Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forthcoming in Social Choice and Welfare

In this extraordinarily thorough and thoughtful work, Matthew Adler proves himself a grandmaster of the moral evaluation of public policy. The core idea of the book is that largescale public policies should be designed to maximize the expectation of a continuous prioritarian social welfare function (SWF). In other words, they should maximize the expectation of the sum-total of transformed individual utilities, where the transformation gives greater weight to increases in utility the worse off an individual is in absolute terms. (Formally, a continuous prioritarian SWF holds that outcome x is at least as good as outcome y iff, for every utility function u(.) in the set of utility functions U that represent individual well-being, ∑ gg(uuii(xx)) ≥ ∑ gg(uuii(yy)) ii=1 ii=1 , where g(.) is a strictly increasing and strictly concave function. If mm(xx) is a moral value function that evaluates outcomes in this manner, then, on Adler’s view, public policy a is at least as good as policy b iff, for a given outcome set O and a probability function ππaa(. ) linking any given policy a with any outcome, ∑ ππaa xx∈OO (xx)mm(xx) ≥ ∑ ππbb xx∈OO (xx)mm(xx). ) The heart of this proposal is simple, and close to ideas proposed by others, most notably Derek Parfit (2002; 2012). The genius of this work lies in the painstaking and creative way it is justified and operationalized. In what follows, I shall summarize the book and critically analyze a few key arguments.
Interleukin-6 as a biomarker for asthma: hype or is there something else?

Much of precision medicine research today seeks to find a biomarker, or like King Richard, our kingdom might be lost. The hope is that if one is successful in identifying such a biomarker [1], all will be resolved: diagnosis, prognosis and the best treatment regime identified from the morass of treatment options available. In this context, the research for a single, do-all biomarker is a truly dramatic irony because it may not exist, consider the rise and fall of C-reactive protein (CRP) or exhaled nitric oxide fraction (FeNO). Yet such a biomarker could be quite useful in asthma, a syndrome that so often defies definition. With this mythical biomarker, one could clearly decide whether the patient has asthma, assess how severe the disease is, and even guide selection of which of the many available treatment regimens should be employed. Tantalising evidence purports IL-6 to be a biomarker for adult-onset asthma that predicts ICS use and symptoms http://ow.ly/bhra303fg5j
Complete mitochondrial genome of the red-spotted tokay gecko (Gekko gecko, Reptilia: Gekkonidae): Comparison of red- and black-spotted tokay geckos

Here, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the red-spotted tokay gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae). The genome is 16,590 bp in size. Its gene arrangement pattern was identical with that of black-spotted tokay gecko. We compared the mitochondrial genome of red-spotted tokay gecko with that of the black-spotted tokay gecko. Nucleotide sequence of the two whole mitochondrial genomes was 97.99% similar, and the relatively high similarity seems to indicate that they may be separated at the subspecies level. The information of mitochondrial genome comparison of the two morphological types of tokay gecko is discussed in detail.
Self‐Reported Diseases and Symptoms by Rupture Status among Unselected Danish Women with Cosmetic Silicone Breast Implants

&NA; Epidemiologic evidence does not support an association between silicone breast implants and connective tissue or other rheumatic diseases. However, a recent study has suggested that women with ruptured implants may be at increased risk of developing fibromyalgia. An analysis of adverse health outcomes according to breast implant rupture status was conducted in 238 unselected Danish women with cosmetic silicone breast implants. Ninety‐two of the women had definite implant rupture, and 146 had intact implants as determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Before undergoing imaging, the women provided blood samples and completed a self‐administered questionnaire. Women with ruptured implants overall, and the subgroup with extracapsular ruptures (n = 23), were compared with women with intact implants regarding a number of self‐reported diseases and symptoms and the presence of specific autoantibodies, such as antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and cardiolipin immunoglobulin G and M antibodies. Overall, there were no differences in the occurrence of self‐reported diseases or symptoms or in the presence of autoantibodies between women with intact implants and women with ruptured implants, including extracapsular rupture. The only exception was capsular contracture, which was reported six times more frequently by women with extracapsular ruptures than by women with intact implants (OR, 6.3; 95 percent CI, 1.7 to 23.5). In conclusion, this study of unselected women with silicone breast implants could establish no association between silicone implant rupture and specific diseases or symptoms related to connective tissue disease or other rheumatic conditions, except for an excess of capsular contracture among women with extracapsular rupture. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 111: 723, 2003.)
Examining the Effect of Creative Writing Activities on Reading, Writing and Language Lesson Attitudes of Elementary School Fourth Grade Students

The aim of this research is to examine the effects of creative writing activities on the reading and writing attitudes of fourth grade students. This research is a one-group pretest-posttest design of quantitative research methods. The study population of the study is the fourth grade students who are studying in Sorgun district of Yozgat province in Turkey. Cluster sampling was used in the sampling selection. A total of 35 students are in the sample. Creative writing activities were realized for the students for two months. Mean, standard deviation, paired samples t-test were used in the analysis of the data. As a result of the research, creative writing activities led to an increase in reading, writing and language lesson attitude of elementary school fourth graders. Increase in language lesson attitude is significant. The mean increase in Turkish lesson attitude scores was . 39 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 3.43 to 3.82. The effect size statistic (r=.32) indicated a medium effect size.
Tales of conflict: narrative immersion and political aggression in the United States

ABSTRACT Instances of political incivility and aggression are becoming increasingly common in the United States. This manuscript contributes to our understanding of why partisans increasingly condone verbal aggression and antagonism by examining how immersion into media narratives about political conflict can affect a citizen’s feelings of political efficacy. Three experimental studies were designed to test the expectations that when partisans are immersed in a news narrative about political battles, media depictions in which their party is likely to lose the battle should lead to lower levels of political efficacy, which then leads to increased acceptance of verbal aggression and support for political antagonism. Results in all three studies provided support for the moderated mediation model.
Long‐term results of combined liver‐kidney transplantation for primary hyperoxaluria type 1: The French Experience

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a hepatic metabolic defect leading to end‐stage renal failure. The posttransplant recurrence of kidney disease can suggest a need for combined liver‐kidney transplantation (LKT). However, the risk of LKT is theoretically far higher than the risk of kidney‐alone transplantation (KAT). An unselected consecutive series of 54 patients with PH1 was analyzed according to the type of transplantation initially performed between May 1979 and June 2010 at 10 French centers. The duration of dialysis, extrarenal lesions, age, and follow‐up were similar between the groups. Postoperative morbidity and mortality did not differ between the groups, and 10‐year patient survival rates were similar for the LKT (n = 33) and KAT groups (n = 21; 78% versus 70%). Kidney graft survival at 10 years was better after LKT (87% versus 13%, P < .001) . Four patients (12.1%) lost their first kidney graft in the LKT group, whereas 19 (90%) did in the KAT group (P < .001). The recurrence of oxalosis occurred in 11 renal grafts (52%) in the KAT group but in none in the LKT group (P < .001). End‐stage renal failure resulting from rejection was also higher in the KAT group (19% versus 9%, P < 0.0001). A second kidney transplant was performed for 15 patients (71%) in the KAT group versus 4 patients (12%) in the LKT group (P < 0.001). In conclusion, LKT for PH1 provides better kidney graft survival, less rejection, and similar long‐term patient survival and is not associated with an increased short‐term mortality risk. LKT must be the first‐line treatment for PH1 patients with end‐stage renal disease. Liver Transpl 20:1475‐1485, 2014. © 2014 AASLD.
A Cross‐Validation of Statistical Models for Zoned‐Based Prediction in Cultivar Testing

The principal goals of a plant breeding program are to provide breeders with cultivar information for selection purposes and to provide farmers with high-yielding and stable cultivars. For that reason, multi-environment trials need to be done to predict future cultivar yield, and a robust statistical procedure is needed to provide reliable information on the tested cultivars. In Sweden, the statistical procedure follows the tradition of modeling cultivar effects as fixed. Moreover, the analysis is performed separately by zone and level of fungicide treatment, and so the factorial information regarding cultivar x zone x fungicide combinations is not explored. Thus, the question arose whether the statistical method could be improved to increase accuracy in zone-based cultivar prediction, since the cultivar recommendation is zone based. In this paper, the performance of empirical best linear unbiased estimation (E-BLUE) and empirical best linear unbiased prediction (E-BLUP) are compared using cross-validation for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), in single-year and multiyear series of trials. Data were obtained from three agricultural zones of Sweden. Several linear mixed models were compared, and model performance was evaluated using the mean squared error of prediction criterion. The E-BLUP method outperformed the E-BLUE method in both crops and series. The prediction accuracy for zone-based yield was improved by using E-BLUP because the random-effects assumption for cultivar x zone interaction allows information to be borrowed across zones. We conclude that E-BLUP should replace the currently used E-BLUE approach to predict zone-based cultivar yield.
Wide-Sense Nonblocking ${\rm log}_{d}(N, 0, p)$ Multicast Switching Networks

Wide-sense nonblocking (WSNB) log2(N, 0, p) switching networks under the fixed-size blocking window algorithm have been proposed by Tscha and Lee. We have generalized this approach to the variable-size blocking window algorithm and shown that the minimum number of planes depends on the window size and the number of stages. We have also generalized this concept to log2(N, m, p) switching networks. Later, Hwang and Lin have proved that for m > 2, the number of required planes for WSNB operation under the blocking window algorithm is always greater than for m les 2, and determined the optimal window size and optimal m. In this paper, we further generalized these results to logd(N, 0, p) switching networks. In the paper, we prove that the minimum number of planes for any d is reached also for different sizes of blocking window depending on d and n.
Environmental and Genetic Factors Regulating Localization of the Plant Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase1[OPEN]

Cellular dynamics and localization of plasma membrane H+-ATPase is determined by cell type, light condition, and a receptor kinase, FERONIA, which regulates cell elongation growth. A P-type H+-ATPase is the primary transporter that converts ATP to electrochemical energy at the plasma membrane of higher plants. Its product, the proton-motive force, is composed of an electrical potential and a pH gradient. Many studies have demonstrated that this proton-motive force not only drives the secondary transporters required for nutrient uptake, but also plays a direct role in regulating cell expansion. Here, we have generated a transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plant expressing H+-ATPase isoform 2 (AHA2) that is translationally fused with a fluorescent protein and examined its cellular localization by live-cell microscopy. Using a 3D imaging approach with seedlings grown for various times under a variety of light intensities, we demonstrate that AHA2 localization at the plasma membrane of root cells requires light. In dim light conditions, AHA2 is found in intracellular compartments, in addition to the plasma membrane. This localization profile was age-dependent and specific to cell types found in the transition zone located between the meristem and elongation zones. The accumulation of AHA2 in intracellular compartments is consistent with reduced H+ secretion near the transition zone and the suppression of root growth. By examining AHA2 localization in a knockout mutant of a receptor protein kinase, FERONIA, we found that the intracellular accumulation of AHA2 in the transition zone is dependent on a functional FERONIA-dependent inhibitory response in root elongation. Overall, this study provides a molecular underpinning for understanding the genetic, environmental, and developmental factors influencing root growth via localization of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase.
Detecting Mispronunciations of L2 Learners and Providing Corrective Feedback Using Knowledge-Guided and Data-Driven Decision Trees

We propose a novel decision tree based framework to detect phonetic mispronunciations produced by L2 learners caused by using inaccurate speech attributes, such as manner and place of articulation. Compared with conventional score-based CAPT (computer assisted pronunciation training) systems, our proposed framework has three advantages: (1) each mispronunciation in a tree can be interpreted and communicated to the L2 learners by traversing the corresponding path from a leaf node to the root node; (2) corrective feedback based on speech attribute features, which are directly used to describe how consonants and vowels are produced using related articulators, can be provided to the L2 learners; and (3) by building the phone-dependent decision tree, the relative importance of the speech attribute features of a target phone can be automatically learned and used to distinguish itself from other phones. This information can provide L2 learners speech attribute feedback that is ranked in order of importance. In addition to the abovementioned advantages, experimental results confirm that the proposed approach can detect most pronunciation errors and provide accurate diagnostic feedback.
Anti‐alpha‐gliadin antibodies are not predictive of celiac disease in juvenile chronic arthritis

Some authors have recently reported an increased level of antigluten antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis, both in the adult and juvenile form. The real meaning of these antibodies is still unclear. We ascertained the levels of antigluten antibodies in a group of children with juvenile chronic arthritis to determine if these antibodies were linked with celiac disease and/or to increased intestinal permeability. In 18 of 53 patients (33.9%), the levels of antigluten antibodies (IgA or IgG) were higher than normal. No correlation was found between the increase in antigluten antibodies and the positive lactulose/ mannitol test, used for determining increased intestinal permeability. In all eight patients undergoing intestinal biopsy due to abnormal levels of antigluten antibodies (IgA class), intestinal mucosa was normal. In conclusion, our study shows that in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis, immunological response to gluten is neither related to celiac disease nor to increased intestinal permeability.
CNN-based tree species identification from bark image

This paper proposes a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based tree species identification method from bark image. The proposed method uses the well-known CNN model. The difficulty of our problem is to use a special tree image in which a colorful tag is stick on the bark. The tag is irrelevant to the species. In order to recognize with CNN, it is necessary to extract a region (ROI) excluding the tag. Thus, this paper proposes a ROI extraction method. Extracted ROI is fed to CNN. We evaluated the proposed method with six tree species. We carried out the evaluation experiment with various conditions, and found an optimal condition for our problem.
Collective polarization model for gradient sensing via Dachsous-Fat intercellular signaling

Significance Morphogenesis is a biological process that generates the physical form and structure of multicellular organisms. Although many of the genes controlling morphogenesis are known, little is understood of the mechanisms that define tissue shape and size. Prominent among these mechanisms is the contact signaling between cells mediated by two cell adhesion-type proteins Dachsous and Fat, which regulate cell division in response to the spatially graded distribution of morphogens, factors governing tissue patterning and growth. Here, based on the known behavior of this signaling pathway, we develop a model of the underlying mechanism that relates signaling to the polarization of Dachsous/Fat heterodimers on cell interfaces. This model explains observed phenotypes, makes quantitative predictions, and provides a framework for further experimental studies. Dachsous-Fat signaling via the Hippo pathway influences proliferation during Drosophila development, and some of its mammalian homologs are tumor suppressors, highlighting its role as a universal growth regulator. The Fat/Hippo pathway responds to morphogen gradients and influences the in-plane polarization of cells and orientation of divisions, linking growth with tissue patterning. Remarkably, the Fat pathway transduces a growth signal through the polarization of transmembrane complexes that responds to both morphogen level and gradient. Dissection of these complex phenotypes requires a quantitative model that provides a systematic characterization of the pathway. In the absence of detailed knowledge of molecular interactions, we take a phenomenological approach that considers a broad class of simple models, which are sufficiently constrained by observations to enable insight into possible mechanisms. We predict two modes of local/cooperative interactions among Fat–Dachsous complexes, which are necessary for the collective polarization of tissues and enhanced sensitivity to weak gradients. Collective polarization convolves level and gradient of input signals, reproducing known phenotypes while generating falsifiable predictions. Our construction of a simplified signal transduction map allows a generalization of the positional value model and emphasizes the important role intercellular interactions play in growth and patterning of tissues.
Genetic Test for Involvement of Intervening Sequences in Transport of Nuclear RNA

The construction of a recombinant virus in the late region of simian virus 40 is presented. The small intervening sequence of late 19S RNA (0.760 to 0.765 map unit) was cloned and inserted into the EcoRI site (1.0 map unit) in the late region of simian virus 40. This is a mutant virus that now has two intervening sequences, one at the normal position (0.760 map unit) and another out of the context of its flanking sequence and now at 1.0 map unit. The recombinant appears poisonous, as repeated attempts to plaque it as a virus with a standard helper virus were unsuccessful. The transcription of this recombinant was, therefore, studied after direct DNA transfection onto CV-1 cells. Nuclease S1 analysis of mutant RNA indicates that the major nuclear transcript was a spliced but nuclear 16S RNA species. Normally, 16S RNA is not found in the nucleus. This result was shown to be an artifact of the DNA transfection protocol. When the glycerol shock was done after infection with virus, a similar alteration in the makeup of nuclear RNA was seen. A transient stock of this double-intron mutant was finally obtained, using a nonrevertable helper virus. The transcriptional analysis of this mutant showed that unspliced 19S RNA was not transported and remained within the nucleus, whereas spliced 19S and 16S RNAs were transported. We conclude that the retention of nuclear transcripts within the nucleus is not simply due to the presence of intronic sequences, as spliced 19S and 16S RNAs which contain the second intron were efficiently transported.
Hepatitis B virus X protein activates Notch signaling by its effects on Notch 1 and Notch 4 in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Deregulated expression of Notch receptors and abnormal activity of Notch signaling have been observed in a growing number of malignant tumors, however, the expression and activity of Notch in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their relationship with HBV X protein (HBx) are still not fully elucidated. To address this, we examined the overall expression of Notch receptors in HBV-associated HCC tissues, analyzed their relationship with HBx, and further investigated the role of Notch signaling in HBx stable transfected HepG2 cells (HepG2X). The results showed that Notch signaling could be activated by HBx in HepG2 cells. The expression of cytoplasmic Notch1 or nuclear Notch4 was correlated with the expression of HBx in HBV-associated HCC tissues. The expression of cytoplasmic Notch1 or nuclear Notch4 could also be upregulated by HBx in HepG2X cells. The upregulation of Notch1 by HBx was through p38 MAPK pathway. Moreover, HBx was found to directly interact with Notch1, whereas, not with Notch4 in HepG2X cells. Suppression of Notch signaling by γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) decreased cell growth, blocked cell cycle progression and induced cell apoptosis in HepG2X cells. The present study indicates that HBx activates Notch signaling by its effects on Notch1 and Notch4, and therefore, recruits Notch signaling as a downstream pathway contributing to its carcinogenic role in HBV-associated HCC.
Citizens trust in public and political institutions in Ethiopia

This article examines the pattern of popular trust in public and political institutions in Ethiopia. The analysis employs individual-level survey data and uses ordinary least square regression to analyze the relative explanatory power of independent variables for variations in citizens’ institutional trust. The results demonstrate that citizens’ trust in public institutions varies extensively from one public and political institution to another. This article argues that institutional performance is crucial factor in explaining the source of citizens generalized trust in Ethiopia. This article concluded that citizens’ popular trust in Ethiopia is a function of their expectation of the quality of the services offered, as well as their evaluations of government’s efforts to provide services in a fair and equitable manner. Key words: Citizens trust, public and political institutions, Ethiopia.
Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata (AA) is a nonscarring, autoimmune, inflammatory, hair loss on the scalp, and/or body. Etiology and pathogenesis are still unknown. The most common site affected is the scalp. Histopathology is characterized by an increased number of the catagen and telogen follicles, the presence of inflammatory lymphocytic infiltrate in the peribulbar region (“swarm of bees”).