Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variation in body size and sexual dimorphism across geographical and environmental space in the frogs Limnodynastes tasmaniensis and L. peronii

This study aimed to identify potential factors responsible for geographically structured morphological variation within the widespread Australian frogs Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Gunther and L. peronii Dumeril & Bibron. There was support for James's rule, and both latitude and present climate explained large amounts of the variation in body size and shape (particularly in L. peronii). There was also some support for the influence of several biogeographical barriers. Finally, both species were sexually dimorphic for body size and the degree of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) varied geographically. Climate was an important explanation for SSD variation in L. peronii, while latitude was most important for L. tasmaniensis. Geographical variations in sexual selection via male-male physical competition and climate-related resources are suggested as potential explanations for SSD variation in L. peronii. (C) 2004 The Linnean Society of London.
A Subject Librarian's Guide to Collaborating on e-Science Projects.

For liaison or subject librarians, entering into the emerging area of providing researchers with data services or partnering with them on cyberinfrastructure projects can be a daunting task. This article will provide some advice as to what to expect and how providing data services can be folded into other liaison duties. New skills for librarians and traditional skills that can be adapted to data curation work will also be discussed. A case study on the authors' experiences collaborating with two chemistry faculty on an e-science project serves as the framework for the majority of this article.
Presence of antinucleosome autoantibodies in a restricted set of connective tissue diseases: antinucleosome antibodies of the IgG3 subclass are markers of renal pathogenicity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE To study the frequency and disease specificity of antinucleosome antibody reactivity in diverse connective tissue diseases (CTD), and to determine factors, such as antibody subclass, that may influence the pathogenicity of these antibodies in relation to disease activity. METHODS IgG and IgM antinucleosome activities on nucleosome core particles from 496 patients with 13 different CTD and 100 patients with hepatitis C were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the patients with CTD, 120 had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 37 had scleroderma (systemic sclerosis; SSc), 20 had mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), and 319 had other CTD, including Sjögren's syndrome, inflammatory myopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, primary antiphospholipid syndrome, Wegener's granulomatosis, Takayasu arteritis, giant cell arteritis, relapsing polychondritis, Behçet's syndrome, and sarcoidosis. Antinucleosome-positive sera were further analyzed, by isotype-specific ELISA, for antinucleosome and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) IgG subclasses. RESULTS SLE, SSc, and MCTD were the only 3 CTD in which antinucleosome IgG were detected (71.7%, 45.9%, and 45.0% of patients, respectively). Antinucleosomes of the IgG3 subclass were present at high levels in patients with active SLE and were virtually absent in those with SSc, MCTD, or inactive SLE, and their levels showed a positive correlation with SLE disease activity. Of note, an increase in levels of antinucleosome of the IgG3 isotype was observed during SLE flares, and this increase was found to be closely associated with active nephritis. Levels of antinucleosome of the IgG1 subclass showed a trend toward an inverse correlation with SLE disease activity. No significant fluctuation in the anti-dsDNA isotype profile was observed in relation to SLE severity or clinical signs. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that IgG antinucleosome is a new marker that may help in the differential diagnosis of CTD; antinucleosome of the IgG3 isotype might constitute a selective biologic marker of active SLE, in particular, of lupus nephritis.
A DAG clustering algorithm for design configurations

Design configurations of objects in engineering design applications, such as VLSI CAD, mechanical CAD and software design systems, are complex compositions of alternatives and historical versions of other objects. Design configurations can be modeled as nodes in a directed acyclic graph (DAG). Relationships between nodes are represented as edges. The design expansion problem, that of expanding a design object in terms of its components, is reduced to the problem of finding all descendants of a given node in the DAG. The converse problem of determining the objects that contain a given object is the same as finding all ancestors of a node. If the nodes of the DAG are stored randomly in secondary storage, then a page containing multiple nodes of the result set (nodes that are ancestors or descendants) may have to be accessed multiple times. We propose a clustering method that guarantees a single access to any such page, and zero access to any page that does not contain a node of the result set. Further, the intermediate storage necessary to prevent duplicate nodes from entering the result set is shown to be small. The sequence of nodes created by the clustering method satisfies certain properties that are continually maintained during the insertion of new nodes into the DAG. Thus, it is possible to dynamically add new design configurations by expanding the DAG through the insertion of new nodes.
Techno-economic analysis of Internet content delivery

iii Tiivistelmä . v Preface . i List of abbreviations . v List of figures . vii List of tables . ix List of publications . xi Author’s contribution . xiii 1 . Introduction . 1 1.1 Background and motivation . 1 1.2 Research questions and objectives . 2 1.3 Research scope and definitions . 2 1.4 Outline of the thesis . 3 2 . Evolution of Internet content delivery . 5 2.1 Internet topology . 5 2.2 Access technologies . 6 2.3 Caching technologies . 8 2.3.1 Content delivery networks . 9 2.3.2 ISP data center caching . 9 2.3.3 Peer-to-peer networks . 9 2.3.4 In-network caching . 10 2.4 Cacheability . 13 2.5 Market evolution . 14 3 . Research process and methods . 15 3.1 Research approach . 15 3.2 Data collection . 16 3.3 Ecosystem analysis . 16 3.4 Techno-economic modeling.18 4 . Internet content delivery ecosystem . 21
Pharmacological management to reduce exacerbations in adults with asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT Over the last 2 decades, many new pharmacological agents have been introduced to reduce the growing morbidity associated with asthma, but the long-term effects of these agents on exacerbations are unclear. OBJECTIVE To systematically review and quantitatively synthesize the long-term effects of inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta2 agonists, leukotriene pathway modifiers/receptor antagonists, and anti-IgE therapies on clinical outcomes and particular clinically relevant exacerbations in adult patients with chronic asthma. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify relevant randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews published from January 1, 1980, to April 30, 2004. We identified additional studies by searching bibliographies of retrieved articles and contacting experts in the field. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION Included trials were double-blind, had follow-up periods of at least 3 months, and contained data on exacerbations and/or forced expiratory volume in 1 second. The effects of interventions were compared with placebo, short-acting beta2 agonists, or each other. DATA SYNTHESIS Inhaled corticosteroids were most effective, reducing exacerbations by nearly 55% compared with placebo or short-acting beta2 agonists (relative risk [RR], 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34-0.62; P<.001 for heterogeneity). Compared with placebo, the use of long-acting beta2 agonists was associated with 25% fewer exacerbations (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.64-0.88; P =.43 for heterogeneity); when added to inhaled corticosteroids, there was a 26% reduction above that achieved by steroid monotherapy (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61-0.91; P =.07 for heterogeneity). Combination therapy was associated with fewer exacerbations than was increasing the dose of inhaled corticosteroids (RR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.96; P =.65 for heterogeneity). Compared with placebo, leukotriene modifiers/receptor antagonists reduced exacerbations by 41% (RR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.49-0.71; P =.44 for heterogeneity) but were less effective than inhaled corticosteroids (RR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.28-2.31; P =.91 for heterogeneity). Use of monoclonal anti-IgE antibodies with concomitant inhaled corticosteroid therapy was associated with 45% fewer exacerbations (RR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.45-0.66; P =.15 for heterogeneity). CONCLUSIONS Inhaled corticosteroids are the single most effective therapy for adult patients with asthma. However, for those unable or unwilling to take corticosteroids, the use of leukotriene modifiers/receptor agonists appears reasonable. Long-acting beta2 agonists may be added to corticosteroids for those who remain symptomatic despite low-dose steroid therapy. Anti-IgE therapy may be considered as adjunctive therapy for young adults with asthma who have clear evidence of allergies and elevated serum IgE levels.
Linking Gaming Characteristics with Learning : A Literature Review

This article presents empirical findings of a literature review focusing on the effects of gaming design characteristics on learning. Gaming characteristics (GCs) are believed to play a critical role in improving instructional quality of computer-assisted learning. In particular, researchers suggest that linking GCs with specific learning outcomes can harness the power of games and inform learning and teaching theories. While there has been a growing body of empirical research focusing on games’ learning effectiveness, the systematic knowledge linking GCs with human performance is extremely limited. Only nine empirical studies evaluating instructional benefits of singular GCs were found. Among the investigated GCs were storyline/fantasy, competition, reward, and interactivity with learning content. Research linking these GCs with specific learning outcomes suggests directions for future investigations.
Control of Networked Discrete Event Systems: Dealing with Communication Delays and Losses

In this paper, we investigate supervisory control of networked discrete event systems. Such systems are now widely used in practice. The key feature of a networked discrete event system is communication delays and losses in observation and control. Without addressing communication delays and losses in networked systems, no control will be effective. We propose to use some special observation mappings to deal with observation delays and losses. Based on these mappings, we define network observability. We also consider control delays and losses in networked discrete event systems and define network controllability. We show that these definitions capture precisely the requirements on effective supervisory control in networked discrete event systems in the sense that a networked supervisor exists if and only if both network controllability and network observability are satisfied.
NaCl and osmolarity produce different responses in organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis neurons, sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure

Changes in extracellular osmolarity stimulate thirst and vasopressin secretion through a central osmoreceptor; however, central infusion of hypertonic NaCl produces a greater sympathoexcitatory and pressor response than infusion of hypertonic mannitol/sorbitol. Neurons in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT) sense changes in extracellular osmolarity and NaCl. In this study, we discovered that intracerebroventricular infusion or local OVLT injection of hypertonic NaCl increases lumbar sympathetic nerve activity, adrenal sympathetic nerve activity and arterial blood pressure whereas equi‐osmotic mannitol/sorbitol did not alter any variable. In vitro whole‐cell recordings demonstrate the majority of OVLT neurons are responsive to hypertonic NaCl or mannitol. However, hypertonic NaCl stimulates a greater increase in discharge frequency than equi‐osmotic mannitol. Intracarotid or intracerebroventricular infusion of hypertonic NaCl evokes a greater increase in OVLT neuronal discharge frequency than equi‐osmotic sorbitol. Collectively, these novel data suggest that subsets of OVLT neurons respond differently to hypertonic NaCl versus osmolarity and subsequently regulate body fluid homeostasis. These responses probably reflect distinct cellular mechanisms underlying NaCl‐ versus osmo‐sensing.
Notice of RetractionExternal detection of listed Companies' accounting fraud: Case studies based on breakpoint test

This paper puts forward a market-response-based approach to detecting accounting fraud. We analyze the market response caused by accounting fraud. When accounting fraud happens, or investors perceive it, the time series structure of abnormal stock return should change significantly, which will provide opportunities for judging whether a company has issued false accounting pronouncements. The approach consists of following steps: the test of breakpoints, the interpretation of accounting pronouncements, the analysis of fundamental conditions and the detection of possible fraud aspects. We explain the principles of ICSS algorithm, and use the algorithm to test structure breakpoints. Furthermore, we apply the approach to case studies of listed companies' accounting fraud. The results show that stock return will response bitterly to accounting fraud, and we can detect companies' accounting fraud efficiently by carrying out the steps of the approach.
The Effect of Partial Food Deprivation on the Astroglia in the Dorsal Subnucleus of the Lateral Septum of the Rat Brain

The effect of 40% partial food deprivation was studied on the immunohistochemically detectable amount of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)—the specific marker of astroglia—in the dorsal subnucleus of lateral septum (LS) of male, intact and ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. Animals were either fed ad libitum (control) or 40% food deprived for one week, then perfusion-fixed, their brains removed, and serial vibratome sections were processed for the immunocytochemical localization of GFAP. Computeraided densitometry was carried out on digital photographs. The results showed that ovariectomy alone did not exert any effect on the density of GFAP-immunoreactivity (GFAP-IR) as compared to the values detected in intact females. Food deprivation increased the density of GFAP in each experimental group. The difference was most pronounced in males, significant in females and much less in ovariectomized females. Parietal cortex chosen as reference area did not show any increase in the local GFAP-IR. It was previously shown that the dorsal subnucleus of the lateral septum reacts with plastic neurochemical changes to food deprivation. Our results prove that these changes affect not only neuronal but also glial elements.
Quantum teleportation of composite systems via mixed entangled states

We analyze quantum teleportation for composite systems, specifically for concatenated teleporation (decomposing a large composite state into smaller states of dimension commensurate with the channel) and partial teleportation (teleporting one component of a larger quantum state). We obtain an exact expression for teleportation fidelity that depends solely on the dimension and singlet fraction for the entanglement channel and entanglement (measures by I concurrence) for the state; in fact quantum teleportation for composite systems provides an operational interpretation for I concurrence. In addition we obtain tight bounds on teleportation fidelity and prove that the average fidelity approaches the lower bound of teleportation fidelity in the high-dimension limit.
PALEOSEISMIC STUDY OF THE CHELUNGPU FAULT IN THE WANFUNG AREA

The excavation in the Wanfung area has provided evidence for at least three earthquake ruptures, including the 1999 ChiChi one. The Chi-Chi earthquake formed an obviously major reverse fault, backthrust, and several minor normal faults, accompanied by a teardrop-shape anticline in the fault tip. Paleoseismic ruptures I and II show the vertical displacement of 0.4 m and 1.2 m, respectively, which is similar in magnitude to the offset by the Chi-Chi earthquake in this area. Based on the stratigraphical and structural relations, and 14C dating, rupture II may not have occurred before 300 yr B.P. From the historical record, it may be suggested that the paleoseismic rupture II may have been caused by either the 1792 A.D. or 1848 A.D. strong earthquake in central Taiwan.
Coupling morphogenesis to mitotic entry

In eukaryotes, cyclin B-bound cyclin-dependent protein kinase 1 promotes mitotic entry but is held in check, in part, by Wee1 protein kinase. Timely mitotic entry in budding yeast requires inactivation of Swe1 (Wee1 ortholog). Perturbations of the septin collar at the bud neck lead to Swe1 stabilization, delaying the G2/M transition. Swe1 is recruited to the neck and hyperphosphorylated before ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Hsl1 kinase (Nim1 ortholog), a negative regulator of Wee1, is required for efficient Swe1 localization at the neck but seems not to phosphorylate Swe1. Here, we show that two other kinases targeted sequentially to the neck, Cla4/PAK and Cdc5/Polo, are responsible for stepwise phosphorylation and down-regulation of Swe1. This mechanism links assembly of a cellular structure to passage into mitosis.
DNAMethylation as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer

Targeting DNA methylation for cancer therapy has had a rocky history. The first reports on DNA methylation changes in cancer described global loss of methylation, which has been suggested to drive tumorigenesis through activation of oncogenic proteins or induction of chromosomal instability. In this context, reducing DNA methylation was viewed as a tumor-promoting event rather than a promising cancer therapy. The idea of inhibiting DNA methylation therapeutically emerged from subsequent studies showing that, in parallel to global decreases in methylation, several genes (including many critical to the tumor phenotype) displayed gains of methylation in their promoters during tumorigenesis, a process associated with epigenetic silencing of expression and loss of protein function.This led to revival of interest in drugs discovered decades ago to be potent inhibitors of DNAmethyltransferases.These drugs have now been approved for clinical use in the United States in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome, thus opening the floodgate for a whole new approach to cancer therapy'epigenetic therapy.
Relationship between physical and psychiatric disorder

Synopsis The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that there is a positive association between physical and psychiatric disorder. The study was designed to reduce potential sources of bias and the approach included random sampling of a general practice population; independent assessments of the physical and psychiatric states using objective methods and strict criteria for diagnosis; and the use of a control group. The results suggest that the hypothesis is confirmed and furthermore that ‘clustering’ of both types of disorder occurred in some individuals.
[Three cases of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis gastrointestinal infection having no apparent epidemiological relationship, caused by identical strains].

INTRODUCTION Gastrointestinal infections caused by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis are uncommon in our country and the epidemiology of the infection is uncertain. METHODS We describe three cases of Y. pseudotuberculosis gastrointestinal infection, all detected within one month of time. A possible epidemiological relationship among these cases, as well as the microbial characteristics of the isolates, was investigated. RESULTS. No epidemiological relationships were found among the three cases. Nevertheless, all three isolates were identical according to phenotyping and molecular marker studies. CONCLUSION This report discusses the possible source of infection in these cases, with reference to published data from sporadic cases and outbreaks of infection by this microorganism. We suggest that future studies are needed to know the real incidence of Y. pseudotuberculosis in our country.
Observations on the fine structure and distribution of presumptive baroreceptor nerves at the carotid sinus

Comparative nerve fiber counts show that the areas of the carotid bifurcation receiving a rich innervation correspond in extent to areas of the vascular wall with a thinned and elastic tunica media. Presumptive baroreceptor nerves within the carotid sinus wall were examined by electron microscopy in normal rabbits and also after superior cervical ganglionectomy and/or Hering's nerve transection. The glossopharyngeal (baroreceptor) nerve terminals are either denuded of a cellular covering or are thinly clothed in Schwann cell cytoplasm, and are intimately related over wide areas to at least three sinus wall components: to elastin at the medio‐adventitial border, to collagen in the inner one‐half of the adventitia, and to the surfaces of isolated adventitial smooth muscle cells. These muscle cells also receive a terminal innervation from the superior cervical ganglion. There is no nervous penetration of the sinus tunica media. The spatial arrangement of the adventitial muscle cells and their associated sensory and motor nerves simulates a smooth muscle spindle, possibly constituting a morphological basis for an efferent control of baroreceptor output.
RejectionIncidence and Tempo of Corneal Allograft Responses to Alloantigens and Increases the Cutting Edge: Atopy Promotes Th2

A large body of evidence suggests that corneal allograft rejection is mediated by a type 1 Th cell response and that deviation toward type 2 immunity favors graft survival. However, clinical observations indicate that patients with severe ocular allergies have increased risk of corneal allograft rejection. We used a mouse model of atopic conjunctivitis to evaluate the effects of Th2 immune deviation on corneal allograft survival and possible mechanisms of graft rejection. Our results reveal the following novel findings: 1) atopic conjunctivitis promotes systemic Th2 immune responses to corneal graft donor alloantigens; 2) corneal allografts in atopic host eyes have an increased incidence and swifter tempo of rejection; 3) increased rejection is associated with alterations in systemic T cell-me-diated responses to donor alloantigens; and 4) corneal allograft rejection in atopic hosts does not require the direct involvement of infiltrating eosinophils. The Journal of Immunology, 2005, 174: 6577–6581. mediated 1 CD4
Identification of the Epstein-Barr virus gp85 gene

The Epstein-Barr virus glycoprotein gp85 has been mapped to the Epstein-Barr virus DNA open reading frame BXLF2 (R. Baer, A. Bankier, M. Biggin, P. Deininger, P. Farrell, T. Gibson, G. Hatfull, G. Hudson, S. Stachwell, C. Sequin, P. Tufnell, and B. Barrell, Nature [London] 310:207-211, 1984). A gp85-specific monoclonal antibody reacts with the BXLF2 in vitro transcription-translation product. The monoclonal antibody also precipitates an 85-kilodalton protein from rodent cells transfected with the BXLF2 open reading frame DNA. In these cells, gp85 localizes to the cytoplasm and nuclear rim rather than to the plasma membrane as in lymphocytes. Northern (RNA) blot hybridization and analysis of a cDNA clone containing BXLF2 indicate that gp85 is translated from an unspliced, late, 2.5-kilobase transcript. Similarities between the predicted amino acid sequences of gp85 and herpes simplex virus gH (D. McGeoch and A. Davison, Nucleic Acids Res. 14:4281-4292, 1986) are noted.