Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Children in a wonderland: How language and scale errors may be linked

Previous research showed that young children sometimes fail to use information about object size and make a serious attempt to perform impossible actions on miniature objects. Such scale errors have been hypothesized to result from immaturity in the interaction of the two visual streams, namely the visual stream for action and the visual stream for perception, coupled to a lack of inhibitory control in children. Here we propose that such dissociation in the action-perception system may be influenced by the developing language skills and report new evidence showing that children in a particular period of their language development are more prone to show scale errors. The results showed that the total number of nouns, but not adjectives in children's productive vocabulary seems to be an important factor for predicting scale errors. We argue that realising a model of scale errors is essential for understanding the relationship between language, object representation and motor system, and especially their interaction during development.
Considering Uncertainty by Particle Filter Enhanced Speech Features in Large Vocabulary Continuous Speech Recognition

The goal of noise compensation techniques is the perfect reconstruction of clean features. Unfortunately, the reconstructed features can not be assumed to be perfect. Therefore, to improve performance, the uncertainty of enhanced speech features should be propagated into the hidden Markov model of automatic speech recognition systems. This paper shows how to jointly estimate the noise and the uncertainty (expressed by the variance) by particle filters in the logarithmic Mel power domain and how to propagate the uncertainty through the front-end into the hidden Markov model. In the experimental section, improvements in word accuracy of a large vocabulary continuous speech recognition system are presented
Allograft Ankle Arthrodesis: A Limb Salvage Technique for Distal Tibial Tumors

Allograft ankle arthrodesis using a retrograde intramedullary tibial nail is a new strategy in limb salvage for treatment of distal intraarticular tibial tumors. After tumor resection, the ankle is reconstructed using an intercalary allograft and retrograde intramedullary fixation. We retrospectively reviewed nine consecutive patients with intraarticular resection of distal tibial tumors who had allograft ankle arthrodesis reconstruction between April 1994 and August 2000. Patient charts were reviewed for: (1) local recurrence, new metastases, and survival; (2) Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score7; and (3) complications or reoperations or both. Only one of nine patients had a local recurrence. Eight of nine patients achieved independent ambulation. Eight of nine patients had a Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score greater than 73%. Six of nine patients required nine additional operations. No patients required flap coverage. There were no superficial or deep infections. Allograft ankle arthrodesis is a new alternative in limb salvage for distal tibial tumors. It has oncologic outcomes (rate of local recurrence, new metastases, and survival from time of diagnosis) and functional outcomes (Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score and rates of reoperation) comparable to previously reported and accepted methods of limb salvage. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Characterization of PDC6, a third structural gene for pyruvate decarboxylase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Pyruvate decarboxylase is the key enzyme in alcoholic fermentation in yeast. Two structural genes, PDC1 and PDC5 have been characterized. Deletion of either of these genes has little or no effect on the specific pyruvate decarboxylase activity, but enzyme activity is undetectable in mutants lacking both PDC1 and PDC5 (S. Hohmann and H. Cederberg, Eur. J. Biochem. 188:615-621, 1990). Here I describe PDC6, a gene structurally closely related to PDC1 and PDC5. The product of PDC6 does not seem to be required for wild-type pyruvate decarboxylase activity in glucose medium; delta pdc6 mutants have no reduced specific enzyme activity, and the PDC6 deletion did not change the phenotype or the specific enzyme activity of mutants lacking either or both of the other two structural genes. However, in cells grown in ethanol medium the PDC6 deletion caused a reduction of pyruvate decarboxylase activity. Northern (RNA) blot analysis showed that PDC6 is weakly expressed, and expression seemed to be higher during growth in ethanol medium. This behavior remained obscure since pyruvate decarboxylase catalyzes an irreversible reaction. Characterization of all combinations of PDC structural gene deletion mutants, which produce different amounts of pyruvate decarboxylase activity, showed that the enzyme is also needed for normal growth in galactose and ethanol medium and in particular for proper growth initiation of spores germinating on ethanol medium.
A High-Yield Co-Expression System for the Purification of an Intact Drs2p-Cdc50p Lipid Flippase Complex, Critically Dependent on and Stabilized by Phosphatidylinositol-4-Phosphate

P-type ATPases from the P4 subfamily (P4-ATPases) are energy-dependent transporters, which are thought to establish lipid asymmetry in eukaryotic cell membranes. Together with their Cdc50 accessory subunits, P4-ATPases couple ATP hydrolysis to lipid transport from the exoplasmic to the cytoplasmic leaflet of plasma membranes, late Golgi membranes, and endosomes. To gain insights into the structure and function of these important membrane pumps, robust protocols for expression and purification are required. In this report, we present a procedure for high-yield co-expression of a yeast flippase, the Drs2p-Cdc50p complex. After recovery of yeast membranes expressing both proteins, efficient purification was achieved in a single step by affinity chromatography on streptavidin beads, yielding ∼1–2 mg purified Drs2p-Cdc50p complex per liter of culture. Importantly, the procedure enabled us to recover a fraction that mainly contained a 1∶1 complex, which was assessed by size-exclusion chromatography and mass spectrometry. The functional properties of the purified complex were examined, including the dependence of its catalytic cycle on specific lipids. The dephosphorylation rate was stimulated in the simultaneous presence of the transported substrate, phosphatidylserine (PS), and the regulatory lipid phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P), a phosphoinositide that plays critical roles in membrane trafficking events from the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Likewise, overall ATP hydrolysis by the complex was critically dependent on the simultaneous presence of PI4P and PS. We also identified a prominent role for PI4P in stabilization of the Drs2p-Cdc50p complex towards temperature- or C12E8-induced irreversible inactivation. These results indicate that the Drs2p-Cdc50p complex remains functional after affinity purification and that PI4P as a cofactor tightly controls its stability and catalytic activity. This work offers appealing perspectives for detailed structural and functional characterization of the Drs2p-Cdc50p lipid transport mechanism.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology

PSYCH 450 – Industrial Psychology – Theory, content and methods of industrial psychology related to the effective operation of organizations including the different approaches used to select employees, how to conduct performance appraisals, and how to train employees in organizations. Work attitudes and behaviors of employees, work schedules, and human factors as well as relevant legal issues. Statistics including regression and correlation are used.
Visualization, Viewer and Emotion: An Empirical Study of Cognition and Affective Responses to Infographics Used for Crisis Communication

VISUALIZATION, VIEWER AND EMOTION: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE RESPONSES TO INFOGRAPHICS USED FOR CRISIS COMMUNICATION By Sean Michael Stewart, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2014 Major Director: Dr. Ernest Martin, Associate Professor, Robertson School of Media and Culture A 3 (crisis response strategy) x 3 (medium) factorial design experiment was conducted to determine if information graphics conveyed through online news sources may be more beneficial for organizational reputations during some crisis situations than the use of news videos and textbased news stories. Variables examined include cognitive and affective appraisal, third-person effect, behavioral response and crisis response strategy. Recent research in organizational crisis communications has pointed to the fact that more information is needed regarding how individuals react cognitively and affectively to crisis communications. Current crisis communications literature is also sparse concerning the behavioral aspects of crisis message reception and social media usage. This study addressed these concerns and built on the established framework of Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT).
Stretchy Polynomial Regression

This article proposes a novel solution for stretchy polynomial regression learning. The solution comes in primal and dual closed-forms similar to that of ridge regression. Essentially, the proposed solution stretches the covariance computation via a power term thereby compresses or amplifies the estimation. Our experiments on both synthetic data and real-world data show effectiveness of the proposed method for compressive learning.
Prediction of anticancer activities of cynaroside and quercetin in leaf of plants Cynara scolymus L and Artocarpus incisa L using structure–activity relationship

Abstract Natural products from plants are an alternative resource in the search for anti-cancer drugs and can have a direct impact on eliminating cancer cells and also reduce cancer side effects. Recently, we have isolated a few flavonoid quercetin and cynaroside from leaf of cynara scolymus L and artocarpus incisa L in Vietnam, with cytotoxic activity relatively strong in Hela cancer cells. The flavonoid compound is a search target, research and development of anti-cancer agents in clinical use. To clarify the important nature of the activity, the subject QSAR studies on cancer Hela cell line use the multiple linear regression (MLR) gradually, partial least square regression (PLS) and artificial neural network. The MLR and PLS models showed good correlation values of R2 = 0.938, = 0.903, and R2 = 0.943, = 0.912, respectively. The MLR model shows the level of importance of atomic charge descriptors. Also, artificial neural network architecture I(6)-HL(4)-O(1) is built with RMSE = 0.00345, R2 = 0.993, = 0.971 using the atomic charge descriptors selected in the MLR model such as neurons of input layer and the anti-cancer activity such as neuron of output layer. The anti-cancer activities of the flavonoids and isoflavonoids in the test group and compounds quercetin and cynaroside isolated from cynara scolymus L and artocarpus incisa L are compared with experimental data and those from references.
Under Pressure: Interactions between Commensal Microbiota and the Teleost Immune System

Commensal microorganisms inhabit every mucosal surface of teleost fish. At these surfaces, microorganisms directly and indirectly shape the teleost immune system. This review provides a comprehensive overview of how the microbiota and microbiota-derived products influence both the mucosal and systemic immune system of fish. The cross talk between the microbiota and the teleost immune system shifts significantly under stress or disease scenarios rendering commensals into opportunists or pathogens. Lessons learnt from germ-free fish models as well as from oral administration of live probiotics to fish highlight the vast impact that microbiota have on immune development, antibody production, mucosal homeostasis, and resistance to stress. Future studies should dissect the specific mechanisms by which different members of the fish microbiota and the metabolites they produce interact with pathogens, with other commensals, and with the teleost immune system.
Fuzzy logic controller based on space vector modulation for induction motor control

This paper presents a new direct torque control (DTC) scheme which reduces the stator flux ripple and keeps the switching frequency constant using space vector modulation based on fuzzy logic controller, the results were compared with different techniques as variable switching sectors that depends on the stator flux position. By using a fictitious stator flux position angle (/spl alpha/), instead of the real one define for the conventional DTC, simulated results validated the proposed scheme.
Evolution of Conifer Diterpene Synthases: Diterpene Resin Acid Biosynthesis in Lodgepole Pine and Jack Pine Involves Monofunctional and Bifunctional Diterpene Synthases1[W][OA]

Summary: The biosynthesis of diterpenoid specialized (i.e. secondary) metabolites in conifers is emerging as a modular metabolic network that is built from multiple diterpene synthases and cytochromes P450 of variable functions and activities to produce a diverse and dynamic array of metabolites for plant defense. Diterpene resin acids (DRAs) are major components of pine (Pinus spp.) oleoresin. They play critical roles in conifer defense against insects and pathogens and as a renewable resource for industrial bioproducts. The core structures of DRAs are formed in secondary (i.e. specialized) metabolism via cycloisomerization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) by diterpene synthases (diTPSs). Previously described gymnosperm diTPSs of DRA biosynthesis are bifunctional enzymes that catalyze the initial bicyclization of GGPP followed by rearrangement of a (+)-copalyl diphosphate intermediate at two discrete class II and class I active sites. In contrast, similar diterpenes of gibberellin primary (i.e. general) metabolism are produced by the consecutive activity of two monofunctional class II and class I diTPSs. Using high-throughput transcriptome sequencing, we discovered 11 diTPS from jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). Three of these were orthologous to known conifer bifunctional levopimaradiene/abietadiene synthases. Surprisingly, two sets of orthologous PbdiTPSs and PcdiTPSs were monofunctional class I enzymes that lacked functional class II active sites and converted (+)-copalyl diphosphate, but not GGPP, into isopimaradiene and pimaradiene as major products. Diterpene profiles and transcriptome sequences of lodgepole pine and jack pine are consistent with roles for these diTPSs in DRA biosynthesis. The monofunctional class I diTPSs of DRA biosynthesis form a new clade within the gymnosperm-specific TPS-d3 subfamily that evolved from bifunctional diTPS rather than monofunctional enzymes (TPS-c and TPS-e) of gibberellin metabolism. Homology modeling suggested alterations in the class I active site that may have contributed to their functional specialization relative to other conifer diTPSs.
Risk factors for proximal sesamoid bone fractures associated with exercise history and horseshoe characteristics in Thoroughbred racehorses.

OBJECTIVE To assess individual and combined associations of high-speed exercise and horseshoe characteristics with risk of forelimb proximal sesamoid bone fractures and proximal sesamoid bone midbody fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses. ANIMALS 269 deceased Thoroughbred racehorses. PROCEDURES A case-control study design was used to compare 121 horses with a fracture of at least 1 of 4 forelimb proximal sesamoid bones (75 horses had a midbody fracture) and 148 horses without a forelimb proximal sesamoid bone fracture. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate potential risk factors for association with proximal sesamoid bone fracture. RESULTS Compared with horses that died without proximal sesamoid bone fractures, horses that died with proximal sesamoid bone fractures were more likely to be sexually intact males, spend more time in active trainingand racing, complete more events, train and race longer since their last layup, have higher exercise intensities during the 12 months prior to death, and have greater cumulative distances for their career. Horses with proximal sesamoid bone midbody fractures were more likely to be sexually intact males, train and race longer since their last layup, and have higher exercise intensities during the 12 months prior to death. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Limitingexercise intensity and the continuous time spent in activity duringa horse's career may decrease the frequency of forelimb proximal sesamoid bone fractures in Thoroughbred horses.
Enhanced chemotherapy efficacy by sequential delivery of siRNA and anticancer drugs using PEI-grafted graphene oxide.

PEI GO The RNA interference (RNAi) technique, an effective method to inhibit protein expression by targeted cleavage of messenger RNA (mRNA), has made substantial progress since the fi rst demonstration of gene knockdown in mammalian cells. [ 1 ] Short interfering RNA (siRNA) induces specifi c silencing of targeted protein, thus offering signifi cant potential in overcoming multiple drug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells. [ 2 ] For example, Bcl-2 protein, one of the main antiapoptotic defense proteins, is closely related to the MDR of cancer cells. [ 3 ] Knockdown of the Bcl-2 protein expression level in cancer cells by Bcl-2-targeted siRNA would effectively overcome the MDR of cancer cells and sensitize cancer cells to anticancer drugs. [ 3 d, 4 ] Herein, we report sequential delivery of Bcl-2-targeted siRNA and the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) using polyethylenimine (PEI)-functionalized graphene oxide (PEI-GO). We demonstrate that the PEI-GO is an excellent nanocarrier for effective delivery of siRNA and chemical drugs, and that sequential delivery of the siRNA and DOX by PEI-GO into cancer cells exhibits a synergistic effect, which leads to a signifi cantly enhanced chemotherapy effi cacy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fi rst report on applications of GO-based nanovectors for delivery of siRNA, and sequential delivery of siRNA and anticancer drugs into cancer cells. Graphene, a newly discovered 2D nanomaterial, has been studied extensively due to its fundamental importance and potential applications, [ 5 ] while exploration of its biomedical applications has just started. [ 6 ] Noncovalent adsorption through π – π stacking, electrostatic, and other molecular interactions has proven to be effective for immobilizing chemical drugs, single-stranded DNA, and RNA onto GO sheets. [ 6 a–e]
Emotion-Focused Family Therapy for Eating Disorders Across the Lifespan: A Pilot Study of a 2-Day Transdiagnostic Intervention for Parents.

UNLABELLED Emotion-focused family therapy is a transdiagnostic approach that affords parents and caregivers a significant role in their loved one's recovery from an eating disorder. A 2-day intervention was developed on the basis of emotion-focused family therapy principles and delivered to 33 parents of adolescent and adult children. Data were collected pre- and post-intervention. Through education and skills practice, parents were taught strategies with respect to meal support and symptom interruption as well as emotion coaching. Parents were also supported to identify and work through their own emotional blocks that could interfere with their supportive efforts. Analyses revealed a significant increase in parental self-efficacy, a positive shift in parents' attitudes regarding their role as emotion coach and a reduction in the fears associated with their involvement in treatment, including a decrease in self-blame. Overall, this broad-based, low-cost intervention shows promise, and future research is warranted. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE A low-cost, intensive emotion-focused family therapy intervention shows promise for parents of individuals with an eating disorder, regardless of their loved one's age, symptom profile or involvement in treatment. Working with parents' emotions and emotional reactions to their child's struggles has the potential to improve supportive efforts. An emotion-focused family therapy intervention for parents yields high satisfaction rates, improves parental self-efficacy and reduces fears regarding their involvement, including self-blame.
The senses grow skilled in their craving: thoughts on creativity and addiction.

The connection between creativity and addiction is nearly as legendary as that between creativity and madness. Many people expect creative individuals to abuse substances and are hardly surprised upon discovering that yet another famous artist has ended in a rehabilitation facility or died from a drug overdose. A recent New York Times op-ed piece (Mehlman, 2005), commenting on Philip Roth’s remarkable late-age productivity, marveled at the fact that Roth has not yet been tied to “performanceenhancing drugs. ” The implication here is that if Roth is not “juiced,” like O’Neill or Capote, how could he possibly have written four of his best novels after the age of sixty? It is often assumed that artists live in the romantic tradition. John Cheever said that self-destruction is expected of the writer (Goodwin, 1988, p. 184). Indeed, there exists a very long list of creative individuals who are or were famous addicts. The history of this connection dates back to the nineteenth century, when opium and opium products were widely used and sometimes abused by writers and poets, specifically Baudelaire and the French Symbolist poets. Along with Balzac, Dumas, and Flaubert, Baudelaire belonged to an elite group of France’s artistic community called The Hashish Club, led by novelist Pierre Jules Theophile. Although the club’s members met on a monthly basis to study the drug’s effect on creativity, little is known about what they actually discovered. What does remain are Baudelaire’s (1859) poetic renderings on the effects of wine and hashish:
A block to pre-prepared movement in gait freezing, relieved by pedunculopontine nucleus stimulation

Gait freezing and postural instability are disabling features of Parkinsonian disorders, treatable with pedunculopontine nucleus stimulation. Both features are considered deficits of proximal and axial musculature, innervated predominantly by reticulospinal pathways and tend to manifest when gait and posture require adjustment. Adjustments to gait and posture are amenable to pre-preparation and rapid triggered release. Experimentally, such accelerated release can be elicited by loud auditory stimuli—a phenomenon known as ‘StartReact’. We observed StartReact in healthy and Parkinsonian controls. However, StartReact was absent in Parkinsonian patients with severe gait freezing and postural instability. Pedunculopontine nucleus stimulation restored StartReact proximally and proximal reaction times to loud stimuli correlated with gait and postural disturbance. These findings suggest a relative block to triggered, pre-prepared movement in gait freezing and postural instability, relieved by pedunculopontine nucleus stimulation.