Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE BEGGING BEHAVIOR OF NESTLING EASTERN SCREECH-OWLS

The behavior of adults and nestlings at nine Eastern Screech-owl (Otis ash) nests in central Kentucky was monitored by videotaping the owls in specially-constructed nest boxes. Adult screech-owls delivered 1281 prey items during 164 h of taping. Nestlings fed first by adults started to beg significantly earlier, extended their beaks higher and closer to the adult, and called at higher rates and with greater volume than did siblings that were not fed first. In addition, nestlings fed first started begging earlier, stretched their beaks higher, positioned their beaks closer to the adult, and vocalized at a higher rate than when they were not fed first. In addition, after being returned to the nest, nestling screech-owls temporarily deprived of food begged with greater intensity and were fed more often than siblings. Such results provide further evidence for the positive relationship between hunger, begging intensity, and the chances of being fed. Our results also indicate, however, that nestling mass may be important in determining which nestlings will be fed when differences in the mass of siblings reach a certain level. We observed no siblicide or other aggression between siblings. Contributing to this absence of aggression may have been the large boxes used for videotaping and an abundant food supply. It is also possible, however, that aggression and siblicide occur infre-
Zoombasiertes Interaktionskonzept für die Suche in großen, heterogenen Bilddatenbanken

In diesem Beitrag stellen wir die Konzeption, Gestaltung und Realisierung eines interaktiven Systems zur Bildersuche vor. Unternehmen verfugen oft uber umfangreiche heterogene Bildsammlungen, die sehr unterschiedlichen Zielgruppen innerhalb und auserhalb des Unternehmens zur Verfugung gestellt werden mussen. Die Grose und Heterogenitat dieser Bildsammlungen bedingt, dass es oft schwierig ist relevante Bilder nach spezifischen Kriterien zu finden. Wir haben ein webbasiertes System zur Bildersuche am Beispiel einer Bildersammlung von ca. 13.000 Fahrzeugbildern entwickelt. Damit zeigen wir eine innovative Losung auf, die uber ein zoombasiertes Interaktionskonzept mit umfangreichen Such-, Kategorisierungund Filtermoglichkeiten verfugt und dieses mit einer Komponente zur Ahnlichkeitssuche kombiniert. Erste informale Evaluationen werden beschrieben. Sie zeigen, dass wir dadurch eine neue Qualitat bei der Suche in grosen heterogenen Bildersammlungen ermoglichen. Diese basiert vor allem auf einer visuellen und kategorialen Darstellung der Inhalte bzw. der Suchergebnisse. Ein fliesender Ubergang zwischen zielgerichteter Suche und explorativem Browsen wird dadurch unterstutzt.
Dry matter intake - a generic approach to predict the transfer of radiocaesium to ruminants?

We have previously demonstrated a relationship between dry matter (DM) intake and the degree of transfer of radiocaesium to the muscle of adult sheep. Here, we present the results of an experiment during which we examined the effect of lamb growth and protein turnover rates, brought about by controlling feed DM intakes, on radiocaesium transfer and turnover. Lambs with high DM intakes and, as a consequence, high rates of growth, had a lower mean radiocaesium transfer coefficient from the diet to muscle than lambs with lower intake and growth rates. Furthermore, high rates of dry matter intake decreased the biological half-life of radiocaesium from muscle. The administration of [3%]-ntethionine to the study lambs enables us to suggest that radiocaesium transfer may be related to protein turnover. When the results were compared with those of other studies using sheep, a consistent relationship between DM intake and radiocaesium transfer across all animals regardless of age or physiological status was observed. Extrapolation of the relationship to DM intake rates appropriate to cattle predict radiocaesium transfer coefficients in broad agreement with reported values.
Eugenol Inhibits Sodium Currents in Dental Afferent Neurons

Although eugenol is widely used in dentistry, little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for its anesthetic properties. In addition to calcium channels, recently demonstrated by our group, there could be another molecular target for eugenol. Using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique, we investigated the effect of eugenol on voltage-gated sodium channel currents (I Na ) in rat dental primary afferent neurons identified by retrograde labeling with a fluorescent dye in maxillary molars. Eugenol inhibited action potentials and I Na in both capsaicin-sensitive and capsaicin-insensitive neurons. The pre-treatment with capsazepine, a competitive antagonist of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), failed to block the inhibitory effect of eugenol on I Na , suggesting no involvement of TRPV1. Two types of I Na , tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant and TTX-sensitive I Na , were inhibited by eugenol. Our results demonstrated that eugenol inhibits I Na in a TRPV1-independent manner. We suggest that I Na inhibition by eugenol contributes to its analgesic effect.
A Combination of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Is Associated with Interindividual Variability in Cholecalciferol Bioavailability in Healthy Men.

BACKGROUND Most people require dietary vitamin D to achieve the recommended concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in the blood. However, the response to vitamin D supplementation is highly variable among individuals. OBJECTIVE We assessed whether the variability in cholecalciferol bioavailability was associated with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes. METHODS In a single-group design, 39 healthy adult men with a mean ± SD age of 33 ± 2 y and mean ± SD body mass index (in kg/m2) of 22.9 ± 0.3 were genotyped with the use of whole-genome microarrays. After an overnight fast, plasma 25(OH)D status was measured, and the subjects then consumed a meal that provided 5 mg cholecalciferol as a supplement. Plasma chylomicron cholecalciferol concentration was measured over 8 h, and cholecalciferol response was assessed by calculating the postprandial area under the curve. Partial least squares regression was used to test the association of SNPs in or near candidate genes (61 genes representing 3791 SNPs) with the postprandial cholecalciferol response. RESULTS The postprandial chylomicron cholecalciferol concentration peaked at 5.4 h. The cholecalciferol response was extremely variable among individuals (CV: 47%). It correlated with the chylomicron triglyceride (TG) response (r = 0.60; P < 0.001) but not with the fasting plasma 25(OH)D concentration (r = 0.04; P = 0.83). A significant (P = 1.32 × 10-4) partial least squares regression model that included 17 SNPs in 13 genes (including 5 that have been associated with chylomicron TG response) was associated with the variance in the cholecalciferol response. CONCLUSION In healthy men, there is a high interindividual variability in cholecalciferol bioavailability that is associated with a combination of SNPs located in or near genes involved in both vitamin D and lipid metabolism. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02100774.
Listeria monocytogenes-Based Antibiotic Resistance Gene-Free Antigen Delivery System Applicable to Other Bacterial Vectors and DNA Vaccines

ABSTRACT Plasmids represent a powerful tool to rapidly introduce genes into bacteria and help them reach high expression levels. In vaccine development, with live vaccine vectors, this allows greater flexibility and the ability to induce larger antigen amounts through multiple gene copies. However, plasmid retention often requires antibiotic resistance markers, the presence of which has been discouraged in clinical applications by the Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, we developed a Listeria monocytogenes-Escherichia coli shuttle plasmid that is retained by complementation of d-alanine racemase-deficient mutant strains both in vitro and in vivo. Our technology potentially allows the production of antibiotic resistance marker-free DNA vaccines as well as bacterial vaccine vectors devoid of engineered antibiotic resistances. As a proof of concept, we applied the d-alanine racemase complementation system to our Listeria cancer vaccine platform. With a transplantable tumor model, we compared the efficacy of the new Listeria vector to that of an established vector containing a conventional plasmid carrying a tumor-specific antigen. Both vaccine vector systems resulted in long-term regression of established tumors, with no significant difference between them. Thus, the Listeria vaccine vector presented here potentially complies with Food and Drug Administration regulations and could be developed further for clinical use.
Petrology , geochemistry and origin of the Big Branch and Red Mountain gneisses , southeastern Llano Uplift ' Texas

The 1.0-1.2 b.y. old rocks of the southeastern Llano Uplift, Texas include a 7-km-thick section of amphibolite-grade, stratified, maflc metasedimentary rocks with interlayers of more felsic composition (Packsaddle Schist). Prior to the end of maximum deformation, the sequence was intruded by syntectonic tonalite (Big Branch Gneiss). At 1167+12 m.y. ago, nearly contemporaneous with the emplacement of the tonalite, small sills of granite (Red Mountain Gneiss) were ernplaced adjacent to the tonalite body. The Big Branch Gneiss is characterized by variable Al2O3 (14.90-18.14%), Sr (287-873 ppm), Rb (21-71 ppm), and Zt (108-348 ppm) and low Ni (7-25 ppm), Co (17-19 ppm), Cr (18-36 ppm), Sc (8-10 ppm) and KrOlNarO (0.22a.aa); K/Rb ratios range from 274-394. The Big Branch Gneiss has initial E? Sr786Sr:0.7038+0.0002. Two Big Branch Gneiss samples have La abundances 36-97 times chondritic and exhibit light REE enrichment with lla/Smly from 3.134. 24 and lla/Ybl" kom 12.4V29. 34; neither sample exhibits a significant Eu anomaly. The Red Mountain Gneiss has a fairly uniform granitic composition but extremely variable Rb (127-286 ppm), Sr (17-69 ppm), Y (40-71 ppm), Zr (62-233 ppm), and K/Rb (138-348); Ni is uniform (10-15 ppm). The Red Mountain Gneiss has initial 875r/865r:0.7057+0.0010. Major and trace element systematics are consistent with an island arc model in which the Big Branch Gneiss tonalite was generated by -20"/o partial melting of basaltic portions of subducted oceanic crust at a depth greater than 55 km, leaving residual eclogite ( t hornblende). The Big Branch Gneiss tonalite was emplaced into the island arc complex where it underwent in situ fractionation of plagioclase and minor hornblende. As the voluminous Big Branch Gneiss magma ascended through the lower portion of the island arc complex, it caused local partial melting of felsic portions of the volcanic and volcaniclastic materials to produce the granitic Red Mountain Gneiss magma, which was subsequently emplaced adjacent to the Big Branch Gneiss pluton. The Red Mountain Gneiss magma underwent a minor amount of in situ fractionation of biotite * quartz*alkali feldspar + magnetite.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis: an unusual intestinal presentation

A 84-year-old-woman presented a history of 72 h abdominal pain, dispersed and worsening, with tenderness but no rebound noted on examination. Initial laboratory blood test revealed acute renal failure (serum creatinine 2.46 mg/dL, urea 83 mg/dL), high white blood cell count (leukocytes 13.59/μL) and increased creatine kinase. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed duodenal and proximal jejunal wall thickening (Fig. 1a,b), associated to increased attenuation of the periduodenal mesenteric fat and free abdominal fluid. Chest X-ray showed multiple and bilateral circumscribed nodules, some of them with cavitation (Fig. 2). Accordingly, the patient underwent an emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy that showed a submucosal haemorrhage of 20-cm duodenal tract in absence of mucosal erosions (Fig. 3). Because surgical treatment was not indicated, a conservative approach was chosen. A urinalysis revealed microscopic haematuria with some dysmorphic blood cells without crystals or hyaline cylinders. Although the patient’s clinical history was negative for granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), this condition was highly likely. Therefore, high-dose immunosuppressive therapy (cyclophosphamide with glucocorticoids) was administered. Furthermore, immunologic tests revealed the presence of type-C antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with antiproteinase-3 specificity (PR3-ANCA). Despite the ongoing treatments, creatinine and uremia continued to increase, reaching the end-stage renal disease in the following days. Notwithstanding the aggressive medical treatments, the patient died 7 days after hospital admission. GPA, also known as Wegener’s granulomatosis, is a rare vasculitis of unknown aetiology. The incidence of GPA is approximately 10 cases per million per year. European Vasculitis Study Group classification defines five levels of severity of GPA: localized, early systemic, generalized, severe and refractory. GPA affects usually upper respiratory tract, kidneys and lungs. In a review, Langford described some more rarely clinical presentations of GPA such as cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal and central nervous system. The mainstay of GPA diagnosis is serologic evaluation. Cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (c-ANCA) directed against PR3 is a highly specific and sensitive test for GPA diagnosis, especially combining immunofluorescence and ELISA enhances. In patients with upper respiratory tract symptoms, a pulmonary infiltrates/nodules, an urinary sediment with microscopic haematuria and a positive c-ANCA test finding has a 98% diagnostic probability to diagnosis of GPA. Renal and lung biopsies from a site of active disease are useful to confirm diagnosis of GPA. Necrotizing granulomatous inflammation of upper and lower respiratory tracts, necrotizing glomerulonephritis and necrotizing vasculitis of small and medium vessels are the typical histological signs.
WOX1 Is Essential for Tumor Necrosis Factor-, UV Light-, Staurosporine-, and p53-mediated Cell Death, and Its Tyrosine 33-phosphorylated Form Binds and Stabilizes Serine 46-phosphorylated p53*

WW domain-containing oxidoreductase WOX1, also named WWOX or FOR, undergoes Tyr33 phosphorylation at its first N-terminal WW domain and subsequent nuclear translocation in response to sex steroid hormones and stress stimuli. The activated WOX1 binds tumor suppressor p53, and both proteins may induce apoptosis synergistically. Functional suppression of WOX1 by antisense mRNA or a dominant negative abolishes p53-mediated apoptosis. Here, we determined that UV light, anisomycin, etoposide, and hypoxic stress rapidly induced phosphorylation of p53 at Ser46 and WOX1 at Tyr33 (phospho-WOX1) and their binding interactions in several tested cancer cells. Mapping by yeast two-hybrid analysis and co-immunoprecipitation showed that phospho-WOX1 physically interacted with Ser46-phosphorylated p53. Knockdown of WOX1 protein expression by small interfering RNA resulted in L929 fibroblast resistance to apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor, staurosporine, UV light, and ectopic p53, indicating an essential role of WOX1 in stress stimuli-induced apoptosis. Notably, UV light could not induce p53 protein expression in these WOX1 knockdown cells, although p53 mRNA levels were not reduced. Suppression of WOX1 by dominant negative WOX1 (to block Tyr33 phosphorylation) also abolished UV light-induced p53 protein expression. Time course analysis showed that the stability of ectopic wild type p53, tagged with DsRed, was decreased in WOX1 knockdown cells. Inhibition of MDM2 by nutlin-3 increased the binding of p53 and WOX1 and stability of p53. Together, our data show that WOX1 plays a critical role in conferring cellular sensitivity to apoptotic stress and that Tyr33 phosphorylation in WOX1 is essential for binding and stabilizing Ser46-phosphorylated p53.
Engineering Solutions and Root-Cause Analysis for Light-Induced Degradation in p-Type Multicrystalline Silicon PERC Modules

We identify two engineering solutions to mitigate light-induced degradation (LID) in p-type multicrystalline silicon passivated emitter and rear cells, including modification of metallization firing temperature and wafer quality. Lifetime measurements on etched-back samples confirm that LID has a strong bulk component. Spatially resolved lifetime maps indicate that the defects responsible for LID are dispersed ubiquitously across the wafer. Reversibility of LID upon low-temperature annealing suggests a low-activation-energy barrier inconsistent with precipitated impurity dissolution. Lifetime spectroscopy of the LID-affected state reveals an asymmetry of electron and hole capture cross sections of ~28.5, consistent with a deep-level donor point defect (e.g., interstitial Ti, interstitial Mo, substitutional W), charged nanoprecipitate, or charged structural defect, such as a dislocation. Finally, we explain two possible root causes of this LID, including 1) a point-defect complex involving a hydrogen atom and a deep-level donor and 2) configurational change of a point-defect complex involving fast-diffusing impurities.
LITERATURE REVIEW: Parallel Metropolis-Hastings Algorithms

The Monte Carlo methods (MC) are a class of numerical integration techniques, where the integral is interpreted as the expected value of some function of some random variable. The expectation can be statistically estimated from a sample drawn from the same distribution as the underlying random variable and this estimate serves as the numerical approximation of the integral. Needless to say, the MC methods are also applicable to problems other than numerical integration, so long as they can be reduced to the evaluation of an expected value. The successful application of MC relies on the availability of numerical techniques for simulation of random samples from a distribution, which is given by its probability density function (pdf). We will denote this target pdf by π(x). It is always assumed that a stream of independent random numbers with uniform distribution in the interval (0, 1) is available without ado. For some of the other common probability distributions there are direct methods of simulation, which perform some computation on the uniform random numbers, transforming them into random numbers of the desired distribution. However, these techniques are limited to special cases. One of the most important general sampling technique is the Acceptance-Rejection sampling (AR). Each iteration of the AR goes in two steps. We first simulate a random number, X, from some other distribution, which can be simulated by an already known method. We call this distribution proposal and denote its pdf by q(x). In the second step, we simulate a uniform random number and compare it to the adjusted ratio of the target and proposal densities. Based on this comparison, we either accept X as a random number from π, or we reject and discard it. The AR method is embarrassingly parallel, since multiple random numbers can be simulated on multiple processors simultaneously. In addition, it produces a sample of independent random numbers, which can be used directly in an MC method. However, its applicability is limited to the cases where π(x) is given explicitly by a known formula. Even then, the computational efficiency of AR (as measured by the acceptance rate) depends on the choice of the proposal, q(x), and a tight estimate of the adjustment constant in the AR test, both of which can require some non-trivial mathematical derivations, especially for multivariate distributions. The method of choice in the cases of a multivariate distribution of high dimension, or when the formula for the target pdf is too complicated, or when the target pdf can only be computed numerically, is the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method (MCMC). A Markov Chain is a process, which is described by a state space, i.e. the set of all possible values the process can take, and a transition rule, which may depend only on the current state, but not
Caracterización del perfil antigénico de extractos proteicos solubles de cepas de Trypanosoma cruzi

El parasito Trypanosoma cruzi es el agente causal de la enfermedad de Chagas. El mismo presenta una amplia diversidad biologica y genetica, por lo cual se lo agrupa en 6 unidades taxonomicas discretas. Las cepas Y, CL Brener y una aislada en Paraguay aun no caracterizada en su totalidad fueron empleadas en este estudio con el fin de determinar sus perfiles proteico y antigenico para aportar en la investigacion sobre esta enfermedad en nuestro pais, aplicando tecnicas como SDS-PAGE, ELISA y Western blot. Se observaron semejanzas en los perfiles proteicos de los extractos solubles de Y Lote 73 e Y Lote 74, siendo ambos obtenidos a partir de la misma cepa, asi como perfil diferente de estos con los de CL Brener y Py. Se detectaron bandas de proteinas de pesos moleculares comunes entre extractos, principalmente las consideradas de bajo peso molecular. Se constato la capacidad antigenica al ensayar los 4 extractos frente a sueros chagasicos, no chagasicos, controles positivos y negativos, se evidencio la importancia de confirmar el diagnostico con pruebas de principios diferentes. Ademas, se detectaron proteinas antigenicas comunes a los 3 extractos empleados en el Western blot, las que podrian ser estudiadas con mayor profundidad debido a su potencial antigenico, caracteristica de interes para fines diagnosticos.
Modelling of human haptic skill: a framework and preliminary results

Haptic interaction in human motor tasks requires special modelling techniques in robot learning. This paper proposes a novel scheme for haptic skill modelling, covering the modelling procedure starting from reference data acquisition until a competent model is obtained. The iterative structure of the proposed scheme provides a clear guideline to the modelling workflow. The scheme as well as the distinct features of haptic skill modelling are discussed and illustrated by modelling social handshake dynamics.
Using data mining to predict students' academic success

Actualmente, as universidades acumulam grandes quantidades de dados sobre os seus estudantes. Apesar do seu potencial para informar decisoes sobre a alocacao de recursos e esforcos, esta informacao tende a ser ignorada. Data Mining Educacional e uma area de investigacao recente que se foca no uso de tecnicas de data mining para transformar grandes volumes de dados educacionais em conhecimento util e relevante que possa melhorar as decisoes e os processos educativos.Este projecto pretende propor um conjunto de tres modelos. Os primeiros dois modelos irao utilizar informacao disponivel no inicio do primeiro e segundo semestres, respectivamente, do primeiro ano do percurso academico do estudante para prever o sucesso academico de alunos da FEUP no final desse semestre. O terceiro modelo ira utilizar os dados disponiveis ao final do primeiro ano para prever o desempenho academico dos estudantes da FEUP aquando do final do seu curso. Ao mesmo tempo, este projecto tambem pretende identificar os factores com maior poder discriminativo nestes modelos.Os resultados deste projecto poderao permitir aos directores das faculdades identificar estudantes com necessidade de apoio pedagogico, assim como aqueles com uma alta probabilidade de obter resultados excelentes. Tambem poderao permitir que foquem a sua atencao nos aspectos mais criticos, atraves da implementacao de mecanismos que combatam as dificuldades dos estudantes.O primeiro passo do projecto desenvolvido consiste em processos de limpeza e preparacao de dados que normalizam os dados recolhidos do sistema de informacao da universidade e na definicao das variaveis derivadas. O segundo passo e uma analise empirica dos diferentes algoritmos com modelos interpretaveis de forma a identificar os modelos mais apropriados as tarefas de prever sucesso e desempenho academico com os dados de entrada disponiveis. Por ultimo, serao apresentadas analises dos modelos gerados, assim como a identificacao dos seus principais atributos predictivos.