Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Procalcitonin behaves as a fast responding acute phase protein in vivo and in vitro

Objectives: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a 13 kD protein of which plasma concentrations are strongly increased in inflammatory states. PCT concentrations are claimed to have a more powerful discriminatory value for bacterial infection than the acute phase proteins serum amyloid A (SAA) or C‐reactive protein (CRP). The source of production and its mechanism of induction are unknown. We investigated the inducibility of PCT both in vivo and in vitro and compared the behavior of PCT with those of SAA and CRP. Design: A prospective descriptive patient sample study and a controlled liver tissue culture study. Setting: A university hospital. Patients: Cancer patients who were treated with human tumor necrosis factor‐α (rhTNF‐α; 5 patients) or interleukin‐6 (rhIL‐6; 7 patients). Measurements and Main Results: Serial serum samples were collected for analysis of concentrations of PCT, SAA, and CRP. In the TNF‐α group, frequent sampling was performed on the first day to allow analysis of initial responses. In a human liver slice model, the release of PCT, SAA, and CRP was measured on induction with rhTNF‐α and rhIL‐6 for 24 hrs. We found that PCT displayed acute phase reactant behavior in vivo after administration of both rhTNF‐α and rhIL‐6. After rhTNF‐α‐administration, PCT reached half‐maximal concentrations within 8 hrs, 12 hrs earlier than either SAA or CRP did. PCT, SAA, and CRP were produced in detectable quantities by liver tissue in vitro. PCT production by liver slices was enhanced after stimulation with rhTNF‐α or rhIL‐6; SAA and CRP concentrations were elevated after stimulation with rhTNF‐α. Conclusions: We found that PCT and acute phase proteins such as CRP are induced by similar pathways. The liver appears to be a major source of PCT production. Thus, PCT may be considered an acute phase protein. The different kinetics of PCT, rather than a fundamentally different afferent pathway, may explain its putative diagnostic potential to discriminate bacterial infection from other causes of inflammation.
Impact of a Bacterial Volatile 2,3-Butanediol on Bacillus subtilis Rhizosphere Robustness

Volatile compounds, such as short chain alcohols, acetoin, and 2,3-butanediol, produced by certain strains of root-associated bacteria (rhizobacteria) elicit induced systemic resistance in plants. The effects of bacterial volatile compounds (BVCs) on plant and fungal growth have been extensively studied; however, the impact of bacterial BVCs on bacterial growth remains poorly understood. In this study the effects of a well-characterized bacterial volatile, 2,3-butanediol, produced by the rhizobacterium Bacillus subtilis, were examined in the rhizosphere. The nature of 2,3-butanediol on bacterial cells was assessed, and the effect of the molecule on root colonization was also determined. Pepper roots were inoculated with three B. subtilis strains: the wild type, a 2,3-butanediol overexpressor, and a 2,3-butanediol null mutant. The B. subtilis null strain was the first to be eliminated in the rhizosphere, followed by the wild-type strain. The overexpressor mutant was maintained at roots for the duration of the experiment. Rhizosphere colonization by a saprophytic fungus declined from 14 days post-inoculation in roots treated with the B. subtilis overexpressor strain. Next, exudates from roots exposed to 2,3-butanediol were assessed for their impact on fungal and bacterial growth in vitro. Exudates from plant roots pre-treated with the 2,3-butanediol overexpressor were used to challenge various microorganisms. Growth was inhibited in a saprophytic fungus (Trichoderma sp.), the 2,3-butanediol null B. subtilis strain, and a soil-borne pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum. Direct application of 2,3-butanediol to pepper roots, followed by exposure to R. solanacearum, induced expression of Pathogenesis-Related (PR) genes such as CaPR2, CaSAR8.2, and CaPAL. These results indicate that 2,3-butanediol triggers the secretion of root exudates that modulate soil fungi and rhizosphere bacteria. These data broaden our knowledge regarding bacterial volatiles in the rhizosphere and their roles in bacterial fitness and as important inducers of plant defenses.
A general construction for nonblocking crosstalk-free photonic switching networks

The graph representation G(M) of a multistage network M is well-known. C.T. Lea (1990) observed that link-disjoint paths in M correspond to node-disjoint paths in G(M). He proposed G(M) as a network by treating nodes as crossbars to transfer the none-disjoint property to the crosstalk-free property essential for photonic networks using directional couplers as components. However, such a network has its peculiarities and is not the commonly used type. In this paper we use the same principle to establish the crosstalk-free property for the popular Log/sub 2/(N,k,p) network.
Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of Potential Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria in Acid Sulfate Soils and Their Beneficial Effects on Rice Growth

A study was conducted to determine the total microbial population, the occurrence of growth promoting bacteria and their beneficial traits in acid sulfate soils. The mechanisms by which the bacteria enhance rice seedlings grown under high Al and low pH stress were investigated. Soils and rice root samples were randomly collected from four sites in the study area (Kelantan, Malaysia). The topsoil pH and exchangeable Al ranged from 3.3 to 4.7 and 1.24 to 4.25 cmolc kg−1, respectively, which are considered unsuitable for rice production. Total bacterial and actinomycetes population in the acidic soils were found to be higher than fungal populations. A total of 21 phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) including 19 N2-fixing strains were isolated from the acid sulfate soil. Using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, three potential PSB strains based on their beneficial characteristics were identified (Burkholderia thailandensis, Sphingomonas pituitosa and Burkholderia seminalis). The isolated strains were capable of producing indoleacetic acid (IAA) and organic acids that were able to reduce Al availability via a chelation process. These PSB isolates solubilized P (43.65%) existing in the growth media within 72 hours of incubation. Seedling of rice variety, MR 219, grown at pH 4, and with different concentrations of Al (0, 50 and 100 µM) was inoculated with these PSB strains. Results showed that the bacteria increased the pH with a concomitant reduction in Al concentration, which translated into better rice growth. The improved root volume and seedling dry weight of the inoculated plants indicated the potential of these isolates to be used in a bio-fertilizer formulation for rice cultivation on acid sulfate soils.
MANET Global Connectivity and Mobility Management Using HMIPv6 and OLSR

A charge pump circuit having a pumping capacitor is provided. A first terminal of the pumping capacitor is connected to a VCC power source through a P-MOS transistor, and grounded via an N-MOS transistor. The gates of these transistors receive a signal in which the HIGH level and the LOW level are alternately repeated. A second terminal of the pumping capacitor is grounded via an N-MOS transistor. The gate of the N-MOS transistor is connected to a terminal through a capacitor, and also to the second terminal of the pumping capacitor via an N-MOS transistor the gate of which is grounded. The second terminal is connected to an external circuit through an N-MOS transistor. The gate of the N-MOS transistor is connected to a terminal through a capacitor, and also to the output terminal through an N-MOS transistor the gate of which is connected to the node.
Non-rigid motion behaviour learning : a spectral and graphical approach

In this thesis graph spectral methods and kernel methods are combined together for the tasks of rigid and non-rigid feature correspondence matching and consistent labelling. The thesis is divided into five chapters. In Chapter 1 we give a brief introduction and an outline of the thesis. In Chapter 2 we review the main techniques in the literature which are related to the developments in this thesis. Topics covered include data representation, the data classification methods, spectral graph matching, and the kernel methods. Chapter 3 aims at developing a new feature correspondence matching algorithm for rigid and articulated motion. We focus on the point features extracted from consecutive image frames. Specifically, a graph structure is used to represent the data-sets, and spectral graph theory is used for the correspondence localization. The novelty is that a kernel viewpoint is adopted in constructing the proximity matrix, and a consistent labelling process is incorporated into the matching process when the objects under investigation undergoes articulated motion. The algorithm is successfully applied to synthetic data-sets and a group of feature point-sets extracted from real world image sequences. Chapter 4 develops a new probabilistic relaxation labelling method, aimed at a broader range of applications for feature correspondence matching as well as data clustering. Here again the kernel methods are incorporated into the process, and the evidence combination and propagation steps are governed by a diffusion process defined on a support graph. The support graph is defined on the set of object-label assignments. The problem of consistent labelling thus becomes that of finding a state vector which gives the desired label probabilities. The newly developed algorithm is first applied to a toy labelling example which is taken from two classical relaxation labelling papers. Then the algorithm is applied to the problems of data classification and feature correspondence matching. In the feature correspondence matching application, the current label probabilities are regarded as noisy vector from the original correct one. Thus the process is viewed as running the diffusion process backwards in time. Experimental results on synthetic and real world data show encouraging results in both of the two cases. Finally, Chapter 5 concludes the thesis with a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the thesis, and finally gives suggestions for future work.
The configuration space integral for links in ℝ3

The perturbative expression of Chern-Simons theory for links in Euclidean 3-space is a linear combination of integrals on configuration spaces. This has successively been studied by Guadagnini, Martellini and Mintchev, Bar-Natan, Kontsevich, Bott and Taubes, D. Thurston, Altschuler and Freidel, Yang and others. We give a self-contained version of this study with a new choice of compactification, and we formulate a rationality result.
Scientific Committee Sixth Regular Session Application of the Tweedie Distribution to Zero-catch Data in Cpue Analysis Application of the Tweedie Distribution to Zero-catch Data in Cpue Analysis

Keywords: By-catch species CPUE standardization Generalized linear model n-fold cross-validation Tweedie distribution model Zero-catch problem a b s t r a c t We focus on the zero-catch problem of CPUE (catch per unit effort) standardization. Because the traditional CPUE model with a log-normal error structure cannot be applied in this case, three methods have often been utilized as follows: (1) Ad hoc method adds a small constant value to all response variables. (2) Catch model with a Poisson or negative-binomial (NB) error structure. (3) Delta-type two-step method such as the delta-normal model (after estimating the ratio of zero-catch using a logit or probit model, a model such as CPUE log-normal or Catch-Poisson is applied to CPUE without zero-data). However, there are some statistical problems with each of these methods. In this paper, we carried out the CPUE standardization mainly using the Tweedie distribution model based on the actual by-catch data (silky shark, Carcharhimus falciformis, in the North Pacific Ocean caught by Japanese training vessels) including many observations with zero-catch (>2/3rd) and tuna fishery data as a target (yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, in the Indian Ocean caught by Japanese commercial vessels) where the ratio of zero-catch is not so high (<1/3rd). The Tweedie model is an extension of compound Poisson model derived from the stochastic process where the weight of the counted objects (i.e., number of fish) has a gamma distribution and has an advantage of handling the zero-catch data in a unified way. We also compared four candidate models, the Catch-NB model, ad hoc method, Delta-lognormal model (delta-type two-step method) and Tweedie distribution, through CPUE analyses of actual fishery data in terms of the statistical performance. Square error and Pearson's correlation coefficient were calculated based on the observed CPUE and the corresponding predicted CPUE using the n-fold cross-validation. As a result, the differences in the trend of CPUE between years and model performance between the ad hoc method and Tweedie model were found to be not so large in the example of yellowfin tuna (target species). However, the statistical performance of Tweedie distribution is rather better than Delta-lognormal model, the Catch-NB distribution and ad hoc method in the example of silky shark (by-catch species). Standardized CPUE year trend of ad hoc method was found to be quite different from that of the Tweedie distribution and other two models. Model performance of the Tweedie distribution is good judging from the …
No nonlocal box is universal

We show that standard nonlocal boxes, also known as Popescu-Rohrlich machines, are not sufficient to simulate any nonlocal correlations that do not allow signaling. This was known in the multipartite scenario, but we extend the result to the bipartite case. We then generalize this result further by showing that no finite set containing any finite-output-alphabet nonlocal boxes can be a universal set for nonlocality.
Effect of touch-screen size on game immersion

People are now able to enjoy playing their favourite videogames on different types of devices. In this paper, we investigate the influence on players' game immersion level by changing the size of the touch screen device used. We use two different sizes of touch screen device, iPod Touch and iPad, and let people play videogames on it, measuring their immersion level. We find that the level of immersion is higher for the larger touch screen size in comparison with the smaller one. The overall picture is therefore clear and suggests that different sizes of touch screen could be an important factor to influence immersion in videogames.
MOST Moderate–Weak-Inversion Region as the Optimum Design Zone for CMOS 2.4-GHz CS-LNAs

In this paper, the MOS transistor (MOST) moderate-inversion (MI)-weak-inversion (WI) region is shown to be the optimum design zone for CMOS 2.4-GHz common-source low-noise amplifiers (CS-LNAs) focused on low power consumption applications. This statement is supported by a systematic study where the MOST is analyzed in all-inversion regions using an exhaustive CS-LNA noise-figure (NF)-power-consumption optimization technique with power gain constraint. Effects of bias choke resistance and MOST capacitances are carefully included in the study to obtain more accurate results, especially for the MI-WI region. NF, power consumption, and gain versus the inversion region are described with design space maps, providing the designer with a deep insight of their tradeoffs. The Pareto-optimal design frontier obtained by calculation-showing the MI-WI region as the optimum design zone-is reverified by extensive electrical simulations of a high number of designs. Finally, one 90-nm 2.4-GHz CS-LNA Pareto optimal design is implemented. It achieves the best figure of merit considering under-milliwatt CS-LNAs published designs, consuming 684 μW, an NF of 4.36 dB, a power gain of 9.7 dB, and a third-order intermodulation intercept point of -4 dBm with load and source resistances of 50 Ω.
Chronic Treatment with Carvedilol Improves Ca2+-Dependent ATP Consumption in Triton X-Skinned Fiber Preparations of Human Myocardium

Evidence is given that β-blocker treatment differentially influences gene expression and up-regulation of β1-adrenoceptors in human myocardium. Here, we investigate whether long-term treatment with carvedilol or metoprolol may functionally alter myofibrillar function in end-stage human heart failure. Investigations were performed in Triton X (1%, 4°C, 20 h)-skinned fiber preparations of explanted hearts from patients undergoing heart transplantation due to idiopathic dilative cardiomyopathy. Five patients were not on β-adrenoceptor blocker treatment (DCM_NBB), and 5 patients received either carvedilol (DCM_CAR) or metoprolol (DCM_MET). Nonfailing (NF) donor hearts (n = 5), which could not be transplanted due to technical reasons, were investigated for comparison. Ca2+-dependent tension (DT) development and actomyosin-ATPase activity (MYO) were measured and tension-dependent ATP consumption was calculated by the ratio of DT and MYO (“tension cost”). In addition, we measured the phosphorylation of troponin I (TNI) by back phosphorylation. Maximal DT and TNI phosphorylation were reduced, with myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity of DT and MYO as well as tension cost being increased in DCM_NBB compared with NF. Metoprolol treatment restored TNI phosphorylation, decreased Ca2+ sensitivity of tension development and of myosin-ATPase activity, but did not alter the tension-dependent ATP consumption. Carvedilol treatment improved maximal DT and significantly decreased tension-dependent ATP consumption without altering myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity. TNI dephosphorylation was increased in patients treated with carvedilol. In conclusion, chronic β-adrenoceptor blockade functionally alters myofibrillar function. The more economic cross-bridge cycling in patients under carvedilol treatment may provide an explanation for the efficacy of carvedilol in the treatment of chronic heart failure patients.
Understanding verbal fluency in healthy aging, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE Verbal fluency measures are frequently part of batteries designed to assess executive function (EF), but are also used to assess semantic processing ability or word knowledge. The goal of the present study was to identify the cognitive components underlying fluency performance. METHOD Healthy young and older adults, adults with Parkinson's disease, and adults with Alzheimer's disease performed letter, category, and action fluency tests. Performance was assessed in terms of number of items generated, clustering, and the time course of output. A series of neuropsychological assessments were also administered to index verbal ability, working memory, EF, and processing speed as correlates of fluency performance. RESULTS Findings indicated that regardless of the particular performance measure, young adults performed the best and adults with Alzheimer's disease performed most poorly, with healthy older adults and adults with Parkinson's disease performing at intermediate levels. The exception was the action fluency task, where adults with Parkinson's disease performed most poorly. The time course of fluency performance was characterized in terms of slope and intercept parameters and related to neuropsychological constructs. Speed of processing was found to be the best predictor of performance, rather than the efficiency of EF or semantic knowledge. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings demonstrate that the pattern of fluency performance looks generally the same regardless of how performance is measured. In addition, the primary role of processing speed in performance suggests that the use of fluency tasks as measures of EF or verbal ability warrants reexamination.
Bifurcations in the learning of recurrent neural networks

Gradient descent algorithms in recurrent neural networks can have problems when the network dynamics experience bifurcations in the course of learning. The possible hazards caused by the bifurcations of the network dynamics and the learning equations are investigated. The roles of teacher forcing, preprogramming of network structures, and the approximate learning algorithms are discussed. <<ETX>>
Perceptual Training and Figure-Ground Performance in Low Vision

This study examined the utility of perceptual training with specific emphasis on figure-ground discrimination. Study participants had low vision which was caused by age-related macular degeneration. The authors studied the relative effectiveness of in-clinic and at-home training in comparison with a no-training condition. The results supported the hypothesis that perceptual skills, such as figure-ground discrimination, can be improved by practice and instruction. The need for task-specific training is also discussed.
Automated Violin Fingering Transcription Through Analysis of an Audio Recording

We present a method to recuperate fingerings for a given piece of violin music in order to recreate the timbre of a given audio recording of the piece. This is achieved by first analyzing an audio signal to determine the most likely sequence of two-dimensional fingerboard locations (string number and location along the string), which recovers elements of violin fingering relevant to timbre. This sequence is then used as a constraint for finding an ergonomic sequence of finger placements that satisfies both the sequence of notated pitch and the given fingerboard-location sequence. Fingerboard-location-sequence estimation is based on estimation of a hidden Markov model, each state of which represents a particular fingerboard location and emits a Gaussian mixture model of the relative strengths of harmonics. The relative strengths of harmonics are estimated from a polyphonic mixture using score-informed source segregation, and compensates for discrepancies between observed data and training data through mean normalization. Fingering estimation is based on the modeling of a cost function for a sequence of finger placements. We tailor our model to incorporate the playing practices of the violin. We evaluate the performance of the fingerboard-location estimator with a polyphonic mixture, and with recordings of a violin whose timbral characteristics differ significantly from that of the training data. We subjectively evaluate the fingering estimator and validate the effectiveness of tailoring the fingering model towards the violin.
Challenging power through social media : a review of selected memes of Robert Mugabe’s fall

Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. However, in recent years, he has faced serious resistance from ordinary citizens. This article examines subversive internet memes that were created by ordinary Zimbabweans and posted on social media in the aftermath of Robert Mugabe’s collapse at the Harare International airport on 4 February 2015. Firstly, the study reads internet memes of the Mugabe fall as forms of resistance to the regime. Secondly, it interrogates the methods that internet memes use to challenge official discourse. Thirdly, the study critically analyses the various ways in which internet meme creators imagine and represent Zimbabwe under the Mugabe regime. The article argues that internet memes of the “Mugabe fall” express subversive views that undermine the regime through humour, exaggeration, satire and other stylistic devices. Internet memes present an alternative discourse that counters the official narrative promoted by the regime.