Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enlarging the gap between quantum and classical query complexity of multifunctions

Quantum computing aims to use quantum mechanical effects for the efficient performance of computational tasks. A popular research direction is enlarging the gap between classical and quantum algorithm complexity of the same computational problem. We present new results in quantum query algorithm design for multivalued functions that allow to achieve a large quantum versus classical complexity separation. To compute a basic finite multifunction in a quantum model only one query is enough while classically three queries are required. Then, we present two generalizations and a modification of the original algorithm, and obtain the following complexity gaps: Q<sub>UD</sub>(M<sup>'</sup>) ≤ N versus C<sub>UD</sub>(M<sup>'</sup>) ≥ 3N, and Q<sub>RD</sub>(M<sup>''</sup>) = 1 versus N/2 + 1 ≤ C<sub>RD</sub>(M<sup>''</sup>) ≤ N.
Estrogen receptor α polymorphism in a species with alternative behavioral phenotypes

Significance In this series of studies, we provide a rare illustration of how a chromosomal polymorphism has affected overt social behavior in a vertebrate. White-throated sparrows occur in two alternative phenotypes, or morphs, distinguished by a chromosomal rearrangement. That the morphs differ in territorial and parental behavior has been known for decades, but how the rearrangement affects behavior is not understood. Here we show that genetic differentiation between the morphs affects the transcription of a gene well known to be involved in social behavior. We then show that in a free-living population, the neural expression of this gene predicts both territorial and parental behavior. We hypothesize that this mechanism has played a causal role in the evolution of alternative life-history strategies. The evolution of behavior relies on changes at the level of the genome; yet the ability to attribute a behavioral change to a specific, naturally occurring genetic change is rare in vertebrates. In the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), a chromosomal polymorphism (ZAL2/2m) is known to segregate with a behavioral phenotype. Individuals with the ZAL2m haplotype engage in more territorial aggression and less parental behavior than individuals without it. These behaviors are thought to be mediated by sensitivity to sex steroids, and the chromosomal rearrangement underlying the polymorphism has captured a prime candidate gene: estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), which encodes estrogen receptor α (ERα). We therefore hypothesized that the behavioral effects of the ZAL2m rearrangement are mediated by polymorphism in ESR1. We report here that (i) the ESR1 promoter region contains fixed polymorphisms distinguishing the ZAL2m and ZAL2 alleles; (ii); those polymorphisms regulate transcription efficiency in vitro and therefore potentially do the same in vivo (iii); the local expression of ERα in the brain depends strongly on genotype in a free-living population; and (iv) ERα expression in the medial amygdala and medial preoptic area may fully mediate the effects of genotype on territorial aggression and parenting, respectively. Thus, our study provides a rare glimpse of how a chromosomal polymorphism has affected the brain and social behavior in a vertebrate. Our results suggest that in this species, differentiation of ESR1 has played a causal role in the evolution of phenotypes with alternative life-history strategies.
Indirect supervised learning of strategic generation logic

The Strategic Component in a Natural Language Generation (NLG) system is responsible for determining content and structure of the generated output. It takes a knowledge base and communicative goals as input and provides a document plan as output. The Strategic Generation process is normally divided into two subtasks: Content Selection and Document Structuring. An implementation for the Strategic Component uses Content Selection rules to select the relevant knowledge and Document Structuring schemata to guide the construction of the document plan. This implementation is better suited for descriptive texts with a strong topical structure and little intentional content. In such domains, special communicative knowledge is required to structure the text, a type of knowledge referred as Domain Communicative Knowledge. Therefore, the task of building such rules and schemata is normally recognized as tightly coupled with the semantics and idiosyncrasies of each particular domain. In this thesis, I investigate the automatic acquisition of Content Selection rules and the automatic construction of Document Structuring schemata from an aligned Text-Knowledge corpus. These corpora are a collection of human-produced texts together with the knowledge data a generation system is expected to use to construct texts that fulfill the same communicative goals as the human texts. They are increasingly popular in learning for NLG because they are readily available and do not require expensive hand labelling. To facilitate learning I further focus on domains where texts are also abundant in anchors (pieces of information directly copied from the input knowledge base). In two such domains, medical reports and biographical descriptions, I have found aligned Text-Knowledge corpus for my learning task. While aligned Text-Knowledge corpora are relatively easy to find, they only provide indirect information about the selected or omitted status of each piece of knowledge and their relative placement. My methods, therefore, involve Indirect Supervised Learning (ISL), as my solution to this problem, a solution common to other learning from Text-Knowledge corpora problems in NLG. ISL has two steps; in the first step, the Text-Knowledge corpus is transformed into a dataset for supervised learning, in the form of matched texts. In the second step, supervised learning machinery acquires the CS rules and schemata from this dataset. My main contribution is to define empirical metrics over rulesets or schemata based on the training material. These metrics enable learning Strategic Generation logic from positive examples only (where each example contains indirect evidence for the task).
The Intermediary Role of Burnout in the Relationship Between Self-Compassion and Job Satisfaction Among Nurses

Background Self-compassion is the process of treating oneself kindly especially when suffering. Self-compassion is associated with decreased symptoms of burnout in nurses such that those high in self-compassion are less likely to report emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among self-compassion, burnout, job satisfaction, and sleep quality. Method and Participants: Recruited from MTurk, a final sample of 158 nurses living in the United States (57.6% female) completed indices of self-compassion, burnout, and outcomes of satisfaction and sleep via an online survey. Results Self-compassion was positively associated with satisfaction and sleep quality and negatively associated with burnout. In addition, increased burnout was associated with lower satisfaction and poorer sleep quality. Mediational models suggested that the relationships between self-compassion and outcomes were accounted for by the shared variance between self-compassion and burnout. Conclusions The results showed the predicted associations among self-compassion, burnout, and outcomes. Importantly, self-compassion was associated with lower burnout that, in turn, was associated with higher job satisfaction and better sleep. Despite the limitations of the study, these results add to the growing literature on the benefits of self-compassion for nurses for preventing and/or ameliorating symptoms of burnout.
The fast Newtonian limit for perfect fluids

We prove the existence of a large class of dynamical solutions to the Einstein-Euler equations for which the fluid density and spatial threevelocity converge to a solution of the Poisson-Euler equations of Newtonian gravity. The results presented here generalize those of [10] to allow for a larger class of initial data. As in [10], the proof is based on a nonlocal symmetric hyperbolic formulation of the Einstein-Euler equations which contain a singular parameter ǫ = vT /c with vT a characteristic speed associated to the fluid and c the speed of light. Energy and dispersive estimates on weighted Sobolev spaces are the main technical tools used to analyze the solutions in the singular limit ǫ ց 0.
Effect of the CT Table Strap on Radiation Exposure and Image Quality during Cervical Spine CT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The CT table strap may impair shoulder lowering during cervical spine CT. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of the CT table strap on radiation exposure and image quality during CT of the cervical spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing cervical spine CT were prospectively randomized to having the CT table strap placed around the torso and arms (control group) or around the torso only (intervention group). Radiation exposure, shoulder position, and image quality were evaluated. Potential confounders, including neck diameter and scan length, were also assessed. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were enrolled and randomized, and 51 subjects were included in the final study population. There was a 21% decrease in radiation exposure in the intervention group compared with the control group (mean dose-length product, 540 ± 152 versus 686 ± 200 mGy × cm, P = .005). Subjects in the intervention group achieved shoulder lowering of an average of >1 vertebral body lower than the control group (mean shoulder level, 7.7 ± 1.3 versus 6.5 ± 1.3, P = .001). Subjective image quality, determined by the lowest level of spinal cord visibility, was also better in the intervention group (mean cord visibility level, 6.9 ± 1.3 versus 5.9 ± 1.3, P = .006). No differences in neck diameter (P = .28) or scan length (P = .55) were observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The CT table strap inhibits shoulder lowering during CT of the cervical spine. Placement of the patient's arms outside the CT table strap results in decreased radiation exposure and increased image quality compared with patients whose arms are placed inside the strap.
Aerosol Mixing State: Measurements, Modeling, and Impacts

Atmospheric aerosols are complex mixtures of different chemical species, and individual particles exist in many different shapes and morphologies. Together, these characteristics contribute to the aerosol mixing state. This review provides an overview of measurement techniques to probe aerosol mixing state, discusses how aerosol mixing state is represented in atmospheric models at different scales, and synthesizes our knowledge of aerosol mixing state's impact on climate‐relevant properties, such as cloud condensation and ice nucleating particle concentrations, and aerosol optical properties. We present these findings within a framework that defines aerosol mixing state along with appropriate mixing state metrics to quantify it. Future research directions are identified, with a focus on the need for integrating mixing state measurements and modeling.
Suppressed circadian heart rate dynamics in temporal lobe epilepsy

Objectives: To measure interictal circadian rhythm of heart rate (HR) variability in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) using a 24 hour ECG recording. Methods: Various conventional and dynamic fractal measures of HR variability were analysed in 17 patients with refractory TLE, 20 patients with well controlled TLE, and 37 healthy age and sex matched control subjects. Results: The SD of all RR intervals (p<0.01), the measured power spectral components of HR variability (low frequency power (p<0.01), high frequency power (p<0.05)), and the SD1 (p<0.05) and SD2 (p<0.01) Poincaré two dimensional vector analysis measurements were suppressed in the patients. This suppression was observed during both day and night time; however, it was more pronounced at night, and nocturnal increase in HR variability usually seen in the normal population could not be detected in the patients. The HR variability measures did not correlate with the duration of epilepsy, the age of the patients, or with the anti-epileptic drugs used. Conclusion: TLE was associated with reduced HR variability, which was more pronounced during night than day, and the nocturnal increase in HR variability was abolished in patients with TLE. The alteration in autonomic regulation of HR variability was similar in patients with both refractory and well controlled TLE.
Peritubular capillary lesions in post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis

A 72-year-old male patient, suffering from suppurative cellulitis of the skin and myositis during the previous 3 weeks, was hospitalized at our facility because of acute renal failure with Coke-coloured haematuria and severe hypertension. His serum creatinine was 700.2 μmol/L and his antistreptolysin-O titre was ×340 (normal range: ×20–150). Serum C3 was 59 mg/dL (normal range: 79–140) and serum C4 was 26 mg/dL (normal range: 13–35). Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) of myeloperoxidase and proteinase-3 were negative. We suspected that he had poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) and performed a renal biopsy. Fifteen glomeruli including three sclerosed ones revealed global endocapillary hypercellularity with numerous neutrophils on light microscopy (left side in Figure 1). These glomerular lesions were compatible with PSAGN. Immunofluorescence studies revealed numerous granules of C3 in capillary loops and mesangium. Weak immunoreaction with IgG and IgA was also found. Interstitial oedema with foci of inflammation was found. In the renal microvasculature, arterioles showed mild hyaline deposits but not arteriolitis or venuitis. However, numerous inflammatory cells, including neutrophils, occupied the lumens of some peritubular capillaries, such as the glomerular cappilaries (square in Figure 1). An electromicrograph showed no basement membrane reduplication of PTCs in allograft or fibrinoid necrosis in ANCA associated renal vasculitis, but the lumen of PTC was totally occupied by inflammatory and endothelial cells (Figure 2). The patient was treated with intermittent haemodialysis and corticosteroid (prednisolone 30 mg daily). His renal function recovered gradually, and he was able to discontinue renal replacement therapy.
Validation of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Studies of Gene Expression in Preharvest and Postharvest Longan Fruits under Different Experimental Conditions

Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) as the accurate and sensitive method is use for gene expression analysis, but the veracity and reliability result depends on whether select appropriate reference gene or not. To date, several reliable reference gene validations have been reported in fruits trees, but none have been done on preharvest and postharvest longan fruits. In this study, 12 candidate reference genes, namely, CYP, RPL, GAPDH, TUA, TUB, Fe-SOD, Mn-SOD, Cu/Zn-SOD, 18SrRNA, Actin, Histone H3, and EF-1a, were selected. Expression stability of these genes in 150 longan samples was evaluated and analyzed using geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. Preharvest samples consisted of seven experimental sets, including different developmental stages, organs, hormone stimuli (NAA, 2,4-D, and ethephon) and abiotic stresses (bagging and girdling with defoliation). Postharvest samples consisted of different temperature treatments (4 and 22°C) and varieties. Our findings indicate that appropriate reference gene(s) should be picked for each experimental condition. Our data further showed that the commonly used reference gene Actin does not exhibit stable expression across experimental conditions in longan. Expression levels of the DlACO gene, which is a key gene involved in regulating fruit abscission under girdling with defoliation treatment, was evaluated to validate our findings. In conclusion, our data provide a useful framework for choice of suitable reference genes across different experimental conditions for RT-qPCR analysis of preharvest and postharvest longan fruits.
The plant stomatal lineage at a glance

ABSTRACT Stomata are structures on the surfaces of most land plants that are required for gas exchange between plants and their environment. In Arabidopsis thaliana, stomata comprise two kidney bean-shaped epidermal guard cells that flank a central pore overlying a cavity in the mesophyll. These guard cells can adjust their shape to occlude or facilitate access to this pore, and in so doing regulate the release of water vapor and oxygen from the plant, in exchange for the intake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Stomatal guard cells are the end product of a specialized lineage whose cell divisions and fate transitions ensure both the production and pattern of cells in aerial epidermal tissues. The stomatal lineage is dynamic and flexible, altering stomatal production in response to environmental change. As such, the stomatal lineage is an excellent system to study how flexible developmental transitions are regulated in plants. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster, we will summarize current knowledge of the divisions and fate decisions during stomatal development, discussing the role of transcriptional regulators, cell–cell signaling and polarity proteins. We will highlight recent work that links the core regulators to systemic or environmental information and provide an evolutionary perspective on stomata lineage regulators in plants. Summary: This Cell Science at a Glance article describes stomatal development, focusing on the role of transcriptional regulators, cell–cell signaling and polarity proteins.
The Role of Efflux and Uptake Transporters in N-{3-Chloro-4-[(3-fluorobenzyl)oxy]phenyl}-6-[5-({[2-(methylsulfonyl)ethyl]amino}methyl)-2-furyl]-4-quinazolinamine (GW572016, Lapatinib) Disposition and Drug Interactions

Lapatinib [N-{3-chloro-4-[(3-fluorobenzyl)oxy]phenyl}-6-[5-({[2-(methylsulfonyl)ethyl]amino}methyl)-2-furyl]-4-quinazolinamine, GW572016, Tykerb] is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for use in combination with capecitabine to treat advanced or metastatic breast cancers overexpressing HER2 (ErbB2). In this work we investigated the role of efflux and uptake transporters in lapatinib disposition and drug interactions. In vitro studies evaluated whether lapatinib is a substrate for efflux transporters or an inhibitor of efflux/uptake transporters. In vivo studies included whole-body autoradiography and an evaluation of the role of efflux transporters on the intestinal absorption and brain penetration of lapatinib using chemical or genetic knockout animals. Lapatinib is a substrate for the efflux transporters P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). Furthermore, lapatinib is an inhibitor (IC50 values 0.025–5 μM) of Pgp, BCRP, and organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (a hepatic uptake transporter). In contrast, lapatinib yielded little inhibition on renal transporters (organic anion transporters, organic cation transporters, and uric acid transporter). In vivo studies demonstrated that brain concentrations of lapatinib were low and influenced by efflux transporters at the blood-brain barrier. In contrast, systemic exposure of lapatinib after oral dosing was unchanged when efflux by Pgp and BCRP was absent from the gastrointestinal tract. These in vitro and in vivo preclinical investigations provide a mechanistic basis for elucidating clinical drug interactions.
A combined upflow anaerobic sludge bed and trickling biofilter process for the treatment of swine wastewater

ABSTRACT A combined upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)-trickling biofilter (TBF) process was constructed to treat swine wastewater, a typical high-strength organic wastewater with low carbon/nitrogen ratio and ammonia toxicity. The results showed that the UASB-TBF system can remarkably enhance the removal of pollutants in the swine wastewater. At an organic loading rate of 2.29 kg/m3 d and hydraulic retention time of 48 h in the UASB, the chemical oxygen demand (COD), Suspended Solids and Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen removals of the combined process reached 83.6%, 84.1% and 41.2%, respectively. In the combined system the UASB served as a pretreatment process for COD removal while nitrification and denitrification occurred only in the TBF process. The TBF performed reasonably well at a surface hydraulic load as high as 0.12 m3/m2 d. Since the ratio of influent COD to total mineral nitrogen was less than 3.23, it is reasonable to suggest that the wood chips in TBF can serve as a new carbon source for denitrification.
Energy — Efficiency techniques in cooperative spectrum sensing: A survey

Cognitive radio is a propitious technology to alleviate the issue of spectrum paucity by sensing and allocation of free spectrum bands. Spectrum sensing may be local: single node or cooperative: multiple nodes. It is customary that single node spectrum sensing is not much reliable as compared to cooperative spectrum sensing. However, cooperative spectrum sensing suffers from large overhead due to multiple secondary users who are working in cooperation with each other. Hence, energy efficiency in cooperative spectrum sensing is a challenging concern in cognitive radio. This survey enlightens the various aspects of energy efficiency in cooperative spectrum sensing. Various energy efficient algorithms are available in the literature. This survey compares various methods and techniques used for the optimization of no. of collaborative user in cooperative spectrum sensing. Challenges, drawbacks and newfangled ways of energy efficient collaborative sensing are briefly covered.
Prevalence of Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutations and HIV-1 Subtypes among Newly-diagnosed Drug-naïve Persons Visiting a Voluntary Testing and Counselling Centre in Northeastern South Africa

Data on antiretroviral drug resistance among drug-naïve persons are important in developing sentinel surveillance policies. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance mutations among drug-naïve HIV-infected individuals attending a voluntary testing and counselling centre at the Mankweng Hospital in northeastern South Africa. In total, 79 drug-naïve HIV-positive individuals were sequentially recruited during February 2008–December 2008. Drug resistance mutations were determined using the calibrated population resistance tool available on the Stanford HIV drug resistance database. Viral DNA was obtained from 57 (72%) of the 79 individuals. Reliable nucleotide sequences were obtained for 54 reverse transcriptase (RT) and 54 protease (PR) gene regions from 54 individuals. Overall, five sequences (9.3%) harboured drug resistance mutations (95% confidence interval −1.53 to 16.99). Four (7.4%) of these were nucleoside RT inhibitor mutations (D67G, D67E, T69D, and T215Y), and one (1.9%) was a PR inhibitor mutation (M46I). No major non-nucleoside RT resistance mutation was detected. Several minor resistance mutations and polymorphisms common in subtype C viruses were observed in the PR and RT genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial pol sequences showed that 52 (96%) of the 54 isolates were HIV-1 subtype C. One isolate (08MB08ZA) was HIV-1 subtype B while another (08MB26ZA) was related to HIV-1 subtype J. HIV-1 subtype recombination analysis with REGA assigned the pol sequence to HIV subtype J (11_cpx) with a bootstrap value of 75%. The prevalence of drug resistance mutations observed in the population studied was relatively higher than previously reported from other parts of South Africa. In addition, this is apparently the first report of an HIV-1 subtype J-like virus from northeastern South Africa.