Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Odor Processing in Two Olfactory Pathways in the Honeybee

An important component in understanding central olfactory processing and coding in the insect brain relates to the characterization of the functional divisions between morphologically distinct types of projection neurons (PN). Using calcium imaging, we investigated how the identity, concentration and mixtures of odors are represented in axon terminals (boutons) of two types of PNs – lPN and mPN. In lPN boutons we found less concentration dependence, narrow tuning profiles at a high concentration, which may be optimized for fine, concentration-invariant odor discrimination. In mPN boutons, however, we found clear rising concentration dependence, broader tuning profiles at a high concentration, which may be optimized for concentration coding. In addition, we found more mixture suppression in lPNs than in mPNs, indicating lPNs better adaptation for synthetic mixture processing. These results suggest a functional division of odor processing in both PN types.
Wine fermentation microbiome: a landscape from different Portuguese wine appellations

Grapes and wine musts harbor a complex microbiome, which plays a crucial role in wine fermentation as it impacts on wine flavour and, consequently, on its final quality and value. Unveiling the microbiome and its dynamics, and understanding the ecological factors that explain such biodiversity, has been a challenge to oenology. In this work, we tackle this using a metagenomics approach to describe the natural microbial communities, both fungal and bacterial microorganisms, associated with spontaneous wine fermentations. For this, the wine microbiome, from six Portuguese wine appellations, was fully characterized as regards to three stages of fermentation – Initial Musts (IM), and Start and End of alcoholic fermentations (SF and EF, respectively). The wine fermentation process revealed a higher impact on fungal populations when compared with bacterial communities, and the fermentation evolution clearly caused a loss of the environmental microorganisms. Furthermore, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the fungal populations between IM, SF, and EF, and in the bacterial population between IM and SF. Fungal communities were characterized by either the presence of environmental microorganisms and phytopathogens in the IM, or yeasts associated with alcoholic fermentations in wine must samples as Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts (as Lachancea, Metschnikowia, Hanseniaspora, Hyphopichia, Sporothrix, Candida, and Schizosaccharomyces). Among bacterial communities, the most abundant family was Enterobacteriaceae; though families of species associated with the production of lactic acid (Lactobacillaceae, Leuconostocaceae) and acetic acid (Acetobacteriaceae) were also detected. Interestingly, a biogeographical correlation for both fungal and bacterial communities was identified between wine appellations at IM suggesting that each wine region contains specific and embedded microbial communities which may contribute to the uniqueness of regional wines.
iStart: A Web-Based Reading Strategy Intervention That Improves Students's Science Comprehension

This study examined the impact of an automated reading strategy trainer called the Interactive Strategy Trainer for Active Reading and Thinking (iSTART) for improving students’ reading comprehension of a science text. iSTART is an interactive trainer that utilizes animated agents to provide reading strategy instruction. The program contains both vicarious and interactive modules that provide adaptive feedback on the quality of students’ self-explanations. Thirtyeight children from an east coast middle school were assessed in terms of their prior knowledge, reading ability, and reading strategy knowledge. Half of the participants were provided with iSTART training. Comprehension of a science passage was assessed with text-based and bridging-inference questions. The results indicated that children with less prior knowledge about reading strategies performed significantly better on text-based questions if they received iSTART training. Conversely for high-strategy knowledge students, iSTART improved comprehension over control students for bridging–inference questions. The results support the need for user-adaptive intelligent tutoring systems.
Understanding the Socioemotional Worlds of English Learners: A Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT This mixed-methods study examined the socioemotional experiences of 57 alumni of language support programs (i.e., English as a second language, bilingual education) to identify effects of being English learners (ELs). Findings revealed the need for multicultural sensitivity to ELs, bullying episodes, social exclusion, and not disclosing negative experiences. Participants valued opportunities to meet diverse peers, appreciated teacher support, and viewed negative experiences as a source of motivation to achieve. Participants with greater numbers of negative experiences were less connected to ethnic communities, were more marginalized by their ethnic peers, and had lower school belonging. School- based support was correlated with school belonging and overall perceptions of support. Years in ESL classrooms was correlated with negative affect. Support from school and family along with ethnic identity and sense of connection to ethnic community were significant predictors of positive affect. Findings have implications for consultation and professional development of personnel working with ELs.
Playing the Wrong Game: An Experimental Analysis of Relational Complexity and Strategic Misrepresentation

It has been suggested that players often produce simplified and/or misspecified mental models of strategic decisions [Kreps, D. , 1990. Game Theory and Economic Modeling. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford]. We submit that the relational structure of players' preferences in a game is a source of cognitive complexity, and may be an important driver of such simplifications. We provide a classification of order structures in two-person games based on the properties of monotonicity and projectivity, and present experiments in which subjects construct representations of games of different relational complexity and subsequently play the games according to these representations. Experimental results suggest that relational complexity matters. More complex games are harder to represent, and this difficulty seems correlated with short term memory capacity. In addition, most erroneous representations are simpler than the correct ones. Finally, subjects who misrepresent the games behave consistently with such representations, suggesting that in many strategic settings individuals may act optimally on the ground of simplified and mistaken premises.
Multiuser Subcarrier and Power Allocation Algorithm for OFDM/Offset-QAM

In this letter, the multiuser bit and power allocation problem for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)/offset-quadrature amplitude modulation (OQAM) system is investigated. The signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) and required power expressions for the formulation of the problem in an OFDM/OQAM system are developed. Next, a suboptimal algorithm based on this formulation is proposed.
STUDIES ON THE REGULATION OF AVIDITY AT THE LEVEL OF THE SINGLE ANTIBODY-FORMING CELL

The hemolytic plaque formation of cells producing antibody against heterologous albumins was tested for sensitivity to specific inhibition by free antigen. The inhibition characteristics of plaques in this system were found to be a measure for the avidity of the antibody produced by the plaque-forming cells (PFC:s). High avidity-producing PFC:s were more sensitive to inhibition than low avidity PFC:s. Immunization with a high dose of antigen induced PFC:s that produced antibody with a lower avidity as compared to PFC:s from animals immunized with a low dose. The avidity was increased with time. Determinations of avidity at the serum level were also made, and the results were in agreement with the findings at the cellular level. The present method made it possible to demonstrate differences in avidity of antibody at the level of the single antibody-forming cell. It may also constitute a useful tool for the analysis of the cellular events leading to the production of antibodies with varying affinities during the immune response.
Critical Roles of Muscle-Secreted Angiogenic Factors in Therapeutic Neovascularization

The discovery of bone marrow–derived endothelial progenitors in the peripheral blood has promoted intensive studies on the potential of cell therapy for various human diseases. Accumulating evidence has suggested that implantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells effectively promotes neovascularization in ischemic tissues. It has also been reported that the implanted cells are incorporated not only into the newly formed vessels but also secrete angiogenic factors. However, the mechanism by which cell therapy improves tissue ischemia remains obscure. We enrolled 29 “no-option” patients with critical limb ischemia and treated ischemic limbs by implantation of peripheral mononuclear cells. Cell therapy using peripheral mononuclear cells was very effective for the treatment of limb ischemia, and its efficacy was associated with increases in the plasma levels of angiogenic factors, in particular interleukin-1&bgr; (IL-1&bgr;). We then examined an experimental model of limb ischemia using IL-1&bgr;–deficient mice. Implantation of IL-1&bgr;–deficient mononuclear cells improved tissue ischemia as efficiently as that of wild-type cells. Both wild-type and IL-1&bgr;–deficient mononuclear cells increased expression of IL-1&bgr; and thus induced angiogenic factors in muscle cells of ischemic limbs to a similar extent. In contrast, inability of muscle cells to secrete IL-1&bgr; markedly reduces induction of angiogenic factors and impairs neovascularization by cell implantation. Implanted cells do not secret angiogenic factors sufficient for neovascularization but, instead, stimulate muscle cells to produce angiogenic factors, thereby promoting neovascularization in ischemic tissues. Further studies will allow us to develop more effective treatments for ischemic vascular disease.
Reliability Generalization: Exploring Score Reliability Variance with Ryff’s Scale of Psychological Well-Being

The purpose of this study was to conduct a Reliability Generalization (RG; Vacha-Haase, 1998) for Ryff’s Scale of Psychological Well-Being (PWB; Ryff, 1989) to characterize the average score reliability, the variability of the score reliability, and explore possible sample and test characteristics that influenced score reliability across studies. Studies were included in the current investigation if they had been published in a peer-reviewed journal, used one or more subscales of the Ryff’s PWB, estimated coefficient alpha value(s) for the PWB subscale(s) used, and were written in English. Out of the 924 articles generated by the search strategy, a total of 264 articles were included in the final sample for meta-analysis. The average coefficient alpha for the composite PWB scale was 0.858, with mean coefficient alphas ranging from 0.722 for the Autonomy subscale to 0.801 for the Self-Acceptance subscale. Statistically significant heterogeneity was present across all mean coefficient alphas (p < .05), with the heterogeneity index above 95% for both composite and subscale alphas. Consequently, select sample and test characteristics of the primary studies were explored as possible moderator variables on coefficient alpha estimates, with significant differences in score reliability estimates across select demographic and test characteristics. Test length accounted for the majority of variance among alpha coefficients with R 2 values ranging from 40% on the Environmental Mastery subscale to 71% on the Self-Acceptance subscales across the primary studies. In light of the current findings, implications for researchers using Ryff’s PWB including informed score reliability reporting practices are discussed. RELIABILITY GENERALIZATION iv
Consumption in the Age of Affluence: The World of Food

With growing affluence in the developed world, food has become an increasing focus for attention. Here, the authors argue that in order to understand the extensive and dramatic developments in the world of food, a new interdisciplinary approach is necessary. The Age of Affluence successfully addresses food consumption in this way. The volume: * argues the importance of socioeconomic and cultural factors over diet, in influencing the production, marketing and consumption of different groups of foods; * places food systems theory on sound analytical foundations; * draws critically upon food systems literature; * includes case studies from the sugar, dairy and meat systems; * employs novel statistical techniques to identify and explain distinct patterns of food consumption; The book will help to revitalize the discipline of food studies and points the way forward for the continuing study of food consumption. As such, it will be invaluable to students, researchers and policymakers engaged in the world of food.
Satellite altimeter measurements of surface wind

Geophysical model functions (GMFs) for altimeter wind speed measurements are described. These GMFs account for an effect of the actual degree of sea development on the radar cross section by utilizing information on the significant wave height. The wind speed measurement accuracy achieved (the overall bias 0.1 m/s and the rms error about 1.6 m/s) is higher than the accuracy of commonly employed GMFs while the wave-age-related trend is reduced to a geophysically insignificant level. <<ETX>>
The Effects of Multimedia Learning and Vocabulary Mastery on Students’ Japanese Reading Skills

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of multimedia learning and vocabulary mastery on students’ Japanese Reading skills which used two-way treatment experiment design. This research was conducted at The Japanese Language Program, Faculty of Humanities – UNSOED with 48 students as the sample. The method used in this study was an experimental method with treatment by level 2 x 2 design. The formulation of this research was the effect of Rosetta Stone and Tell Me More Japanese multimedia learning against Japanese reading skill and the effect of vocabulary (high and low) to the Japanese reading skills. The results of this study are students’ Japanese reading skills presented by “Rosetta Stone” is better than those presented by “Tell Me More Japanese”. There are any effects of interaction among multimedia learning and vocabulary mastery on students’ Japanese Reading skills. Besides that, students’ Japanese Reading skills who have high-level vocabulary mastery and presented by “Rosetta Stone” is better than those presented by “Tell Me More Japanese”. Then, students’ Japanese Reading skills who have low-level vocabulary mastery and presented by “Tell Me More Japanese” is better than those presented by “Rosetta Stone”.
What Is the Accretion Rate in Sagittarius A*?

The radio source Sagittarius A* at the center of our Galaxy is believed to be a 2.6×106 M black hole that accretes gas from the winds of nearby stars. We show that limits on the X-ray and infrared emission from the Galactic center provide an upper limit of ~8×10-5 M yr-1 on the mass accretion rate in Sgr A*. The advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) model favors a rate of ≲10-5 M☉ yr-1. In comparison, the Bondi accretion rate onto Sgr A*, estimated using the observed spatial distribution of mass-losing stars and assuming noninteracting stellar winds, is ~3×10-5 M☉ yr-1. Thus, there is rough agreement between the Bondi, the ADAF, and the X-ray-inferred accretion rates for Sgr A*. We discuss uncertainties in these estimates, emphasizing the importance of upcoming observations by the Chandra X-ray Observatory for tightening the X-ray-derived limits.
The Centre for Market and Public Organisation Motivating Knowledge Agents: Can Incentive Pay Overcome Social Distance? Motivating Knowledge Agents: Can Incentive Pay Overcome Social Distance?

The Centre for Market and Public Organisation (CMPO) is a leading research centre, combining expertise in economics, geography and law. Our objective is to study the intersection between the public and private sectors of the economy, and in particular to understand the right way to organise and deliver public services. The Centre aims to develop research, contribute to the public debate and inform policy-making. CMPO, now an ESRC Research Centre was established in 1998 with two large grants from The Leverhulme Trust. In 2004 we were awarded ESRC Research Centre status, and CMPO now combines core funding from both the ESRC and the Trust. Abstract This paper studies the interaction of incentive pay and social distance in the dissemination of information. We analyse theoretically as well as empirically the effect of incentive pay when agents have pro-social objectives, but also preferences over dealing with one social group relative to another. In a randomised field experiment undertaken across 151 villages in South India, local agents were hired to spread information about a public health insurance programme. Relative to at pay, incentive pay improves knowledge transmission to households that are socially distant from the agent, but not to households similar to the agent.
Multiple Baseline Radar Interferometry Applied to Coastal Land Cover Classification and Change Analyses

ERS-1 and ERS-2 SAR data were collected in tandem over a four-month period and used to generate interferometric coherence, phase, and intensity products that we compared to a classified land cover coastal map of Big Bend, Florida. Forests displayed the highest intensity, and marshes the lowest. The intensity for fresh marsh and forests progressively shifted while saline marsh intensity variance distribution changed with the season. Intensity variability suggested instability between temporal comparisons. Forests, especially hardwoods, displayed lower coherences and marshes higher. Only marshes retained coherence after 70 days. Coherence was more responsive to land cover class than intensity and provided discrimination in winter. Phase distributions helped reveal variation in vegetation structure, identify broad land cover classes and unique within-class variations, and estimate water-level changes.
Six sigma: a literature review analysis

Six Sigma (SS) methodology is nowadays one of the most used approaches in the Quality Management field since its benefits coming from the improvement of the process outputs quality by identifying and removing the causes of defects and variability in manufacturing and business processes. Thus, literature on the SS topic is exponentially increased during last decades; the vast number of works on the SS field represents a good opportunity for a structured literature review of the articles, in order to understand the evolutions of the concept, the fields of its application and possible evolution for further studies. The literature review has been carried out by using a chronological review of the main SS approaches developed both for large and small companies, in order to highlight particular aspects of the SS literature and some applications of the SS methodology. The evaluation of the papers found in literature is carried out through a Strengths-Weaknesses criterion. Moreover, for those treating the application of the SS methodology into both big companies both Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), an assessment has been carried out based on the accordance with some milestones identified as necessary for every SS system. Finally the paper argues the possible further developments of the research field.
Dynamics of magnetic flux tubes in close binary stars

Observations of magnetically active close binaries with orbital periods of a few days reveal the existence of starspots at preferred longitudes (with respect to the direction of the companion star). We numerically investigate the non-linear dynamics and evolution of magnetic flux tubes in the convection zone of a fast-rotating component of a close binary system and explore whether the tidal effects are able to generate non-uniformities in the surface distribution of erupting flux tubes. Assuming a synchronised system with a rotation period of two days and consisting of two solar-type components, both the tidal force and the deviation of the stellar structure from spherical shape are considered in lowest-order perturbation theory. The magnetic field is initially stored in the form of toroidal magnetic flux rings within the stably stratified overshoot region beneath the convection zone. Once the field has grown sufficiently strong, instabilities initiate the formation of rising flux loops, which rise through the convection zone and emerge at the stellar surface. We find that although the magnitude of tidal effects is rather small, they nevertheless lead to the formation of clusters of flux tube eruptions at preferred longitudes on opposite sides of the star, which result from the cumulative and resonant character of the action of tidal effects on rising flux tubes. The longitude distribution of the clusters depends on the initial parameters of flux tubes in the overshoot region like magnetic field strength and latitude, implying that there is no globally unique preferred longitude along a fixed direction.
Accessory Subunit KChIP2 Modulates the Cardiac L-Type Calcium Current

Complex modulation of voltage-gated Ca2+ currents through the interplay among Ca2+ channels and various Ca2+-binding proteins is increasingly being recognized. The K+ channel interacting protein 2 (KChIP2), originally identified as an auxiliary subunit for KV4.2 and a component of the transient outward K+ channel (Ito), is a Ca2+-binding protein whose regulatory functions do not appear restricted to KV4.2. Consequently, we hypothesized that KChIP2 is a direct regulator of the cardiac L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L). We found that ICa,L density from KChIP2−/− myocytes is reduced by 28% compared to ICa,L recorded from wild-type myocytes (P<0.05). This reduction in current density results from loss of a direct effect on the Ca2+ channel current, as shown in a transfected cell line devoid of confounding cardiac ion currents. ICa,L regulation by KChIP2 was independent of Ca2+ binding to KChIP2. Biochemical analysis suggested a direct interaction between KChIP2 and the CaV1.2 &agr;1C subunit N terminus. We found that KChIP2 binds to the N-terminal inhibitory module of &agr;1C and augments ICa,L current density without increasing CaV1.2 protein expression or trafficking to the plasma membrane. We propose a model in which KChIP2 impedes the N-terminal inhibitory module of CaV1.2, resulting in increased ICa,L. In the context of recent reports that KChIP2 modulates multiple KV and NaV currents, these results suggest that KChIP2 is a multimodal regulator of cardiac ionic currents.
Network-based multiple locus linkage analysis of expression traits

MOTIVATION We consider the problem of multiple locus linkage analysis for expression traits of genes in a pathway or a network. To capitalize on co-expression of functionally related genes, we propose a penalized regression method that maps multiple expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) for all related genes simultaneously while accounting for their shared functions as specified a priori by a gene pathway or network. RESULTS An analysis of a mouse dataset and simulation studies clearly demonstrate the advantage of the proposed method over a standard approach that ignores biological knowledge of gene networks.