Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estudio morfo-anatómico comparado en pecíolos de las especies de Asplenium (Aspleniaceae) de Argentina

Introducción y objetivos: Las características externas e internas de los pecíolos brindan información útil para los estudios taxonómicos en helechos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar los caracteres diagnósticos del pecíolo en las 37 especies de Asplenium que crecen en Argentina, para contribuir a su identificación e indagar sobre su significado adaptativo.M&M: Se emplearon especímenes de herbario y material fresco. Los materiales se analizaron con microscopios estereoscópico y óptico; en el último caso las muestras fueron procesadas siguiendo las técnicas histológicas convencionales. Los caracteres analizados fueron: color, longitud, presencia de alas, tejido mecánico sub-epidérmico, líneas de aireación, banda circumendodermal (BC), forma y número de los haces vasculares y contorno del xilema.Resultados: Algunas características de los pecíolos permiten el agrupamiento de especies. Los caracteres diagnósticos son: color, presencia/ausencia de alas, número de haces vasculares, contorno de los haces, contorno del xilema y presencia/ausencia de BC.Conclusiones: Los caracteres del pecíolo por si solos no permiten la identificación de los taxa a nivel específico, si bien junto con otros contribuyen a la sistemática del género. La anatomía del pecíolo no evidencia en general relación con el hábito de estas plantas. El tipo y la disposición del tejido mecánico sub-epidérmico y la presencia de BC se asocian a especies que crecen en ambientes expuestos y secos, pero no son exclusivos de los taxa que crecen bajo estas condiciones. "
Tuber Yield Formation and Sugar Composition of Yacon Genotypes Grown in Central Europe

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a tuberous root crop native to the Andean region. The eatable tubers contain up to 70% fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on a dry matter (DM) basis. These FOS are not digestible by the human intestinal tract and do not cause an increase of blood glucose level. Therefore, the consumption of yacon tubers offers health promoting benefits. With regard to cultivation, little to no information about yield potential and FOS content as well as sugar composition of diverse genotypes is known. However, this information is crucial for the development of new health beneficial food products out of different genotypes of yacon. In the present study nine different genotypes were studied in a field experiment in 2017 and 2018 regarding their tuber yield formation, sugar yield, and sugar composition. The genotypes red-shelled (‘RG’), brown-shelled (‘BG’), and ‘Morado’ reached the highest tuber yields of 46.6, 43.5, and 41.6 t ha−1 FM, respectively. These three genotypes also had the highest sugar yields in the same order (2.2, 2.0, and 1.9 t ha−1). Considering the sugar composition and sugar content, these three genotypes were outstanding, with a sugar content up to 66% of DM (‘RG’, 2018). With regards to the development of possible food products, cv. ‘Peru’ can be considered as favorable for the fresh market due to high amounts of both monosaccharides and FOS. Genotypes ‘BG’, ‘RG’, and ‘Morado’ seem to offer various options for the food processing industry, due to their high amounts of FOS.
LRX Proteins play a crucial role in pollen grain and pollen tube cell wall development

Leucine-rich repeat extensins (LRXs) are chimeric proteins containing an N-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) and a C-terminal extensin domain. LRXs are involved in cell wall formation in vegetative tissues and required for plant growth. However, the nature of their role in these cellular processes remains to be elucidated. Here, we used a combination of molecular techniques, light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy to characterize mutants of pollen-expressed LRXs in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mutations in multiple pollen-expressed lrx genes causes severe defects in pollen germination and pollen tube (PT) growth, resulting in a reduced seed set. Physiological experiments demonstrate that manipulating Ca2+ availability partially suppresses the PT growth defects, suggesting that LRX proteins influence Ca2+-related processes. Furthermore, we show that LRX protein localizes to the cell wall, and its LRR-domain (which likely mediates protein-protein interactions) is associated with the plasma membrane. Mechanical analyses by cellular force microscopy and finite element method-based modelling revealed significant changes in the material properties of the cell wall and the fine-tuning of cellular biophysical parameters in the mutants compared to the wild type. The results indicate that LRX proteins might play a role in cell wall-plasma membrane communication, influencing cell wall formation and cellular mechanics.
A bird’s white-eye view on neosex chromosome evolution

This article has been peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community In EvolutionaryBiology. Chromosomal organization is relatively stable among avian species, especially with regards to sex chromosomes. Members of the large Sylvioidea clade however have a pair of neo-sex chromosomes which is unique to this clade and originate from a parallel translocation of a region of the ancestral 4A chromosome on both W and Z chromosomes. Here, we took advantage of this unusual event to study the early stages of sex chromosome evolution. To do so, we sequenced a female (ZW) of two Sylvioidea species, a Zosterops borbonicus and a Z. pallidus. Then, we organized the Z. borbonicus scaffolds along chromosomes and annotated genes. Molecular phylogenetic dating under various methods and calibration sets confidently confirmed the recent diversification of the genus Zosterops (1-3.5 million years ago), thus representing one of the most exceptional rates of diversification among vertebrates. We then combined genomic coverage comparisons of five males and seven females, and homology with the zebra finch genome (Taeniopygia guttata) to identify sex chromosome scaffolds, as well as the candidate chromosome breakpoints for the two translocation events. We observed reduced levels of within-species diversity in both translocated regions and, as expected, even more so on the neoW chromosome. In order to compare the rates of molecular evolution in genomic regions of the autosomal-to-sex transitions, we then estimated the ratios of non-synonymous to synonymous polymorphisms (πN/πS) and substitutions (dN/dS). Based on both ratios, no or little contrast between autosomal and Z genes was observed, thus representing a very different outcome than the higher ratios observed at the neoW genes. In addition, we report significant changes in base composition content for translocated regions on the W and Z chromosomes and a large accumulation of transposable elements (TE) on the newly W region. Our results revealed contrasted signals of molecular evolution changes associated to these autosome-to-sex chromosome transitions, with congruent signals of a W chromosome degeneration yet a surprisingly weak support for a fast-Z effect.
Non Unuiform Phased array Beamforming with Covariance Based Method

Many papers have investigated phased array radars beam-forming so far. In these papers the power at a specific point of interest is written by a combination of transmitted power by means of each antenna. In this paper we will introduce a new approach which will use of cross correlation matric like MIMO radars to define beam-pattern of array and then by introducing an optimization problem to steering the available power at desire directions, it is shown that with an approach to optimum choosing of antenna placement, it is possible to concentrate the transmitter power on desire direction better than conventional phased array antennas with half wave length spacing. It should be say that some papers have investigated non uniform arrays but those papers usually use of multiple of half wave length in their elements spacing and in addition their approach to choosing these spaces is different and pretty more complicated from presented approach. Simulation is performed to analyze the presented algorithm and compare it's performance with conventional phased arrays with half wave length spacing for linear and planar array. MATLAB software is being employed for simulations.
Observations of habitat associations in boreal forest birds and the geographic variation in bird community composition

ABSTRACT Differences in habitat associations or responses to environmental stressors among broadly co-distributed species can result in local variation in community composition. As a result, ongoing environmental change may drive shifts in community composition, especially at range peripheries. In the present study, we describe regional variation in avian community composition at the southern extent of the boreal zone. Boreal bird communities are disproportionally influenced by ongoing climate change and contain several declining species. Here we observe the habitat associations for 13 boreal bird species, and assess the link between species' habitat associations and community composition. We conducted standardized point counts at 20 boreal forest sites in northeastern United States and Canada, and quantified the vegetation structure and composition as well as the climate at each site. We found large variation in the habitat associations among co-distributed boreal birds, both in terms of the specific variables important for each species and in the breadth of habitat types occupied. These findings suggest that species within this community will vary in their responses to environmental change, potentially resulting in changes to the boreal avian community.
Automatic epoch extraction for closed-phase analysis of speech

This paper presents an automatic method to determine the instants of glottal closure (GCIs), or epochs, from the speech signal alone without the need of a laryngograph signal. The proposed algorithm incorporate a new technique for estimating GCI candidates and dynamic programming to select the best candidates according to predefined cost functions. Results show accuracy in estimation to within /spl plusmn/0.25ms on 87% of the test database and less that 1% false alarms and misses. Preliminary experiments using the telephone -degraded NTIMIT database have shown that the algorithm continues to perform well even in the presence of noise.
Network Selection Algorithm at the Starting Point of Mobile Device in Indoor Wi-Fi Environment

In the location estimation technology using WLAN, RSSI coming from each AP has a large deviation due to complicated and varying indoor environments. Especially when a laptop is used for work inside a building or when a location-based service is required, the AP needs to be changed depending on RSSI coming from the laptop or the type of work. However, most studies are about hand-over technology between different types of devices based on mobile devices with good portability. Hand-over technology is generally controlled and managed at the server to identify the AP information and select a network quickly. Though this is the best choice to select network and connect communication quickly, any mobile device that is not registered in the server cannot be provided with the service. The current paper proposes a network selection algorithm at the starting point of mobile device as a way to solve the problem through simulation and performance evaluation.
Class A PBPs have a distinct and unique role in the construction of the pneumococcal cell wall

Significance Peptidoglycan, the main structural component of the bacterial cell wall, is made of glycan strands cross-linked by short peptides. It has long been assumed that class A penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) are the only enzymes capable of synthesizing glycan strands from lipid II. Recently, however, it was discovered that two non-PBP proteins, FtsW and RodA, constitute the core peptidoglycan polymerizing enzymes of the divisome and elongasome, respectively. What, then, is the role of class A PBPs in the construction of the bacterial cell wall? In contrast to previous assumptions, our results strongly suggest that class A PBPs are not an intrinsic part of the divisome and elongasome but have important autonomous roles in construction of the fully mature bacterial cell wall. In oval-shaped Streptococcus pneumoniae, septal and longitudinal peptidoglycan syntheses are performed by independent functional complexes: the divisome and the elongasome. Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) were long considered the key peptidoglycan-synthesizing enzymes in these complexes. Among these were the bifunctional class A PBPs, which are both glycosyltransferases and transpeptidases, and monofunctional class B PBPs with only transpeptidase activity. Recently, however, it was established that the monofunctional class B PBPs work together with transmembrane glycosyltransferases (FtsW and RodA) from the shape, elongation, division, and sporulation (SEDS) family to make up the core peptidoglycan-synthesizing machineries within the pneumococcal divisome (FtsW/PBP2x) and elongasome (RodA/PBP2b). The function of class A PBPs is therefore now an open question. Here we utilize the peptidoglycan hydrolase CbpD that targets the septum of S. pneumoniae cells to show that class A PBPs have an autonomous role during pneumococcal cell wall synthesis. Using assays to specifically inhibit the function of PBP2x and FtsW, we demonstrate that CbpD attacks nascent peptidoglycan synthesized by the divisome. Notably, class A PBPs could process this nascent peptidoglycan from a CbpD-sensitive to a CbpD-resistant form. The class A PBP-mediated processing was independent of divisome and elongasome activities. Class A PBPs thus constitute an autonomous functional entity which processes recently formed peptidoglycan synthesized by FtsW/PBP2×. Our results support a model in which mature pneumococcal peptidoglycan is synthesized by three functional entities, the divisome, the elongasome, and bifunctional PBPs. The latter modify existing peptidoglycan but are probably not involved in primary peptidoglycan synthesis.
Practical application of backstepping nonlinear current control to a switched-reluctance motor

Presents the application of a backstepping feedback design technique to the speed control of a switched-reluctance motor (SRM). Using the backstepping method, both feedback laws and Lyapunov based designs are applied in the controller design. The mathematical model for the SRM takes magnetic saturation into account. The controller takes phase currents and voltages, rotor position, rotor speed, and reference speed as inputs, and it calculates the phase current required to maintain the motor speed close to the reference speed. The turn-on and conduction angles are continuously controlled to improve the system performance. An experimentally verified Saber model is used for simulation studies and a 20 kW SRM drive prototype is built to study the performance of the proposed controller. A conventional PI controller is used for comparison. Both simulation and experimental results show improved transient and steady state performance, and robustness of the controller.
Modeling Codon Rate Variation: Robust Inference of Protein and Nucleotide Selection

There are numerous sources of variation in the rate of synonymous substitutions inside genes, such as direct selection on the nucleotide sequence, or mutation rate variation. However, the majority of the codon models which are developed and widely used today still incorporate an assumption of effectively neutral synonymous substitution rate, constant between sites of each gene. Here we propose a simple yet effective extension to codon models, which incorporates codon substitution rate variation along the gene sequence. We find strong effects of substitution rate variation on positive selection inference. The computational load of our approach remains tractable, and therefore we are able to apply it to genome scale positive selection scans in vertebrates and Drosophila. Our new model is strongly favored by the data. More than 70% of the genes detected by the classical branch-site model are presumably false positives caused by the incorrect assumption of uniform synonymous substitution rate. The new model is able to capture signatures of nucleotide level selection acting on translation initiation and on splicing sites within the coding region. Finally, we show that rate variation is highest in the highly recombining regions, and we hypothesize that recombination and mutation rate variation, such as high CpG mutation rate, are the two main sources of nucleotide rate variation. While we detect fewer genes under positive selection in Drosophila than without rate variation, the genes which we detect contain a stronger signal of adaptation to Wolbachia. We provide software to perform positive selection analysis using the new model.
Acrocomia crispa fruits lipid extract prevents LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of single oral doses of D-005 (a lipid extract obtained from the fruit oil of Acrocomia crispa) on LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. D-005 batch composition was: lauric (35.8%), oleic (28.4%), myristic (14.2%), palmitic (8.9%), stearic (3.3%), capric (1.9%), caprylic (1.2%), and palmitoleic (0.05%) acids, for a total content of fatty acids of 93.7%. D-005 (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced lung edema (LE) (≈ 28% inhibition) and Lung Weight/Body Weight ratio (LW/BW) (75.8% inhibition). D-005 (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) produced a significant reduction of Histological score (59.9, 56.1, 53.5 and 73.3% inhibition, respectively). Dexamethasone, as the reference drug, was effective in this experimental model. In conclusion, pretreatment with single oral doses of D-005 significantly prevented the LPS-induced ALI in mice.
A Study of Risk Evaluation Framework for Cloud Computing System

Virtualization asks for safer and better quality to service-oriented cloud computing system suppliers. Most of the traditional researching is focus on the risk assessment of the information system and DDoS, but lacking of researching on cloud computing in deep. So that the service-oriented cloud computing system risk evaluation researching is very essential. In this paper, we build a service-oriented cloud computing system risk assessment framework that using distributed dynamic status monitoring of virtual machine system and making risk prediction value to summarizing the final risk assessment level of the system as a whole. The model can be used in monitoring, identifying, predicting and evaluating for cloud computing security risk that is having effect on the risk evaluation of virtual machine node and whole cloud system. First we proposed a new method to identifying risk named LSAGCC that used LSA for analyzing log files and cluster for classifying. The method doing the feed forward risk identification by collecting the log of the operating system and Web Service that are on VM node level, and the LSASAM method can improved the detecting accuracy for abnormal events. Then the risk predictiton method had been proposed that combined with RBFNN(Radial Basis Function Neural Network) and AHP . This method build a risk predicting model by AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) that consists of four indicators, that are P (performance), T (Time), A (event statistics) and R (risk identification). Each indicator include some monitoring parameters that can compute the risk indicator value by weight matrix. Experimental results show that MRPGA-RBF risk prediction method can predictive risk value accurately.
Self-organised attractor dynamics in the developing head direction circuit

Head direction (HD) cells signal the orientation of an animal’s head relative to its environment. During post-natal development, HD cells are the earliest spatially modulated neurons in the hippocampal circuit to emerge. However, before eye-opening, HD cell responses in rat pups carry low directional information content and are directionally unstable. Using Bayesian decoding, we characterise this instability and identify its source: despite the directional signal being internally coherent, it consistently under-signals angular head velocity (AHV), incompletely shifting in proportion to head turns. We find evidence that geometric cues (corners) can be used to mitigate this under-signalling, and stabilise the directional signal even before eye-opening. Crucially, even when directional firing cannot be stabilised, ensembles of unstable HD cells show short-timescale (1-10 sec) temporal and spatial couplings consistent with an adult-like HD network, through which activity drifts unanchored to landmark cues. The existence of fixed spatial and temporal offsets across co-recorded cells and of an AHV-responsive signal, even before HD responses become spatially stable, suggests that the HD circuit is assembled through internal, self-organising processes, without reference to external landmarks. The HD network is widely modelled as a continuous attractor whose output is one coherent activity peak, updated during movement by angular head velocity (AHV) signals, and anchored by landmark cues. Our findings present strong evidence for this model, and demonstrate that the required network circuitry is in place and functional during development, independent of reference to landmark information.
TRAJECTORY CLUSTERING USING LATENT CLASS MODELS FOR UNSUPERVISED TBI BIOMARKER TEMPORAL PHENOTYPE DISCOVER

Background: TBI biomarkers display population-level time-varying kinetics [1] which may be a rich source of pathobiological information [2]. At an individual level, deviations from stereotypical trajectories may represent different pathological processes or secondary insults. A method for discovering such phenotypes may be useful in individualising treatments in real-time. Method: Serial blood (12hourly) and CSF (6hourly) samples were obtained from seventeen adult patients with severe TBI (Stockholm ethics committee approval #2009/1112-31). S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) concentrations were measured along with blood:CSF albumin quotient Qa as a measure of bloodbrain-barrier (BBB) integrity. S100B and NSE concentrations were log-transformed: Equivalent to the assumption of baseline exponential decay. We used trajectory modeling combining a quadratic mixed effects model with latent group analysis to search for characteristic trajectories in the measured parameter. Results: For serum S100B, we discovered two phenotypes with fast and slow kinetics. The fast group corresponded with patients with more severe extracranial injury. For serum NSE, again two phenotypes were discovered; a time-decaying group and another with a peak around day 4. CSF analysis yielded two latent groups for both S100B and NSE: a time-decaying group and another displaying prolonged elevation over several days. Qa data clustered into three groups: two with fast, slow decay and another with prolonged elevation. The group with prolonged BBB permeability had corresponding poorer outcomes. Conclusions: Small numbers prevent statistical comparison, but trajectory modeling identified a number of phenotypes with plausible pathobiological significance. In particular the technique revealed a group of patients with secondary serum NSE release and another with sustained BBB permeability. Such groups seem to relate to injury profile and outcome suggesting biological relevance. To our knowledge this is the first use of an unsupervised clustering technique in kinetic phenotype discovery.