Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lexicon-based Sentiment Analysis in German: Systematic Evaluation of Resources and Preprocessing Techniques

We present the results of an evaluation study in the context of lexicon-based sentiment analysis resources for German texts. We have set up a comprehensive compilation of 19 sentiment lexicon resources and 20 sentiment-annotated corpora available for German across multiple domains. In addition to the evaluation of the sentiment lexicons we also investigate the in-ﬂuence of the following preprocessing steps and modiﬁers: stemming and lemmatization, part-of-speech-tagging, usage of emoticons, stop words removal, usage of valence shifters, intensiﬁers, and diminishers. We report the best performing lexicons as well as the inﬂu-ence of preprocessing steps and other modiﬁ-cations on average performance across all corpora. We show that larger lexicons with continuous values like SentiWS and SentiMerge perform best across the domains. The best performing conﬁguration of lexicon and modiﬁ-cations considering the f1-value and accuracy averages across all corpora achieves around 67%. Preprocessing, especially stemming or lemmatization increases the performance consistently on average around 6% and for certain lexicons and conﬁgurations up to 16.5% while methods like the usage of valence shifters, in-tensiﬁers or diminishers rarely inﬂuence over-all performance. We discuss domain-speciﬁc differences and give recommendations for the selection of lexicons, preprocessing and modi-ﬁcations.
An Experimental Analysis of Perch Diameter and Substrate Preferences of Anolis Lizards from Natural Forest and Urban Habitats

Abstract. Determining whether organisms have preferences for certain aspects of the habitat is important for understanding the process of habitat selection. Anolis lizards (anoles) have evolved to occupy distinct parts of the arboreal environment. Depending on the population or species, anoles perch on different aspects of the structural habitat varying in diameter, height, and type of substrate. We used laboratory and mesocosm trials to assess whether 2 species of Anolis lizards have preferences for the diameter and type of substrate they use for perching. Results reveal A. cristatellus and A. sagrei both prefer larger diameter perches. Lizards from natural forests and urban populations showed no difference in perch-diameter preference. In contrast, A. sagrei from an urban site overwhelmingly preferred to perch on wood substrates over polyvinyl chloride and metal ones. The larger diameter and wood substrates preferred by anoles in our trials should confer increased locomotor performance for these species based on previous studies. Rapid environmental change caused by humans can decouple the relationship between habitat preferences and fitness, so it is essential to test for changing preferences in organisms that experience urbanization and other forms of global change.
Heterogeneous Flagellar Expression in Single Salmonella Cells Promotes Diversity in Antibiotic Tolerance

Antibiotic resistance and tolerance pose a severe threat to human health. How bacterial pathogens acquire antibiotic tolerance is not clear. ABSTRACT Phenotypic heterogeneity among single cells in a genetically identical population leads to diverse environmental adaptation. The human and animal pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium exhibits heterogeneous expression of virulence genes, including flagellar and Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI) genes. Little is known about how the differential expression of flagellar genes among single cells affects bacterial adaptation to stresses. Here, we have developed a triple-fluorescence reporter to simultaneously monitor the expression of flagellar and SPI-1 pathways. We show that the two pathways cross talk at the single-cell level. Intriguingly, cells expressing flagella (fliC-ON) exhibit decreased tolerance to antibiotics compared to fliC-OFF cells. Such variation depends on TolC-dependent efflux pumps. We further show that fliC-ON cells contain higher intracellular proton concentrations. This suggests that the assembly and rotation of flagella consume the proton motive force and decrease the efflux activity, resulting in antibiotic sensitivity. Such a trade-off between motility and efflux highlights a novel mechanism of antibiotic tolerance. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance and tolerance pose a severe threat to human health. How bacterial pathogens acquire antibiotic tolerance is not clear. Here, we show that the human and animal pathogen Salmonella divides its population into subgroups that are different in their abilities to tolerate antibiotic treatments. In a Salmonella population that is genetically identical, some cells express flagella to move toward nutrients, while other cells do not express flagella. Interestingly, we show that Salmonella cells that do not express flagella are more tolerant to antibiotics. We have further determined the mechanism underlying such diverse responses to antibiotics. Flagellar motility uses cellular energy stored in the form of proton motive force and makes cells less efficient in pumping out toxic molecules such as antibiotics. The overall bacterial population therefore gains benefits from such diversity to quickly adapt to different environmental conditions.
Betacoronavirus Assembly: Clues and Perspectives for Elucidating SARS-CoV-2 Particle Formation and Egress

In 2019, a new pandemic virus belonging to the betacoronavirus family emerged, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This new coronavirus appeared in Wuhan, China, and is responsible for severe respiratory pneumonia in humans, namely, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). ABSTRACT In 2019, a new pandemic virus belonging to the betacoronavirus family emerged, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This new coronavirus appeared in Wuhan, China, and is responsible for severe respiratory pneumonia in humans, namely, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Having infected almost 200 million people worldwide and caused more than 4.1 million deaths as of today, this new disease has raised a significant number of questions about its molecular mechanism of replication and, in particular, how infectious viral particles are produced. Although viral entry is well characterized, the full assembly steps of SARS-CoV-2 have still not been fully described. Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, have four main structural proteins, namely, the spike glycoprotein (S), the membrane glycoprotein (M), the envelope protein (E), and the nucleocapsid protein (N). All these proteins have key roles in the process of coronavirus assembly and budding. In this review, we gathered the current knowledge about betacoronavirus structural proteins involved in viral particle assembly, membrane curvature and scission, and then egress in order to suggest and question a coherent model for SARS-CoV-2 particle production and release.
Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Is Mediated by the IgG Receptors FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIA but Does Not Contribute to Aberrant Cytokine Production by Macrophages

Viruses infect cells mainly via specific receptors at the cell surface. Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection is an alternative mechanism of infection for viruses to infect immune cells that is mediated by antibodies and IgG receptors (FcγRs). ABSTRACT The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised concerns about the detrimental effects of antibodies. Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection is one of the biggest concerns in terms of not only the antibody reaction to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) upon reinfection with the virus but also the reaction to COVID-19 vaccines. In this study, we evaluated ADE of infection by using COVID-19 convalescent-phase plasma and BHK cells expressing human Fcγ receptors (FcγRs). We found that FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIA mediated modest ADE of infection against SARS-CoV-2. Although ADE of infection was observed in monocyte-derived macrophages infected with SARS-CoV-2, including its variants, proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine expression was not upregulated in macrophages. SARS-CoV-2 infection thus produces antibodies that elicit ADE of infection, but these antibodies do not contribute to excess cytokine production by macrophages. IMPORTANCE Viruses infect cells mainly via specific receptors at the cell surface. Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection is an alternative mechanism of infection for viruses to infect immune cells that is mediated by antibodies and IgG receptors (FcγRs). Because ADE of infection contributes to the pathogenesis of some viruses, such as dengue virus and feline coronavirus, it is important to evaluate the precise mechanism of ADE and its contribution to the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. Here, using convalescent-phase plasma from COVID-19 patients, we found that two types of FcγRs, FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIA, mediate ADE of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although ADE of infection was observed for SARS-CoV-2 and its recent variants, proinflammatory cytokine production in monocyte-derived macrophages was not upregulated. These observations suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection produces antibodies that elicit ADE of infection, but these antibodies may not be involved in aberrant cytokine release by macrophages during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Phase analysis and corrosion behavior of brazing Cu/Al dissimilar metal joint with BAl88Si filler metal

Abstract To meet the requirements of automatic production, a new type of green BAl88Si cored solder was developed. The lap brazing experiments were carried out with copper and aluminum as brazing substrates. The microstructure, phase composition, and corrosion behavior of solder joint interface were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron backscattering diffraction, tensile testing machine, and electrochemical workstation. The results show that the brazing joint of Cu/BAl88Si/Al is metallurgical bonding, and the brazing joint of Cu/BAl88Si/Al is composed of Cu9Al4, CuAl2, a-Al, (CuAl2 + a-Al + Si) ternary eutectic. In addition, there is no obvious preference for each grain in the brazing joint, and there are S texture {123}<634>, Copper texture {112}<111>, and Brass texture {110}<112>. The interface of Cu9Al4/CuAl2 is a non-coherent crystal plane and does not have good lattice matching. The average particle size of CuAl2 is 11.95 µm and that of Al is 28.3 µm. However, the kernel average misorientation (KAM) value at the brazed joint interface is obviously higher than that at the brazed joint interface copper, so the defect density at the brazed joint interface aluminum is higher than that at the brazed joint interface copper. At the same time, due to poor corrosion resistance at the interface on the aluminum side of the brazed joint, serious corrosion spots and corrosion cracks occur at the same time, which leads to the shear performance of the brazed joint decreasing by about 75% after salt spray test for 240 h.
Special Issue Innovation: Organization and Management“Rethinking Medical Innovation: Organizing R&D, Responding to Crisis, Delivering Health Services”

Innovation, entrepreneurship and the organization of research and development in the context of healthcare organizations, the medical devices and pharmaceutical industries as well as the broader field of medicine and life-sciences have been of great interest for many researchers across different innovation and knowledge related domains. For multiple reasons, however, common approaches to analyzing and explaining these developments may require rethinking how, why, and when medical innovations occur and are diffused in society. A first reason for “Rethinking Medical Innovation” derives from the challenges facing traditional ways of innovating in this sphere. Specifically, scientific and technological progress in bio-medical and related disciplines such as personalized therapies (Denicolai & Previtali, 2020) as well as digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence in innovation processes (Schneider et al. 2020) challenge existing ways of innovating. At the same time, the disruptive element of the global COVID-19 pandemic as a crisis event opens up new opportunities, and raised questions about the potential for a redesign of where and how medical innovation is conducted (George et al., 2020). This may encompass the INNOVATION: ORGANIZATION & MANAGEMENT 2021, VOL. 23, NO. 3, 439–444 https://doi.org/10.1080/14479338.2021. 1954745
For or Against?: Criminal Justice and Criminology Faculty Attitudes toward Trigger Warnings

Abstract Since 2014, a debate has raged over trigger warnings in college courses. Proponents see trigger warnings (oral or written advance notification of course content with the potential to trigger adverse health responses, and therefore, inhibit academic performance) as supportive of students, particularly those who have experienced trauma. Critics see them as harmful to those same students, and as a threat to learning and academic freedom. Using data from a survey of criminal justice and criminology faculty (N = 791), this study found three domains of faculty attitudes, with trigger warnings as a student-centered teaching practice, an academic harm, and compromising content. Female faculty, those who had taught victimology, those in criminal justice departments, and those who identified as more liberal had more positive views of trigger warnings. Only attitudes viewing trigger warnings as a student-centered teaching practice predicted use of trigger warnings. Future research should undertake inter-disciplinary comparisons.
Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS): validation with a sample of self-identified Christians

ABSTRACT Transgender people suffer from a variety of consequences as victims of anti-transgender prejudice. Christians have been frequently identified as holding negative attitudes toward transgender people; however, there is evidence that these attitudes may be changing. Accurate measurement of attitudes is important in understanding currently held beliefs and to assess potential changes over time. This study tested the validity of the Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS) for use with the Christian population with a sample of 207 self-identified Christians in the United States. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the factor structure of TABS: χ2 (374, N = 207) = 821.46, p < 0.001 (normed χ2 = 2.20 < 4); RMSEA = . 076 (90%CI = .069; .083), CFI = . 926, SRMR = . 053. Overall, results suggest that TABS is an appropriate instrument to utilise with the Christian population in the United states.
Domestication‐induced reduction in eye size revealed in multiple common garden experiments: The case of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Domestication leads to changes in traits that are under directional selection in breeding programmes, though unintentional changes in nonproduction traits can also arise. In offspring of escaping fish and any hybrid progeny, such unintentionally altered traits may reduce fitness in the wild. Atlantic salmon breeding programmes were established in the early 1970s, resulting in genetic changes in multiple traits. However, the impact of domestication on eye size has not been studied. We measured body size corrected eye size in 4000 salmon from six common garden experiments conducted under artificial and natural conditions, in freshwater and saltwater environments, in two countries. Within these common gardens, offspring of domesticated and wild parents were crossed to produce 11 strains, with varying genetic backgrounds (wild, domesticated, F1 hybrids, F2 hybrids and backcrosses). Size‐adjusted eye size was influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Domesticated fish reared under artificial conditions had smaller adjusted eye size when compared to wild fish reared under identical conditions, in both the freshwater and marine environments, and in both Irish and Norwegian experiments. However, in parr that had been introduced into a river environment shortly after hatching and sampled at the end of their first summer, differences in adjusted eye size observed among genetic groups were of a reduced magnitude and were nonsignificant in 2‐year‐old sea migrating smolts sampled in the river immediately prior to sea entry. Collectively, our findings could suggest that where natural selection is present, individuals with reduced eye size are maladapted and consequently have reduced fitness, building on our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie a well‐documented reduction in the fitness of the progeny of domesticated salmon, including hybrid progeny, in the wild.
Exploring the Effects of Browsing Motivations on Planned Impulse Buying in Facebook Transaction Groups

In recent years, the topical specificity of Facebook buy and sell groups has made it easier to attract consumers with a common need or interest in a particular topic to come together. With this feature, Facebook buy and sell groups have also become one of the most important online marketing channels for businesses and brands. However, little research has been conducted to explore how the characteristics of this kind of transaction group may affect consumers’ buying decisions. Based on the topical specificity of Facebook transaction groups, this study argues that consumers’ motivations to browse the content of transaction groups include an entertainment-seeking hedonic motivation and an information-seeking utilitarian motivation. Besides, the topical specificity of this kind of transaction group is likely to induce in consumers with a purchase plan an urge to buy impulsively as they experience enjoyment and information usefulness of the group. This study was conducted by using the online survey method. The empirical results verified that both utilitarian and hedonic motivations can improve consumers’ perception of information usefulness of a transaction group. However, only hedonic browsing can directly lead to a higher enjoyment perception, and utilitarian browsing indirectly affects it through the mediation of information usefulness. The results further unveil that both information usefulness and enjoyment are factors that can boost the urge to buy impulsively. The results highlight the importance of satisfying consumers’ utilitarian motivations and increasing their perception of information usefulness for topic-specific transaction groups in evoking consumers’ urge to buy impulsively. Finally, this study provides several suggestions that can be a reference for transaction group administrators, sellers, and companies when selling or marketing products in a transaction group.
A Case Study of Lecturers’ Perceptions of Flipped Learning

Flipping the classroom has been paid a great deal of attention recently. Driven in by the rapid development of technology and the ubiquity of smart devices that can connect to it, the flipped classroom is one of the recent trending in teaching practices. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate a case study of an institution of higher learning (IHL) where flipped learning has been piloted in 2019 by exploring lecturers’ perceptions and feedback towards flipped classroom. Data was collected from 29 lecturers, who have at least one semester teaching experience employing flipped learning, via an online survey. The findings reveal that most of the IHL’s lecturers participating in this study have relatively positive perceptions of flipped learning implementation. Furthermore, they follow appropriate strategies when they conducted flipped learning in their class. Finally, the paper provides the implications for existing issues in the following aspects: pre-class, in-class and post-class activities during the flipped learning implementation.
Students’ Perceptions of Gamification: A Case Study in Business Courses at an Institution of Higher Education

∗ The usage of gamification is emerging as a popular trend in higher education generally and business management programs in particular. This study aims to explore the perceptions of students on how gamification affects student engagement, student motivation and student learning effectiveness in Business courses. The findings of the study will be useful for teachers of business communication and academia. Participants’ views of gamification were collected through Google form surveys delivered to 500 students and get the responses from 224 students majoring in Business. The surveys include 10 multiple-choice questionnaires about their perceptions towards gamification regarding motivation and learning effectiveness, followed by two open-ended questions to obtain their opinions on the pros and cons of this approach. Finally, this paper suggests the recommendations for improving the gamification usages in Business courses in the next semesters.
Deep-learning based retinal fluid segmentation in optical coherence tomography images using a cascade of ENets

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive, painless and reproducible examination which allows ophthalmologists to visualize retinal layers. This imaging modality is useful to detect diseases such as diabetic macular edema (DME) or age related macular degeneration (AMD), which are associated with fluid accumulations. In this paper, a cascade of deep convolutional neural networks is proposed using ENets for the segmentation of fluid accumulations in OCT B-Scans. After denoising the B-Scans, a first ENet extracts the region of interest (ROI) between the inner limiting membrane (ILM) and the Bruch’s membrane (BM), whereas the second ENet segments the fluid in the ROI. A random forest classifier was applied on the segmented fluid regions to reject false positive. Our framework was trained on three different datasets with several diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and AMD. Our method achieves an average Dice Score for fluid segmentation of 0.80, 0.83 and 0.83 on the UMN DME, UMN AMD and Kermany datasets respectively.
Deleterious Mutations Accumulate Faster in Allopolyploid Than Diploid Cotton (Gossypium) and Unequally between Subgenomes

Whole genome duplication (polyploidization) is among the most dramatic mutational processes in nature, so understanding how natural selection differs in polyploids relative to diploids is an important goal. Population genetics theory predicts that recessive deleterious mutations accumulate faster in allopolyploids than diploids due to the masking effect of redundant gene copies, but this prediction is hitherto unconfirmed. Here, we use the cotton genus (Gossypium), which contains seven allopolyploids derived from a single polyploidization event 1-2 million years ago, to investigate deleterious mutation accumulation. We use two methods of identifying deleterious mutations at the nucleotide and amino acid level, along with whole-genome resequencing of 43 individuals spanning six allopolyploid species and their two diploid progenitors, to demonstrate that deleterious mutations accumulate faster in allopolyploids than in their diploid progenitors. We find that, unlike what would be expected under models of demographic changes alone, strongly deleterious mutations show the biggest difference between ploidy levels, and this effect diminishes for moderately and mildly deleterious mutations. We further show that the proportion of nonsynonymous mutations that are deleterious differs between the two co-resident subgenomes in the allopolyploids, suggesting that homoeologous masking acts unequally between subgenomes. Our results provide a genome-wide perspective on classic notions of the significance of gene duplication that likely are broadly applicable to allopolyploids, with implications for our understanding of the evolutionary fate of deleterious mutations. Finally, we note that some measures of selection (e.g. dN/dS, πN/πS) may be biased when species of different ploidy levels are compared.