Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biogeographic range expansion into South America by Coccidioides immitis mirrors New World patterns of human migration

Long-distance population dispersal leaves its characteristic signature in genomes, namely, reduced diversity and increased linkage between genetic markers. This signature enables historical patterns of range expansion to be traced. Herein, we use microsatellite loci from the human pathogen Coccidioides immitis to show that genetic diversity in this fungus is geographically partitioned throughout North America. In contrast, analyses of South American C. immitis show that this population is genetically depauperate and was founded from a single North American population centered in Texas. Variances of allele distributions show that South American C. immitis have undergone rapid population growth, consistent with an epidemic increase in postcolonization population size. Herein, we estimate the introduction into South America to have occurred within the last 9,000–140,000 years. This range increase parallels that of Homo sapiens. Because of known associations between Amerindians and this fungus, we suggest that the colonization of South America by C. immitis represents a relatively recent and rapid codispersal of a host and its pathogen.
Multi-tape finite-state transducer for asynchronous multi-stream pattern recognition with application to speech

In this thesis, we have focused on improving the acoustic modeling of speech recognition systems to increase the overall recognition performance. We formulate a novel multi-stream speech recognition framework using multi-tape finite-state transducers (FSTs). The multi-dimensional input labels of the multi-tape FST transitions specify the acoustic models to be used for the individual feature streams. An additional auxiliary field is used to model the degree of asynchrony among the feature streams. The individual feature streams can be linear sequences such as fixed-frame-rate features in traditional hidden Markov model (HMM) systems, and the feature streams can also be directed acyclic graphs such as segment features in segment-based systems. In a single-tape mode, this multi-stream framework also unifies the frame-based HMM and the segment-based approach. Systems using the multi-stream speech recognition framework were evaluated on an audio-only and an audio-visual speech recognition task. On the Wall Street Journal speech recognition task, the multi-stream framework combined a traditional framebased HMM with segment-based landmark features. The system achieved word error rate (WER) of 8.0%, improved from both the WER of 8.8% of the baseline HMMonly system and the WER of 10.4% of the landmark-only system. On the AV-TIMIT audio-visual speech recognition task, the multi-stream framework combined a landmark model, a segment model, and a visual HMM. The system achieved a WER of 0.9%, which also improved from the baseline systems. These results demonstrate the feasibility and versatility of the multi-stream speech recognition framework. Thesis Supervisor: James R. Glass Title: Principal Research Scientist
Exhaled breath condensate pH is a robust and reproducible assay of airway acidity

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH is low in several lung diseases and it normalises with therapy. The current study examined factors relevant to EBC pH monitoring. Intraday and intraweek variability were studied in 76 subjects. The pH of EBC collected orally and from isolated lower airways was compared in an additional 32 subjects. Effects of ventilatory pattern (hyperventilation/hypoventilation), airway obstruction after methacholine, temperature (−44 to +13°C) and duration of collection (2–7 min), and duration of sample storage (up to 2 yrs) were examined. All samples were collected with a disposable condensing device, and de-aerated with argon until pH measurement stabilised. Mean EBC pH (n=76 subjects, total samples=741) was 7.7±0.49 (mean±sd). Mean intraweek and intraday coefficients of variation were 4.5% and 3.5%. Control of EBC pH appears to be at the level of the lower airway. Temperature of collection, duration of collection and storage, acute airway obstruction, subject age, saliva pH, and profound hyperventilation and hypoventilation had no effect on EBC pH. The current authors conclude that in health, exhaled breath condensate pH is slightly alkaline, held in a narrow range, and is controlled by lower airway source fluid. Measurement of exhaled breath condensate pH is a simple, robust, reproducible and relevant marker of disease.
Finite Time Observers for nonlinear system , Numerical example

In this paper, we consider the synthesis of Finite Time Observers for two class of nonlinear systems by solving some LMIs problem. First, we develop a method to calculate an affine gain which is used to determine an observer for a class of nonlinear systems. The method can also be applied to the case of another class of nonlinear systems with nonlinear output. A numerical example illustrates the proposed theory and point out the ameliorations comparing with asymptotic observers.
Using Educational Robotics to Engage Inner-City Students with Technology

This paper presents a pilot project using an educational robotics curriculum that was developed to enhance teaching of standard physics and math topics to middle and early high school students in inner-city schools in New York City. The lessons are centered around the LEGO Mindstorms robotics kit and the RoboLab graphical programming environment. The pilot project, testing the curriculum in two summer programs for early high school students, was conducted in 2003 at two locations in Harlem, New York City, USA.
Clustering of loose groups and galaxies from the Perseus--Pisces Survey

We investigate the clustering properties of loose groups in the Perseus–Pisces redshift Survey. Previous analyses based on CfA and SSRS surveys led to apparently contradictory results. We investigate the source of such discrepancies, ﬁnding satisfactory explanations for them. Furthermore, we ﬁnd a deﬁnite signal of group clustering, whose amplitude A G exceeds the amplitude A g of galaxy clustering ( A G = 14 . 5 +3 . 8 − 3 . 0 , A g = 7 . 42 +0 . 20 − 0 . 19 for the most signiﬁcant case; distances are measured in h − 1 Mpc). Groups are identiﬁed with the adaptive Friends–Of–Friends (FOF) algorithms HG (Huchra & Geller 1982) and NW (Nolthenius & White 1987), systematically varying all search parameters. Correlation strenght is especially sensitive to the sky–link D L (increasing for stricter normalization D 0 ), and to the (depth m lim of the) galaxy data. It is only moderately dependent on the galaxy luminosity function φ ( L ), while it is almost insensitive to the redshift–link V L (both to the normalization V 0 and to the scaling recipes HG or NW).
Amplifying reflective thinking in musical performance

In this paper we report on the development of tools that encourage both a creative and reflective approach to music-making and musical skill development. A theoretical approach to musical skill development is outlined and previous work in the area of music visualisation is discussed. In addition the characterisation of music performance as a type of design problem is discussed and the implications of this position for the design of tools for musicians are outlined. Prototype tools, the design of which is informed by the theories and previous work, are described and some preliminary evaluation of their effectiveness is discussed.Future directions are outlined.
Dicer, a new regulator of pluripotency exit and LINE‐1 elements in mouse embryonic stem cells

A gene regulation network orchestrates processes ensuring the maintenance of cellular identity and genome integrity. Small RNAs generated by the RNAse III DICER have emerged as central players in this network. Moreover, deletion of Dicer in mice leads to early embryonic lethality. To better understand the underlying mechanisms leading to this phenotype, we generated Dicer‐deficient mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Their detailed characterization revealed an impaired differentiation potential, and incapacity to exit from the pluripotency state. We also observed a strong accumulation of LINE‐1 (L1s) transcripts, which was translated at protein level and led to an increased L1s retrotransposition. Our findings reveal Dicer as a new essential player that sustains mESCs self‐renewal and genome integrity by controlling L1s regulation.
Overview of Service-Discovery Protocols for Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks

Service discovery is essential for ad-hoc networks. Because pre-configuration is not possible, nodes have to use a service-discovery protocol to find the available services. For wired networks the problem has mostly been solved by protocols such as the Service Location Protocol, Jini and Salutation. Mobile networks have very different characteristics and therefore require specially designed protocols. This paper gives an overview of the state of the art in service-discovery protocols for mobile ad-hoc networks.
Pigmentation Pathway Evolution after Whole-Genome Duplication in Fish

Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) have occurred repeatedly in the vertebrate lineage, but their evolutionary significance for phenotypic evolution remains elusive. Here, we have investigated the impact of the fish-specific genome duplication (FSGD) on the evolution of pigmentation pathways in teleost fishes. Pigmentation and color patterning are among the most diverse traits in teleosts, and their pigmentary system is the most complex of all vertebrate groups. Using a comparative genomic approach including phylogenetic and synteny analyses, the evolution of 128 vertebrate pigmentation genes in five teleost genomes following the FSGD has been reconstructed. We show that pigmentation genes have been preferentially retained in duplicate after the FSGD, so that teleosts have 30% more pigmentation genes compared with tetrapods. This is significantly higher than genome-wide estimates of FSGD gene duplicate retention in teleosts. Large parts of the melanocyte regulatory network have been retained in two copies after the FSGD. Duplicated pigmentation genes follow general evolutionary patterns such as the preservation of protein complex stoichiometries and the overrepresentation of developmental genes among retained duplicates. These results suggest that the FSGD has made an important contribution to the evolution of teleost-specific features of pigmentation, which include novel pigment cell types or the division of existing pigment cell types into distinct subtypes. Furthermore, we have observed species-specific differences in duplicate retention and evolution that might contribute to pigmentary diversity among teleosts. Our study therefore strongly supports the hypothesis that WGDs have promoted the increase of complexity and diversity during vertebrate phenotypic evolution.
Female-Bias in a Long-Term Study of a Species with Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination: Monitoring Sex Ratios for Climate Change Research

Alterations have occurred and continue to manifest in the Earth’s biota as a result of climate change. Animals exhibiting temperature dependent sex determination (TSD), including sea turtles, are perhaps most vulnerable to a warming of the Earth as highly skewed sex ratios can result, potentially leading to population extinction resulting from decreased male recruitment. Recent studies have begun to quantify climate change impacts to sea turtle populations, especially in terms of predicting effects on hatchling sex ratios. However, given the inherent difficulty in studying sex ratios at this life stage, a more accurate assessment of changes in population sex ratios might be derived by evaluating the juvenile portion of foraging aggregations. We investigated the long-term trend in sex ratio of a juvenile loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle population inhabiting Pamlico and Core Sounds, North Carolina, USA. We used plasma testosterone reference ranges measured using radioimmunoassay (RIA) to assign sex for 959 turtles and confirmed sex assignment of a subset (N = 58) of the sampled turtles through laparoscopic examination of their gonads. Our results demonstrate that for this particular population of loggerheads, sex ratios (3Females:1Male) had not significantly changed over a 10 year period (1998–2007), nor showed any significant difference among 5-cm straight carapace length (SCL) size classes. Ultimately, these findings provide a basis for comparison with future sex ratios, and highlight the importance of establishing similar long-term studies monitoring secondary, rather than primary, sex ratios, so that needed mitigation measures to climate change impacts can be implemented.
Defining second screen gaming: exploration of new design patterns

New technologies have made the mobile phone to a multifunctional ally who accompanies many people in their everyday life. Smartphones and tablet PCs have also established new game settings. In this paper, we investigate a new trend utilizing smart devices as second screens that are added to gaming situations. We give a definition of Second Screen Gaming, and illuminate a special subcategory we call Smart Gaming. Further, we argue that there is a need for comprehensive design guidelines to integrate the second screen as a core part of the game design. Additionally, we have identified several challenges while designing such games and point out the opportunities for game designers in following this new trend. At the end of this work, three game prototypes are introduced as case studies, which demonstrate different aspects of Second Screen Gaming and thereby illustrate how innovative, engaging and highly social games can be created.
Problèmes de communication et de coordination dans les systèmes spatiaux

Les problemes de communication et ceux de coordination peuvent etre intimement lies dans le cas des systemes spatiaux, a cause notamment de l'existence de defaillances arbitraires et des exigences strictes de haute surete de fonctionnement. On donne une caracterisation du domaine spatial, tant du point de vue « communications » que du point de vue « traitements ». Des problemes generiques majeurs combinant le distribue, le temps reel et la tolerance aux fautes sont examines et illustres par des analyses de problemes vecus lors de missions spatiales.
Regulation of lncRNA expression

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are series of transcripts with important biological functions. Various diseases have been associated with aberrant expression of lncRNAs and the related dysregulation of mRNAs. In this review, we highlight the mechanisms of dynamic lncRNA expression. The chromatin state contributes to the low and specific expression of lncRNAs. The transcription of non-coding RNA genes is regulated by many core transcription factors applied to protein-coding genes. However, specific DNA sequences may allow their unsynchronized transcription with their location-associated mRNAs. Additionally, there are multiple mechanisms involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of lncRNAs. Among these, microRNAs might have indispensible regulatory effects on lncRNAs, based on recent discoveries.
Mutation screening in dilated cardiomyopathy: prominent role of the beta myosin heavy chain gene.

AIMS Familial dilated cardiomyopathy (FDCM) is associated with mutations in more than 10 genes, but genes mutation frequencies and associated clinical features remain largely unknown. Here, we performed a mutation analysis of four genes involved in FDCM in a population of idiopathic DCM. METHODS AND RESULTS A SSCP and sequencing mutation screening of all the exons coding for beta myosin heavy chain (MYH7 gene), cardiac T troponin (TNNT2 gene), phospholamban (PLN gene), and the cardio-specific exon of metavinculin (VCL gene) were performed in 96 independent patients (54 familial and 42 sporadic). It led to the identification of eight heterozygous mutations, seven new ones in MYH7, and the already described R141W mutation in TNNT2. MYH7 mutations (in five familial and two sporadic cases) substitute residues located either in the head (I201T, T412N, A550V) or tail domains (T1019N, R1193S, E1426K, R1634S) of the protein. DCM was not associated with skeletal myopathy or conduction defects in any patients. Contrasting clinical features were observed between MYH7 and TNNT2 mutations carriers. In MYH7 vs. TNNT2, mean age at diagnosis was late (P<0.03), penetrance was incomplete in adults (56 vs. 100%), and mean age at major cardiac event was higher (P<0.04). CONCLUSION We have identified seven mutations in MYH7, one in TNNT2, and none in PLN or in the VCL cardio-specific exon. MYH7 appears as the most frequently mutated gene in our FDCM population (approximately 10%), and mutation carriers present with delayed onset, in contrast to TNNT2.
Multiplicative Attributes Graph Approach for Persistent Authentication in Single-Sign-On Mobile Systems

Single-sign-on (SSO) has been proposed as a more efficient and convenient authentication method. Classic SSO systems re-authenticate a user to different applications based on a fixed set of attributes (e.g. Username-password combinations). However, the use of a fixed set of attributes fail to account for mobility and contextual variations of user activities. Thus, in a SSO based system, robust persistent authentications and secure session termination management are vital for ensuring secure operations. In this paper we propose a novel persistent authentication technique using multiplicative attribute graph model. We use multiple attribute based persistent authentication model using facial biometrics, location and activity specific information. We propose a novel membership (or group affiliations) based session management technique for user initiated SSO global logout management. Significance and viability of these methods are demonstrated by security, complexity and numerical analyses. In conclusion, our model provides meaningful insights and more pragmatic approaches for persistent authentication and session termination management in implementing SSO based mobile collaborative applications.
If Likes Were Votes: An Empirical Study on the 2011 Italian Administrative Elections

Is it possible to forecast electoral results by analyzing social media conversations? This paper aims to contribute to the debate raised by authors claiming to have successfully predicted the outcomes of an election from Twitter or Facebook data. Our work tested the purported predictive power of social media metrics against the 2011 Italian administrative elections. During the months before the election day, we collected the amount of Likes received on the Facebook pages of 229 candidates running for the mayor offices of the 29 provincial capitals. We built two forecast models with the goal of predicting the outcomes of the elections: the aim of the first one was to predict the candidates’ vote shares, while the second was to forecast the name of the winning candidate. We found a non-significant correlation between the share of candidate popularity on Facebook and the respective share of votes. However, in 39% of the cases, the most popular candidate on Facebook actually won the contest, and in another 43%, that candidate came in second. The contribution to the ongoing debate is therefore two-sided: on the one hand, we provide a new case study from a cultural context and political system never analyzed before by this kind of study; on the other side, we propose two forecasting models that, although proven to be partially unsuccessful, can provide a foundation for improved forecasting models.
INTEGRATION OF ORBITAL AND GROUND IMAGE NETWORKS FOR THE AUTOMATION OF ROVER LOCALIZATION

Rover localization is essential to the exploration of space. The availability of sub-meter resolution satellite imagery, especially HiRISE imagery, has opened the possibility of computing rover locations at higher accuracy by making use of detailed features seen in the satellite orbital images. This paper describes a new development towards automation of the rover localization process using orbital and ground images. Using a rigorous sensor model and bundle adjustment (BA) of HiRISE stereo imagery, high-resolution orthophotos and DEMs can be generated as soon as the orbital stereo images are acquired. A ground image network is also constructed using intra- and inter-stereo matching. From both types of imagery, a few landmarks are identified to be used as ground control points for the integration of the orbital and ground image networks. Rocks detected from both orbital and ground imagery serve as tie points for rover localization. From orbital images, rocks are extracted based on brightness values and the shape of dark spots. Rocks in ground images are extracted through dense stereo matching, rock peak and surface point extraction, and rock modeling. To narrow down a precise rover position, terrain match is performed using DEMs generated from orbital and ground imagery. Finally, distribution pattern matching is implemented for rocks detected from orbital and ground imagery. The rover position is adjusted based on 2D affine transformation obtained from rock pattern matching. The proposed method has been tested for the Spirit rover traverse. Experimental results show that the orbital/ground rock matching approach has performed successfully for MER rover localization.
Youth Participation in Social Media and Political Attitudes in Nigeria

This study investigates the relationship between facebook users' political attitudes and online political participation among youth. Participants were 100 active facebook users comprising of 58 males and 42 females, with an age range of 1632 years. The study employed a correlation design. The facebook intensity scale {FIS} (Ellison, Steinfield and Lampe, 2007) was used to measure facebook usage and political participation. The results revealed a significantly positive relationship between face book usage and political participation among the youth in Nigeria. However, facebook use rate did not significantly influence political participation. It is therefore concluded that facebook usage affords persons of different perspectives the ability to unite and engage in political discourse.
Research on automatic measuring system for cell fluorescence

In this paper, an effective, convenient and cheap computerized microscopic system was developed to measure cell fluorescence quantitatively. A series of experiments were given to measure relative fluorescence intensity of DNA ploidy in mouse spermatozoa and hepatocytes, static [Ca2+]i (concentration of Ca2+) in single nerve cell and the change of [Ca2+]i in a nerve cell subjected to high K+ or glutamate. The experimental results show that the system gives accurate data, good stability and can be applied in biological analysis, medical research and clinical inspection.
An ecological approach to children's playground props

This paper describes an ecological approach to designing children's play props. By studying the world with the help of intermediary objects, children learn about the physical and "mythical" characteristics of their three-dimensional surroundings through physically active play. Starting from the universal pull-along toy as inspiration, a new category of space explorer emerges that interacts with children as they engage their outdoor play environment. Early design experiences are described and directions for future research are given.