Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of ectopic projections from the ventral cochlear nucleus to the superior olivary complex induced by neonatal ablation of the contralateral cochlea

The ability of an animal to localize a sound in space requires the precise innervation of the superior olivary complex by the ventral cochlear nuclei on each side of the lower brainstem. This precise pattern of innervation could require an immutable recognition of appropriate targets by afferent processes arising from these nuclei. This possibility was investigated by destroying one cochlea of gerbil pups (Meriones unguiculatus) on the second postnatal day and assessing the projections from the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) on the unablated side to the superior olivary complex during the subsequent 2 weeks and after the animals had reached maturity. A crystal of 1, l′‐dioctadecyl‐3, 3, 3′, 3′‐tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) was inserted into VCN on the unablated side in animals ranging in age from 3 to 14 days. To assess the permanence of any altered pattern of innervation, horseradish peroxidase was injected into VCN on the unablated side in adult, neonatally ablated animals. Finally, electrophysiological responses to acoustic stimuli delivered to the ear on the unablated side were recorded in the superior olivary complex of adult animals to assess whether altered innervation patterns were functional. Normative data were derived from our accompanying study of the development of VCN projections to the superior olivary complex in normal gerbils (Kil et al., this issue).
Supply chain coordination with VMI arrangement under demand and supply uncertainties

Both demand and supply uncertainties are common occurrences in high-tech industry. This paper studies the issue of supply chain coordination under vendor-managed-inventory (VMI) arrangement, composed of a follower-manufacturer and a leader-distributor with uncertain demand and random yield. Two contracts are proposed to coordinate the decentralized supply chain, one is basic revenue sharing contract, and the other is revenue sharing plus risk sharing contract. Results show that basic revenue sharing contract cann't coordinate the supply chain under random yield and uncertain demand, but it can coordinate the supply chain only when there is only uncertain demand. Revenue sharing plus risk sharing contract can coordinate the supply chain, for it allocates the risk of yield and demand uncertainties to the manufacturer and the distributor. But the profit of the supply chain cann't be arbitrarily divided between the manufacturer and the distributor under the revenue sharing plus risk sharing contract, except that contract parameters are much larger.
How China’s demand uncertainty moderates the respondence of operational performance to supply chain integration in automotive industry

Abstract This study aims at examining the dynamic response of the relationship between supply chain integration (SCI) and operational performance (OP) to demand uncertainty (DU). Based on a wide spectrum data sample with 357 participants in the China automotive supply chains, threshold regressions are used to examine the dynamic moderating effects. DU was found to moderate supplier integration (SI)–OP and customer integration (CI)–OP relationship. Internal integration (II)–OP relationship did not response to DU. The SI–OP relationship turned from negative to positive as DU increases, and CI–OP relationship responded to DU reversely compare to SI–OP relationship. Scholars now know the moderating effect of DU is not static and monotonic. Both of direction and magnitude of the correlations between SI, CI and OP change when DU changes. Managers of automotive supply chain recognize that their integrations’ strength should be properly managed subject to the level of DU for propose of achieving optimal OP. This study extends the current literature by delivering a field study of China and introducing dynamic capability theory for the first time to examine a dynamic response model that represents the SCI–OP relationships with respect to the DU as a moderating factor.
Construction of a vaccinia virus deficient in the essential DNA repair enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase by a complementing cell line

The vaccinia virus D4R open reading frame, encoding the essential DNA repair enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase, was expressed in two permanent cell lines, the rabbit kidney cell line RK13 and the human fibroblast cell line 293. The temperature-sensitive vaccinia virus mutant ts4149, which maps within D4R, was able to grow under restrictive conditions in both of these transformed cell lines. Cell clones complemented D4R function to various degrees, demonstrating complementation of an essential vaccinia virus gene by a cell line constitutively expressing the essential function. Thus, the complementing host cells allowed the rescue of a virus defective in the D4R gene, demonstrating that this system may be used for the propagation of defective cytoplasmic DNA viruses. The defective virus grew to high yields only in the engineered cell lines. The data support the hypothesis that early gene products, such as uracil DNA glycosylase, supplied in trans can fully complement essential viral functions.
Monitoring End to End Bandwidth on Demand Circuits over Ethernet Infrastructure

AutoBAHN (Automated Bandwidth Allocation across Heterogeneous Networks) has specified and is now prototyping a Bandwidth on Demand (BoD) service intended to operate in a multidomain environment using heterogeneous transmission technologies. The AutoBAHN system aims at providing a guaranteed capacity, connection-oriented service between two end points. This paper highlights the architecture of the monitoring system for the AutoBAHN service, the implementations challenges and the decisions taken, focusing on monitoring end to end BoD reservations over ethernet infrastructure. In addition this paper presents the architecture and the components of the AutoBAHN monitoring system for ethernet infrastructures.
Preoperative Pain is the Strongest Predictor of Postoperative Pain and Diminished Quality of Life after Ventral Hernia Repair

With evolution of hernia repair surgery, quality of life (QOL) became a major outcome measure in nearly 350,000 ventral hernia repairs (VHRs) performed annually in the United States. This study identified predictors of chronic pain after VHR. A prospective database of patient-reported QOL outcomes at a tertiary referral center was queried from 2007 to 2010; 512 patients met inclusion criteria. Factors including demographics, medical comorbidities, preoperative symptoms, and hernia characteristics were analyzed using advanced statistical modeling. Average age was 56.4 years, 57.6 per cent were males, mean body mass index was 33 kg/m2, hernia defect size was 138 cm2, and 35.5 per cent were repaired laparoscopically. Preoperatively, 69 per cent of patients had mild and 28 per cent severe pain during some activities. Pain levels were elevated in the first month postoperatively; by 6 months, patients reported significant improvement. The most significant and consistent predictor of postoperative pain was the presence of preoperative pain (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 3.0; P = 0.0001). Older patients and men had less postoperative pain, but they also had less preoperative pain, so these factors were not independent predictors. Patients with minimal preoperative symptoms uniformly experienced resolution of pain by 6 months postoperatively. Among patients with severe preoperative pain, one-third reported long-term resolution of pain, and one-third had persistent severe pain. The former group had smaller hernias (91 vs 194 cm2, respectively, P = 0.015). Cases of new-onset, long-term pain after VHR were rare (less than 2%). Most patients’ symptoms resolve by 6 months after surgery, but those with severe preoperative pain are at risk for persistent postoperative pain.
Addressing job processing variability through redundant execution and opportunistic checkpointing: A competitive analysis

The completion times of jobs in a computing cluster may be influenced by a variety of factors including job size and machine processing variability. In this paper, we explore online resource allocation policies which combine size-dependent scheduling with redundant execution and opportunistic checkpointing to minimize the overall job flowtime. We introduce a simplified model for the job service capacity of a computing cluster while leveraging redundant execution/checkpointing. In this setting, we propose two resource allocation algorithms, SRPT+R and LAPS+R(β) subject to checkpointing overhead not exceeding the number of jobs which are processed. We provide new theoretical performance bounds for these algorithms: SRPT+R is shown to be O(1/∊) competitive under (1 + ∊)-speed resource augmentation, while LAPS+R(β) is shown to be O(1/β∊) competitive under (2+ 2β + 2∊)-speed resource augmentation.
Estrogen Regulates 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase-1 and -2 Localization in Placental Syncytiotrophoblast in the Second Half of Primate Pregnancy.

We recently demonstrated that the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes catalyzing cortisol-cortisone reduction (11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1) and oxidation (11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2) are located in different regions of the baboon and human placental syncytiotrophoblast. Moreover, there was a 2-fold increase in the ratio of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 to 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 in syncytiotrophoblast membranes contiguous with the basal membrane (BMm) between mid and late baboon gestation. Our laboratories have also shown that estrogen regulates syncytiotrophoblast functional differentiation. Therefore, the current study determined whether the change in the ratio of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 to 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 in the BMm was regulated by estrogen. Placentas were obtained on d 165 of gestation (term = d 184) from baboons that were untreated or were treated daily beginning on d 100 with the aromatase inhibitor CGS 20267, which reduced uterine a.
Perceived time slows during fleeting fun or fear

Previous psychophysical studies at durations greater than 1000 ms have confirmed the anecdotal reports of an increase in the perceived duration of both positively and negatively valenced emotive stimuli; however, the results of studies at durations less than 1000 ms have been inconsistent. This study further investigated the effect of valence on the perception of durations less than 1000 ms. We used both positively and negatively valenced stimuli in order to compare their effects on the distortion of duration, and we tested multiple data points within the sub-one-second range. We found an increase in the perceived duration of both positively and negatively valenced emotional stimuli at all data points. This is consistent with studies at durations longer than 1000 ms and also with models of temporal processing. We also confirmed that Weber fractions, within the range tested, followed the generalized form of Weber’s law.
Regulation of V(D)J Recombination by Transcriptional Promoters

ABSTRACT Enhancer elements potentiate the rearrangement of antigen receptor loci via changes in the accessibility of gene segment clusters to V(D)J recombinase. Here, we show that enhancer activity per se is insufficient to target T-cell receptor β miniloci for DβJβ recombination. Instead, a promoter situated 5′ to Dβ1 (PDβ) was required for efficient rearrangement of chromosomal substrates. A critical function for promoters in regulating gene segment accessibility was further supported by the ability of heterologous promoters to direct rearrangement of enhancer-containing substrates. Importantly, activation of a synthetic tetracycline-inducible promoter (Ptet) positioned upstream from the Dβ gene segment was sufficient to target recombination of miniloci lacking a distal enhancer element. The latter result suggests that DNA loops, generated by interactions between flanking promoter and enhancer elements, are not required for efficient recognition of chromosomal gene segments by V(D)J recombinase. Unexpectedly, the Ptet substrate exhibited normal levels of rearrangement despite its retention of a hypermethylated DNA status within the DβJβ cluster. Together, our findings support a model in which promoter activation, rather than intrinsic properties of enhancers, is the primary determinant for regulating recombinational accessibility within antigen receptor loci.
Large-scale executable biology using rapid integration of computational models

We plan to develop a systematic framework for assembling lar gescale computational biological models by reusing and combi ning already existing modelling efforts. Our goal is to build a soft ware platform that will compile large-scale biomodels through succe ssive integrations of smaller modules. The modules can be arbitrary ex ecutable programs accompanied by a set of (I/O) interface variables; they may also have an internal structure (such as a metabolic network , interaction network, etc.) that yields its executable part in a well defined way. Firstly, wherever possible, modules with the compatib le nternal structure will be joined by combining their structure an d by producing new larger executable modules (like, combining two m etabolic networks, etc.). Then, irrespective of the underlying inte r al structure and modelling formalisms, all the modules will be integrate d through connecting their overlapping interface variables. The res ulting composed model will be regarded as an executable program itself and it will be simulated by running its submodules in parallel and s ynchronizing them via their I/O variables. This composed model in its t urn can also act as a sub-module for some other even large composite m od l. The major goal of this project is to deliver a powerful largescale modeling methodology for the primary use in the fields of Computa tional Systems Biology and Bioinformatics.
Designing Appointed and Multiple Focuses With Plasmonic Vortex Lenses

A plasmonic vortex lens (PVL), which enables to focus the spin or orbital angular momentum to a specific spatial position in the form of a plasmonic vortex, has been widely studied. Here, we present a specific PVL structure to focus the surface plasmon polariton wave on an arbitrary spatial position. Both analytical and numerical analyses are presented. The plasmonic field of our PVL is an approximate Bessel beam. In particular, the PVL can focus the input beam into a zeroth-order Bessel beam with a central peak. Based on this principle, multiple focuses by combining multiple different PVLs are designed. We can freely control the focuses just by changing the input modes. Owing to the tuning ability of the focuses, these findings can motivate the applications for optical trapping, optical data, and digital display on chip.
A new type of Schottky tunnel transistor

A new type of tunnel transistor, in which electrons can tunnel through a very thin Schottky barrier between an n/sup +/- accumulation-layer formed just under a MOS gate for controlling the tunneling current and the Schottky metal, is proposed and demonstrated. This tunnel transistor has no threshold voltage in cathode current I/sub k/ vs. cathode voltage V/sub k/ curves. Theoretical calculations based on Stratton's tunneling theory are carried out and have trends similar to the experimental results. <<ETX>>
Extração de Características de Lesões de Pele a partir de Imagens

O interesse no desenvolvimento de sistemas de analise de lesoes de pele para auxiliar o dermatologista no diagnostico, tem ganhado importância nos ultimos anos, particularmente visando a prevencao do desenvolvimento de lesoes malignas. Para facilitar o diagnostico, os dermatologistas podem fazer uso de sistemas computacionais que os auxiliem a identificacao de caracteristicas relevantes das lesoes a partir de imagens. Diversos trabalhos propoem metodos computacionais baseados em tecnicas de processamento e analise de imagem para auxiliar os dermatologistas nos seus diagnosticos [1, 2 e 5]. Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar uma abordagem para extrair caracteristicas relevantes de lesoes de pele a partir de imagens, baseada em tecnicas basicas de processamento e analise de imagem [5]. Na abordagem desenvolvida as imagens de diagnostico sao suavizadas usando um filtro de mediana [5], que ameniza os ruidos presentes, como os resultados da presenca de pelos, e seguidamente segmentadas pelo metodo Chan-Vese [3], de forma a separar as regioes associadas as eventuais lesoes de pele. A partir do contorno de uma regiao segmentada podemse extrair as caracteristicas ABCD (Assimetria, Borda, Cor e Diâmetro) da lesao associada, que sao muito utilizadas pelos dermatologistas para diferenciar lesoes benignas das malignas. A regra ABCD e estabelecida da seguinte maneira: no quesito “Assimetria” as lesoes benignas tendem a ser mais simetricas enquanto as malignas costumam ser mais assimetricas; as “Bordas” das lesoes benignas sao, usualmente, mais regulares, ao passo que aquelas das lesoes malignas via de regra sao irregulares; a “Cor” das lesoes benignas geralmente e mais homogenea enquanto a das lesoes malignas tem mais variacoes de tonalidades; por fim, as lesoes com “Diâmetros” menores do que 6mm tendem a ser benignas e as maiores do que isto costumam ser malignas. O diâmetro da lesao e calculado tomando-se dois pontos das bordas que tiverem o maior afastamento entre si. Neste trabalho calculam-se as distâncias euclidianas [5] entre todos os pares de pixels da borda da lesao e toma-se como diâmetro a quantidade de pixels entre o par com a maior distância euclidiana encontrada. A caracteristica de assimetria representa a forma de uma lesao, para tal, define-se uma reta na regiao associada, considerando a maior diagonal presente anteriormente identificada, para que possam ser analisadas as semelhancas entre as duas partes divididas pela mesma reta. Caso sejam muito diferentes, considera-se uma lesao assimetrica, caso contrario, considera a mesma como simetrica. Para comparar a semelhanca entre as duas partes da regiao em estudo sao
CRYSTALLINE RIBONUCLEASE

1. A crystalline enzyme capable of digesting yeast nucleic acid has been isolated from fresh beef pancreas. 2. The enzyme called "ribonuclease" is a soluble protein of albumin type. Its molecular weight is about 15,000. Its isoelectric point is in the region of pH 8.0. 3. Ribonuclease splits yeast nucleic acid into fragments small enough to diffuse readily through collodion or cellophane membranes. 4. The split products of digestion, unlike the undigested yeast nucleic acid, are not precipitable with glacial acetic acid or dilute hydrochloric acid. 5. The digestion of yeast nucleic acid is accompanied by a gradual formation of free acid groups without any significant liberation of free phosphoric acid. 6. Ribonuclease is stable over a wide range of pH even when heated for a short time at 100°C. Its maximum stability is in the range of pH 2.0 to 4.5. 7. Denaturation of the protein of ribonuclease by heat or alkali, or digestion of the protein by pepsin, causes a corresponding percentage loss in the enzymatic activity of the material.
Information on Biotic Interactions Improves Transferability of Distribution Models

Predicting changes in species’ distributions is a crucial problem in ecology, with leading methods relying on information about species’ putative climatic requirements. Empirical support for this approach relies on our ability to use observations of a species’ distribution in one region to predict its range in other regions (model transferability). On the basis of this observation, ecologists have hypothesized that climate is the strongest determinant of species’ distributions at large spatial scales. However, it is difficult to reconcile this claim with the pervasive effects of biotic interactions. Here, we resolve this apparent paradox by demonstrating how biotic interactions can affect species’ range margins yet still be compatible with model transferability. We also identify situations where small changes in species’ interactions dramatically shift range margins.
Phytoplankton and Cloudiness in the Southern Ocean

The effect of ocean biological productivity on marine clouds is explored over a large phytoplankton bloom in the Southern Ocean with the use of remotely sensed data. Cloud droplet number concentration over the bloom was twice what it was away from the bloom, and cloud effective radius was reduced by 30%. The resulting change in the short-wave radiative flux at the top of the atmosphere was –15 watts per square meter, comparable to the aerosol indirect effect over highly polluted regions. This observed impact of phytoplankton on clouds is attributed to changes in the size distribution and chemical composition of cloud condensation nuclei. We propose that secondary organic aerosol, formed from the oxidation of phytoplankton-produced isoprene, can affect chemical composition of marine cloud condensation nuclei and influence cloud droplet number. Model simulations support this hypothesis, indicating that 100% of the observed changes in cloud properties can be attributed to the isoprene secondary organic aerosol.
Hard Work On Soft Skills - Einsichten und Erfahrungen jenseits methodischer Gymnastik

Wer sich heute dem Begriff der „Soft Skills“ nahert, stost auf ein wohl bestelltes Feld der Seminarangebotsund Bewerbungstrainingsindustrie. Ohne Soft Skills, erfahrt man in einem popularen Online-Magazin, ginge derzeit „gar nichts“. Mit Soft Skills hingegen konne man seinen Wettbewerbs-Faktor erhohen und schlieslich mit Personlichkeit zum Traumjob finden. In einem Job-Portal wird der Begriff inhaltlich konturiert: Mit „Soft Skills“ seien all jene Eigenschaften und Kompetenzen gemeint, die uber die fachliche Qualifikation hinausgehen.
Dynamics of chromatin accessibility and epigenetic state in response to UV damage

ABSTRACT Epigenetic mechanisms determine the access of regulatory factors to DNA during events such as transcription and the DNA damage response. However, the global response of histone modifications and chromatin accessibility to UV exposure remains poorly understood. Here, we report that UV exposure results in a genome-wide reduction in chromatin accessibility, while the distribution of the active regulatory mark H3K27ac undergoes massive reorganization. Genomic loci subjected to epigenetic reprogramming upon UV exposure represent target sites for sequence-specific transcription factors. Most of these are distal regulatory regions, highlighting their importance in the cellular response to UV exposure. Furthermore, UV exposure results in an extensive reorganization of super-enhancers, accompanied by expression changes of associated genes, which may in part contribute to the stress response. Taken together, our study provides the first comprehensive resource for genome-wide chromatin changes upon UV irradiation in relation to gene expression and elucidates new aspects of this relationship. Summary: Exposure to UV irradiation causes genome-wide changes in chromatin accessibility and epigenetic state.
Repeated Games Without Public Randomization: A Constructive Approach

We study discounted infinitely repeated games with perfect monitoring and without public randomization. Both symmetric and asymmetric discounting cases are considered; a new geometric construct called â€˜self-accessibilityâ€™ is proposed and used to unify the analyses of these two cases. For symmetric discounting, our approach leads to easy computability of a discount factor bound needed to support a specific payoff vector in equilibrium. When discounting is allowed to be asymmetric, we show that any payoff vector that is in the interior of the smallest rectangular region containing the pureaction payoffs is realizable in the repeated game. Next, an easily-verifiable condition, â€˜strict diagonalizabilityâ€™, is offered as a sufficient and almost necessary condition for a payoff vector to be an equilibrium payoff for some discount factor vector. â€˜Turnpike strategiesâ€™ that support a target payoff are explicitly constructed. Our results thus encompass and generalize Fudenberg and Maskin (1986, 1991).