Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lmx1a and Lmx1b Function Cooperatively to Regulate Proliferation, Specification, and Differentiation of Midbrain Dopaminergic Progenitors

LIM homeodomain transcription factors, Lmx1a and Lmx1b, are required for the development of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons. Lmx1b is required for the specification and maintenance of mDA neurons, primarily due to its role in isthmic organizer development that is essential for the induction of mDA neurons. Here, we conditionally deleted Lmx1b in the ventral neural tube using ShhCre and found that Lmx1b conditional mutant mouse embryos show no defect in the development and maintenance of mDA neurons. In addition, Dreher (Lmx1a mutant) embryos display only a moderate reduction in the number of mDA neurons, suggesting that the related family member Lmx1b might compensate for Lmx1a function. We therefore generated Lmx1a and Lmx1b double mutants. Severe loss of mDA neurons occurred in Lmx1adr/dr;ShhCre/+;Lmx1bf/f double mutants due to essential roles for Lmx1a and Lmx1b in regulating the proliferation and neuronal commitment of mDA progenitors through the expression of Wnt1 and Ngn2, respectively. Lmx1a and Lmx1b also negatively regulate Hes1 expression and consequently cell cycle exit through activation of p27Kip1 expression. In addition, Lmx1a and Lmx1b also regulate the expression of floor plate genes such as Corin and Slit2 and specification of postmitotic mDA neurons. These defects were more severe with decreasing gene dosage of Lmx1a and Lmx1b or observed only when all four copies of Lmx1a and Lmx1b genes were inactivated. Together, our results demonstrate that Lmx1a and Lmx1b function cooperatively to regulate proliferation, specification, and differentiation of mDA progenitors, including their floor plate-like properties.
The Mind-Writing Pupil: A Human-Computer Interface Based on Decoding of Covert Attention through Pupillometry

We present a new human-computer interface that is based on decoding of attention through pupillometry. Our method builds on the recent finding that covert visual attention affects the pupillary light response: Your pupil constricts when you covertly (without looking at it) attend to a bright, compared to a dark, stimulus. In our method, participants covertly attend to one of several letters with oscillating brightness. Pupil size reflects the brightness of the selected letter, which allows us–with high accuracy and in real time–to determine which letter the participant intends to select. The performance of our method is comparable to the best covert-attention brain-computer interfaces to date, and has several advantages: no movement other than pupil-size change is required; no physical contact is required (i.e. no electrodes); it is easy to use; and it is reliable. Potential applications include: communication with totally locked-in patients, training of sustained attention, and ultra-secure password input.
Novel Techniques for Fraud Detection in Mobile Telecommunication Networks

This paper discusses the status of research on detection of fraud undertaken as part of the European Commission-funded ACTS ASPeCT (Advanced Security for Personal Communications Technologies) project. A first task has been the identification of possible fraud scenarios and of typical fraud indicators which can be mapped to data in toll tickets. Currently, the project is exploring the detection of fraudulent behaviour based on a combination of absolute and differential usage. Three approaches are being investigated: a rule-based approach, and two approaches based on neural networks, where both supervised and unsupervised learning are considered. Special attention is being paid to the feasibility of the implementations.
Novel Dystonia Genes: Clues on Disease Mechanisms and the Complexities of High‐Throughput Sequencing

Dystonia is a genetically heterogenous disease and a prototype disorder where next‐generation sequencing has facilitated the identification of new pathogenic genes. This includes the first two genes linked to recessively inherited isolated dystonia, that is, HPCA (hippocalcin) and COL6A3 (collagen VI alpha 3). These genes are proposed to underlie cases of the so‐called DYT2‐like dystonia, while also reiterating two distinct pathways in dystonia pathogenesis. First, deficiency in HPCA function is thought to alter calcium homeostasis, a mechanism that has previously been forwarded for CACNA1A and ANO3. The novel myoclonus‐dystonia genes KCTD17 and CACNA1B also implicate abnormal calcium signaling in dystonia. Second, the phenotype in COL6A3‐loss‐of‐function zebrafish models argues for a neurodevelopmental defect, which has previously been suggested as a possible biological mechanism for THAP1, TOR1A, and TAF1 based on expression data. The newly reported myoclonus‐dystonia gene, RELN, plays also a role in the formation of brain structures. Defects in neurodevelopment likewise seem to be a recurrent scheme underpinning mainly complex dystonias, for example those attributable to biallelic mutations in GCH1, TH, SPR, or to heterozygous TUBB4A mutations. To date, it remains unclear whether dystonia is a common phenotypic outcome of diverse underlying disease mechanisms, or whether the different genetic causes converge in a single pathway. Importantly, the relevance of pathways highlighted by novel dystonia genes identified by high‐throughput sequencing depends on the confirmation of mutation pathogenicity in subsequent genetic and functional studies. However, independent, careful validation of genetic findings lags behind publications of newly identified genes. We conclude with a discussion on the characteristics of true‐positive reports. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
An Inventory of Nutrient-Responsive Genes in Arabidopsis Root Hairs

Root hairs, single cell extensions of root epidermal cells that are critically involved in the acquisition of mineral nutrients, have proven to be an excellent model system for studying plant cell growth. More recently, omics-based systems biology approaches have extended the model function of root hairs toward functional genomic studies. While such studies are extremely useful to decipher the complex mechanisms underlying root hair morphogenesis, their importance for the performance and fitness of the plant puts root hairs in the spotlight of research aimed at elucidating aspects with more practical implications. Here, we mined transcriptomic and proteomic surveys to catalog genes that are preferentially expressed in root hairs and responsive to nutritional signals. We refer to this group of genes as the root hair trophomorphome. Our analysis shows that the activity of genes within the trophomorphome is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level with the mode of regulation being related to the function of the gene product. A core set of proteins functioning in cell wall modification and protein transport was defined as the backbone of the trophomorphome. In addition, our study shows that homeostasis of reactive oxygen species and redox regulation plays a key role in root hair trophomorphogenesis.
Isolation and Identification of a Novel Mitochondrial Metalloprotease (PreP) That Degrades Targeting Presequences in Plants*

Most of the nuclear encoded mitochondrial precursor proteins contain an N-terminal extension called the presequence that carries targeting information and that is cleaved off after import into mitochondria. The presequences are amphiphilic, positively charged, membrane-interacting peptides with a propensity to form α-helices. Here we have investigated the proteolysis of the presequences that have been cleaved off inside mitochondria. A presequence derived from the overexpressed F1β subunit of the ATP synthase and specific synthetic fluorescent peptides (Pep Tag Protease assay) have been shown to undergo rapid degradation catalyzed by a matrix located protease. We have developed a three-step chromatographic procedure including affinity and anion exchange chromatography for isolation of the protease from potato tuber mitochondria. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the isolated proteolytically active fraction followed by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry and data base searches allowed identification of the presequence peptide-degrading protease inArabidopsis thaliana data base as a novel mitochondrial metalloendoprotease with a molecular mass of 105 kDa. The identified metalloprotease contains an inverted zinc-binding motif and belongs to the pitrilysin family.
Deterministic Built-In Self-Test Using Multiple Linear Feedback Shift Registers for Low-Power Scan Testing

Large test data volume and excessive testing power are two strict challenges for VLSI testing. This paper presents a deterministic BIST using multiple LFSRs to generate the low power test set. Experimental results show, the two problems, especially in the reduction of testing power, can be significantly improved with limited hardware overhead.
A stochastic model for early placental development†

In the human, placental structure is closely related to placental function and consequent pregnancy outcome. Studies have noted abnormal placental shape in small-for-gestational-age infants which extends to increased lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease. The origins and determinants of placental shape are incompletely understood and are difficult to study in vivo. In this paper, we model the early development of the human placenta, based on the hypothesis that this is driven by a chemoattractant effect emanating from proximal spiral arteries in the decidua. We derive and explore a two-dimensional stochastic model, and investigate the effects of loss of spiral arteries in regions near to the cord insertion on the shape of the placenta. This model demonstrates that disruption of spiral arteries can exert profound effects on placental shape, particularly if this is close to the cord insertion. Thus, placental shape reflects the underlying maternal vascular bed. Abnormal placental shape may reflect an abnormal uterine environment, predisposing to pregnancy complications. Through statistical analysis of model placentas, we are able to characterize the probability that a given placenta grew in a disrupted environment, and even able to distinguish between different disruptions.
Pathological Element-Based Active Device Models and Their Application to Symbolic Analysis

This paper proposes new pathological element-based active device models which can be used in analysis tasks of linear(ized) analog circuits. Nullators and norators along with the voltage mirror-current mirror (VM-CM) pair (collectively known as pathological elements) are used to model the behavior of active devices in voltage-, current-, and mixed-mode, also considering parasitic elements. Since analog circuits are transformed to nullor-based equivalent circuits or VM-CM pairs or as a combination of both, standard nodal analysis can be used to formulate the admittance matrix. We present a formulation method in order to build the nodal admittance (NA) matrix of nullor-equivalent circuits, where the order of the matrix is given by the number of nodes minus the number of nullors. Since pathological elements are used to model the behavior of active devices, we introduce a more efficient formulation method in order to compute small-signal characteristics of pathological element-based equivalent circuits, where the order of the NA matrix is given by the number of nodes minus the number of pathological elements. Examples are discussed in order to illustrate the potential of the proposed pathological element-based active device models and the new formulation method in performing symbolic analysis of analog circuits. The improved formulation method is compared with traditional formulation methods, showing that the NA matrix is more compact and the generation of nonzero coefficients is reduced. As a consequence, the proposed formulation method is the most efficient one reported so far, since the CPU time and memory consumption is reduced when recursive determinant-expansion techniques are used to solve the NA matrix.
Use of the 21-Item Test with children and adolescents 5 to 16 years of age

ABSTRACT The goals of the present study were to: (a) collect preliminary normative data on the 21-Item Test in children and adolescents and to determine if cutoffs for biased responding in adults can be generalized to a younger population; (b) determine if Caucasian and Hispanic children perform differently on the test; and (c) ascertain the relationships of age and verbal intelligence with effort test performance. The 21-Item Test was administered to 153 children attending either a public (n = 96) or private (n = 57) school. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) was also administered to the private school sample. The results indicated that the 21-Item Test has potential as a tool for identifying children who do not put forth maximal effort during formal assessment and that the adult cutoffs appear applicable to children 8 years and older. Caucasian and Hispanic participants performed similarly on the test. Forced-choice scores ≤12 were associated with age and lower levels of performance on the Verbal Comprehension Index of the WISC-IV.
Incorporating the iPad in the mathematics classroom

Doubtlessly, mathematics is one of the most important subjects in education from K to 12 levels especially for students interested in eventually pursuing undergraduate studies in the fields of science and technology. As it has been argued in mathematics education research, not only the content, but also the form in which students learn is important for mathematics learning. Particularly, an inquiry approach permeates through the mathematics curriculum of several countries around the world. Additionally, the use of technology to learn mathematics has been increasing in the last decades, requiring teachers and professionals in education to constantly explore and learn new possibilities or affordances in the classroom. The purpose of this paper is to initiate a discussion about the possible and complex forms of interaction among students, teacher, mathematical tasks, and the electronic tablet (iPad) in an inquiry learning environment. An experience from a grade 10 classroom is used as a context to exemplify these interactions. Keywords-component—Mathematics K-12, problem solving, technology, iPad, enactivism, embodied cognition.
Enhancing Pen-based Interaction using Electrovibration and Vibration Haptic Feedback

This paper presents the EV2-Pen which leverages electrovibration technology and vibration technology in pen interaction. Electrovibration technology can produce multisensory feedback when the pen is in motion (sliding/moving on the screen), and vibration technology can provide vibrative feedback when the pen is stationary (pointing/resting on the screen). We conducted an experiment to investigate user performance with the EV2-Pen. The results indicated that the EV2-Pen outperformed the EV-Pen [18, 19] in pointing-steering tasks. Finally, we discuss the characteristics of the EV2-Pen, and explore some possible applications and scenarios.
Model Parameters Estimation Using Jeffrey Divergence

The most efficient image noise removal methods are based on the statistical models of the wavelet coefficients. These statistical models can be one or two dimensional. This paper deals with the method based on the generalized Laplacian probability density function (PDF). The generalized Laplacian PDF allows to model the histogram of the details bands of the discrete wavelet transform (DWT). This model serves as prior information about the image. So it is quite evident that when the suitable model was chosen then its parameters must be estimated using the feasible estimation method. A number of the methods for parameters estimation in many statistical books were described. Many of these are quite suboptimal, because it is impossible to estimate the model parameters directly from noisy wavelet coefficients. So because of this the method using Jeffrey divergence (JD) was proposed. This method for parameters estimation is based on minimizing of JD between the noisy wavelet coefficients histogram and the modeled noisy PDF. The above mentioned model will be utilized by the Bayesian estimators, where will be served as a prior information about the signal. There will be discussed the Bayesian least square error (BLSE) estimator and maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimator.
Crossover Distribution and Frequency Are Regulated by him-5 in Caenorhabditis elegans

Mutations in the him-5 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans strongly reduce the frequency of crossovers on the X chromosome, with lesser effects on the autosomes. him-5 mutants also show a change in crossover distribution on both the X and autosomes. These phenotypes are accompanied by a delayed entry into pachytene and premature desynapsis of the X chromosome. The nondisjunction, progression defects and desynapsis can be rescued by an exogenous source of double strand breaks (DSBs), indicating that the role of HIM-5 is to promote the formation of meiotic DSBs. Molecular cloning of the gene shows that the inferred HIM-5 product is a highly basic protein of 252 amino acids with no clear orthologs in other species, including other Caenorhabditis species. Although him-5 mutants are defective in segregation of the X chromosome, HIM-5 protein localizes preferentially to the autosomes. The mutant phenotypes and localization of him-5 are similar but not identical to the results seen with xnd-1, although unlike xnd-1, him-5 has no apparent effect on the acetylation of histone H2A on lysine 5 (H2AacK5). The localization of HIM-5 to the autosomes depends on the activities of both xnd-1 and him-17 allowing us to begin to establish pathways for the control of crossover distribution and frequency.
A sound and sometimes complete query evaluation algorithm for relational databases with null values

A sound and, in certain cases, complete method is described for evaluating queries in relational databases with null values where these nulls represent existing but unknown individuals. The soundness and completeness results are proved relative to a formalization of such databases as suitable theories of first-order logic. Because the algorithm conforms to the relational algebra, it may easily be incorporated into existing relational systems.
Molecular and Behavioral Differentiation among Brazilian Populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

Background Lutzomyia longipalpis is the primary vector of American visceral leishmaniasis. There is strong evidence that L. longipalpis is a species complex, but until recently the existence of sibling species among Brazilian populations was considered a controversial issue. In addition, there is still no consensus regarding the number of species occurring in this complex. Methodology/Principal Findings Using period, a gene that controls circadian rhythms and affects interpulse interval periodicity of the male courtship songs in Drosophila melanogaster and close relatives, we analyzed the molecular polymorphism in a number of L. longipalpis samples from different regions in Brazil and compared the results with our previously published data using the same marker. We also studied the male copulation songs and pheromones from some of these populations. The results obtained so far suggest the existence of two main groups of populations in Brazil, one group representing a single species with males producing Burst-type copulation songs and cembrene-1 pheromones; and a second group that is more heterogeneous and probably represents a number of incipient species producing different combinations of Pulse-type songs and pheromones. Conclusions/Significance Our results reveal a high level of complexity in the divergence and gene-flow among Brazilian populations of the L. longipalpis species complex. This raises important questions concerning the epidemiological consequences of this incipient speciation process.
Microfluidic Bubble Logic

We demonstrate universal computation in an all-fluidic two-phase microfluidic system. Nonlinearity is introduced into an otherwise linear, reversible, low–Reynolds number flow via bubble-to-bubble hydrodynamic interactions. A bubble traveling in a channel represents a bit, providing us with the capability to simultaneously transport materials and perform logical control operations. We demonstrate bubble logic AND/OR/NOT gates, a toggle flip-flop, a ripple counter, timing restoration, a ring oscillator, and an electro–bubble modulator. These show the nonlinearity, gain, bistability, synchronization, cascadability, feedback, and programmability required for scalable universal computation. With increasing complexity in large-scale microfluidic processors, bubble logic provides an on-chip process control mechanism integrating chemistry and computation.
The effects of applying cell-suppression and perturbation to aggregated genetic data

The key test for confidence in any association discovered within the medical domain is replication testing. That is, the ability of the association to be detected in independent populations. At the same time, in order to increase the likelihood of discovering statistically significant associations there is a clear need to increase the statistical power of any given study. A key methodology for increasing statistical power is through the use of as many subjects as possible that match a study's inclusion criteria. Thus many have attempted to merge data from multiple independent sources/sites/studies that contain the same inclusion criteria for subjects as a way of creating a much larger study with significantly more statistical power. For these approaches to work though data from multiple sites need to be made available to a single analysis. This practice is significantly limited by the need to respect legal and ethical requirements that are often complicated, ambiguous and inconsistent across different countries. The common approach to achieve merging of data is by sharing aggregated data rather than subject's personal data. Aggregated data however may still in some cases be reverse engineered, therefore traditionally cells within the aggregated data with small values were suppressed, and some or all of the aggregated data were perturbed in order to add noise inhibiting any attempts at identifying personal information of a specific person or sub-group in the original data. In this paper we study the effects of cell-suppression and perturbation on the results of the data analysis. Each approach is looked at by itself as well as in combination using the typical settings documented in the literature. The tests are based on a real dataset that looks for associations between phenotypes and genetic markers. This work is part of the Linked2Safety project that aims to dynamically interconnect distributed patients' data to better enable medical research efforts, whilst respecting patients' anonymity, as well as European and national legislation.