Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring New Thermal Fog and Ultra-Low Volume Technologies to Improve Indoor Control of the Dengue Vector, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

ABSTRACT Control of the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti (L.), inside human habitations must be performed quickly and efficiently to reduce the risk of transmission during dengue outbreaks. As part of a broad study to assess the efficacy of dengue vector control tools for the U.S. Military, two pesticide delivery systems (ultra-low volume [ULV] and thermal fog) were evaluated for their ability to provide immediate control of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes with a contact insecticide inside simulated urban structures. An insect growth regulator was also applied to determine how well each sprayer delivered lethal doses of active ingredient to indoor water containers for pupal control. Mortality of caged Ae. aegypti, pesticide droplet size, and droplet deposition were recorded after applications. In addition, larval and pupal mortality was measured from treated water samples for 4 wk after the applications. The ULV and the thermal fogger performed equally well in delivering lethal doses of adulticide throughout the structures. The ULV resulted in greater larval mortality and adult emergence inhibition in the water containers for a longer period than the thermal fogger. Therefore, the ULV technology is expected to be a better tool for sustained vector suppression when combined with an effective insect growth regulator. However, during a dengue outbreak, either delivery system should provide an immediate knockdown of vector populations that may lower the risk of infection and allow other suppression strategies to be implemented.
On the segmentation of switching autoregressive processes by nonparametric Bayesian methods

We demonstrate the use of a variant of the nonparametric Bayesian (NPB) forward-backward (FB) method for sampling state sequences of hidden Markov models (HMMs), when the continuous-valued observations follow autoregressive (AR) processes. The goal is to get an accurate representation of the posterior probability of the state-sequence configuration. The advantage of using NPB samplers towards this end is well-known; one need not specify (or heuristically estimate) the number of states present in the model. Instead one uses hierarchical Dirichlet processes (HDPs) as priors for the state-transition probabilities to account for a potentially infinite number of states. The FB algorithm is known to increase the mixing rate of such samplers (compared to direct Gibbs), but can still yield significant spread in segmentation error. We show that by approximately integrating out some parameters of the model, one can alleviate this problem considerably.
Fault tolerant positioning system for a multisensor control scheme

The present paper deals with a fault tolerant control scheme for a multisensor plant based on set theoretic methods under the assumption of bounded exogenous signals. Robust guarantees for the global stability of the system and the separability and identification of abrupt faults occurring in the sensor outputs are provided. The methodology is exemplified on a positioning system showing improved detection and isolation capabilities even for reference signals passing with oscillations around the position corresponding to faulty functioning of the sensors.
Genomic Fold Assignment and Rational Modeling of Proteins of Biological Interest

The first available genome of a multicellular organism, C. elegans, was used as a test case for protein fold assignment using PSI-BLAST, followed by rational structure modeling and interpretation of experimental mutagenesis data in the context of collaboration with biologists. Similar results are demonstrated for human disease proteins with known polymorphisms.
How precise are measurements of unit-cell dimensions from single crystals?

The results of single-site and many-site measurements of cell dimensions from single crystals are compared for Bond and four-circle diffractometers using samples of corundum (essentially pure rhombohedral alpha-Al2O3, aluminum oxide) of high diffraction quality, where the effects of small changes in temperature and composition (Cr2O3, chromium oxide, in solid solution) can be taken into account. Similar comparisons are made for four-circle diffractometer measurements on ruby (alpha-Al2O3, with 0.46 wt % Cr in solid solution). The precisions are some parts in 10(5). There is partial support for the Taylor-Kennard [Acta Cryst. (1986), B42, 112-120] dictum that standard uncertainties (s.u.s) of cell parameters from routine four-circle diffractometer measurements are less than those for many-site measurements by factors of 5 for cell lengths and 2.5 for cell angles. For organic crystals, independent repetitions of adequate quality for comparison and analysis of routine four-circle diffractometer measurements are available only for alpha-oxalic acid dihydrate and anthracene. The experimental standard uncertainties given for these two crystals agree reasonably well with the sample s.u. s at room temperature, but appreciably less well at approximately 100 K, again giving partial support to the Taylor-Kennard dictum. The relation between specimen characteristics and attainable precision is emphasized; the precisions for routine measurements on good quality organic crystals are some parts in 10(4). Area-detector measurements of cell dimensions have also been appraised; currently published s.u. s from such measurements appear to be highly unreliable, and this is supported by a recent analysis of the operation of such diffractometers [Paciorek et al. (1999). Acta Cryst. A55, 543-557]. Formulation of a standard protocol for such measurements is badly needed. The dangers inherent in high degrees of replication are illustrated by recounting Kapteyn's Parable of the Chinese Emperor. Attention is drawn to the fact that there has been little improvement in claimed precisions over the past 40-60 years.
Dynamics of large proteins through hierarchical levels of coarse‐grained structures

Elastic network models have been successful in elucidating the largest scale collective motions of proteins. These models are based on a set of highly coupled springs, where only the close neighboring amino acids interact, without any residue specificity. Our objective here is to determine whether the equivalent cooperative motions can be obtained upon further coarse‐graining of the protein structure along the backbone. The influenza virus hemagglutinin A (HA), composed of N=1509 residues, is utilized for this analysis. Elastic network model calculations are performed for coarse‐grained HA structures containing only N/2, N/10, N/20, and N/40 residues along the backbone. High correlations (>0.95) between residue fluctuations are obtained for the first dominant (slowest) mode of motion between the original model and the coarse‐grained models. In the case of coarse‐graining by a factor of 1/40, the slowest mode shape for HA is reconstructed for all residues by successively selecting different subsets of residues, shifting one residue at a time. The correlation for this reconstructed first mode shape with the original all‐residue case is 0.73, while the computational time is reduced by about three orders of magnitude. The reduction in computational time will be much more significant for larger targeted structures. Thus, the dominant motions of protein structures are robust enough to be captured at extremely high levels of coarse‐graining. And more importantly, the dynamics of extremely large complexes are now accessible with this new methodology. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 23: 119–127, 2002
Conflict and performance in channels: a comparative synthesis of empirical findings

32 p. ; Includes bibliographical references (pp. 22-26). ; "September 2015. " ; The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous help of several researchers who have shared their data with little urging. We would also like to thank Hamed Qahri-Saremi, and the participants of the May 2015 Value in the Vertical (VIV) Workshop and the Marketing BBL Seminar series at McMaster University, for their valuable comments and feedbacks. This research has been partially funded by research grants awarded to Dr. Sourav Ray by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada.
Trifluoperazine Plasma Levels and Clinical Response

The authors studied 36 acutely psychotic inpatients who were diagnosed as having either a schizophrenic (N = 30) or other psychotic (N = 6) disorder. After a washout phase averaging 18 days, all patients were placed on trifluoperazine 5 mg orally twice a day. Plasma levels of trifluoperazine were obtained on days 11 and 15 of treatment and then compared with clinical response. After 2 weeks of treatment an inverted U-shaped relationship was found between change scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and trifluoperazine plasma levels.
Iron oxide nanoparticle agglomeration influences dose rates and modulates oxidative stress-mediated dose–response profiles in vitro

Abstract Spontaneous agglomeration of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) is a common problem in cell culture media which can confound interpretation of in vitro nanotoxicity studies. The authors created stable agglomerates of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) in conventional culture medium, which varied in hydrodynamic size (276 nm–1.5 μm) but were composed of identical primary particles with similar surface potentials and protein coatings. Studies using C10 lung epithelial cells show that the dose rate effects of agglomeration can be substantial, varying by over an order of magnitude difference in cellular dose in some cases. Quantification by magnetic particle detection showed that small agglomerates of carboxylated IONPs induced greater cytotoxicity and redox-regulated gene expression when compared with large agglomerates on an equivalent total cellular IONP mass dose basis, whereas agglomerates of amine-modified IONPs failed to induce cytotoxicity or redox-regulated gene expression despite delivery of similar cellular doses. Dosimetry modelling and experimental measurements reveal that on a delivered surface area basis, large and small agglomerates of carboxylated IONPs have similar inherent potency for the generation of ROS, induction of stress-related genes and eventual cytotoxicity. The results suggest that reactive moieties on the agglomerate surface are more efficient in catalysing cellular ROS production than molecules buried within the agglomerate core. Because of the dynamic, size and density-dependent nature of ENP delivery to cells in vitro, the biological consequences of agglomeration are not discernible from static measures of exposure concentration (μg/ml) alone, highlighting the central importance of integrated physical characterisation and quantitative dosimetry for in vitro studies. The combined experimental and computational approach provides a quantitative framework for evaluating relationships between the biocompatibility of nanoparticles and their physical and chemical characteristics.
Random-access compression of annotated DNA sequences

This article investigates the efficiency of randomly accessible coding for annotated genome files and compares it to universal coding. The result is an encoder which has excellent compression efficiency on annotated genome sequences, provides instantaneous access to functional elements in the file, and thus it serves as a basis for further applications, such as indexing and searching for specified feature entries.
A precise measurement of the direct CP violation parameter Re ( ε ′ / ε ) The NA 48 Collaboration

The direct CP violation parameter Re(ε′/ε) has been measured from the decay rates of neutral kaons into two pions using the NA48 detector at the CERN SPS. With 3.3 million KL → ππ events collected during the 1998 and 1999 running periods, a result of Re(ε′/ε) = (15.0 ± 2.7)×10−4 has been obtained. The result combined with the published 1997 sample is Re(ε′/ε) = (15.3 ± 2.6)×10−4.
Whole-Genome Sequence of Mesorhizobium hungaricum sp. nov. Strain UASWS1009, a Potential Resource for Agricultural and Environmental Uses

ABSTRACT We report here the whole-genome shotgun sequences of the strain UASWS1009 of the species Mesorhizobium hungaricum sp. nov., which are different from any other known Mesorhizobium species. This is the first genome registered for this new species, which could be considered as a potential resource for agriculture and environmental uses.
Oestrogen effects on calcitriol levels in post‐menopausal women: a comparison of oral versus transdermal administration

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In some studies oral oestrogen therapy In post‐menopausal women has been shown to increase both total and free 1,25‐dlhydroxy‐vltamln D (calcitriol) levels, suggesting that oestrogen therapy may prevent post‐menopausal bone loss, in part, by increasing calcium absorption as a result of raised calcitriol levels. Transdermal oestrogen, however, has not been shown to Increase calcitriol levels although It prevents bone loss. These two routes of administration have not previously been directly compared In the same subjects at bioequivalent doses as assessed by FSH and LH suppression.
Draft Genome Sequence of Halobacillus sp. Strain KGW1, a Moderately Halophilic and Alkaline Protease-Producing Bacterium Isolated from the Rhizospheric Region of Phragmites karka from Chilika Lake, Odisha, India

ABSTRACT Halobacillus sp. strain KGW1 is a moderately halophilic, rod shaped, Gram-positive, yellow pigmented, alkaline protease-producing bacterium isolated from a water sample from Chilika Lake, Odisha, India. Sequencing of bacterial DNA assembled a 3.68-Mb draft genome. The genome annotation analysis showed various gene clusters for tolerance to stress, such as elevated pH, salt concentration, and toxic metals.
Cerebral blood flow and left ventricular output in spontaneously breathing, newborn preterm infants treated with caffeine or aminophylline

Aminophylline and caffeine are commonly used for prophylaxis of apnea in premature infants. Previous studies have indicated different effects of the drugs on cerebral circulation. Therefore, we have compared the acute effects of bolus administration of caffeine citrate or aminophylline on left ventricular output, heart rate, blood pressure and global cerebral blood flow. The study group consisted of 33 newborn, spontaneously breathing, preterm infants randomly assigned to receive either aminophylline 5mg/kg (n= 19) or caffeine citrate 20mg/kg (n= 14). Two hours after iv drug administration, global cerebral blood flow measured by the Xe‐clearance technique was significantly lower after aminophylline than after caffeine (mean(SD)): 13.2 (+2.9/ ‐ 2.3) versus 17.2 (+7.1/ ‐ 5.1) ml/100 g/min) (p= 0.01). There were no other statistically significant differences in circulatory or ventilatory parameters between the groups. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical relevance of these results.
Evaluation of Langerhans' cells in the cervical epithelium of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE Cervical infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) results in a more permissive environment for malignant transformation. In squamous epithelia the Langerhans' cell (LC) is responsible for antigen presentation. Studies that use S-100 immunostaining demonstrate low LCs in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) while those that use other methods have shown normal numbers of LCs. This observation led us to postulate that a defect in S-100 proteins, not a simple decrease in LC number, may be the cause of immune suppression. To evaluate this we identified LCs in the cervix of women with HPV/CIN in a prospective fashion using two antibodies, S-100 and CD1, each targeting a different element of the LC. METHODS Paired biopsies of the cervix were taken, one paraffin embedded for S-100 and the other snap frozen for CD1 staining. LCs were counted and expressed as the number of cells per millimeter of epithelium. Analysis of variance was used to assess differences between counts in normal, low-grade, and high-grade lesions. HPV was tested by hybrid capture. RESULTS S-100 LCs were significantly reduced in dysplasia, LG 8.6 and HG 6.0, compared to normal at 16.7 cells/mm (P = 0.04). S-100 LCs were reduced in HPV-infected cases at 5.9 vs 12.8 cells/mm in HPV negatives (P = 0.02). Acute inflammatory infiltrates were associated with increased S-100 LCs independent of pathology. CD1 LCs were not significantly altered by any parameters tested. CONCLUSIONS HPV/CIN may exert an immunosuppressive effect by decreasing the S-100 LCs. The association of S-100-positive LCs coupled with cervical inflammatory changes suggests an important function of the S-100 proteins in the development of an anti-HPV response.
Control of slippage with tunable bubble mattresses

Tailoring the hydrodynamic boundary condition is essential for both applied and fundamental aspects of drag reduction. Hydrodynamic friction on superhydrophobic substrates providing gas–liquid interfaces can potentially be optimized by controlling the interface geometry. Therefore, establishing stable and optimal interfaces is crucial but rather challenging. Here we present unique superhydrophobic microfluidic devices that allow the presence of stable and controllable microbubbles at the boundary of microchannels. We experimentally and numerically examine the effect of microbubble geometry on the slippage at high resolution. The effective slip length is obtained for a wide range of protrusion angles, θ, of the microbubbles into the flow, using a microparticle image velocimetry technique. Our numerical results reveal a maximum effective slip length, corresponding to a 23% drag reduction at an optimal θ ≈ 10°. In agreement with the simulation results, our measurements correspond to up to 21% drag reduction when θ is in the range of −2° to 12°. The experimental and numerical results reveal a decrease in slip length with increasing protrusion angles when θ ≳ 10°. Such microfluidic devices with tunable slippage are essential for the amplified interfacial transport of fluids and particles.
Enforcing secure service composition

A static approach is proposed to study secure composition of software. We extend the /spl lambda/-calculus with primitives for invoking services that respect given security requirements. Security-critical code is enclosed in policy framings with a possibly nested, local scope. Policy framings enforce safety and liveness properties of execution histories. The actual histories that can occur at runtime are over-approximated by a type and effect system. These approximations are model-checked to verify policy framings within their scopes. This allows for removing any runtime execution monitor, and for selecting those services that match the security requirements.
Importance of Comprehensive Cardiovascular Screening in Patients Scheduled for Kidney Donation.

INTRODUCTION End stage renal disease is on the rise in many parts of the world. Kidney transplant is a common procedure and definitive treatment for end stage renal disease. Along with its various advantages, it presents with an array of complications, associated with the procedure. Hence, an effective screening program to identify eligible donors is of crucial importance. The main aim of this study was to identify the frequency of possible undetected cardiovascular abnormalities in scheduled donors and its association with gender. METHODS A sample size of 402 was selected with an equal number of donor and non-donor participants after age and gender matching. A positive electrocardiogram (ECG) change was defined as cardiac ischemia, occurring during exercise tolerance test (ETT), with 2 mm horizontal or down sloping ST-segment depression occurring 0.08 milliseconds after J-point whereas an exaggerated blood pressure (BP) was defined as high systolic blood pressure (SBP) at rest to maximum effort ≥7.5mmHg/MET (metabolic equivalents) and/or SBP at the peak of effort ≥220mmHg or subjects with high diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at rest to maximum effort ≥15mmHg, from normal levels of blood pressure at rest. Chi square was used as the primary statistical test. RESULTS Scheduled kidney donors had significantly (P=0.007) higher proportion (n=19, 9.5%) of positive ECG changes and exaggerated BP response (n=35, 17.4%) (P<0.0001) compared with the controls. Also, female donors had significantly (P=0.025) higher (n=16, 13.2%) chances of having a positive ECG change. CONCLUSION A significant number of kidney donors have undetected cardiovascular abnormalities which could lead to post-transplant complications. Therefore, effective screening should be made imperative to avoid preventable complications such as hypertension of kidney transplantation.
Effect of Intraseptal Vasotocin and Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide Infusions on Courtship Song and Aggression in the Male Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

The present experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that septal arginine vasotocin (AVT) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) modulate directed song (a courtship behaviour) and aggression in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Subjects were surgically fitted with a guide cannula directed at the septum. Following recovery they were tested for aggression and directed song following infusions of AVT, its antagonist (anti‐vasopressin, AVP), and saline volume control. Infusion of the AVT antagonist significantly reduced all three aggressive behaviours measured (pecks, beak fences and chases); and AVT infusion significantly facilitated beak fencing. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide treatment significantly reduced pecking. No treatment produced a change in directed song. Comparison with findings in mammals suggests that modulation of aggression by septal AVT (or AVP) is evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates, but modulation of aggression by VIP has not previously been reported for any vertebrate.
Radiocarbon Geochemistry of Modern and Ancient Arctic Lake Systems, Baffin Island, Canada

Abstract The accuracy of Arctic lake chronologies has been assessed by measuring the 14C activities of modern carbon sources and applying these isotopic mass balances to dating fossil lake materials. Small (<1 km2) shallow (<25 m) Arctic lakes with watersheds <12 km2have soil and peat stratigraphic sections with14C activities ranging from 98 to 51% Modern. The14C activity of particulate organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, and dissolved inorganic carbon from lake and stream waters ranges from 121 to 95% Modern. The sediment–water interface of the studied lakes shows consistent14C ages of ∼100014C yr, although the14C activity of living aquatic vegetation is 115% Modern. Radiocarbon measurements of components of the lacustrine carbon pool imply that the ∼100014C yr age of the sediment–water interface results from deposition of14C-depleted organic matter derived from the watershed.
If you liked Herlocker et al.’s explanations paper, then you might like this paper too

We present explanation rules , which provide explanations of user-based collaborative recommendations but in a form that is familiar from item-based collaborative recommendations; for example, “People who liked Toy Story also like Finding Nemo ”. We present an algorithm for computing explanation rules. We report the results of a web-based user trial that gives a preliminary evaluation of the perceived effectiveness of explanation rules. In particular, we ﬁnd that nearly 50% of participants found this style of explanation to be helpful, and nearly 80% of participants who expressed a preference found explanation rules to be more helpful than similar rules that were closely-related but partly-random.