Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Amphotericin B Resistance in Aspergillus terreus Is Overpowered by Coapplication of Pro-oxidants.

AIMS Invasive fungal infections have significantly increased over the past decades in immunocompromised individuals and high-risk patients. Amphotericin B (AmB) exerts a powerful and broad activity against a vast array of fungi and has a remarkably low rate of microbial resistance. However, most isolates of Aspergillus terreus developed an intrinsic resistance against AmB, and during this study, we characterized the mode of action of this polyene antifungal drug in more detail in resistant (ATR) and rare susceptible (ATS) clinical isolates of A. terreus. RESULTS We illustrate that AmB treatment changes cellular redox status and promotes the generation of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ATS. In contrast, ATR isolates were able to cope better with AmB-induced oxidative stress. INNOVATION Most importantly, we demonstrate in this study that coapplication of anti- and pro-oxidants significantly affects AmB efficacy in an antithetic manner--antioxidants and ROS-scavenging agents increase AmB tolerance in susceptible strains, while pro-oxidants render formerly resistant isolates considerably susceptible to the antifungal drug also in vivo in a Galleria animal model. CONCLUSION Thereby, our study provides novel therapeutic options to treat formerly resistant fungal strains by a combination of AmB and pro-oxidant compounds.
Evaluation and Extension of a Polarity Lexicon for German

We have manually curated a polarity lexicon for German, comprising word polarities and polarity strength values of about 8,000 words: nouns, verbs and adjectives. The decisions were primarily carried out using the synsets from GermaNet, a WordNet-like lexical database. In an evaluation on German novels, it turned out that the stock of adjectives was too small. We carried out experiments to automatically learn new subjective adjectives together with their polarity orientation and polarity strength. For this purpose, we applied a corpus-based approach that works with pairs of coordinated adjectives extracted from a large German newspaper corpus. In the context of this work, we evaluated two subtasks in detail. First, how good are we at reproducing the polarity classification – including our three- level strength measure – contained in our initial lexicon by machine learning methods. Second, because adding of training material did not improve the results at the expected rate, we evaluated the human intercoder agreement on polarity classifications in an experiment. The results show that judgements about the strength of polarity do vary considerably between different persons. Given these problems related to the design and automatic augmentation of polarity lexicons, we have successfully experimented with a semi-automatically approach where a list of reliable candidate words (here: adjectives) is generated to ease the manual annotation process.
PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF TREE SPECIES IN A REVEGETATED GRAVEL MINE IN THE BRAZILIAN FEDERAL DISTRICT

Four decades of human settlement and urbanization resulted in the deforestation of 57% of the native vegetation in the Brazilian Federal District. In this regard, mining activities degraded 0.6% of the territory, and revegetation works have been carried out on some mined areas. This work aimed to evaluate the tree community established on the ninth largest mined area in the Federal District under the criteria of resolutions SMA 21/2001 and SMA 47/2003. A floristic survey on the site could identify 62 species (57 native and 5 exotic species) from 49 genera and 25 families. Tree community on the site has complied with four out six criteria evaluated: high species diversity, limits of abundance per species, the use of at least 50% local species and a succession revegetation model attended the resolutions. The Project did not comply with the use of at least 10% endangered species and at least eighty different species.
Effects of fading correlation on multiple antenna reception mobile OFDM systems

WE investigate the impact of fading correlation on multiple antenna reception mobile OFDM systems. Based on the unbiased minimum mean square error criterion we derive the carrier-based optimum combiner. We show that for purely noise-limited systems, the optimum combiner reduces to the well-known maximum ratio combiner (MRC). For these systems, a general performance assessment is performed. We adopt the antenna and the diversity gain, which were recently introduced in [4], and derive a closed form analytical expression for omnidirectional wave incidence. For the interference-limited case, we focus on a single user system with intercarrier interference (ICI) that originates from the channel variations during one OFDM symbol. Then, optimum combining involves knowledge of the spatial interference and noise covariance matrix. The structure of this matrix is investigated and for omnidirectional wave incidence we derive closed-form analytical expressions for the interference correlation coefficients.
An adaptive filter bank implementation of adaptive IIR filters

A subband adaptive IIR filter with a center-frequency adaptive filter bank is presented to implement multirate system identification. A recursive maximized mean-square algorithm is used in the filter bank for them to adapt and catch the peaks of the unknown system. In each subband an adaptive IIR filter adapts to realize the subband system identification. These two adaptation processes are run independently and simultaneously. The scheme works well when the unknown system has well separated spectral peaks. Under this condition the problems of spectral gaps and aliasing in other kinds of filter bank implementation are overcome. <<ETX>>
Classification of lidar bare-earth points, buildings, vegetation, and small objects based on region growing and angular classifier

In recent years, light detection and ranging (lidar) systems have been intensively used in different urban applications such as map updating, communication analysis, virtual city modelling, risk assessment, and monitoring. A prerequisite to enhance lidar data content is to differentiate ground (bare earth) points that yield digital terrain models and off-terrain points in order to classify urban objects and vegetation. The increasing demand for a fast and efficient algorithm to extract three-dimensional urban features was the motive behind this work. A new combined approach to extract bare-earth points is proposed, and a novel methodology to automatically classify airborne laser data into different objects in an urban area is presented. In addition, a new concept of angular classification is introduced to differentiate buildings from vegetation and other small objects. The new angular classifier analyses the distribution of bare-earth points around unclassified point clusters to determine whether a cluster can be classified either as building or as vegetation. The experimental results confirm the high accuracy achieved to automatically classify urban objects in flat complex areas.
DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF DYNAMIC FEATURE-BASED SEGMENTATION ON MUSIC

Segmentation is an indispensable step in the field of Music Information Retrieval (MIR). Segmentation refers to the splitting of a music piece into significant sections. Classically there has been a great deal of attention focused on various issues of segmentation, such as: perceptual segmentation vs. computational segmentation, segmentation evaluations, segmentation algorithms, etc. In this thesis, we conduct a series of perceptual experiments which challenge several of the traditional assumptions with respect to segmentation. Identifying some deficiencies in the current segmentation evaluation methods, we present a novel standardized evaluation approach which considers segmentation as a supportive step towards feature extraction in the MIR process. Furthermore, we propose a simple but effective segmentation algorithm and evaluate it utilizing our evaluation approach.
E5 and E6/E7 of high-risk HPVs cooperate to enhance cancer progression through EMT initiation

It is estimated that 10–20% of human carcinogenesis is linked to virus infection including papillomaviruses (HPVs). Moreover, since metastatic cancer disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients, the role of onco-viruses in cancer progression to a metastatic form is of particular interest. Recent studies reported that E5 and E6/E7 onco-proteins of high-risk HPVs could enhance cancer progression via the initiation of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) event. Herein, we discuss the association between E5 as well as E6/E7 of high-risk HPV and cancer progression.
Tips and Tricks: More SAS/GRAPH® Map Secrets

“You can’t do that with PROC GMAP! ” We hear that all the time. Many users don’t know the full range of capabilities of the SAS/GRAPH® mapping procedures. This presentation will share the secrets to allow you to exploit the power of SAS/GRAPH maps. Get the maps you really want; you can do that with PROC GMAP! We will demonstrate this using both existing functionality and new SAS 9.2® functionality.
A Novel Watermarking Method for Synchronous Transmission of Gong-Che Notation Score and its MIDI Information

In this paper, a new watermarking algorithm to realize synchronous transmission of Gong-Che Notation musical score image and its MIDI information was been present. Firstly, it transforms the MIDI information to a sequence of 0 1 codes which is the watermarking data, then it embeds the watermarking data into the Gong-Che Notation musical score image by clockwise inward rotating order, finally, it judges whether the Gong-Che Notation musical score image need expand to avoid loss musical information by computing number of connected component labeling. Experiments shows that the expanded times are no more than Len(M(2))/(2H*W).
Formalization and rationalization of communication

Due to the low costs of computer networks and IT, many small companies are stimulated to work together and form network organizations on a project basis. As quick as they expand, the network can diminish as soon as projects are completed. Because of the dynamic character of these type of networks the analysis and design of information systems supporting the activities, require a different point of reference: One has to consider how coordination of activities takes place in these networks. While in hierarchical organizations coordination is vertical in nature, in these network-like structures often only horizontal coordination applies. A suitable reference framework is formed by the language action approach to IS development. In this tradition, the DEMO approach is applied for the analysis and design of emerging dynamic network organizations. The DEMO method has proven to be practical in several studies, and is used here for modeling dynamic network organizations making use of its built-in abstraction mechanism. Parts of a larger field study carried out will be presented as the guiding example in this paper.
A generalised framework for mapping low-level visual features to high-level semantic features

Current state-of-the -art techniques in addressing the semantic gaps are either dependent on machine learning approaches or knowledge-based approaches, which is seen to be lacking if either approaches is utilised individually. Hence, a systematic three-phase framework for addressing the semantic gap is presented in this study. Visual features are extracted from images using image processing algorithms, while textual features(domain concepts) are extracted through knowledge engineering processes. This research emphasises on the semantic mapping phase where mapping between visual features and domain concepts are performed in a two processes. Densities for a visual are visualized in a graphical plot to guide the human operator in mapping the visual feature to a related domain concept. Subsequently, clusters are obtained from k-Means clustering and then mapped with domain concepts' properties. A set of standard semantic concepts is then obtained where classification rules are automatically derived by employing the standard semantic concepts. A prototype system is built to demonstrate the effectiveness of the framework and the knowledge acquisition environment for the categorization of butterfly wing images. By providing an environment for bridging the semantic gap, there exists the ability in evaluating the usefulness of each visual feature and acquiring of rules for characterizing butterflies automatically. These rules ate further evaluated using three separate test sets. The average classification accuracy for three test sets is 81.8% while the average error rate was 9.1%. The remaining 9.1% is attributed to unmatched rules derived from test images, which provided the capability in further extending the rules previously obtained. Dynamic customisation for this particular domain was achieved by incorporating terminology from the application domain as textual features.
Resistance to acute silicosis in senescent rats: Role of alveolar macrophages

We have previously demonstrated in alveolar macrophages that aging is associated with a decline in lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha production. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the immunotoxicological consequences of this defective activation in an experimental model of acute silicosis. Young (3 months old) and old (>18 months old) rats were intratracheally instilled with silica or saline as control. In young animals, as expected, silica induced a significant increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, lactate dehydrogenase, and cell numbers, which correlated with increased collagen deposition and silicotic nodule formations. On the contrary, in old rats, no changes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or lung parameters were observed, indicating that senescent rats are resistant to the acute effects of silica. These in vivo results were confirmed in vitro, where silica-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha release was drastically reduced in alveolar macrophages obtained from old animals. This could be explained with a defective protein kinase C betaII translocation in aged macrophages, due to decreased expression of its anchoring protein RACK-1. Furthermore, a decrease in FAS-L expression and silica-induced apoptosis in old macrophages was observed, supporting the idea that age-associated alterations in signal transduction pathways contribute to decreased sensitivity to silica-induced acute lung fibrosis in old animals.
Investigations into unsupervised category learning: The role of working memory in learning category structures

The present research explored the role of working memory (WM) in unsupervised category learning, learning without an external tutor or even knowing that categories exist, by investigating its role using a pattern-sequence manipulation. A pattern-sequence manipulation compares learning when items from categories are presented together (blocked) versus when the items are presented in random order (mixed). Experiment 1 extended the pattern-sequence manipulation to assess category knowledge separate from paired-associate learning. Participants performed equally well on new and studied items, supporting the hypothesis that the pattern-sequence manipulation results in the acquisition of category information, not simply memory for item-feature associations. Experiment 2 introduced a WM factor, administering the method used in Experiment 1 to a group of high and low WM span participants. High WM span was predicted to interact with the pattern-sequence effect to produce greater learning when the items were blocked than mixed. There was reliable support for a role of WM span in the discovery and acquisition of category knowledge, but this role was different from the one hypothesized. The high WM span participants exhibited higher overall accuracies than the low WM span participants. This result supports a role for WM in unsupervised category learning, but did not benefit more from the pattern-sequence effect than did the low WM span participants as predicted. Implications for theories of category learning and WM are discussed.
How to get moving: lessons in eukaryotic motility from a prototypic model of cell polarization

Mathematical models, with some simplifying assumptions, can provide clarity into the workings of complex biological systems. Despite their seeming simplicity, even so-called 'minimal' models can exhibit a diverse range of behavior in various regions of the parameter space. These models can be studied using simulations and analytical methods. Simulations are often parameter dependent and fall short of providing a complete understanding of the full range of system responses. Analytical approaches on the other hand provide a framework to study the entire phase space. Here, we outline a largely analytical method for studying reaction-diffusion models. Using a prototypic model of cell polarization, we characterize protein activation in response to an external stimulus and highlight the importance of phase-space analysis. We demonstrate how comprehensive treatment of the phase space can guide experimental design and supplement simulation studies. In order to make such analyses more accessible, we provide an easy-to-use graphical user interface this http URL).
Genetic variants in the PNPLA3 gene are associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

In this study, we report the association of the rs738407, rs738409, and rs2896019 variants of the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) (adiponutrin) gene with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (χ2=14.528, p=0.001; χ2=18.882, p=0.000; χ2=7.449, p=0.024, respectively) in 80 patients with NASH and 303 healthy controls. We genotyped the subjects using three polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism methods developed in our laboratory. Our findings confirm the findings of the recent case–control and genome-wide association studies carried out in different populations around the world. Thus, the three variants in PNPLA3 gene may be a genetic risk factor for NASH.
Tracking Consensus for Second-Order Multi-Agent Systems with Nonlinear Dynamics in Noisy Environments

这份报纸调查在条件上在吵闹的环境与时间延期和非线性的动力学为秒顺序多代理人系统追踪一致问题的领导人追随者修理了，切换指导了拓扑学。 基于一种新奇速度分解技术和随机的分析，一个基于测量的分布式的追踪控制协议被建议，在哪个下面所有代理人能在吝啬的平方追踪领导人。 模拟结果也被给说明建议协议的有效性。
CICLO REPRODUCTOR DE UTA STEJNEGERI SCHMIDT 1921 (SAURIA: PHRYNOSOMATIDAE) EN DUNAS DEL BOLSÓN DE MAPIMÍ, DURANGO, MÉXICO

Se determinó el ciclo reproductor de Uta stejnegeri Schmidt 1921 (antes Uta stansburiana stejnegeri Schmidt 1921) utilizando datos obtenidos de individuos capturados en el campo en la Reserva de Biosfera de Mapimí, Durango, México. Durante 1990 se colectaron mensualmente muestras de esta especie en dunas de arena. Los machos alcanzaron la madurez sexual a los 45.0 mm de longitud hocico-cloaca (LHC), y las hembras alcanzaron la madurez sexual a los 40.0 mm LHC. El ciclo reproductor de ambos sexos fue sincrónico. La variación significativa en peso testicular fue determinada por ANCOVA y los machos alcanzaron su máximo peso testicular entre diciembre y febrero. Los testículos comenzaron a decrecer en julio, alcanzando su peso mínimo en septiembre. Para las hembras se registró el porcentaje mensual de folículos sin vitelo, folículos con vitelo, y de huevos en oviductos. Los primeros folículos agrandados y con vitelo se observaron a la mitad de enero en las hembras. Estas mostraron una presencia bimodal de huevos en oviductos entre febrero y mayo y en julio. La media del tamaño de puesta basada sobre el conteo de los huevos en los oviductos fue de 2.8 ± 1.1. El tamaño de puesta estuvo correlacionado positivamente con el tamaño del cuerpo de las hembras. La mayoría de la precipitación pluvial anual ocurre durante el verano, y se propone que la producción de crías está sincronizada con la mejor estación para promover el crecimiento y supervivencia de los jóvenes. Encontramos similitudes entre este ciclo reproductor y aquellos reportados previamente para U. stansburiana de los Estados Unidos.
Experimental analysis of synchronization methods for CC-NUMA systems

Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) systems generally have two kinds of interconnection networks: one is a local network that connects a local memory and several processors within a node, and the other is an inter-node network that connects nodes. Intra-node transactions are performed within a node using only a local network, and inter-node transactions work with more than one nodes using both intra- and inter-node networks. It is very trivial that it takes inter-node transactions a longer time to finish their job than intra-node transactions. It consequently means that transactions for synchronization, such as acquire or release transaction, generally need a long time to be performed because synchronization variables are mostly shared by caches. From this point of view, we have proposed a new synchronization method called Freeze and Melt. In this paper, we describe its features and compare the performance of various synchronization methods using program-driven simulation.
Optimizing Point-to-Point Ethernet Cluster Communication

This work covers the implementation of a raw Ethernet communication module for the Open MPI message passing library. Thereby it focuses on both the reduction of the communication latency for small messages and maximum possible compatibility. Especially the need for particular network devices, adapted network device drivers or kernel patches is avoided. The work is divided into three major parts: First, the networking subsystem of the version 2.6 Linux kernel is analyzed. Second, an Ethernet protocol family is implemented as a loadable kernel module, consisting of a basic datagram protocol (EDP), providing connection-less and unreliable datagram transport, and a streaming protocol (ESP), providing connection-oriented, sequenced and reliable byte streams. The protocols use the standard device driver interface of the Linux kernel for data transmission and reception. Their services are made available to user-space applications through the standard socket interface. Last, the existing Open MPI TCP communication module is ported atop the ESP. With bare EDP/ESP sockets a message latency of about 30 μs could be achieved for small messages, which compared to the TCP latency of about 40 μs is a reduction of 25 %.
Bacterial diversity along a 2600 km river continuum

The bacterioplankton diversity in large rivers has thus far been undersampled, despite the importance of streams and rivers as components of continental landscapes. Here, we present a comprehensive dataset detailing the bacterioplankton diversity along the midstream of the Danube River and its tributaries. Using 16S rRNA-gene amplicon sequencing, our analysis revealed that bacterial richness and evenness gradually declined downriver in both the free-living and particle-associated bacterial communities. These shifts were also supported by beta diversity analysis, where the effects of tributaries were negligible in regards to the overall variation. In addition, the river was largely dominated by bacteria that are commonly observed in freshwaters. Dominated by the acI lineage, the freshwater SAR11 (LD12) and the Polynucleobacter group, typical freshwater taxa increased in proportion downriver and were accompanied by a decrease in soil and groundwater bacteria. Based on the River Continuum Concept, we explain these taxonomic patterns and the accompanying changes in alpha and beta diversity by the physical structure and chemical conditions coupled with the hydrologic cycle along the length of the river.