Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flexible intentions: An Active Inference theory

We present a normative computational theory of how neural circuitry may support visually-guided goal-directed actions in a dynamic environment. The model builds on Active Inference, in which perception and motor control signals are inferred through dynamic minimization of generalized prediction errors. The Posterior Parietal Cortex (PPC) is proposed to maintain constantly updated expectations, or beliefs over the environmental state, and by manipulating them through flexible intentions it is involved in dynamically generating goal-directed actions. In turn, the Dorsal Visual Stream (DVS) and the proprioceptive pathway implement generative models that translate the high-level belief into sensory-level predictions to infer targets, posture, and motor commands. A proof-of-concept agent embodying visual and proprioceptive sensors and an actuated upper limb was tested on target-reaching tasks. The agent behaved correctly under various conditions, including static and dynamic targets, different sensory feedbacks, sensory precisions, intention gains, and movement policies; limit conditions were individuated, too. Active Inference driven by dynamic and flexible intentions can thus support goal-directed behavior in constantly changing environments, and the PPC putatively hosts its core intention mechanism. More broadly, the study provides a normative basis for research on goal-directed behavior in end-to-end settings and further advances mechanistic theories of active biological systems.
Transcriptomic and functional analysis of ANGPTL4 overexpression in pancreatic cancer nominates targets that reverse chemoresistance

Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers based on five-year survival rates. Genes contributing to chemoresistance represent novel therapeutic targets that can improve treatment response. Increased expression of ANGPTL4 in tumors correlates with poor outcomes in pancreatic cancer. Methods We used statistical analysis of publicly available gene expression data (TCGA-PAAD) to test whether expression of ANGPTL4 and its downstream targets, ITGB4 and APOL1, were correlated with patient survival. We measured the impact of ANGPTL4 overexpression in a common pancreatic cancer cell line, MIA PaCa-2 cells, using CRISPRa for overexpression and DsiRNA for knockdown. We characterized global gene expression changes associated with high levels of ANGPTL4 and response to gemcitabine treatment using RNA-sequencing. Gemcitabine dose response curves were calculated on modified cell lines by measuring cell viability with CellTiter-Glo (Promega). Impacts on cell migration were measured using a time course scratch assay. Results We show that ANGPTL4 overexpression leads to in vitro resistance to gemcitabine and reduced survival times in patients. Overexpression of ANGPTL4 induces transcriptional signatures of tumor invasion and metastasis, proliferation and differentiation, and inhibition of apoptosis. Analyses revealed an overlapping signature of genes associated with both ANGPTL4 activation and gemcitabine response. Increased expression of the genes in this signature in patient PDAC tissues was significantly associated with shorter patient survival. We identified 42 genes that were both co-regulated with ANGPTL4 and were responsive to gemcitabine treatment. ITGB4 and APOL1 were among these genes. Knockdown of either of these genes in cell lines overexpressing ANGPTL4 reversed the observed gemcitabine resistance and inhibited cellular migration associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and ANGPTL4 overexpression. Conclusions These data suggest that ANGPTL4 promotes EMT and regulates the genes APOL1 and ITGB4. Importantly, we show that inhibition of both targets reverses chemoresistance and decreases migratory potential. Our findings have revealed a novel pathway regulating tumor response to treatment and suggest relevant therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer.
ATG9A regulates dissociation of recycling endosomes from microtubules leading to formation of influenza A virus liquid condensates

It is now established that many viruses that threaten public health establish condensates via phase transitions to complete their lifecycles, and knowledge on such processes may offer new strategies for antiviral therapy. In the case of influenza A virus (IAV), liquid condensates known as viral inclusions, concentrate the 8 distinct viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs) that form IAV genome and are viewed as sites dedicated to the assembly of the 8-partite genomic complex. Despite not being delimited by host membranes, IAV liquid inclusions accumulate host membranes inside as a result of vRNP binding to the recycling endocytic marker Rab11a, a driver of the biogenesis of these structures. We lack molecular understanding on how Rab11a-recycling endosomes condensate specifically near the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites upon IAV infection. We show here that liquid viral inclusions interact with the ER to fuse, divide and slide. We uncover that, contrary to previous indications, the reported reduction in recycling endocytic activity is a regulated process rather than a competition for cellular resources involving a novel role for the host factor ATG9A. In infection, ATG9A mediates the removal of Rab11a-recycling endosomes carrying vRNPs from microtubules. We observe that the recycling endocytic usage of microtubules is rescued when ATG9A is depleted, which prevents condensation of Rab11a endosomes near the ER. The failure to produce viral inclusions accumulates vRNPs in the cytosol, reduces genome assembly and the release of infectious virions. We propose that the ER supports the dynamics of liquid IAV inclusions, with ATG9A facilitating their formation. This work advances our understanding on how epidemic and pandemic influenza genomes are formed. It also reveals the plasticity of recycling pathway endosomes to undergo condensation in response to infection, disclosing new roles for ATG9A beyond its classical involvement in autophagy.
P-element invasions in Drosophila erecta shed light on the establishment of host control over a transposable element

To prevent the spread of transposable elements (TEs) hosts have developed sophisticated defence mechanisms. In mammals and invertebrates this defence mechanism operates through piRNAs. It is unclear how piRNA-based defences are established against invading TEs. According to the trap model, a TE insertion into a piRNA cluster, i.e. a distinct genomic locus, activates the host defence. Alternatively, siRNAs, generated by cleavage of dsRNA, may be the trigger for host control. To investigate this we introduced the P-element, one of the most widely studied eukaryotic transposons, into naïve lines of Drosophila erecta. We monitored the invasion in 3 replicates for more than 50 generations by sequencing the genomic DNA (using short and long-reads), the small RNAs and the transcriptome at regular intervals. A piRNA based host defence was rapidly established in 2 replicates but not in the third, where P-element copy numbers kept increasing for over 50 generations. We found that siRNAs emerged prior to piRNAs, supporting the view that siRNAs initiate host defence. However, neither insertions in piRNA clusters nor the formation of siRNAs were sufficient to stop the P-element. Instead the activation of the ping-pong cycle was shown to be crucial. We introduce a novel model, the crank-up model, which emphasizes activation of the ping-pong cycle as a critical event in establishing host control over a TE.
Flat plate boundary layer transition induced by a controlled near-wall circular cylinder wake

The flat plate boundary layer transition induced by the wake of a circular cylinder close to the wall is experimentally investigated using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and hydrogen bubble visualization techniques. The wake of the circular cylinder is controlled by a slot synthetic jet at the rear stagnation point of the circular cylinder. It is found that when the synthetic jet is actuated, the wake can be greatly modified. When the excitation frequency of the synthetic jet is set at the natural shedding frequency of the cylinder wake, the symmetrical shedding pattern can be observed. While the excitation frequency increases to be twice of the natural shedding frequency, the wake appears to be antisymmetrical again, but with the shedding frequency locked onto half of the excitation frequency. Flow visualizations show that spanwise secondary vortices can be induced in the near wall region by these large scale vortices in the wake. It is found that the secondary vortices destabilize into streamwise stre.
P OLLEN ACCUMULATION ON THE HAWKMOTH PROBOSCIS VARIES SUBSTANTIALLY AMONG MOTH - POLLINATED FLOWERS

— Using the pollen loads carried by floral visitors to infer their visitation behavior is a powerful technique to explore the foraging patterns of pollinators. Interpreting these pollen records, however, requires assumptions about pollen movement patterns. To compare visitor foraging across flower species, the largest assumption is that pollen is acquired and retained on the visitor at similar rates. However, even flowers with similar morphologies differ in pollen presentation traits such as grain number or stickiness. We investigated pollen accumulation on the proboscis of the hawkmoth Manduca sexta , testing the degree to which accumulation differed among flower species with differing morphologies and how pollen stickiness affected this accumulation. In no-choice floral visitation assays to six plant species visited by long-tongued hawkmoths in the wild, M. sexta individuals visited flowers 1, 2, or 5 times, after which pollen grains adhering to their proboscises were counted. We found that the six plant species varied orders of magnitude in the number of pollen grains deposited on the moth proboscises, with some placing thousands of grains after one visit and others placing none after five. Plant species with sticky pollen placed more pollen on the moths and had less pollen accumulation over successive visits than did plants with non-sticky pollen. Moths also carried fewer grains on their proboscises after 5 visits than after 2 visits, suggesting that both sticky and non-sticky pollen was lost during foraging. Together, our results suggest that interpretation of pollen load data should be cautious, especially when comparing across plant species.
On the complexity of sorting Cartesian products of partially ordered sets

We study the complexity L(Mn) of algorithms for sorting the partially ordered set Mn, which is isomorphic to the Cartesian product K\ χ . χ Kn, where all Κ ι are taken from some finite family, have a unique maximum element, and are prime with respect to the Cartesian product. For the set {Afn}, as η -> oo, we obtain the estimates L(Mn)> \ Besides, we prove that for a partially ordered set with one maximum element the Cartesian decomposition into prime factors is unique up to a permutation of the factors. 1. MAIN DEFINITIONS This paper is devoted to sorting partially ordered sets. A set M = {jci , . , xm] is called partially ordered if a relation of partial order R is defined on the set. Further we use for a partially ordered set M with a relation of partial order R the notation (M, R). The result of applying the relation R to a pair of elements jc/ and xj can be one of the following outcomes: Xi is greater than Xj (*,· > Xj), jc/ is less that Xj (χι < Xj), χι is equal to Xj (*/ = jc/), or jc/ and xj are incomparable (jc/ ? xj). Thus, the relation R generates in the usual way four relation > ,< ,= ,? with values true and false. Let (x > y) = (x > y) V (x = y). The Hasse diagram of a partially ordered set (M, R) is the directed graph G = (V, E) for which there exists a one-to-one mapping /: M ->· V such that (/(*), /OO) € £ if and only if Thus, the validity of the relation x > y is equivalent to the existence of a non-degenerate directed chain in the graph G from the vertex f ( x ) to the vertex f ( y ) . We formulate the problem of sorting a partially ordered set in the following way. Let a set M = [x\,. , xm} with a relation of partial order R and the directed graph G = (V, E) *UDC 519.7. Originally published in Diskretnaya Matematika (2001) 13, No. 3, 57-74 (in Russian). Received December 18,2000. Translated by V. F. Kolchin.
Present Climatic Cooling and a Proposed Causative Mechanism.

Abstract Evidence has been presented and discussed to show a cooling trend over the Northern Hemisphere since around 1940, amounting to over 0.5°C, due primarily to cooling at mid- and high latitudes. Some regions of the middle latitudes have actually warmed while others, such as the central and eastern United States, have experienced sharp cooling. A representative station for this latter region is Lafayette, Ind. , which has recorded a drop of 2.2°C in its mean annual temperature from 1940 through 1978. The cooling trend for the Northern Hemisphere has been associated with an increase of both the latitudinal gradient of temperature and the lapse rate, as predicted by climate models with decreased solar input and feedback mechanisms. Observations and interpretation of sunspot activity have been used to infer a direct thermal response of terrestrial temperature to solar variability on the time scale of the Gleissberg cycle (∼90 years, an amplitude of the 11-year cycles). Measurements at the Greenwich Obser.
Applying Passive Haptic Learning to induce associative motor memory within a visual CRT experiment

We have introduced Passive Haptic learning in a standard Choice Reaction time task that consisted of a pre-test, a distraction game and a post test. We looked both at the decrease changes in reaction time and improvement of error rates. Passive Haptic Learning (PHL) is the concept of learning motor skills by receiving haptic information while performing a distractive task that asks for full attention. We created a glove-based and system that was able to provides haptic feedback corresponding to visual cues. After a pre-test where a baseline was established, both the PHL group and the control group played a game of snake. The PHL group received visual cues paired with vibrations in the corresponding fingers. We found no significant improvement in mean reaction times in the PHL group when compared to the control group, although they did perform slightly better. We did however see that the error rates of the PHL group cut in half while those of the control group stayed almost the same. Although still not significant it is meaningful to do further research into the effect of PHL on motor control programs and uses outside sequential motor learning.
Natural scents or cultural perfumes: the revelations of floral fragrances

I would like to reflect — in an exploratory way, since I have very little fieldwork in this area — on the symbolic meanings given, by humans in different cultural contexts, to the fragrances of flowers. I choose the fragrances of flowers as the object of my study, (a study that is, at times, done for pleasure)
Nonlinear unstable viscous fingers in Hele–Shaw flows. II. Numerical simulation

The nonlinear stages of two‐dimensional immiscible displacement processes in Hele–Shaw flows are investigated by means of large scale numerical simulations based on a purely Lagrangian vortex method. The vortex sheet at the interface between the two fluid phases is discretized into circular arcs with a continuous distribution of circulation, which renders our numerical technique highly accurate. A complicated unsteady growth mechanism is observed for the emerging viscous fingers, involving a combination of spreading, shielding, and tip splitting. As the surface tension is further reduced, smaller length scales arise and the fingertip exhibits a new splitting pattern in which three new lobes emerge instead of two. Monitoring the velocity as well as the radius of curvature at the fingertip demonstrates that the instability of the finger evolves in an oscillatory fashion. The two‐lobe and the three‐lobe splitting can thus be explained as different manifestations of the same instability mode. Comparison with .
Recovering Human Pose in 3-D Via Visual Manifolds

We address how human pose in 3-D can be recovered visually from multiple images captured at a number of locations. A scheme is proposed that transforms the multi-view data to a pose solution in a way that a number of constraints, are put together to identify the most probable pose. The scheme involves firstly the learning of the manifolds from training data, and a mapping process kicks in to pick up the right manifold from the library. Experiments show that the approach could successfully handle scenes of a variety of activities, and multi-view data do help improve the precision of pose estimation in a remarkable way.
Large reversible magnetocaloric effect in Ni-Mn-In-Co

We report on the high irreversible adiabatic temperature change of −8 K in a magnetic field change of 1.95 T in the Heusler compound Ni45.7Mn36. 6In13.5Co4. 2 showing a first-order magnetostructural transition. Due to the large thermal hysteresis of 10 K, this high ΔTad cannot be obtained in a cyclic way but still the reversible magnetocaloric effect amounts to −3 K—an unexpectedly high value which compares to the ΔTad of La(Fe,Si,Co)13. In order to reveal the nature of this high reversible magnetocaloric effect, in-situ temperature dependent optical microscopy of minor loops of thermal hysteresis has been done.
On the first and second variations of a nonlocal isoperimetric problem

We consider a nonlocal perturbation of an isoperimetric variational problem. The problem may be viewed as a mathematical paradigm for the ubiquitous phenomenon of energy-driven pattern formation associated with competing short and long-range interactions. In particular, it arises as a Γ-limit of a model for microphase separation of diblock copolymers. In this article, we establish precise conditions for criticality and stability (i.e. we explicitly compute the first and second variations). We also present some applications.
An Experiment in Probabilistic Weather Forecasting

Abstract Probabilistic forecasts were given for temperature and precipitation for 2 and 5-day periods. They were evaluated by a scoring rule and the scores were given as feedback to the participants together with the actual outcomes. On the average the forecasts did not improve on forecasts based on climatology, and the study indicates some explanations for this. It also shows how the meteorologists' knowledge could be used to produce probabilistic forecasts that are better than climatology. The study also covers empirical evaluation of different scoring rules and of techniques for aggregating sets of forecasts.
Electrical and structural properties of indium tin oxide films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

The relation between electrical and structural properties of indium tin oxide (ITO) films prepared by pulsed laser deposition with and without in situ laser irradiation is examined. The residual stresses of the films were estimated from x-ray diffraction patterns measured by grazing-incidence asymmetric Bragg and grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction geometries. For the films prepared without in situ irradiation, the residual stress depended on oxygen pressure (PO2) during deposition and had minimum around PO2 of 1.3 Pa, which coincided with the optimum PO2 for growing the lowest resistivity films. The resistivity was only slightly improved with an increase of substrate temperature (Ts) because a large residual stress was introduced. In contrast, the ITO films prepared with in situ laser irradiation showed very low resistivity (ρ<10−4 Ω cm) which can be attributed to the high crystallinity and low residual stress.
Production et compréhension de la morphologie verbale en FLE : Les difficultés de l'accord sujet-verbe en nombre

Subject-verb agreement in number (3sg - 3pl) in spoken French is a heterogeneous morpho-syntactic domain where number is expressed in some groups of verbs and in some phonological contexts only. The acquisition of this agreement is a long and gradual process (Prevost, 2009). Both children learning French as their first language (L1) and older second language (L2) learners overuse the dominant pattern of the first conjugation (-er verbs) which leads to many omissions of plural verb forms in obligatory contexts (Agren and van de Weijer, 2013a). This study compares the results of an oral production task with the results of an oral comprehension test eliciting singular and plural verb forms. 40 Swedish L2 learners of French at intermediate and low advanced levels (Bartning and Schlyter, 2004) completed both tasks. The results show that most of the L2 learners comprehend the distinction between singular and plural verb forms even though they do not produce it consistently. Furthermore, the data show an asymmetric pattern where plural verb forms are better comprehended than produced whereas singular verb forms are more correctly produced than comprehended. These differences between production and comprehension in L2 French are discussed from a usage-based perspective (Bybee, 2008; Ellis, 2008). (Less)
Stars And Their Spectra

Stellar spectroscopy is the fundamental tool for investigating the natures of stars, and is central to our understanding of modern astronomy and astrophysics. Revised and expanded, the Second Edition of this popular book provides a unique and thorough introduction to stellar spectra. It begins by introducing the reader to the fundamental properties of stars and the formation of spectra, before proceeding to the concept and history of stellar classification. The following chapters each look at a different star type: starting with cool M, the discussion extends to cover new stellar classes L and T, before advancing through type O to finish with extraordinary classes. The book concludes with a skillful integration of all the data, tracing the evolution of stars and their place in the Universe. With modern digital spectra and updates from two decades of astronomical discoveries, this accessible text is invaluable for amateur astronomers and all students of the subject.
Gravitational waves on the back of an envelope

Using only Newtonian gravity and a little special relativity we calculate most of the important effects of gravitational radiation, with results very close to the predictions of full general relativity theory. Used with care, this approach gives helpful back‐of‐the‐envelope derivations of important equations and estimates, and it can help to teach gravitational wave phenomena to undergraduates and others not expert in general relativity. We use it to derive the following: the quadrupole approximation for the amplitude h of gravitational waves; a simple upper bound on h in terms of the Newtonian gravitational field of the source; the energy flux in the waves, the luminosity of the source (called the ‘‘quadrupole formula’’), and the radiation reaction in the source; order‐of‐magnitude estimates for radiation from supernovae and binary star systems; and the rate of change of the orbital period of the binary pulsar system. Where our simple results differ from those of general relativity we quote the relativis.