Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early warnings of regime shifts: evaluation of spatial indicators from a whole‐ecosystem experiment

Critical transitions between alternate ecosystem states are often preceded by increased variance and autocorrelation in time series of ecosystem properties. Analogous changes may occur in spatial statistics as ecosystems approach thresholds for critical transitions. Changes in spatial statistics near thresholds have been described using models, laboratory experiments, and remotely sensed data, but there have been no tests using deliberate manipulations of whole ecosystems in the field. We previously documented a whole-lake manipulation resulting in a transition to predator dominance, a type of critical transition. The food web of an experimental lake was forced via cascading trophic interactions from a stable state characterized by abundant prey fish, small zooplankton, and high chlorophyll concentrations to an alternative state dominated by predatory fish, large zooplankton and low chlorophyll concentrations. Time series of zooplankton and chlorophyll concentrations provided early warning of the regime shift. Here we test if similar early warning signals were present in space by applying spatial variance and the discrete Fourier transform to spatially distributed prey fish catch data from this regime shift. Prey fish spatial distributions were monitored daily using minnow traps deployed around the lake perimeter. Added predators reduced prey fish populations and altered their spatial distributions. Increases in spatial variance and shifts to low frequency spatial variance were observed up to a year in advance of the shift. There was no response in an adjacent reference lake. Our results demonstrate that spatial signals of approaching thresholds can be detected at the ecosystem scale.
Cartesian Control of Robotic Manipulators with Joint Compliance

An efficient on-line scheme for computing the inverse joint solution of robotic manipulators is combined with an improved formulation of robust, nonlinear feedback control in joint space to produce a realizable Cartesian control scheme. Parametric uncertainties in the robot model are highlighted by the inclusion of compliance at each joint. Simulation results for a two link, coupled manipulator demonstrate that this Cartesian control enables the tip of the arm to track the demanded trajectory with arbitrarily small error in response to realistic actuator torques.
Hierarchical Fault Diagnosis for Power Systems Based on Equivalent-Input-Disturbance Approach

This paper describes a new fault diagnosis method for power systems that is based on a hierarchical model and the equivalent-input-disturbance (EID) approach. First, a hierarchical model describing the system is built. Next, an EID estimator is designed for each submodel in each layer. Then, the estimators are used to carry out fault diagnosis from the top down. Unlike conventional methods of fault diagnosis, which generally involve the fusion of extensive sensor information from protective relays and circuit breakers, this method requires a very small amount of information on the system to rapidly perform fault diagnosis. Simulations of the IEEE 13-bus radial distribution feeder and a comparison with other methods demonstrate the validity and superiority of the method.
Unphosphorylated gelsolin is localized in regions of cell-substratum contact or attachment in Rous sarcoma virus-transformed rat cells

Regions associated with cell-substratum contact or attachment in Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed rat fibroblasts (RR1022 cells) were identified by reflection-interference microscopy. Electron microscopy of such regions revealed the presence of discrete membrane-associated structures composed of a paracrystalline lattice of hexagons and pentagons to which actin filaments appear to be attached. Staining of actin by biotin-labeled heavy meromyosin showed that transformed cells, unlike normal fibroblasts, lack prominent actin fibers, and that, instead, much of the fluorescence is concentrated in loci corresponding to locations of transient association between the cell and the substratum. In stationary cells, such loci were found in rosette formation, predominantly in the region beneath the nucleus. In cells engaged in active movement, such as during migration into a wound, the actin-containing spots were concentrated in the region of the leading edge. A similar pattern of staining was observed with antibody to gelsolin, a 91,000-dalton Ca2+-dependent actin filament-shortening protein. Since the action of gelsolin on actin is reversible and dependent on physiologically relevant changes in calcium concentration, the localization of gelsolin, together with actin-bundling proteins such as alpha-actinin, in the regions containing many small microfilament bundles on the ventral side of cytoplasm suggests that gelsolin may be a component of the mechanism for the disassembly and assembly of actin during the dissolution and reformation of structures for cell-substratum contact during cell locomotion. Regulation of gelsolin activity was not dependent on protein phosphorylation, as shown by lack of 32P-incorporation into gelsolin in either transformed or normal fibroblasts.
Brazilian cross-cultural translation and adaptation of the "Questionnaire of Life Quality Specific for Myasthenia Gravis - 15 items".

OBJECTIVE To translate and to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the "Questionnaire of Life Quality Specific for Myasthenia Gravis - 15 items" (MG-QOL15). METHOD The original English version of the questionnaire was translated into Portuguese. This version was revised and translated back into English. Later, both English versions were compared and the divergences were corrected in the Portuguese text. At a second stage, ten patients with MG followed at the Neuromuscular Diseases Clinic from the University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais answered the questionnaire. The authors analyzed the difficulties and misunderstandings in the application of the questionnaire. RESULTS The questions 8, 13 and 15 were considered difficult to understand and were modified in the final Portuguese version. Most patients (70%) had a total score above 25, and the statements 3, 8 and 9 showed the highest scores. CONCLUSION The Brazilian version of the questionnaire MG-QOL15 seems to be a promising tool for the assessment of Brazilian patients with MG.
Modelling multi-MNO business for MVNOs in their evolution to LTE, VoLTE & advanced policy

The MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) business in Europe is maturing, with growing pressure on margins. To cope, MVNOs seek independence and flexibility which they can gain by advanced 4G access agnostic technology. This evolution is supported by three overlapping MVNO models: 4G “Full MVNO”, Multi-MNO and “Always Best Connected”, which are all enhanced by advanced Policy functions. The paper assesses these models against top ten MVNO success factors and argues that the “Full MVNO” model can provide independence from MNOs, that the Multi-MNO model allows flexible mix-n-match services for any taste, and the ABC (Always Best Connected) model gains in optimized costs. The paper also shows that 4G Policy enhances MVNO's ability to attract users by service variations, variable pricing and aligning user pricing with the suppliers' charging regimes.
Cyclooxygenase-2 Induced by Zymosan in Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Shows High Stability, and Its Expression Is Enhanced by Atorvastatin

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is a central enzyme of arachidonic acid metabolism, and its modulation by statins may explain some of the myocardial protective effects of these drugs. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in microbial defense and in atherogenesis, and COX-2 expression in DCs is important for their migration to lymph nodes and antibody response, thus explaining why prostaglandin E2 is a main component of the cocktails used to prepare DCs for clinical applications. On this basis, we addressed the effect of atorvastatin (ATV) on the release of arachidonic acid and on the expression of COX-2 in human monocyte-derived DCs. Although ATV on its own lacked any effect on COX-2 protein induction expression, it enhanced the release of arachidonic acid, the expression of COX-2 protein, and the production of prostaglandin E2 induced by the fungal wall extract zymosan, and to a lower extent the effect of peptidoglycan. The effect on COX-2 protein was observed mainly 24 h after stimulation by zymosan and was not reverted by mevalonate, thus pointing to an effect unrelated to cholesterol metabolism. It is noteworthy that COX-2 protein showed a great stability, with a t½ of approximately 12 h, which was enhanced in the presence of ATV. In view of the important role played by COX-2 on DC function, these data indicate that ATV, by enhancing COX-2 stability, may increase DC function after infectious bouts and also counteract some of the risks associated with sustained inhibition of COX-2.
Automatically marking object regions based on tagged images

The performance of image classification can be greatly improved by suitable object proposals. The mainstream framework of object proposals (e.g. Faster R-CNN) needs to manually label every bounding box of each object on an image in the training or fine-tuning stage, which is a time consuming task. Thus, we propose an idea that object regions in each image can be generated firstly by a pre-trained Faster R-CNN based on other complete tagging data set (e.g. PASCAL VOC 2007). Then a fine-tuned convolutional neural network (CNN) on the current data set can be used to mark the object region automatically. Finally, these labeled object regions can be used to fine-tune the Faster R-CNN and CNN. In the animal classification data set of BOT 2016, experimental results show that our proposed method can greatly boost the average accuracy of image classification.
Structure, biosynthesis, and localization of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase B, an integral membrane glycoprotein of the yeast vacuole

We have characterized the structure, biogenesis, and localization of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase B (DPAP B), a membrane protein of the yeast vacuole. An antibody specific for DPAP B recognizes a 120-kD glycoprotein in yeast that behaves like an integral membrane protein in that it is not removed from membranes by high pH Na2CO3 treatment. Inspection of the deduced amino acid sequence of DPAP B reveals a hydrophobic domain near the NH2 terminus that could potentially span a lipid bilayer. The in vitro enzymatic activity and apparent molecular weight of DPAP B are unaffected by the allelic state of PEP4, a gene essential for the proteolytic activation of a number of soluble vacuolar hydrolases. DPAP B is synthesized as a glycosylated precursor that is converted to the mature 120-kD species by carbohydrate addition. The precursor form of DPAP B accumulates in sec mutants (Novick, P., C. Field, and R. Schekman. 1980. Cell. 21:205-215) that are blocked at the ER (sec18) or Golgi apparatus (sec7), but not at secretory vesicles (sec1). Immunolocalization of DPAP B in wild-type or sec1 mutant cells shows that the protein resides in the vacuolar membrane. However, it is present in non-vacuolar compartments in sec18 and sec7 cells, confirming that the delivery of DPAP B is blocked in these mutants. Interestingly, DPAP B appears to stain the nuclear envelope in a sec18 mutant, which is consistent with the accumulation of DPAP B in the ER membrane at the restrictive temperature. These results suggest that soluble and membrane-bound vacuolar proteins use the same stages of the secretory pathway for their transport.
Conversion of RZ-OOK to RZ-BPSK by XPM in a Passive AlGaAs Waveguide

The conversion of data modulation format from 10-Gb/s return-to-zero on-off keying (RZ-OOK) to 10-Gb/s RZ binary phase-shift keying (RZ-BPSK) has been successfully carried out for the first time utilizing cross-phase modulation (XPM) in a passive AlGaAs waveguide. A 10-9-bit-error-rate (BER) preamplified receiver sensitivity gain of ≈ 1 dB was measured for the converted RZ-BPSK relative to baseline RZ-OOK, whereas a penalty of ≈ 2.7 dB relative to baseline RZ-BPSK is explained to be due to cross-absorption modulation induced by nondegenerate two-photon absorption (ND-TPA), as well as to an insufficient nonlinear phase shift.
Human Genome & Diseases: Review Huntington's disease: from huntingtin function and dysfunction to therapeutic strategies

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenera- tive disorder that usually starts in middle age and is char- acterized by involuntary movements (chorea), personal- ity changes and dementia, leading to death within 10-20 years. The defective gene in HD contains a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion within its coding region that ex- presses a polyglutamine repeat in the protein huntingtin. Together with the characteristic formation of aggregates in HD, aberrant protein interactions and several post- translational modifications affect huntingtin during dis- ease progression and lead to the dysfunction and death of selective neurons in the brains of patients. The exact molecular mechanisms by which mutant huntingtin in- duces cell death are not completely understood but may involve the gain of new toxic functions and the loss of the beneficial properties of huntingtin. This review focuses on the cellular functions in which huntingtin is involved and how a better understanding of pathogenic pathways can lead to new therapeutic approaches.
Using Multiresolution Learning for Transfer in Image Classification

Our work explores the transfer of knowledge at multiple levels of abstraction to improve learning. By exploiting the similarities between objects at various levels of detail, multiresolution learning can facilitate transfer between image classification tasks. We extract features from images at multiple levels of resolution, then use these features to create models at different resolutions. Upon receiving a new task, the closest-matching stored model can be generalized (adapted to the appropriate resolution) and transferred to the new task.
A practical scheduling algorithm to achieve 100% throughput in input-queued switches

Input queueing is becoming increasingly used for high-bandwidth switches and routers. In previous work, it was proved that it is possible to achieve 100% throughput for input-queued switches using a combination of virtual output queueing and a scheduling algorithm called LQF However, this is only a theoretical result: LQF is too complex to implement in hardware. We introduce a new algorithm called longest port first (LPF), which is designed to overcome the complexity problems of LQF, and can be implemented in hardware at high speed. By giving preferential service based on queue lengths, we prove that LPF can achieve 100% throughput.
The Effect of Lovastatin Produced from Aspergillus flavus UICC 360 on Decreasing Cholesterol Level Blood (Rattus novergicus L.) Sprague Dawley strain

Lovastatin is a competitive potential inhibitors of 3- hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity, which plays a role in cholesterol biosynthesis. In this study, rats were given extract lovastatin produced from the fermentation of Aspergillus flavus UICC 360 with various of doses (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/day) on the rats and examined the effect on serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL in the blood of rats for 14 days treatment. The lovastatin dose was given at 0,1 mg/day not only decreased the total cholesterol, triglyseride and LDL, but also increased HDL eventhough was not sigificant, and the dose lovastatin given at 0.2 mg/day caused lowering the triglyceride (61.76%) at level (p <0.01) compared with negative control (21.28%), also the dose lovastatin given of 0.4 mg/day was able to decrease LDL levels (90%) at level (p<0,01) compared to the negative control (59.74%).
Nuclear Genomic Sequences Reveal that Polar Bears Are an Old and Distinct Bear Lineage

Ancient Bears Polar bears are well known for adapting to their cold Arctic climate. Some recent studies, based on mitochondrial DNA, concluded that they are a relatively young species and that these adaptations occurred quite quickly. Although mitochondrial DNA is regularly used to estimate evolutionary history, it has some well-known drawbacks, including sex-biased dispersal and hybridization. Thus, Hailer et al. (p. 344) looked at neutral genetic data that are distributed more widely across the genome of a relatively large sample of polar, brown, and black bears. Consistent with fossil-based studies, the analysis reveals polar bears as a sister lineage to all brown bears, with an estimated divergence time of 300,000 to 900,000 years ago. Thus, polar bears are indeed of a more ancient lineage, and more recent estimates based on mitochondrial DNA are likely to have been affected by past hybridization with brown bear. Genomic analyses show that polar bears as a species are older and genetically more distinct than previously estimated. Recent studies have shown that the polar bear matriline (mitochondrial DNA) evolved from a brown bear lineage since the late Pleistocene, potentially indicating rapid speciation and adaption to arctic conditions. Here, we present a high-resolution data set from multiple independent loci across the nuclear genomes of a broad sample of polar, brown, and black bears. Bayesian coalescent analyses place polar bears outside the brown bear clade and date the divergence much earlier, in the middle Pleistocene, about 600 (338 to 934) thousand years ago. This provides more time for polar bear evolution and confirms previous suggestions that polar bears carry introgressed brown bear mitochondrial DNA due to past hybridization. Our results highlight that multilocus genomic analyses are crucial for an accurate understanding of evolutionary history.
Association of transforming growth factor-β1 polymorphisms with the risk of chronic kidney diseases

Abstract The association of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) polymorphisms with the risk of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) remains elusive. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between TGF-β1 polymorphisms and the susceptibility to CKD. Association studies were searched according to a defined criteria using electronic databases. The strength of association between TGF-β1 polymorphisms and CKD risk was evaluated by odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Nine case–control studies were identified. T allele at the +869 T/C polymorphism was associated with a lower risk of CKD in Asians (p = 0.003). TT genotype at the +869 T/C polymorphism was associated with a lower risk of CKD in overall populations and Asians (p = 0.007 and <10−4, respectively). CC genotype at the +869 T/C polymorphism was associated with the risk of CKD in Asians (p = 0.002). T allele at the −509 T/C polymorphism was associated with the risk of CKD in overall populations and Asians (p = 0.044 and 0.050, respectively). TT genotype at the −509 T/C polymorphism was associated with CKD risk in overall populations, Caucasians and Asians (p < 10−4, <10−4, and <10−4, respectively). No evidence of significant publication bias was noted. In conclusion, T allele at the +869 T/C polymorphism may be a protective factor against CKD risk in Asians. TT genotype at the +869 T/C polymorphism may be an indicator of lower risk of CKD in overall populations and Asians. CC genotype at the +869 T/C polymorphism may predict the susceptibility to CKD in Asians. T allele at the −509 T/C polymorphism may be an indicator of CKD risk in overall populations and Asians. TT genotype at the −509 T/C polymorphism was a risk factor for CKD onset in overall populations, Caucasians and Asians.
An Introduction to Sensory Integration

This paper briefly covers the neurophysiological basis for a theory of sensory integration. The role of sensory integration in normal human development is considered and the relationship between sensory experience and motor development emphasised. The work of Dr. Jean Ayres, the development of her theory of sensory integration and its application to the evaluation and treatment of developmentally delayed children is discussed.
O efeito do feedback auditivo atrasado na gagueira

Purpose To verify the effect of delayed auditory feedback and altered frequency in the stuttering severity, by means of the SpeechEasy®device. Methods Sixteen 17 to 49 year-old men and women who stuttered were selected. Schooling ranged from High School to Undergraduate degree. Subjects were distributed in 2 groups: G1 with 8 people who stuttered and had speech therapy using the SpeechEasy®device and G2 with 8 people who stuttered and had therapy without the device. All the subjects underwent conventional speech-language-hearing evaluation, specific stuttering evaluation, basic hearing evaluation and speech training with or without the device. Obtained data was submitted to appropriate statistical analysis. Results There was a significant decrease in the stuttering severity level and in atypical disfluencies rate, in groups G1 and G2, in the final assessment when compared to the initial one. Conclusion There was an improvement of stuttering level with speech training in both groups, with a tendency of G1, which made use ofSpeechEasy® device to present higher reduction in the disfluencies rate and bigger gain in articulatory rate and information production rate.
In Vivo Imaging of the Central and Peripheral Effects of Sleep Deprivation and Suprachiasmatic Nuclei Lesion on PERIOD-2 Protein in Mice.

STUDY OBJECTIVES That sleep deprivation increases the brain expression of various clock genes has been well documented. Based on these and other findings we hypothesized that clock genes not only underlie circadian rhythm generation but are also implicated in sleep homeostasis. However, long time lags have been reported between the changes in the clock gene messenger RNA levels and their encoded proteins. It is therefore crucial to establish whether also protein levels increase within the time frame known to activate a homeostatic sleep response. We report on the central and peripheral effects of sleep deprivation on PERIOD-2 (PER2) protein both in intact and suprachiasmatic nuclei-lesioned mice. DESIGN In vivo and in situ PER2 imaging during baseline, sleep deprivation, and recovery. SETTINGS Mouse sleep-recording facility. PARTICIPANTS Per2::Luciferase knock-in mice. INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Six-hour sleep deprivation increased PER2 not only in the brain but also in liver and kidney. Remarkably, the effects in the liver outlasted those observed in the brain. Within the brain the increase in PER2 concerned the cerebral cortex mainly, while leaving suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) levels unaffected. Against expectation, sleep deprivation did not increase PER2 in the brain of arrhythmic SCN-lesioned mice because of higher PER2 levels in baseline. In contrast, liver PER2 levels did increase in these mice similar to the sham and partially lesioned controls. CONCLUSIONS Our results stress the importance of considering both sleep-wake dependent and circadian processes when quantifying clock-gene levels. Because sleep deprivation alters PERIOD-2 in the brain as well as in the periphery, it is tempting to speculate that clock genes constitute a common pathway mediating the shared and well-known adverse effects of both chronic sleep loss and disrupted circadian rhythmicity on metabolic health.