Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation de la fonction d’entrée en tomographie par émission de positons dynamique : application au fluorodesoxyglucose

La tomographie par emission de positons (TEP) est une methode d’imagerie fonctionnelle, utilisee en particulier lors du developpement de nouveaux medicaments et pour imager les tumeurs. En TEP, l’estimation de la concentration plasmatique arterielle d’activite du traceur non metabolise (nommee « fonction d’entree ») est necessaire pour l’extraction des parametres pharmacocinetiques. Ceux-ci permettent de quantiﬁer le comportement du traceur dans les tissus, ou plus precisement le traitement du traceur par les tissus. Cette these constitue une contribution a l’etude de la fonction d’entree, par l’elaboration d’une methode d’estimation de la fonction d’entree peu invasive a partir des images TEP et de prelevements veineux. L’exemple du traceur FDG (analogue du glucose) dans le cerveau humain a ete choisi. La methode proposee repose sur la modelisation compartimentale de l’organisme : elle deconvolue le modele a trois compartiments utilise pour le FDG. L’originalite de la methode repose sur trois points : l’utilisation d’un grand nombre de regions d’interet ; l’utilisation d’un grand nombre de jeux de trois regions d’interet differentes; une estimation iterative. Pour la validation de la methode, un soin particulier a ete porte a la simulation d’images TEP (simulation d’acquisition, reconstruction, corrections) de plus en plus realistes, depuis une image simple simulee avec un simulateur analytique jusqu’a une image la plus proche possible de la realite, simulee avec simulateur Monte-Carlo. Une chaine de pre-traitement (segmentation des IRM associes, recalage entre images TEP et IRM et correction de l’effet de volume partiel par une variante de la methode de Rousset) a ensuite ete appliquee a ces images aﬁn d’extraire les cinetiques des regions d’interet, donnees d’entree de la methode d’estimation de la fonction d’entree. L’evaluation de la methode sur diﬀerentes donnees, simulees et reelles, est presentee, ainsi que l’etude de la sensibilite de la methode a differents facteurs tels que les erreurs de segmentation, de recalage, de mesure de l’activite des prelevements sanguins.
Substrate Specificity of the SecB Chaperone*

The bacterial chaperone SecB assists translocation of proteins across the inner membrane. The mechanism by which it differentiates between secretory and cytosolic proteins is poorly understood. To identify its binding motif, we screened 2688 peptides covering sequences of 23 proteins for SecB binding. The motif is ∼9 residues long and is enriched in aromatic and basic residues, whereas acidic residues are disfavored. Its identification allows the prediction of binding regions within protein sequences with up to 87% accuracy. SecB-binding regions occur statistically every 20–30 residues. The occurrence and affinity of binding regions are similar in SecB-dependent and -independent secretory proteins and in cytosolic proteins, and SecB lacks specificity toward signal sequences. SecB cannot thus differentiate between secretory and non-secretory proteins via its binding specificity. This conclusion is supported by the finding that SecB binds denatured luciferase, thereby allowing subsequent refolding by the DnaK system. SecB may rather be a general chaperone whose involvement in translocation is mediated by interactions of SecB and signal sequences of SecB-bound preproteins with the translocation apparatus.
Aplicação de Text mining para a Extração de Conhecimento Jurisprudencial

A dimensao do volume de informacoes textuais que sao geradas no dia-a-dia torna cada vez maior a necessidade de mecanismos eficientes e eficazes de extracao de conhecimento em textos. Os tribunais de justica, por exemplo, possuem uma grande quantidade de informacoes textuais em uma linguagem natural, o que torna dificil o tratamento de informacoes de forma manual. Este artigo apresenta a construcao de um processo de descoberta de conhecimento em textos na area do direito, a fim de auxiliar os profissionais desta area na recuperacao de informacoes. Para demonstracao de sua viabilidade, esta ferramenta foi aplicada as jurisprudencias do Tribunal de Justica do Estado de Santa Catarina (TJSC), permitindo que usuarios interessados pudessem obter informacoes mais precisas e uteis, demonstrando conclusoes mas apuradas sobre o efeito e consequencias, utilizando-se da base de conhecimento gerada pela metodologia proposta.
RESOURCE COMPETITION IN WILD POPULATIONS OF RINGTAILED LEMURS ( LEMUR CAITA ) : IMPLICATIONS FOR FEMALE DOMINANCE

Michelle L. Sauther Department of Anthropology Washington University St. Louis, MO 63130 U.S.A. Stresses imposed on female lemurs by adapting their reproductive events to seasonal resource availability may be exacerbated by high preand post-natal maternal investment and by group living. Within such a context female dominance can be seen as a critical behavior, enabling females to coexist with more than one non-natal male within a highly seasonal environment. Females may tolerate yearround male membership as males provide low-cost sentinels for predator detection and defense. Furthermore, male membership may be a viable reproductive tactic for both females and males, especially because females mate first with group males. A combination of female choice of small males and ecological and reproductive constraints on male size may have led to the current system of female dominance in ringtailed lemurs.
Miniaturization of conical antenna with Electromagnetics Transformation method

In this paper, the Transformation Electromagnetics (TE) technique is used to overcome the size and bandwidth constrains of discone antenna in lower frequencies of the operating band. The simulations are done by COMSOL considering two possible cases; on a virtually large antenna with homogenous material and on a physically finite antenna filled with designed material distribution. The results show good agreement between the specification of these two antennas and illustrate that by assuming a constant efficiency, antenna dimensions are become 65% smaller.
Nigerian Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes vellerosus) at Gashaka: Two Years of Habituation Efforts

Cross-population comparisons of chimpanzees can shed light on the pathways of hominid evolution. So far, no eco-ethological data exist for the recently recognized subspecies Pan troglodytes vellerosus. We report on the first 2 years of a new long-term study from what is perhaps their last remaining stronghold: the Gashaka Gumti National Park, Nigeria. The mosaic habitat (woodland, lowland and gallery forest) receives 1,826 mm rain/year, with 4–5 months being completely dry. Primates at Gashaka are not hunted, and the chimpanzees are therefore relatively tolerant of human observers. We focused on the Gashaka-Kwano community, investing 3,000 h of patrols. A total of 95 sightings were achieved which lasted for an average of 27 min (range 1–190 min). Party size averaged 3.7 animals (range 1–17) but was, similarly to encounter length, susceptible to a wide range of methodological, social and ecological factors. The Kwano community comprises at least 35 members which occupy a home range of at least 26 km2, yielding a density of 1.3/km2. The area represents the West African equivalent of a chimpanzee site similar to the forest-woodland habitat in which early humans might have evolved.
Basis of the trade–off between parasitoid resistance and larval competitive ability in Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster can be artificially selected for increased resistance against parasitoid wasps that attack the larvae. Lines selected for greater resistance are poorer larval competitors under conditions of resource scarcity. Here we investigated the mechanistic basis of this apparent trade–off. We found that resistant lines have approximately twice the density of haemocytes (blood cells) than that of controls. Haemocytes are involved in encapsulation, the chief cellular immune defence against parasitoids. We have previously shown that resistant lines feed more slowly than controls and hypothesize that limiting resources are being switched from trophic to defensive functions.
Simulation of systolic and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction in a mock circulation: the effect of arterial compliance

Arterial compliance (AC) is expected to play a major role on cardiac efficacy by acute or long-term mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the purely mechanical effect of AC on left ventricular (LV) performance, for different conditions of LV dysfunction (systolic versus diastolic). A hydraulic, Windkessel model of systemic circulation was used. LV function and aortic flow were simulated using a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Two cases of LV dysfunction were simulated: Case A, systolic and Case B, diastolic dysfunction. In Case A, AC increased from 1.14 to 2.85 ml mm Hg m 1 leading to an increase in LVAD stroke volume up to 6%, while no significant effect was observed in Case B. LVAD systolic work was decreased by 4% in systolic and by 11% in diastolic LVAD dysfunction. The purely mechanical effect of AC changes on LVAD function was different between systolic and diastolic dysfunction. It might be expected that even an acute reduction in arterial stiffness could enhance LV performance by different means in systolic compared to diastolic dysfunction.
Pericerebral fluid collection: differentiation of enlarged subarachnoid spaces from subdural collections with color Doppler US.

PURPOSE To determine if the cerebral cortical vain sign seen on magnetic resonance (MR) images can be used with color Doppler ultrasound (US) to differentiate enlarged subarachnoid space from subdural collection. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighteen infants with pericerebral fluid collection were prospectively examined with color Doppler US and MR imaging. Patients were classified into two groups: group A, with positive cortical vein sign (visualization of color-coded cortical veins that cross fluid collections at cerebral convexities); and group B, without the sign. RESULTS Positive cortical vein sign was seen at US in 12 patients (group A): nine with benign enlargement of subarachnoid spaces, two with brain atrophy, and one with meningococcal meningitis. The veins were displaced and embedded within the echogenic pia-arachnoid that surrounds the brain or were trapped in the subarachnoid spaces between the neo-membrane and cortical surface (group B, negative cortical vein sign) in four patients with meningitis, two victims of child abuse, and one patient with leukemia. Findings from subsequent MR imaging confirmed the color Doppler US findings. CONCLUSION Color Doppler US depiction of the cortical vain sign appears to be as effective as MR imaging in differentiating enlargement of the subarachnoid fluid space from subdural effusion.
Aphasie : Contraintes vs Gouvernement Le cas des clusters

L'objet de ce travail est de comprendre les processus phonologiques qui structurent le langage : pathologique ou non. Notre approche apparie phonologie et aphasiologie. Nous proposons ici une analyse de ces processus phonologiques a travers l'etude des groupes consonantiques dans les structures syllabiques dont ils dependent. Le cas des clusters apparait essentiel dans cette problematique. Cet objet n'est que trop peu exploite dans les travaux aphasiologiques alors qu'il s'avere central dans les approches phonologiques par les problemes representationnels qu'il pose : relations ou absence de relations entre les consonnes, heterosyllabicite ou ambisyllabicite. Notre etude prend en compte : - une dimension segmentale : a travers la notion de complexite, - une dimension syllabique : par les relations de gouvernement imposees sur les representations phonologiques. Nous postulons que ce n'est qu'en considerant l'interrelation de ces dimensions que l'on peut produire une explication des desordres phonologiques observes en pathologie et montrer que des regularites emergent. Dans cet article, nous exposons les traitements proposees a l'aphasie a travers deux cadres phonologiques : la Theorie de l'Optimalite [OT] et la Theorie des Contraintes et des Strategies de Reparation [TCSR]. Il s'agit d'observer les apports et limites rencontres par ces modeles. Ensuite, a partir de la Phonologie du Gouvernement, cadre dans lequel nous nous situons, depuis [KLV : 1985] jusqu'a [Scheer : 2010], nous analysons les donnees et exposons une explication des phenomenes tant au niveau segmental que syllabique. L'etude est basee sur un echantillon de 15 aphasiques (Broca, Wernicke, Conduction) de l'unite Neuro- Vasculaire du CHU de Nantes : tous souffrent d'une aphasie consecutive a une lesion cerebrale. Les donnees ont ete recoltees au maximum 72h apres le traumatisme a partir d'un protocole experimental destine a faire surfacer les troubles phonemiques a travers une tâche de denomination et de repetition. Nous comparons le traitement realise par chacun des cadres pour le cas des aphasies confrontant ainsi les notions de Contraintes et de Gouvernement en phonologie. Nous montrons comment le cadre CVCV apporte une solution a la question des clusters consonantiques et de leur role dans la definition de la complexite segmentale et syllabique. Ce cadre permet de reconsiderer cette notion de complexite en terme d'operations conditionnees par le gouvernement et la structure interne des segments. Enfin, ce modele ouvre de nouvelles perspectives d'analyses des comportements aphasiques : comment rendre compte de la structure interne des segments qui soit compatible avec leur comportement syllabique ?
Just What is Cognitive Science Anyway

We have here a book that presents itself as an introductory textbook that can also be read as a monograph on the structure of cognitive science (Thagard) and another that presents itself as a monograph on cognitive science suitable for use as a textbook (Von Eckardt). These are two instances of what can be seen as a genre (Hardcastle 1996, Haugeland 1985 and Flanagan 1984 are other notable examples) whose existence is perhaps symptomatic both of the flux in this interdisciplinary field and of the explosion in interdisciplinary cognitive science pedagogy. As a consequence cognitive scientists are struggling at the same time to articulate a metatheoretic self-understanding and a set of pedagogical materials. Accomplishing these two tasks in a single volume is not impossible, but the attempt can lead to expository tensions, particularly at points where the desiderata of accessibility, comprehensiveness and evendhandedness attaching to the textbook writing enterprise compete with those of depth, focus and partisan argument attaching to the monograph project. These tensions are resolved in opposite directions by the present volumes, and in each case in the direction indicated by the author's avowed primary intention: Von Eckardt opts for a sophisticated and detailed metatheoretic exposition that will prove challenging for any but the most talented undergraduate classes; Thagard's treatment will be accessible to any first year college audience, but is extremely thin in its treatment of each issue on which it touches. Despite these opposite expository strategies, these two books share two glaring and troubling lacunae: Neither author takes the role of either of two central strands of theory and research in cognitive science-linguistics or neuroscience-at all seriously as an element of the interdisciplinary fusion s/he aims to characterise. Linguistics and neuroscience are each featured prominently on the cover illustration of Thagard's book, but neither receives
Short Barrett: prevalence and risk factors.

BACKGROUND The incidence of adenocarcinoma at the gastro-oesophageal junction is on the increase. These carcinomas are usually diagnosed too late and thus have a poor prognosis. Only early diagnosis can improve the situation. Classical Barrett oesophagus (length, >3 cm) is a known precancerous condition. There is also specialized columnar epithelium (SCE) in the grossly unremarkable gastro-oesophageal transitional zone (short Barrett). METHODS To determine the frequency of SCE, 370 patients were investigated by gastroscopy (OGD) consecutively between September 1995 and February 1996. RESULTS Classical Barrett oesophagus was found to have an incidence of 4.6%. In contrast, microscopic evidence of SCE was observed in 13.6% of the cases. Patients with short Barrett presented with reflux symptoms (odds ratio (OR), 4.7), irregular zona serrata ('tongues') in the cardia (OR, 2.8), and reflux oesophagitis significantly more frequently. Patients with reflux symptoms and concomitant 'tongues', however, had an OR of 13.16. Careful history-taking, together with a subtle histologic work-up of the gastro-oesophageal transitional zone can improve the rate of detecting patients with short Barrett. CONCLUSION Patients with reflux symptoms and irregular zona serrata should be selectively biopsied at the gastro-oesophageal junction, even when the latter presents a grossly normal appearance, with the aim of detecting patients at risk of developing a Barrett carcinoma.
Image Retrieval Using Spatial Multi-color Coherence Vectors Mixing Location Information

Color coherence vectors (CCV) are commonly used for image retrieval in content-based image retrieval (CBIR). It is a more sophisticated form of histogram refinement, in which histogram buckets are partitioned based on spatial coherence, but a single CCV is not enough for efficient and robust image retrieval system. In this paper, a method for image retrieval using the multi-CCV mixing location is proposed. In this method, we separate the image into core region and minor region, adopt hash table to store the pixel into the appropriate color of our color set, and mixing location information with the traditional method to bring multi-CCV of the image. The multi-CCV mixing location gives much better retrieval efficiency, but with higher computations and appear to perform better than the traditional CCV.
Systemic cytokine response in murine anthrax

Systemic pro‐inflammatory cytokine release has been previously implicated as a major death‐causing factor in anthrax, however, direct data have been absent. We determined the levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α in serum of mice challenged with virulent (Ames) or attenuated (Sterne) strains of Bacillus anthracis. More than 10‐fold increase in the IL‐1β levels was detected in Ames‐challenged Balb/c mice, in contrast to more susceptible C57BL/6 mice, which showed no IL‐1β response. Balb/c mice have also responded with higher levels of IL‐6. The A/J mice demonstrated IL‐1β and IL‐6 systemic response to either Ames or Sterne strain of B. anthracis, whereas no increase in TNF‐α was detected in any murine strain. We used RT‐PCR for gene expression analyses in the liver which often is a major source of cytokines and one of the main targets in infectious diseases. A/J mice challenged with B. anthracis (Sterne) showed increased gene expression for Fas, FasL, Bax, IL‐1β, TNF‐α, TGF‐β, MIP‐1α, KC and RANTES. These data favour the hypothesis that apoptotic cell death during anthrax infection causes chemokine‐induced transmigration of inflammatory cells to vitally important organs such as liver. Administration of caspase inhibitors z‐VAD‐fmk and ac‐YVAD‐cmk improved survival in Sterne‐challenged mice indicating a pathogenic role of apoptosis in anthrax.
Nanometer-deep junctions with high doping concentration for Ge SDEs using solid source doping and flash lamp annealing

In recent years Solid Source Doping (SSD) has been considered as a viable option in fabricating advanced CMOS devices [1], especially for forming shallow and highly doped junctions for source drain extensions (SDE) while minimizing the damage to the devices [2]. Current scaled devices require diffusion control in the nanometer range in order to form shallow SDEs using SSD. Additionally, high doping concentrations are needed to lower the resistivity (see Fig. 1).
Hybrid coevolutionary programming for Nash equilibrium search in games with local optima

The conventional local optimization path and coevolutionary processes are studied when "local Nash equilibrium (NE) traps" exist. Conventional NE search algorithms in games with local optima can misidentify NE by following a local optimization path. We prove that any iterative NE search algorithms based on local optimization cannot differentiate real NE and "local NE traps". Coevolutionary programming, a parallel and global search algorithm, is applied to overcome this problem. In order to enhance the poor convergence of simple coevolutionary programming, hybrid coevolutionary programming is suggested. The conventional NE algorithms, simple coevolutionary programming, and hybrid coevolutionary algorithms are tested through a simple numerical example and transmission-constrained electricity market examples.
Revisión entre pares en la formación de posgrado

En este trabajo se analiza la revision entre pares como dispositivo de ensenanza en el nivel de posgrado, con el objetivo de promover una practica didactica que permite a los alumnos superar su habitual aislamiento en la realizacion de sus tesis y mejorar, al mismo tiempo, su calidad y su rendimiento. A pesar de la importancia academica que reviste saber diagnosticar los problemas y perfeccionar los propios textos, la revision de la escritura no es por lo general objeto de ensenanza sistematica en ningun nivel del sistema educativo argentino. Resulta una practica que, como tantas otras, se exige pero no se suele ensenar. Enfrentando esta tendencia, en este articulo se examinan una serie de experiencias realizadas en diversos talleres de tesis de distintos posgrados que han tenido por objeto propiciar las actividades de revision entre pares. A partir de observaciones de clase, de la reflexion escrita de los alumnos y de los cuestionarios que completaron anonimamente para evaluar la ensenanza recibida, se analizan los problemas para llevar a cabo la revision entre pares, las condiciones para que funcione la tarea, los aspectos valorados como positivos y los objetivos pedagogicos aun no logrados.
Diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis cervical infection by detection of amplified DNA with an enzyme immunoassay

A sensitive and specific system for detection of amplified Chlamydia trachomatis DNA from cervical specimens by fluorometric quantitation in an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) format (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]-EIA) is described. The primers selected for PCR-amplified DNA were from the 15 serovars of C. trachomatis and two strains of Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR). One strain of Chlamydia psittaci (Borg) was not amplified. One hundred four previously cultured cervical specimens were evaluated. Forty-six culture-positive specimens containing from 1+ to 4+ inclusion bodies were all positive by PCR-EIA. Of 58 culture-negative specimens, 2 were repeatedly positive and were nonreactive with control probes. This assay system represents a sensitive and specific combination of technologies for the quantitative detection of C. trachomatis DNA directly from a body fluid.
Error rates for Rayleigh fading multichannel reception of MPSK signals

This paper provides a new closed form expression for calculating the probability that an MPSK signal will lie in a particular decision region when received over N independent and identically distributed Rayleigh fading channels corrupted by additive white Gaussian noise. This expression is applied to provide a unified method to derive the exact symbol error rate and bit error rate for MPSK signals considering N channel diversity reception. The N channel diversity reception techniques considered are maximal ratio combining (MRC) and selection combining. MRC with identical channels and dissimilar channels is considered. The results for MRC can be extended to provide an approximation for the error rates of MPSK under equal gain combining. >