Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CONCERTED VERSUS INDEPENDENT EVOLUTION AND THE SEARCH FOR MULTIPLE REFUGIA: COMPARATIVE PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF FOUR FOREST BEETLES

Phylogeographic structure and its underlying causes are not necessarily shared among community members, with important implications for using individual organisms as indicators for ecosystem evolution, such as the identification of forest refugia. We used mitochondrial DNA (cox1), Bayesian coalescent ancestral state reconstruction (implemented in BEAST), and ecological niche models (ENMs) to construct geospatial histories for four codistributed New Zealand forest beetles (Leiodidae, Nitidulidae, Staphylinidae, and Zopheridae) to examine the extent to which they have tracked environmental changes together through time. Hindcast ENMs identified potential forest refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum, whereas ancestral state reconstruction identified key geographic connections for each species, facilitating direct comparison of dispersal patterns supported by the data and the time frame in which they occurred. Well‐supported geographic state transitions for each species were mostly between neighboring regions, favoring a historical scenario of stepping stone colonization of newly suitable habitat rather than long distance dispersal. No geographic state transitions were shared by all four species, but three shared multiple projected South Island refugia and recent dispersal from the southernmost refugium. In contrast, strongly supported dispersal patterns in the refugia‐rich northern South Island suggest more individualistic responses to environmental change in these ecologically similar forest species.
Spectral correlation characterization of MB-OFDM signals

A new, matrix-based, stochastic method for cyclic spectral analysis of MB-OFDM signals, based on their Markov chain representation, is proposed. Explicit expression for the cyclic spectrum of these signals is derived. Some theoretical and simulation results for the spectral correlation characterization of MB-OFDM signals are presented, as well.
Assessment of the risk of a bluetongue outbreak in Europe caused by Culicoides midges introduced through intracontinental transport and trade networks

The importation of infected hosts and the arrival of windborne infected Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were considered unlikely mechanisms for bluetongue virus (BTV) incursion into a BTV‐free area during the recent BTV serotype 8 (BTV‐8) epidemic in northern Europe. Therefore, alternative mechanisms need to be considered. Air, sea and land transport networks continue to expand, and an important consequence of this is vector‐borne pathogen importation. One important aspect of bluetongue (BT) epidemiology not yet addressed is the potential movement of infected Culicoides via transport and trade networks. Therefore, a risk assessment model was constructed to assess the probability of a BTV outbreak as a consequence of the introduction of Culicoides via these networks. The model was applied to calculate the risk for a BTV‐8 epidemic in Spain in 2007 caused by the introduction of Culicoides from affected northern European countries. The mean weighted annual risk for an outbreak caused by transportation of a single vector from an affected northern European country varied from 1.8 × 10−7 to 3.0 × 10−13, with the highest risks associated with Culicoides imported from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France. For this mechanism to pose a significant risk to BTV‐free countries, a large number of vectors would have to be transported.
Biological activity of RE‐1 silencing transcription factor (REST) towards distinct transcriptional activators

The zinc finger protein RE‐1 silencing transcription factor (REST) is a transcriptional repressor that represses neuronal genes in non‐neuronal tissues. We have analyzed the ability of REST and the REST mutants, RESTΔN and RESTΔC lacking either the N‐terminal or C‐terminal repression domains of REST, to inhibit transcription mediated by distinct transcriptional activator proteins. For this purpose we have designed an activator specific assay where transcription is activated as a result of only one distinct activation domain. In addition, binding sites for REST were inserted in the 5′‐untranslated region or at a distant position downstream of the polyadenylation signal. The results show that REST or the REST mutants containing only one repression domain were able to block transcriptional activation mediated by the transcriptional activation domains derived from p53, AP2, Egr‐1, and GAL4. Moreover, REST, as well as the REST mutants, blocked the activity of the phosphorylation‐dependent activation domain of Elk1. However, the activity of the activation domain derived from cAMP response element binding protein 2 (CREB2), was not inhibited by REST, RESTΔN or RESTΔC, suggesting that REST is able to distinguish between distinct transcriptional activation domains. Additionally, the activator specific assay, together with a positive‐dominant mutant of REST that activated instead of repressed transcription, was used in titration experiments to show that REST has transcriptional repression and no transcriptional activation properties when bound to the 5′‐untranslated region of a gene.
Selective Enrichment of Tetraspan Proteins on the Internal Vesicles of Multivesicular Endosomes and on Exosomes Secreted by Human B-lymphocytes*

Association of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules with peptides occurs in a series of endocytic vacuoles, termed MHC class II-enriched compartments (MIICs). Morphological criteria have defined several types of MIICs, including multivesicular MIICs, which are composed of 50–60-nm vesicles surrounded by a limiting membrane. Multivesicular MIICs can fuse with the plasma membrane, thereby releasing their internal vesicles into the extracellular space. The externalized vesicles, termed exosomes, carry MHC class II and can stimulate T-cells in vitro. In this study, we show that exosomes are enriched in the co-stimulatory molecule CD86 and in several tetraspan proteins, including CD37, CD53, CD63, CD81, and CD82. Interestingly, subcellular localization of these molecules revealed that they were concentrated on the internal membranes of multivesicular MIICs. In contrast to the tetraspans, other membrane proteins of MIICs, such as HLA-DM, Lamp-1, and Lamp-2, were mainly localized to the limiting membrane and were hardly detectable on the internal membranes of MIICs nor on exosomes. Because internal vesicles of multivesicular MIICs are thought to originate from inward budding of the limiting membrane, the differential distribution of membrane proteins on the internal and limiting membranes of MIICs has to be driven by active protein sorting.
Macroeconomic Impact of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: Error Correction Modelling Approach

Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) constitutes a heavy and severe burden on the population health status and the economies of the affected countries. Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS epidemic is generalized, with the country having the second highest burden of the disease in the world after South Africa. This study employed the Error Correction Modeling (ECM) approach to determine how HIV/AIDS affects the growth of the economy of Nigeria, using time series data covering the period 1980-2010. The findings showed that HIV/AIDS has a negative and significant effect on the growth of the economy of Nigeria. The coefficients of HIV incidence and its lag stood significantly at -0.57 and -0.63 respectively. The ECM variable was rightly signed, showing a negative and statistically significant coefficient of 0.19, an indication of a 19% speed of convergence to equilibrium in the long run. The adjusted R-Squared of 81% suggests that the regressors explained a high proportion of variation in economic growth. The findings of the study imply that HIV/AIDS is capable of reducing economic growth in Nigeria. Therefore, its spread should be properly checked.
Optimizing an LDO voltage regulator by evolutionary algorithms considering tolerances of the circuit elements

A low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator is optimized by evolutionary algorithms. Basically, tolerance analysis is performed alike a worst-case analysis within SPICE to rank the circuit elements presenting higher sensitivities, and according to the target specifications associated to two objectives, namely: Power Supply Rejection (PSR) and output capacitor value. The results from the tolerance analysis are used to propose for the first time a chromosome of the LDO to perform multiobjective optimization by evolutionary algorithms. In addition, the computed tolerances are used to establish reduced search spaces for the circuit elements included into the chromosome, so that the optimization by applying the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) being accelerated. As a result, the main contribution is the application of tolerance analysis to set the chromosome that includes few circuit elements to optimize an LDO voltage regulator, and to establish reduced search spaces to accelerate computing time.
Individual differences in retrieval-induced forgetting affect the impact of frontal dysfunction on retrieval-induced forgetting

Introduction: Retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) paradigms are used to investigate successful forgetting of irrelevant information. Responses to the RIF paradigm can vary substantially, but to date there has been limited investigation of the individual difference factors that contribute to RIF performances. This study investigated whether individual differences in baseline RIF ability impacted on RIF performance after temporarily induced frontal dysfunction. To examine this question, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) function was temporarily reduced using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Method: Fourteen individuals received tDCS (sham/active) on two separate occasions and completed a RIF paradigm within 30 minutes of receiving tDCS. Results: As expected, the group of individuals who demonstrated high levels of RIF after sham tDCS demonstrated a significant reduction in RIF performance after active tDCS. Unexpectedly, however, those individuals who demonstrated low or reverse RIF effects after sham tDCS showed a significant increase in RIF after active tDCS. Conclusions: This is the first study to show that individual differences in premorbid RIF affect RIF performance after temporary reduction in left DLPFC function. These findings suggest that premorbid RIF ability may be an important factor to consider when investigating the impact of frontal dysfunction on RIF in patient populations.
Hyperinflated lungs compress the heart during expiration in COPD patients: a new finding on dynamic-ventilation computed tomography

Purpose The aims of this study were to evaluate dynamic changes in heart size during the respiratory cycle using four-dimensional computed tomography (CT) and to understand the relationship of these changes to airflow limitation in smokers. Materials and methods A total of 31 smokers, including 13 with COPD, underwent four-dimensional dynamic-ventilation CT during regular breathing. CT data were continuously reconstructed every 0.5 s, including maximum cross-sectional area (CSA) of the heart and mean lung density (MLD). Concordance between the cardiac CSA and MLD time curves was expressed by cross-correlation coefficients. The CT-based cardiothoracic ratio at inspiration and expiration was also calculated. Comparisons of the CT indices between COPD patients and non-COPD smokers were made using the Mann–Whitney test. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate associations between CT indices and the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0) relative to the forced vital capacity (FVC). Results Cardiac CSA at both inspiration and expiration was significantly smaller in COPD patients than in non-COPD smokers (P<0.05). The cross-correlation coefficient between cardiac CSA and MLD during expiration significantly correlated with FEV1.0/FVC (ρ=0.63, P<0.001), suggesting that heart size decreases during expiration in COPD patients. The change in the cardiothoracic ratio between inspiration and expiration frames was significantly smaller in COPD patients than in non-COPD smokers (P<0.01). Conclusion Patients with COPD have smaller heart size on dynamic-ventilation CT than non-COPD smokers and have abnormal cardiac compression during expiration.
Telomerase Activity in Cell Lines of Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Telomeres and their maintenance by telomerase have been implicated to play an important role in carcinogenesis. As almost all malignant tumors express telomerase (in contrast to normal somatic cells), assessment of its activity has been proposed as a diagnostic and prognostic tool. To test the prognostic value of telomerase in pediatric soft tissue sarcoma (STS), we analyzed telomere length (by telomere restriction fragment analysis), telomerase activity (by modified telomerase repeat amplification protocol assay), and expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA (by TaqMan technique) in cell lines of different types of STS from 12 children and adolescents. Telomere length (3.7–9.0 kb) showed a very heterogeneous pattern, independent of subtype of STS or the age of the patients, and it was not associated with expression of hTERT mRNA. In contrast, there was a trend of an association between hTERT and telomerase activity. The three tested cell lines of embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas demonstrated no or low (n = 2) telomerase activity, which was confirmed in two cases by a very low expression of hTERT mRNA. Thus, we suggest that the significant difference (p < 0.01) in the less aggressive clinical behavior of embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas in comparison to other subtypes may be due to differences in telomerase expression. Taken together, our cell line experiments imply that telomerase activity might be a biologic marker for stratification between STS with different clinical prognosis.
Teachers' Reports of Student Misbehavior in Physical Education

Classroom management, and, more specifically, the management of student behavior, is an essential skill for and central concern of physical education teachers. Surprisingly little information is known, however, about the specific nature of student behaviors that might negatively affect the class environment. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers' reports of student behaviors that may create management issues in physical education classes. Over 300 teachers representing a range of grade levels and school contexts completed a survey related to the frequency of potentially negative student behaviors. Many types of misbehaviors were reported, but the most common were mild. Teachers' reports varied by sex, years of teaching experience, and school context.
Meaning of zero coronary calcium score in symptomatic patients referred for coronary computed tomographic angiography.

AIMS The clinical implication of a zero coronary calcium score (CCS) in patients with chest pain syndrome has been under debate. This study was undertaken to determine the meaning of a CCS of zero in a large sample of symptomatic patients referred for coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography. METHODS AND RESULTS We consecutively enrolled 2088 patients (age 58 ± 10 years, 1028 men) who had undergone 64-slice cardiac CT due to chest pain syndrome. A CCS of zero was detected in 1114 patients (471 men and 643 women). Of these 1114 patients, obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) was found in a total of 48 patients (4.3%); 35 men (7.4%) and 13 women (2.0%). Among the zero CCS patients with obstructive CAD, men had a higher prevalence of both premature CAD (49 vs. 0%) and multivessel disease (20 vs. 8%) than women. During the follow-up period (1033 ± 136 days), early revascularization was done in 25 patients (2.2%, 18 men and 7 women) and there were 14 major adverse cardiac events (1.3%, 8 men and 7 women) among the zero CCS patients. CAD severity was a strong prognostic indicator in the zero CCS patients. CONCLUSION A CCS of zero cannot be used by itself to exclude obstructive CAD in symptomatic patients referred for coronary CT angiography (CCTA). The prevalence of obstructive CAD and adverse cardiac events are not negligible in symptomatic patients with a CCS of zero, and CAD severity by CCTA is associated with higher rates of adverse cardiac event.
Lower-extremity muscle force and balance performance in adults aged 65 years and older.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Measures of postural control may be useful for determining fall risk in older people and for determining the outcomes of treatments aimed at improving balance. Commonly used tools measure the output of the postural control system. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which one component of postural control (muscle force) contributes to scores on 3 functional balance measures. SUBJECTS Fifty community-dwelling volunteers between 65 and 91 years of age (mean = 74.82, SD = 6.11) participated. Based on their histories, 11 subjects were classified as being at risk for falling. METHODS Measures were the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Functional Reach Test (FRT), and the Timed Get Up & Go Test (GUG). The force generated by 12 lower-extremity muscle groups was measured using a handheld dynamometer. RESULTS In the group reporting no falls, dorsiflexor and subtalar evertor force accounted for 58% of the score on the BBS, ankle plantar-flexor and subtalar invertor force accounted for 48.4% of the score on the GUG, and ankle plantar-flexor force accounted for 13% of the score on the FRT. Ankle dorsiflexor and hip extensor forces were lower in subjects reporting falls, and force of the ankle dorsiflexors predicted fall status. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION Distal muscle force measures may be able to contribute to the prediction of functional balance scores; however, the muscles involved in the prediction differ depending on the measure of balance.
Effect of low-frequency KRAS mutations on the response to anti-EGFR therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND Only patients with wild-type (WT) KRAS tumors benefit from anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Pyrosequencing is now widely used for the determination of KRAS mutation burden and a conservative cut-off point of 10% has been defined. Up until now, the impact of low-frequency KRAS mutations (<10%) on the response to anti-EGFR Mabs has yet to be evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS Tumors from patients receiving anti-EGFR Mabs based on a WT genotype for KRAS, as determined using direct sequencing, have been retrospectively analyzed by pyrosequencing. Patients were categorized as WT (no KRAS mutation) or low-frequency mutation when KRAS mutation was <10% (KRAS low MT). RESULTS A total of 168 patients treated by anti-EGFR Mabs for mCRC were analyzed. According to pyrosequencing, 138 tumors remained KRAS WT, while 30 tumors were KRAS low MT. In the KRAS low MT and KRAS WT groups, the response rates were 6.7% and 37.0%, respectively, while stabilization amounted to 23.3% versus 32.6% and progression to 70% versus 29% (P < 0.01). Progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.7 ± 0.5 months for KRAS low MT and was 6.0 ± 0.3 months for KRAS WT (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS These results appear to validate consideration of low-frequency KRAS mutation tumors as positive, and justify a large-scale prospective study.
Feedback Inhibition Shapes Emergent Computational Properties of Cortical Microcircuit Motifs

Cortical microcircuits are very complex networks, but they are composed of a relatively small number of stereotypical motifs. Hence, one strategy for throwing light on the computational function of cortical microcircuits is to analyze emergent computational properties of these stereotypical microcircuit motifs. We are addressing here the question how spike timing-dependent plasticity shapes the computational properties of one motif that has frequently been studied experimentally: interconnected populations of pyramidal cells and parvalbumin-positive inhibitory cells in layer 2/3. Experimental studies suggest that these inhibitory neurons exert some form of divisive inhibition on the pyramidal cells. We show that this data-based form of feedback inhibition, which is softer than that of winner-take-all models that are commonly considered in theoretical analyses, contributes to the emergence of an important computational function through spike timing-dependent plasticity: The capability to disentangle superimposed firing patterns in upstream networks, and to represent their information content through a sparse assembly code. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We analyze emergent computational properties of a ubiquitous cortical microcircuit motif: populations of pyramidal cells that are densely interconnected with inhibitory neurons. Simulations of this model predict that sparse assembly codes emerge in this microcircuit motif under spike timing-dependent plasticity. Furthermore, we show that different assemblies will represent different hidden sources of upstream firing activity. Hence, we propose that spike timing-dependent plasticity enables this microcircuit motif to perform a fundamental computational operation on neural activity patterns.
Effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1) released from a scaffold on chondrogenesis in an osteochondral defect model in the rabbit

Articular cartilage repair might be stimulated by the controlled delivery of therapeutic factors. We tested the hypotheses whether TGF-ß1 can be released from a polymeric scaffold over a prolonged period of time in vitro and whether its transplantation modulates cartilage repair in vivo. Unloaded control or TGF-ß1 poly(ether-ester) copolymeric scaffolds were applied to osteochondral defects in the knee joints of rabbits. In vitro, a cumulative dose of 9 ng TGF-ß1 was released over 4 weeks. In vivo, there were no adverse effects on the synovial membrane. Defects treated with TGF-ß1 scaffolds showed no significant difference in individual parameters of chondrogenesis and in the average cartilage repair score after 3 weeks. There was a trend towards a smaller area (42.5 %) of the repair tissue that stained positive for safranin O in defects receiving TGF-ß1 scaffolds. The data indicate that TGF-ß1 is released from emulsion-coated scaffolds over a prolonged period of time in vitro and that application of these scaffolds does not significantly modulate cartilage repair after 3 weeks in vivo. Future studies need to address the importance of TGF-ß1 dose and release rate to modulate chondrogenesis.
Radiation Pattern and Aperture Admittance of Dielectric Filled Waveguides with Rectangular Cross Section using the Mode Matching Technique

A formulation for determining the aperture admittance and radiation patterns of dielectric filled waveguides with rectangular cross-section is presented. A variational expression for the aperture admittance is developed using the reaction concept of Rumsey, including higher order excitations. The radiated fields are computed using the Chu formulation. It is found that the higher order excitations, if included, slightly affect the aperture admittance but permit a more accurate determination of the radiation fields especially near 90°. The agreement between experiment and theory demonstrates the accuracy of the model presented.