Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rust fungi on Panicum

ABSTRACT Rusts are economically important diseases of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and other Paniceae grasses. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the nuc rDNA 5.8S internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS2), partial 28S region, and intergenic spacer region (IGS) of nuc rDNA showed that species of rust fungi infecting switchgrass are closely related within Puccinia. Variation among rbcLa sequences for the associated hosts sampled concurred with the original identifications. Five species infecting switchgrass were recognized: Puccinia graminicola (≡ Uromyces graminicola), P. pammelii (= P. panici), and the proposed new species P. amari, P. novopanici, and P. pascua. These species were distinct from P. emaculata, the species previously considered the principal rust pathogen infecting switchgrass but that was found exclusively on witchgrass (Panicum capillare) in this study. Rust fungi on switchgrass previously identified as P. emaculata were identified as the morphologically similar species P. amari, P. novopanici, and P. pammelii. The morphological species Puccinia graminicola was found to comprise three species, P. graminicola and the proposed new species P. pascua on switchgrass and P. cumminsii on Panicum sp.
Chromosomal instability: A composite phenotype that influences sensitivity to chemotherapy

Chromosomal instability (CIN) is defined as continual gain or loss of whole chromosomes or fractions of chromosomes and is a major cause of the genomic instability that characterizes most solid tumors. CIN is associated with intrinsic resistance to taxanes, acquired multidrug resistance and poor prognosis in many solid tumors, although recent evidence has shown that platinum agents, such as carboplatin, may specifically target CIN cancers. The molecular basis for the increased genomic instability seen in CIN tumors and the mechanisms linking this instability to drug resistance are poorly understood, although some clues have been provided by recent work following live CIN cancer cells through multiple generations in the presence of anti-mitotic drugs. A common theme emerging from these studies is that CIN may be a multi-layered phenotype comprising (1) an increased propensity to missegregate chromosomes during mitosis and (2) a survival state specifically adapted to aneuploidy, frequent aberrant mitoses and the constant reshuffling of the genome. Identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying this composite CIN phenotype will be a key step forward in understanding drug resistance and the development of cancer in general, in addition to providing improved prognostic tools and therapeutic targets in CIN tumors.
A Virtual Physiologic al Human Model fo r Regional Anae sthesia

Current methods for teaching regional anaesthesia (RA) do not consider patient-specific anatomy and therefore have limited capabilities. Developing a virtual reality based simulator and assistant device for training and performing RA requires virtual physiological human (VPH) models. Commercial models such as Zygote and Anatomium are insufficient due to inconsistency, lack of anatomical correctness, and missing structures like the fascia. We collected a variety of imaging data including individual computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to build a VPH model that is composed of anatomical structures, physical properties such as needle resistance, and functional features (vessel bending in pulse frequency). The model is applied for RA simulation and assistance.
Revenue Management of Flexible Products

Aflexible product is a menu of two or more alternative, typically substitute, products offered by a constrained supplier using a sales or booking process. The supplier reserves the right to assign customers who purchase a flexible product to one of the alternatives at a time near the end of the booking process. An example would be an airline offering a morning flight consisting of specific flights serving the same market. Flexible products are currently offered by a number of industries including air cargo, tour operators, and Internet advertising. Flexible products have the advantage of increasing overall demand and enabling better capacity utilization at the cost of potentially cannibalizing high-fare demand for specific products. This paper introduces the concept of flexible products and derives conditions and algorithms for the management of a single flexible product consisting of two specific products. We use numerical simulation to illustrate the benefits from offering flexible products and discuss extension of the approach to more general settings.
Anaerobiosis increases resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to O2-independent antimicrobial proteins from human polymorphonuclear granulocytes

We investigated the in vitro resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae FA19 to the O2-independent antimicrobial systems of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Acid extracts of polymorphonuclear leukocyte granules (crude granule extracts) and a purified granule protein (57 kilodaltons) were, at low concentrations, bactericidal for gonococci under aerobic conditions that permitted growth. However, they were less effective under anaerobic conditions that imposed bacteriostasis. We found that adding sodium nitrite to reduced growth media permitted the growth of strain FA19 in an anaerobic environment. Under these conditions with nitrite, anaerobic cultures of strain FA19 were no more resistant to the crude granule extract and the 57-kilodalton protein than aerobic cultures. In contrast, Salmonella typhimurium SL-1004, a facultative anaerobe, was readily killed by both the crude granule extract and the 57-kilodalton antimicrobial protein regardless of the presence or absence of free molecular oxygen. This is the first demonstration that an isolated antimicrobial protein from polymorphonuclear leukocyte granules is active against bacteria under anaerobic conditions. Our results also indicated that the efficacy of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte O2-independent killing of N. gonorrhoeae may, in part, be inhibited by bacteriostatic conditions imposed by hypoxia.
Host Selection Patterns of Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) at Wetlands Near the Salton Sea, Coachella Valley, California, 1998–2002

ABSTRACT The bloodmeal hosts used by Culex tarsalis Coquillett collected along the Salton Sea in Coachella Valley, CA, during 1998–2002 were identified using sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene identified from Barcode of Life database. Overall, 265 (83.3%) of 318 bloodmeals were identified, of which 76.6% fed on birds, 18.1% on mammals, and 5.3% on reptiles. Forty-seven different hosts were identified, none of which comprised >12.5% of the total. Although Cx. tarsalis exhibits specific host-seeking flight patterns, bloodmeals seemed to be acquired opportunistically, thereby limiting potential arbovirus transmission efficiency in species-rich environments.
Temperature Control of Electric Furnace using Genetic Algorithm based PID controller

This paper presents a design of PID controller for furnace temperature control system. Currently, PID controller has been used to operate in electric furnace temperature control system because its structure is simpler compared to others. However, the issue of tuning and designing PID controller adaptively and efficiently is still open. This paper presents an improved PID controller efficiency from tuning by Genetic Algorithm method. The parameters of PID controller shall be obtained from the Genetic Algorithm optimization procedure. Errors between desired magnitude response and actual magnitude response are calculated by using the Integral of Absolute Error (IAE). The proposed Genetic Algorithm based PID design method is simpler, more efficient and effective than the existing traditional methods included Ziegler Nichols, Cohen-Coon, Direct Synthesis and Genetic Algorithm. Simulation result shows that the performance of PID controller using this proposed method is better than traditional methods. KeywordsElectric furnance , PID Controller, PID parameters, Genetic algorithm optimization.
Enabling collaboration in virtual reality navigators

In this paper we characterize a feature superset for Collaborative Virtual Reality Environments (CVRE), and derive a component framework to transform stand-alone VR navigators into full-fledged multithreaded collaborative environments. The contributions of our approach rely on a cost-effective and extensible technique for loading software components into separate POSIX threads for rendering, user interaction and network communications, and adding a top layer for managing session collaboration. The framework recasts a VR navigator under a distributed peer-to-peer topology for scene and object sharing, using callback hooks for broadcasting remote events and multicamera perspective sharing with avatar interaction. We validate the framework by applying it to our own ALICE VR Navigator. Experimental results show that our approach has good performance in the collaborative inspection of complex models.
Detecting Older Drivers- Stress Level during Real-World Driving Tasks

This paper presents the effect of driving a motor vehicle on the stress levels of older drivers, indicated by monitoring their hear rate increase whilst completing various everyday driving tasks. Results suggest that whilst older female drivers heart rate varied more significantly than males, the actual age of a participant did not result in a significant change in heart rate due to stress, within the age group tested. The analysis of the results indicates the most stressful manoeuvres undertaken by the older drivers and highlights the tasks which were found difficult with a view to implementing technologies to aid the more senior driver in automotive travel. Keywords—Driver stress, heart rate, older driver, road safety, speeding.
Optimum Settings for Automatic Controllers

In this paper, the three principal control effects found in present controllers are examined and practical names and units of measurement are proposed for each effect. Corresponding units are proposed for a classification of industrial processes in terms of the two principal characteristics affecting their controllability. Formulas are given which enable the controller settings to be determined from the experimental or calculated values of the lag and unit reaction rate of the process to be controlled. These units form the basis of a quick method for adjusting a controller on the job. The effect of varying each controller setting is shown in a series of chart records. It is believed that the conceptions of control presented in this paper will be of assistance in the adjustment of existing controller applications and in the design of new installations.
Distance-Based Weighted Prioritization for GUI Application Testing

Recording actual user interactions with a system is often useful for testing software applications. Users-session based test suites that contain records of such interactions often finds a complementary set of faults compared to test suites created by testers. This work utilizes such test suites and presents a new prioritization method that extends the existing combinatorial two-way inter-window prioritization by introducing weights on the distance between windows. We examine how a window distance between a pair of the parametervalue tuples influences the fault detection effectiveness. We evaluate several approaches used to calculate weights. Results show improvement over the original two-way inter-window prioritization technique, while the comparison of different weighting approaches reveals that a negative linear weighting calculation generally performs better in our experiments. The study demonstrates that the distance between windows in a pair is an important factor to consider in test suite prioritization, and that distinguishing windows by their order in a test case also improves the fault detection rate compared to using window labels that were utilized in previous methods. This work provides motivation for future work to develop general n-way combinatorial distance-based prioritization methods that take into account space and processing time requirements to address potential issues with large test suites.
Media revolution in Europe: ahead of the curve

Europe took him from the role of an awestruck newcomer from Poland in 1990 to that of the Chairman of the Steering Committee on the Media and New Communication Services (2005-06). Along the way, he was elected, delegated by the Steering Committee, and invited by the Council of Europe Secretariat to serve in a number of other capacities. In all of them, he contributed a wide variety of papers, reports and studies to assist the steering committee and other bodies in collecting information and formulating ideas in the general field of freedom of expression, creation of free and democratic media systems (including the issue of public service media), regulation of transfrontier television, the adjustment of Council of Europe human rights standards to the conditions of the information society, and the development of broadcasting legislation in Council of Europe member states.
Lossless hyperspectral compression using KLT

We propose an algorithm for the construction of a nearly optimal integer to integer approximation of the Karhunen-Loeve Transform. The algorithm is based on the method of P. Hao and Q. Shi as described in [1] but-unlike described in the paper-we vary the pivoting in order to obtain a better approximation of the linear transform. We have then developed an algorithm for hyperspectral image lossless compression that uses first an Integer Wavelet Transform for the spatial decorrelation, then our Integer-KLT for the spectral decorrelation, and finally a 3D context-based adaptive arithmetic coding (3D-CBAC), which exploits the dependencies among symbols. The results on the AVIRIS images are better than those indicated in literature.
20.8 A dual-frequency 0.7-to-1GHz balance network for electrical balance duplexers

An electrical-balance duplexer (EBD) is a tunable RF front-end concept that seeks to address several key challenges of 4G and 5G mobile systems [1]. The basic principle is shown in Fig. 20.8. 1. Duplexer isolation is achieved when the signals in paths 1 and 2 cancel and prevent the TX signal from appearing at the RX port. This cancellation is achieved by “balancing” the antenna impedance ZANT with an on-chip tunable impedance ZBAL.
The genetics of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – status quo and beyond

Abstract The two major subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC, MIM#191390) and Crohn’s disease (CD, MIM#266600), are chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory disorders affecting primarily the gastrointestinal tract. Prevalence rates in North America and Europe range from 21 to 246 per 100,000 for UC and 8 to 214 per 100,000 for CD. Although CD and UC share some clinical and pathological features, they can be distinguished by localization, endoscopic appearance, histology and behavior, which suggest differences in the underlying pathophysiology. The importance of genetic risk factors in disease etiology is high and has been documented more clearly for CD than for UC (relative sibling risks λs: 15–35 for CD, 6–9 for UC). The most recent and largest genetic association study for IBD, which employed genome-wide association data for over 75,000 patients and controls, established the association of 163 susceptibility loci with IBD. Although the disease variance explained by the 163 loci only amounts to 13.6% for CD and 7.5% for UC, the identified loci and the candidate genes within yielded valuable insights into the pathogenesis of IBD and the relevant disease pathways. We here review the current research on the genetics of IBD and provide insights into on current efforts as well as suggest topics for future research.
Fibroblast Growth Factor-19, a Novel Factor That Inhibits Hepatic Fatty Acid Synthesis*

Previous studies have shown that administration of fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19) reverses diabetes, hepatic steatosis, hyperlipidemia, and adipose accretion in animal models of obesity. To investigate the mechanism for this effect, we determined whether FGF-19 modulated hepatic fatty acid synthesis, a key process controlling glucose tolerance and triacylglycerol accumulation in liver, blood, and adipose tissue. Incubating primary hepatocyte cultures with recombinant FGF-19 suppressed the ability of insulin to stimulate fatty acid synthesis. This effect was associated with a reduction in the expression of lipogenic enzymes. FGF-19 also suppressed the insulin-induced expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), a key transcriptional activator of lipogenic genes. FGF-19 inhibition of lipogenic enzyme expression was not mediated by alterations in the activity of the insulin signal transduction pathway or changes in the activity of ERK, p38 MAPK, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In contrast, FGF-19 increased the activity of STAT3, an inhibitor of SREBP-1c expression and decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1β (PGC-1β), an activator of SREBP-1c activity. FGF-19 also increased the expression of small heterodimer partner (SHP), a transcriptional repressor that inhibits lipogenic enzyme expression via a SREBP-1c-independent mechanism. Inhibition of SREBP-1c activity by changes in STAT3 and PGC-1β activity and inhibition of gene transcription by an elevation in SHP expression can explain the inhibition of lipogenesis caused by FGF-19. In summary, the inhibitory effect of FGF-19 on insulin activation of hepatic fatty acid synthesis constitutes a mechanism that would explain the beneficial effect of FGF-19 on metabolic syndrome.
ACTIVE POWER AND FREQUENCY ANALYSIS OF A SMART GRID - USING MATLAB/SIMULINK APPROACH

In this paper, a Smart Grid has been designed by MATLAB/SIMULINK approach for synchronization of Thermal and Wind power plant and for analysis of Active power and grid frequency. Analysis of Active power and frequency gives the exact idea to know the range of maximum permissible loads that can be connected to their relevant bus bars. The Smart Grid, regarded as the next generation power grid, uses two-way flow of electricity and information to create a widely distributed automated energy delivery network
Recurrent miscarriage, fact or fiction? Reply on comment by Christiansen

It is a generally accepted assumption that sporadic pregnancy losses occurring before an embryo has developed represent a “physiological” phenomenon, which prevents conceptions affected by serious structural malformations or chromosomal aberrations incompatible with life from progressing to viability. This concept is supported by clinical studies in which embryoscopy was used to assess fetal morphology prior to removal by uterine evacuation. Fetal malformations were observed in 85% of cases presenting with early clinical miscarriage [Philipp]. The same study also demonstrated that 75% of the fetuses had an abnormal karyotype.
Autochthonous production in shallow littoral zones of five floodplain rivers: effects of flow, turbidity and nutrients

SUMMARY 1. Comparative research and generalisations in lotic ecology are challenged by the dynamic hydrology of fluvial systems. The aim of this study was to understand more fully how factors such as light, nutrients and flow can predict variation in autochthonous production and algal biomass. 2. We measured seasonal changes in percent bankfull discharge, inorganic nutrient concentrations, turbidity, instream primary production, respiration and algal biomass in the littoral zone of five floodplain rivers in one temperate and two tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere. The Brazos, Guadalupe and Neches rivers are in Texas, while the Tambopata River is in Peru and the Cinaruco River in Venezuela. Our study rivers represented a range of hydrological regimes, turbidity levels and nutrient concentrations. 3. Flooding patterns were more seasonal in the tropical rivers than in the (temperate) Texas rivers. Inorganic nutrient concentrations were higher in the temperate rivers, probably due to anthropogenic nutrient loading. Turbidity was higher following periods of high flow in the Brazos, Tambopata and Guadalupe rivers than in the Neches and Cinaruco rivers. Littoral zones in the sediment-laden Brazos and Tambopata rivers became heterotrophic during periods of high discharge, while littoral zones in the Guadalupe, Neches and Cinaruco rivers were consistently autotrophic. Regression tree analysis suggested that algal production and biomass in the water column responded more strongly to seasonal changes in nutrients and temperature than to turbidity, while benthic algae responded more strongly to turbidity. 4. Our findings suggest that during periods of high flow and turbidity in rivers containing fine sediments, autochthonous production is limited and terrestrial-based organic matter may assume greater importance in the aquatic food web.
Preoperative infiltration of the surgical area enhances postoperative analgesia of a combined low–dose epidural bupivacaine and morphine regimen after upper abdominal surgery

In a randomized, blinded trial we assessed the value of adding preoperative infiltration of the surgical area with bupivacaine to a low dose epidural regimen for postoperative pain treatment. Forty–nine patients scheduled for major upper abdominal surgery during combined thoracic epidural (bupivacaine + morphine) and general anaesthesia were studied. Postoperative analgesia was epidural bupivacaine 10 mg hr‐1 + morphine 0.2 mg hr‐1 for 72 h. The patients randomly received preoperative infiltration of the surgical area with bupivacaine 0.25%, 40 ml (group I); or no infiltration (group II). Pain was evaluated at rest, during cough and during mobilization six and eight h after start of surgery, and at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the following days until 72 h after start of surgery. The sensory level of analgesia was evaluated by pin prick. We found no difference between the two groups during rest and cough. However, during mobilization group I had lower pain scores compared to group II (P < 0.05). There was a significant reduction in the need for supplemental intramuscular morphine in the treatment group compared to the control group (P <0.05). Thus an enhanced analgesic effect was demonstrated by adding preoperative infiltration of the surgical area with local anaesthetic to a low dose epidural bupivacaine/morphine regimen after upper abdominal surgery.
Massive Extraorbital Extension in a Recurring Untreated Retinoblastoma : A Rare Case from Lebanon

Orbital retinoblastoma usually carries a dismal prognosis. We describe a case of a 2 year old boy with a massive extraorbital recurrent unilateral retinoblastoma that was operated previously at 4 months of age. As a consequence of delayed presentation and due to poor visual prognosis and extraorbital brain metastasis, the treatment of choice was palliative exenteration. Early diagnosis and improved treatment modalities have resulted in improved eye salvage and survival. Education and public awareness about the importance of early medical diagnosis and intervention can help increase rates of early detection to improve survival rates and prevent unnecessary enucleation in underdeveloped countries. Figure 2: Massive extraorbital tumor mass impinging over the nostrils and mouth. A) B) Figure 1: CT scan showing intracranial metastasis with no evidence of extraorbital extension at initial presentation. Citation: Baban TA, Sammouh FK, El Ballouz HM, Warrak EL. Massive Extraorbital Extension in a Recurring Untreated Retinoblastoma: A Rare Case from Lebanon. J Ocular Biol. 2015;3(2): 2. J Ocular Biol 3(2): 2 (2015) Page 02 ISSN: 2334-2838 week later. Two weeks postoperatively, the patient was brought in for a follow up appointment with no significant findings on physical exam and was scheduled for monthly appointments. Despite multiple attempts to contact the patient‘s family with recurrent missed appointments, he was unfortunately lost to follow-up with no further information obtained regarding his condition and disease progression.