Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applications of Self-Organizing Maps for Ecomorphological Investigations through Early Ontogeny of Fish

We propose a new graphical approach to the analysis of multi-temporal morphological and ecological data concerning the life history of fish, which can typically serves models in ecomorphological investigations because they often undergo significant ontogenetic changes. These changes can be very complex and difficult to describe, so that visualization, abstraction and interpretation of the underlying relationships are often impeded. Therefore, classic ecomorphological analyses of covariation between morphology and ecology, performed by means of multivariate techniques, may result in non-exhaustive models. The Self Organizing map (SOM) is a new, effective approach for pursuing this aim. In this paper, lateral outlines of larval stages of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) were recorded and broken down using by means of Elliptic Fourier Analysis (EFA). Gut contents of the same specimens were also collected and analyzed. Then, shape and trophic habits data were examined by SOM, which allows both a powerful visualization of shape changes and an easy comparison with trophic habit data, via their superimposition onto the trained SOM. Thus, the SOM provides a direct visual approach for matching morphological and ecological changes during fish ontogenesis. This method could be used as a tool to extract and investigate relationships between shape and other sinecological or environmental variables, which cannot be taken into account simultaneously using conventional statistical methods.
Localization and Spectroscopic Analysis of the Cu(I) Binding Site in Wheat Metallothionein Ec-1

The early cysteine-labeled metallothionein (MT) from Triticum aestivum (common wheat), denoted Ec-1, features two structurally well-defined domains, γ and βE, coordinating two and four Zn(II) ions, respectively. While the protein is currently assumed to function mainly in zinc homeostasis, a low amount of copper ions was also recently detected in a native Ec-1 sample. To evaluate the observed copper binding in more detail, the recombinant Zn6Ec-1 form was exposed to different amounts of Cu(I) ions and the resulting species characterized with spectroscopic methods. Data reveal that the first Cu(I) equivalent coordinates exclusively to the N-terminal γ-domain of the protein and replaces one Zn(II) ion. To analyze the ability of the γ-domain for coordination of monovalent metal ions in more detail, the γ-Ec-1 peptide fragment was incubated with increasing amounts of Cu(I) and the process monitored with UV–VIS, circular dichroism, and luminescence spectroscopy. Closely similar spectra are observed regardless if the apo- or the metal ion-loaded and, hence, pre-folded forms, were used for the titration experiments with Cu(I). The results indicate that low amounts of Cu(I) ions displace the two metal ions subsequently and stoichiometrically, despite the different coordination geometry requirements of Cu(I) and Zn(II).
Petabit Switch Fabric Design

Because of physical limitations on how fast we can operate modern digital integrated circuits, trends point towards increasing the number of processing cores by leveraging parallelism. Fast and efficient communication between all of these cores is paramount for optimal performance. In our report, we explore the design space of high radix switches up to 64x64 ports. We also examine alternative methods of building the switch using Synopsys design tools.
Change in Hepatitis B Virus Large Surface Antigen Variant Prevalence 13 Years after Implementation of a Universal Vaccination Program in China

ABSTRACT A nationwide hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination program was implemented in China starting in 1992. To study the change in HBV variant prevalence with massive immunization, large HBV surface protein (LHBs) genes from HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive sera were amplified and sequenced. The prevalences of LHBs mutants were compared between the 1992 and 2005 surveys in child and adult groups. The prevalence of “α” determinant mutants in the children increased from 6.5% in 1992 to 14.8% in 2005, where the G145R mutant occurred most frequently. In contrast, mutation frequencies showed little difference between 1992 (9.4%) and 2005 (9.9%) in adults. Moreover, compared to the 1992 survey, the child group surface (S) protein mutation frequency specifically increased (P = 0.005) in the 2005 survey, but the pre-S region mutation frequency did not show a significant difference (P > 0.05). However, the mutation frequency in the adult group increased in both the pre-S and S regions. Furthermore, the frequencies of the disease-related pre-S2 deletion and start codon mutations were significantly higher in the adult groups than in the child groups in both the 1992 and 2005 surveys (P < 0.01). Massive immunization enhances the HBV S protein mutation; the prevalence of LHBs mutants, particularly disease-related mutants, tends to increase with patient age.
Changes in Early Cortical Visual Processing Predict Enhanced Reactivity in Deaf Individuals

Individuals with profound deafness rely critically on vision to interact with their environment. Improvement of visual performance as a consequence of auditory deprivation is assumed to result from cross-modal changes occurring in late stages of visual processing. Here we measured reaction times and event-related potentials (ERPs) in profoundly deaf adults and hearing controls during a speeded visual detection task, to assess to what extent the enhanced reactivity of deaf individuals could reflect plastic changes in the early cortical processing of the stimulus. We found that deaf subjects were faster than hearing controls at detecting the visual targets, regardless of their location in the visual field (peripheral or peri-foveal). This behavioural facilitation was associated with ERP changes starting from the first detectable response in the striate cortex (C1 component) at about 80 ms after stimulus onset, and in the P1 complex (100–150 ms). In addition, we found that P1 peak amplitudes predicted the response times in deaf subjects, whereas in hearing individuals visual reactivity and ERP amplitudes correlated only at later stages of processing. These findings show that long-term auditory deprivation can profoundly alter visual processing from the earliest cortical stages. Furthermore, our results provide the first evidence of a co-variation between modified brain activity (cortical plasticity) and behavioural enhancement in this sensory-deprived population.
Preparation of Tungsten Film and Its Tribological Properties under Boundary Lubrication Conditions

Tungsten film (W film) is deposited by using the ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) on the 316L substrate sur - face in this experiment. The micro structure and nano-hardness of the film are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nano-indentation tester. The tribological behavior of W film under lubrication by oil with ZDDP and MoDTC is evaluated by a SRV test machine. The tribo-film formed on the worn surfaces is investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to find out the tribological mechanisms between the W film and the two additional additives. The result shows that the W film lubricated by ZDDP and MoDTC-blended base oil has synergistic effects on the friction reduction property, while the anti-wear property is mainly caused by the hard surface of W film.
Artificial Data Sets Based on Knowledge Generators: Analysis of Learning Algorithms Efficiency

This paper proposes a methodology to generate artificial data sets to evaluate the behavior of machine learning techniques. The methodology relies in the definition of a domain and the generation of data sets from this domain by means of different sampling processes. Then, learners are trained with the generated data sets and the created models are compared with the original domain to evaluate the quality of the learners. In the present work, a particular implementation of this methodology is provided, which is defined to test learning techniques that use a binary rule knowledge representation. As a case study, the behavior of XCS, the most influential learning classifier system, is analyzed following the methodology.
European Semantic Web Conference 2009-Jonas Tappolet and Abraham Bernstein. Applied Temporal RDF: Efficient Temporal Querying of RDF Data with SPARQL

Many applications operate on time-“sensitive” data. Some of these data are only valid for certain intervals (e.g., job-assignments, versions of software code), others describe temporal events that happened at certain points in time (e.g., a person’s birthday). Until recently, the only way to incorporate time into Semantic Web models was as a data type property. Temporal RDF, however, considers time as an additional dimension in data preserving the semantics of time. In this paper we present a syntax and storage format based on named graphs to express temporal RDF. Given the restriction to preexisting RDF-syntax, our approach can perform any temporal query using standard SPARQL syntax only. For convenience, we introduce a shorthand format called T-SPARQL for temporal queries and show how T-SPARQL queries can be translated to standard SPARQL. Additionally, we show that, depending on the underlying data's nature, the temporal RDF approach vastly reduces the number of triples by eliminating redundancies resulting in an increased performance for processing and querying. Last but not least, we introduce a new indexing approach method that can significantly reduce the time needed to execute time point queries (e.g., what happened on January 1st).
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection contracted through water contaminated by a wild animal

We performed epidemiological studies on Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in one valley where a 3-year-old boy had been infected with Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype 4b in December 1982. Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype 4b was isolated from a water sample derived from a mountain stream from which the boy had drunk and from 1 of 41 rats trapped in the upper part of this stream in December 1986. The restriction endonuclease patterns of the plasmids in these isolates showed the rat and patient isolates to be identical but distinct from the water isolate. These data suggest the potential for transmission of Y. pseudotuberculosis through water contaminated by nondomesticated animals carrying this species.
Egfr is essential for maintaining epithelial integrity during tracheal remodelling in Drosophila

A fundamental requirement during organogenesis is to preserve tissue integrity to render a mature and functional structure. Many epithelial organs, such as the branched tubular structures, undergo a tremendous process of tissue remodelling to attain their final pattern. The cohesive properties of these tissues need to be finely regulated to promote adhesion yet allow flexibility during extensive tissue remodelling. Here, we report a new role for the Egfr pathway in maintaining epithelial integrity during tracheal development in Drosophila. We show that the integrity-promoting Egfr function is transduced by the ERK-type MAPK pathway, but does not require the downstream transcription factor Pointed. Compromising Egfr signalling, by downregulating different elements of the pathway or by overexpressing the Mkp3 negative regulator, leads to loss of tube integrity, whereas upregulation of the pathway results in increased tissue stiffness. We find that regulation of MAPK pathway activity by Breathless signalling does not impinge on tissue integrity. Egfr effects on tissue integrity correlate with differences in the accumulation of markers for cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion. Accordingly, downregulation of cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion gives rise to tracheal integrity defects. Our results suggest that the Egfr pathway regulates maintenance of tissue integrity, at least in part, through the modulation of cell adhesion. This finding establishes a link between a developmental pathway governing tracheal formation and cell adhesiveness.
Psychotic and manic-like symptoms during stimulant treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

A boy 6 years 9 months of age was brought by his mother to a child psychiatrist for difficulties with sustained attention, distraction, careless errors, poor listening, difficulty following instructions, difficulty with organization, frequently misplaced items, and forgetfulness in daily activities. He had no history of impulsive or hyperactive behavior, mood symptoms, or tics. He had been born after an unremarkable full-term pregnancy to a 43-year-old mother who did not use alcohol or drugs during pregnancy. The child was delivered by cesarean section after failure to progress in labor and had a normal postnatal course. His family history was negative for mood disorders, psychosis, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, or tics. Several months later, the symptoms had been confirmed in the home, school, and tutoring environments. The patient, then 7 years 4 months of age, was started on methylphenidate, and he showed a clear dose-response effect. An extended-release formulation of methylphenidate was then prescribed, and the dose was gradually increased over a 2-month period to 40 mg per day. At this dose, the patient had a strongly beneficial response, and the only side effect noted was mild anorexia. Eight months later, at 8 years 3 months of age, after a flu-like illness, he developed new symptoms, which included complaints of hearing voices and seeing "adults" when no one was present, a desire to "throw himself down the stairs," high levels of anxiety, tearfulness at school, an unwillingness to leave his mother's side, and irritability.
A new charge pump circuit dealing with gate-oxide reliability issue in low-voltage processes

Charge pump circuits have been widely used in DRAM, EEPROM, flash memories, and in some low-voltage designs. In this paper, a new charge pump circuit is proposed. The charge transfer switches of the new proposed circuit can be turned on and turned off completely, so its pumping gain is much higher than the traditional designs. Besides, there is no gate-oxide reliability problem in the proposed charge pump circuit. The test chips have been implemented in a 3.3 V 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS process. The measured results show that the proposed charge pump circuit has better performance than that of prior arts. The proposed circuit can be used in low-voltage process because of its high pumping gain and no overstress across the gate oxide of the devices.
Sound pressure level in a municipal preschool

Summary Aim: To evaluate the sound pressure level to which preschool students are exposed. Method: This was a prospective, quantitative, nonexperimental, and descriptive study. To achieve the aim of the study we used an audio dosimeter. The sound pressure level (SPL) measurements were obtained for 2 age based classrooms. Preschool I and II. The measurements were obtained over 4 days in 8-hour sessions, totaling 1920 minutes. Results: Compared with established standards, the SPL measured ranged from 40.6 dB (A) to 105.8 dB (A). The frequency spectrum of the SPL was concentrated in the frequency range between 500 Hz and 4000 Hz. The older children produced higher SPLs than the younger ones, and the levels varied according to the activity performed. Painting and writing were the quietest activities, while free activities period and games were the noisiest. Conclusion: The SPLs measured at the preschool were higher and exceeded the maximum permitted level according to the reference standards. Therefore, the implementation of actions that aim to minimize the negative impact of noise in this environment is essential.
Pre-natal stress amplifies the immediate behavioural responses to acute pain in piglets

Pre-natal stress (PNS) or undernutrition can have numerous effects on an individual's biology throughout their lifetime. Some of these effects may be adaptive by allowing individuals to tailor their phenotype to environmental conditions. Here we investigated, in the domestic pig Sus scrofa, whether one possible consequence of a predicted adverse environment could be altered pain perception. The behavioural response of piglets to the surgical amputation (‘docking’) of their tail or a sham procedure was measured for 1 min in piglets born to mothers who either experienced mid-gestation social stress or were left undisturbed throughout pregnancy. A behavioural pain score was found to predict the docked status of piglets with high discriminant accuracy. Piglets exposed to PNS had a significantly higher pain score than controls, and for each litter of tail-docked piglets, the average pain score was correlated with mid-gestation maternal cortisol levels. The data presented here provide evidence that the experience of stress in utero can result in a heightened acute response to injury in early life. Speculatively, this may represent an adaptive alteration occurring as a consequence of a pre-natal ‘early warning’ of environmental adversity.
Osteoporosis treatment in older adults undergoing rehabilitation post-hip fracture.

OBJECTIVE Osteoporosis treatment in patients who have sustained a hip fracture has been reported to be less then 20%. The objective of this study is to determine the current rate of adherence to osteoporosis practice guidelines in elderly patients post-hip fracture who have undergone rehabilitation. METHODS Osteoporosis treatment in patients who have sustained a hip fracture has been reported to be less then 20%. The objective of this study is to determine the current rate of adherence to osteoporosis practice guideline in elderly patients post-hip fracture who have undergone rehabilitation. RESULTS Osteoporosis therapy (any type) was prescribed to 90 (63%) patients, with bisphosphonates prescribed in 90% of these cases. Calcium and vitamin D was prescribed to 130 (90.9%) patients. Of all the study patients, 76 (53%) of patients had at least one contraindication to osteoporosis therapy identified. Having a diagnosis of osteoporosis was the only factor associated with receiving osteoporosis therapy (OR 13.3, p<0.001). CONCLUSION In this selected patient population the rates of osteoporosis treatment are higher than previously reported but remain suboptimal.
Prolonged red cell storage before transfusion increases extravascular hemolysis

BACKGROUND. Some countries have limited the maximum allowable storage duration for red cells to 5 weeks before transfusion. In the US, red blood cells can be stored for up to 6 weeks, but randomized trials have not assessed the effects of this final week of storage on clinical outcomes. METHODS. Sixty healthy adult volunteers were randomized to a single standard, autologous, leukoreduced, packed red cell transfusion after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 weeks of storage (n = 10 per group). 51-Chromium posttransfusion red cell recovery studies were performed and laboratory parameters measured before and at defined times after transfusion. RESULTS. Extravascular hemolysis after transfusion progressively increased with increasing storage time (P < 0.001 for linear trend in the AUC of serum indirect bilirubin and iron levels). Longer storage duration was associated with decreasing posttransfusion red cell recovery (P = 0.002), decreasing elevations in hematocrit (P = 0.02), and increasing serum ferritin (P < 0.0001). After 6 weeks of refrigerated storage, transfusion was followed by increases in AUC for serum iron (P < 0.01), transferrin saturation (P < 0.001), and nontransferrin-bound iron (P < 0.001) as compared with transfusion after 1 to 5 weeks of storage. CONCLUSIONS. After 6 weeks of refrigerated storage, transfusion of autologous red cells to healthy human volunteers increased extravascular hemolysis, saturated serum transferrin, and produced circulating nontransferrin-bound iron. These outcomes, associated with increased risks of harm, provide evidence that the maximal allowable red cell storage duration should be reduced to the minimum sustainable by the blood supply, with 35 days as an attainable goal. REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02087514. FUNDING. NIH grant HL115557 and UL1 TR000040.
Mobile Applications for Patient-centered Care Coordination: A Review of Human Factors Methods Applied to their Design, Development, and Evaluation

Summary Objectives: To examine if human factors methods were applied in the design, development, and evaluation of mobile applications developed to facilitate aspects of patient-centered care coordination. Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (2013-2014) for studies describing the design or the evaluation of a mobile health application that aimed to support patients’ active involvement in the coordination of their care. Results: 34 papers met the inclusion criteria. Applications ranged from tools that supported self-management of specific conditions (e.g. asthma) to tools that provided coaching or education. Twelve of the 15 papers describing the design or development of an app reported the use of a human factors approach. The most frequently used methods were interviews and surveys, which often included an exploration of participants’ current use of information technology. Sixteen papers described the evaluation of a patient application in practice. All of them adopted a human factors approach, typically an examination of the use of app features and/or surveys or interviews which enquired about patients’ views of the effects of using the app on their behaviors (e.g. medication adherence), knowledge, and relationships with healthcare providers. No study in our review assessed the impact of mobile applications on health outcomes. Conclusion: The potential of mobile health applications to assist patients to more actively engage in the management of their care has resulted in a large number of applications being developed. Our review showed that human factors approaches are nearly always adopted to some extent in the design, development, and evaluation of mobile applications.