Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COMPLEX GROWTH RATE EVOLUTION IN A LATITUDINALLY WIDESPREAD SPECIES

Abstract The simultaneous effects of selective agents acting on somatic growth rates, their interactions, and their interactions with local environmental conditions that vary across a species' geographic range are potentially complex and poorly known. This is particularly true of viviparous ectotherms whose offspring may be adapted to the gestation environment provided by their mothers. We studied multiple sources of growth rate variation in a widespread, viviparous reptile, including the effect of the maternal environment on growth following parturition. Females in early pregnancy were collected from replicate populations close to the tropical and temperate margins of this species' range. These females completed gestation in either of two different, common environments designed to simulate the thermal and photoperiod environments at the sampling locations. Our experiments revealed complex growth rate evolution between the northern and southern extremes of Eulamprus quoyii's geographic range and local adaptation of growth rates to maternal environments. Unique to this study was the manifestation of these growth rate differences, entrained in utero, but expressed following parturition and maintained through to maturity despite the presence of compensatory growth. In addition to providing the most complete picture to date of the evolution of somatic growth in a viviparous ectotherm, our study suggests that understanding local adaptation to maternal gestation environments, in terms of both mean growth rates and growth rate reaction norms, could change our understanding of how growth rates have evolved in other viviparous ectotherms. Indeed, such local adaptation may provide a selective advantage in the evolution of viviparity.
An Esterel compiler for large control-dominated systems

Embedded hard real-time software systems often need fine-grained parallelism and precise control of timing, things typical real-time operating systems do not provide. The Esterel language has both, but compiling large Esterel programs has been challenging, producing either needlessly slow or large code. This paper presents the first Esterel compiler able to compile large Esterel programs into fast, small code. By choosing a concurrent control-now graph (CCFG) as its intermediate representation, it preserves many of the control constructs to produce code that can be 100 times faster and half the size than code from other compilers with similar capacity. The primary contribution is an algorithm that generates efficient sequential code from a CCFG. While developed specifically for compiling Esterel, the algorithm could be used to compile other synchronous languages with fine-grained parallelism.
The vasodilatory action of telmisartan on isolated mesenteric artery rings from rats

Objective(s): Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) represent one of the widely used antihypertensive agents. In addition to anti-hypertension effect, some ARBs also show other molecular effects such as activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and so on. Here we studied the effects of telmisartan on the rat isolated mesenteric artery rings pre-contracted by phenylephrine (PE). Materials and Methods: Rat mesenteric artery rings were pre-contracted with 10 μM PE, and cumulative concentration-response curves to telmisartan were obtained. The endothelium-dependent mechanisms were investigated by mechanical removal of the endothelium. K+ channels were investigated by pretreatment of the artery rings with various K+ channel blockers. Results: Telmisartan produced concentration-dependent relaxation of the artery rings pre-contracted by 10 μM PE. Denudation of the endothelium did not affect the relaxant effect of telmisartan. Pretreatment with BaCl2 nearly inhibited the relaxation induced by the 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 μM telmisartan, but did not affect the relaxation induced by the 50 and 100 μM telmisartan. While the relaxation induced by telmisartan was not affected by pretreatment with TEA, 4-AP and glibenclamide. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that telmisartan produces concentration dependent vasodilation in isolated rat mesenteric artery rings with or without endothelium pre-contracted by PE. KIR channel may be involved in such a relaxant effect of telmisartan.
My Hand or Yours? Markedly Different Sensitivity to Egocentric and Allocentric Views in the Hand Laterality Task

In the hand laterality task participants judge the handedness of visually presented stimuli – images of hands shown in a variety of postures and views - and indicate whether they perceive a right or left hand. The task engages kinaesthetic and sensorimotor processes and is considered a standard example of motor imagery. However, in this study we find that while motor imagery holds across egocentric views of the stimuli (where the hands are likely to be one's own), it does not appear to hold across allocentric views (where the hands are likely to be another person's). First, we find that psychophysical sensitivity, d', is clearly demarcated between egocentric and allocentric views, being high for the former and low for the latter. Secondly, using mixed effects methods to analyse the chronometric data, we find high positive correlation between response times across egocentric views, suggesting a common use of motor imagery across these views. Correlations are, however, considerably lower between egocentric and allocentric views, suggesting a switch from motor imagery across these perspectives. We relate these findings to research showing that the extrastriate body area discriminates egocentric (‘self’) and allocentric (‘other’) views of the human body and of body parts, including hands.
Assessment of IT Governance and Process Maturity: Evidence from banking Industry

The aim of the current study is to evaluate and compare the IT governance maturity of Iran’s banking Industry and inform managers, who possess business knowledge and who may also be knowledgeable on the main aspects of COBIT, about the significant incremental risks this new technological advancement may expose the enterprise to if the proposals of possible controls are implemented by the prospective consumer enterprises to mitigate the incremental risks of cloud computing. To achieve this implications of IT governance framework and COBIT 4.1 were employed. Using data from 17 large publicly-owned and privately-owned banks. The results indicate that privately-owned banks have higher maturity rank in implementation of IT and business strategies compared to publicly-owned banks.
Multiple-reference-picture video coding using polynomial motion models

We present a new video coding scheme that uses several references frames for improved motion-compensated prediction. The reference pictures are warped versions of the previously decoded frame applying polynomial motion compensation. In contrast to global motion compensation, where typically one motion model is transmitted, we show that in the general case more than one motion model is of benefit in terms of coding efficiency. In order to determine the multiple motion models we employ a robust clustering method based on the iterative application of the least median of squares estimator. The approach is incorporated into an H-263-based video codec and embedded into a rate- constrained motion estimation and macroblock mode decision frame work. It is demonstrated that adaptive multiple reference picture coding in general improves rate-distortion performance. PSNR gains of 1.2 dB in comparison to the H-263 codec for the high global and local motion sequence Stefan and 1 dB for the sequence Mobile and Calendar, which contains no global motion, are reported. These PSNR gains correspond to bit-rate savings of 21 percent and 30 percent comparing to the H-263 codec, respectively. The average number of motion models selected by the encoder for our test sequences is between 1 and 7 depending on the actual bit- rate.
Bit Rate Buffer Control and Optimization of Embedded Video Encoder

To satisfy various requirement of embedded video encoder, an embedded video coding system based on TMS320C64xx DSP is designed in this paper. TMS320C64xx DSP (Digital signal processor) is the core of the coding hardware system, and FPGA (Field program gate array) as the co-processor of DSP, which can convert video data into the specified format. For real-time application, we optimize the encoder at three levels: Firstly, at algorithm level, develop some fast algorithm fitting for DSP; secondly, at system level, adjust the architecture of encoder and optimization data transfer with EDMA (Enhance Direct Memory Access); thirdly, at code level, we use linear assembly rewrite key code. In order to avoid overflow and under flow state of bit rate, software FIFO (First Input First Output) is designed, and by the status of FIFO, we can know the state of underflow and overflow of buffer. Experimental results show that the embedded video encoder can compress four channel CIF (352� 288) video data real-time.
Dependence of the Cytotoxicity of DNA-Damaging Agents on the Mismatch Repair Status of Human Cells

Mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency was reported to increase resistance of mammalian cells to killing by several genotoxic substances. However, although MMR-deficient cells are ∼100-fold more resistant to killing by SN1 type methylating agents than MMR-proficient controls, the sensitivity differences reported for the other agents were typically <2-fold. To test whether these differences were linked to factors other than MMR status, we studied the cytotoxicities of mitomycin C, chloroethylcyclohexyl nitrosourea, melphalan, psoralen-UVA, etoposide, camptothecin, ionizing radiation, and cis-dichlorodiaminoplatinum (cisplatin) in a strictly isogenic system. We now report that MMR deficiency reproducibly desensitized cells solely to cisplatin.
Efficient Kernel-based Learning for Trees

Kernel methods are effective approaches to the modeling of structured objects in learning algorithms. Their major drawback is the typically high computational complexity of kernel functions. This prevents the application of computational demanding algorithms, e.g. support vector machines, on large datasets. Consequently, on-line learning approaches are required. Moreover, to facilitate the application of kernel methods on structured data, additional efficiency optimization should be carried out. In this paper, we propose direct acyclic graphs to reduce the computational burden and storage requirements by representing common structures and feature vectors. We show the benefit of our approach for the perceptron algorithm using tree and polynomial kernels. The experiments on a quite extensive dataset of about one million of instances show that our model makes the use of kernels for trees practical. From the accuracy point of view, the possibility of using large amount of data has allowed us to reach the state-of-the-art on the automatic detection of semantic role labeling as defined in the conference on natural language learning shared task
Low Occurrence of Pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in Clinical, Food, and Environmental Samples: a Methodological Problem

SUMMARY While Yersinia enterocolitica is an important pathogen, which can cause yersiniosis in humans and animals, its epidemiology remains obscure. The pig is the major reservoir of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica of bioserotype 4/O:3, the most common type found in humans. Y. enterocolitica is thought to be a significant food-borne pathogen, although pathogenic isolates have seldom been recovered from foods. The low isolation rate of this pathogenic bacterium in natural samples, including clinical, food, and environmental samples, may be due to the limited sensitivity of culture methods. During the last decade, numerous DNA-based methods, such as PCR and colony hybridization assays, have been designed to detect pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in natural samples more rapidly and with better sensitivity than can be achieved by culture methods. In addition, the occurrence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in natural samples is clearly higher with PCR than with culture methods. The methods available for detection of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in natural samples are reviewed in this article.
On the Limb Darkening, Spectral Energy Distribution, and Temperature Structure of Procyon

We have fit synthetic visibilities from three-dimensional (CO5BOLD+PHOENIX) and one-dimensional (PHOENIX, ATLAS 12) model stellar atmospheres of Procyon (F5 IV) to high-precision interferometric data from the VLT Interferometer (K band) and from the Mark III interferometer (500 and 800 nm). These data sets provide a test of theoretical wavelength-dependent limb-darkening predictions. The work of Allende Prieto et al. has shown that the temperature structure from a spatially and temporally averaged three-dimensional hydrodynamic model produces significantly less limb darkening at 500 nm relative to the temperature structure of a one-dimensional MARCS model atmosphere with a standard mixing-length approximation for convection. Our direct fits to the interferometric data confirm this prediction. A one-dimensional ATLAS 12 model with "approximate overshooting" provides the required temperature gradient. We show, however, that one-dimensional models cannot reproduce the ultraviolet spectrophotometry below 160 nm with effective temperatures in the range constrained by the measured bolometric flux and angular diameter. We find that a good match to the full spectral energy distribution can be obtained with a composite model consisting of a weighted average of 12 one-dimensional model atmospheres based on the surface intensity distribution of a three-dimensional granulation simulation. We emphasize that one-dimensional models with overshooting may realistically represent the mean temperature structure of F-type stars such as Procyon, but the same models will predict redder colors than observed because they lack the multicomponent temperature distribution expected for the surfaces of these stars.
REPORT : COST-STSM-TD 1002-11449 Dynamics of Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels by High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy

Ion channels are membrane proteins facilitating ion fluxes across cell membranes, thereby regulating signal pathways for various physiological processes. The activity of ion channels can be triggered by the interaction with secondary messenger molecules and transmit this information into an electrical response by permeation of ions. Important members of this family are cyclic-nucleotide (cN) modulated channels, including nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels, and hyperpolarization-activated and nucleotide-gated (HNC) channels, which are activated by the interaction with cAMP and cGMP. They play a crucial role in the signal transduction of the sensory perception and signaling throughout the whole nervous system. A detailed picture of the specific CNG and HCN structure, their ion transport and a complete understanding of the mechanics of cN modulated ion channel activation are missing. As previously shown, HS-AFM enables to acquire movies at rates of about 10 frames per second with about 1nm resolution, and thus allows the visualization of single molecules at work. In this COST-STSM the first requirements for HSAFM experiments on cN modulated channels were performed. For this, the optimal sample preparation of MloK1 (prokaryotic homolog of HNC channels) 2D crystals adsorbed on AFM supports was debugged using conventional AFM imaging. Furthermore, first highresolution images of MloK1 channels in presence and absence of cyclic nucleotides in solution were observed, yielding in the associated structural changes of the ion channel.
Evolution and molecular characterization of macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Canada between 1998 and 2008.

OBJECTIVES Studies were performed to assess resistance mechanisms, multidrug resistance (MDR), genetic relatedness, serotype distribution, heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) coverage and pili virulence factors among macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (MRSP) isolated from respiratory samples submitted to hospital laboratories across Canada from 1998 to 2008. METHODS Isolates of MRSP (n = 1518) collected by the national surveillance studies CROSS (Canadian Respiratory Organism Susceptibility Study; 1998-2006) and CANWARD (Canadian Ward Surveillance Study; 2007-08) were tested using the CLSI broth microdilution method to establish antimicrobial susceptibilities. PCR was used to detect macrolide resistance genes [mef(A) and erm(B)] and pili virulence factors (type 1 pili and type 2 pili), the Quellung reaction was used to identify serotypes and PFGE was used to determine genetic relatedness. RESULTS The prevalence of MRSP increased from 8% in 1998 to 22% in 2008 (P = 0.0001). MRSP were 51% mef(A) positive, 36% erm(B) positive, 8% dual mef(A) and erm(B) positive and 5% mef(A) and erm(B) negative. Dual mef(A)- and erm(B)-positive isolates increased in prevalence from 3% in 1998 to 19% in 2008 (P = 0.001). The prevalence of PCV7 serotypes (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F) decreased from 67% in 1998 to 31% in 2008 (P = 0.0072). The prevalence of serotype 19A, a non-PCV7 serotype, increased by 15% from 1998 to 2008; isolates of serotype 19A were MDR, dual mef(A) and erm(B) positive, genetically related by PFGE and associated with the presence of pili virulence factors. CONCLUSIONS From 1998 to 2008, respiratory isolates of MRSP in Canada increased significantly due primarily to the emergence and spread of serotypes 6A, 19A and other non-PCV7 serotypes.
Comparison of the FBG sensor encapsulated into PDMS and FBG sensor glued on the plexiglass pad for respiratory and heart rate monitoring

Authors of this article focused on the use of fiber-optic technology for monitoring heart and respiratory rate of the human body. The article describes an innovative method of encapsulating fiber Bragg grating (FBG) into polymer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and comparison of this measuring probe with an FBG sensor glued on the plexiglass pad. The team of authors offers a solution which is basically focused on the monitoring of long-term ill patients with a minimum of physical movement load. Real data were acquired from a group of 10 volunteers with their written consent in the laboratory environment. Acquired data was compared by the Bland-Altman method.
Improved noninvasive prediction of liver fibrosis by liver stiffness measurement in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease accounting for controlled attenuation parameter values

Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) frequently overestimates the severity of liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a new parameter provided by the same machine used for LSM and associated with both steatosis and body mass index, the two factors mostly affecting LSM performance in NAFLD. We aimed to determine whether prediction of liver fibrosis by LSM in NAFLD patients is affected by CAP values. Patients (n = 324) were assessed by clinical and histological (Kleiner score) features. LSM and CAP were performed using the M probe. CAP values were grouped by tertiles (lower 132‐298, middle 299‐338, higher 339‐400 dB/m). Among patients with F0‐F2 fibrosis, mean LSM values, expressed in kilopascals, increased according to CAP tertiles (6.8 versus 8.6 versus 9.4, P = 0.001), and along this line the area under the curve of LSM for the diagnosis of F3‐F4 fibrosis was progressively reduced from lower to middle and further to higher CAP tertiles (0.915, 0.848‐0.982; 0.830, 0.753‐0.908; 0.806, 0.723‐0.890). As a consequence, in subjects with F0‐F2 fibrosis, the rates of false‐positive LSM results for F3‐F4 fibrosis increased according to CAP tertiles (7.2% in lower versus 16.6% in middle versus 18.1% in higher). Consistent with this, a decisional flowchart for predicting fibrosis was suggested by combining both LSM and CAP values. Conclusions: In patients with NAFLD, CAP values should always be taken into account in order to avoid overestimations of liver fibrosis assessed by transient elastography. (Hepatology 2017;65:1145‐1155).
Formal modeling of space shuttle software change requests using SCR

This paper describes a feasibility study into the use of a formal requirements modeling method (SCR) to assist with independent verification and validation of change requests for space shuttle flight software. The goal of the study was to determine whether a formal modeling technique could automate some of the manual analysis tasks performed on change requests, including consistency checking. To analyze the change request, the key part of the original functionality was modeled in SCR. The model was then updated to reflect the proposed changes. Tool support was used to perform consistency checking and to validate the model against domain properties. The study showed that as an analysis tool, formal modeling offers some advantages over inspection-based approaches. However, the problem of analyzing change requests is sufficiently different from other requirements modeling tasks that some specialist tools will be needed. The paper ends with a discussion of the demands of these needs.
Molecular Alliance of Lymantria dispar Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus and a Short Unmodified Antisense Oligonucleotide of Its Anti-Apoptotic IAP-3 Gene: A Novel Approach for Gypsy Moth Control

Baculovirus IAP (inhibitor-of-apoptosis) genes originated by capture of host genes. Unmodified short antisense DNA oligonucleotides (oligoDNAs) from baculovirus IAP genes can down-regulate specific gene expression profiles in both baculovirus-free and baculovirus-infected insects. In this study, gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae infected with multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV), and LdMNPV-free larvae, were treated with oligoDNA antisense to the RING (really interesting new gene) domain of the LdMNPV IAP-3 gene. The results with respect to insect mortality, biomass accumulation, histological studies, RT-PCR, and analysis of DNA apoptotic fragmentation suggest that oligoRING induced increased apoptotic processes in both LdMNPV-free and LdMNPV-infected insect cells, but were more pronounced in the latter. These data open up possibilities for promising new routes of insect pest control using antisense phosphodiester DNA oligonucleotides.
Brain oscillator(s) underlying rhythmic cerebral and buccal motor output in the mollusc, Pleurobranchaea californica.

Tonic (d.c.) intracellular depolarization of the previously identified phasic paracerebral feeding command interneurones (PCps) in the brain of the carnivorous gastropod Pleurobranchaea causes oscillatory neural activity in the brain, both before and after transecting the cerebrobuccal connectives. Therefore, cycle-by-cycle ascending input from the buccal ganglion is not essential to cyclic brain activity. Instead the brain contains an independent neural oscillator(s), in addition to the oscillator(s) demonstrated previously in the buccal ganglion (Davis et al. 1973). Transection of the cerebrobuccal connectives immediately reduces the previously demonstrated (Kovac, Davis, Matera & Croll, 1983) long-latency polysynaptic excitation of the PCps by the polysynaptic excitors (PSEs) of the PCps. Therefore polysynaptic excitation of the PCps by the PSEs is mediated by an ascending neurone(s) from the buccal ganglion. The capacity of feeding command interneurones to induce neural oscillation in the isolated brain declines to near zero within 1 h after transection of the cerebrobuccal connectives, suggesting that this capacity is normally maintained by ascending information from the buccal ganglion. The results show that this motor system conforms to a widely applicable general model of the neural control of rhythmic behaviour, by which independent neural oscillators distributed widely in the central nervous system are coupled together to produce coordinated movement.