Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial Structure of the Mormon Cricket Gut Microbiome and its Predicted Contribution to Nutrition and Immune Function

The gut microbiome of insects plays an important role in their ecology and evolution, participating in nutrient acquisition, immunity, and behavior. Microbial community structure within the gut is heavily influenced by differences among gut regions in morphology and physiology, which determine the niches available for microbes to colonize. We present a high-resolution analysis of the structure of the gut microbiome in the Mormon cricket Anabrus simplex, an insect known for its periodic outbreaks in the western United States and nutrition-dependent mating system. The Mormon cricket microbiome was dominated by 11 taxa from the Lactobacillaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Streptococcaceae. While most of these were represented in all gut regions, there were marked differences in their relative abundance, with lactic-acid bacteria (Lactobacillaceae) more common in the foregut and midgut and enteric (Enterobacteriaceae) bacteria more common in the hindgut. Differences in community structure were driven by variation in the relative prevalence of three groups: a Lactobacillus in the foregut, Pediococcus lactic-acid bacteria in the midgut, and Pantoea agglomerans, an enteric bacterium, in the hindgut. These taxa have been shown to have beneficial effects on their hosts in insects and other animals by improving nutrition, increasing resistance to pathogens, and modulating social behavior. Using PICRUSt to predict gene content from our 16S rRNA sequences, we found enzymes that participate in carbohydrate metabolism and pathogen defense in other orthopterans. These were predominately represented in the hindgut and midgut, the most important sites for nutrition and pathogen defense. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences from cultured isolates indicated low levels of divergence from sequences derived from plants and other insects, suggesting that these bacteria are likely to be exchanged between Mormon crickets and the environment. Our study shows strong spatial variation in microbiome community structure, which influences predicted gene content and thus the potential of the microbiome to influence host function.
From language learners to language users: A Study of Chinese Students in the UK

This paper reports the changes and challenges Chinese students face in study-abroad (SA) situations. The data were collected through interviews and observations over a three-month period. Informed by sociocultural theory which views learners' use of the language both as a tool for mediating learning and as an object to be acquired, the analysis presented reveals how SA students face the challenges from a language learner to language user. It is found that they try to adapt their language system to the new environment through language use, translation, and conceptual development. But they also face great challenges in using the language and experience academic culture shock. Based on the findings, implications and suggestions are proposed, which are applicable not only to Chinese students but beyond.
New Otx2 mRNA isoforms expressed in the mouse brain

The mouse Otx2 gene is essential throughout head and brain development, from anterior–posterior polarity determination and neuroectoderm induction to post‐natal sensory organ maturation. These numerous activities must rely on a very finely tuned regulation of expression. In order to understand the molecular control of the Otx2 gene, we set out to isolate its promoter. During this quest, we identified three remote transcription start sites, two defining two new upstream exons and one mapping within the previously reported first exon. The three transcripts differed in their 5′ non‐coding region but encoded the same protein. The transcription start nucleotides of each mRNA species have been mapped by RNase protection assays and by an RNA circularization technique. We have demonstrated that they are all used and linked to functional promoters. In addition to leader versatility, we also detected alternative splicing within the coding sequence that gives rise to a new protein endowed with an 8 amino‐acid insertion upstream of the homeodomain. Combined analysis of the relative abundance of Otx2 mRNA isoforms in representative tissues and in situ hybridization studies revealed distinct spatial and temporal, although partially overlapping, expression patterns of the mRNA isoforms. These findings provide new clues to a better understanding of the relationships between Otx2 gene architecture and its complex regulatory requirements.
Nucleic Acids Research Complete nucleotide sequence of the Upase gene from Staphylococcus hyicus cloned in Staphylococcus carnosus

The lipase gene from Staphylococcus hyicus subsp. hyicus was cloned in Staphylococcus carnosus and Escherichia coli. In both host organisms the lipase gene is expressed and the enzyme is released to the medium. The cloned DNA insert is 2.5 kb in length and DNA sequencing has revealed the location of the gene, the ribosomal binding site and the presence of a typical signal sequence. The open reading frame comprises 1923 nucleotides and gives a preprotein of 641 amino acids with a predicted M_. of 71.382. At the 3' end of the structural gene there are three consecutive stop codons and there is also a transcriptional termination signal.
On the Accuracy of Spectrum-based Fault Localization

Spectrum-based fault localization shortens the test- diagnose-repair cycle by reducing the debugging effort. As a light-weight automated diagnosis technique it can easily be integrated with existing testing schemes. However, as no model of the system is taken into account, its diagnostic accuracy is inherently limited. Using the Siemens Set benchmark, we investigate this diagnostic accuracy as a function of several parameters (such as quality and quantity of the program spectra collected during the execution of the system), some of which directly relate to test design. Our results indicate that the superior performance of a particular similarity coefficient, used to analyze the program spectra, is largely independent of test design. Furthermore, near- optimal diagnostic accuracy (exonerating about 80% of the blocks of code on average) is already obtained for low-quality error observations and limited numbers of test cases. The influence of the number of test cases is of primary importance for continuous (embedded) processing applications, where only limited observation horizons can be maintained.
Evolutionary Learning of a Neural Robot Controller

In our research we use evolutionary algorithms to evolve robot controllers for executing elementary behaviours. This paper focuses on the behaviour of pushing a box between two walls. Successful execution of this behaviour is critically dependent on the robot's ability to distinguish between the walls and the box. In a recent study we already found that a two-layer recurrent network is more suitable for this task than a single -layer feedforward network [8]. In this paper, we conclude that this result still holds if a more general representation of a feedforward network is used. We also conclude that network architecture changing genetic operators may help reducing a starting network configuration to a smaller one, which is easier to train for the task at hand.
Maternal Evaluations of Children's Emergent Literacy Level, Maternal Mediation in Book Reading, and Children's Emergent Literacy Level: A Comparison between SES Groups

This study examined whether maternal evaluations of children's emergent literacy (EL) levels, maternal mediation during a book-reading activity with children, and the children's EL levels differ as a function of socioeconomic status (SES; low vs. high), and whether the relationships between these variables differ as a function of SES levels. Study participants included 84 kindergarteners, 41 from low SES (LSES) and 43 from high (HSES) families, and their mothers. Maternal evaluations of their children's EL levels were gathered, mother-child interactions in a book-reading activity were videotaped, and the children's EL levels were independently assessed. LSES mothers were less accurate in evaluating their children's EL levels and exhibited lower mediation levels in the book-reading interactions. Their children exhibited lower EL levels than did the children in the HSES group. In the HSES group, children's EL levels were explained by maternal evaluations and by maternal mediation levels. HSES maternal mediation levels while book reading were explained by their children's EL levels. No such relationships appeared between these variables in the LSES group. Suggestions for educational practices and further research are discussed.
L2-Gain Analysis of Nonlinear Systems and Nonlinear State Feedback H∞ Control

Abstruct-Previously obtained results on L,-gain analysis of smooth nonlinear systems are unified and extended using an approach based on Hamilton-Jacobi equations and inequalities, and their relation to invariant manifolds of an associated Hamiltonian vector field. Based upon these results a nonlinear analog is obtained of the simplest part of the recently developed state-space approach to linear H, control, namely the state feedback H, optimal control problem. Furthermore, the relation with H, control of the linearized system is dealt with.
Comparable Fitness and Transmissibility between Oseltamivir-Resistant Pandemic 2009 and Seasonal H1N1 Influenza Viruses with the H275Y Neuraminidase Mutation

ABSTRACT Limited antiviral compounds are available for the control of influenza, and the emergence of resistant variants would further narrow the options for defense. The H275Y neuraminidase (NA) mutation, which confers resistance to oseltamivir carboxylate, has been identified among the seasonal H1N1 and 2009 pandemic influenza viruses; however, those H275Y resistant variants demonstrated distinct epidemiological outcomes in humans. Specifically, dominance of the H275Y variant over the oseltamivir-sensitive viruses was only reported for a seasonal H1N1 variant during 2008-2009. Here, we systematically analyze the effect of the H275Y NA mutation on viral fitness and transmissibility of A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal H1N1 influenza viruses. The NA genes from A(H1N1)pdm09 A/California/04/09 (CA04), seasonal H1N1 A/New Caledonia/20/1999 (NewCal), and A/Brisbane/59/2007 (Brisbane) were individually introduced into the genetic background of CA04. The H275Y mutation led to reduced NA enzyme activity, an increased Km for 3′-sialylactose or 6′-sialylactose, and decreased infectivity in mucin-secreting human airway epithelial cells compared to the oseltamivir-sensitive wild-type counterparts. Attenuated pathogenicity in both RG-CA04NA-H275Y and RG-CA04 × BrisbaneNA-H275Y viruses was observed in ferrets compared to RG-CA04 virus, although the transmissibility was minimally affected. In parallel experiments using recombinant Brisbane viruses differing by hemagglutinin and NA, comparable direct contact and respiratory droplet transmissibilities were observed among RG-NewCalHA,NA, RG-NewCalHA,NA-H275Y, RG-BrisbaneHA,NA-H275Y, and RG-NewCalHA × BrisbaneNA-H275Y viruses. Our results demonstrate that, despite the H275Y mutation leading to a minor reduction in viral fitness, the transmission potentials of three different antigenic strains carrying this mutation were comparable in the naïve ferret model.
Cyclically 5-edge connected non-bicritical critical snarks

Snarks are bridgeless cubic graphs with chromatic index χ = 4. A snark G is called critical if χ(G − {v, w}) = 3, for any two adjacent vertices v and w. For any k ≥ 2 we construct cyclically 5-edge connected critical snarks G having an independent set I of at least k vertices such that χ(G − I) = 4. For k = 2 this solves a problem of Nedela and Škoviera [6].
How Do the Internet Buyers' Decisions Be Affected? - An Experimental Study of Risky Choice Framing Effect

For Net-enhanced organizations (NEOs), business is conducted at a distance and risks are magnified. In effect, Internet buyers can solely rely on information provided by the Web sites to make decisions. Consequently, the way to present information favorable to the Internet business operators is very important. This study aims to understand whether positively and negatively framed messages result in different choices made by the Internet buyers. Further, the effect of subject’s intrinsic self-relevance to the framing effect is also considered in the current study. The research is conducted by using laboratory experiment. The results indicate that the risky choice framing effect partly exists in Internet buyers’ product decisions. Specifically, when the subjects are highly related to the research context, they won’t be affected by the framing of messages because they are eager to obtain the target product. As a result, most subjects are prone to avoid risks. On the other hand, there is significant risky choice framing effect for subjects with low intrinsic self-relevance. In this group, subjects are prone to avoid risks when they were presented with positive information, whereas most people incline to take risks, and thus choose the risky option if the problem are framed negatively.
Auf dem Weg zur Professionalisierung: Anforderungen im Lehramtsstudium

Obwohl die Lehrerbildung in den letzten Jahren vermehrt im Fokus von Untersuchungen stand, ist uber die Anforderungen im Lehramtsstudium wenig bekannt. Diese werden hier anhand der Methodik zur Ermittlung von Anforderungen an Studierende (MEVAS; Hell, Ptok & Schuler, 2007) analysiert und in Zusammenhang mit 5 Studienerfolgskriterien gesetzt. An der Online-Befragung, in der verschiedene Anforderungen hinsichtlich ihres Erfullungsgrads eingeschatzt wurden, nahmen 686 Lehramtsstudierende einer mittelgrosen Universitat in Nordrhein-Westfalen teil. Die Daten wurden faktoren- und regressionsanalytisch ausgewertet. Es zeigten sich 17 Anforderungsdimensionen, von denen bei gemeinsamer Betrachtung sechs aufgrund ihres positiven Zusammenhangs mit verschiedenen Studienerfolgskriterien bedeutsam sind: Selbstdisziplin, Umgang mit Belastungen, Interesse, Angebotsnutzung, allgemeine kognitive Fahigkeiten und Theorie-Praxis-Verzahnung.
English as an official language in South Korea: Global English or social malady?

In largely monolingual South Korea, English has become so important that it is promoted and regarded as a major criterion in education, employment and job-performance evaluation. Recently, South Koreans have also gone so far as to debate whether to adopt English as an official language of South Korea. This article examines the status and role of English in South Korea, particularly in the context of the Official English debate. In so doing, the article critically discusses previous ideologically-based accounts of English in South Korea. By demonstrating that these accounts do not go ideologically deep enough, the article argues that education, under cover of the ideology of merit, serves as a primary mechanism of elimination that conserves the hierarchy of power relations already established in South Korean society. English has been recruited, in the guise of globalization, to exploit the meretricious ideology of merit to the advantage of the privileged classes and to the disadvantage of the other classes of the society. English in South Korea cannot be understood fully unless it is recognized that its importance has not been as much engendered by globalization as it has been resorted to as a subterfuge to conceal where the responsibility for inequality in education lies within the society.
Student Derogation of the Scholastic Aptitude Test: Biases in Perceptions and Presentations of College Board Scores

A consistent finding in laboratory research is that individuals are quite adept at dismissing and disavowing unfavorable feedback. Three studies extend this research to a nonlaboratory setting by examining how students who receive relatively low scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) respond to this "failure" feedback. Studies 1 and 2 revealed biases in both perceptions and presentations of test scores. Students with lower SAT scores regarded their score as invalid and also believed that a higher score would be more accurate. This was true even though actual SAT scores significantly predicted current college grade-point average (GPA), whereas the scores subjects estimated would be accurate did not. In addition, when reporting their SAT scores, students systematically inflated them, reporting scores higher than those they actually received. Study 3 suggests that the misreporting of SAT scores is attributable partly, but not entirely, to impression management.
Growth of Polychlorinated-Biphenyl-Degrading Bacteria in the Presence of Biphenyl and Chlorobiphenyls Generates Oxidative Stress and Massive Accumulation of Inorganic Polyphosphate

ABSTRACT Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) plays a significant role in increasing bacterial cell resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions and in regulating different biochemical processes. Using transmission electron microscopy of the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain B4 grown in defined medium with biphenyl as the sole carbon source, we observed large and abundant electron-dense granules at all stages of growth and following a shift from glucose to biphenyl or chlorobiphenyls. Using energy dispersive X-ray analysis and electron energy loss spectroscopy with an integrated energy-filtered transmission electron microscope, we demonstrated that these granules were mainly composed of phosphate. Using sensitive enzymatic methods to quantify cellular polyP, we confirmed that this polymer accumulates in PCB-degrading bacteria when they grow in the presence of biphenyl and chlorobiphenyls. Concomitant increases in the levels of the general stress protein GroEl and reactive oxygen species were also observed in chlorobiphenyl-grown cells, indicating that these bacteria adjust their physiology with a stress response when they are confronted with compounds that serve as carbon and energy sources and at the same time are chemical stressors.
The efficacy of the new SCD response compression system in the prevention of venous stasis.

OBJECTIVE The current commercially available sequential intermittent pneumatic compression device used for the prevention of deep venous thrombosis has a constant cycle of 11 seconds' compression and 60 seconds' deflation. This deflation period ensures that the veins are filled before the subsequent cycle begins. It has been suggested that in some positions (eg, semirecumbent or sitting) and with different patients (eg, those with venous reflux), refilling of the veins may occur much earlier than 60 seconds, and thus a more frequent cycle may be more effective in expelling blood proximally. The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness of a new sequential compression system (the SCD Response Compression System), which has the ability to detect the change in the venous volume and to respond by initiating the subsequent cycle when the veins are substantially full. METHODS In an open controlled trial at an academic vascular laboratory, the SCD Response Compression System was tested against the existing SCD Sequel Compression System in 12 healthy volunteers who were in supine, semirecumbent, and sitting positions. The refilling time sensed by the device was compared with that determined from recordings of femoral vein flow velocity by the use of duplex ultrasound scan. The total volume of blood expelled per hour during compression was compared with that produced by the existing SCD system in the same volunteers and positions. RESULTS The refilling time determined automatically by the SCD Response Compression System varied from 24 to 60 seconds in the subjects tested, demonstrating individual patient variation. The refilling time (mean +/- SD) in the sitting position was 40.6 +/- 10. 0 seconds, which was significantly longer (P <.001) than that measured in the supine and semirecumbent positions, 33.8 +/- 4.1 and 35.6 +/- 4.9 seconds, respectively. There was a linear relationship between the duplex scan-derived refill time (mean of 6 readings per leg) and the SCD Response device-derived refill time (r = 0.85, P <. 001). The total volume of blood (mean +/- SD) expelled per hour by the existing SCD Sequel device in the supine, semirecumbent, and sitting positions was 2.23 +/- 0.90 L/h, 2.47 +/- 0.86 L/h, and 3.28 +/- 1.24 L/h, respectively. The SCD Response device increased the volume expelled to 3.92 +/- 1.60 L/h or a 76% increase (P =.001) in the supine position, to 3.93 +/- 1.55 L/h or a 59% increase (P =. 001) in the semirecumbent position, and to 3.97 +/- 1.42 L/h or a 21% increase (P =.026) in the sitting position. CONCLUSIONS By achieving more appropriately timed compression cycles over time, the new SCD Response System is effective in preventing venous stasis by means of a new method that improves on the clinically documented effectiveness of the existing SCD system. Further studies testing its potential for improved efficacy in preventing deep venous thrombosis are justified.
Using Multiple Databases for Training in Emotion Recognition: To Unite or to Vote?

We present an extensive study on the performance of data agglomeration and decision-level fusion for robust cross-corpus emotion recognition. We compare joint training with multiple databases and late fusion of classifiers trained on single databases, employing six frequently used corpora of natural or elicited emotion, namely ABC, AVIC, DES, eNTERFACE, SAL, VAM, and three classifiers i. e. SVM, Random Forests, Na¨ Bayes to best cover for singular effects. On average over classifier and database, data agglomeration and majority voting deliver relative improvements of unweighted accuracy by 9.0 % and 4.8 %, respectively, over single-database cross-corpus classification of arousal, while majority voting performs best for valence recognition.
A note on cubic convolution interpolation

We establish a link between classical osculatory interpolation and modern convolution-based interpolation and use it to show that two well-known cubic convolution schemes are formally equivalent to two osculatory interpolation schemes proposed in the actuarial literature about a century ago. We also discuss computational differences and give examples of other cubic interpolation schemes not previously studied in signal and image processing.
Self‐interest and collective action: The economics and psychology of public goods

Social psychology has become increasingly interested in problems posed by social dilemma situations such as ‘The Tragedy of the Commons’, where individuals acting in their own self-interest end up being worse off than if they had considered the interest of the ‘community as a whole’. The paper attempts to integrate social psychological thinking in this area with the economic theory of public goods. The economic distinction between private and public goods centres around the issue of ‘excludeability of consumption’: in contrast to private goods, which can only be consumed by the purchasers, a public good (e.g. clean air), once it has been provided, can be consumed by everybody, regardless of whether they contributed towards it. This non-excludeability of consumption induces ‘free-riding’, i.e. the temptation to share in the consumption of the public good without contributing to its provision. The temptation to free-ride is assumed to increase with increasing group size. The paper reviews evidence relevant to the free-rider hypothesis from four areas: behaviour in experimental games, simulations of market transactions, group productivity, and helping behaviour in emergency situations. It is argued that each of these situations involves the provision of a public good and evidence of free-riding as well as support for the relationship between free-riding and group size is presented. Based on the economic theory of public goods, a psychological interpretation of these findings is developed.