Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
QTL Analysis of High Thermotolerance with Superior and Downgraded Parental Yeast Strains Reveals New Minor QTLs and Converges on Novel Causative Alleles Involved in RNA Processing

Revealing QTLs with a minor effect in complex traits remains difficult. Initial strategies had limited success because of interference by major QTLs and epistasis. New strategies focused on eliminating major QTLs in subsequent mapping experiments. Since genetic analysis of superior segregants from natural diploid strains usually also reveals QTLs linked to the inferior parent, we have extended this strategy for minor QTL identification by eliminating QTLs in both parent strains and repeating the QTL mapping with pooled-segregant whole-genome sequence analysis. We first mapped multiple QTLs responsible for high thermotolerance in a natural yeast strain, MUCL28177, compared to the laboratory strain, BY4742. Using single and bulk reciprocal hemizygosity analysis we identified MKT1 and PRP42 as causative genes in QTLs linked to the superior and inferior parent, respectively. We subsequently downgraded both parents by replacing their superior allele with the inferior allele of the other parent. QTL mapping using pooled-segregant whole-genome sequence analysis with the segregants from the cross of the downgraded parents, revealed several new QTLs. We validated the two most-strongly linked new QTLs by identifying NCS2 and SMD2 as causative genes linked to the superior downgraded parent and we found an allele-specific epistatic interaction between PRP42 and SMD2. Interestingly, the related function of PRP42 and SMD2 suggests an important role for RNA processing in high thermotolerance and underscores the relevance of analyzing minor QTLs. Our results show that identification of minor QTLs involved in complex traits can be successfully accomplished by crossing parent strains that have both been downgraded for a single QTL. This novel approach has the advantage of maintaining all relevant genetic diversity as well as enough phenotypic difference between the parent strains for the trait-of-interest and thus maximizes the chances of successfully identifying additional minor QTLs that are relevant for the phenotypic difference between the original parents.
Temptation and Self‐Control

We study a two-period model where ex ante inferior choice may tempt the decision-maker in the second period. Individuals have preferences over sets of alternatives that represent second period choices. Our axioms yield a representation that identifies the individual's commitment ranking, temptation ranking, and cost of self-control. An agent has a preference for commitment if she strictly prefers a subset of alternatives to the set itself. An agent has self-control if she resists temptation and chooses an option with higher ex ante utility. We introduce comparative measures of preference for commitment and self-control and relate them to our representations. Copyright The Econometric Society.
Perspectives on the Non-Human Primate Touch-Screen Self Ordered Spatial Search Paradigm

The self-ordered spatial search (SOSS) working memory task implemented as the computerised touch-screen task is a highly translatable platform providing a good comparison of human and non-human primate (NHP) cognitive performance measures. This communication describes how the manipulation of integral task components provides the ability to alter the dynamic range of range of performance suitable for the experimental approach being used. Accordingly, in the case of disruptors such as scopolamine for modelling cognitive decline and some aspects of brain disease states high baseline performances may be set to allow demonstration of disruption and reversal with potential new therapeutics. However, the SOSS task may be manipulated to obtain a large dynamic window of baseline performance optimised to detect the pure pro-cognitive impact of novel compounds.
Atypical rolandic epilepsy

Typical benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE) is a frequent and well‐delineated epileptic syndrome in childhood. Mild cognitive and behavioral difficulties are increasingly recognized in the course of BRE and should not be considered as atypical features. Atypical features are recognized on electroclinical grounds. These features, particularly early age at onset and frequent spikes or spike‐wave discharges, seem to be risk factors for neuropsychological deficits but also for an atypical evolution of BRE. Atypical evolutions of BRE are defined by the appearance of severe neuropsychological impairments and continuous spike‐and‐waves during slow sleep (CSWSS). The clinical expressions of these situations correspond to the syndromes known as atypical benign focal epilepsy of childhood (ABFEC), status of BRE, Landau‐Kleffner syndrome (LKS), and CSWSS syndrome, which may be part of a continuum related to BRE.
Independent Study: Route to Academic Equity for Rural High Schools.

F or the 15 million students who attend America's rural schools, a threat to equality of educa tional opportunity is the erosion of secondary curriculum. In an age that has witnessed the emergence of new disciplines, methods of inquiry, in struments of observation, and the hyper-accessibility of information, the curriculum of many rural second ary schools has shrunk. In Littlefork-Big Falls, along the Canadian border of rural Minnesota, juniors and seniors have had to choose from a dwindling number of courses that too often failed to cor respond with their personal interests or the entrance requirements of uni versities. It hasn't been altogether rare to find students repeating basic courses just to fill their schedules. Littlefork-Big Falls students are disadvantaged because of their num bers and remoteness, not their eth nicity or poverty. Even if a potential course enrollment is more than one or two, the problem of locating teach ers for specialized elective courses
Augmented reality-based training of the PCB assembly process

In this paper we propose an augmented reality (AR) based assistance system for reliably teaching the assembly process of printed circuit boards (PCB) to workers by using a smart glass running a self-developed software. The system is operated freehand by looking at QR-Codes and highlights a component's retrieval location and installation point in the user's field of vision by using four markers. A study executed in a production line of an Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS)-company resulted in an errorless performance of each individual participant who was equipped with the system. This paper describes the related work, concept and implementation of the software as well as the conducted study and its results. Finally a conclusion summarizes the success of the system and hints at future work.
A hybrid named entity tagger for tagging human proteins/genes

The predominant step and pre-requisite in the analysis of scientific literature is the extraction of gene/protein names in biomedical texts. Though many taggers are available for this Named Entity Recognition (NER) task, we found none of them achieve a good state-of-art tagging for human genes/proteins. As most of the current text mining research is related to human literature, a good tagger to precisely tag human genes and proteins is highly desirable. In this paper, we propose a new hybrid approach based on (a) machine learning algorithm (conditional random fields), (b) set of (manually constructed) rules, and (c) a novel abbreviation identification algorithm to surmount the common errors observed in available taggers to tag human genes/proteins. Experiment results on JNLPBA2004 corpus show that our domain specific approach achieves a high precision of 80.47, F-score of 75.77 and outperforms most of the state-of-the-art systems. However, the recall of 71.60 still remains low and leaves much room for future improvement.
Preclinical in vivo Performance of Novel Biodegradable, Electrospun Poly(lactic acid) and Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanocomposites: A Review

Bone substitute materials have witnessed tremendous development over the past decades and autogenous bone may still be considered the gold standard for many clinicians and clinical approaches in order to rebuild and restore bone defects. However, a plethora of novel xenogenic and synthetic bone substitute materials have been introduced in recent years in the field of bone regeneration. As the development of bone is actually a calcification process within a collagen fiber arrangement, the use of scaffolds in the formation of fibers may offer some advantages, along with additional handling characteristics. This review focuses on material characteristics and degradation behavior of electrospun biodegradable polyester scaffolds. Furthermore, we concentrated on the preclinical in vivo performance with regard to bone regeneration in preclinical studies. The major findings are as follows: Scaffold composition and architecture determine its biological behavior and degradation characteristics; The incorporation of inorganic substances and/or organic substances within composite scaffolds enhances new bone formation; L-poly(lactic acid) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite scaffolds, especially when combined with basic substances like hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate or demineralized bone powder, seem not to induce inflammatory tissue reactions in vivo.
Multivariate Stochastic Dominance for Risk Averters and Risk Seekers

This paper extends some well-known univariate stochastic dominance results to multivariate stochastic dominances for risk averters and risk seekers, respectively, when the attributes are assumed to be independent and the utility is assumed to be additively separable. Under these assumptions, we develop some properties of multivariate stochastic dominances for risk averters and risk seekers, respectively. For example, we prove that multivariate stochastic dominances are equivalent to the expected-utility maximization for risk averters and risk seekers, respectively. We show that the hierarchical relationship exists for multivariate stochastic dominances. We develop some properties for non-negative combinations and convex combinations of random variables of multivariate stochastic dominance. Finally, we establish some multivariate stochastic dominance relationships when attributes are dependent and discuss the importance and usefulness of the results developed in this paper.
Co.Vi.Wo.: Color Visual Words Based on Non-Predefined Size Codebooks

Due to the rapid development of information technology and the continuously increasing number of available multimedia data, the task of retrieving information based on visual content has become a popular subject of scientific interest. Recent approaches adopt the bag-of-visual-words (BOVW) model to retrieve images in a semantic way. BOVW has shown remarkable performance in content-based image retrieval tasks, exhibiting better retrieval effectiveness over global and local feature (LF) representations. The performance of the BOVW approach depends strongly, however, on predicting the ideal codebook size, a difficult and database-dependent task. The contribution of this paper is threefold. First, it presents a new technique that uses a self-growing and self-organized neural gas network to calculate the most appropriate size of a codebook for a given database. Second, it proposes a new soft-weighting technique, whereby each LF is classified into only one visual word (VW) with a degree of participation. Third, by combining the information derived from the method that automatically detects the number of VWs, the soft-weighting method, and a color information extraction method from the literature, it shapes a new descriptor, called color VWs. Experimental results on two well-known benchmarking databases demonstrate that the proposed descriptor outperforms 15 contemporary descriptors and methods from the literature, in terms of both precision at K and its ability to retrieve the entire ground truth.
Public-key cryptosystem design based on factoring and discrete logarithms

Most existing cryptosystem designs incorporate just one cryptographic assumption, such as factoring or discrete logarithms. These assumptions appear secure today; but, it is possible that efficient algorithms will be developed in the future lo break one or more of these assumptions. It is very unlikely that multiple cryptographic assumptions would simultaneously become easy to solve. Enhancing security is the major objective for cryptosystems based on multiple assumptions. K.S. McCurley proposed the first key distribution system based on two dissimilar assumptions, both of which appear to be hard. In his design, the sizes of the security parameters for these two assumptions are quite different. The modulus to satisfy the proper security requirement for one assumption is too large for the other assumption. The side effects are (1) the public key size is larger than the original Dime-Hellman key distribution scheme; and (2) more computation time is required. In the paper, the authors propose a cryptographic system design based on the two popular assumptions: factoring and discrete logarithms. Breaking this system is computationally infeasible because it requires (1) solving the Dime-Hellman discrete logarithm problem in a subgroup of Z ; , where p = 2p‘ x q’ + 1 and p’, q’ are two large primes, and (2) factoring (p 1)/2 into two large primes, p‘ and q’. Thus, in the proposed system, it is possible to choose the same size of security parameter for these two assumptions and, therefore, to maintain the efficiency of the implementation.
Pds5p regulates the maintenance of sister chromatid cohesion and is sumoylated to promote the dissolution of cohesion

Pds5p and the cohesin complex are required for sister chromatid cohesion and localize to the same chromosomal loci over the same cell cycle window. However, Pds5p and the cohesin complex likely have distinct roles in cohesion. We report that pds5 mutants establish cohesion, but during mitosis exhibit precocious sister dissociation. Thus, unlike the cohesin complex, which is required for cohesion establishment and maintenance, Pds5p is required only for maintenance. We identified SMT4, which encodes a SUMO isopeptidase, as a high copy suppressor of both the temperature sensitivity and precocious sister dissociation of pds5 mutants. In contrast, SMT4 does not suppress temperature sensitivity of cohesin complex mutants. Pds5p is SUMO conjugated, with sumoylation peaking during mitosis. SMT4 overexpression reduces Pds5p sumoylation, whereas smt4 mutants have increased Pds5p sumoylation. smt4 mutants were previously shown to be defective in cohesion maintenance during mitosis. These data provide the first link between a protein required for cohesion, Pds5p, and sumoylation, and suggest that Pds5p sumoylation promotes the dissolution of cohesion.
Severe morbidity after coronary artery surgery: development and validation of a simple predictive clinical score.

AIMS To develop a predictive clinical risk score of post-operative morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS AND RESULTS Data were collected retrospectively from 679 patients undergoing emergency or planned bypass surgery between 1 January and 31 December 1996. The incidence of morbidity was 23%. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis on two-thirds of the patients identified eight independent risk factors for severe morbidity. Six of these were pre-operative: symptomatic right heart failure, previous ventricular arrhythmias, previous coronary bypass surgery, chronic pulmonary disease, ST changes on pre-operative electrocardiogram, body mass index <24 kg. m-2, and two were intra-operative factors: the surgeon who operated, and the cardiopulmonary bypass time. A predictive clinical risk score was developed with the six pre-operative risk factors. The negative predictive value of the model is 87% and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve is 0.77. When tested on the remaining patients not used for developing the model, the area under the curve is 0.65. CONCLUSION This pre-operative risk score provides a simple method of risk stratification for patients undergoing coronary artery surgery. However, as for all predictive models, the performance of the score decreases when applied to a population other than that used to develop it.
A Phase-Locked-Loop optimal parameter design by improved discrete Particle Swarm Optimization

The main design parameters of Phase-Locked-Loop (PLL) are charge pump current, loop filter resistor, loop filter capacitor, voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) output slope and the divisor of divider. The above-listed parameters are directly relative to PLL performance. In a conventional PLL design, designers implement circuits to satisfy the specification on chip by simulator. However, it usually has to modify the expected specification due to process voltage temperature (PVT) variation when implementing. In this paper, we proposed a design to search optimal PLL parameters by improved discrete Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and applied digital control to modulate PLL to optimal performance.
Binarization Method Based on Pixel-level Dynamic Thresholds for Change Detection in Image Sequences

A new change detection scheme with enhanced tolerance to noises and illumination changes is proposed in this paper. In addition to computing a global threshold for an entire target image, a dynamically adjusted cumulative histogram is computed to find the most suitable threshold for every pixel in the target image. A binarization method is designed to integrate the global threshold and the dynamic thresholds. The adoption of pixel-level dynamic thresholds makes the proposed method more robust. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme is able to locate motion pixels more accurately and work well under various kinds of illumination conditions.
Concentration Phenomenon in Some Non-Local Equation

We are interested in the long time behaviour of the positive solutions of the Cauchy problem involving the following integro-differential equation $$\partial\_t u(t, x) = \left(a(x) -- \int\_{\Omega} k(x, y)u(t, y) dy\right ) u(t, x) + \int\_{\Omega} m(x, y)[u(t, y) -- u(t, x)] dy\quad \text{ for}\quad (t, x) $\in$ \mathbb{R}\_{+} \times \Omega,$$ together with the initial condition $u(0, \cdot) = u0 \quad \text{ in }\quad \Omega$. Such a problem is used in population dynamics models to capture the evolution of a clonal population structured with respect to a phenotypic trait. In this context, the function u represents the density of individuals characterized by the trait, the domain of trait values $\Omega$ is a bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}^N$ , the kernels $k$ and $m$ respectively account for the competition between individuals and the mutations occurring in every generation, and the function a represents a growth rate. When the competition is independent of the trait, we construct a positive stationary solution which belongs to the space of Radon measures on $\Omega$. Moreover, when this '' stationary '' measure is regular and bounded, we prove its uniqueness and show that, for any non negative initial datum in $L^{\infty} (\Omega) \cap L^1 (\Omega)$, the solution of the Cauchy problem converges to this limit measure in $L^2 (\Omega)$. We also construct an example for which the measure is singular and non-unique, and investigate numerically the long time behaviour of the solution in such a situation. These numerical simulations seem to reveal some dependence of the limit measure with respect to the initial datum.
Characterization of strong normalizability for a sequent lambda calculus with co-control

We study strong normalization in a lambda calculus of proof-terms with co-control for the intuitionistic sequent calculus. In this sequent lambda calculus, the management of formulas on the left hand side of typing judgements is "dual" to the management of formulas on the right hand side of the typing judgements in Parigot's lambdamu calculus - that is why our system has first-class "co-control". The characterization of strong normalization is by means of intersection types, and is obtained by analyzing the relationship with another sequent lambda calculus, without co-control, for which a characterization of strong normalizability has been obtained before. The comparison of the two formulations of the sequent calculus, with or without co-control, is of independent interest. Finally, since it is known how to obtain bidirectional natural deduction systems isomorphic to these sequent calculi, characterizations are obtained of the strongly normalizing proof-terms of such natural deduction systems.
Management of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Clinical Practice: Initiation, Maintenance, and Discontinuation of Therapy

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible visual loss in elderly populations. In recent years, pharmacological inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), via intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (Lucentis) or bevacizumab (Avastin), has offered the first opportunity to improve visual outcomes in patients diagnosed with this disorder. In this paper, we provide recommendations on how bevacizumab and ranibizumab may be best applied in current clinical practice, with an emphasis on their underlying pharmacology and efficacy. In addition, we review current guidelines for the initiation, maintenance, and discontinuation of anti-VEGF therapies, as well as emerging treatment strategies and future directions in the field.
Subjective Outcomes of Auditory Brainstem Implantation

Aim To assess the long-term subjective benefits of auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) and investigate the extent to which ABI users perceive it to be a useful device. Methods Using the Manchester database, all 31 living patients registered as ABI users were identified and sent the ABI performance questionnaire. Data regarding daily duration of use, auditory fatigue, ability to differentiate between speech and environmental sounds, and subjective usefulness of the ABI in different listening conditions were collected. Patients were asked to rate the usefulness of the device in various settings on a scale of 1 (not useful) to 6 (very useful). The mean age at implantation was 33 years (13–73 yr), and the mean follow-up period was 6 years (1.5–15 yr). Results Between March 1994 and September 2009, 57 patients underwent ABI insertion. A total of 26 patients were not eligible for inclusion in the study (19 nonusers, 5 deceased, and 2 sleepers). Of the 31 eligible patients identified as ABI users, 23 returned the questionnaire, 1 was excluded as the questionnaire had been completed on his or her behalf, giving a net response rate of 71%. Mean duration of usage per day was 12.62 hours (range, 8–16 h). Seventy-one percent of the patients turned the processor off at one or more points during the day. Differentiation between speech and environment was achieved in 95%, and 70% were able to differentiate between gender and adult and pediatric voices. The ABI was perceived as most beneficial when dealing with a familiar voice in a quiet place, with a median usefulness score of 4, rising to 5 when used in conjunction with lip reading. The ABI was least useful when dealing with an unfamiliar voice in a loud place, with a mean score of 1, rising to 2 when used in conjunction with lip reading. In all environments, combining the ABI with lip reading served to increase usefulness ratings by at least 1 point. Conclusion This study demonstrates that ABI users make use of their device for at least 12 hours per day on average and obtain considerable subjective benefit in speech discrimination when using the device with familiar speakers in a quiet environment. Benefit is less significant in noise and with an unfamiliar speaker. Lip reading enhances subjective benefit by at least 1 point, and lip reading training may have a role to play in maximizing subjective benefit.