topics included ranged from Cell Biology, Signaling and Adhesion to Development, Gene Regulation and Neurobiology.