Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drosophila pigmentation evolution: Divergent genotypes underlying convergent phenotypes

Similar phenotypic changes have evolved independently in many animal taxa. It is unknown whether independent changes involve the same or different developmental and genetic mechanisms. Myriad pigment patterns in the genus Drosophila offer numerous opportunities to address this question. Previous studies identified regulatory and structural genes involved in the development and diversification of pigmentation in selected species. Here, we examine Drosophila americana and Drosophila novamexicana, interfertile species that have evolved dramatic pigmentation differences during the few million years since their divergence. Interspecific genetic analysis was used to investigate the contribution of five specific candidate genes and other genomic regions to phenotypic divergence by testing for associations between molecular markers and pigmentation. At least four distinct genomic regions contributed to pigmentation differences, one of which included the ebony gene. Ebony protein was expressed at higher levels in the more yellow D. novamexicana than the heavily melanized D. americana. Because Ebony promotes yellow pigment formation and suppresses melanization, the expression difference and genetic association suggest that evolution at the ebony locus contributed to pigmentation divergence between D. americana and D. novamexicana. Surprisingly, no genetic association with the yellow locus was detected in this study, and Yellow expression was identical in the two species. Evolution at the yellow locus underlies pigmentation divergence among other Drosophila species; thus, similar pigment patterns have evolved through regulatory changes in different genes in different lineages. These findings bear upon understanding classic models of melanism and mimicry.
Effect of stretch on contractility and ionic contents of the sartorius muscle of Rana pipiens.

KAPOPORT, STANLEY I. , AND JEANNETTE M. BIDINGER. Eject of stretch on contractility and ionic contents of the sartorius muscle of Rana pipiens. Am. J. Physiol. 226(Z) : 452-457’ 1974. -When sartorius muscles of frogs are soaked in Ringer at room temperature, they gain Na, lose K, and lose contractility with time. These changes are retarded by stretching the muscles to ZO-30Y0 of their rest length. Conditions which inhibit the Na pump, such as soaking muscles in ouabain, K-free, or cold Ringer, abolish the differences in ionic contents and contractility between stretched and unstretched muscles. However, ouabain and K-free Ringer accelerate and cold retards the changes that occur in unstretched muscles in Ringer at room temperature. The results suggest that stretch stimulates the Na pump, either directly or indirectly through its effect on general metabolism. Contractility lasts longer in those muscles whose K contents are increased either by stretch or by different conditions of soaking.
Effects of gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogues on human endometrial stromal cells and embryo invasion in vitro.

BACKGROUND Gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues are widely used in IVF programmes as a method of suppressing the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge prior to ovarian stimulation, but their roles outside the pituitary remain relatively unknown. A 2002 Cochrane review (Al-Inany et al. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonists for assisted conception. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006;3:CD001750) described lower pregnancy rates in women administered with GnRH antagonist, compared with those using an agonist, as part of an IVF programme, despite the fact that GnRH antagonist is a more effective repressor of LH. This study aimed to analyse the in-vitro effects of GnRH analogues on the decidualizing endometrium, blastocyst invasion and GnRH receptor expression in fertile women. METHODS We analysed the in-vitro decidualization capacity of endometrial stromal cells, derived from fertile women during the implantation window, in the presence of GnRH analogues. The influence of GnRH analogues on GnRH receptor expression and blastocyst invasion was assessed by in-vitro assays of biomedical marker secretion, immunoblots and blastocyst attachment to the stromal extracellular matrix. RESULTS We demonstrate that, at the concentrations and time periods used, GnRH analogues did not significantly influence the extent of decidualization of endometrial stromal cells. In addition, no adverse effect of GnRH analogues was seen on human blastocyst invasion. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that GnRH analogues affect neither the capacity of the endometrium to support invasion nor the invasive potential of the blastocyst in the early stages of implantation.
Family intervention for schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND People with schizophrenia from families that express high levels of criticism, hostility, or over involvement, have more frequent relapses than people with similar problems from families that tend to be less expressive of emotions. Forms of psychosocial intervention, designed to reduce these levels of expressed emotions within families, are now widely used. OBJECTIVES To estimate the effects of family psychosocial interventions in community settings for people with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like conditions compared with standard care. SEARCH STRATEGY We updated previous searches by searching the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials Register (September 2008). SELECTION CRITERIA We selected randomised or quasi-randomised studies focusing primarily on families of people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder that compared community-orientated family-based psychosocial intervention with standard care. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We independently extracted data and calculated fixed-effect relative risk (RR), the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for binary data, and, where appropriate, the number needed to treat (NNT) on an intention-to-treat basis. For continuous data, we calculated mean differences (MD). MAIN RESULTS This 2009-10 update adds 21 additional studies, with a total of 53 randomised controlled trials included. Family intervention may decrease the frequency of relapse (n = 2981, 32 RCTs, RR 0.55 CI 0.5 to 0.6, NNT 7 CI 6 to 8), although some small but negative studies might not have been identified by the search. Family intervention may also reduce hospital admission (n = 481, 8 RCTs, RR 0.78 CI 0.6 to 1.0, NNT 8 CI 6 to 13) and encourage compliance with medication (n = 695, 10 RCTs, RR 0.60 CI 0.5 to 0.7, NNT 6 CI 5 to 9) but it does not obviously affect the tendency of individuals/families to leave care (n = 733, 10 RCTs, RR 0.74 CI 0.5 to 1.0). Family intervention also seems to improve general social impairment and the levels of expressed emotion within the family. We did not find data to suggest that family intervention either prevents or promotes suicide. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Family intervention may reduce the number of relapse events and hospitalisations and would therefore be of interest to people with schizophrenia, clinicians and policy makers. However, the treatment effects of these trials may be overestimated due to the poor methodological quality. Further data from trials that describe the methods of randomisation, test the blindness of the study evaluators, and implement the CONSORT guidelines would enable greater confidence in these findings.
Microgravity Induces Pelvic Bone Loss through Osteoclastic Activity, Osteocytic Osteolysis, and Osteoblastic Cell Cycle Inhibition by CDKN1a/p21

Bone is a dynamically remodeled tissue that requires gravity-mediated mechanical stimulation for maintenance of mineral content and structure. Homeostasis in bone occurs through a balance in the activities and signaling of osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes, as well as proliferation and differentiation of their stem cell progenitors. Microgravity and unloading are known to cause osteoclast-mediated bone resorption; however, we hypothesize that osteocytic osteolysis, and cell cycle arrest during osteogenesis may also contribute to bone loss in space. To test this possibility, we exposed 16-week-old female C57BL/6J mice (n = 8) to microgravity for 15-days on the STS-131 space shuttle mission. Analysis of the pelvis by µCT shows decreases in bone volume fraction (BV/TV) of 6.29%, and bone thickness of 11.91%. TRAP-positive osteoclast-covered trabecular bone surfaces also increased in microgravity by 170% (p = 0.004), indicating osteoclastic bone degeneration. High-resolution X-ray nanoCT studies revealed signs of lacunar osteolysis, including increases in cross-sectional area (+17%, p = 0.022), perimeter (+14%, p = 0.008), and canalicular diameter (+6%, p = 0.037). Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 1, 3, and 10 in bone, as measured by RT-qPCR, was also up-regulated in microgravity (+12.94, +2.98 and +16.85 fold respectively, p<0.01), with MMP10 localized to osteocytes, and consistent with induction of osteocytic osteolysis. Furthermore, expression of CDKN1a/p21 in bone increased 3.31 fold (p<0.01), and was localized to osteoblasts, possibly inhibiting the cell cycle during tissue regeneration as well as conferring apoptosis resistance to these cells. Finally the apoptosis inducer Trp53 was down-regulated by −1.54 fold (p<0.01), possibly associated with the quiescent survival-promoting function of CDKN1a/p21. In conclusion, our findings identify the pelvic and femoral region of the mouse skeleton as an active site of rapid bone loss in microgravity, and indicate that this loss is not limited to osteoclastic degradation. Therefore, this study offers new evidence for microgravity-induced osteocytic osteolysis, and CDKN1a/p21-mediated osteogenic cell cycle arrest.
Radiosity and realistic image synthesis

Introduction: Realistic Image Synthesis, Goals and Limitations. A Short Historical Perspective of Image Synthesis. Radiosity and Finite Element Methods. The Radiosity Algorithm and This Book. Rendering Concepts: Motivation. Basic Optics. Radiometry and Photometry. The Light Field. Reflection Functions. The Rendering Equation. Discretizing the Radiosity Equation: the Radiosity Function. Making Image Synthesis Tractable. The Radiosity Approach. Approximating the Radiosity Across a Surface. Error Metrics. Constant Element Radiosities. Higher Order Basic Functions. Parametric Mapping to a Master Element. Summary. The Form Factor, The Form Factor Integral: the Coefficients of K. The Differential Form Factor. Three Formulations of the Form Factor. Computing the Form Factor. Closed Form Solutions for the Form Factor: Formulae for Simple Shapes. Differential Area to Convex Polygon. General Polygon to Polygon. Numerical Solutions for the Form Factor: Numerical Integration in General. Evaluating the Inner Integral. Full Area to Area Quadrature. Contour Integral Formulation. A Simple Test Environment. Non-Constant Basis Functions. Acceleration Techniques. Radiosity Matrix Solutions: Qualities of the Matrix. Linear System Solution Methods. Relaxation Methods. Dynamic Environments. Parallel Implementations. Domain Subdivision: Error Metrics. Mesh Characteristics and Accuracy. Automatic Meshing Algorithms. Hierarchical and Importance Based Algorithms: Observations About K. Two Level Hierarchy. Multi-Level Hierarchy. Importance Meshing. Hierarchical Basis Functions. Summary of Hierarchical Radiosity Methods. Meshing: Basic Subdivision Techniques. Mesh Template Methods. Decomposition Methods. Mesh Smoothing. Discontinuity Meshing. Topological Data Structures and Operators. Alternatives to Meshing. Rendering: Reconstructing the Radiosity Functions. Interpolation Methods for Rendering. Two-Pass Methods. Incorporating Surface Detail. Mapping Radiosities to Pixel Colours. Colour. Summary. Extensions: Non-Diffuse Light Sources. Directional Reflection. Participating Media. Conclusion and Future Directions.
Skeletal Muscle NADPH Oxidase Is Increased and Triggers Stretch-Induced Damage in the mdx Mouse

Recent studies have shown that oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of muscle damage in dystrophic (mdx) mice. In this study we have investigated the role of NADPH oxidase as a source of the oxidative stress in these mice. The NADPH oxidase subunits gp91phox, p67phox and rac 1 were increased 2–3 fold in tibilais anterior muscles from mdx mice compared to wild type. Importantly, this increase occurred in 19 day old mice, before the onset of muscle necrosis and inflammation, suggesting that NADPH oxidase is an important source of oxidative stress in mdx muscle. In muscles from 9 week old mdx mice, gp91phox and p67phox were increased 3–4 fold and NADPH oxidase superoxide production was 2 times greater than wild type. In single fibers from mdx muscle NADPH oxidase subunits were all located on or near the sarcolemma, except for p67phox,which was expressed in the cytosol. Pharmacological inhibition of NADPH oxidase significantly reduced the intracellular Ca2+ rise following stretched contractions in mdx single fibers, and also attenuated the loss of muscle force. These results suggest that NADPH oxidase is a major source of reactive oxygen species in dystrophic muscle and its enhanced activity has a stimulatory effect on stretch-induced Ca2+ entry, a key mechanism for muscle damage and functional impairment.
Noise analysis and restrain in the fusion process of remote sensing

Considering the noise problem of multi-spectral images and SAR, several image noise models are described in this paper. The idea of non-negative matrix factorization and rough set are used to carry out the fusion experiment. Non-negative factorization is a matrix factorization method in the restrictive condition which all elements are non-factorization. The theory of rough set is mainly about the combination between knowledge and classification, which has an effect on de-noising aspect to the image noises. On the other side, the HIS and wavelet algorithm are adopted to the multi-spectral image fusion. It can not only hold more spectral information but also improve the spatial resolution greatly. The results from the experiment on the images specified the different types of noise, and get the conclusion in the help of some evaluation methods.
Parallel processing in the nervous system: evidence from sensory maps.

Perhaps the clearest organizing principle in sensory systems is the existence of maps, in which there is an orderly and systematic layout of the stimulus space on a two-dimensional array of neurons. Usually, the layout of the stimulus on the receptor sheet is reproduced so that neurons that innervate adjacent sites on the receptor sheet project to adjacent sites in the central map. Thus, in the visual system there are retinotopic maps in which layout of the visual field on the retina is reproduced across a sheet of neurons in the thalamus or cortex. Somatotopic maps of the body surface in the touch system and frequency maps in the auditory system are similar examples. In the olfactory system, the form of the representation is different in that projections from the olfactory epithelium to the first central olfactory nucleus, the olfactory bulb, are sorted according to olfactory receptor molecules (1) and not position on the olfactory epithelium, but the basic principle of sensory mapping seems to be the same.
Optical design and characterization of an advanced computational imaging system

We describe an advanced computational imaging system with an optical architecture that enables simultaneous and dynamic pupil-plane and image-plane coding accommodating several task-specific applications. We assess the optical requirement trades associated with custom and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) optics and converge on the development of two low-cost and robust COTS testbeds. The first is a coded-aperture programmable pixel imager employing a digital micromirror device (DMD) for image plane per-pixel oversampling and spatial super-resolution experiments. The second is a simultaneous pupil-encoded and time-encoded imager employing a DMD for pupil apodization or a deformable mirror for wavefront coding experiments. These two testbeds are built to leverage two MIT Lincoln Laboratory focal plane arrays – an orthogonal transfer CCD with non-uniform pixel sampling and on-chip dithering and a digital readout integrated circuit (DROIC) with advanced on-chip per-pixel processing capabilities. This paper discusses the derivation of optical component requirements, optical design metrics, and performance analyses for the two testbeds built.
The clinical use of regenerative therapy in COPD

Regenerative or stem cell therapy is an emerging field of treatment based on stimulation of endogenous resident stem cells or administration of exogenous stem cells to treat diseases or injury and to replace malfunctioning or damaged tissues. Current evidence suggests that in the lung, these cells may participate in tissue homeostasis and regeneration after injury. Animal and human studies have demonstrated that tissue-specific stem cells and bone marrow-derived cells contribute to lung tissue regeneration and protection, and thus administration of exogenous stem/progenitor cells or humoral factors responsible for the activation of endogenous stem/progenitor cells may be a potent next-generation therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The use of bone marrow-derived stem cells could allow repairing and regenerate the damaged tissue present in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by means of their engraftment into the lung. Another approach could be the stimulation of resident stem cells by means of humoral factors or photobiostimulation.
A longitudinal study of prolonged breastfeeding in relation to child undernutrition.

BACKGROUND In a number of studies prolonged breastfeeding was associated with a higher risk of undernutrition, although most of these studies are limited by their cross-sectional design which does not allow examination of temporal relationships between full weaning and undernutrition. METHODS The relationship between prolonged breastfeeding and child growth was examined prospectively among children under 36 months old who participated in a large cohort study. At baseline and at each of three 6-monthly follow-up visits breastfeeding status was assessed and all subjects were weighed and measured. RESULTS Undernourished children were more likely to be breastfed for a longer period of time compared with normal children. We found a small difference between breastfed and fully weaned children in the gain in height over the following 6-month period; however, breastfed children were likely to gain significantly less weight, particularly among children who were aged 6-12 months. Similar findings were noted when these associations were examined among children who were normally nourished at the time of breastfeeding assessment. The inverse association between breastfeeding status and weight gain was significantly larger among children of poor or illiterate mothers compared with children of relatively more affluent or literate mothers, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the inverse association is not causal, and may be explained by poorer complementary feeding among breastfed compared with weaned children. Children from poorer households and whose parents are illiterate are more likely to have less than adequate complementary feeding. The importance of adequate complementary feeding in the second half of infancy needs to be stressed in nutrition education programmes.
Automatic Segmentation of Method Code into Meaningful Blocks to Improve Readability

With the goal of increasing program readability for easier understanding, coding guidelines often include formatting standards such as indenting loop and conditional branch body statements. Similarly, good programming practice suggests that programmers use blank lines to visibly delineate between code segments that represent different algorithmic steps or high level actions. Unfortunately, programmers do not always follow these guidelines. While editors and IDEs can easily indent code based on syntax, they do not currently support automatic blank line insertion, which presents more signiï¬cant challenges involving the semantics. This paper presents a heuristic solution to the automatic blank line insertion problem, by leveraging both program structure and naming information to identify â€œmeaningful blocksâ€, consecutive statements that logically implement a high level action. Our tool, SEGMENT, takes as input a Java method, and outputs a segmented version that separates meaningful blocks by vertical spacing. We report on an evaluation of the effectiveness of SEGMENT based on developers' opinions. SEGMENT assists in making users obtain an overall picture of a method's actions and comprehend it quicker r as well as provides hints for internal documentation placement.
Planning based on Dynamic Bayesian Network algorithm using dynamic programming and variable elimination

According to the development of robot technology, Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) is the field of study highlighted. The study aims to find the goal of human action considering their intention and behavior based on their respective habits. To gain the principle of behavior on the goal by understanding that of human, engineers draw the inference of the result needed from Planning through HRI. In this paper, plan inference for aimed goal is modeled by calculating with probability what task system performs through the observed behavior. Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) uses the probabilistic inference to reveal the relation of data varying according to time. Machine Repository Pioneer data of UCI has proved that accuracy and efficiency of inference is higher than the existing DBN by lowering useless calculation applying the variable elimination method and the concept of dynamic programming for DBN algorithm.
Variaties in empowerment bij jeugdparticipatie

The last decades, more and more youth participation projects have been started in the Netherlands. However, little is known about the empowerment of participants. Even less is known about the methods used by the management to improve the participants' empowerment. In this study, three youth participation projects have been examined. This research was focused on handling the participants’ wishes, discovering the participants’ skills, improving those skills, and teaching new skills. Even though in all projects the focus was with teaching new skills, the projects had strong differences. The projects handled the participants' wishes in a different way, because of different restrictions imposed by the management. All projects paid little attention to discover the participants’ skills and improve those skills. The reasons found are a lack of knowledge about empowerment, time constrains and other priorities. An exchange of knowledge and experience could improve the quality of youth participation projects. Samenvatting Er zijn steeds meer jeugdparticipatie projecten in Nederland. Er is echter nog niets bekend over het gebruik van methoden door de begeleiding om de eigen kracht van de deelnemers te versterken (empowerment). Daarom zijn drie jeugdparticipatie projecten in Zoetermeer, Amersfoort en Rotterdam onderzocht. Hierbij is gelet op de omgang met de vraag van de jongere, het ontdekken van bestaande vaardigheden van de jongere, het voortbouwen op bestaande vaardigheden en het aanleren van nieuwe vaardigheden. De projecten zijn wel allen gericht op het aanleren van nieuwe vaardigheden, maar verder verschillen de projecten sterk. De projecten gaan op verschillende manieren om met de wensen van de jongeren, omdat zij verschillende kaders hebben opgesteld