Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Branchial and Renal Acid and Ion Fluxes in the Rainbow Trout, Salmo Gairdneri, at Low Environmental pH

Rainbow trout were exposed for 4 days to an environmental pH averaging 4.2, an exposure which resulted in a continuous net branchial influx of acid. The influx provoked a progressive depression in blood pH and [HCO3−], virtually complete by 48 h, and a marked increase in renal acid excretion, also complete by 48 h. The increase in the latter was sufficient to remove, at maximum, about half of the protons entering at the gills; those remaining were buffered in body fluids. The low pH exposure also impaired gill ion regulation as indicated by continuous net branchial losses of Na+, Cl− and K+ and by a progressive decline in plasma Na+ and Cl− levels. Evidence is presented which indicates that there was a significant contribution by the intracellular compartment both to the total body ion losses and to the buffering of the body acid load.
Grid-Connected Forward Microinverter With Primary-Parallel Secondary-Series Transformer

This paper presents a primary-parallel secondary-series multicore forward microinverter for photovoltaic ac-module application. The presented microinverter operates with a constant off-time boundary mode control, providing MPPT capability and unity power factor. The proposed multitransformer solution allows using low-profile unitary turns ratio transformers. Therefore, the transformers are better coupled and the overall performance of the microinverter is improved. Due to the multiphase solution, the number of devices increases but the current stress and losses per device are reduced contributing to an easier thermal management. Furthermore, the decoupling capacitor is split among the phases, contributing to a low-profile solution without electrolytic capacitors suitable to be mounted in the frame of a PV module. The proposed solution is compared to the classical parallel-interleaved approach, showing better efficiency in a wide power range and improving the weighted efficiency.
Synthetic Aperture Radar Image Segmentation by Modified Student's t-Mixture Model

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data are often affected by speckle noise, which originates in the SAR system's coherent nature. In this paper, we introduce a simple and effective algorithm to make the traditional Student's t-mixture model (SMM) more robust to noise. The proposed new modified SMM (MSMM) is applied for SAR image segmentation. SMM has come to be regarded as an alternative to the Gaussian mixture model (GMM) as it is heavy tailed and more robust to outliers. However, a major shortcoming of this method is that it does not take into account the spatial dependencies in the image. Although some existing methods incorporate the spatial relationship between neighboring pixels, they are still not robust enough to noise. The advantages of our method are as follows. First, we introduce MSMM to incorporate the local spatial information and pixel intensity value by considering the conditional probability of an image pixel influenced by the probabilities of pixels in its immediate neighborhood. Furthermore, we introduce the additional parameter α to control the extent of this influence. The larger α indicates the heavier extent of influence in the neighborhoods. Second, the prior probability of an image pixel is influenced by the probabilities of pixels in its immediate neighborhood, which incorporates local spatial and component information. Third, our model is based on the finite mixture model (FMM); it is simple and easy to implement, and the expectation maximization algorithm can be applied for estimation of optimal parameters. Finally, the traditional SMM can be considered as a special case of our model. Thus, our method is general enough for FMM-based techniques. Experimental results on both simulated and real SAR images demonstrate the improved robustness and effectiveness of our approach.
Probabilistic Model Checking: One Step Forward in Wireless Sensor Networks Simulation

A novel collision resolution algorithm for wireless sensor networks is formally analysed via probabilistic model checking. The algorithm called 2CS-WSN is specifically designed to be used during the contention phase of IEEE 802.15. 4. Discrete time Markov chains (DTMCs) have been proposed as modelling formalism and the well-known probabilistic symbolic model checker PRISM is used to check some correctness properties and different operating modes and, furthermore, to collect some performance measures. Thus, all the benefits of formal verification and simulation are gathered. These correctness properties as well as practical and relevant scenarios for the real world have agreed with the algorithm designers.
A simplified, practical approach to assessment of severity of mitral regurgitation by Doppler color flow imaging with proximal convergence: validation with concomitant cardiac catheterization.

OBJECTIVE To compare the proximal convergence method for quantification of mitral regurgitation with findings on concomitant left ventriculography. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 41 patients (22 men and 19 women, 63 +/- 13 years of age), mitral regurgitation was evaluated concomitantly by Doppler color flow jet area, proximal convergence method, and left ventriculography. A simplified measurement of the proximal convergence, consisting of the aliasing radius and velocity of the proximal isosurface (r2 x V), was used. RESULTS Angiographic grade correlated well with the proximal convergence method (r2 x V) but had poor correlation with the Doppler color flow jet area method. All patients with a proximal convergence flow rate of less than 10 cm3/s had grade 1 or 2 mitral regurgitation, whereas patients with a proximal convergence flow rate of more than 20 cm3/s had grade 3 or 4 mitral regurgitation. The severity of mitral regurgitation was indeterminate in patients with proximal convergence flow rates from 10 to 20 cm3/s. CONCLUSION Doppler color flow jet area correlates poorly with angiographic grade of mitral regurgitation. A simplified proximal convergence method is useful for separating grade 3 and 4 from grade 1 and 2 mitral regurgitation in most patients. A group of patients with indeterminate severity of mitral regurgitation remains, however, in whom further assessment is necessary.
Location and orientation of an activating region in the Escherichia coli transcription factor, FNR

We have characterized a number of mutations in fnr that interfere with FNR‐dependent transcription activation at two promoters where the FNR‐binding site is centred around 41½ bp upstream from the transcription start site. The substituted residues in all but one of these FNR mutants are clustered around a presumed surface‐exposed beta‐turn containing G85 which, we suggest, forms an activating region that contacts RNA polymerase at these promoters. Using the‘oriented heterodimers’method described elsewhere, we show that this activating region on the promoter‐proximal subunit of the FNR dimer is sufficient to activate transcription initiation. In contrast, this region is not essential for activation of a third FNR‐dependent promoter where the FNR‐binding site is centred at 61 1/2 bp upstream from the transcription start site. However, a substitution at S73 interferes with FNR‐dependent activation at both this promoter and promoters in which the FNR site is located at 41 1/2 bp from the transcript start, suggesting that FNR may contain a second activating region.
Training locked-in patients: a challenge for the use of brain-computer interfaces

Training severely paralyzed patients to use a brain-computer interface (BCI) for communication poses a number of issues and problems. Over the past six years, we have trained 11 patients to self-regulate their slow cortical brain potentials and to use this skill to move a cursor on a computer screen. This paper describes our experiences with this patient group including the problems of accepting and rejecting patients, communicating and interacting with patients, how training may be affected by social, familial, and institutional circumstances, and the importance of motivation and available reinforcers.
PREDICTIONS OF OXYGEN ISOTOPE RATIOS IN STARS AND OF OXYGEN-RICH INTERSTELLAR GRAINS IN METEORITES

We carried out detailed, self-consistent calculations for stars from 1 to 9 M_☉ over a wide range of metallicities, following the evolution and nucleosynthesis from the pre-main sequence to the asymptotic giant branch (AGB), in order to provide a self-consistent grid for evaluating stellar oxygen isotopic variations. These were calculated for first and second dredge-up, and for some masses also for third dredge-up and "hot bottom" convective envelope burning on the AGB. We demonstrate that ^(16)O/^(17)O in red giant envelopes is primarily a function of the star's mass, while ^(16)O/^(18)O is primarily a function of the initial composition. Uncertainties in the ^(17)O-destruction rate have no effect on the ^(16)O/^(17)O ratio for stars from 1 to 2.5 M_☉, but do affect the ratios for higher masses: the stellar ^(16)O/^(17)O observations are consistent with the Landre et al. (1990) rates using ƒ = 0.2 for ^(17)O(p, y)^(18)F and ^(17)O(p, ɑ)^(14)N, and with the Caughlan & Fowler (1988) rates using ƒ ~ 1. The stellar ^(16)O/^(18)O observations require ƒ ~ 0 in the Caughlan & Fowler ^(18)O(p, ɑ)^(15)N rate. First dredge-up has the largest effect on the oxygen isotope ratios, decreasing ^(16)O/^(17)O significantly from the initial value and increasing ^(16)O/^(18)O slightly. Second and third dredge-up have only minor effects for solar metallicity stars. The absence of very low observed ^(16)O/^(18)O ratios is consistent with a major increase in the ^(18)O(ɑ, y)^(22)Ne rate over the Caughlan & Fowler (1988) value. Hot bottom burning in stars above about 5 M_☉ can cause a huge increase in ^(16)O/^(18)O (to ≳10^6), and possibly a significant decrease in ^(16)O/^(17)O; these are accompanied by a huge increase in ^7Li and a value of ^(12)C/^(13)C ≈ 3. The oxygen isotope ratios in the Al_2O_3 grains (Orgueil grain B, the Murchison 83-5 grain, and the new Bishunpur B39 grain) can be accounted for if they originated in stars that did NOT have the same initial ^(16)O/^(18)O ratio. Thus one cannot assume uniform isotope ratios, even for stars of nearly solar composition. The grains' ^(16)O/^(17)O ratios, together with the ^(26)Mg excesses that indicate grain formation in a ^(26)Al-rich environment, indicate that the Orgueil grain B and Murchison 83-5 grain originated in stars of roughly 1.5 M_☉, during third dredge-up on the AGB. The new Bishunpur B39 grain originated in a star of either 2 or of 4-7 M_☉.
Increased Production of Antioxidative Sesaminol Glucosides from Sesame Oil Cake through Fermentation by Bacillus circulans Strain YUS-2

Bacillus circulans strain YUS-2 was isolated as the strongest antioxidant-producer in fermentation of sesame oil cake (SOC, defatted residue yielded from sesame seed oil production). Two major strong antioxidants from fermented SOC were purified and identified as known sesaminol triglucoside and sesaminol diglucoside, however, our results demonstrated that the fermentation process with B. circulans YUS-2 was highly effective to gain the extraction efficiency of the sesaminol glucosides.
Phylogeny and Systematics of Lemnaceae, the Duckweed Family

Abstract The minute, reduced plants of family Lemnaceae have presented a formidable challenge to systematic investigations. The simplified morphology of duckweeds has made it particularly difficult to reconcile their interspecific relationships. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of all currently recognized species of Lemnaceae has been carried out using more than 4,700 characters that include data from morphology and anatomy, flavonoids, allozymes, and DNA sequences from chloroplast genes (rbcL, matK) and introns (trnK, rpl16). All data are reasonably congruent (I(MF) < 6%) and contributed to strong nodal support in combined analyses. Our combined data yield a single, well-resolved, maximum parsimony tree with 30/36 nodes (83%) supported by bootstrap values that exceed 90%. Subfamily Wolffioideae is a monophyletic clade with 100% bootstrap support; however, subfamily Lemnoideae represents a paraphyletic grade comprising Landoltia, Lemna, and Spirodela. Combined data analysis confirms the monophyly of Landoltia, Lemna, Spirodela, Wolffia, and Wolffiella. Phylogenetic relationships are used to evaluate and refine the classification of duckweeds. Communicating Editor: Jeff H. Rettig
Colonization of Tomato Plants by Salmonella enterica Is Cultivar Dependent, and Type 1 Trichomes Are Preferred Colonization Sites

ABSTRACT Nontyphoid salmonellosis caused by Salmonella enterica is the most common bacterial food-borne illness in humans, and fresh produce, including tomatoes, is a common vehicle. Accumulating data indicate that human enteric pathogenic bacteria, including S. enterica, interact actively with plants. Tomato plants were inoculated with S. enterica to evaluate plausible contamination routes and to determine if the tomato cultivar affects S. enterica colonization. S. enterica population levels on tomato leaves were cultivar dependent. S. enterica levels on Solanum pimpinellifolium (West Virginia 700 [WVa700]) were lower than on S. lycopersicum cultivars. S. enterica preferentially colonized type 1 trichomes and rarely interacted with stomata, unlike what has been reported for cut lettuce leaves. Early S. enterica leaf colonization led to contamination of all fruit, with levels as high as 105 CFU per fruit. Reduced bacterial speck lesion formation correlated with reduced S. enterica populations in the phyllosphere. Tomato pedicels and calyxes also harbored large S. enterica populations following inoculation via contaminated water postharvest. WVa700 green fruit harbored significantly smaller S. enterica populations than did red fruit or S. lycopersicum fruit. We found that plants irrigated with contaminated water had larger S. enterica populations than plants grown from seeds planted in infested soil. However, both routes of contamination resulted in detectable S. enterica populations in the phyllosphere. Phyllosphere S. enterica populations pose a risk of fruit contamination and subsequent human disease. Restricting S. enterica phyllosphere populations may result in reduced fruit contamination. We have identified WVa700 as a tomato cultivar that can restrict S. enterica survival in the phyllosphere.
Pulse rate trends in obstructive sleep apnea: a reliable tool to predict long term response to CPAP?

To the editor, A predictive model of long term response to CPAP could be a useful tool for the clinician. In this regard, previous studies considered that changes in heart rate variability (HRV) are a key variable to assess continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) response (1,2). We read with interest the recent article by Pengo MF et al. (3) were authors hypothesized that baseline nocturnal pulse rate (PR) trends help predict long term response to CPAP. In this study, main findings were improvement in daytime sleepiness among obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with baseline negative change in PR contrary to OSA patients with positive change in PR. Nonetheless, we consider that a few aspects of this study deserve reviewing. First, the diagnostic modality was unattended pulse oximetry. So far, the published data on this method is difficult to compare because of differences in the parameters measured and differences in the reference standard. Some studies reported high specificity while others reported a high sensitivity. For screening purposes, both high sensitivity and high pretest likelihood of OSA are needed. Additionally, age, pulmonary function, and degree of obesity impact on nocturnal desaturation and also influence sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, for research purposes, diagnosis should be confirmed by polygraphy or polysomnography (4-6). In Pengo MF et al. patients in the OSA group had lower mean saturation of hemoglobin (SpO2) than controls (92.7% vs. 95.4%). This difference makes the OSA group more likely to desaturate during sleep just by virtue of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve dynamics (5). Furthermore, some of the OSA patients may have suffered from other comorbidities such as obesity hypoventilation syndrome. This was more likely in the OSA group with positive change PR, where patients were more obese (122+/–26 kg) and had lower mean SpO2 (90.9%) compared to those with negative change PR (107+/–26 kg, and 93.2%, respectively).
Atg18 function in autophagy is regulated by specific sites within its &bgr;-propeller

Summary Autophagy is a conserved degradative transport pathway. It is characterized by the formation of double-membrane autophagosomes at the phagophore assembly site (PAS). Atg18 is essential for autophagy but also for vacuole homeostasis and probably endosomal functions. This protein is basically a &bgr;-propeller, formed by seven WD40 repeats, that contains a conserved FRRG motif that binds to phosphoinositides and promotes Atg18 recruitment to the PAS, endosomes and vacuoles. However, it is unknown how Atg18 association with these organelles is regulated, as the phosphoinositides bound by this protein are present on the surface of all of them. We have investigated Atg18 recruitment to the PAS and found that Atg18 binds to Atg2 through a specific stretch of amino acids in the &bgr;-propeller on the opposite surface to the FRRG motif. As in the absence of the FRRG sequence, the inability of Atg18 to interact with Atg2 impairs its association with the PAS, causing an autophagy block. Our data provide a model whereby the Atg18 &bgr;-propeller provides organelle specificity by binding to two determinants on the target membrane.
A reduced-order nonlinear clutch pressure observer for automatic transmission using ISS

For a new kind of automatic transmissions using proportional pressure valves to control the clutches directly, a clutch pressure observer design method is suggested in the concept of input-to-state stability (ISS). Model uncertainties including steady state errors and unmodelled dynamics are considered as additive disturbance inputs and the observer is designed such that the error dynamics is input-to-state stable. Lookup tables, which are widely used to represent complex nonlinear characteristics of engine systems, appear in their original form in the designed reduced-order observer. Finally, the designed pressure observer is tested on an AMESim powertrain simulation model.
A young man with severe acute haemolytic anaemia

Correspondence to Z Yang zhaoqingy92@hotmail.com A 19 year old man of Kachin ethnicity presented with fever (39.5°C) and was diagnosed with vivax malaria by microscopy. He was prescribed chloroquine and primaquine and his fever resolved. After 24 hours he experienced two days of passing dark urine, followed by an episode of syncope, and was admitted to hospital. On admission, he weighed 59 kg and was afebrile (36.2°C), his heart rate was 120 beats/min, blood pressure 70/40 mm Hg, and respiratory rate 36 breaths/min. He was moderately jaundiced and his conjunctivae and nail beds were pale. The spleen was palpable at 1.5 cm below the left costal margin. His blood smear was negative for malaria parasites and a beam test was negative. Tests showed reduced haemoglobin (34 g/L; reference range 110-160), hematocrit (9.2%; 35-50), and red blood cell count (1.1×1012/L; 3.5-5.5×1012). The patient’s urine contained bilirubin and haemoglobin but no red blood cells. Total bilirubin was 71.9 µmol/L (reference range 3.4-17.1), unconjugated bilirubin 52.1 µmol/L (1.7-10.2); urea nitrogen 18.45 mmol/L (1.07-7.14), and creatinine 235.4 µmol/L (44-132). A fluorescent spot test found G6PD deficiency, enabling a diagnosis of acute haemolytic anaemia. Genotyping by a SNaPshot assay1 of G6PD in 11 common G6PD mutations that occur in south-east Asia showed that he carried the G6PD Mahidol variant (487G >A) (fig 1). …
High-order neural network structure selection for function approximation applications using genetic algorithms

Neural network literature for function approximation is by now sufficiently rich. In its complete form, the problem entails both parametric (i.e., weights determination) and structural learning (i.e., structure selection). The majority of works deal with parametric uncertainty assuming knowledge of the appropriate neural structure. In this paper we present an algorithmic approach to determine the structure of high order neural networks (HONNs), to solve function approximation problems. The method is based on a genetic algorithm (GA) and is equipped with a stable update law to guarantee parametric learning. Simulation results on an illustrative example highlight the performance and give some insight of the proposed approach.
Patients in Pediatric Phase I and Early Phase II Clinical Oncology Trials at Gustave Roussy: A 13-Year Center Experience

In the European Union, the pediatric medicines regulation in 2007 modified significantly the access to new agents in pediatric oncology. Early oncology trials are still thought to be associated with limited benefit and substantial risk. We report the characteristics and outcome of patients below 21 years enrolled in investigational trials in the Pediatric and Adolescent Department at Gustave Roussy between January 2000 and December 2012. A total of 235 patients (median age, 10.4 [0.8 to 20.7] y) were included in 26 trials (16 cytotoxic and 10 targeted agents) for a total of 260 inclusions. A total of 117 patients (50%) had brain tumors and 68 (29%) had various soft tissue and bone sarcoma. Thirteen of the 106 patients in a phase I trial experienced dose-limiting toxicity. Main severe toxicity was hematologic; none had toxic death. Grade 3 to 4 toxicities were associated with combination trials, cytotoxic agent, and at least 1 previous line of therapy. Thirty patients (12%) had objective response and 42 (16%) had stable disease for >4 months. Median overall survival was 9.0 months (95% CI, 7.5-10.5) and 73% of patients received further anticancer treatment. Phase I to II pediatric oncology trials are safe, associated with clinical benefit, and can be successfully integrated in current relapse strategies.
HCN channels segregate stimulation‐evoked movement responses in neocortex and allow for coordinated forelimb movements in rodents

The present study tested whether HCN channels contribute to the organization of motor cortex and to skilled motor behaviour during a forelimb reaching task. Experimental reductions in HCN channel signalling increase the representation of complex multiple forelimb movements in motor cortex as assessed by intracortical microstimulation. Global HCN1KO mice exhibit reduced reaching accuracy and atypical movements during a single‐pellet reaching task relative to wild‐type controls. Acute pharmacological inhibition of HCN channels in forelimb motor cortex decreases reaching accuracy and increases atypical movements during forelimb reaching.