Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel insight into the cost-benefit model for the evolution of botanical carnivory.

BACKGROUND The cost-benefit model for the evolution of botanical carnivory provides a conceptual framework for interpreting a wide range of comparative and experimental studies on carnivorous plants. This model assumes that the modified leaves called traps represent a significant cost for the plant, and this cost is outweighed by the benefits from increased nutrient uptake from prey, in terms of enhancing the rate of photosynthesis per unit leaf mass or area (AN) in the microsites inhabited by carnivorous plants. SCOPE This review summarizes results from the classical interpretation of the cost-benefit model for evolution of botanical carnivory and highlights the costs and benefits of active trapping mechanisms, including water pumping, electrical signalling and accumulation of jasmonates. Novel alternative sequestration strategies (utilization of leaf litter and faeces) in carnivorous plants are also discussed in the context of the cost-benefit model. CONCLUSIONS Traps of carnivorous plants have lower AN than leaves, and the leaves have higher AN after feeding. Prey digestion, water pumping and electrical signalling represent a significant carbon cost (as an increased rate of respiration, RD) for carnivorous plants. On the other hand, jasmonate accumulation during the digestive period and reprogramming of gene expression from growth and photosynthesis to prey digestion optimizes enzyme production in comparison with constitutive secretion. This inducibility may have evolved as a cost-saving strategy beneficial for carnivorous plants. The similarities between plant defence mechanisms and botanical carnivory are highlighted.
New mutations and protein variants of NBS1 are identified in cancer cell lines

Alterations of the NBS1 gene are responsible for Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS), which is characterized by chromosomal instability, radiosensitivity, and cancer predisposition. NBS1 protein (Nibrin) is part of a molecular complex (NBS1– MRE11A–RAD50) that is functionally involved in DNA double‐strand–break repair. Defects in recombination or in repair mechanisms at the level of DNA breakage can lead to chromosomal aberrations, genetic instability, as well as cancer predisposition syndromes (i.e., NBS, ataxia‐telangiectasia, Bloom syndrome). In this study, we examined 20 cancer cell lines to evaluate the potential involvement of NBS1 in tumoral pathogenesis. Three different mutations, generating truncated or aberrant NBS1 transcripts, were identified at the level of NBS1 mRNA. In addition, two shorter NBS1 protein variants were detected in two cell lines. These data suggest a possible involvement of NBS1 in tumor development. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Low-Spur, Low-Phase-Noise Clock Multiplier Based on a Combination of PLL and Recirculating DLL With Dual-Pulse Ring Oscillator and Self-Correcting Charge Pump

A clock multiplier combines the low reference spur of a PLL with the low phase noise of a recirculating DLL. It uses a ring oscillator that has two pulses running simultaneously that are phase independent. One pulse is used by a PLL to precisely set ring delay while the other pulse is periodically realigned with the reference phase by a process of pulse removal and reinsertion, similar to a DLL. The DLL reference spur due to static phase offset is eliminated, since the realigned pulse is not used to control the delay. A self-correcting charge pump is introduced that corrects for mismatches in the actual up-and down currents. The 0.048 mm2 90 nm CMOS circuit has -122 dBc/Hz phase noise @ 200 kHz offset of an 800 MHz carrier, - 48 dBc reference spur and consumes 15 mW from a 1 V supply.
Therapeutic effect of endostar combined with chemotherapy for colorectal cancer: An new evidence from meta-analysis

Objective: To compare the effect of Endostar in combination with chemotherapy for colorectal cancer with effect of chemotherapy alone. Methodology: Take excluded criteria to select previous researches, evaluate the risk of bias and then propose the meta-analysis. The combined effect size is Odd Ratio (OR). If there is a negative result in the heterogeneity test, subjects can be combined by the fixed effects model, otherwise a sensitive test is proposed, negative sensitive researches cannot pass through into fixed effects model. Results: Totally, there are 16 prospective cohort studies having a low risk of bias included in the metaanalysis. Compared with accepting chemotherapy alone, patients with Endostar therapy in combination with chemotherapy have significant improved outcomes, the probability of outcomes improvement increased 59 times(RR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.34,1.89). I2 value is 0%, indicating a low heterogeneity. Conclusion: In conclusion, compared with chemotherapy alone, Endostar treatment of colorectal cancer in combination with chemotherapy has a better effect rather than chemotherapy alone based on RR +CR.
Multimodal spinal cord MRI offers accurate diagnostic classification in ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has distinctive and well-established radiological signatures which are increasingly utilised in advanced machine-learning algorithms heralding exciting novel diagnostic applications.1 2 Quantitative spinal cord (SC) imaging provides a unique opportunity to evaluate both upper (UMN) and lower motor neuron (LMN) involvement, and recent studies have showcased its biomarker potential in ALS through reliable cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements, evaluation of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters, correlations with clinical measures and survival.3 4 Nevertheless, no studies have evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of SC metrics in ALS to date. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of multimodal cervical imaging in distinguishing ALS from healthy controls (HC) using a random forest (RF) classification algorithm.5 Sixty patients with ALS and 45 age-matched controls gave informed consent to participate in a prospective neuroimaging study in the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital in Paris. Participating patients had probable or definite ALS according to the revised El-Escorial criteria. Patients with cognitive impairment, relevant comorbidities and taking medications other than riluzole were excluded from the study. ### MRI Cervical cord data were acquired from C2 to C7 on a 3T MRI system (Siemens TIM Trio). A T2-weighted three-dimensional turbo spin echo protocol was used for structural imaging with an isotropic voxel size 0.9×0.9×0.9 mm3, field of view (FOV)=280×280 mm2, 52 sagittal slices, repetition time (TR)=1500 ms, echo time (TE)=120 ms and acceleration factor=3. DTI data were acquired using a single-shot echo-planar imaging sequence. The acquisition was cardiac gated with a voxel size=1×1×5 mm3, FOV=128×128 mm2, TR=700 ms, TE=96 ms, acceleration factor=2, b value=1000 s/mm2, 64 diffusion encoding directions and four averages. 3D gradient echo images were used …
Relationship between the principles transmitted by consultants implementing the ISO 9000 standard and the loyalty of their clients

The ISO 9000:2000 standard provides eight quality management principles. Senior managers may use them as a framework to guide their organisations towards improved performance. The article analyses the way the specialised consultants in implementing the standard enable their customers to assume the principles. It has been found that the better a consultant transmits the spirit of the standard, the better for himself and for their clients as well. In fact, the consultancy will get a higher recommendation degree, and the customer will get more benefits.
Tuning Recurrent Neural Networks for Recognizing Handwritten Arabic Words

Artificial neural networks have the abilities to learn by example and are capable of solving problems that are hard to solve using ordinary rule-based programming. They have many design parameters that affect their performance such as the number and sizes of the hidden layers. Large sizes are slow and small sizes are generally not accurate. Tuning the neural network size is a hard task because the design space is often large and training is often a long process. We use design of experiments techniques to tune the recurrent neural network used in an Arabic handwriting recognition system. We show that best results are achieved with three hidden layers and two subsampling layers. To tune the sizes of these five layers, we use fractional factorial experiment design to limit the number of experiments to a feasible number. Moreover, we replicate the experiment configuration multiple times to overcome the randomness in the training process. The accuracy and time measurements are analyzed and modeled. The two models are then used to locate network sizes that are on the Pareto optimal frontier. The approach described in this paper reduces the label error from 26.2% to 19.8%.
Selenium and the thyroid gland: more good news for clinicians

The thyroid is the organ with the highest selenium content per gram of tissue because it expresses specific selenoproteins. Since the discovery of myxoedematous cretinism and thyroid destruction following selenium repletion in iodine‐ and selenium‐deficient children, data on links between thyroid metabolism and selenium have multiplied. Although very minor amounts of selenium appear sufficient for adequate activity of deiodinases, thus limiting the impact of its potential deficiency on synthesis of thyroid hormones, selenium status appears to have an impact on the development of thyroid pathologies. The value of selenium supplementation in autoimmune thyroid disorders has been emphasized. Most authors attribute the effect of supplementation on the immune system to the regulation of the production of reactive oxygen species and their metabolites. In patients with Hashimoto's disease and in pregnant women with anti‐TPO antibodies, selenium supplementation decreases anti‐thyroid antibody levels and improves the ultrasound structure of the thyroid gland. Although clinical applications still need to be defined for Hashimoto's disease, they are very interesting for pregnant women given that supplementation significantly decreases the percentage of postpartum thyroiditis and definitive hypothyroidism. In Graves' disease, selenium supplementation results in euthyroidism being achieved more rapidly and appears to have a beneficial effect on mild inflammatory orbitopathy. A risk of diabetes has been reported following long‐term selenium supplementation, but few data are available on the side effects associated with such supplementation and further studies are required.
Model for T-Antigen-Dependent Melting of the Simian Virus 40 Core Origin Based on Studies of the Interaction of the Beta-Hairpin with DNA

ABSTRACT The interaction of simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen (T-ag) with the viral origin has served as a model for studies of site-specific recognition of a eukaryotic replication origin and the mechanism of DNA unwinding. These studies have revealed that a motif termed the “beta-hairpin” is necessary for assembly of T-ag on the SV40 origin. Herein it is demonstrated that residues at the tip of the “beta-hairpin” are needed to melt the origin-flanking regions and that the T-ag helicase domain selectively assembles around one of the newly generated single strands in a manner that accounts for its 3′-to-5′ helicase activity. Furthermore, T-ags mutated at the tip of the “beta-hairpin” are defective for oligomerization on duplex DNA; however, they can assemble on hybrid duplex DNA or single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) substrates provided the strand containing the 3′ extension is present. Collectively, these experiments indicate that residues at the tip of the beta-hairpin generate ssDNA in the core origin and that the ssDNA is essential for subsequent oligomerization events.
Contribution of melanocortin-1 receptor gene variants to sporadic cutaneous melanoma risk in a population in central Italy: a case–control study

The melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene is a key determinant of the physiological variation in human skin pigmentation. It is highly polymorphic, and specific MC1R allelic variants have been shown to be low-penetrance melanoma susceptibility alleles. We investigated the contribution of the MC1R genotype to the risk of sporadic cutaneous melanoma in a population in central Italy. One hundred patients with sporadic cutaneous melanoma of any stage and 100 unrelated control individuals were consecutively recruited between 1 September 2000 and 31 December 2001. Information on ethnic background and residential history, phenotypic risk factors for melanoma and ultraviolet exposure habits was collected through a standardized questionnaire and total skin examination. Sequence analysis of the entire coding region of the MC1R gene was performed. A total of 26 MC1R variants, including a novel 123_124insT allele, was identified in our population, with the most frequent allele being V60L. Carriers of high-penetrance ‘R’ MC1R alleles, that define MC1R variants strongly associated with the red hair colour phenotype, showed a statistically significant increase in melanoma risk [odds ratio (OR), 2.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19–5.55]. No significant association with melanoma risk was observed for carriers of ‘r’ variants (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.45–1.82). Amongst individual MC1R variants, the R151C allele was significantly associated with melanoma, with an OR of 2.94 (95% CI, 1.04–8.31). After stratification for clinical and ultraviolet exposure risk factors, the melanoma risk associated with high-penetrance ‘R’ variants appeared to increase significantly, mainly in the presence of clinically atypical naevi, more than 50 melanocytic naevi, high recreational sun exposure and occupational sun exposure. These results support the contribution of high-penetrance MC1R variant alleles to genetic predisposition to sporadic cutaneous melanoma in a population in central Italy.
Important Factors in Reliable Determination of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype by Use of the 5′ Untranslated Region

ABSTRACT Accurate genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is important for determining the optimal regimen, dose, and duration of antiviral therapy for chronic HCV infection, as well as for estimating the response rate. The 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of HCV RNA is used in commercial genotyping, but the probes and the lengths of the amplicons are proprietary and vary among the assays. In this study, factors involved in the reliable determination of HCV genotypes utilizing the 5′ UTR were evaluated. Serum samples from four subjects with chronic HCV infection and disparate results on commercial genotyping and four controls were analyzed. HCV RNA was extracted from serum samples, and the 5′ UTR and NS5B region were sequenced. Ten clones from each region were compared to prototype sequences and analyzed for genotype assignment using five programs. The results were compared to those from commercial assays. 5′ UTR sequences were sequentially shortened from either the 5′ end, the 3′ end, or both ends, with genotyping of the resultant fragments. Sequences were obtained for the 5′ UTR in all eight subjects and for the NS5B region in five subjects. The genotype assignments were identical between the two regions in the five subjects with complete sequencing. Genotyping by sequencing gave different results than those from the commercial assays in the four experimental samples but agreed in the four controls. Shortening of the sequences affected the results, and the results for sequences of <200 bases were inaccurate. Neither the Hamming distance nor the quasispecies affected the results. Sequencing of the HCV 5′ UTR provided reliable genotyping results and resolved discrepancies identified in commercial assays, but genotyping by sequencing was highly dependent upon sequence length.
Fixed Bandwidth Asymptotics for Regression Discontinuity Designs

This paper analyzes the asymptotic distribution of local polynomial estimators in the context of regression discontinuity designs. The standard "small-h" approach in the literature (Hahn Todd and van der Klaauw 2001, Porter 2003, Imbens and Lemieux 2008 and Lee and Lemieux 2009) is to assume the bandwidth, h, around the discontinuity shrinks towards zero as the sample size increases. However, in practice, the researcher has to choose an h > 0 to implement the estimator. This paper derives the xed-h asymptotic distribution that allows for the bandwidth to be positive, providing re ned approximations for the estimators behavior. When h > 0, the small-h asymptotic variance is equivalent to assuming that the density of the running variable and the conditional variance of the dependent variable are constant around the cuto¤. Simulations provide evidence that xed-h asymptotic distributions better describe the behavior of both bias and variance of the estimator, leading to improved inference. Estimators for xed-h standard errors are proposed and incorporate the theoretical gains of the improved approximations. The xed-h variance estimators improve markedly over small-h estimators in the presence of some forms of heteroskedasticity. Interestingly, in the special case of homoskedastic errors using a local linear estimator, the variance estimators based on small-h asymptotics produce tests with similar size to the xed-h variance estimators proposed in this paper. JEL: C12, C21;
Vertebrate Decomposition Is Accelerated by Soil Microbes

ABSTRACT Carrion decomposition is an ecologically important natural phenomenon influenced by a complex set of factors, including temperature, moisture, and the activity of microorganisms, invertebrates, and scavengers. The role of soil microbes as decomposers in this process is essential but not well understood and represents a knowledge gap in carrion ecology. To better define the role and sources of microbes in carrion decomposition, lab-reared mice were decomposed on either (i) soil with an intact microbial community or (ii) soil that was sterilized. We characterized the microbial community (16S rRNA gene for bacteria and archaea, and the 18S rRNA gene for fungi and microbial eukaryotes) for three body sites along with the underlying soil (i.e., gravesoils) at time intervals coinciding with visible changes in carrion morphology. Our results indicate that mice placed on soil with intact microbial communities reach advanced stages of decomposition 2 to 3 times faster than those placed on sterile soil. Microbial communities associated with skin and gravesoils of carrion in stages of active and advanced decay were significantly different between soil types (sterile versus untreated), suggesting that substrates on which carrion decompose may partially determine the microbial decomposer community. However, the source of the decomposer community (soil- versus carcass-associated microbes) was not clear in our data set, suggesting that greater sequencing depth needs to be employed to identify the origin of the decomposer communities in carrion decomposition. Overall, our data show that soil microbial communities have a significant impact on the rate at which carrion decomposes and have important implications for understanding carrion ecology.
A comparison of polylactic acid granules and decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft in human periodontal osseous defects.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of polylactic acid (PLA) granules as an alloplastic grafting material to that of decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) and a flap procedure for debridement without graft (FPD) when treating periodontal intrabony defects. Ten patients presenting with advanced adult periodontitis, including at least 3 similar periodontal osseous defects (2- and 3-walled), comprised the study group. After completion of a hygienic phase of treatment, measurements were made with calibrated periodontal probes and stents to determine soft tissue recession, probing pocket depths, and probing attachment levels. Each defect was surgically exposed and hard tissue measurements were obtained. Defects were treated with one of the 3 methods above chosen randomly prior to the surgical appointment. Six months postsurgery, soft tissue measurements were repeated and all sites were surgically reentered to obtain hard tissue measurements. All surgical sites healed without clinical complication. The initial pocket depths and initial depth of osseous defects were compared between the groups using ANOVA and no significant differences were found. A mean osseous defect fill of 0.4 mm (11.2%) occurred with the flap procedure for debridement, 3.0 mm (65%) with DFDBA, and 0.1 mm (2.2%) with PLA. Mean crestal bone loss was 1.30 mm for FPD, 0.60 mm for DFDBA, and 1.55 mm for PLA. No statistically significant differences were found in soft tissue recession between groups or in the osseous defect measurement between PLA and FPD. A statistically significant improvement (P < 0.001) was found in the fill of the osseous defects when using DFDBA compared to the initial defect depth and to the other 2 groups. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Implementation of a Markov Chain Monte Carlo Based Multiuser/MIMO Detector

Multiuser/MIMO detectors that use Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation techniques to obtain likelihood of information bits have been developed recently. In this paper, we explore the implementation details of one such detector and present an efficient hardware architecture of it. The first step in development of this architecture is to derive a log domain version of the Gibbs sampler, an efficient method of obtaining samples of MCMC simulator. This formulation is numerically stable and can operate with low precision. The log-domain formulation also lends itself to a hardware architecture that involves only addition, subtraction, and compare operations. Moreover, pipelining can be introduced in the proposed architecture straightforwardly. We also explore the word-length requirement of the developed architecture through computer simulations.
Prolonged Cough in Pediatric Population First Line Care, Belgian Guidelines

Background: The clinical approach to a prolonged cough, i.e. a cough lasting more than three weeks, is challenging for general practitioners as well for primary care pediatricians. What the recommended clinical approach in primary care is, how cough duration or cough characteristics impact the diagnosis, and what the efficiency and safety of antibiotics or symptomatic treatments are remain in question for primary care physicians. Objective: The last Belgian guidelines were published in 2006 and needed to be reviewed. Those background questions were used to conduct our guideline updating procedure. Methods: We systematically performed a pyramidal literature search between the periods 2006-2014 in order to write evidence based guidelines. The data of the literature was summarized, discussed by the authors, experts and the Belgian primary care guidelines committee. Recommendations were formulated and scored following the GRADE classification. Results: The consultation history as well as the physical examination should be directed towards searching for warning signs (GRADE 1B) and towards the common etiologies depending on cough duration (GRADE 2C). If the cough lasts for more than eight weeks, chest radiography and spirometry should be considered (GRADE 2C). An antibiotic is recommended for a prolonged wet cough (over eight weeks) if prolonged bacterial bronchitis is suspected (GRADE 1B). In the absence of clinical signs of a specific etiology of a cough, no drug can be recommended (GRADE 1B). For all cases, it is initially suggested to avoid irritants (GRADE 1C) as well as to take into account the concerns of parents and inform them about the natural development of a cough. Conclusions: More research is needed to provide evidence on the clinical pathway on prolonged cough for primary care. Cough duration of more than eight weeks and prolonged wet cough are the most useful cough characteristics. Regarding a specific cough treatment, no medication has proved any effect greater than placebo. Attention to environmental triggers and patient-centered care remain the keystones of interventions