Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The specialized DNA polymerase Kappa required to stabilize the checkpoint kinase Chk 1

The replication of the genome is constantly challenged due to endogenous or exogenous fork barriers leading to replication fork stalling which is a cause of replicative stress. When stalled forks fail to restart, it can give rise to DNA breakage or chromosomal rearrangements. To prevent this genetic instability, the fork blockage is signalled by a set of proteins during the S phase through the ATR/Chk1 pathway [1]. In most of cancer cells, intrinsic disorder or chemotherapeutic treatments induce high level of replicative stress, making malignant cells dependent on the ATR/CHK1 signalling. Thus, targeting this pathway is appearing as a strategy to kill cancer cells. Among the network of protein required to activate the ATR/Chk1 pathway, we previously demonstrated an unsuspected function of the most conserved specialized DNA polymerase: the DNA polymerase Kappa [2]. Indeed, we demonstrated that Pol Kappa is required to get the full phosphorylation of Chk1 in response to replicative stress in Xenopus extracts and in mammalian cells [3].
Using a Memory of Motion to Efficiently Warm-Start a Nonlinear Predictive Controller

Predictive control is an efficient model-based methodology to control complex dynamical systems. In general, it boils down to the resolution at each control cycle of a large nonlinear optimization problem. A critical issue is then to provide a good guess to initialize the nonlinear solver so as to speed up convergence. This is particularly important when disturbances or changes in the environment prevent the use of the trajectory computed at the previous control cycle as initial guess. In this paper, we introduce an original and very efficient solution to automatically build this initial guess. We propose to rely on off-line computation to build an approximation of the optimal trajectories, that can be used on-line to initialize the predictive controller. To that end, we combined the use of sampling-based planning, policy learning with generic representations (such as neural networks), and direct optimal control. We first propose an algorithm to simultaneously build a kinodynamic probabilistic roadmap (PRM) and approximate value function and control policy. This algorithm quickly converges toward an approximation of the optimal state-control trajectories (along with an optimal PRM). Then, we propose two methods to store the optimal trajectories and use them to initialize the predictive controller. We experimentally show that directly storing the state-control trajectories leads the predictive controller to quickly converges (2 to 5 iterations) toward the (global) optimal solution. The results are validated in simulation with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and other dynamical systems.
Role of TLR-NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Pathogenesis of Allergic Rhinitis in Rats and Intervention with Tripterygium wilfordii Hook

To investigate the role of TLR-NF- κB signaling pathway in pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR) in rats and intervention mechanism with Tripterygium wilfordii Hook (TWH). 80 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group (N); allergic rhinitis model group (M); allergic rhinitis+lipopolysaccharide group (LPS); TWH intervention group (TWH). Changes of nasal mucosa tissues and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, while neutrophil and eosinophil were counted under high power microscope. Expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and immunoglobulin E (IgE) was measured with immunohistochemical analysis. Realtime-PCR and Western-blot were used to evaluate expression of toll-like receptor (TLR4) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). The results indicated that both group M and LPS developed allergic rhinitis symptoms and distinct inflammatory injury of nasal mucosa. Eosinophil count was significantly higher in M group than in others (P<0.05), while neutrophil count was significantly higher in LPS group than in others (P<0.05). Expression of IL-4 in M group was significantly higher than group N, LPS, and TWH (P<0.05). IFN-γexpression significantly increased in group LPS compared with M, N and TWH (P<0.05). The IgE expression was decreased significantly in LPS and TWH group compare with the M group (P<0.05). TLR4 and NF-κB levels were significantly higher in LPS and lower in TWH group than M groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, LPS and TWH can regulate the relative balance between TH1 and TH2 in the pathogenesis of AR, and inhibits infiltration of eosinophil and expression of IgE, by regulating the levels of TLR4 and NF-κB.
The secular decline in profit rates: time series analysis of a classical hypothesis

Recent global financial crisis and ongoing turbulence in the global economy revived interest in the classical hypothesis of declining profit rates and vanishing profit opportunities as one of the reasons of economic instabilities. This paper, while not joining theoretical debate on the driving factors of profit rates’ decline, reconsiders empirically the hypothesis of the secular decline in economy-wide profit rates. A panel of unit root tests is used and deterministic and stochastic trend models (with or without structural breaks) are estimated. It is shown that instead of continuous downward trend, profit rates exhibit diverse dynamics – random walk, deterioration with breaks, reversals, or the absence of trend. Likewise, it is shown in an exploratory analysis that a variety of factors were determining profit rates, with capital productivity and competitive dynamics in the economy likely being the most salient.
Neurochemicals, Behaviours and Psychiatric Perspectives of Neurological Diseases

Structural changes in different regions of the brain have become clinically relevant and regarded as the signature phenomenon for neurological diseases. Morphological changes in brain are also associated with neuronal and neurochemical alterations. Studies have showed that minute changes in neurochemical levels may have marked impact on the psychobehaviourof the subject. Several neurological disease profiles have been reported with such specific psychobehavioural expression. However, application of behavioural abnormalities as possible disease progress markers has not been considered and emphasised much. Reports suggestedthat- the subjects, who have already entered into the terminal stage of the disease, used to show cardinal behavioural signs for a specific disease profile. However, psychologicalexpressions are comparatively early expressive. As most of the neurodegenerative disordersare unidirectional and progressive by nature, therapeutic intervention at the right time isessential for attaining the desired outcome. Moreover, early diagnosis can aid in managingthe disease progression also. Psychobehavioural analysis could meet the expected outcomeof disease diagnosis if implemented properly and timely. In the present review, we have amalgamated the reported behavioural anomalies with the supportive background fromneurochemical basis. Further, we have concluded that behaviour centric studies could b ea p ote ntial diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis of major neurological diseases such asAlzheimer disease, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Bipolar disorder,Schizophrenia, Impulse control disorder (ICD) and Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Black carbon in the atmosphere and snow, from pre-industrial times until present

The distribution of black carbon (BC) in the at- mosphere and the deposition of BC on snow surfaces since pre-industrial time until present are modelled with the Oslo CTM2 model. The model results are compared with obser- vations including recent measurements of BC in snow in the Arctic. The global mean burden of BC from fossil fuel and biofuel sources increased during two periods. The first pe- riod, until 1920, is related to increases in emissions in North America and Europe, and the last period after 1970 are re- lated mainly to increasing emissions in East Asia. Although the global burden of BC from fossil fuel and biofuel in- creases, in the Arctic the maximum atmospheric BC burden as well as in the snow was reached in 1960s, with a slight reduction thereafter. The global mean burden of BC from open biomass burning sources has not changed significantly since 1900. With current inventories of emissions from open biomass sources, the modelled burden of BC in snow and in the atmosphere north of 65 N is small compared to the BC burden of fossil fuel and biofuel origin. From the concen- tration changes radiative forcing time series due to the direct aerosol effect as well as the snow-albedo effect is calculated for BC from fossil fuel and biofuel. The calculated radiative forcing in 2000 for the direct aerosol effect is 0.35 W m 2 and for the snow-albedo effect 0.016 W m 2 in this study. Due to a southward shift in the emissions there is an increase in the lifetime of BC as well as an increase in normalized radiative forcing, giving a change in forcing per unit of emis- sions of 26 % since 1950.
Mortality among type 2 diabetic in-patients in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

J E Ojobi, Medicine Department, Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Benue State; G Odoh G, Medicine Department, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State; E Aniekwensi, Medicine Department, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State; and J Dunga, Medicine Department, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Correspondence to: Dr Ojobi J Echobu, Medicine Department, Federal Medical Centre, PMB 1020204, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Email: ojobijoe@yahoo.com. Introduction Diabetes mellitus now constitutes the highest morbidity and mortality of all chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa.1 In Nigeria, diabetes accounts for 3–15% of medical admissions in most health facilities.2 People living with type 2 diabetes are more vulnerable to various forms of both shortand long-term complications, which often lead to their premature death.3 Approximately 5.1 million people aged between 20 and 79 years died from diabetes in 2013, accounting for 8.4% of global allcause mortality among people in these age groups. This estimated number of deaths is similar in magnitude to the combined deaths from several infectious diseases that are major public health priorities, and is equivalent to one death every six seconds. Close to half (48%) of deaths due to diabetes are in people under the age of 60 years.4 Routine sources of health statistics consistently under-estimate the burden of mortality from diabetes, largely because diabetes is often omitted from death certificates as the cause of death.4 While there has been a documented decline in mortality from some NCDs in some countries,5 no such decline has been reported for diabetes.4 This study aimed to highlight the prevalence and pattern of diabetic mortality in a tertiary health facility in north-central Nigeria.
Atomistic Insight on the Charging Energetics in Subnanometer Pore Supercapacitors

Electrodes featuring subnanometer pores are favorable to the capacitance and energy density of supercapacitors. However, there is an energy penalty to enter subnanometer pores as ions have to shed part of their solvation shell. The magnitude of such an energy penalty plays a key role in determining the accessibility and charging/discharging of these subnanometer pores. Here, we report on the atomistic simulation of Na+ and Cl− ions entering a polarizable slit pore with a center-to-center width of 0.82 nm. We show that the free energy penalty for these ions to enter the pore is less than 14 kJ/mol for both Na+ and Cl− ions. The surprisingly small energy penalty is caused by the van der Waals attractions between ions and pore walls, the image charge effects, the moderate (19−26%) dehydration of the ions inside the pore, and the strengthened interactions between ions and their hydration water molecules in the subnanometer pore. The results provide strong impetus for further developing nanoporous electrodes f.
Deep Learning Techniques in Textual Entailment

Textual Entailment relationship between two piece of text deals with deriving whether one implies the meaning of an-other. Textual Entailment is applied in various ﬁelds of NLP like Machine Translation evaluation, Text Summarization, Question Answering. Therefore good research in Textual Entailment will help other areas. Deep Learning Techniques are being successfully applied in many areas in NLP such as Machine Translation, Sentiment Analysis, etc. It has also started to be applied in Textual Entailment(TE) where various neural network based systems are being recently designed. These research has been possible due to introduction of high quality datasets such as SNLI and MNLI. These are manually annotated datasets consisting large number of sentences essential for training deep learning models. In this paper we present some of the recent works building neural network based Entailment system using LSTM, CNN and attention.
Heavy precipitation events in the Mediterranean: sensitivity to cloud physics parameterisation uncertainties

Abstract. In autumn, southeastern France is often affected by heavy precipitation events which may result in damaging flash-floods. The 20 October and 1 November 2008 are two archetypes of the meteorological situations under which these events occur: an upper-level trough directing a warm and moist flow from the Mediterranean towards the Cevennes ridge or a quasi stationary meso-scale convective complex developing over the Rhone valley. These two types of events exhibit a contrasting level of predictability; the former being usually better forecast than the latter. Control experiments performed with the Meso-NH model run with a 2.5 km resolution confirm these predictability issues. The deterministic forecast of the November case (Cevennes ridge) is found to be much more skilful than the one for the October case (Rhone valley). These two contrasting situations are used to investigate the sensitivity of the model for cloud physics parameterisation uncertainties. Three 9-member ensembles are constructed. In the first one, the rain distribution intercept parameter is varied within its range of allowed values. In the second one, random perturbations are applied to the rain evaporation rate, whereas in the third one, random perturbations are simultaneously applied to the cloud autoconversion, rain accretion, and rain evaporation rates. Results are assessed by comparing the time and space distribution of the observed and forecasted precipitation. For the Rhone valley case, it is shown that not one of the ensembles is able to drastically improve the skill of the forecast. Taylor diagrams indicate that the microphysical perturbations are more efficient in modulating the rainfall intensities than in altering their localization. Among the three ensembles, the multi-process perturbation ensemble is found to yield the largest spread for most parameters. In contrast, the results of the Cevennes case exhibit almost no sensitivity to the microphysical perturbations. These results clearly show that the usefulness of an ensemble prediction system based upon microphysical perturbations is case dependent. Additional experiments indicate a greater potential for the multi-process ensemble when the model resolution is increased to 500 m.
Sampling by blocks of measurements in compressed sensing

Various acquisition devices impose sampling blocks of measurements. A typical example is parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) where several radio-frequency coils simultaneously acquire a set of Fourier modulated coefficients. We study a new random sampling approach that consists in selecting a set of blocks that are predefined by the application of interest. We provide theoretical results on the number of blocks that are required for exact sparse signal reconstruction. We finish by illustrating these results on various examples, and discuss their connection to the literature on CS.
Microtopography as a Driving Mechanism for Ecohydrological Processes in Shallow Groundwater Systems

Microtopography can have a large effect on flow processes at the soil surface and the composition of soil water. Microtopography is often represented by a roughness parameter in hydrological models. In areas without a strong topographical gradient, microtopography may be underestimated when accumulated in a single parameter, especially in shallow groundwater systems. This study reviews the intricate relationships between microtopography, surface runoff, and ecohydrology in systems featuring shallow water tables. We specifically focus on relations between microtopography and runoff, impact of microtopography on response times of shallow groundwater ecosystems, and microtopography and spatial distribution of groundwater quality parameters and site factors. We advocate the use of microtopography in modeling approaches by examples that feature typical ecosystems with shallow groundwater under influence of microtopography. With a simple modeling approach, we show how microtopography could add flexibility to the acrotelm–catotelm concept in raised bog hydrology. The classic acrotelm–catotelm concept hinders progress in understanding small scale hydrological variations and other ecohydrological relations. Furthermore, we illustrate possible self‐organization properties of wetlands. Finally, we show how microtopography and surface runoff affect the mixing of water with different chemical signatures, resulting in variations of the occurrence of plant species.
A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF MONCINI FROM JAMAICA, WEST INDIES (LEPIDOPTERA, HESPERIIDAE, HESPERIINAE)

A remarkable new genus and species of skipper butterfly is described from the Cockpit Country of west central Jamaica, West Indies. This new species, a member of the tribe Moncini, differs from all other genera in the tribe in its external morphology, being the only member of the tribe to lack prominent wing markings, save a narrow, pale-yellow, transverse hindwing band. Examination of the genitalia and a COI sequence places this new skipper close to continental species of Vettius , which possess substantially different external morphological characters. Features of the female genitalia of Moncini are discussed, and the elongated, sclerotized antrum found in this new taxon and apparent relatives is proposed as a potentially informative character for grouping related members of Moncini.
CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 protects TGFβ1 induced viability and migration in rat cardiac fibroblasts

Proliferation and migration of Cardiac Fibroblasts (CFBs) are important in early stage of myocardial fibrosis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 treatment on transforming growth factor (TGF)β1induced CFBs abnormal proliferation and migration, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The cell proliferation was evaluated by a MTT assay. Cell transwell migration assay and wound scratch assay were used to detect the cells migration. Measurement of ROS levels were determined by the DCF-DA dye. TGFβ1 stimulation in CFBs resulted in increased proliferation, migration and ROS generation. In conclusion, the present study revealed that AMD3100 treatment inhibited CFBs proliferation and migration induced by TGFβ1, at least in part through suppression of ROS signaling.
Epidemiology and Spatiotemporal Patterns of Leprosy Detection in the State of Bahia, Brazilian Northeast Region, 2001–2014

The detection of leprosy cases is distributed unequally in Brazil, with high-risk clusters mainly in the North and Northeast regions. Knowledge on epidemiology and spatiotemporal patterns of leprosy occurrence and late diagnosis in these areas is critical to improve control measures. We performed a study including all leprosy cases notified in the 417 municipalities of Bahia state, from 2001 to 2014. New case detection (overall and pediatric <15 years) and grade 2 disability (G2D) rates were calculated and stratified according to socio-demographic variables. Spatial analyses were performed to detect high-risk areas for occurrence and late diagnosis. A total of 40,060 new leprosy cases was reported in the period (mean = 2861 cases/year), 3296 (8.2%) in <15-year-olds, and 1921 (4.8%) with G2D. The new case detection rate was 20.41 cases/100,000 inhabitants (95% CI: 19.68–21.17). A higher risk was identified in older age groups (RR = 8.45, 95% CI: 7.08–10.09) and in residents living in the state capital (RR = 5.30, 95% CI: 4.13–6.79), in medium-sized cities (RR = 2.80; 95% CI: 2.50–3.13), and in the west (RR = 6.56, 95% CI: 5.13–8.39) and far south regions of the state (RR = 6.56, 95% CI: 5.13–8.39). A higher risk of G2D was associated with male gender (RR = 2.43, 95% CI: 2.20–2.67), older age (RR = 44.08, 95% CI: 33.21–58.51), Afro-Brazilian ethnicity (RR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.37–1.85), living in medium-sized cities (RR = 2.60; 95% CI: 2.27–2.96) and residency in the north (RR = 5.02; 95% CI: 3.74–6.73) and far south (RR = 7.46; 95% CI: 5.58–9.98) regions. Heterogeneous space–time patterns of leprosy distribution were identified, indicating high endemicity, recent transmission, and late diagnosis. This heterogeneous distribution of the disease was observed throughout the study period. Leprosy remains a relevant public health problem in Bahia state. The disease has a focal distribution. We reinforce the importance of integrating surveillance, prevention and control actions in regions of higher risk of leprosy detection and late diagnosis, and in the most vulnerable populations.
Pitch Processing of Speech: Comparison of Psychoacoustic and Electrophysiological Data

The present study consisted of two experiments. The goal of the first experiment was to establish the just noticeable differences for the fundamental frequency of the vowel /u/ by using the 2AFC method. We obtained the threshold value for 27 cents. This value is larger than the motor reaction values which had been observed in previous experiments (e.g. 9 or 19 cents). The second experiment was intended to provide neurophysiological confirmation of the detection of shifts in a frequency, using event-related potentials (ERPs). We concentrated on the mismatch negativity (MMN) – the component elicited by the change in the pattern of stimuli. Its occurrence is correlated with the discrimination threshold. In our study, MMN was observed for changes greater than 27 cents – shifts of ±50 and 100 cents (effect size – Cohen’s d = 2.259). MMN did not appear for changes of ±10 and 20 cents. The results showed that the values for which motor responses can be observed are indeed lower than those for perceptual thresholds.
Comparação da composição corporal de remadores utilizando a bioimpedância e as dobras cutâneas

OBJETIVO: Comparar dois metodos de avaliacao da composicao corporal em atletas de remo. METODOS: Os individuos avaliados eram praticantes usuais de remo, de ambos os sexos e de diferentes categorias de peso. Utilizaram-se para avaliacao da composicao corporal a bioimpedância eletrica e as medidas antropometricas peso, altura, dobras cutâneas. Analisou-se a concordância dos dois metodos atraves da determinacao do coeficiente de correlacao de Pearson. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 53 atletas de ambos os sexos. O percentual medio de gordura corporal pela medicao das dobras cutâneas foi de 22,4% nas mulheres e de 20% nos homens. Os valores encontrados do percentual de gordura corporal evidenciaram diferencas entre os dois metodos, principalmente para os atletas que se situavam acima do intervalo recomendado. Foi ainda encontrada uma correlacao moderada entre os valores da avaliacao pela bioimpedância eletrica e das dobras cutâneas. CONCLUSAO: Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de utilizacao de mais do que um metodo de avaliacao de forma a obter resultados mais precisos. Palavras-chave: antropometria, bioimpedância, remo, composicao corporal.