Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi Input Dynamical Modeling of Heat Flow With Uncertain Diffusivity Parameter

This paper focuses on the multi-input dynamical modeling of one-dimensional heat conduction process with uncertainty on thermal diffusivity parameter. Singular value decomposition is used to extract the most significant modes. The results of the spatiotemporal decomposition have been used in cooperation with Galerkin projection to obtain the set of ordinary differential equations, the solution of which synthesizes the temporal variables. The spatial properties have been generalized through a series of test cases and a low order model has been obtained. Since the value of the thermal diffusivity parameter is not known perfectly, the obtained model contains uncertainty. The paper describes how the uncertainty is modeled and how the boundary conditions are separated from the remaining terms of the dynamical equations. The results have been compared with those obtained through analytic solution.
Opposite-sex siblings decrease attraction, but not prosocial attributions, to self-resembling opposite-sex faces

Contextual cues of genetic relatedness to familiar individuals, such as cosocialization and maternal–perinatal association, modulate prosocial and inbreeding-avoidance behaviors toward specific potential siblings. These findings have been interpreted as evidence that contextual cues of kinship indirectly influence social behavior by affecting the perceived probability of genetic relatedness to familiar individuals. Here, we test a more general alternative model in which contextual cues of kinship can influence the kin-recognition system more directly, changing how the mechanisms that regulate social behavior respond to cues of kinship, even in unfamiliar individuals for whom contextual cues of kinship are absent. We show that having opposite-sex siblings influences inbreeding-relevant perceptions of facial resemblance but not prosocial perceptions. Women with brothers were less attracted to self-resembling, unfamiliar male faces than were women without brothers, and both groups found self-resemblance to be equally trustworthy for the same faces. Further analyses suggest that this effect is driven by younger, rather than older, brothers, consistent with the proposal that only younger siblings exhibit the strong kinship cue of maternal–perinatal association. Our findings provide evidence that experience with opposite-sex siblings can directly influence inbreeding-avoidance mechanisms and demonstrate a striking functional dissociation between the mechanisms that regulate inbreeding and the mechanisms that regulate prosocial behavior toward kin.
Intuitionistic fuzzy interpretations of multi-criteria multi-person and multi-measurement tool decision making

Intuitionistic fuzzy sets are extensions of fuzzy sets. Their elements have two degrees – a degree of membership and a degree of non-membership so that their sum is smaller or equal to 1. Intuitionistic fuzzy interpretations of the processes of multi-person and of multi-measurement tool multi-criteria decision makings are discussed in this paper.
Phosphohistone H3 labelling for histoprognostic grading of breast adenocarcinomas and computer-assisted determination of mitotic index

Background: Microscopic evaluation of mitotic figures is a routine procedure in the assessment of the histoprognostic grade of tumours. Nevertheless, their count may be fraught with difficulties. As histone H3 phosphorylation at serine 10 is closely linked to chromosomal condensation, a new monoclonal antibody directed to phosphorylated histone H3 (PPH3) was recently proposed to detect mitotic cells. Aim: To test the reliability of this antibody in detecting and counting mitotic figures in sections of breast adenocarcinomas, because of the importance of mitotic count in histoprognostic grading. Methods: The pattern of PPH3 staining in formalin-fixed paraffin wax-embedded tissues, including normal tissues and a series of 39 breast adenocarcinomas, was examined. A new computer-assisted method was also developed for determining the mitotic index. Results and conclusions: In all tissues tested, PPH3-labelled mitotic figures were easily detected, allowing a rapid identification of the area of highest mitotic activity. In breast carcinomas, a strong correlation was observed between PPH3-stained and haematoxylin and eosin-stained mitotic counts (r = 0.86, p<0.0001). Counting of prophase nuclei that coexpress cyclin B1, a marker of the G2/M phase, was possible by PPH3 staining; its accuracy led us to reconsider the tumour grade in three cases. Finally, an automatic computer-assisted method was designed for assessing mitotic index with confocal microscopy and image-analysis software.
High Prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in Small Ruminants in Morocco

&NA; The prevalence of infection by Anaplasma spp. (including Anaplasma phagocytophilum) was determined using blood smear microscopy and PCR through screening of small ruminant blood samples collected from seven regions of Morocco. Co‐infections of Anaplasma spp. , Babesia spp, Theileria spp. and Mycoplasma spp. were investigated and risk factors for Anaplasma spp. infection assessed. A total of 422 small ruminant blood samples were randomly collected from 70 flocks. Individual animal (breed, age, tick burden and previous treatment) and flock data (GPS coordinate of farm, size of flock and livestock production system) were collected. Upon examination of blood smears, 375 blood samples (88.9%) were found to contain Anaplasma‐like erythrocytic inclusion bodies. Upon screening with a large spectrum PCR targeting the Anaplasma 16S rRNA region, 303 (71%) samples were found to be positive. All 303 samples screened with the A. phagocytophilum‐specific PCR, which targets the msp2 region, were found to be negative. Differences in prevalence were found to be statistically significant with regard to region, altitude, flock size, livestock production system, grazing system, presence of clinical cases and application of tick and tick‐borne diseases prophylactic measures. Kappa analysis revealed a poor concordance between microscopy and PCR (k = 0.14). Agreement with PCR is improved by considering microscopy and packed cell volume (PCV) in parallel. The prevalence of double infections was found to be 1.7, 2.5 and 24% for Anaplasma‐Babesia, Anaplasma‐Mycoplasma and Anaplasma‐Theileria, respectively. Co‐infection with three or more haemoparasites was found in 1.6% of animals examined. In conclusion, we demonstrate the high burden of anaplasmosis in small ruminants in Morocco and the high prevalence of co‐infections of tick‐borne diseases. There is an urgent need to improve the control of this neglected group of diseases.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor induces neutrophils to secrete macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

In this work we provide evidence showing that granulocytes produce macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) from the band cell stage and secrete this factor when induced to differentiate into polymorphonuclear cells by recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF). Using an enriched population of myeloid band cells from murine bone marrow, we identified the presence of M-CSF with a chromophore-labelled monoclonal anti-M-CSF antibody. Using ELISA we detected the secretion of M-CSF in the supernatants of cultures of enriched band cells when induced with rhG-CSF to differentiate into mature neutrophils. We also found that M-CSF is the only factor responsible for the colony forming activity in the supernatants and lysates of band cells treated with rhG-CSF.
The earthquake, the tsunami and the nuclear meltdown in Japan

Disaster', which started its work in October 2010, came together for their usual jour fi xe. Based on reports and governmental documents they discussed various communicative aspects of the disaster that hit New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina. On March 11, two days after this meeting, the fi rst news arrived with reports of a severe earthquake, a tsunami and subsequent technical problems in a nuclear power plant in Japan. The research group was unsure how to respond. Some of its members thought it would be awkward just to continue with the group's work schedule; for them it would be a strange dissociation to privately follow the events in Japan through the media and to disregard them as a topic for a research group that deals with the communicative aspects of disasters. Other members pointed out that serious research needs time and that any 'quick and dirty' treatment of the events in Japan, dramatic as they may be, is in danger of lacking academic rigour. Eventually the group agreed that its members would be invited to contribute short statements with their responses to the catastrophic events in Japan. These statements vary in many respects; they range from very personal accounts to short analytic considerations. Most of them reveal at which point in time during the unfolding disaster they were written, and in that sense these statements are witness accounts. At the same time these notes are more than just witness documents, since they contain the observations and refl ections of academics from a variety of disciplines who all have expertise in the communicative analysis of disasters.
Sub-100 μm Photonic Crystal Si Optical Modulators: Spectral, Athermal, and High-Speed Performance

We report on our recent progress on Si Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs) incorporating sub-100 μm slow-light photonic crystal waveguide (PCW) phase-shifters. In the standard MZM with a PCW in each of the arms, we study the power-dependent bit-error-rate (BER) characteristics at 10 Gb/s, and measure BER = 1 × 10<sup>-9</sup> and 1 × 10<sup>-8</sup> even with phase-shifter lengths of 90 and 50 μm, respectively. Furthermore, by exploiting the low-dispersion slow-light in the 90 μm device, we measure a spectral operating bandwidth of 16.9 nm and temperature tolerance between 19-124°C, where the eye pattern amplitude is consistent to within ±25%. In the device with a 90 μm PCW in only one of the MZM arms, designed for large-n<sub>g</sub> operation, we achieve BER = 1 × 10<sup>-9</sup> at 10 Gb/s and also observed barely but open eye patterns at 25 and 40 Gb/s.
Market Power in the Beef Packing Industry: Is It Time For a New Approach?

Consolidations in the U.S. beef packing industry have prompted concern within the government and interest among academics over whether packers possess and are able to exercise market power. Economists have generated numerous studies to test for and measure market power in beef packing, but the empirical studies have failed to provide definitive results on the presence of market power and whether any existing market power is exercised. The thesis of this paper is that the standard approach to measuring market power, conj ectural variations, is based on a model which may not accurately describe competition between packing firms. I first discuss the institutional factors of beef packing that are not captured by the conjectural variations approach. I then present a theoretical extension of the CV approach which is based on a more realistic description of competition between packing firms. The paper concludes by suggesting alternative techniques for measuring market power. MARKET POWER IN THE BEEF PACKING INDUSTRY: IS IT TIME FOR A NEW APPROACH? *
Acute Apnea Swimming: Metabolic Responses and Performance

Abstract Guimard, A, Prieur, F, Zorgati, H, Morin, D, Lasne, F, and Collomp, K. Acute apnea swimming: Metabolic responses and performance. J Strength Cond Res 28(4): 958–963, 2014—Competitive swimmers regularly perform apnea series with or without fins as part of their training, but the ergogenic and metabolic repercussions of acute and chronic apnea have not been examined. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the cardiovascular, lactate, arterial oxygen saturation and hormonal responses to acute apnea in relation to performance in male swimmers. According to a randomized protocol, 15 national or regional competitive swimmers were monitored while performing four 100-m freestyle trials, each consisting of four 25-m segments with departure every 30 seconds at maximal speed in the following conditions: with normal frequency breathing with fins (F) and without fins (S) and with complete apnea for the four 25-m segments with (FAp) and without fins (SAp). Heart rate (HR) was measured continuously and arterial oxygen saturation, blood, and saliva samples were assessed after 30 seconds, 3 minutes, and 10 minutes of recovery, respectively. Swimming performance was better with fins than without both with normal frequency breathing and apnea (p < 0.001). Apnea induced no change in lactatemia, but a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation in both SAp and FAp (p < 0.001) was noted and a decrease in HR and swimming performance in SAp (p < 0.01). During apnea without fins, performance alteration was correlated with bradycardia (r = 0.63) and arterial oxygen desaturation (r = −0.57). Saliva dehydroepiandrosterone was increased compared with basal values whatever the trial (p ⩽ 0.05), whereas no change was found in saliva cortisol or testosterone. Further studies are necessary to clarify the fin effect on HR and performance during apnea swimming.
Visual technology unveils the beauty of statistics and swaps policy from dissemination to access

Accurate, accessible and understandable geographical, meteorological and statistical information constitute the fundament of governmental, corporate and civil society. Television, digital technology and the Internet are transforming the ways in which societies make best use of these information systems. The rate and degree at which new technology can be used in each country largely depends on economic development, but the new Information Technology is creating new opportunities for all countries. It is difficult to foresee the penetration of new technology. The Norwegian software company Opera provides free web browsers for mobile telephones; to their surprise they find their highest rates of download, per mobile phone, is in Africa. In many low-income contexts, the first way to access the Internet seems to be through mobile telephones. The cell-phone in itself, especially with low cost text messages, is also bringing modern communication technology to remote and resource poor areas. The visual animation of weather forecasts in television is a time honoured and well-established tool for mass communication of public information. Geographical information is presently making a breakthrough on the Internet, where printable maps are provided simultaneously with search results regarding telephone numbers. Online maps are also provided in cars through combined GIS and GPS software. The technology change swaps services from the public to the private sector like in telecom. And presently the private sector swaps from fee for service to telecom service without cost for those that have Internet access. But we also see surprising swaps from private sector to the civil society; like the shift from British Encyclopedia to Wikipedia. This information service is growing into the most prominent examples of the concept Web 2.0 where the customer is replaced by a user. We witness how new and better technology continuously change the way the Internet is used for exchange of information. Where does public statistics stand as change affects all sectors of society? My impression is that the National Statistical System stands out as the first and leading user of IT in the public sector, but is lagging behind in the use of the Internet. How is the Internet and Information Technology used to improve the use and understanding of statistical information? As a frequent user of public statistics, and as a daily user of e-mail, cell phones, Internet, search engines, blogs and Skype, I would say that the provision of statistical information has not changed
Editorial: accumulating data about ustekinumab in refractory Crohn's disease in real world experience

study, which found an increase in HBV DNA levels in seven of eight HBsAg-positive patients, but lower than 20 000 IU/mL and without clinical reactivation. This study had some limitations. First, the case number of HBsAg-positive (n = 10) patients is limited. To the present, the case number of HBV/HCV coinfected patients who received DAAs treatment is limited for all studies. Furthermore, larger-scale studies are needed to confirm the incidence of HBV reactivation and clinical relevance of HBV reactivation. Second, four (including 2 HIV patients) of 10 HBsAg-positive patients received antiviral agents (3 lamivudine, 1 entecavir) before DAAs, which affect the evaluation of incidence of HBV reactivation during DAAs therapy. In addition, the study did not show whether HBsAg is present at the time of HBV reactivation in one anti-HBc patients. Indeed, HBV reactivation is beyond doubt in HBV/ HCV coinfected patients treated with DAAs. However, a recent meta-analysis study reported that among CHC patients with overt HBV, the incidence of HBV reactivation was similar among those treated with IFN-based therapy and DAAs (14.5% vs. 12.2%), but much earlier in those treated with DAAs. In patients with resolved or occult HBV infection, the rate of HBV reactivation seems to be low, although a few patients could still developed severe acute exacerbation of HBV. Thus, HBV DNA should be monitored precociously when DAAs is initiated to early identify HBV reactivation in HBsAgpositive patients. In patients with resolved or occult HBV infection, HBV DNA levels should be tested for evaluation of HBV reactivation once the evidence of hepatitis flare-up.
Distinct Trafficking and Localization of STEVOR Proteins in Three Stages of the Plasmodium falciparum Life Cycle

ABSTRACT The genome of Plasmodium falciparum harbors three extensive multigene families, var, rif, and stevor (for subtelomeric variable open reading frame), located mainly in the subtelomeric regions of the parasite's 14 chromosomes. STEVOR variants are known to be expressed in asexual parasites, but no function has as yet been ascribed to this protein family. We have examined the expression of STEVOR proteins in intraerythrocytic sexual stages, gametocytes, and extracellular sporozoites isolated from infected Anopheles mosquitoes. In gametocytes, stevor transcripts appear transiently early in development but STEVOR proteins persist for several days and are transported out of the parasite, travel through the host cell cytoplasm, and localize to the erythrocyte plasma membrane. In contrast to asexual parasites, gametocytes move STEVOR to the periphery via a trafficking pathway independent of Maurer's clefts. In sporozoites, STEVOR appear dispersed throughout the cytoplasm in vesicle-like structures. The pattern of STEVOR localization we have observed in gametocytes and sporozoites differs significantly from that in asexual parasite stages. STEVOR variants are therefore likely to perform different functions in each stage of the parasites life cycle in which they occur.
Selective vulnerability of glutathione metabolism and cellular defense mechanisms in rat striatum to manganese.

The present findings provide experimental evidence for the hypothesis that compromised cellular defense mechanisms, i.e., glutathione (GSH), GSH-peroxidase and catalase in the brain may be involved in neuronal degeneration caused by manganese (Mn) neurotoxicity. Moreover, data are presented demonstrating that the striatum is particularly susceptible to the deleterious effects of Mn. Specifically, exposure to subchronic MnCl2 produced significant reductions in GSH-peroxidase activity in the cytosol and mitochondrial fractions of the whole brain and the striatum. The decrease in GSH-peroxidase was most pronounced in the mitochondrial fraction of the striatum where the activity was reduced to 35% of the control. Catalase activity was also decreased in the striatum of rats treated with Mn but not in the whole brain. GSH content was markedly depleted (20% of the control) in the striatum, although only modestly decreased in whole brain (80% of the control). The alterations in the above parameters were accompanied by depletion of dopamine and dopamine metabolites in the striatum. The treatment of rats with Mn also decreased the activity of oxidized glutathione-reductase; the same treatment increased the activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. The activity of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase was not altered by Mn. The possible relevancy of the findings of this study to understanding the mechanism of Mn neurotoxicity of dopamine systems is discussed.
Thyroid carcinoma is characterized by genomic instability: evidence from p53 mutations.

p53 is a transcription factor with multifaceted regulatory functions in cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and programmed cell death. Inactivating mutations have been described in 50% of human cancers. These mutations appear to be important in tumor progression and response to chemotherapy and radiation treatment and thus clinical outcome. p53 mutations are found in 14% of malignant thyroid tumors and are more frequent in poorly differentiated and anaplastic tumors. Given that p53 is a late event in the notional multistep pathogenesis of cancer, we examined its mutation rates as a measure of genomic instability (hypermutability) of malignant thyroid tumors and also wondered whether radiation enhances that proclivity to genomic instability. To that end we have extracted all available data from the p53 mutation database (http://www.perso@curie.fr), verified, extended, where applicable, and supplemented that information from published reports. We were able to identify 100 entries. The distribution of the p53 mutational events--deletions/insertions, transitions versus transversion mutations--was similar to that of the database as a whole. The silent mutation rate of 17.8%, not different from the expected 25%, is consistent with a random occurrence of these mutations. The silent mutation rate is 120 times that expected and is 6 times that of the database. Moreover, the distribution of p53 mutations is compatible with Poisson's distribution, which taken with silent mutation rates indicates that p53 is particularly hypermutable in thyroid carcinomas. Epigenetic deamination of CpG dinucleotide at highly oncogenic DNA-contact residues is a feature of poorly differentiated tumors and thus associated with tumor progression. The rates of p53 mutations (15.4%) in radiation-related cancers were very similar to those in apparently spontaneously arising tumors, although there was a highly significant heterogeneity (P < 0.0005) in the residues mutated. None involved CpG deamination. It is apparent that thyroid cancer exhibits remarkable genomic instability evidenced by p53 hypermutability. Spontaneous epigenetic mutational events are involved in tumor progression and while radiation increases the absolute prevalence of thyroid cancer in the susceptible it does not increase the rate of p53 mutation and seemingly targets different non-DNA-contact residues than those in spontaneously arising tumors.
Perspective on malignant pleural mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive solid malignancy with dismal prognosis. The majority of newly diagnosed MPM patients present with advanced (IMIG/UICC stage IV) disease and are therefore treated with chemotherapy and supportive measures. The median survival of this group of patients ranges from 12 months with chemotherapy to 7 months with supportive care (1,2). Nonetheless, for a selected group of patients that present with a locally advanced disease (IMIG/UICC stage I–III), a personally tailored multimodality therapeutic (MMT) protocol comprising of cyto-reductive surgery and chemotherapy with or without radio-therapy may be the best therapeutic option. Although MMT is also associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, it remains the sole option to significantly extend the survival of patients that physically and clinically qualify for this aggressive treatment strategy (3-8) .