Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scaling of Limb Proportions in Monitor T.itards (Squamata: Varanidae)

The lengths and diameters of the limb segments of 105 monitor lizards from 22 species were measured on preserved museum specimens in order to determine whether limb proportions vary in relation to snout-vent length (used as an indicator of overall body size). Scaling exponents (slopes of allometric equations) were estimated for log-transformed species' mean values, using both conventional nonphylo- genetic statistics as well as the method of phylogenetically independent contrasts. Both methods gave essentially the same results. All limb segment lengths and diameters scale with exponents exceeding 1.0; thus, larger species of monitors tend to have larger limbs relative to their snout-vent length. Foot length, however, decreases relative to total hindlimb length in larger species. Measures of limb segment diameters scale with greater exponents than do limb lengths; thus, larger species also tend to have relatively thicker limbs. The empirical results on limb shape are consistent with predictions derived from biomechanical models.
Multiphase Multi–Detector Row Computed Tomography Imaging Characteristics of Large (>5 cm) Focal Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective The aim of this study was to describe the multiphase multi–detector row computed tomography (MDCT) imaging findings of large (>5 cm) focal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Following review of the medical records of 321 patients with newly diagnosed HCC who underwent MDCT within the radiology database from January 2007 to November 2014, 27 patients (20 men and 7 women; mean age, 69 [SD, 10.1] years [range, 49–87 years]) with histologically confirmed HCC greater than 5 cm were included in this institutional review board–approved study. Multiphase, dedicated liver MDCT images of these cases were retrospectively reviewed by 2 radiologists in consensus to describe the enhancement characteristics of these lesions. Results Mean tumor diameter was 8.4 (SD, 2.4) cm (range, 5.2–13.5 cm). Cirrhosis was present in 16 (59%) of 27 patients. Seventeen (85%) of 20 patients with available laboratory data presented with elevated alpha-fetoprotein (median, 97 ng/mL). Twenty-three (85%) of 27 demonstrated either heterogeneous enhancement with gradual fill-in (14/27 [52%]) or peripheral enhancement with centripetal fill-in (9/27 [33%]). Twenty-two (81%) of 27 lacked washout on delayed phase images, and 21 (78%) of 27 demonstrated a pseudocapsule. Twenty-seven of 27 lesions were well defined, 8 (30%) of 27 were exophytic, 15 (56%) of 27 were unifocal, 5 (25%) of 20 cases demonstrated vascular invasion, and 7 (26%) of 27 cases presented with extrahepatic metastases. Conclusions Large (>5 cm) focal HCC may present as a dominant mass with a pseudocapsule and initial heterogeneous or peripheral enhancement with gradual or centripetal fill-in without washout on multiphase MDCT. Awareness of this variant is important to allow distinction from other benign (eg, hemangioma) and malignant (eg, cholangiocarcinoma) focal liver lesions.
Sclerostin: A gem from the genome leads to bone‐building antibodies

Discovery of Sclerostin databases using either homology-based programs (eg, BLAST) or a special CxGxC-class cystine-knot search pattern Genomics technologies and DNA sequencing have had a transformative impact on biological research, giving us unprecedented access to the genomes of numerous organisms and ushering in such new fields as systems biology and, more recently, synthetic biology. In the 1990s, the advent of highthroughput sequencing spurred application of this powerful new technology to the challenging endeavor of trying to understand the genetic basis of various inherited human diseases. One such disease was sclerosteosis, a very rare, recessively inherited highbone-mass disorder that was thought to be caused primarily by excessive osteoblast-mediated bone formation rather than by defective osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Within the realm of inherited high-bone-mass disorders, it was the hope for a discovery in the area of osteoblast biology that made sclerosteosis particularly interesting. Indeed, the identification of new bone-building pathways that might yield novel anabolic agents had been a long-standing goal in bone biology, with hopes for therapeutic application in fracture healing, orthopedic procedures, and low-bone-mass conditions such as osteoporosis. Against this backdrop came the exciting news, independently from Mary Brunkow’s group at Celltech R&D, Inc., and from Wim Van Hul’s group at the University of Antwerp, that sclerosteosis was caused by mutations in a single gene (SOST) encoding a novel secreted protein. Because these were inactivating mutations, it was clear that this protein, aptly given the name sclerostin, functioned either directly or indirectly as an inhibitor of bone formation. During this same general time period, large-scale cDNA/ expressed sequence tag (EST) and genomic DNA sequencing efforts were beingmade in academia and industry to rapidly identify new human genes. A novel secreted protein of unknown function, which turned out to be sclerostin, was discovered by computational mining of large DNA sequence
Interactive outlining: an improved approach using active contours

The purpose of our work is to outline objects on images in an interactive environment. We use an improved method based on energy minimizing active contours or `snakes. ' Kass et al., proposed a variational technique; Amini used dynamic programming; and Williams and Shah introduced a fast, greedy algorithm. We combine the advantages of the latter two methods in a two-stage algorithm. The first stage is a greedy procedure that provides fast initial convergence. It is enhanced with a cost term that extends over a large number of points to avoid oscillations. The second stage, when accuracy becomes important, uses dynamic programming. This step is accelerated by the use of alternating search neighborhoods and by dropping stable points from the iterations. We have also added several features for user interaction. First, the user can define points of high confidence. Mathematically, this results in an extra cost term and, in that way, the robustness in difficult areas (e.g., noisy edges, sharp corners) is improved. We also give the user the possibility of incremental contour tracking, thus providing feedback on the refinement process. The algorithm has been tested on numerous photographic clip art images and extensive tests on medical images are in progress.
What really causes large price changes?

We study the cause of large fluctuations in prices on the London Stock Exchange. This is done at the microscopic level of individual events, where an event is the placement or cancellation of an order to buy or sell. We show that price fluctuations caused by individual market orders are essentially independent of the volume of orders. Instead, large price fluctuations are driven by liquidity fluctuations, variations in the market's ability to absorb new orders. Even for the most liquid stocks there can be substantial gaps in the order book, corresponding to a block of adjacent price levels containing no quotes. When such a gap exists next to the best price, a new order can remove the best quote, triggering a large midpoint price change. Thus, the distribution of large price changes merely reflects the distribution of gaps in the limit order book. This is a finite size effect, caused by the granularity of order flow: in a market where participants place many small orders uniformly across prices, such large price fluctuations would not happen. We show that this also explains price fluctuations on longer timescales. In addition, we present results suggesting that the risk profile varies from stock to stock, and is not universal: lightly traded stocks tend to have more extreme risks.
Early recurrent stroke or neurological deterioration?

To the Editor: The article by Coull and Rothwell1 calls for a standard definition of recurrent stroke. They suggest the definition “any stroke ≥24 hours after the incident event excluding early deterioration not caused by a stroke” as they emphasize the importance of using a definition that does not miss early recurrences. I heartily agree with the authors about the need of such definition. However, I do not think that their suggestion meets with what we need from the definition. Studies on neurological deterioration have …
Differential Mechanisms of Shedding of the Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored NKG2D Ligands*

Tumor cells release NKG2D ligands to evade NKG2D-mediated immune surveillance. The purpose of our investigation was to explore the cellular mechanisms of release used by various members of the ULBP family. Using biochemical and cellular approaches in both transfectant systems and tumor cell lines, this paper shows that ULBP1, ULBP2, and ULBP3 are released from cells with different kinetics and by distinct mechanisms. Whereas ULBP2 is mainly shed by metalloproteases, ULBP3 is abundantly released as part of membrane vesicles known as exosomes. Interestingly, exosomal ULBP3 protein is much more potent for down-modulation of the NKG2D receptor than soluble ULBP2 protein. This is the first report showing functionally relevant differences in the biochemistry of the three members of the ULBP family and confirms that in depth study of the biochemical features of individual NKG2D ligands will be necessary to understand and manipulate the biology of these proteins for therapy.
Vertical and Horizontal Vegetation Structure across Natural and Modified Habitat Types at Mount Kilimanjaro

In most habitats, vegetation provides the main structure of the environment. This complexity can facilitate biodiversity and ecosystem services. Therefore, measures of vegetation structure can serve as indicators in ecosystem management. However, many structural measures are laborious and require expert knowledge. Here, we used consistent and convenient measures to assess vegetation structure over an exceptionally broad elevation gradient of 866–4550m above sea level at Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Additionally, we compared (human)-modified habitats, including maize fields, traditionally managed home gardens, grasslands, commercial coffee farms and logged and burned forests with natural habitats along this elevation gradient. We distinguished vertical and horizontal vegetation structure to account for habitat complexity and heterogeneity. Vertical vegetation structure (assessed as number, width and density of vegetation layers, maximum canopy height, leaf area index and vegetation cover) displayed a unimodal elevation pattern, peaking at intermediate elevations in montane forests, whereas horizontal structure (assessed as coefficient of variation of number, width and density of vegetation layers, maximum canopy height, leaf area index and vegetation cover) was lowest at intermediate altitudes. Overall, vertical structure was consistently lower in modified than in natural habitat types, whereas horizontal structure was inconsistently different in modified than in natural habitat types, depending on the specific structural measure and habitat type. Our study shows how vertical and horizontal vegetation structure can be assessed efficiently in various habitat types in tropical mountain regions, and we suggest to apply this as a tool for informing future biodiversity and ecosystem service studies.
Analysis of negative differential resistance characteristic of graphene nanoribbon structures and its application in tram design

Two key challenges for future integrated circuit technology are pushing CMOS beyond its ultimate scaled density and expanding information processing beyond that attainable by CMOS alone, using new devices and architectural approaches. In this regard, quantum tunneling based devices, with unique negative differential resistance (NDR) characteristic show a lot of promise in high speed memory applications. However, practical implementation of such memory devices is challenging due to low peak to valley current ratio (PVCR) in Si based NDR devices and incompatibility of III-V material based NDR devices with Si technology. In this respect, possibility of novel resonant tunneling device showing NDR behavior based on emerging material such as graphene needs to be explored. In this thesis, a novel double quantum well resonant tunneling negative differential resistance device based on intrinsic armchair graphene nanoribbon (A-GNR) is proposed. Desired device characteristics are calculated from self-consistent solution of three-dimensional Poisson‟s equation and non-equilibrium Green‟s function (NEGF) based transport equation with atomistic resolution. This device shows promising results including the NDR effect at very low bias, at 0.12V, with peak current of 1. 78μA and peak to valley current ratio of ~20. Effect of top gate and back gate potential on the NDR characteristic is also analyzed. In similar approach, a complementary (pull up) NDR device is designed and the performance of a source coupled NDR device pair as a static memory latch is investigated. Results shows, bistable operation in such memory latch is ensured for bias voltage range of 0.26 V to 1.1 V. A graphene nanoribbon field-effect transistor (GNR-FET) with low leakage current (~1.3 nA) and high ON/OFF ratio (~10) is designed to be used a access transistor in memory addressing. Finally, an all graphene tunneling random access memory (TRAM) cell architecture is proposed with GNR-NDR device pair in conjugation with GNR-FET. Different performance matrices of the TRAM e.g. READ access time of 0.7 ns and WRITE access time of 0.43 ns are obtained through composite modeling of the device. The memory cell has ultra high bit density (as the cell area is ~112.2 nm) and has a static power dissipation of 45 nW. All these findings point toward the fact that the proposed all graphene TRAM cell is likely to be the key candidate for the future high-density, high performance and low power memory systems.
Consumers' Perceptions of Patient-Accessible Electronic Medical Records

Background Electronic health information (eHealth) tools for patients, including patient-accessible electronic medical records (patient portals), are proliferating in health care delivery systems nationally. However, there has been very limited study of the perceived utility and functionality of portals, as well as limited assessment of these systems by vulnerable (low education level, racial/ethnic minority) consumers. Objective The objective of the study was to identify vulnerable consumers’ response to patient portals, their perceived utility and value, as well as their reactions to specific portal functions. Methods This qualitative study used 4 focus groups with 28 low education level, English-speaking consumers in June and July 2010, in New York City. Results Participants included 10 males and 18 females, ranging in age from 21-63 years; 19 non-Hispanic black, 7 Hispanic, 1 non-Hispanic White and 1 Other. None of the participants had higher than a high school level education, and 13 had less than a high school education. All participants had experience with computers and 26 used the Internet. Major themes were enhanced consumer engagement/patient empowerment, extending the doctor’s visit/enhancing communication with health care providers, literacy and health literacy factors, improved prevention and health maintenance, and privacy and security concerns. Consumers were also asked to comment on a number of key portal features. Consumers were most positive about features that increased convenience, such as making appointments and refilling prescriptions. Consumers raised concerns about a number of potential barriers to usage, such as complex language, complex visual layouts, and poor usability features. Conclusions Most consumers were enthusiastic about patient portals and perceived that they had great utility and value. Study findings suggest that for patient portals to be effective for all consumers, portals must be designed to be easy to read, visually engaging, and have user-friendly navigation.
The influence of social support and perceived stress on response time inconsistency

ABSTRACT Objectives: Lack of social support and high levels of stress represent potentially modifiable risk factors for cognitive aging. In this study we examined the relationships between these two risk factors and response time inconsistency (RTI), or trial-to-trial variability in choice response time tasks. RTI is an early indicator of declining cognitive health, and examining the influence of modifiable psychosocial risk factors on RTI is important for understanding and promoting cognitive health during adulthood and old age. Methods: Using data from a community sample study (n = 317; Mage = 49, range = 19–83), we examined the effects of social support, including size of network and satisfaction with support, global perceived stress, and their interactions on RTI. Results: Neither size of network nor satisfaction with support was associated with RTI independent of perceived stress. Stress was positively associated with increased RTI on all tasks, independent of social support. Perceived stress did not interact with either dimension of social support to predict RTI, and perceived stress effects were invariant across age and sex. Conclusion: Perceived stress, but not social support, may be a unique and modifiable risk factor for normal and pathological cognitive aging. Discussion focuses on the importance of perceived stress and its impact on RTI in supporting cognitive health in adulthood and old age.
Identifying genes of agronomic importance in maize by screening microsatellites for evidence of selection during domestication

Crop species experienced strong selective pressure directed at genes controlling traits of agronomic importance during their domestication and subsequent episodes of selective breeding. Consequently, these genes are expected to exhibit the signature of selection. We screened 501 maize genes for the signature of selection using microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs). We applied the Ewens–Watterson test, which can reveal deviations from a neutral-equilibrium model, as well as two nonequilibrium tests that incorporate the domestication bottleneck. We investigated two classes of SSRs: those known to be polymorphic in maize (Class I) and those previously classified as monomorphic in maize (Class II). Fifteen SSRs exhibited some evidence for selection in maize and 10 showed evidence under stringent criteria. The genes containing nonneutral SSRs are candidates for agronomically important genes. Because demographic factors can bias our tests, further independent tests of these candidates are necessary. We applied such an additional test to one candidate, which encodes a MADS box transcriptional regulator, and confirmed that this gene experienced a selective sweep during maize domestication. Genomic scans for the signature of selection offer a means of identifying new genes of agronomic importance even when gene function and the phenotype of interest are unknown.
Comparative genome analysis of programmed DNA elimination in nematodes

Programmed DNA elimination is a developmentally regulated process leading to the reproducible loss of specific genomic sequences. DNA elimination occurs in unicellular ciliates and a variety of metazoans, including invertebrates and vertebrates. In metazoa, DNA elimination typically occurs in somatic cells during early development, leaving the germline genome intact. Reference genomes for metazoa that undergo DNA elimination are not available. Here, we generated germline and somatic reference genome sequences of the DNA eliminating pig parasitic nematode Ascaris suum and the horse parasite Parascaris univalens. In addition, we carried out in-depth analyses of DNA elimination in the parasitic nematode of humans, Ascaris lumbricoides, and the parasitic nematode of dogs, Toxocara canis. Our analysis of nematode DNA elimination reveals that in all species, repetitive sequences (that differ among the genera) and germline-expressed genes (approximately 1000–2000 or 5%–10% of the genes) are eliminated. Thirty-five percent of these eliminated genes are conserved among these nematodes, defining a core set of eliminated genes that are preferentially expressed during spermatogenesis. Our analysis supports the view that DNA elimination in nematodes silences germline-expressed genes. Over half of the chromosome break sites are conserved between Ascaris and Parascaris, whereas only 10% are conserved in the more divergent T. canis. Analysis of the chromosomal breakage regions suggests a sequence-independent mechanism for DNA breakage followed by telomere healing, with the formation of more accessible chromatin in the break regions prior to DNA elimination. Our genome assemblies and annotations also provide comprehensive resources for analysis of DNA elimination, parasitology research, and comparative nematode genome and epigenome studies.
Thin Film Production and Characterization Ba1-xSrxTiO3 (x = 0.9) for Capacitor Applications

The development of the era of many changes that occurs in materials is often studied by scientists of science. Ferroelectric is one of the unique materials to be studied and researched. Commonly used ferroelectric thin film materials include Barium Strontium Titanate (BST), Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) and Strontium Titanate (SrTiO3). The BaSrTiO3 material in the last year is highly reviewed and developed, from the above-mentioned ferroelectric thin films Ba0.8Sr0. 2TiO3 which acts as a dielectric to increase the capacitance value of the capacitor [1]. This study is a study for the manufacture of BST thin film from a mixture of Barium Carbonate, Strontium Carbonate and Titanium Isopropoxide with a composition ratio of Ba and Sr 0.1: 0.9 or can be written Ba0,1Sr0,9TiO3. The treatment is made by sol gel method or with CSD model, then continuous spin coating and annealing process at temperature 600 °C, 650 °C and 700 °C. Light sensor made of thin film material Ba0,5Sr0,5TiO3 above Si substrate (100) p-type by means of chemical-assisted chemical solution deposition (CSD) method [2]. The capacitor is one of the electronic devices that play an important role in the electronics circuit. The value of the capacitor depends on how much charge can be stored. This dependence leads to a capacity already limited to the capacitor. The capacitance of a capacitor can be increased by a dielectric material in the capacitor [3]. BST is a perovskite material based on Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) [4]. Figure 1 shows the perovskite crystal structure of the BST ferroelectric material [5]. Figure 1: The perovskite structure of ferroelectric material [5].
User admission for multi-user regenerative relay MIMO systems

We propose an efficient user admission method for multi-user regenerative relay multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with maximum sum rate system performance objective. We extend the relay system model proposed in [1] to manage multi-antenna user terminals. Our aim is to incorporate computationally efficient user admission into the conventional weighted sum rate maximization. To increase the rate of convergence and mitigate over-the-air signaling requirements, we make early predictions of the active set of spatial data streams, which effectively translates to user allocation. It is shown that the proposed method achieves close to optimal user allocation and greatly improves the performance at low signal-to-interference-plus-noise (SINR) region when compared to direct channel quality based user admission [1].