Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Control of Auxin Transport in Parasitic and Symbiotic Root–Microbe Interactions

Most field-grown plants are surrounded by microbes, especially from the soil. Some of these, including bacteria, fungi and nematodes, specifically manipulate the growth and development of their plant hosts, primarily for the formation of structures housing the microbes in roots. These developmental processes require the correct localization of the phytohormone auxin, which is involved in the control of cell division, cell enlargement, organ development and defense, and is thus a likely target for microbes that infect and invade plants. Some microbes have the ability to directly synthesize auxin. Others produce specific signals that indirectly alter the accumulation of auxin in the plant by altering auxin transport. This review highlights root–microbe interactions in which auxin transport is known to be targeted by symbionts and parasites to manipulate the development of their host root system. We include case studies for parasitic root–nematode interactions, mycorrhizal symbioses as well as nitrogen fixing symbioses in actinorhizal and legume hosts. The mechanisms to achieve auxin transport control that have been studied in model organisms include the induction of plant flavonoids that indirectly alter auxin transport and the direct targeting of auxin transporters by nematode effectors. In most cases, detailed mechanisms of auxin transport control remain unknown.
Use, Attitudes and Knowledge of Complementary and Alternative Drugs (CADs) Among Pregnant Women: a Preliminary Survey in Tuscany

To explore pregnant women's use, attitudes, knowledge and beliefs of complementary and alternative drugs (CADs) defined as products manufactured from herbs or with a natural origin. A preliminary survey was conducted among 172 pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy, consecutively recruited in two obstetrical settings; 15 women were randomly selected to compute a test-to-retest analysis. Response rate was 87.2%. Test-to-retest analysis showed a questionnaire's reproducibility exceeding a K-value of 0.7 for all items. Mean age was 32.4 ± 0.4 years; most women were nulliparae (62.7%). The majority of subjects (68%) declared to have used one or more CADs during their lifetime; 48% of pregnant women reported taking at least one CAD previously and during the current pregnancy. Women's habitual use of CADs meant they were at higher risk of taking CADs also during pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio = 10.8; 95% confidence interval: 4.7–25.0). Moreover, 59.1% of the subjects were unable to correctly identify the type of CADs they were using. The majority of women resorted to gynecologists as the primary information source for CADs during pregnancy, while they mainly referred to herbalists when not pregnant. Habitual use of CADs seems to be a strong predictor for their ingestion also during pregnancy; in addition most subjects were unable to correctly identify the products they were taking. In the light of the scanty data concerning the safety of CADs during pregnancy, these preliminary results confirm the need to investigate thoroughly the situation of pregnant women and CADs consumption.
Detection of mutations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in human melanoma.

PURPOSE Recent studies suggest that activating point mutations in B-RAF may commonly occur in melanoma. We devised a method to detect point mutations in heterogeneous tissues containing both wild-type and mutant B-RAF and N-RAS genes by using site-directed mutagenesis to introduce new restrictions sites in the cDNA sequence when the specific point mutations are present. We used this technique to determine the incidence of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) mutations in human melanoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We screened 85 melanoma samples for the most common B-RAF and N-RAS mutations found in melanoma using a site-directed mutagenesis-based detection technique. Western blotting was used to evaluate downstream up-regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in these tissues. RESULTS Thirty-three samples (7 of 25 primaries, 15 of 25 regional metastases, 5 of 25 nodal metastases, and 6 of 10 distant metastases) harbored the V599E B-RAF mutation (39%), 12 contained a Q61R N-RAS mutation and 5 a Q61K N-RAS mutation. Western blotting with antiphosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 antibodies demonstrated up-regulation of the MAPK pathway in samples containing activating B-RAF or N-RAS mutations compared with wild-type samples. This method of detection was sensitive and specific with no false positives. CONCLUSIONS Activating mutations of the MAPK pathway were present in approximately 60% of samples tested and caused activation of this cellular pathway that appears to be important in the pathogenesis of melanoma.
Dynamic performance of sensorless induction motor drives with two control systems based on multiscalar models

Application of the speed observer to two types of non-linear control systems of the induction motor is considered in the paper. The control systems are based on multiscalar models of the induction motor. Properties of the control systems are considered in dependence on two types of the multiscalar models of the induction motor pointed out in the paper. Simulations and experiments have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed scheme
Realization of Speech Functions in Shampoo’s Slogan in Television Advertisement

This study deals with speech function in shampoo’s slogans in television advertisement. The objectives of this study were to describe the speech functions linguistically coded in shampoo’s slogan of television advertisement, to examine out the types of speech functions used in shampoo’s slogan of television advertisement, to derive out the dominant types of speech functions used in shampoo’s slogan of television advertisement, to explain reasons for the used of the dominant speech functions. The data were collected by using content analysis technique. The data were shampoo’s slogans which were taken from advertising media like television, internet or billboard The data were analyzed based on the theory of speech function proposed by, Saragih (2000:9). There were found 11 slogans which consist of Speech Functions. The research finding, there were only 4 speech functions found in the slogans. They were statement, question, command, and offer. The most dominant speech function used was statement (90.9%).
Importance of Standards in Testing Technical English for Engineering Students of Tamil Nadu

ABSTRACT Employability of engineers has become questionable in the recent years. One of the reasons for poor employability skills is the lack of communication skills in English. Teaching of English language is not augmented by testing of English. The technical English syllabus for engineering students advocates teaching of all the four language skills but does not specify testing of these language skills. After teaching the skills, testing is done on reading and writing skills in English. Listening and speaking are not tested in the first year of study. After testing is done, grades are awarded based on the marks the students score in the examination, but the grades are not valid or reliable as the grades do not relate to the ability of the student per se. The grade places the student according to the criterion for pass in Technical English but does not shed light on the language ability of the student. This paper highlights some of the issues in testing Technical English for engineering graduates, and the advantages of examinations if standardised.
Optimality-theoretic pragmatics

The article aims to give an overview about the application of Optimality Theory (OT) to the domain of pragmatics. In the introductory part we discuss different ways to view the division of labor between semantics and pragmatics. Rejecting the doctrine of literal meaning we conform to (i) semantic underdetermination and (ii) contextualism (the idea that the mechanism of pragmatic interpretation is crucial both for determining what the speaker says and what he means). Taking the assumptions (i) and (ii) as essential requisites for a natural theory of pragmatic interpretation, section 2 introduces the three main views conforming to these assumptions: Relevance theory, Levinson’s theory of presumptive meanings, and the Neo-Gricean approach. In section 3 we explain the general paradigm of OT and the idea of bidirectional optimization. We show how the idea of optimal interpretation can be used to restructure the core ideas of these three different approaches. Further, we argue that bidirectional OT has the potential to account both for the synchronic and the diachronic perspective on pragmatic interpretation. Section 4 lists relevant examples of using the framework of bidirectional optimization in the domain of pragmatics. Section 5 provides some general conclusions. Modeling both for the synchronic and the diachronic perspective on pragmatics opens the way for a deeper understanding of the idea of naturalization and (cultural) embodiment in the context of natural language interpretation.
Effects of a one-shot growth mindset intervention on beliefs about intelligence and achievement goals

Abstract This investigation employed a longitudinal design to examine the influence of a one-shot growth mindset intervention on ninth-graders’ implicit beliefs about intelligence and related achievement goals in four different samples. The intervention conformed to characteristics of ‘wise interventions’. Participants’ incremental beliefs about intelligence and achievement goals were measured prior to the intervention and at several subsequent points in time following the intervention. Our results provide modest evidence that the one-shot intervention can promote incremental views of intelligence and reduce the prevalence of performance goals when used at scale.
Simulating supervision: How do managers respond to a crisis?

ABSTRACT Supervision is fundamental to child and family social work practice, in England as elsewhere, yet there is little research regarding what managers and social workers do when they meet to discuss the families they are working with. Recent years have seen a growing interest in the use of simulated clients and objective structured clinical exams to help develop and evaluate the abilities of social workers and students. This paper describes a study of 30 simulated supervision sessions between English social work managers and an actor playing the role of a student social worker in need of support. The simulation concerns a referral regarding an incident of domestic abuse. During the simulations, managers typically asked closed questions to obtain more information before providing solutions for the supervisee in the form of advice and direction. There was little evidence of emotional support for the social worker, nor empathy with the family. Managers typically acted as expert problem-solvers. The implications of this are discussed in relation to current theoretical models of supervision for child and family social work and in relation to how children’s services responds to domestic abuse.
Easy Things First: Installments Improve Referring Expression Generation for Objects in Photographs

Research on generating referring expressions has so far mostly focussed on “one-shot reference”, where the aim is to generate a single, discriminating expression. In interactive settings, however, it is not uncommon for reference to be established in “installments”, where referring information is offered piecewise until success has been conﬁrmed. We show that this strategy can also be advantageous in technical systems that only have uncertain access to object attributes and categories. We train a recently introduced model of grounded word meaning on a data set of REs for objects in images and learn to predict semantically appropriate expressions. In a human evaluation, we observe that users are sensitive to inadequate object names - which unfortunately are not unlikely to be generated from low-level visual input. We propose a solution inspired from human task-oriented interaction and implement strategies for avoiding and repairing semantically inaccurate words. We enhance a word-based REG with context-aware, referential installments and ﬁnd that they substantially improve the referential success of the system.
Resolution of Trigeminal Neuralgia Following Chiropractic Care to Reduce Cervical Spine Vertebral Subluxations: A Case Study

Objective: This case study reports the improvement in quality of life experienced by a patient undergoing cervical specific care as an alternative to medication or surgery for the management of Trigeminal neuralgia. Clinical Features: A 57 year old female presented with right sided trigeminal neuralgia (TN) of two years duration. TN pain was helped by medication and exacerbated by exposure to cold. Secondary complaints included high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, diminished hearing in left ear, cervicalgia, bilateral shoulder pain, right shin numbness and allergies. Prescriptions include Gabapentin 900 mg 3xs/day (2700 total with 3600 being maximum prescribed), triamterene 37.5 mg 1x/day, synthroid 75 mg 1x/day and nasacort as needed. History included being knocked unconscious in a fall when ten years old, significant fall while skiing thirteen years prior and recent fall onto the sidewalk. Orthopedic and neurological examination demonstrated the right leg one inch short relative to the left leg, one inch bilateral cervical syndrome and positive modified Prill tests for atlas (C1), axis (C2) and C5. Cervical x-ray analysis determined listings of axis entire segment right and a posterior C5. Diminished disc space and minor degenerative arthritis noted at C5/6 consistent with cervical trauma (whiplash). Intervention and Outcomes: One week after specific adjustments to C5 and axis, TN pain diminished dramatically in frequency and intensity. After discussing the improvement with her neurologist, she started cutting back on her Gabapentin dosage. After eight weekly visits, the patient was completely off the medication and pain free. Additionally, she reduced her high blood pressure medication by fifty percent. After two years of monthly maintenance care, she is still pain free without medication, even after major dental work. Conclusion: This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of cervical specific care as an alternative to medication or surgery for the control of pain associated with TN.
Sexual orientation and its basis in brain structure and function

Current evidence indicates that sexual differentiation of the human brain occurs during fetal and neonatal development and programs our gender identity—our feeling of being male or female and our sexual orientation as hetero-, homo-, or bisexual. This sexual differentiation process is accompanied by many structural and functional brain differences among these groups (1). In previous studies (2, 3), the Savic laboratory detected a sex-differentiated activation of the anterior hypothalamus in heterosexual men (HeM) and heterosexual women (HeW) and a sex-atypical, almost reversed, pattern of activation in homosexual men (HoM) and homosexual women (HoW). The hypothalamus (Fig. 1) is a small brain area located under the anterior commissure that is involved in many different functions, including reproduction. These observations raised several questions, one of which was whether the sexual dimorphisms described could be sex-atypical in homosexual subjects even with respect to factors not directly associated with reproduction. In a recent issue of PNAS, Savic and Lindstrom (4) reported that hemispheric ratios, as well as patterns of amygdala connectivity, were sex-atypical in homosexual individuals, with HoM exhibiting more female patterns than HeM and HoW showing more male-like features than HeW. Whether the observed sex-atypical characteristics are the result of processes that occur during the fetal or neonatal periods, as is the case with gender identity and sexual orientation, is an open question. The excellent imaging research of Ivanka Savic's group in past years has provided strong evidence for structural and functional brain differences related to gender and sexual orientation. The study of these differences has emerged from an era of prejudice and fear such as I experienced 20 years ago (5).
Initial mineralization of organic matter in a forest plantation soil following different logging residue management techniques

L'influence des defrichements et de la preparation du terrain sur l'azote inorganique, la mineralisation et la nitrification nette de l'azote (N), la biomasse microbienne ainsi que sur l'emission du CO 2 degage du sol, a ete evaluee par une experience sur le terrain. L'etude a ete menee pendant 12 mois dans des peuplements de Pinus radiata D. Don sur un sol infertile, acide et sableux dans une zone humide et temperee du Nord-Ouest de l'Espagne. Trois methodes differentes de preparation du terrain ont ete utilisees : a) exploitation totale des residus forestiers, b) incorporation mecanique des residus sur une epaisseur de sol de 15 cm, c) abandon des residus d'exploitation a la surface du sol. L'incorporation des residus dans l'horizon mineral a favorise l'immobilisation de N. Cet effet a ete accompagne d'une part, par une activite metabolique superieure, indiquee par une biomasse microbienne elevee et des emissions de CO 2 croissantes, et d'autre part, par des contenus de N eleves dans la decomposition des dechets du bois. Par contre, dans la parcelle ou l'on avait abandonne les residus en surface il n'y a pas eu de changements dans la biomasse microbienne, meme s'il y a eu une forte inmobilisation de l'azote (N). L'enlevement des residus d'exploitation a a peine eu une influence sur le mineralisation.
Predominant Functional Expression of Kv1.3 by Activated Microglia of the Hippocampus after Status epilepticus

Background Growing evidence indicates that the functional state of microglial cells differs according to the pathological conditions that trigger their activation. In particular, activated microglial cells can express sets of Kv subunits which sustain delayed rectifying potassium currents (Kdr) and modulate differently microglia proliferation and ability to release mediators. We recently reported that hippocampal microglia is in a particular activation state after a status epilepticus (SE) and the present study aimed at identifying which of the Kv channels are functionally expressed by microglia in this model. Methodology/Principal Findings SE was induced by systemic injection of kainate in CX3CR1eGFP/+ mice and whole cell recordings of fluorescent microglia were performed in acute hippocampal slices prepared 48 h after SE. Microglia expressed Kdr currents which were characterized by a potential of half-maximal activation near −25 mV, prominent steady-state and cumulative inactivations. Kdr currents were almost abolished by the broad spectrum antagonist 4-Aminopyridine (1 mM). In contrast, tetraethylammonium (TEA) at a concentration of 1 mM, known to block Kv3.1, Kv1.1 and 1.2 subunits, only weakly reduced Kdr currents. However, at a concentration of 5 mM which should also affect Kv1.3 and 1.6, TEA inhibited about 30% of the Kdr conductance. Alpha-dendrotoxin, which selectively inhibits Kv1.1, 1.2 and 1.6, reduced only weakly Kdr currents, indicating that channels formed by homomeric assemblies of these subunits are not important contributors of Kdr currents. Finally, agitoxin-2 and margatoxin strongly inhibited the current. Conclusions/Significance These results indicate that Kv1.3 containing channels predominantly determined Kdr currents in activated microglia after SE.
The Hidden Information State Approach to Dialog Management

Partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) provide a principled mathematical framework for modelling the uncertainty inherent in spoken dialog systems. However, conventional POMDPs scale poorly with the size of state and observation space. This paper describes a variation of the classic POMDP called the hidden information state (HIS) model in which belief distributions are represented efficiently by grouping states together into partitions and policy optimisation is made tractable by using a master to summary space mapping. An implementation of the HIS model is described for a Tourist Information application and aspects of its training and operation are illustrated.
Aneurysmal Neck Clipping as the Primary Treatment Option for Both Ruptured and Unruptured Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms

Objective Although middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms are less amenable to coil embolization, an increasing number of studies support favorable endovascular treatment for them. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of two different treatments (surgery versus coiling) and evaluate the benefits of surgical clipping for MCA aneurysms. Methods Here we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 178 ruptured and unruptured MCA aneurysms treated in patients between September 2008 and April 2012. Parameters assessing treatment outcomes include degree of aneurysm occlusion, presence of regrowth, clinical status, and complications. Results Among 178 MCA aneurysms, 153 were treated surgically. After a mean follow-up of 12 months, the surgery group showed a clinically significant complete occlusion rate (98%) compared with the coiling group (56%) (p<0.001). Follow-up radiologic evaluation showed a higher regrowth rate (four of 16 cases) in the coiling group than in the surgery group (one of 49 cases) (p=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in favorable clinical outcome rate between the two groups. The procedure-related permanent morbidity and mortality rates were 2% (three of 153 cases) in the surgery group and 0% (0 of 25 cases) in the coiling group. Conclusion Compared to endovascular treatment, surgical neck clipping for both ruptured and unruptured MCA aneurysms results in a significantly higher complete obliteration rate and less regrowth. Therefore, even in this endovascular era, we still recommend surgical clipping as the primary treatment option for MCA aneurysms rather than coil embolization.
Critical exponent of species-size distribution in evolution

We analyze the geometry of the species– and genotype-size distribution in evolving and adapting populations of singlestranded self-replicating genomes: here programs in the Avida world. We find that a scale-free distribution (power law) emerges in complex landscapes that achieve a separation of two fundamental time scales: the relaxation time (time for population to return to equilibrium after a perturbation) and the time between mutations that produce fitter genotypes. The latter can be dialed by changing the mutation rate. In the scaling regime, we determine the critical exponent of the distribution of sizes and strengths of avalanches in a system without coevolution, described by first-order phase transitions in single finite niches.
Solving the anharmonic oscillator: tuning the boundary condition

We outline a remarkably efficient method for generating solutions to quantum anharmonic oscillators with an x2M potential. We solve the Schrödinger equation in terms of a free parameter which is then tuned to give the correct boundary condition by generating a power series expansion of the wavefunction in x and applying a modified Borel resummation technique to obtain the large x behaviour. The process allows us to calculate energy eigenvalues to an arbitrary level of accuracy. High degrees of precision are achieved even with modest computing power. Our technique extends to all levels of excitation and produces the correct solution to the double well oscillators even though they are dominated by non-perturbative effects.