Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Context-dependent memory decay is evidence of effort minimization in motor learning: a computational study

Recent theoretical models suggest that motor learning includes at least two processes: error minimization and memory decay. While learning a novel movement, a motor memory of the movement is gradually formed to minimize the movement error between the desired and actual movements in each training trial, but the memory is slightly forgotten in each trial. The learning effects of error minimization trained with a certain movement are partially available in other non-trained movements, and this transfer of the learning effect can be reproduced by certain theoretical frameworks. Although most theoretical frameworks have assumed that a motor memory trained with a certain movement decays at the same speed during performing the trained movement as non-trained movements, a recent study reported that the motor memory decays faster during performing the trained movement than non-trained movements, i.e., the decay rate of motor memory is movement or context dependent. Although motor learning has been successfully modeled based on an optimization framework, e.g., movement error minimization, the type of optimization that can lead to context-dependent memory decay is unclear. Thus, context-dependent memory decay raises the question of what is optimized in motor learning. To reproduce context-dependent memory decay, I extend a motor primitive framework. Specifically, I introduce motor effort optimization into the framework because some previous studies have reported the existence of effort optimization in motor learning processes and no conventional motor primitive model has yet considered the optimization. Here, I analytically and numerically revealed that context-dependent decay is a result of motor effort optimization. My analyses suggest that context-dependent decay is not merely memory decay but is evidence of motor effort optimization in motor learning.
Femtosecond studies of protein-DNA binding and dynamics: histone I.

In this contribution, we report studies of the nature of binding interactions and dynamics of protein histone I (H1) with ligands in solution and as a complex with DNA, an important biological process for the higher-order structure in chromatin. With femtosecond time resolution, we examined the role of solvation by water, the micropolarity at the interface of the binding site(s) of H1, and the rigidity of the complex structure. We used two biologically common fluorescent probes: 2-(p-toluidino)naphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS) and 5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride (DC). By noncovalently attaching TNS and covalently adducting DC to the binding sites we found that the solvation dynamics, which occur within 1 ps, for the probe at the protein surface and in bulk solution are comparable, indicating the significant contribution of bulk water shells. However, the local polarity changes significantly, reflecting the change in dielectric properties at the protein/water interface. The binding structure of the protein-DNA complex was examined by the local orientational motion of the probe. The covalently bound DC molecule, sandwiched between the protein and DNA, was found to be frozen, revealing the very rigid structure at the recognition site, while, for noncovalently bound TNS, the complexes displace the probe. The dynamical rigidity of the complex, and the role of solvation and interface polarity, elucidate the strong recognition mechanism between DNA and the protein by electrostatic interactions, which are important to the compactness and to chromatin condensation in the biological function.
The impact of the COMT genotype and cognitive demands on facets of Intra-Subject Variability

1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg 2Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg 3School of Psychology, Bangor University 4Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University 5Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne 6Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center of Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel 7Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece 8School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University
Composite Model Analysis in Forecasting the Malaysian Imports

For more than a century, forecasting models have been crucial in a variety of fields. Models can offer the most accurate forecasting outcomes if error terms are normally distributed. Finding out a good statistical model for time series predicting imports in Malaysia is the main target of this study. The decision made during this study mostly addresses Vector Error Correction Method (VECM), composite model (Combined regression-ARIMA), and ARIMA model. The imports of Malaysia from the first quarter of 1991 to the first quarter of 2023 are employed in this study’s quarterly time series data. The forecasting outcomes of the current study demonstrated that the composite model offered more probabilistic data, which improved forecasting the volume of Malaysia’s imports. The (ARIMA) mode, composite model, and VECM model in this study are linear models based on responses to Malaysia’s imports. Future studies might compare the performance of nonlinear and linear models in forecasting.
EFFECTS OF POLLEN QUANTITY ON PROGENY VIGOR: EVIDENCE FROM THE DESERT MUSTARD LESQUERELLA FENDLERI

Intense competition among pollen grains for access to ovules often increases progeny vigor (Mulcahy 1971, 1979; Mulcahy and Mulcahy 1975; Mulcahy et al. 1975; McKenna 1986; Winsor et al. 1987; Bertin 1990; Schlichting et al. 1990; Richardson and Stephenson 1992; Janse and Verhaegh 1993; Quesada et al. 1993, 1996a,b; Palmer and Zimmerman 1994; but see Smith et al. 1990; Snow 1990, 1991). The most common explanation for this is that selection on gametophytes is an efficient means for removing deleterious alleles at loci important for both gametophytic and sporophytic life stages (Charlesworth and Charlesworth 1992; Hormaza and Herrero 1992; Stephenson et al. 1992). Gametophytic selection therefore has been proposed as an important factor in the success of angiosperms (Mulcahy 1979). Studies of pollen competition and progeny vigor usually involve variation in the number of pollen grains applied to stigmas or of the distance pollen tubes must travel to reach ovules (utilizing natural or artificial variation style length). Studies of the latter type invariably show significant effects on progeny vigor (Mulcahy and Mulcahy 1975; Ter-Avanesian 1978; McKenna and Mulcahy 1983; Lee and Hartgerink 1986; McKenna 1986). However, effects of pollen load size are less consistent (e.g., Winsor et al. 1987; Bertin 1990; Smith et al. 1990; Snow 1990, 1991; Palmer and Zimmerman 1994). Furthermore, most studies to date involve cultivated plant species (but see Snow 1990, 1991; Richardson and Stephenson 1992), which may respond differently than wild plants because of their history of close inbreeding and hybridization. To better understand the effects of pollen competition on progeny vigor, and why results vary among different studies, more empirical data are needed. Here I report results from a study of the effects of pollen load size on progeny vigor for a native, desert mustard (Lesquerellafendleri; Brassicaceae). I then review published studies of the effects of pollen load size on progeny vigor, considering why results may vary among methods and species.
Improved in Vitro Efficacy of Gold Nanoconstructs by Increased Loading of G-quadruplex Aptamer

This paper describes how in vitro efficacy of aptamer-loaded gold nanostars (Apt-AuNS) can be enhanced by the increased loading of a G-quadruplex homodimer AS1411 (Apt) on the AuNS surface. In a low pH buffer environment, the loading density of Apt on AuNS was increased up to 2.5 times that obtained using the conventional salt-aging process. These highly loaded AuNS nanoconstructs (*Apt-AuNS) were taken up in pancreatic cancer and fibrosarcoma cells ca. 2 times more and at faster rates compared to Apt-AuNS. When a similar number of AuNS carriers was internalized by the cancer cells, the amount of AS1411 delivered via *Apt-AuNS was effectively double that of Apt-AuNS, and *Apt-AuNS resulted in an average of 42% increase in cell death. These results suggest that increasing the loading density on AuNS could provide a simple means to improve uptake as well as in vitro efficacy of the nanoconstructs in cancer cells.
A clinical trial report of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in patients with spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disease. An effective strategy for the treatment of SCI is urgently required. Stem cell transplantation has emerged as a viable therapeutic option with great potential for restoring neurological function lost following SCI. From 2009 to 2010, a total of 20 SCI patients were enrolled in a clinical trial by Wuhan Hongqiao Brain Hospital; all patients completed and signed informed consent prior to autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation. Analysis of subsequent treatment results indicated significant improvements in sensory, motor and autonomic nerve function as assessed by the American Spinal Injury Association’s impairment scale. Thirty days after transplantation, a total of 15 patients (75%) demonstrated improvement, including four of the eight patients (50%) with grade A SCI, three of the four patients (75%) with grade B injury and all eight patients (100%) with grade C injury. The most common adverse events, fever and headache, disappeared within 24–48 h without treatment.
A Convergence Theorem for the Graph Shift-type Algorithms

Graph Shift (GS) algorithms are recently focused as a promising approach for discovering dense subgraphs in noisy data. However, there are no theoretical foundations for proving the convergence of the GS Algorithm. In this paper, we propose a generic theoretical framework consisting of three key GS components: simplex of generated sequence set, monotonic and continuous objective function and closed mapping. We prove that GS algorithms with such components can be transformed to fit the Zangwill's convergence theorem, and the sequence set generated by the GS procedures always terminates at a local maximum, or at worst, contains a subsequence which converges to a local maximum of the similarity measure function. The framework is verified by expanding it to other GS-type algorithms and experimental results.
Studies On Biological Control Of Major Cankers Of Apple

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) belongs to family Rosaceae, the oldest temperate fruit known to the western world is very popular worldover and has assumed ^excellent global market because of its varied size, shape, colour, taste, texture, aroma and nutritive value matching the needs and desires of the people. Although, it is grown in 62 countries of the world over an area of 5685.29 thousand hectares with the production and productivity of 60896 thousand metric tonnes and 11.06 tonnes/hectare, respectively (Jindal and Gautam, 200Z-), but its major production comes from United States of America, United Kingdom, China, India, Turky, Poland, Newzealand, Netherland, France, Iran etc.
Measuring the perceptions of prospective teachers: Planning technology-based learning during the Covid-19 pandemic

Online learning planning presents unique challenges that aspiring teachers must prepare for. This study aims to identify potential teachers' perspectives on designing technology-based instruction. Competency dimensions were created based on the findings of focused group discussions (FGD) with teachers and lecturers, which resulted in aspects of social networking, managing digital identity, filtering, creating content, and reusing. Following the FGD, indicators of nine dimensions—pre-learning, opening planning, material mastery, learning models, learning resources, student involvement, assessment of processes and results, interaction mastery, and closing learning—were created. Samples were taken through simple random sampling of 250 prospective teachers in education study programs at Jenderal Soedirman University, Sebelas Maret University, IKIP PGRI Bojonegoro, PGRI University Yogyakarta, and Surabaya State University. From these competencies, construction testing through confirmatory factor analysis shows a chi-s Square of 1063.59 with df= 32 (required criteria for chi-s Square 2df), p-value 0.000 (required criteria ≥ 0.05), even though the Root value of the Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) has met the required criteria of ≤ 0.08, namely 0.072. Testing on the measurement model generated 32 items and nine indicators of prospective teachers' perceptions of planning technology-based learning. The four competencies of pre-learning, planning to open learning, and closing learning have the highest scale of abilities attained. The learning resources and media created by future teachers have the lowest aptitude.
Uniform Coverage of Automotive Surface Patches

In spray painting applications, it is essential to generate a spray gun trajectory such that the entire surface is completely covered and receives an acceptably uniform layer of paint deposition; we call this the “uniform coverage” problem. The uniform coverage problem is challenging because the atomizer emits a non-trivial paint distribution, thus making the relationships between the spray gun trajectory and the deposition uniformity complex. To understand the key issues involved in uniform coverage, we consider surface patches that are geodesically convex and topologically simple as representative of subsets of realistic automotive surfaces. In addition to ensuring uniform paint deposition on the surface, our goal is to also minimize the associated process cycle time and paint waste. Based on the relationships between the spray gun trajectory and the output characteristics (i.e., uniformity, cycle time and paint waste), our approach decomposes the coverage trajectory generation problem into three subproblems: (1) selecting a seed curve, (2) determining a speed profile along each pass, and (3) selecting the spacing between successive passes. Using concepts such as area magnification and the Gauss-Bonnet theorem from differential geometry, as well as standard optimization procedures, we present procedures to solve each subproblem independently from the others. We demonstrate our trajectory planning procedures by approximating real automotive surfaces by simple surfaces in simulation, and finally evaluate the effectiveness of our algorithms experimentally on real automotive surfaces.
Internal Motivation, Perceived Health Competency, and Health Literacy in Primary and Secondary Cancer Prevention

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify associations of internal motivation, perceived health competency, and health literacy with primary and secondary cancer prevention. Methods: A telephone survey was conducted with a sample of 2,700, 30-69 year olds, proportionally extracted from Gangwon Province, South Korea. The dependent variables were actions in primary and secondary prevention and the explanatory variables were 13 questions in three areas: internal motivation (4 items), perceived health competency (4 items), and health literacy (5 items). Result: Multiple linear regression analysis showed that internal motivation, perceived health competency, and health literacy positively impacted primary prevention after controlling for gender and age. As internal motivation, perceived health competency, and perceived literacy increased by 1 point, primary prevention scores increased by 0.11, 0.11, and 0.07 points, respectively. In addition, logistic regression results for secondary prevention showed that health literacy had a positive impact on secondary behavior. As health literacy increased by 1 point, the odds ratio of the practice of secondary prevention was 1.4 times higher. Conclusion: This study suggests that primary and secondary prevention of cancer are significantly related to intrinsic motivation factors, perceived health competency, and actual health literacy. Health literacy concepts that cover the capacity of health management in comprehensive areas need to be applied to education and promotion for improvement of primary and secondary prevention of cancer.
Collaboration on Reference to Objects That Are Not Mutually Known

In conversation, a person sometimes has to refer to an object that is not previously known to the other participant. We present a plan-based model of how agents collaborate on reference of this sort. In making a reference, an agent uses the most salient attributes of the referent. In understanding a reference, an agent determines his confidence in its adequacy as a means of identifying the referent. To collaborate, the agents use judgment, suggestion, and elaboration moves to refashion an inadequate referring expression.
Antibacterial Potency of Various Concentrations of Pineapple Peel Extract (Ananas comosus) against Enterococcus faecalis

Introduction: Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive bacterium commonly found in cases of failed root canal treatment. Irrigation material with antibacterial effects are important in supporting the success of root canal treatment. Pineapple peel as a natural ingredient is reported to contain compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and bromelain enzymes that have been proven antibacterial effects. Purpose: To determine antibacterial potency of pineapple peel extract (Ananas comosus) with concentrations of 1.56%, 3.125%, 6.25% and 12.5% against E. faecalis. Methods: In vitro quasi-laboratory experimental study with a post-test only control group design consisting of pineapple peel extract with concentrations of 1.56%, 3.125%, 6.25%, 12.5%, and aquadest as negative control with repetition 6 times. The inhibition test was determined using the disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton Agar media. The MIC value can be determined using the broth dilution method and the MBC value can be determined using the solid dilution method. The inhibition zone diameter data were analyzed using One Way ANOVA test and Post Hoc Tukey test. Results: Pineapple peel extract with concentrations 12,5% had the largest mean inhibition zone, which is was 3.13 mm. The MIC and MBC values of pineapple peel extract were determined at a concentration of 6.25%. Conclusion: Pineapple peel extract (Ananas comosus) has antibacterial potency against Enterococcus faecalis.
Developmental and reproductive effects of chemicals associated with unconventional oil and natural gas operations

Abstract Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations have the potential to increase air and water pollution in communities located near UOG operations. Every stage of UOG operation from well construction to extraction, operations, transportation, and distribution can lead to air and water contamination. Hundreds of chemicals are associated with the process of unconventional oil and natural gas production. In this work, we review the scientific literature providing evidence that adult and early life exposure to chemicals associated with UOG operations can result in adverse reproductive health and developmental effects in humans. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) and formaldehyde] and heavy metals (including arsenic, cadmium and lead) are just a few of the known contributors to reduced air and water quality that pose a threat to human developmental and reproductive health. The developing fetus is particularly sensitive to environmental factors, which include air and water pollution. Research shows that there are critical windows of vulnerability during prenatal and early postnatal development, during which chemical exposures can cause potentially permanent damage to the growing embryo and fetus. Many of the air and water pollutants found near UOG operation sites are recognized as being developmental and reproductive toxicants; therefore there is a compelling need to increase our knowledge of the potential health consequences for adults, infants, and children from these chemicals through rapid and thorough health research investigation.
Double Acid-Base Extraction of Silicic Acid from Quartz Sand

Silica is becoming more attractive as plant nutrient for non-graminae crops particularly in relation with drought-stress tolerant. Many efforts have been conducted to obtain an efficient technique to produce silica fertilizer worldwide, but the results are varying considerably due to various factors including raw material and extraction technique. This study was carried out to develop an efficient extraction technique for ortho-silicic acid (OSA-H4SiO4) from a Bangka-Belitung quartz sand by employing acid-base dissolution method. A 325-mesh size quartz sand was boiled in HCl solution at various concentrations. The optimum concentration was then used in the following experiment at several different volumes of solution. The sand obtained from optimum concentration and volume of HCl solution was then reacted with different amounts of NaOH (s), and heated until a wet mixture was obtained. As a reference the best extraction conditions were applied to a natural zeolite sample. All OSA analyses were done in triplicates with spectrophotometric method. Supporting evidences were collected from x-ray diffraction and scanning-electron-microscopy analyses of the treated samples. The yield of quartz sand-originated OSA was 183 g·kg-1 and significantly increased linearly with increasing weight of NaOH (R2 = 0.99**), whereas that from zeolite was only 104.2 g·kg-1 at 80 g NaOH. XRD and SEM data confirmed the evidences that the acid-base extraction disrupted the quartz mineral structure and as a consequence releasing more water soluble OSA.
A Construction for Sets of Integers with Distinct Subset Sums

A set S of positive integers has distinct subset sums if there are $2^{|S|}$ distinct elements of the set $\left\{ \sum_{x \in X} x: X \subset S \right\} . $ Let $$f(n) = \min\{ \max S: |S|=n {\rm \hskip2mm and \hskip2mm} S {\rm \hskip2mm has \hskip2mm distinct \hskip2mm subset \hskip2mm sums}\}. $$ Erdős conjectured $ f(n) \ge c2^{n}$ for some constant c. We give a construction that yields $f(n)
Mating Success, Longevity, and Fertility of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) in Relation to Body Size and Cry3Bb1-Resistant and Cry3Bb1-Susceptible Genotypes

Insect resistance to population control methodologies is a widespread problem. The development of effective resistance management programs is often dependent on detailed knowledge regarding the biology of individual species and changes in that biology associated with resistance evolution. This study examined the reproductive behavior and biology of western corn rootworm beetles of known body size from lines resistant and susceptible to the Cry3Bb1 protein toxin expressed in transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis maize. In crosses between, and within, the resistant and susceptible genotypes, no differences occurred in mating frequency, copulation duration, courtship duration, or fertility; however, females mated with resistant males showed reduced longevity. Body size did not vary with genotype. Larger males and females were not more likely to mate than smaller males and females, but larger females laid more eggs. Moderately strong, positive correlation occurred between the body sizes of successfully mated males and females; however, weak correlation also existed for pairs that did not mate. Our study provided only limited evidence for fitness costs associated with the Cry3Bb1-resistant genotype that might reduce the persistence in populations of the resistant genotype but provided additional evidence for size-based, assortative mating, which could favor the persistence of resistant genotypes affecting body size.