Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of the Isochrysis C18-Δ9 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Specific Elongase Component Alters Arabidopsis Glycerolipid Profiles1

A cDNA isolated from the prymnesiophyte micro-alga Isochrysis galbana, designated IgASE1, encodes a fatty acid elongating component that is specific for linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) and α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3). Constitutive expression of IgASE1 in Arabidopsis resulted in the accumulation of eicosadienoic acid (EDA; C20:2n-6) and eicosatrienoic acid (ETrA; C20:3n-3) in all tissues examined, with no visible effects on plant morphology. Positional analysis of the various lipid classes indicated that these novel fatty acids were largely excluded from the sn-2 position of chloroplast galactolipids and seed triacylglycerol, whereas they were enriched in the same position in phosphatidylcholine. EDA and ETrA are precursors of arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3) synthesized via the so-called ω6 Δ8 desaturase and ω3 Δ8 desaturase biosynthetic pathways, respectively. The synthesis of significant quantities of EDA and ETrA in a higher plant is therefore a key step in the production of very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in oil-seed species. The results are further discussed in terms of prokaryotic and eukaryotic pathways of lipid synthesis in plants.
Single-Plex Quantitative Assays for the Detection and Quantification of Most Pneumococcal Serotypes

Streptococcus pneumoniae globally kills more children than any other infectious disease every year. A prerequisite for pneumococcal disease and transmission is colonization of the nasopharynx. While the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines has reduced the burden of pneumococcal disease, understanding the impact of vaccination on nasopharyngeal colonization has been hampered by the lack of sensitive quantitative methods for the detection of >90 known S. pneumoniae serotypes. In this work, we developed 27 new quantitative (q)PCR reactions and optimized 26 for a total of 53 qPCR reactions targeting pneumococcal serotypes or serogroups, including all vaccine types. Reactions proved to be target-specific with a limit of detection of 2 genome equivalents per reaction. Given the number of probes required for these assays and their unknown shelf-life, the stability of cryopreserved reagents was evaluated. Our studies demonstrate that two-year cryopreserved probes had similar limit of detection as freshly-diluted probes. Moreover, efficiency and limit of detection of 1-month cryopreserved, ready-to-use, qPCR reaction mixtures were similar to those of freshly prepared mixtures. Using these reactions, our proof-of-concept studies utilizing nasopharyngeal samples (N=30) collected from young children detected samples containing ≥2 serotypes/serogroups. Samples colonized by multiple serotypes/serogroups always had a serotype that contributes at least 50% of the pneumococcal load. In addition, a molecular approach called S6-q(PCR)2 was developed and proven to individually detect and quantify epidemiologically-important serogroup 6 strains including 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D. This technology will be useful for epidemiological studies, diagnostic platforms and to study the pneumobiome.
Afferent connections of the amygdalopiriform transition area in the rat

The amygdalopiriform transition area (APir) is often considered part of the lateral entorhinal cortex (Entl). However, in contrast to Entl, APir densely innervates the central extended amygdala (EAc) and does not project to the dentate gyrus. In order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of these territories, the afferent connections of APir were examined in the rat with retrograde (cholera toxin B subunit or FluoroGold) and anterograde tracers (Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin) and compared to those of the neighboring Entl. The results suggest that APir and Entl are interconnected and receive topographically organized hippocampal projections. Both are targeted by the olfactory bulb, the piriform, posterior agranular insular and perirhinal cortices, the ventral tegmental area, dorsal raphe nucleus, and locus coeruleus. Most importantly, the data reveal that APir and Entl also have specific inputs and should be viewed as separate anatomical entities. The APir receives robust projections from structures affiliated with the EAc, including the anterior basomedial and posterior basolateral amygdaloid nuclei, the gustatory thalamic region, parasubthalamic nucleus, and parabrachial area. The Entl is a major recipient for amygdaloid projections from the medial part of the lateral nucleus and the caudomedial part of the basolateral nucleus. Moreover, the medial septum, subicular complex, nucleus reuniens, supramammillary region, and nucleus incertus, which are associated with the hippocampal system, preferentially innervate the Entl. These data underscore that APir processes olfactory and gustatory information and is tightly linked to EAc operations, suggesting that it may play a role in reward mechanisms, particularly in hedonic aspects of feeding. J. Comp. Neurol. 489:349–371, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Finding Scientifically Interesting Places on Mars Using Region Discovery Algorithms

Mars is at the center of the solar system exploration efforts. Measurements collected by spacecrafts orbiting around the planet has been processed and organized into raster or pointbased datasets describing different aspects of Martian surface. Impressive knowledge about Mars was obtained by studying individual datasets, but additional information can be gained by data mining the fusion of disparate datasets. In this paper, we present a computational framework for region discovery geared toward finding scientifically interesting sites on Mars using multiple datasets. A novel family of density-based, representative-based, grid-based, and agglomerative clustering algorithms is proposed to find such sites. These algorithms search for contiguous regions maximizing a domain-expert-defined measure of interestingness. The proposed framework is used and evaluated in a case study in which we try to find sites in which extreme values of rampart impact craters co-locate with subsurface ice. Studying geological context of such sites provides a domain expert with an insight on a history of water on Mars. The case study features a mixture of raster and discrete datasets. Two approaches are explored to cope with this discrepancy. In the first approach, the raster is discretized and then regional co-location mining is applied. In the second approach, the point-based dataset is smoothed and transformed into a density function and then collocation regions are found from hotspots of the product of z-scores of the two densities. The paper also evaluates the potential of proposed framework for addressing scientific enquires in planetary sciences and other branches of geoscience.
Towards an Agile Design of the Enterprise Architecture Management Function

Enterprise architecture (EA) management provides an engineering approach for the continuous advancement of the enterprise as a whole. The high number of involved components and their dense web of interdependencies nevertheless form a major challenge for such approach and demand high initial investment into documentations, communications, and analysis. Aforementioned fact has in the past been an impediment for successful EA management in practice. In the field of software engineering recently lightweight and agile methods have become more and more important. These methods aim at quickly creating results, while staying flexible in respect to the design goals to attain. In this article we explore to which extent the de-facto standard for agile methods, namely Scrum, can be applied to EA management. Thereby, we derive challenges for an agile EA management approach and revisit current approaches regarding their agility. Finally, we outline how agile EA management can be implemented based on the method of Scrum.
Functional and structural organisation of the visual system in human albinism

Albinism is a developmental disorder which involves the misrouting of optic nerve projections, leading to an abnormally organised visual system. Despite the aberrant input, people with albinism have relatively normal vision and experience the world in much the same way as their peers. This thesis explores the functional and structural organisation of visual cortex in human albinism using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. This thesis covers four main experiments. Experiment 1 deals with stimulus optimisation for population receptive field (pRF) mapping in healthy adults. pRF mapping is a functional MRI technique for estimating cortical receptive field characteristics non-invasively. In this experiment, a stimulus configuration optimized for short acquisition time requirements is presented and implemented in subsequent experiments. Experiment 2 combines the pRF approach for retinotopic localization with diffusion MRI tractography in healthy adults to show evidence for direct extrastriate connections of the human optic radiation. The optic radiation is the principal white matter pathway for relaying retinal input to visual cortex, and typically considered a projection to primary visual cortex. In this experiment, independent pathways of the optic radiation to visual areas V2 and V3 are identified, and functional-structural methodologies developed for Experiment 4. Experiment 3 investigates the functional organisation of visual cortex in participants with albinism. A pRF mapping approach was implemented, identifying abnormal retinotopic organisation and altered receptive field properties in extrastriate visual cortex. In addition, we explore evidence for and against a dual receptive field model of visual field representation in albinism. Experiment 4 examines the structural and functional connectivity of early visual system in human albinism. In particular, differences in white matter microstructure and inter- hemispheric visual map connectivity are found between participants with albinism and a cohort of healthy controls. This thesis highlights the capacity and limitations of developmental plasticity in human albinism.
Pharmacognostic parameters for evaluation of the rhizomes of Curcuma caesia

In ethno medicinal practices, the traditional healers use the genus Curcuma for the treatment of various ailments but Curcuma caesia Roxb. is a very less known and almost untouched drug. The present work attempts to establish the necessary pharmocognostic standards for evaluating the plant material of C. caesia Roxb. Various parameters, such as morphology, microscopy, physicochemical constants, and phytochemical profiles of the entire parts of the plant were studied and the salient diagnostic features are documented. Major chemical constituents, extractive values, physicochemical constants, and other features are also been recorded.
Verification of acoustical correlates of emotional speech using formant-synthesis

This paper explores the perceptual relevance of acoustical correlates of emotional speech by means of speech synthesis. Besides, the research aims at the development of emotion-rules which enable an optimized speech synthesis system to generate emotional speech. Two invesigations using this synthetizer are described : 1) the systematic variation of selected acoustical features to gain a preliminary impression regarding the importance of certain acoustical features for emotional expression, and 2) the specific manipulation of a stimulus spoken under emotionally neutral condition to investigate further the effect of certain features and the overall ability of the synthetizer to generate recognizable emotional expression. It is shown that this approach is indeed capable of generating emotional speech that is recognized almost as well as utterances realized by actors
The balance of care.

The BoC was pioneered in the UK by Dr. David Challis and his colleagues at the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU), University of Manchester. While conventional projections of care needs often assume that a growing population of older persons will demand a proportionately greater number of residential LTC beds, the BoC emphasizes that the need for such beds will be determined as well by supply-side factors such as the availability of safe, costeffective community-based care. Other things being equal, where H&CC options are more accessible, additional older persons will be able to age in place and fewer will require residential LTC.
Features and modalities for assessing early knee osteoarthritis

Early detection of knee osteoarthritis (OA) is of great interest to orthopaedists, rheumatologists, radiologists and researchers. It is possible to detect knee osteoarthritis by measuring changes in selected articular cartilage features using sensitive modalities. This paper identifies the modalities that can potentially assess changes in morphological, mechanical or electrical and molecular features of the articular cartilage associated with the progression of OA. From the literature, it was found that the features that undergo earliest change are surface roughness for morphology, cartilage stiffness for mechanical properties and proteoglycan content for molecular composition. However, the earliest changes that can be accurately and consistently measured using non-invasive, non-ionizing and in-vivo modalities in the relevant categories of articular cartilage features are thickness, water and proteoglycan contents. It is argued that MRI is the most suitable modality for measuring early changes in thickness, water and proteoglycan content associated with early stage of osteoarthritis progression. Recent developments in MRI software and hardware, in particular the dual tuned (1H/23Na) MRI, provides the capability to measure accurate changes in thickness, water and proteoglycan contents of articular cartilage without using any contrast enhancement agent. Therefore, future research on early osteoarthritis should focus on using MRI as a measurement tool.
An automated system for measuring hematocrit level of human blood from total RBC count

Hematocrit level measures the percentage of red blood cells in the blood. The measurement of hematocrit level plays an important diagnostic role in many diseases like anemia, bone marrow disorder, colon cancer, ulcer, etc. The conventional process of measuring the hematocrit level in pathological laboratories is tiresome and prone to manual errors. In this work, we have developed an automated system for measuring the hematocrit level from the total red blood cell count in blood. A comparison between the hematocrit level obtained by the traditional method and the one given by our system has also been included to estimate the appropriateness of the developed system. The hematocrit level calculated by our automated system is approximately the same as the one obtained from the laboratories in most of the cases. Thus, this system could overcome the drawbacks existing in the manual process and hence measure the hematocrit level more accurately.
Trehalose 6,6′-Dimycolate (Cord Factor) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Induces Corneal Angiogenesis in Rats

ABSTRACT Neovascularization or angiogenesis is required for the progression of chronic inflammation. The mechanism of inflammatory neovascularization in tuberculosis remains unknown. Trehalose 6,6′-dimycolate (TDM) purified from Mycobacterium tuberculosis was injected into rat corneas. TDM challenge provoked a local granulomatous response in association with neovascularization. Neovascularization was seen within a few days after the challenge, with the extent of neovascularization being dose dependent, although granulomatous lesions developed 14 days after the challenge. Cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-1β, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were found in lesions at the early stage (within a few days after the challenge) and were detectable until day 21. Neovascularization was inhibited substantially by neutralizing antibodies to VEGF and IL-8 but not IL-1β. Treatment with anti-TNF-α antibodies resulted in partial inhibition. TDM possesses pleiotropic activities, and the cytokine network plays an important role in the process of neovascularization.
Regulation of Cellulase Synthesis in Batch and Continuous Cultures of Clostridium thermocellum

ABSTRACT Regulation of cell-specific cellulase synthesis (expressed in milligrams of cellulase per gram [dry weight] of cells) by Clostridium thermocellum was investigated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocol based on antibody raised against a peptide sequence from the scaffoldin protein of the cellulosome (Zhang and Lynd, Anal. Chem. 75:219-227, 2003). The cellulase synthesis in Avicel-grown batch cultures was ninefold greater than that in cellobiose-grown batch cultures. In substrate-limited continuous cultures, however, the cellulase synthesis with Avicel-grown cultures was 1.3- to 2.4-fold greater than that in cellobiose-grown cultures, depending on the dilution rate. The differences between the cellulase yields observed during carbon-limited growth on cellulose and the cellulase yields observed during carbon-limited growth on cellobiose at the same dilution rate suggest that hydrolysis products other than cellobiose affect cellulase synthesis during growth on cellulose and/or that the presence of insoluble cellulose triggers an increase in cellulase synthesis. Continuous cellobiose-grown cultures maintained either at high dilution rates or with a high feed substrate concentration exhibited decreased cellulase synthesis; there was a large (sevenfold) decrease between 0 and 0.2 g of cellobiose per liter, and there was a much more gradual further decrease for cellobiose concentrations >0.2 g/liter. Several factors suggest that cellulase synthesis in C. thermocellum is regulated by catabolite repression. These factors include: (i) substantially higher cellulase yields observed during batch growth on Avicel than during batch growth on cellobiose, (ii) a strong negative correlation between the cellobiose concentration and the cellulase yield in continuous cultures with varied dilution rates at a constant feed substrate concentration and also with varied feed substrate concentrations at a constant dilution rate, and (iii) the presence of sequences corresponding to key elements of catabolite repression systems in the C. thermocellum genome.
Fuzzy Inference System to Control PC Power Failures

If there is any one component that is absolutely vital to the operation of a computer, it is the power supply. Without it, a computer is just an inert box full of plastic and metal. The power supply converts the alternating current line to the direct current needed by the personal computer. This paper presents an application of fuzzy logic to control power failures in personal computers. The application uses fuzzy sets, fuzzy if-then rules and fuzzy inference system. Fuzzy logic is widely used to solve uncertain problems. Fuzzy inference systems (FIS) are widely used for process simulation or control. They can be designed either from expert knowledge or from data. For complex systems, FIS based on expert knowledge only may suffer from a loss of accuracy. This is the main incentive for using fuzzy rules inferred from data.
Biomaterials in Maxillofacial Surgery: Membranes and Grafts

Today, significant differences in the use of biomaterials (membranes and grafts) of animal or synthetic origin have yet to be reported. Nevertheless, some evidences suggest that synthetic materials have a lower risk of disease transmission. This review aims to assess the available informations on regenerative bone technique using reasorbable membranes and bone grafts. In particular, biocompatibility, immunological response, tissue reaction, reabsorption time and histological features of materials daily use in dentistry and in maxillofacial surgery were emphasized.
Presentation Agents for Speech User Interfaces-DDNNR

In this paper we introduce a presentation agent framework for speech applications. In this framework presentation agents are used to produce dynamic, adaptive and prosody rich speech outputs. Using this framework in our speechonly e-mail reader we have been able to handle multilingual issues and support different user groups. Our goal is to build unique computer ‘voices’ to make speech outputs more intelligible and pleasant for the users.
Speaking Plant Approach for Automatic Fertigation System in Greenhouse

Nowadays, many vegetables are grown inside greenhouses in which environment is controlled and nutrition can be supplied through water supply using electrical pump, namely fertigation. Dosage of nutrition in water for many vegetable plants are also known so that by controlling water supply all the needs for the plants to grow are available. Furthermore, water supply can be controlled using electrical pump which is activated according to the plants conditionin relation with water supply. In order to supply water and nutrition in the right amount and time, plants condition can be observed using a CCD camera attached to image processing facilities to develop a speaking plant approach. In this study, plants development during their growing period are observed using image processing. Three populations of tomato plants, with less, enough, and exceeded nutrition in water, are captured using a CCD camera every three days, and the images were analyzed using a developed computer program for the height of plants. The results showed that the development of the plants can be monitored using this method. After that, the response of plant growth in the same condition was monitored, and the response was used as input for the fertigation system to turn electrical pump automatically on and off, so the fertigation system could maintain the growth of the plants.
Nannon: A Nano Backgammon for Machine Learning Research

-A newly designed game is introduced, which feels like Backgammon, but has a simplified rule set. Unlike earlier attempts at simplifying the game, Nannon maintains enough features and dynamics of the game to be a good model for studying why certain machine learning systems worked so well on Backgammon. As a model, it should illuminate the relationship between different methods of learning, both symbolic and numeric, including techniques such as inductive inference, neural networks, genetic programming, co-evolutionary learning, and reinforcement learning based on value function approximation. It is also fun to play.
Bayesian compressed sensing of a highly impulsive signal in heavy-tailed noise using a multivariate Cauchy prior

Recent studies reveal that if a signal is highly compressible in some orthonormal basis, then an accurate reconstruction can be obtained from random projections using a very small subset of the projection coefficients, and thus, reducing the complexity of the sensing system. A Bayesian framework was introduced recently with respect to the reconstruction of the original (noisy) signal, providing some advantages when compared with reconstruction methods, employing norm-based constrained minimization approaches. These Bayesian methods were designed by using mixtures of Gaussians to approximate the sparsity of the prior distribution of the projection coefficients. However, there are cases in which a signal exhibits a highly impulsive behavior, and thus, resulting in an even sparser coefficient vector. In this paper, we develop a Bayesian approach for estimating the original signal based on a set of compressed-sensing measurements corrupted by heavy-tailed noise. The prior belief that the vector of projection coefficients should be sparse is enforced by fitting its prior distribution by means of a heavy-tailed multivariate Cauchy distribution. The experimental results show that our proposed method achieves an improved reconstruction performance, in terms of a smaller reconstruction error, while increasing the sparsity using less basis functions, compared with the recently introduced Gaussian-based Bayesian implementation.