Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ordre, désordre, et frontière des systèmes Morse-Smale

Etude des systemes dynamiques dont l'espace est de petite dimension. Il se decompose en 2 parties. 1) les comportements reguliers : on developpe les idees fondamentales du codage des rotations et plus generalement des transformations injectives de l'intervalle ayant une discontinuite et croissantes sur les intervalles de continuite. Ceci nous permet d'isoler la notion de suite symbolique compatible a une rotation. Les applications de Poincare des flots de Cherry entrent dans ce cadre, et conduisent a une classe d'applications plus vaste : les quasi-contractions. Un resultat tres precis sur la dynamique asymptotique de ces dernieres est obtenu en utilisant les suites compatibles a une rotation. L'etude de ces applications permet de decrire une bifurcation de co-dimension 2 de champs de vecteurs : il s'agit de la situation ou deux cycles stables viennent se "coller" quand un parametre varie, pour former un grand cycle (en quelque sorte la reunion des deux premiers). Le deploiement de cette singularite donne lieu a l'apparition de cycles stables dont la structure compliquee peut, par le biais des quasi-contractions, se comprendre en termes de suites compatibles a une rotation. 2 )les comportements irreguliers : on decrit la frontiere entre systemes dynamiques desordonnes et ordonnes (c'est a dire possedant ou non de l'entropie topologique) dans les espaces suivants : -les endomorphismes de degre 1 du cercle,-les applications du cercle ou de l'intervalle ayant une discontinuite, -les diffeomorphismes de la sphere de dimension 2. Dans ce dernier cas, on montre qu'il existe sur cette frontiere des diffeomorphismes infiniment differentiables et "Kupka-Smale", sans puits ni source ; ce qui repond a une question posee par Smale en 1962. Enfin, pour les systemes dynamiques dont l'entropie topologique est positive et qui ne jouissent par des rassurantes proprietes d'hyperbolicite, on illustre, par des exemples explicites, quelques re��sultats connus et le danger d'une trop grande confiance en les experiences numeriques
Schémas de développement d'adaptateurs à l'aide de B

Dans une approche composants pour le developpement de logiciels, les composants sont consideres comme des boites noires qui communiquent via leurs interfaces. L'interface fournie d'un composant peut etre connectee a l'interface requise d'un autre composant si l'interface du premier composant implante les fonctionnalites requises par le second composant. Une description formelle de ces interfaces est necessaire pour s'assurer de leur compatibilite. En general, les interfaces ne sont pas directement compatibles et un adaptateur doit etre introduit. Nous proposons des schemas pour developper des adaptateurs et verifier l'interoperabilite des composants.
Pathways to regulated exocytosis in neurons.

Eukaryotic cells possess at least two different pathways for the delivery of secretory products by exocytosis to the extracellular space. They are referred to as constitutive and regulated pathways (15). The constitutive pathway is a basic feature of all cells. It operates by a constant flow of small vesicles from the trans-Golgi network. These vesicles move to the cell surface and undergo exocytosis without intermediate packaging or storage of the secretory materi­ al. The same pathway is responsible for the delivery of membrane com­ ponents to the cell surface. In addition, many cells have a regulated pathway, primarily, although not exclusively, specialized for the secretion of proteins. It involves the concentration and packaging of the exported material in secretory granules, the storage of these granules in proximity to the release site, and finally exocytosis of the granules in response to an appropriate stimulus (see 15 for a review).
Syndicated Loans and CDS Positioning

This paper analyzes banks' usage of CDS. Combining bank-firm syndicated loan data with a unique EU-wide dataset on bilateral CDS positions, we find that stronger banks in terms of capital, funding and profitability tend to hedge more. We find no evidence of banks using the CDS market for capital relief. Banks are more likely to hedge exposures to relatively riskier borrowers and less likely to sell CDS protection on domestic firms. Lead arrangers tend to buy more protection, potentially exacerbating asymmetric information problems. Dealer banks seem insensitive to firm risk, and hedge more than non-dealers when they are more profitable. These results allow for a better understanding of banks' credit risk management.
Why Invest to Prevent Child Abuse? The Budgetary Impact of Direct, Indirect and Collateral Derived Costs

Violence, and neglect in childhood, present innumerable economic costs to nations, whose impact on spending the public budget fluctuates between 15% and 25% of the annual government budget, as shown by several studies carried out in the United States, the European Union, and Mexico. The Center of Developing Child, of Harvard, emphazises that during the first years of life, the development of the brain can be physiologically altered by the prolonged and severe abuse of a child, over time, the brain of a 3 year old child, grows disproportionately large and heavy [1], reaching nearly 90% of the size of an adult brain. This alteration in the development of the brain can negatively impact the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development, whose consequences will always be present, even 30, 40 or 50 years later. International studies with significant data, are herein in summary presented. All in unison insists not only on preventing but on eradicating child maltreatment, considering this scourge as the determining element that havoc in government budgets. With an encourage exhortatory that by investing in preventing children from violence, a significant reduction in gross domestic product from 20 to 25% would be achieved
Magic, science and religion

Malinowski's classic attempt to separate magic, science, and religion has not worn well. For some purposes, we now can find it very useful indeed, at least insofar as it separates pragmatic knowledge from unverifiable belief. However, as Malinowski admitted, traditional societies often categorize knowledge is ways very different from this. Knowledge of and ethics relating to the nonhuman environment are particularly difficult to describe this way. A different way to talk about traditional environmental knowledge is as involvement in the world— more or less intense cognitive and emotional relations with nonhuman as well as human "others. " Often, natural objects are, or contain, spirits that are part of one's society. Trying to sort out magic, science, and religion in such cases is useful, and has certainly been useful in the past (in the history of science as well as in anthropology), but perhaps more useful today is to try to understand local concepts of knowledge and interaction. I present examples from the Maya and the Northwest Coast Native peoples. MAGIC, SCIENCE, AND RELIGION: USEFUL LABELS IN THE PAST? USELESS IN THE PRESENT?
Putative Role of the Aldo-Keto Reductase from Trypanosoma cruzi in Benznidazole Metabolism

ABSTRACT Benznidazole (Bz), the drug used for treatment of Chagas' disease (caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi), is activated by a parasitic NADH-dependent type I nitroreductase (NTR I). However, several studies have shown that other enzymes are involved. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the aldo-keto reductase from T. cruzi (TcAKR), a NADPH-dependent oxido-reductase previously described by our group, uses Bz as the substrate. We demonstrated that both recombinant and native TcAKR enzymes reduce Bz by using NADPH, but not NADH, as a cofactor. TcAKR-overexpressing epimastigotes showed higher NADPH-dependent Bz reductase activity and a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for Bz 1.8-fold higher than that of the controls, suggesting that TcAKR is involved in Bz detoxification instead of activation. To understand the role of TcAKR in Bz metabolism, we studied TcAKR expression and NADPH/NADH-dependent Bz reductase activities in two T. cruzi strains with differential susceptibility to Bz: CL Brener and Nicaragua. Taking into account the results obtained with TcAKR-overexpressing epimastigotes, we expected the more resistant strain, Nicaragua, to have higher TcAKR levels than CL Brener. However, the results were the opposite. CL Brener showed 2-fold higher TcAKR expression and 5.7-fold higher NADPH-Bz reduction than the Nicaragua strain. In addition, NADH-dependent Bz reductase activity, characteristic of NTR I, was also higher in CL Brener than in Nicaragua. We conclude that although TcAKR uses Bz as the substrate, TcAKR activity is not a determinant of Bz resistance in wild-type strains and may be overcome by other enzymes involved in Bz activation, such as NADPH- and NADH-dependent reductases.
Diagonal Consistency Problem Resolution in DIALIGN Algorithm

DIALIGN is a well known Algorithm for pairwise as well as multiple alignment of nucleic acid and protein sequences. It combines local and global alignment features. In this paper we present a new method to better solve the problem of diagonals consistency in DIALIGN algorithm using graph theory modeling. and we describe a new implementation of the method from the extraction of diagonals to the final alignment process. We show the power of our proposed aproach by comparing it with DIALIGN 2.2 using benchmarks from ”BAliBASE” and ”SMART” databases.
Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis for high myopia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE We present the clinical results of laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) to correct myopia of more than -10.00 diopters (D). PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighteen eyes are included in this study. Pre-operative spherical equivalent was -16.40 D, range from -10.50 to -21.50 D. Hinge corneal cap techniques were used with automated microkeratome (Steinway, USA). The thickness of the flap was 130 microns. The stromal bed was ablated with the OmniMed II excimer laser, using the standard MKM program (Summit Technology, Inc., Waltham, MA). The ablation zone was between 4.2 and 5.0 mm. RESULTS At 6 months postoperatively, the mean spherical equivalent was +0.14 D with a range of +3.50 to -2.00 D. A result within 2.00 D of the desired correction was achieved in 93% of eyes, while a result within 1.00 D was achieved in 47%. Uncorrected visual acuity was improved in all cases. One eye lost greater than two lines of pre-operative best corrected vision due to macular hemorrhage. CONCLUSION These data show that the LASIK procedure appears to be effective for correcting high myopia.
Recherche d’indicateurs électrodermaux pour l’analyse de la charge mentale en conduite automobile

Les variables neurovegetatives permettent d’evaluer l’etat fonctionnel de l’individu, et representent un interet pour mieux comprendre le comportement du conducteur, facteur determinant de la securite routiere. Ce travail est centre sur l’evaluation de la charge mentale du conducteur automobile par l’analyse de l’activite electrodermale. L’objectif est d’extraire les meilleurs indicateurs du signal electrodermal pour differencier la charge mentale induite par des situations de conduite reelle. L’analyse d’une trentaine d’indicateurs phasiques a permis de differencier des situations de conduite nominale, comparables en termes d’exigence comportementale mais differentes au niveau cognitif. Apres traitement approprie du signal, en particulier en appliquant des transformations log, l’amplitude des reponses electrodermales est apparue comme un des indices les plus discriminants. Toutefois, les differences de charge mentale induites par les situations de conduite n’ont pas exactement correspondu a celles qui avaient ete supposees. Une explication alternative mettant en avant des processus d’anticipation est proposee. Trois indicateurs toniques, dont deux sont nouveaux, ont ensuite ete testes dans une experience de double tâche, ou une activite secondaire distractive etait effectuee simultanement a la conduite. L’un s’est revele inadapte au profil des signaux, mais les deux autres ont permis d’etablir une hierarchisation partielle de la surcharge induite. Particulierement sensible a l’aspect cognitif de la distraction, l’evaluation psychophysiologique de la charge mentale par l’activite electrodermale apparait complementaire de l’analyse de la performance de conduite.
Dificuldades e estratégias de ensino e aprendizagem da geometria e grandezas no 5º. Ano de Escolaridade do Ensino Básico nas Escolas E.B. 2/3 da Madalena e E.B. 2/3 de Pedrouços do Distrito do Porto

O presente trabalho tem como objectivos gerais diagnosticar as dificuldades, dos alunos do 5.o ano de escolaridade, no processo de ensino e aprendizagem de algumas nocoes de Geometria e Grandezas (perimetro, area e volume) e averiguar se certas actividades de investigacao e a resolucao de problemas melhoram a aprendizagem dos alunos nesse ano de escolaridade. Neste sentido, levantaram-se duas questoes fundamentais as quais pretendemos responder: - As aprendizagens realizadas pelos alunos no 1.o CEB influenciam as do 2.o CEB, no dominio da Geometria e das Grandezas? - Que contributo podera ter a insercao de certas tarefas, actividades de investigacao, bem como a manipulacao de materiais, na aquisicao das competencias essenciais previstas para o 5.o ano de escolaridade, no dominio da Geometria e das Grandezas? A fundamentacao teorica deste trabalho inclui uma abordagem geral ao ensino e aprendizagem da Geometria e das Grandezas, incluindo uma caracterizacao das teorias de desenvolvimento de Piaget e Vygotsky e da teoria sobre a aprendizagem da Geometria de van Hiele; o enquadramento da Matematica e da Geometria no sistema curricular portugues e uma analise da Geometria e das Grandezas nos 1.o e 2.o ciclos do ensino basico. O presente estudo segue uma metodologia de caracter misto, por acharmos a mais ajustada ao problema de investigacao em causa. No entanto, e de referir que a abordagem predominante e a quantitativa. A investigacao implicou a recolha de dados em duas escolas do ensino basico do distrito do Porto. A tecnica predominante para recolha de dados foi a aplicacao de um um teste de avaliacao de conhecimentos a quase totalidade dos alunos do 5.o ano de escolaridade dessas duas escolas, em dois momentos distintos, no inicio e no final do ano lectivo 2009/2010. Esse teste foi constituido por questoes de provas de afericao, pelo facto destas serem nacionais e terem o intuito de avaliar o modo como os objectivos e as competencias essenciais de cada ciclo estao a ser cumpridos pelo sistema de ensino, em particular as competencias que dizem respeito a Geometria e Grandezas. A amostra do estudo foi dividida em dois grupos: Grupo de Trabalho e Grupo de Controlo. O Grupo de Trabalho, durante o ano lectivo, foi submetido a aplicacao de tarefas, envolvendo resolucao de problemas e actividades de investigacao, sobre os conceitos geometricos perimetro, area e volume. Os resultados obtidos provaram que as aprendizagens decorridas no 1.o Ciclo do Ensino Basico influenciaram as aprendizagens do 2.o Ciclo e que os alunos do Grupo de Trabalho melhoraram, significativamente, os seus resultados do primeiro para o segundo momento de avaliacao, e esses sao superiores aos dos alunos do Grupo de Controlo, pelo que a aplicacao das tarefas favoreceu a aprendizagem dos conceitos perimetro, area e volume.
Central injection of a new corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) antagonist, astressin, blocks CRF- and stress-related alterations of gastric and colonic motor function.

The influence of central injection of a new corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) antagonist, astressin, [cyclo(30-33)[D-Phe12,Nle21,38,Glu30,Lys33]r/ hCRF12-41)], on exogenous and endogenous CRF-induced gastric ileus and stimulation of bowel discharges was investigated in conscious rats. Intracisternal (ic) CRF (0.6 microg) reduced gastric emptying of a noncaloric solution to 17.1 +/- 4.9% compared with 50.1 +/- 4.6% in control group injected i.c. with vehicle. Astressin (1,3 and 10 microg, i.c.) dose dependently prevented ic CRF-induced delayed gastric emptying by 33, 100 and 100%, respectively, and had no effect on basal gastric emptying. Abdominal surgery with cecal manipulation (1 min) reduced gastric emptying to 19.8 +/- 5.5% 3 hr postsurgery compared with 59.9 +/- 5.2% after anesthesia alone plus i.c. vehicle. Astressin (1,3 and 10 microg, i.c.) prevented postoperative gastric ileus by 56, 93 and 92%, respectively. Intracerebroventricular CRF (0.6 microg) and water-avoidance stress stimulated pellet output (number/60 min) to 5 +/- 1 and 11 +/- 2, respectively, compared with no fecal pellet output after i.c. v. vehicle and no exposure to stress. Astressin (3 and 10 microg, i.c.v.) blocked exogenous CRF action by 47 and 63%, respectively, and colonic response to stress by 0 and 54%, respectively. These data indicate that astressin injected into the CSF at low doses (1-10 microg) has an antagonistic action against CRF and stress-related alterations of gastrointestinal motor function, without an intrinsic effect in these in vivo systems. Astressin may be a useful tool to explore functional CRF-dependent physiological pathways in specific brain nuclei.
Crystal structure of the tetrameric Mad1–Mad2 core complex: implications of a ‘safety belt’ binding mechanism for the spindle checkpoint

The spindle checkpoint protein Mad1 recruits Mad2 to unattached kinetochores and is essential for Mad2–Cdc20 complex formation in vivo but not in vitro. The crystal structure of the Mad1–Mad2 complex reveals an asymmetric tetramer, with elongated Mad1 monomers parting from a coiled‐coil to form two connected sub‐complexes with Mad2. The Mad2 C‐terminal tails are hinged mobile elements wrapping around the elongated ligands like molecular ‘safety belts’. We show that Mad1 is a competitive inhibitor of the Mad2–Cdc20 complex, and propose that the Mad1–Mad2 complex acts as a regulated gate to control Mad2 release for Cdc20 binding. Mad1–Mad2 is strongly stabilized in the tetramer, but a 1:1 Mad1–Mad2 complex slowly releases Mad2 for Cdc20 binding, driven by favourable binding energies. Thus, the rate of Mad2 binding to Cdc20 during checkpoint activation may be regulated by conformational changes that destabilize the tetrameric Mad1–Mad2 assembly to promote Mad2 release. We also show that unlocking the Mad2 C‐terminal tail is required for ligand release from Mad2, and that the ‘safety belt’ mechanism may prolong the lifetime of Mad2–ligand complexes.
Pathology and pathogenesis of disseminated visceral coccidiosis in cranes

Disseminated visceral coccidiosis (DVC) caused by Eimeria spp. was recognized as a disease entity in captive sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) and whooping cranes (Grus americana) in the late 1970s. While most avian species of Eimeria inhabit the intestinal tract of its host, the crane eimerians, Eimeria reichenowi and Eimeria gruis, invade and multiply systemically and complete their development in both digestive and respiratory tracts. In DVC, cranes, especially chicks, may succumb to acute infections resulting in hepatitis, bronchopneumonia, myocarditis, splenitis, and enteritis. Cranes may also develop chronic, subclinical infections characterized by granulomatous nodules in various organs and tissues. This paper reviews the pathology and pathogenicity of natural and experimental DVC in sandhill and whooping cranes. Naturally infected birds appeared clinically normal, but progressive weakness, emaciation, greenish diarrhea, and recumbency before death were observed in birds administered doses ≥10×103 sporulated oocysts per os. At necropsy, naturally infected birds had nodules in the mucosa of the oral cavity and the esophagus, and in thoracic and abdominal viscera. Experimentally infected birds necropsied less than 7 days after infection (a.i.) had no gross lesions. Birds examined later had hepatosplenomegaly, liver mottling, lung congestion and consolidation with frothy fluid in airways, and turgid intestinal tracts with hyperemic mucosa. From 28 days a.i., grossly visible granulomatous nodules were seen in the esophagus, heart, liver, cloaca, and eyelids. By light microscopy, the basic host response was a granulomatous inflammation with non-suppurative vasculitis affecting many organs and tissues. With time, multifocal aggregates of mononuclear cells, many laden with asexual coccidial stages, increased in size and number. Widespread merogony resulted in morbidity and death, particularly in birds administered 20×103 sporulated oocysts. Ultrastructural examination revealed developing asexual coccidian stages in the cytoplasm of large lymphocytes or monocytes within a parasitophorous vacuole, often indenting the nucleus. Oocysts and gametocytes were found in the intestines by 12 days a.i., and in the esophagus, trachea, bronchi, and lung by 14 days a.i., indicating that crane eimerians can complete their life cycle at these sites. Thus, DVC in cranes could be a useful animal model for the study of eimerian extra-intestinal stages and the evaluation of potential systemic anticoccidial drugs.
Cultural logic and syntactic productivity: Associated posture constructions in Lao

Languages with verb serialization provide speakers with a choice between expressing complex events as tightly cohesive multi-predicate yet single-clause structures, or as looser joinings of separate clauses. Bruce (1988: 25) has argued that the choice to employ one or the other means to describe a particular event is made in a principled way, whereby serial constructions 'are not merely more convenient (shortened) paraphrases' of looser multi-clausal structures. According to Bruce (1988: 28), '[serial constructions] must relate only events which are somehow conceived as notably more commonly associated together in experience or those events which form a culturally important concatenation of events'. Durie (1997: 322) discusses a number of examples, and himself makes the following generalization:
Discovery, utilisation and analysis of credible threats for 2×2 incomplete information games in the Theory of Moves framework

Steven Brams's [(1994). Theory of moves. Cambridge University Press] Theory of Moves (TOM) is an alternative to traditional game theoretic treatment of real-life interactions, in which players choose strategies based on analysis of future moves and counter-moves that arise if game play commences at a specified start state and either player can choose to move first. In repeated play, players using TOM rationality arrive at nonmyopic equilibria. One advantage of TOM is its ability to model scenarios in which power asymmetries exist between players. In particular, threat power, i.e. the ability of one player to threaten and sustain immediate, globally disadvantageous outcomes to force a desirable result long term, can be utilised to induce Pareto optimal states in games such as Prisoner's Dilemma which result in Pareto-dominated outcomes using traditional methods. Unfortunately, prior work on TOM is limited by an assumption of complete information. This paper presents a mechanism that can be used by a player to utilise threat power when playing a strict, ordinal 2×2 game under incomplete information. We also analyse the benefits of threat power and support in this analysis with empirical evidence.