Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Causes, impacts et projections des sécheresses en Amazonie : Une étude numérique des processus et des incertitudes

L'augmentation probable de la frequence des secheresses au cours du 21eme siecle, en reponse au rechauffement climatique, pourrait faire basculer la foret amazonienne d'un puits a une source de carbone, declenchant ainsi une retroaction positive sur l'accroissement de l'effet de serre. La sensibilite des cycles de l'eau et du carbone aux secheresses represente donc un point critique dans la strategie d'evaluation des modeles de climat et pour la credibilite des scenarios climatiques. Cette these vise a evaluer la representation et la reponse aux secheresses des cycles de l'eau et du carbone en Amazonie par le modele de surface ISBA-CC mis en oeuvre dans le modele de climat du CNRM. Pour ce faire, nous avons utilise, outre des mesures ecophysiologiques, des mesures de tours de flux ainsi que deux experiences d'assechement artificiel. La version originale du modele n'etant pas satisfaisante, la parametrisation des processus metaboliques et la sensibilite de la vegetation au stress hydrique ont ete modifiees, puis validees, sur ces sites, mais egalement a l'echelle du bassin en utilisant notamment des donnees de debits, des reconstructions d'evapotranspiration et d'assimilation de carbone, ainsi que des observations spatiales de variations de stocks d'eau et de fluorescence chlorophyllienne. Une analyse succincte des changements climatiques regionaux a ete realisee sur la base des modeles CMIP5, mettant en evidence un certain consensus a l'allongement et au renforcement de la saison seche au cours du 21eme siecle. Ces scenarios, apres calibration des sorties de quelques modeles, nous ont ensuite permis de tester en mode off-line la sensibilite des projections du cycle de l'eau et du carbone aux modifications apportees au modele ISBA-CC. Les resultats montrent sans surprise l'influence preponderante du choix du modele forceur dans ce type de simulation, mais revele egalement l'importance des parametrisations liees a la vegetation.
On the robustness of multiscale hybrid-mixed methods

In this work we prove uniform convergence of the Multiscale Hybrid-Mixed (MHM for short) ﬁnite element method for second order elliptic problems with rough periodic coeﬃcients. The MHM method is shown to avoid resonance errors without adopting oversampling techniques. In particular, we establish that the discretization error for the primal variable in the broken H 1 and L 2 norms are O ( h + ε δ ) and O ( h 2 + h ε δ ), respectively, and for the dual variable is O ( h + ε δ ) in the H (div; · ) norm, where 0 < δ ≤ 1 / 2 (depending on regularity). Such results rely on sharpened asymptotic expansion error estimates for the elliptic models with prescribed Dirichlet, mixed boundary conditions.
An investigation into the effects of excipient particle size, blending techniques and processing parameters on the homogeneity and content uniformity of a blend containing low-dose model drug

Powder blend homogeneity is a critical attribute in formulation development of low dose and potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) yet a complex process with multiple contributing factors. Excipient characteristics play key role in efficient blending process and final product quality. In this work the effect of excipient type and properties, blending technique and processing time on content uniformity was investigated. Powder characteristics for three commonly used excipients (starch, pregelatinised starch and microcrystalline cellulose) were initially explored using laser diffraction particle size analyser, angle of repose for flowability, followed by thorough evaluations of surface topography employing scanning electron microscopy and interferometry. Blend homogeneity was evaluated based on content uniformity analysis of the model API, ergocalciferol, using a validated analytical technique. Flowability of powders were directly related to particle size and shape, while surface topography results revealed the relationship between surface roughness and ability of excipient with high surface roughness to lodge fine API particles within surface groves resulting in superior uniformity of content. Of the two blending techniques, geometric blending confirmed the ability to produce homogeneous blends at low dilution when processed for longer durations, whereas manual ordered blending failed to achieve compendial requirement for content uniformity despite mixing for 32 minutes. Employing the novel dry powder hybrid mixer device, developed at Aston University laboratory, results revealed the superiority of the device and enabled the production of homogenous blend irrespective of excipient type and particle size. Lower dilutions of the API (1% and 0.5% w/w) were examined using non-sieved excipients and the dry powder hybrid mixing device enabled the development of successful blends within compendial requirements and low relative standard deviation.
RANKL, denosumab, and giant cell tumor of bone

Purpose of review Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a benign, osteolytic neoplasm of bone. The receptor activator of NF-KB ligand (RANKL) pathway has recently been shown to play a key role in the pathogenesis of GCT. Recent findings Treatment for refractory, recurrent, or metastatic GCT remains challenging. The recent development of a monoclonal antibody to RANKL, denosumab, offers promise in the management of these patients. A recent phase 2 study suggested denosumab offers disease and symptom control for patients with advanced or refractory disease. In this population, denosumab appears to be well tolerated. There are key questions which remain to be addressed, including patient selection, optimal scheduling, use as an adjuvant, and application to other giant cell-rich disorders. Summary Denosumab offers a new treatment option for a subset of patients with previously untreatable GCT. The role of denosumab in curative treatment is the subject of ongoing studies.
Low consumption of seafood in early pregnancy as a risk factor for preterm delivery: prospective cohort study

Abstract Objective: To determine the relation between intake of seafood in pregnancy and risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Aarhus, Denmark. Participants: 8729 pregnant women. Main outcome measures: Preterm delivery and low birth weight. Results: The occurrence of preterm delivery differed significantly across four groups of seafood intake, falling progressively from 7.1% in the group never consuming fish to 1.9% in the group consuming fish as a hot meal and an open sandwich with fish at least once a week. Adjusted odds for preterm delivery were increased by a factor of 3.6 (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 11.2) in the zero consumption group compared with the highest consumption group. Analyses based on quantified intakes indicated that the working range of the dose-response relation is mainly from zero intake up to a daily intake of 15 g fish or 0.15 g n-3 fatty acids. Estimates of risk for low birth weight were similar to those for preterm delivery. Conclusions: Low consumption of fish was a strong risk factor for preterm delivery and low birth weight. In women with zero or low intake of fish, small amounts of n-3 fatty acids—provided as fish or fish oil—may confer protection against preterm delivery and low birth weight. What is already known on this topic Long chain n-3 fatty acids in amounts above 2 g a day may delay spontaneous delivery and prevent recurrence of preterm delivery Large studies have not been carried out to determine to what extent low consumption of n-3 fatty acids is a risk factor for preterm delivery The dose-response relation has not been described What this study adds Low consumption of fish seems to be a strong risk factor for preterm delivery and low birth weight in Danish women This relation is strongest below an estimated daily intake of 0.15 g long chain n-3 fatty acids or 15 g fish
Primary human herpesvirus 8 infection in immunocompetent children.

CONTEXT Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection causes Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoproliferative disorders in immunosuppressed adults. Its manifestations in immunocompetent hosts are unknown. OBJECTIVES To determine whether HHV-8 primary infection is symptomatic in immunocompetent children and to identify the epidemiological and virological correlates of HHV-8 infection. DESIGN AND SETTING Prospective cohort study conducted in the pediatric emergency department of a hospital in Alexandria, Egypt, between December 1, 1999, and April 30, 2000. PATIENTS Eighty-six children aged 1 to 4 years who were evaluated for a febrile syndrome of undetermined origin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Serological assay and polymerase chain reaction of blood and saliva samples for HHV-8. Information on potential risk factors for HHV-8 infection was also collected. RESULTS Thirty-six children (41.9%) were seropositive; HHV-8 DNA sequences were detected in 14 (38.9%) of these 36 children (detected in saliva in 11 of 14). Significant associations were found between HHV-8 infection and close contact with at least 2 other children in the community (36 of 63 vs 6 of 23 for <2 children; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-12.22) and admission to the emergency department in December or January (28 of 47 vs 14 of 39 for February-April; adjusted OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.23-8.58). Six children had suspected primary HHV-8 infection; all but 1 had a febrile cutaneous craniocaudal maculopapular rash, which was more common among these children (5 of 6 vs 10 of 75; P<.001). For 3 of these 6 children, a second blood sample was obtained after the convalescence phase, and all 3 seroconverted for HHV-8. CONCLUSIONS Primary infection with HHV-8 may be associated with a febrile maculopapular skin rash among immunocompetent children. The finding of HHV-8 DNA sequences in saliva supports the hypothesis that transmission through saliva is the main mode of transmission in the pediatric age group.
Towards Multi-user Provenance Tracking of Visual Analysis Workflows over Multiple Applications

Provenance tracking for visual analysis workflows is still a challenge as especially interaction and collaboration aspects are poorly covered in existing realizations. Therefore, we propose a first prototype addressing these issues based on the PROV model. Interactions in multiple applications by multiple users can be tracked by means of a web interface and, thus, allowing even for tracking of remote-located collaboration partners. In the end, we demonstrate the applicability based on two use cases and discuss some open issues not addressed by our implementation so far but that can be easily integrated into our architecture.
Two-step approach for real-time eye tracking with a new filtering technique

Head and face detection and eye tracking in real time are the first steps for head gesture recognition and/or face expression recognition for a human-computer interaction interface. We propose a two-step approach for eye tracking in video streams. First, we detect or track a point between the eyes. For this task, we apply a special filter that we have proposed previously (Proc. IEEE 4th Int. Conf. on Automatic Face and Gesture Recognition, pp. 40-45, 2000). Once we have detected the point between the eyes, it is fairly easy to locate the eyes, which are the two small darkest parts on each side of this point. Because detecting a point between the eyes is easier and more stable than detecting the eyes directly, the system can track the eyes robustly. We implemented the system on an SGI O2 workstation. The video image size is 320/spl times/240 pixels. The system processes images at seven frames per second in the detection mode and at 13 frames per second in the tracking mode, without any special hardware.
One-step fabrication of single-crystalline ZnS nanotubes with a novel hollow structure and large surface area for photodetector devices

ZnS nanotubes (NTs) were successfully prepared via a one-step thermal evaporation process without using any templates. The resulting NTs were single crystalline and structurally uniform. Based on experimental analysis, a tube-growth vapor–liquid–solid process was proposed as the growth mechanism of ZnS NTs. A metal–semiconductor–metal full-nanostructured ultraviolet (UV) photodetector with ZnS NTs as the active layer, and Ag nanowires of low resistivity and high transmissivity as electrodes, was fabricated and characterized. The ZnS NT-based device displayed a high Ion/Ioff ratio of up to ∼1.56 × 105 with a high response to UV incident light at low operation voltage. This work is a meaningful exploration for preparing other one-dimensional semiconductor NTs, and developing a high-performance and power-saving UV sensor.
A New Algorithm for Protein-Protein Interaction Prediction

Protein-protein interactions (PPI) are vital processes in molecular biology. However, the current understanding of PPIs is far from satisfactory. Improved methods of predicting PPIs are very much needed. Since experimental methods are labour and time consuming and lack accuracy, the improvement is expected to come from the area of computational methods. We designed and implemented a new algorithm based on protein primary structure to predict PPIs using C++ and OpenMP for parallel computing. We compared our method with four leading methods. Our results are better than the competition for most of the important values. Furthermore, it succeeds in surpassing the consensus of the other methods.
Synchronization stability of complex dynamical networks with probabilistic time-varying delays

A kind of complex dynamical networks with timevarying coupling delays is proposed. By some transformation, the synchronization problem of the complex networks is transferred equally into the stochastic asymptotical stability problem of a group of uncorrelated delay functional differential equations. Different from the common assumptions on the delay in the existing references, the delay in this paper is assumed to be random and its probability distribution is known a prior. In terms of the probability distribution of the delays, a new type of system model with probability-distribution-dependent parameter matrices is proposed, the sufficient condition for delay-dependent asymptotical synchronization stability is derived in the form of linear matrix inequalities, the solvability of derived conditions depends on not only the size of the delay, but also the probability of the delay taking values in some intervals. At last, a numerical example is given to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Study of Semantic Retrieval by Data Similarity of Trademarks

: A trademarks is a sign that you can use to distinguish your business goods or services from those of other traders. Trademark can be defined expressly in the form of any symbol, logo,titles etc. so, they need to be secure. This paper deciphers the hypothetic similarities among trademarks, which happens when more than two or more trademarks hail equal or relevant semantic implant. The state-of-the-art by offering a semantic algorithm to similitude trademarks in preconditions of hypothetic parallelism. By using Tversky's theory similarity, it is derived that search and indexing technique developed similarity distance. The offered reflow algorithm is confirmed using two resources: a trademark database of conflicting cases and a databases company names. Use the different domains to measures the accuracy of the algorithm which gathered different data.
Error Detection and Correction in Communication Channels Using Inverse Gray RSNS Codes

A novel number theoretic transform called Inverse Gray Robust Symmetrical Number System (IGRSNS) is proposed for error control coding in this paper. IGRSNS is obtained by modifying Robust Symmetrical Number System (RSNS) that was proposed earlier, using Inverse Gray code property. Due to ambiguities present in each residue, RSNS has a short dynamic range (DR) compared to that in other number systems. The short DR of RSNS enables it to be effectively used for error detection without the addition of any redundant modulus as in Redundant Residue Number System. Although RSNS has a large redundant range, its detection ability is not optimal due to the Gray code property associated with it. In an attempt to overcome this limitation, we have proposed Inverse Gray coding to be combined with RSNS in increasing its effectiveness in error detection. The resulting IGRSNS thus inherits properties of both RSNS and Gray code. Analysis and simulations show that IGRSNS has a near-optimal error detection ability. The potential of IGRSNS for error correction is also investigated. Further, a novel error correction algorithm using one redundant modulus is proposed. Simulations show that the proposed algorithm performs well under all cases of single bit errors.
Studies of intestinal digestion and absorption in the human.

In of the total amount of radioactivity in the intestinal content con- be protein bound in these calculations. pH-values were determined with a glass electrode as soon as possible after the collection of the samples. continuous recording of pH was undertaken with the electrodes built into a chamber of 1.5 ml. volume the content passed.
10 Metal Complexes as Prospective Antibacterial Agents

Ninety elements occur naturally on earth. Out of these, nine are radioactive and among the remaining eighty one that could support life, sixty one are metals. Our bodies are 3% metal. Thus, it is surprising that some of the most serious challenges to human life, externally, the pollutants cadmium, mercury and lead are attracting more attention, whereas internally, there is a constant battle against sodium and calcium that are rejected by cells and accumulated elsewhere in the body during the ageing process. Furthermore, some diseases release metals into the blood stream. Their use in the fight against diseases was first described by Schubert in 1965. Man just like other vertebrates requires cations of the metals to facilitate a great many essential life processes. Moreover, many of the metals are essential for all other forms of life process. Around 5000 years ago the Egyptians used copper metal to sterilize water and gold was used in a variety of medicines in Arabian and China, but the practice emanated from the value of pure metal rather than from therapeutic effects.
Recovery of Mercury-Contaminated Fisheries

Abstract In this paper, we synthesize available information on the links between changes in ecosystem loading of inorganic mercury (Hg) and levels of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish. Although it is widely hypothesized that increased Hg load to aquatic ecosystems leads to increases in MeHg in fish, there is limited quantitative data to test this hypothesis. Here we examine the available evidence from a range of sources: studies of ecosystems contaminated by industrial discharges, observations of fish MeHg responses to changes in atmospheric load, studies over space and environmental gradients, and experimental manipulations. A summary of the current understanding of the main processes involved in the transport and transformation from Hg load to MeHg in fish is provided. The role of Hg loading is discussed in context with other factors affecting Hg cycling and bioaccumulation in relation to timing and magnitude of response in fish MeHg. The main conclusion drawn is that changes in Hg loading (increase or decrease) will yield a response in fish MeHg but that the timing and magnitude of the response will vary depending of ecosystem-specific variables and the form of the Hg loaded.
Tonsillectomy Techniques and Pain: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Call for Standardization

Objectives: To review the literature comparing operative techniques in tonsillectomy and postoperative pain. Methods: Randomized controlled trials comparing operative techniques and pain outcomes over a 10-year period were reviewed. Results: 44 trials met inclusion criteria for analysis. A total of nine different techniques for complete or partial tonsillectomy were compared. There were several studies with contradictory results. Many of the studies were performed under different parameters. Conclusions: Future studies comparing tonsillectomy technique and pain outcomes should be conducted using a standard protocol to allow for accurate comparisons between numerous techniques.
Smad4/DPC4-dependent Regulation of Biglycan Gene Expression by Transforming Growth Factor-β in Pancreatic Tumor Cells*

Overexpression of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan biglycan (BGN) in fibrosis and desmoplasia results from enhanced activity of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). In pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the tumor cells themselves may contribute to BGN synthesis in vivo, since 8 of 18 different pancreatic carcinoma cell lines constitutively expressed BGN mRNA, as shown by reverse transcription-PCR analysis. In PANC-1 cells, TGF-β1 dramatically stimulated BGN mRNA accumulation through a BGN transcription-independent, cycloheximide-sensitive mechanism and strongly increased the synthesis and release of the proteoglycan form of BGN. The ability of TGF-β1 to induce BGN mRNA was critically dependent on Smad signaling, since 1) the up-regulation of BGN mRNA was preceded by a marked increase in Smad2 phosphorylation in TGF-β1-treated PANC-1 cells, 2) TGF-β1 was unable to induce BGN mRNA in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines that carry homozygous deletions of the Smad4/DPC4 gene, 3) inhibition of the Smad pathway in PANC-1 cells by transfection with a dominant negative Smad4/DPC4 mutant significantly reduced TGF-β1-induced BGN mRNA expression, 4) stable reintroduction of wild type Smad4/DPC4 into Smad4-null CFPAC-1 cells restored the TGF-β1 effect, and 5) overexpression of Smad2 and Smad3 in PANC-1 cells augmented TGF-β1 induction of BGN mRNA, whereas forced expression of Smad7, an inhibitory Smad, effectively blocked it. These results clearly show that a functional Smad pathway is crucial for TGF-β regulation of BGN mRNA expression. Since BGN has been shown to inhibit growth of pancreatic cancer cells, the Smad4/DPC4 mediation of the TGF-β effect may represent a novel tumor suppressor function for Smad4/DPC4: antiproliferation via expression of autoinhibitory BGN.
Diet and habitat-niche relationships within an assemblage of large herbivores in a seasonal tropical forest

Abstract: There is little understanding of how large mammalian herbivores in Asia partition habitat and forage resources, and vary their diet and habitat selection seasonally in order to coexist. We studied an assemblage of four large herbivores, chital (Axis axis), sambar (Cervus unicolor), gaur (Bos gaurus) and Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), in the seasonal tropical forests of Bandipur and Mudumalai, South India, and tested predictions regarding the species’ seasonal diet browse : graze ratios, habitat selection and habitat-niche preference and overlap. Field data collected for the study included the seasonal variation in grass quality, the seasonal variation in δ13C in the species’ faeces and the seasonal variation in the species’ habitat selection and overlap using a grid-based survey. Results of the δ13C analyses showed that the chital was more of a grazer in the wet season (−17.9‰ to −21.6‰), but that it increased the proportion of browse in its diet in the dry season (−25.6‰ to −27.7‰); the gaur was a grazer for most of the year (−15.3‰ to −18.6‰); the sambar preferred to browse throughout the year (−21.1‰ to −30.4‰); and that the elephant was a mixed feeder (−14.2‰ to −21.4‰). Elephant habitat-niche breadth was high (0.53 in wet and 0.54 in dry) and overlapped equally with that of the other species in both seasons (0.39–0.94). The gaur had the most restricted habitat-niche breadth in both seasons (0.25 in wet and 0.28 in dry), and it switched from the moist deciduous habitat in the dry season to the dry deciduous habitat in the wet season. These results offer the first insights into the seasonal variation in browse : graze diet ratios and the habitat-niche overlap amongst the common largest-bodied mammalian herbivore species found in South India.