Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integral of radical trigonometric functions revisited

This article revisits an integral of radical trigonometric functions. It presents several methods of integration where the integrand takes the form $\sqrt{1 \pm \sin x}$ or $\sqrt{1 \pm \cos x}$. The integral has applications in Calculus where it appears as the length of cardioid represented in polar coordinates.
The unusual reproductive system of head and body lice (Pediculus humanus)

Insect reproduction is extremely variable, but the implications of alternative genetic systems are often overlooked in studies on the evolution of insecticide resistance. Both ecotypes of Pediculus humanus (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae), the human head and body lice, are human ectoparasites, the control of which is challenged by the recent spread of resistance alleles. The present study conclusively establishes for the first time that both head and body lice reproduce through paternal genome elimination (PGE), an unusual genetic system in which males transmit only their maternally derived chromosomes. Here, we investigate inheritance patterns of parental genomes using a genotyping approach across families of both ecotypes and show that heterozygous males exclusively or preferentially pass on one allele only, whereas females transmit both in a Mendelian fashion. We do however observe occasional transmission of paternal chromosomes through males, representing the first known case of PGE in which whole‐genome meiotic drive is incomplete. Finally, we discuss the potential implications of this finding for the evolution of resistance and invite the development of new theoretical models of how this knowledge might contribute to increasing the success of pediculicide‐based management schemes.
CFD analysis on the effect of winglet cant angle onaerodynamics of ONERA M6 wing

Winglets are one of important part of the wing that can reduce the vortex formed at the wing tips and therefore reduce induced drag by partial recovery of the tip vortex energy. Moreover, they increase the effective aspect ratio without actually increasing the wingspan. The geometry of the winglets plays an important role in their task. In the present research, computation of lift and drag of ONERA M6 wing have been conducted using ANSYS Fluent. The results have been validated with the NASA results. Flow features of the entire wing including winglet were examined at different cant angles of winglets of 30°, 60° and 75° at different angles of attack from 3° to 6°. It is observed that among the cases of this study, wings with winglets produces higher CL/CD ratio than the normal aircraft wing without winglets up to certain degree of angle of attack and by further increasing to higher angle of attack its performance getting diminished. The investigated concept of adaptable angle winglets appears to be a likely substitute for refining the aerodynamic effectiveness of an aircraft.
Effective compiler error message enhancement for novice programming students

Programming is an essential skill that many computing students are expected to master. However, programming can be difficult to learn. Successfully interpreting compiler error messages (CEMs) is crucial for correcting errors and progressing toward success in programming. Yet these messages are often difficult to understand and pose a barrier to progress for many novices, with struggling students often exhibiting high frequencies of errors, particularly repeated errors. This paper presents a control/intervention study on the effectiveness of enhancing Java CEMs. Results show that the intervention group experienced reductions in the number of overall errors, errors per student, and several repeated error metrics. These results are important as the effectiveness of CEM enhancement has been recently debated. Further, generalizing these results should be possible at least in part, as the control group is shown to be comparable to those in several studies using Java and other languages.
Inventory and report on teacher education materials and programmes in the Commonwealth Caribbean

The English-speaking Caribbean countries share a common history of British colonial rule, resulting in similar educational systems with common institutions. They, with other countries, form the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The CARICOM Heads of Government recently agreed on a common human resource development strategy that set targets for achievements for different levels of the regional educational systems (CARICOM Secretariat, 1997). Earlier policy agreements also set in train steps towards the free movement of skills across the region, thus requiring the transferability of qualifications.
Ventricular mechanoreflex and chemoreflex alterations in chronic heart failure.

Cardiac and arterial baroreflex control of the circulation is abnormal in both human and experimental heart failure. Ventricular vagal afferents mediate mechanical and chemical reflexes, which result in bradycardia and hypotension. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes that occur in ventricular mechanoreflexes and chemoreflexes in a conscious canine model of chronic heart failure. Dogs were instrumented for the measurement of left ventricular pressure, left atrial pressure, arterial pressure, and heart rate. Vascular occluders were placed on the ascending thoracic aorta, on the descending thoracic aorta, and on the thoracic inferior vena cava. A chronic left circumflex coronary artery catheter was also implanted. Finally, a pacing lead was secured to the left ventricular free wall. After recovery from surgery (10 to 14 days), the dogs were subjected to complete arterial baroreceptor denervation. The responses to vascular occlusions and intracoronary administration of prostacyclin (PGI2) were carried out before and after heart failure was induced by chronic cardiac pacing at 250 beats per minute. PGI2 was used as a chemical stimulus for ventricular afferents; ascending aortic occlusion was used as a mechanical stimulus. Before chronic pacing, ascending aortic occlusion resulted in a decrease in heart rate of 36.1 +/- 12.3 beats per minute (mean +/- SD, P < .001). After heart failure was induced, the heart rate response to ascending aortic occlusion was almost completely abolished. The slope of the linear relation between pulse interval and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was reduced by 90.5% from a control value of 11.3 +/- 6.9 ms/mm Hg after heart failure had been induced. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Rop, the Sec1/Munc18 homolog in Drosophila, is required for furrow ingression and stable cell shape during cytokinesis

ABSTRACT Physically separating daughter cells during cytokinesis requires contraction of an actin-myosin ring and vesicle-mediated membrane addition at the cleavage furrow. To identify vesicle trafficking proteins that function in cytokinesis, we screened deficiencies and mutations of candidate genes by live imaging the mitotic domains of the Drosophila embryo. In embryos homozygous for some of these deficiencies, we observed several cytokinesis phenotypes, including slow furrow ingression and increased membrane blebbing. We also found that cytokinesis required the Sec1/Munc18 homolog Rop, which interacts with syntaxin and mediates exocytosis at the plasma membrane. In a temperature-sensitive Rop mutant (RopTS), the contractile ring disassembled during furrow ingression, indicating that maintenance of the ring required vesicle addition. Furthermore, in some dividing RopTS cells, the shape of the daughter cells became unstable, causing cytokinesis failure. These results further highlight the importance of vesicle trafficking in animal cytokinesis and show that vesicle fusion influences cell shape during cytokinesis. Summary: Live-imaging genetic screens revealed that Rop, a homolog of the syntaxin-interacting protein Sec1/Munc18, is required for maintaining contractile ring integrity and cell shape during furrow ingression.
Fast and robust 3D vertebra segmentation using statistical shape models

We propose a top-down fully automatic 3D vertebra segmentation algorithm using global shape-related as well as local appearance-related prior information. The former is brought into the system by a global statistical shape model built from annotated training data, i.e., annotated CT volumes. The latter is handled by a machine learning-based component, i.e., a boundary detector, providing a strong discriminative model for vertebra surface appearance by making use of local context-encoding features. This boundary detector, which is essentially a probabilistic boosting-tree classifier, is also learnt from annotated training data. Contextual information is taken into account by representing vertebra surface candidate voxels with high-dimensional vectors of 3D steerable features derived from the observed volume intensities. Our system does not only consider the body of the individual vertebrae but also the spinal processes. Before segmentation, the image parts depicting individual vertebrae are spatially normalized with respect to their bounding box information in terms of translation, orientation, and scale leading to more accurate results. We evaluate segmentation accuracy on 7 CT volumes each depicting 22 vertebrae. The results indicate a symmetric point-to-mesh surface error of 1.37 ± 0.37 mm, which matches the current state-of-the-art.
Sex allocation according to multiple sexually dimorphic traits of both parents in the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Parents should differentially invest in sons or daughters depending on the sex‐specific fitness returns from male and female offspring. In species with sexually selected heritable male characters, highly ornamented fathers should overproduce sons, which will be more sexually attractive than sons of less ornamented fathers. Because of genetic correlations between the sexes, females that express traits which are under selection in males should also overproduce sons. However, sex allocation strategies may consist in reaction norms leading to spatiotemporal variation in the association between offspring sex ratio (SR) and parental phenotype. We analysed offspring SR in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) over 8 years in relation to two sexually dimorphic traits: tail length and melanin‐based ventral plumage coloration. The proportion of sons increased with maternal plumage darkness and paternal tail length, consistently with sexual dimorphism in these traits. The size of the effect of these parental traits on SR was large compared to other studies of offspring SR in birds. Barn swallows thus manipulate offspring SR to overproduce ‘sexy sons’ and potentially to mitigate the costs of intralocus sexually antagonistic selection. Interannual variation in the relationships between offspring SR and parental traits was observed which may suggest phenotypic plasticity in sex allocation and provides a proximate explanation for inconsistent results of studies of sex allocation in relation to sexual ornamentation in birds.
Isolation of smooth‐type lipopolysaccharides to electrophoretic homogeneity

The high structural heterogeneity of smooth‐type lipopolysaccharides (LPS) enormously complicates the isolation of their constituent molecular species. Proof of concept is given here on the feasibility of using preparative slab‐PAGE to isolate highly homogeneous smooth‐type LPS glycoforms. LPS species (from 3.6 to 14.2 kDa) from Escherichia coli K‐235 were separated by preparative slab‐PAGE and recovered by utilizing the combined on‐gel LPS reverse staining, extrusion, and passive elution techniques. As a result, 15 electrophoretically pure LPS fractions were obtained. The LPS content in the recovered fractions ranged from 280 ng (intermediate mobility glycoforms) to 411 μg (highest mobility glycoforms). The quantities of LPS fractions were sufficient to allow quantitation of the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) activities of these distinct‐molecular‐mass LPS species, in the range from (1.1 ± 0.1)×103 to (8.7 ± 0.3)×105 endotoxin units (EU)/mL, by standard LAL assay. We have thus definitively demonstrated that slab‐PAGE may be a suitable platform to more selectively purify individual glycoform fractions from smooth‐type LPS.
Aquaporin Expression Correlates with Freeze Tolerance in Baker's Yeast, and Overexpression Improves Freeze Tolerance in Industrial Strains

ABSTRACT Little information is available about the precise mechanisms and determinants of freeze resistance in baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genomewide gene expression analysis and Northern analysis of different freeze-resistant and freeze-sensitive strains have now revealed a correlation between freeze resistance and the aquaporin genes AQY1 and AQY2. Deletion of these genes in a laboratory strain rendered yeast cells more sensitive to freezing, while overexpression of the respective genes, as well as heterologous expression of the human aquaporin gene hAQP1, improved freeze tolerance. These findings support a role for plasma membrane water transport activity in determination of freeze tolerance in yeast. This appears to be the first clear physiological function identified for microbial aquaporins. We suggest that a rapid, osmotically driven efflux of water during the freezing process reduces intracellular ice crystal formation and resulting cell damage. Aquaporin overexpression also improved maintenance of the viability of industrial yeast strains, both in cell suspensions and in small doughs stored frozen or submitted to freeze-thaw cycles. Furthermore, an aquaporin overexpression transformant could be selected based on its improved freeze-thaw resistance without the need for a selectable marker gene. Since aquaporin overexpression does not seem to affect the growth and fermentation characteristics of yeast, these results open new perspectives for the successful development of freeze-resistant baker's yeast strains for use in frozen dough applications.
Three Strategies for Fusion of Land Cover Classification Results of Polarimetric SAR Data

A fully polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a device that is able to transmit and receive both orthogonal (horizontal and vertical) components of an electromagnetic wave (Touzi et al., 2004). Its signals include the magnitude and phase information, rendered as complex variables. Many classification algorithms have been proposed for SAR images (Cloude & Pottier, 1997; Ferro-Famil et al., 2001; Hoekman & Vissers, 2003; Kersten et al., 2005; Lee et al., 1994; Lee et al., 1999, Lee et al., 2004), that can be grouped into three main types (Chen et al., 2003): 1) algorithms based on image processing techniques, 2) algorithms based on a statistical model, 3) algorithms based on the scattering mechanism of the electromagnetic waves. Our interest is in the first type, since such algorithms permit a general approach to the images, potentially after investigating the physical properties of natural media. In a previous work (Alberga et al., 2006), several ways of representing polarimetric SAR data (Cloude & Pottier, 1996; Cameron et al., 1996; Cloude & Pottier, 1997; Freeman & Durden, 1998) have been analyzed and their usefulness for land cover classification compared. The classifiers used were the minimum distance classifier, the maximum likelihood classifier and a neural network the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), trained by the Back-Propagation (BP) learning rule. The MLP outperformed the other two classifiers. In addition, the MLP does not need any a priori knowledge on the statistics of the input data, thus it can be applied to any possible polarimetric observable, permitting an unbiased use of the classification results (Benediktsson, et al., 1990). For these reasons, the MLP is used also in this work. The accuracy of the classification of a given polarimetric representation (i.e., set of polarimetric parameters) was taken in (Alberga et al., 2006) as a measure of the usefulness of that set and compared with the accuracies obtained using other representations of the data. The substantial equivalence of the parameters in these terms was shown. However, no attempt was made to take advantage of the complementary information provided by the O pe n A cc es s D at ab as e w w w . in te ch w eb . o rg
A Multi-Objective Approach for Microgrid Scheduling

This paper details an approach for the optimal scheduling of microgrids, including different distributed resources such as datacenters, electric vehicles, and distributed generation units. Management of both loads and generation systems is considered to be a strategic approach to optimally operate the grid. At this purpose, a multi-objective strategy was formulated, including several objectives that are considered essential for the efficient grid operation. Numerical simulations were performed to test the effectiveness of the proposed approach and the results were compared with those obtained through uncontrolled scenarios.
Calibration problems encountered while monitoring stump/socket interface pressures with force sensing resistors: Techniques adopted to minimise inaccuracies

Force sensing resistors (FSR) have been used to measure dynamic pressures at the interface between appliance and patient. Inaccuracies using FSRs have been reported. This paper summarises both the calibration problems encountered and the techniques adopted to minimise inaccuracies. It is considered that, by calibrating the transducers attached to the socket, and by adopting a strict test protocol, FSRs may provide a guide to the dynamic pressure distribution applied to the trans-tibial stump during gait.
Important roles for L-selectin and ICAM-1 in the development of allergic airway inflammation in asthma.

Airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) are fundamental features of asthma. Migration of inflammatory cells from the circulation into the lungs is dependent upon adhesion molecule interactions. The cell surface adhesion molecules L-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 have been demonstrated to mediate leukocyte rolling on inflamed pulmonary endothelium, and ICAM-1 has also been shown to mediate capillary sequestration in inflamed lung. However, their roles in the development of airway inflammation and AHR in asthma have not been directly examined. We have characterised the roles of L-selectin and ICAM-1 in the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the lung and in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway disease model of asthma and adhesion molecule-deficient mice. OVA-sensitized/challenged ICAM-1-deficient mice have dramatically reduced inflammatory influx into the airway/lung and a corresponding attenuation of AHR as compared to wild-type controls. OVA-sensitized/challenged L-selectin-deficient mice demonstrate significantly reduced numbers of CD3(+)lymphocytes and increased numbers of B220(+)lymphocytes in BAL as compared to wild-type mice (P< 0.05). However, other parameters of airway/lung inflammation in OVA-sensitized/challenged L-selectin-deficient mice were equivalent to wild-type control mice. Remarkably, despite a fulminant inflammatory response in the airway/lung, AHR was completely abrogated in OVA-sensitized/challenged L-selectin-deficient mice. These findings suggest a crucial role for ICAM-1 in the development of airway inflammation and AHR in asthma. In contrast, L-selectin plays a more selective role in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness but not allergic inflammation in this animal model of asthma. Thus, L-selectin and ICAM-1 represent potential targets for novel asthma therapies specifically aimed at controlling airway inflammation and/or airway hyperresponsiveness.
Opioid Agonists Have Different Efficacy Profiles for G Protein Activation, Rapid Desensitization, and Endocytosis of Mu-opioid Receptors*

The differential ability of various μ-opioid receptor (MOP) agonists to induce rapid receptor desensitization and endocytosis of MOP could arise simply from differences in their efficacy to activate G proteins or, alternatively, be due to differential capacity for activation of other signaling processes. We used AtT20 cells stably expressing a low density of FLAG-tagged MOP to compare the efficacies of a range of agonists to 1) activate G proteins using inhibition of calcium channel currents (ICa) as a reporter before and after inactivation of a fraction of receptors by β-chlornaltrexamine, 2) produce rapid, homologous desensitization of ICa inhibition, and 3) internalize receptors. Relative efficacies determined for G protein coupling were [Tyr-d-Ala-Gly-MePhe-Glyol]enkephalin (DAMGO) (1) > methadone (0.98) > morphine (0.58) > pentazocine (0.15). The same rank order of efficacies for rapid desensitization of MOP was observed, but greater concentrations of agonist were required than for G protein activation. By contrast, relative efficacies for promoting endocytosis of MOP were DAMGO (1) > methadone (0.59) ≫ morphine (0.07) > pentazocine (0.03). These results indicate that the efficacy of opioids to produce activation of G proteins and rapid desensitization is distinct from their capacity to internalize μ-opioid receptors but that, contrary to some previous reports, morphine can produce rapid, homologous desensitization of MOP.
c‐Myb and GATA‐1 alternate dominant roles during megakaryocyte differentiation

Summary. Background: Transcription factors are essential for blood cell formation. Mice expressing low levels of c‐Myb (c‐Myblow) have an increased number of bone marrow megakaryocytes (MKs) and corresponding thrombocytosis. In contrast, mice engineered to express low levels of GATA‐1 (GATA‐1low) in the megakaryocytic lineage exhibit aberrant megakaryocytopoiesis with hyperproliferation of progenitors and defective terminal differentiation leading to thrombocytopenia. These seemingly opposite roles may affect platelet turnover and thus be of clinical relevance. Objective: To determine how these two transcription factors act together to control megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet formation. Methods: We used a combination of cellular and molecular in vitro assays to examine the ability of bone marrow cells from mice expressing low levels of both c‐Myb and GATA‐1 (referred to as doublelow) to produce MKs and platelets. Results: Doublelow cells, or those with low GATA‐1 levels in which c‐Myb is conditionally deleted, lack the hyperproliferative capacity of GATA‐1low cells, allowing the cells to proceed towards more committed MKs that are, however, impaired in their capacity to produce fully differentiated cells, as confirmed by the abundance of morphologically aberrant cells that lack the ability to form proplatelets. Conclusion: c‐Myb and GATA‐1 act in concert to achieve correct megakaryocytic differentiation. GATA‐1 regulates both the proliferation of megakaryocytic progenitors and their terminal maturation. c‐Myb also acts at the level of the progenitor by influencing its commitment to differentiation, but in contrast to GATA‐1 it does not have any effect on the process of terminal differentiation.