Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Archosaur adductor chamber evolution: Integration of musculoskeletal and topological criteria in jaw muscle homology

The homologies of jaw muscles among archosaurs and other sauropsids have been unclear, confounding interpretation of adductor chamber morphology and evolution. Relevant topological patterns of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels were compared across a large sample of extant archosaurs (birds and crocodylians) and outgroups (e.g., lepidosaurs and turtles) to test the utility of positional criteria, such as the relative position of the trigeminal divisions, as predictors of jaw muscle homology. Anatomical structures were visualized using dissection, sectioning, computed tomography (CT), and vascular injection. Data gathered provide a new and robust view of jaw muscle homology and introduce the first synthesized nomenclature of sauropsid musculature using multiple lines of evidence. Despite the great divergences in cephalic morphology among birds, crocodylians, and outgroups, several key sensory nerves (e.g., n. anguli oris, n. supraorbitalis, n. caudalis) and arteries proved useful for muscle identification, and vice versa. Extant crocodylians exhibit an apomorphic neuromuscular pattern counter to the trigeminal topological paradigm: the maxillary nerve runs medial, rather than lateral to M. pseudotemporalis superficialis. Alternative hypotheses of homology necessitate less parsimonious interpretations of changes in topology. Sensory branches to the rictus, external acoustic meatus, supraorbital region, and other cephalic regions suggest conservative dermatomes among reptiles. Different avian clades exhibit shifts in some muscle positions, but maintain the plesiomorphic, diapsid soft‐tissue topological pattern. Positional data suggest M. intramandibularis is merely the distal portion of M. pseudotemporalis separated by an intramuscular fibrocartilaginous sesamoid. These adductor chamber patterns indicate multiple topological criteria are necessary for interpretations of soft‐tissue homology and warrant further investigation into character congruence and developmental connectivity. J. Morphol. , 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New Vistas in Inventory Optimization under Uncertainty

this paper we present an application of robust optimization to inventory optimization under uncertainty. We represent uncertainty in a constraint based framework derived from basic economic principles. This approach offers the ability to use information theoretic concepts to quantify the amount of information used in the optimization. The results are shown to correspond to classical models such as EOQ in simple cases. Not only this, the presented model easily incorporates more realistic constraints, which are complicated and are not easily incorporated by the classical models. I. INTRODUCTION A major challenge in supply chain inventory optimization is handling uncertainty, as not all the data required for making decisions are available with certainty at the time of making the decision This problem of design/analysis/optimization under uncertainty is central to decision support systems, and extensive research has been carried out in both Probabilistic (Stochastic) Optimization and Robust Optimization (constraints) frameworks. However, these techniques have not been widely adopted in practice, due to difficulties in conveniently estimating the data they require. Probability distributions of demand necessary for the stochastic optimization framework are generally not available. The constraint based approach of the Robust Optimization School has been limited in its ability to incorporate many criteria meaningful to supply chains. At best, the " price of robustness " of Bertsimas et al [4], [5] is able to incorporate symmetric variations around a nominal point. However, many real life supply chain constraints are not of this form.
Comparative Evaluation of Various Indexing Techniques of Geospatial Vector Data for Processing in Distributed Computing Environment

The explosion of ever increasing geospatial data is today met with the challenge of maintaining it in spatial databases and utilization of traditional methods of spatial data processing. The sheer volume and complexity of spatial databases makes them an ideal candidate for use with parallel and distributed processing architectures. There is a lot of enthusiasm toward using MapReduce paradigm and distributed computing for processing of large volumes of vector data. As spatial data cannot be indexed using traditional B-tree structures used by R/DBMS, several libraries such as JSI (Java Spatial Index), libspatialindex and SpatiaLite depend upon advanced data structures such as R/R*-tree, Quad-tree and their variants for spatial indexing. These indexing mechanisms have also been natively incorporated in frameworks such as Spatial Hadoop, Hadoop GIS SATO and GeoSpark. Additionally, most widely used open source RDBMS such as MySQL, Postgres and SQLite incorporate spatial indexing using extensions/add-ons. In this paper, we benchmark and compare the performance of various spatial indexing mechanisms in addition to evaluating the performance of distributed frameworks for planet sized datasets. We conclude by highlighting the characteristics of spatial tools and frameworks for better selection and implementation of R-tree indexing in a big geo-spatial processing system.
Loss of Distal Axons and Sensory Merkel Cells and Features Indicative of Muscle Denervation in Hindlimbs of P0-Deficient Mice

Mice lacking the major Schwann cell myelin component P0 show a severe dysmyelination with pathological features reminiscent of the Déjérine-Sottas syndrome in humans. Previous morphological and electrophysiological studies on these mice did not only demonstrate a compromised myelination and myelin maintenance, but were suggestive of an impairment of axons as well. Here, we studied the axonal pathology in P0-deficient mice by quantitative electron microscopy. In addition, we investigated epidermal receptor end organs by immunocytochemistry and muscle pathology by histochemistry. In proximal sections of facial and femoral nerves, axon calibers were significantly reduced, whereas the number of myelin-competent axons was not diminished in 5- and 17-month-old P0-deficient mice. However, in distal branches of the femoral and sciatic nerve (digital nerves innervating the skin of the first toe) the numbers of myelin-competent axons were reduced by 70% in 6-month-old P0-deficient mice. Immunolabeling of foot pads revealed a corresponding loss of Merkel cells by 75%, suggesting that survival of these cells is dependent on the presence or maintenance of their innervating myelinated axons. In addition, quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles showed pathological features indicative of denervation and axonal sprouting. These findings demonstrate that loss of an important myelin component can initiate degenerative mechanisms not only in the Schwann cell but also in the distal portions of myelinated axons, leading to the degeneration of specialized receptor end organs and impairment of muscle innervation.
Assessment of Forest Structure Using Two UAV Techniques: A Comparison of Airborne Laser Scanning and Structure from Motion (SfM) Point Clouds

This study investigates the potential of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to measure and monitor structural properties of forests. Two remote sensing techniques, airborne laser scanning (ALS) and structure from motion (SfM) were tested to capture three-dimensional structural information from a small multi-rotor UAV platform. A case study is presented through the analysis of data collected from a 30 × 50 m plot in a dry sclerophyll eucalypt forest with a spatially varying canopy cover. The study provides an insight into the capabilities of both technologies for assessing absolute terrain height, the horizontal and vertical distribution of forest canopy elements, and information related to individual trees. Results indicate that both techniques are capable of providing information that can be used to describe the terrain surface and canopy properties in areas of relatively low canopy closure. However, the SfM photogrammetric technique underperformed ALS in capturing the terrain surface under increasingly denser canopy cover, resulting in point density of less than 1 ground point per m2 and mean difference from ALS terrain surface of 0.12 m. This shortcoming caused errors that were propagated into the estimation of canopy properties, including the individual tree height (root mean square error of 0.92 m for ALS and 1.30 m for SfM). Differences were also seen in the estimates of canopy cover derived from the SfM (50%) and ALS (63%) pointclouds. Although ALS is capable of providing more accurate estimates of the vertical structure of forests across the larger range of canopy densities found in this study, SfM was still found to be an adequate low-cost alternative for surveying of forest stands.
Inhibition of Polyprotein Processing and RNA Replication of Human Rhinovirus by Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate Involves Metal Ions

ABSTRACT Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is an antiviral compound that was shown to inhibit the replication of human rhinoviruses (HRVs), poliovirus, and influenza virus. To elucidate the mechanism of PDTC, the effects on the individual steps of the infection cycle of HRV were investigated. PDTC did not interfere with receptor binding or internalization by receptor mediated endocytosis of HRV2 particles into HeLa cells. But we demonstrate that the processing of the viral polyprotein was prevented by PDTC treatment in HeLa cells infected with HRV2. Furthermore, PDTC inhibited the replication of the viral RNA, even when added four hours post infection. As PDTC is described as a metal ion binding agent, we investigated the effect of other metal chelators on the multiplication of HRV2. We show that EDTA, ο-phenanthroline, and bathocuproine disulfonic acid do not exhibit any antiviral properties. Surprisingly, these substances, coadministered with PDTC, abolished the antiviral effect of PDTC, suggesting that metal ions play a pivotal role in the inhibition of virus multiplication. These results suggest that PDTC inhibits the activity of the viral proteases in a metal ion dependent way.
Sample Loss and Survey Bias in Estimates of Social Security Beneficiaries: A Tale of Two Surveys. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research

Data from the Census Bureauâ€™s Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and the Current Population Survey (CPS) provide information on current and potential beneficiaries served by Social Security Administration (SSA) programs. SSA also links administrative records to the records of survey respondents who provide Social Security numbers. These matched data expand the content of the SIPP and CPS files to fields available only through SSA and Internal Revenue Service recordsâ€”such as lifetime earnings histories and aspects of program participation not collected in the surveys. The continuing usefulness of these surveys is being undercut by growing sample loss resulting from survey nonresponse, including initial nonresponse and attrition, as well as respondentsâ€™ reluctance to provide their Social Security numbers. This report examines sample loss in the SIPP and CPS and finds no evidence that attrition bias or match bias in the linking of administrative records to survey data has increased in the SIPP since the 1996 panel.
TRPM8 Activation by Menthol, Icilin, and Cold Is Differentially Modulated by Intracellular pH

TRPM8 is a nonselective cation channel activated by cold and the cooling compounds menthol and icilin (Peier et al., 2002). Here, we have used electrophysiology and the calcium-sensitive dye Fura-2 to study the effect of pH and interactions between temperature, pH, and the two chemical agonists menthol and icilin on TRPM8 expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Menthol, icilin, and cold all evoked stimulus-dependent [Ca2+]i responses in standard physiological solutions of pH 7.3. Increasing the extracellular [H+] from pH 7.3 to approximately pH 6 abolished responses to icilin and cold stimulation but did not affect responses to menthol. Icilin concentration-response curves were significantly shifted to the right when pH was lowered from 7.3 to 6.9, whereas those with menthol were unaltered in solutions of pH 6.1. When cells were exposed to solutions in the range of pH 8.1-6.5, the temperature threshold for activation was elevated at higher pH and depressed at lower pH. Superfusing cells with a low subactivating concentration of icilin or menthol elevated the threshold for cold activation at pH 7.4, but cooling failed to evoke [Ca2+]i responses at pH 6 in the presence of either agonist. In voltage-clamp experiments in which the intracellular pH was buffered to different levels, acidification reduced the current amplitude of icilin responses and shifted the threshold for cold activation to lower values with half-maximal inhibition at pH 7.2 and pH 7.6. The results demonstrate that the activation of TRPM8 by icilin and cold, but not menthol, is modulated by intracellular pH in the physiological range. Furthermore, our data suggest that activation by icilin and cold involve a different mechanism to activation by menthol.
Statistical physics Gibbs ensemble theory application to Internet system

In this paper, we first give a brief review of statistical physics Gibbs ensemble theory, then present a detail analysis and discuss for its essence, characteristics, applicable conditions, applicable scope and application domain. We think that rapid developing Internet scale has reached or near the requirements of thermodynamic limitation and internet package Sockets have satisfied the basic requirements of Statistical physics. After analysis of its structure, composition and essence, we defined it as Socketon. Section 3 describes its behavior composition and gives out integrated mathematical expressions, and then we use the Gibbs ensemble theory into Internet system and deduced the partition function of Internet grand canonical ensemble. So produce a series of means, concepts and parameters to describe the Internet and the inner relations among websites and between website and clients. This opens a new research field.
Phosphodiesterase 3A rs7134375 single nucleotide polymorphism and serum lipid levels

The association between the phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) rs7134375 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and serum lipid levels are not well understood in the general population. The present study was performed in order to detect the association between the rs7134375 SNP and serum lipid levels in the Guangxi Mulao and Han populations. The genotypes of the PDE3A rs7134375 SNP in 761 subjects of the Mulao population and 774 subjects of the Han Chinese population were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism combined with gel electrophoresis, and then confirmed by direct sequencing. It was observed that serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels were higher in the Mulao population than in the Han population (P<0.05 for each). The frequencies of the C and A alleles were 72.14 and 27.86% in the Mulao population, and 78.55 and 21.45% in the Han population (P<0.01), respectively. The frequencies of the CC, CA and AA genotypes were 52.04, 40.21 and 7.75% in the Mulao population, and 61.50, 34.11 and 4.39% in the Han population (P<0.01), respectively. The frequencies of the C and A alleles were 74.89 and 25.11% in Mulao females, and 68.08 and 31.92% in Mulao males (P<0.01), respectively. The serum triglyceride (TG) levels were different among the genotypes in the Mulao population; however, not in the Han population (P<0.01), and the A allele carriers exhibited lower TG levels than the A allele noncarriers. The serum lipid parameters were also correlated with several environmental factors in the two ethnic groups (P<0.05-0.001). It was concluded that the genotypic and allelic frequencies of the rs7134375 SNP are different between the Mulao and Han populations. In addition, the PDE3A rs7134375 SNP is associated with serum TG levels in the Mulao population, however, not in the Han population.
Glia-Neuron Interactions in the Retina Can Be Studied in Cocultures of Müller Cells and Retinal Ganglion Cells

Glia-neuron partnership is important for inner retinal homeostasis and any disturbances may result in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. Müller cells support RGCs with essential functions such as removing excess glutamate and providing energy sources. The aim was to explore the impact of Müller cells on RGC survival. To investigate the Müller cell/RGC interactions we developed a coculture model, in which primary Müller cells were grown in inserts on top of pure primary RGC cultures. The impact of starvation and mitochondrial inhibition on the Müller cell ability to protect RGCs was studied. Moreover, the ability of Müller cells to remove glutamate from the extracellular space was investigated. RGC survival was evaluated by cell viability assays and glutamate uptake was assessed by kinetic uptake assays. We demonstrated a significantly increased RGC survival in presence of untreated and prestarved Müller cells. Additionally, prestarved Müller cells significantly increased RGC survival after mitochondrial inhibition. Finally, we revealed a significantly increased ability to take up glutamate in starved Müller cells. Overall, our study confirms essential roles of Müller cells in RGC survival. We suggest that targeting Müller cell function could have potential for future treatment strategies to prevent blinding neurodegenerative retinal diseases.
IP-10, a -C-X-C- chemokine, elicits a potent thymus-dependent antitumor response in vivo

IP-10 is a member of the -C-X-C-chemokine superfamily of proinflammatory cytokines whose secretion is induced by interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To date no function has been described for IP-10. We have genetically engineered tumor cells to secrete high levels of murine IP-10 and demonstrate that while IP-10 has no effect on the growth of these tumor cells in culture, it elicits a powerful host-mediated antitumor effect in vivo. The IP-10 antitumor response is T lymphocyte dependent, non-cell autonomous, and appears to be mediated by the recruitment of an inflammatory infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes. These results document an important biologic property of IP-10 and raise the possibility that some of the T cell-directed effects of IFN-gamma and LPS may be mediated by this chemokine.
Proteomic Analysis of Post-synaptic Density Fractions from Shank3 Mutant Mice Reveals Brain Region Specific Changes Relevant to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Disruption of the human SHANK3 gene can cause several neuropsychiatric disease entities including Phelan-McDermid syndrome, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and intellectual disability. Although, a wide array of neurobiological studies strongly supports a major role for SHANK3 in organizing the post-synaptic protein scaffold, the molecular processes at synapses of individuals harboring SHANK3 mutations are still far from being understood. In this study, we biochemically isolated the post-synaptic density (PSD) fraction from striatum and hippocampus of adult Shank3Δ11-/- mutant mice and performed ion-mobility enhanced data-independent label-free LC–MS/MS to obtain the corresponding PSD proteomes (Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD005192). This unbiased approach to identify molecular disturbances at Shank3 mutant PSDs revealed hitherto unknown brain region specific alterations including a striatal decrease of several molecules encoded by ASD susceptibility genes such as the serine/threonine kinase Cdkl5 and the potassium channel KCa1.1. Being the first comprehensive analysis of brain region specific PSD proteomes from a Shank3 mutant line, our study provides crucial information on molecular alterations that could foster translational treatment studies for SHANK3 mutation-associated synaptopathies and possibly also ASD in general.
Prosody as a distinctive feature for the discrimination of arabic dialects

The aim of the work to be reported here is to explore the utility of prosodic information in language identification and discrimination tasks. The purpose of this study is to see whether prosodic patterns can be considered as reliable acoustic cues for the discrimination of Arabic dialects by investigating, via a perceptual experiment, if listeners are successful in identifying the Arabic dialect used by a speaker when they only have access to fundamental frequency, amplitude and some rhythmic characteristics of the original voice signal. Results show that prosodic cues alone can distinguish between dialect pairs, since native Arabic listeners are significantly more successful in identifying the Arabic dialectal varieties both in their natural and synthesized forms and that listeners’ identification rate are higher for the discrimination of their own dialectal variety when presented under its processed form. This perceptual study must be regarded as a first step towards the determination of a set of reliable cues for the Automatic Identification of Arabic Dialects.
In Vivo Demonstration of Neuroinflammatory Molecule Expression in Brain Abscess with Diffusion Tensor Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuroinflammatory molecules, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin1-β, lymphocyte function associated molecule-1, and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 contribute to the development of brain abscess. We hypothesized that the high fractional anisotropy (FA) in the brain abscess cavity reflects the upregulation of these neuroinflammatory molecules. Materials and METHODS: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed in 24 patients with brain abscess and Staphylococcus aureus–treated as well as nontreated Jurket cell lines (at 4 time points: 1, 24, 48, and 72 hours). Neuroinflammatory molecules were quantified from the brain abscess cavity aspirate of the patients as well as from the heat-killed S aureus–treated and nontreated cell lines and correlated with DTI measures. RESULTS: The DTI-derived FA strongly correlated with the presence of neuroinflammatory molecules in the pus as well as in S aureus–treated cell lines; no such correlation was observed in nontreated cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that neuroinflammatory molecules confer high diffusion anisotropy inside the brain abscess cavity. We propose that increased FA reflects upregulated inflammatory response in brain abscess.
Poverty in Emerging Asia: Progress, Setbacks, and Log-jams

The financial crisis of 1997-1998 in East and Southeast Asia has raised questions about the sustainability of some hitherto admired modes of poverty reduction. But this paper argues that there remain important lessons to learn from Asia’s great ascent out of poverty since the Second World War. It remains important that well before the setback struck, much of this area had eliminated food poverty. Most recent information suggests that the great improvements in poverty reduction have not been that much affected by the crisis. Instead, a more important problem, which is the focus of this paper, is the growing concentration of poverty on “the hard-core poor” especially among the uneducated in backward regions, and the declining elasticities of poverty to economic growth. Combined with the prospect that growth itself may well be slower, especially in East and Southeast Asia than before 1997, this raises the real question about future Asian poverty: the prospect that many countries, especially the large, poor ones, will not maintain earlier rates of poverty reduction without explicit redistribution.