Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Variation of HvCBF Genes and Their Association with Salinity Tolerance in Tibetan Annual Wild Barley

The evaluation of both the genetic variation and the identification of salinity tolerant accessions of Tibetan annual wild barley (hereafter referred to as Tibetan barley) (Hordeum vulgare L. ssp. Spontaneum and H. vulgare L. ssp. agriocrithum) are essential for discovering and exploiting novel alleles involved in salinity tolerance. In this study, we examined tissue dry biomass and the Na+ and K+ contents of 188 Tibetan barley accessions in response to salt stress. We investigated the genetic variation of transcription factors HvCBF1, HvCBF3 and HvCBF4 within these accessions, conducting association analysis between these three genes and the respective genotypic salt tolerance. Salt stress significantly reduced shoot and root dry weight by 27.6% to 73.1% in the Tibetan barley lines. HvCBF1, HvCBF3 and HvCBF4 showed diverse sequence variation in amplicon as evident by the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 3, 8 and 13 haplotypes, respectively. Furthermore, the decay of Linkage disequilibrium (LD) of chromosome 5 was 8.9 cM (r2<0.1). Marker bpb-4891 and haplotype 13 (Ps 610) of the HvCBF4 gene were significantly (P<0.05) and highly significantly (P<0.001) associated with salt tolerance. However, HvCBF1 and HvCBF3 genes were not associated with salinity tolerance. The accessions from haplotype 13 of the HvCBF4 gene showed high salinity tolerance, maintaining significantly lower Na+/K+ ratios and higher dry weight. It is thus proposed that these Tibetan barley accessions could be of value for enhancing salinity tolerance in cultivated barley.
Egg Speckling Patterns Do Not Advertise Offspring Quality or Influence Male Provisioning in Great Tits

Many passerine birds lay white eggs with reddish brown speckles produced by protoporphyrin pigment. However, the function of these spots is contested. Recently, the sexually selected eggshell coloration (SSEC) hypothesis proposed that eggshell color is a sexually selected signal through which a female advertises her quality (and hence the potential quality of her future young) to her male partner, thereby encouraging him to contribute more to breeding attempts. We performed a test of the SSEC hypothesis in a common passerine, the great tit Parus major. We used a double cross-fostering design to determine whether males change their provisioning behavior based on eggshell patterns they observe at the nest. We also tested the assumption that egg patterning reflects female and/or offspring quality. Because birds differ from humans in their color and pattern perception, we used digital photography and models of bird vision to quantify egg patterns objectively. Neither male provisioning nor chick growth was related to the pattern of eggs males observed during incubation. Although heavy females laid paler, less speckled eggs, these eggs did not produce chicks that grew faster. Therefore, we conclude that the SSEC hypothesis is an unlikely explanation for the evolution of egg speckling in great tits.
Preparation and Evaluation of Sorbitan Monopalmitate and Sunflower Oil Based Biphasic Formulation as Matrices for Controlled Delivery

The flexible properties of the gels make them superior candidates for the delivery of bioactive agents in cosmetics, medicine, biomaterials and food technologies. The aim of the present study was to develop bigels from the oleogel of sunflower oil and sorbitan monopalmitate for the delivery of metronidazole. The bigels were prepared by mixing oleogel with the polymer solution. Natural (proteins and polysaccharides) and synthetic polymers were used to alter properties of the bigels. Fluorescence microscope was used to study the microstructure of the bigels. The molecular interactions amongst the components of the bigels were studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The mechanical behavior of the bigels was determined using viscometer and static mechanical tester. Gel disintegration studies were carried out at pH 7.4. The thermal and electrical properties of the bigels were analysed using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and phase-sensitive multimeter, respectively. Goat blood and HaCaT cells were used to test the hemocompatibility and the cytocompatibility of the bigels, respectively. The antimicrobial efficacy of the drug (metronidazole) loaded bigels was studied against E. coli. The efficiency of the bigels as controlled delivery formulations was evaluated in vitro. Iontophoretic delivery of the drugs was carried out by injecting an AC current (peak current of 96.44 μA). The micrographs suggested the formation of an oleogel-in-hydrogel type of bigels. The particle size of the bigels containing proteins was smaller (4-5 μm) than the bigels containing natural polysaccharides and synthetic polymers. Hydrogen bonding was the major driving force in the formation of the bigels. The mechanical properties of the polysaccharide based bigels were better as compared to the other bigels. The firmness of starch bigels and maltodextrin bigels was found to be highest 729.4421 ± 3.1471 g and 1000.7623 ± 1.8211 g, respectively. All the bigels exhibited pseudoplastic flow and were viscoelastic in nature. The disintegration time of the bigels was dependent on the property of the polymer used. The melting endotherm of the bigels was ~46 °C. The bigels were biocompatible in nature. The drug loaded bigels showed equivalent inhibitory zones against E. coli as compared to the marketed formulations. The application of AC current increased the in vitro drug release. In conclusion the results of the study suggested that the release of metronidazole was controlled by various types of polymers and also greatly influenced by the physical and mechanical properties of the bigels.
Molecular Evolution of the Deuterolysin (M35) Family Genes in Coccidioides

Coccidioides is a primary fungal pathogen of humans, causing life-threatening respiratory disease known as coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) in immunocompromised individuals. Recently, Sharpton et al (2009) found that the deuterolysin (M35) family genes were significantly expanded in both the Coccidioides genus and in U. reesii, and that Coccidioides has acquired three more M35 family genes than U. reesii. In the present work, phylogenetic analyses based on a total of 28 M35 family genes using different alignments and tree-building methods consistently revealed five clades with high nodal supports. Interestingly, likelihood ratio tests suggested significant differences in selective pressure on the ancestral lineage of three additional duplicated M35 family genes from Coccidioides species compared to the other lineages in the phylogeny, which may be associated with novel functional adaptations of M35 family genes in the Coccidioides species, e.g., recent pathogenesis acquisition. Our study adds to the expanding view of M35 family gene evolution and functions as well as establishes a theoretical foundation for future experimental investigations.
A 4-to-16GHz inverter-based injection-locked quadrature clock generator with phase interpolators for multi-standard I/Os in 7nm FinFET

As ever-increasing bandwidth demand pushes wireline transceiver data-rates beyond 25Gb/s, the clocking solution for multi-protocol support over a wide range of data-rates becomes a key design challenge. In [1], an injection-locked multi-phase clock generator demonstrated wideband operation and a high-resolution phase rotator using CML in 28nm FDSOI CMOS. However, in 7nm FinFET technology, the CML implementation suffers from the reduced supply level and output impedance degradation at high temperatures. In order to scale power consumption with data-rate, CML implementation also needs to employ bias current and load programmability, further impacting its performance. For these reasons, the supply-regulated inverter-based clocking scheme is proposed. Furthermore, the full inverter-based clock chain generates smaller random jitter (RJ) because of the faster edge-rate compared to a CML implementation. Supply regulation, applied as part of the calibration loop, mitigates the sensitivity to inverter delay and edge-rate over the process and temperature variations. This design, benefiting from its mostly-digital structure, adopts “sea of gates” layout style with optimized via patterns and uniform metal tracks, which effectively alleviate the significant parasitic resistance variations on low level metals fabricated by multiple patterning in 7nm FinFET.
Personality correlates of intimate partner violence subtypes: A latent class analysis

Perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) represent a heterogeneous group who engage in a variety of aggressive acts which often co-occur. However, few studies take this co-occurrence into consideration. Failure to consider overlapping forms of IPV confounds understanding of risk factors for physical IPV, which in turn undermines identification, prevention, and intervention efforts. Though rarely studied in emerging adults, personality variables have recently been identified as important correlates of IPV. The primary aims of the current studies are to identify distinct subgroups of moderate and severe psychological and physical IPV and personality covariates of class membership. Two studies were conducted at different public regional universities in the northeast (n = 500; n = 497). Both samples were about two-thirds female, approximately one-half White, one-fifth Black, and one-quarter Latino, of any race. Latent Class Analysis identified three subgroups in both studies: low, moderate, and severe IPV. The severe and moderate IPV groups included those who reported threats and moderate physical IPV while the severe IPV group also included those who engaged in severe and injurious forms of physical IPV. Multinomial regression analysis showed that impulsive aggression discriminated moderate and severe from low IPV (Study 1), and more frequent emotionally abusive and controlling behavior, a hostile-dominant interpersonal style and trait aggression discriminated among all three groups, with severe IPV having the greatest likelihood of controlling behavior and aggression (Study 2). IPV is represented by distinct subgroups that vary by severity of IPV with different personality covariates. General aggressive and domineering tendencies in relationships characterize those engaging in severe IPV.
University of Birmingham Viscoelastic properties of a spinal posterior dynamic stabilisation device

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Analysis of a Design Pattern for Teaching with Features and Labels

We study the task of teaching a machine to classify objects using features and labels. We introduce the Error-Driven-Featuring design pattern for teaching using features and labels in which a teacher prefers to introduce features only if they are needed. We analyze the potential risks and benefits of this teaching pattern through the use of teaching protocols, illustrative examples, and by providing bounds on the effort required for an optimal machine teacher using a linear learning algorithm, the most commonly used type of learners in interactive machine learning systems. Our analysis provides a deeper understanding of potential trade-offs of using different learning algorithms and between the effort required for featuring (creating new features) and labeling (providing labels for objects).
Oral health and mortality in the Golestan Cohort Study.

Background Previous studies have found associations between oral health and mortality, but the majority of previous studies have been conducted in high-income countries. Methods We used data from the Golestan Cohort Study, a study of 50 045 people aged 40 to 75 years in north eastern Iran, recruited from January 2004 to June 2008. Tooth loss and decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) were assessed by trained physicians. Frequency of tooth brushing and use of dentures were self-reported. Cause-specific mortality was ascertained through March 2014. We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the associations between the oral health variables, overall mortality and cause-specific mortality. Results Participants with the greatest tooth loss had increased overall mortality (HR 1.43; 95% CI: 1.28, 1.61) compared with those with the least tooth loss; similar estimates were observed for DMFT score. For cause-specific mortality, an increased risk of death was found for tooth loss and mortality from cardiovascular disease (HR 1.33; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.56), cancer (HR 1.30; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.65) and injuries (HR 1.99; 95% CI: 1.28, 3.09). The associations between oral health and injury mortality were strongly attenuated after exclusion of participants with comorbid conditions at baseline. No statistical interaction was found between denture use and tooth loss or DMFT on mortality. Conclusions Poor oral health appears to predict overall and cause-specific mortality in populations in economic transition. Investigation of the underlying mechanisms might provide an important contribution to reducing mortality.
Secreted tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase restricts trans-synaptic signaling to coordinate synaptogenesis

ABSTRACT Synaptogenesis is coordinated by trans-synaptic signals that traverse the specialized synaptomatrix between presynaptic and postsynaptic cells. Matrix metalloproteinase (Mmp) activity sculpts this environment, balanced by secreted tissue inhibitors of Mmp (Timp). Here, we use the simplified Drosophila melanogaster matrix metalloproteome to test the consequences of eliminating all Timp regulatory control of Mmp activity at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Using in situ zymography, we find Timp limits Mmp activity at the NMJ terminal and shapes extracellular proteolytic dynamics surrounding individual synaptic boutons. In newly generated timp null mutants, NMJs exhibit architectural overelaboration with supernumerary synaptic boutons. With cell-targeted RNAi and rescue studies, we find that postsynaptic Timp limits presynaptic architecture. Functionally, timp null mutants exhibit compromised synaptic vesicle cycling, with activity that is lower in amplitude and fidelity. NMJ defects manifest in impaired locomotor function. Mechanistically, we find that Timp limits BMP trans-synaptic signaling and the downstream synapse-to-nucleus signal transduction. Pharmacologically restoring Mmp inhibition in timp null mutants corrects bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling and synaptic properties. Genetically restoring BMP signaling in timp null mutants corrects NMJ structure and motor function. Thus, Timp inhibition of Mmp proteolytic activity restricts BMP trans-synaptic signaling to coordinate synaptogenesis. Summary: At neuromuscular synapses, secreted Timp limits extracellular proteolytic activity to restrict BMP signaling from the muscle to the motor neuron. This mechanism controls synaptic architecture, function and locomotor behavior.
Health and Education: Understanding the Gradient

This study presents a novel view on education and health behavior of individuals constrained by aging bodies. The aging process, i.e. the accumulation of health deficits over time, is built on recent insights from gerontology. The loss of body functionality, which eventually leads to death, can be accelerated by unhealthy behavior and delayed through health expenditure. Education is endogenous and determined, among others thing, by cognitive ability. The proposed theory rationalizes why better educated persons optimally choose a healthier lifestyle. The model is calibrated for the average male US citizen. In the benchmark case a difference in cognitive ability that motivates one more year of education leads to an increase of longevity by about half a year. Progress in medical technology explains why the education gradient gets larger over time.
Assessment of the content reporting for therapeutic exercise interventions among existing randomized controlled trials on knee osteoarthritis

Purpose/Rationale: Physical exercise interventions for the management of knee osteoarthritis are well known to be effective and accessible forms of rehabilitation and symptom management. However, without adequate reporting of these interventions, accurate replication and clinical use is negatively impacted. Objectives: The main objective of this article was to assess content reporting using The Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template list and 2016 American College of Sports Medicine guidelines among moderate- to high-quality exercise interventions randomized controlled trials (total score of ≥6/10 on the PEDro scale) involving individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Results: The Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template mean total score for all 47 included randomized controlled trials was 4.42 out of 19, demonstrating generally low quality of reporting. The Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template list and the 2016 American College of Sports Medicine guidelines scores were moderately correlated (based on 95% confidence interval, intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.508) for aerobic interventions only. Conclusion: The content analysis of exercise interventions in knee osteoarthritis demonstrated low scores for moderate- to high-quality trials. Improved standardized reporting is recommended to ensure knowledge transfer and replication of effective exercise programs for individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
Salmonella enterica subsp. salamae serovar Sofia, a prevalent serovar in Australian broiler chickens, is also capable of transient colonisation in layers

ABSTRACT 1. Salmonella enterica subsp. salamae serovar sofia (S. sofia) is a prevalent strain of Salmonella in Australian broilers and has been isolated from broiler chickens, litter, dust, as well as pre- and post-processing carcasses, and retail chicken portions but has never been reported in commercial Australian layers or eggs. 2. To investigate whether a S. sofia isolate from a broiler could colonise layers, one-month-old Hyline brown layers were orally inoculated with S. sofia and colonisation was monitored for 2–4 weeks. 3. Overall, 30–40% of the chickens shed S. sofia from the cloaca between 6 and 14 d post-inoculation which then declined to 10% by d 21. Necropsy at 2 weeks post-inoculation revealed 80% of birds harboured S. sofia in the caecum, whilst, by 4 weeks post-infection, no chickens were colonised with S. sofia in the gastrointestinal tract, liver or spleen. Additionally, no aerosol ‘bird to bird’ transfer was evident. 4. This study demonstrated that laying hens can be colonised by broiler-derived S. sofia; however, this colonisation was transient, reaching a peak at 14 d post-inoculation, and was completely cleared by 28 d post-inoculation. The transience of colonisation of S. sofia in layers could be a factor explaining why S. sofia has never been detected when screening for Salmonella serotypes found in Australian laying hens or eggs.
Shocks , individual risk attitude , and vulnerability to poverty among rural households in Thailand and Vietnam

We examine whether the experience of shocks influences individual risk attitude. We measure risk attitude via a simple survey item, compiled among more than 4,000 households in Thailand and Vietnam. The experience of adverse shocks, which is typical for poor and vulnerable households, is related to a higher degree of risk aversion, even when controlled for a large set of socio-demographic variables. Therefore, shocks perpetuate vulnerability to poverty via their effect on risk attitude. We extend this general finding to various categories of shocks and find differences between Thailand and Vietnam. This suggests that risk-coping strategies profit from case-specific design. JEL-Classification: O12, D 81, R2
Empirical Study of Face Authentication Systems Under OSNFD Attacks

Face authentication has been widely available on smartphones, tablets, and laptops. As numerous personal images are published in online social networks (OSNs), OSN-based facial disclosure (OSNFD) creates significant threat against face authentication. We make the first attempt to quantitatively measure OSNFD threat to real-world face authentication systems on smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Our results show that the percentage of vulnerable users that are subject to spoofing attacks is high, which is about 64 percent for laptop users, and 93 percent smartphone/tablet users. We investigate liveness detection methods in the real-world face authentication systems against OSNFD threat. We discover that under protection of liveness detection, the percentage of vulnerable images is 18.8 percent, but the percentage of vulnerable users is as high as 73.3 percent. This evidence suggests that the current face authentication systems are not strong enough under OSNFD attacks. Finally, we develop a risk estimation tool based on logistic regression, and analyze the impacts of key attributes of facial images on the OSNFD risk. Our statistical analysis reveals that the most influential attributes of facial images are image resolution, facial makeup, occluded eyes, and illumination. This tool can be used to evaluate OSNFD risk for OSN images to increase users’ awareness of OSNFD.
An Analytical Model on the Propagation of Modern Email Worms

Email worms propagate across networks by taking advantage of email relationships. Modeling the propagation of email worms can help predict their potential damages and develop countermeasures. We propose a novel analytical model on the propagation process of modern reinfection email worms. It relies on probabilistic analysis, and thus can provide a steady and reliable assessment on the propagation dynamics. Additionally, by introducing virtual users to represent the repetitious spreading process, the proposed model overcomes the computational challenge caused by reinfection processes. To demonstrate the benefits of our model, we conduct a series of experimental evaluation. The results show that our novel approach achieves a greater accuracy and is more suitable for modeling modern email worms than previous models.
Acoustic emission detection of damage initiation in 1D CFRP NCF composites subjected to bending

Acoustic Emission was applied to detect microcrack initiation in unidirectional (1D) carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRP) subjected to 4-point bending. Materials were prepared from polyester (PES) bonded 1D carbon fiber fabric and epoxy resin using the RTM technology. Fiber volume content of composites varied from small (35%) through medium (51%) to high (68%). Samples were cut from 1D composite plates to the size of 120x20x2mm in two orthogonal directions along fibers [0] and across fibers [90]. Selected samples had part of their tensile surface (in bending) pre-polished to enable microscopic (SEM) observations. Samples were subjected to monotonic and steploading tests in 4-point bending while Acoustic Emission (AE) sensors attached to samples’ surfaces monitored the damage initiation. The AE Historic Index proved to be the most reliable AE parameter indicating damage initiation, which allowed to interrupt loading sequence before failure. Details of microcracks were observed under the SEM on polished composite tensile surfaces loaded in bending. Fiber debonding and breakage occurred simultaneously and were the first defects to initiate damage in the examined materials.