Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolution of total net fitness in thermal lines: Drosophila subobscura likes it ‘warm’

Fisher's fundamental theorem states that heritable variation for net fitness sets a limit to the rate of response to natural selection. How will temperate (i.e. cold‐tolerant) species cope with contemporary rapid global warming? Using three‐fold replicated lines of Drosophila subobscura that had been allowed to evolve for 4 years (between 32 and 59 generations) at 13 °C (cold), 18 °C (the supposed optimum temperature), and 22 °C (warm) I assess here how net fitness changes according to thermal environments. Net fitness was estimated following the classical approach in population genetics of competing over a number of generation in outbred experimental populations multiple wild‐type O chromosomes (homologous to arm 3R in D. melanogaster) independently derived from each base thermal stock in an otherwise homogeneous genetic background against a balancer chromosome. Warm‐adapted populations (‘warm‐adapted O chromosomes’) performed comparatively well at all tested temperatures. However, net fitness was severely reduced in cold‐adapted populations when transferred to warmer conditions. It seems, therefore, that thermal fitness breath for D. subobscura flies is positively associated to temperature. These findings are discussed in relation to the fast world‐wide clinal shifts in the frequency of genetic markers correlated with current climate change.
Analytical and FEM simulations of the thermal spreading effect in LED modules and IR thermography validation

Thermal management is a key issue in LED packaging. To keep the LED junction temperature as low as possible, one has to address the spreading effect from a localised heat source into a bigger substrate as it is the case in the Chip On Board configuration (COB). We performed a benchmark of the existing analytical models for the spreading effect and derived a new model that allows a better prediction of the thermal resistance in such LED COB modules. This new analytical model, implemented in a Scilab application, was first assessed in different cases with the Finite Element Method (FEM) software Ansys®. Besides, IR thermography was performed on different kind of modules allowing a direct comparison with the analytical and FEM predictions. In addition to correctly fit the the predictions, IR thermography measurements enabled to give rise to the important thermal effect of the die attach material used to bond the LED to the substrate. We demonstrated that AuSn solder exhibit higher performances than other low melting point solders and Ag-based adhesive.
Type III Protein Secretion Systems in Bacterial Pathogens of Animals and Plants

SUMMARY Various gram-negative animal and plant pathogens use a novel, sec-independent protein secretion system as a basic virulence mechanism. It is becoming increasingly clear that these so-called type III secretion systems inject (translocate) proteins into the cytosol of eukaryotic cells, where the translocated proteins facilitate bacterial pathogenesis by specifically interfering with host cell signal transduction and other cellular processes. Accordingly, some type III secretion systems are activated by bacterial contact with host cell surfaces. Individual type III secretion systems direct the secretion and translocation of a variety of unrelated proteins, which account for species-specific pathogenesis phenotypes. In contrast to the secreted virulence factors, most of the 15 to 20 membrane-associated proteins which constitute the type III secretion apparatus are conserved among different pathogens. Most of the inner membrane components of the type III secretion apparatus show additional homologies to flagellar biosynthetic proteins, while a conserved outer membrane factor is similar to secretins from type II and other secretion pathways. Structurally conserved chaperones which specifically bind to individual secreted proteins play an important role in type III protein secretion, apparently by preventing premature interactions of the secreted factors with other proteins. The genes encoding type III secretion systems are clustered, and various pieces of evidence suggest that these systems have been acquired by horizontal genetic transfer during evolution. Expression of type III secretion systems is coordinately regulated in response to host environmental stimuli by networks of transcription factors. This review comprises a comparison of the structure, function, regulation, and impact on host cells of the type III secretion systems in the animal pathogens Yersinia spp. , Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhimurium, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and Chlamydia spp. and the plant pathogens Pseudomonas syringae, Erwinia spp. , Ralstonia solanacearum, Xanthomonas campestris, and Rhizobium spp.
Specific cell types in cat retina express different forms of glutamic acid decarboxylase

We studied the expression of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), GAD65 and GAD67, in cat retina by immunocytochemistry. About 10% of GABAergic amacrime cells express only GAD65 and 30% express only GAD67. Rougly 60% contain both forms of the enzyme, but GAD67 is present only at low levels in the majority of these double‐labeled amacrine cells. The staining pattern in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) for the two GAD forms was also different. GAD65 was restricted to strata 1–4, and GAD67 was apparent throughout the IPL but was strongest in strata 1 and 5. This indicates that soams, as well as their processes, are differentially stained for the two forms of GAD. Cell types expressing only GAD65 include interplexiform cells, one type of cone bipolar cell, and at least one type of serotonin‐accumulating amacrine cell. Cell types expressing only GAD67 include amacrine cells synthesizing dopamine, amacrine cells synthesizing nitric oxide (NO), and amacrine cells accumulating serotonin. Cholinergic amacrine cells express a low level of both GAD forms. Our findings in the retina are consistent with previous observations in the brain that GAD65 expression is greater in terminals than in somas. In addition, in retina most neurons expressing GAD67 also contain a second neurotransmitter as well as GABA, and they tend to be larger than neurons expressing GAD65. We propose that large cells have a greater demand for GABA than small cells, and thus require the constant, relatively unmodulated level of GABA that is provided by GAD67. © 1995 Willy‐Liss, Inc.
Caudal genes in blood development and leukemia

Members of the caudal gene family (in mice and humans: Cdx1, Cdx2, and Cdx4) have been studied during early development as regulators of axial elongation and anteroposterior patterning. In the adult, Cdx1 and Cdx2, but not Cdx4, have been intensively explored for their function in intestinal tissue homeostasis and the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal cancers. Involvement in embryonic hematopoiesis was first demonstrated in zebrafish, where cdx genes render posterior lateral plate mesoderm competent to respond to genes specifying hematopoietic fate, and compound mutations in cdx genes thus result in a bloodless phenotype. Parallel studies performed in zebrafish embryos and murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) delineate conserved pathways between fish and mammals, corroborating a BMP/Wnt‐Cdx‐Hox axis during blood development that can be employed to augment derivation of blood progenitors from pluripotent stem cells in vitro. The molecular regulation of Cdx genes appears complex, as more recent data suggest involvement of non‐Hox–related mechanisms and the existence of auto‐ and cross‐regulatory loops governed by morphogens. Here, we will review the role of Cdx genes during hematopoietic development by comparing effects in zebrafish and mice and discuss their participation in malignant blood diseases.
Signals that determine Schwann cell identity *

While the signals that direct neural crest cells to choose the glial lineage and generate Schwann cell precursors are still obscure, studies both in vivo and in vitro indicate that the survival and differentiation of these cells to form Schwann cells is regulated by at least two signals, neuregulin‐1 and endothelin. We know little about the signals that cause some immature Schwann cells to choose myelin differentiation, while other cells form non‐myelinating cells. Three transcription factors, Sox‐10, Oct‐6 and Krox‐20, have been shown to play key roles in the Schwann cell lineage. The transcription factor Krox‐20 has been identified as a major target of the signals that induce myelin differentiation. Gene transfer experiments in vitro show that this protein has a remarkable ability to promote a large number of phenotypic changes in immature Schwann cells that characterize the transition of these cells to myelinating cells. Furthermore, Krox‐20 shows important functional interactions with neuregulin and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), two factors that have been implicated in the regulation of myelination in postnatal nerves. Another signal of importance in developing peripheral nerves, Desert Hedgehog, secreted by Schwann cells directs formation of the peripheral nerve connective tissue sheaths. Ongoing gene screening experiments are likely to reveal new genes of interest in this system.
Patient and caregiver perspectives on the Heinrichs-Carpenter quality of life scale and the subjective well being under neuroleptics-short form

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and functioning are associated with outcomes in schizophrenia; however, there is heterogeneity in measured HRQOL and functioning concepts and incongruence among raters (patients, caregivers, and physicians). This study aimed to explore the meaning and relevance to patients and caregivers of the concepts measured in two commonly used measures of HRQOL and functioning in schizophrenia: the clinician-administered Heinrichs-Carpenter Quality of Life Scale (QLS) and the patient-rated Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptics–Short Form (SWN-S). Interviews with adults with schizophrenia (n=12) and focus groups with caregivers (n=17) were conducted to assess the meaning and importance of concepts from these measures. For both patients and caregivers, the Intrapsychic Foundations domain of the QLS and the Mental Functioning domain of the SWN-S were identified as the most important contributors to patient HRQOL and functioning. General congruence was observed in patients’ and caregivers’ interpretations of the concepts on both measures.
Fitting a deformable 3D human body model to depth images using convolutional neural networks

This work combines two existing approaches for 3D human shape completion. A generative statistical model of human shape (SCAPE) and a correspondence algorithm based on convolutional neural networks. The correspondences are used to control a nonrigid iterative closest points (NICP) algorithm which is regularized by a SCAPE model. We expect that this approach will mitigate the initialization problem of NICP and detect correspondence mismatches of a trained feature extractor.
Effects of alterations in the leader sequence of Rous sarcoma virus RNA on initiation of translation

The 372-nucleotide leader sequence of Rous sarcoma virus RNA contains three conserved short open reading frames and other sequences responsible for a variety of life cycle functions. We have investigated several aspects of the leader RNA which may influence the translation of the major coding regions to which the leader is juxtaposed. We found that small perturbations of the leader length do not affect the binding and scanning of ribosomal subunits by more than about 10%, that the length and/or structure of the RSV RNA leader is near optimal for translation of the major coding regions of the viral RNA, that inclusion or deletion of open reading frames influences downstream initiation in a manner that is not strictly additive, and that reinitiation of translation at the gag gene is very efficient.
Performance of Hall sensors when used in ground fault protections in MV networks

Ground faults are dominant among disturbances of medium voltage networks and cause numerous problems during their lifetime. Accurate detection and clearing of single phase short-circuits are especially difficult in compensated and/or isolated networks (6-30 kV) with small fault current value. This problem is of particular importance in strip mines due to frequent variations of the network configuration (thus respective change of parameters) under operation. We have found that it is possible to obtain a simple structure of the reliable ground fault protections when applying Hall sensors as measuring elements. In the paper, structure, principle of operation, and investigated results of the overcurrent as well as directional protections are presented and discussed. The investigations were carried out under steady and transient states using special laboratory equipment and verified under real short-circuit conditions in a strip mine. On the basis of the results, the conclusions about the possibility of applications of such protections in practice are formulated.
Characterization of the genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage phi PLS27 with particular reference to the ends of the DNA

The DNA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa rough-specific bacteriophage phi PLS27 was studied. The genome size as determined by summing the sizes of restriction fragments was 42.7 kilobase pairs. Of particular interest was the fact that the DNA was insensitive to certain common restriction endonucleases including EcoRI, BamHI, and HindIII. The ends of the phage DNA were cloned and sequenced, revealing direct repeats of 318 nucleotides. The left end of the genome when cloned into the promoter selection vector pKK232-8 exhibited promoter activity in Escherichia coli. Two promoters bearing greater than 70% sequence homology to the plasmid pNM74 TOL operon and PAK pilin promoters were identified.
A 2D Proof of Principle Towards a 3D Digital SiPM in HV CMOS With Low Output Capacitance

The 3D vertical integration of SPAD and readout electronics is a promising avenue to high performance photodetectors. This approach will minimize most limitations of current SiPM and lead to better performances in terms of effective PDE, timing and added functionalities. In this paper, we present a new integrated digital SiPM electronic architecture. This specific architecture aims to replace conventional analog SiPM with the added benefits of a significantly lower and constant output capacitance as well as immunity to SPAD to SPAD gain variation on the single photon resolution while providing an analog-like output signal waveform representing the sum of all triggered SPADs. This electronic architecture also offers options to turn off noisy SPADs, to reduce afterpulsing through a programmable hold-off time and to adjust the dynamic range of the output depending on the photon flux. While the 3D integration process development is underway, we realized a 2D version as a proof of principle of the electronic architecture. The 2D detector presented in this article is composed of an array of 242 pixels for a size of 1.1 × 1.1 mm2. The output capacitance of the device is 5.6 pF/mm2, the timing jitter associated to the quenching circuit is about 40 ps FWHM and the maximum timing skew within the array is about 70 ps, which could still be optimized.
Ten-year experience with transvaginal vesicovaginal fistula repair using tissue interposition.

PURPOSE The success rate of vesicovaginal fistula repair is improved by tissue interposition. The Martius flap produces reliable results but it has increased morbidity. A peritoneal flap is easily created with minimal morbidity and it can be used for proximal fistulas. We describe our 10-year experience with tissue interposition for transvaginal repair of vesicovaginal fistulas. MATERIALS AND METHODS From January 1991 to July 2001, 207 cases of vesicovaginal fistulas were repaired transvaginally. Tissue interposition was used for complex (greater than 2 cm. and/or radiation induced) fistulas and/or failed previous repairs. A peritoneal flap was used for proximal fistulas and a Martius flap was used for distal fistulas. A full-thickness labial flap was reserved for cases of insufficient vaginal epithelium. RESULTS A total of 207 patients underwent transvaginal repair of a vesicovaginal fistula. Etiology of the fistula was hysterectomy in 91% of cases (abdominal in 83% and vaginal in 8%), radiation in 4% and 5% other (obstetric trauma, anterior colporrhaphy or an indwelling catheter) in 5%. In 159 patients (77%) at least 1 previous repair had failed. Repair in 120 patients (58%) was done with tissue interposition, including a peritoneal, Martius and full-thickness labial flap in 83, 34 and 3, respectively. The cure rate after initial repair with a peritoneal, Martius and labial flap was 96%, 97% and 33%, respectively. There were no intraoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS A peritoneal flap for transvaginal repair of vesicovaginal fistulas has minimal morbidity, results in a success rate comparable to that of the Martius flap and is especially useful for proximal fistulas when previous repair has failed.
An experimental model of liver damage and portal hypertension induced by a single dose of monocrotaline.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Hepatic cirrhosis accompanied by portal hypertension is a common cause of death in human beings. The aim of the present study was to develop an experimental model of hepatic portal hypertension associated with liver damage. METHODOLOGY To develop liver damage in rats, we used the toxic alkaloid monocrotaline. Two groups of male Wistar rats were used. Group 1 was injected with a single dose of monocrotaline (60 mg/kg of body weight) intraperitoneally. Group 2 was injected with an equal volume of saline solution. After 44 days, the animals underwent the following tests: splenoportography and measurement of portal pressure, hepatic serum biochemical tests, and light and electron microscopy. RESULTS Group 1 showed a significant increase in splenic pressure, superior and inferior collateral circulation, and an increase in portal vein diameter. Serious alterations were detected in hepatic serum markers. Light microscopy showed different degrees of hepatocyte damage, varying from edema to focal necrosis. Ultrastructural changes were of membrane disruption, mitochondrial and nuclear alterations. CONCLUSIONS The present experimental model could be useful in establishing the pathophysiological changes associated with portal hypertension due to liver damage.
Filament sliding and energy absorbed by the cross‐bridge in active muscle subjected to cycical length changes.

1. The effects of single and double cycles of stretch and release on the tension response and relative sliding movement of the actin and myosin filaments in active frog's muscle were investigated. 2. The cross‐bridges linking the filaments together are able to accommodate a greater range of filament displacement before becoming detached during a second cycle stretch, providing it commences without delay following the preceding release: sarcomere 'give' then occurs for displacements of around 18 nm, as compared with 12 nm for a first cycle stretch. It is postulated that the difference arises because the myosin heads adopt different 'preferred' positions in the isometric steady‐state and at the end of a previous release. 3. Muscle length‐tension loops were recorded and used to measure the energy absorbed when a muscle is subjected to cycles of stretch and release. The work absorbed per unit length change increases with increasing displacement of the cross‐bridges from their initial (isometric) steady‐state position, up to the point at which sarcomere 'give' occurs (S2); thereafter it remains constant. 4. More work is absorbed during the first cycle of a double stretch‐release combination than during the second. The greater amount absorbed during the first cycle is associated with a correspondingly greater amount of filament sliding in the period following sarcomere 'give'. Sarcomere length‐tension loops were constructed and these showed that not less than 80‐85% of the work done on a muscle is absorbed by the sarcomeres themselves. 5. A greater amount of work is done on stretching up to (but not beyond) S2 during second cycle stretch as compared to a first. The difference amounts about 1 mJ.m‐2 per half‐sarcomere. 6. The results are compatible with the mechanism for force production proposed by Huxley & Simmons (1973), in which each myosin head generates force in a number of stepping movements, from one attached state to another. It is concluded that (a) during an unloaded isotonic contraction the working 'stroke' of the head would result in a 10‐13 nm relative sliding movement of the filaments, and (b) the potential energy difference separating the two 'preferred' states is 6‐9.6 kT per cross‐bridge, or 3‐4.8 kT per S‐1 sub‐units, assuming that each one interacts simultaneously with the actin filament.
Mixed level test generation for synchronous sequential circuits using the FOGBUSTER algorithm

Automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) yielding high fault coverage for CMOS circuits has received a wide attention in industry and academia for a long time. Mixed level test pattern generation offers advantages, since test generation from gate-level netlists has shortcomings regarding fault coverage in complex CMOS gates. A switch-level approach relying on the transistor structure only is too slow and impractical for larger circuits. The first part of this paper describes ATPG with a mixed switch-level and gate-level approach. It combines acceptable performance for large networks with a high fault coverage as well as for nontrivial transistor networks. Patterns generated this way are inherently capable to detect stuck-open faults and transition faults as well as various other fault models on different abstraction levels. In combination with local overcurrent detectors, also stuck-on- and local bridging-faults can be identified. To increase the efficiency of mixed level test generation, a reconvergency analysis is performed and constraints are stored. The second part of this paper deals with mixed level test generation for synchronous sequential circuits. The FOGBUSTER (FOrward propaGation Backward jUstification Sequential Test genERation) algorithm is described and experimental results for the ISCAS '89 benchmark circuits are shown. FOGBUSTER makes use of a forward propagation technique which we show to be more efficient in general than the technique used in BACK.
Cell production in the chicken cochlea

In the chicken cochlea, the structural features of the cilia bundles of individual hair cells vary systematically along the length of the sensory epithelium. As a first approach to understanding the developmental mechanisms that underlie this precise arrangement of structurally distinct hair cells, the spatiotemporal pattern of the terminal mitoses of their precursor cells was investigated by administering 3H‐thymidine, a radioactive precursor to DNA. This demonstrated that the first hair cells were produced during the sixth day of incubation and formed a longitudinal band that extended along most of the length of the sensory epithelium. The epithelium grew further through appositional addition of hair cells at the edges of this first band of cells, and the hair cell addition process expanded into the surrounding areas during the next 3 days. By the ninth day of incubation all the hair cells in the sensory epithelium except for those at the peripheral edges in the distal (apex) portion had been produced through terminal mitoses. Our results have demonstrated that hair cells that have similar stereocilia phenotypes do not all leave the mitotic cycle at the same time.