Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On equilibrium in non‐hydrostatic metamorphic systems

Metamorphic geology has accumulated a huge body of observation on mineral assemblages that reveal strong patterns in occurrence, summarized, for example, in the idea of metamorphic facies. On the realization that such patterns needed a simple explanation, there has been considerable a posteriori success from adopting the idea that equilibrium thermodynamics can be used on mineral assemblages to make sense of the patterns in terms of, for example, the pressure and temperature of formation of mineral assemblages. In doing so, a particularly simple implicit assumption is made, that mineral assemblages operate essentially hydrostatically. Structural geologists have studied the same rocks for different ends, but, remarkably, the phenomena they are interested in depend on non‐hydrostatic stress. We look at the effect of such behaviour on mineral equilibria. With adoption of some plausible assumptions about how metamorphism in the crust works, the consequence of minerals being non‐hydrostatically stressed is commonly second order in equilibrium calculations.
A Translocated Effector Required for Bartonella Dissemination from Derma to Blood Safeguards Migratory Host Cells from Damage by Co-translocated Effectors

Numerous bacterial pathogens secrete multiple effectors to modulate host cellular functions. These effectors may interfere with each other to efficiently control the infection process. Bartonellae are Gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacteria using a VirB type IV secretion system to translocate a cocktail of Bartonella effector proteins (Beps) into host cells. Based on in vitro infection models we demonstrate here that BepE protects infected migratory cells from injurious effects triggered by BepC and is required for in vivo dissemination of bacteria from the dermal site of inoculation to blood. Human endothelial cells (HUVECs) infected with a ΔbepE mutant of B. henselae (Bhe) displayed a cell fragmentation phenotype resulting from Bep-dependent disturbance of rear edge detachment during migration. A ΔbepCE mutant did not show cell fragmentation, indicating that BepC is critical for triggering this deleterious phenotype. Complementation of ΔbepE with BepEBhe or its homologues from other Bartonella species abolished cell fragmentation. This cyto-protective activity is confined to the C-terminal Bartonella intracellular delivery (BID) domain of BepEBhe (BID2.EBhe). Ectopic expression of BID2.EBhe impeded the disruption of actin stress fibers by Rho Inhibitor 1, indicating that BepE restores normal cell migration via the RhoA signaling pathway, a major regulator of rear edge retraction. An intradermal (i.d.) model for B. tribocorum (Btr) infection in the rat reservoir host mimicking the natural route of infection by blood sucking arthropods allowed demonstrating a vital role for BepE in bacterial dissemination from derma to blood. While the Btr mutant ΔbepDE was abacteremic following i.d. inoculation, complementation with BepEBtr, BepEBhe or BIDs.EBhe restored bacteremia. Given that we observed a similar protective effect of BepEBhe on infected bone marrow-derived dendritic cells migrating through a monolayer of lymphatic endothelial cells we propose that infected dermal dendritic cells may be involved in disseminating Bartonella towards the blood stream in a BepE-dependent manner.
The Effect of Residence, School Status, Work Status, and Social Influence on the Prevalence of Alcohol Use Among Emerging Adults.

OBJECTIVE The first year after high school is a transitional year, with increased independence from parental supervision, contact with other independent youth, and exposure to new environments, all of which may influence substance use. This article reports longitudinal predictors of change in the prevalence of alcohol use and heavy episodic drinking among adolescents and environmental correlates (i.e., residence, college attendance, and work status) with drinking the year after high school. METHOD A national sample of study participants (N = 2,659; 55% female) in the NEXT Generation Health Study were followed annually from 10th grade (Wave 1) to the year after high school (Wave 4). Longitudinal binary outcomes, including recent (30-day) drinking and two measures of heavy episodic drinking, were examined. Transition models with generalized estimating equations estimated the effect of previous drinking behaviors, social influences, and current residential status and activity (school and/or work) on drinking prevalence. RESULTS Drinking increased from 40.5% among high school seniors (Wave 3) to 53.5% in Wave 4 for 30-day use, and from 29.0% to 41.2% for heavy episodic drinking. Significant predictors of 30-day drinking included previous drinking status (odds ratio [OR] = 5.48), peer drinking often (OR = 3.25), parental expectations (OR = 0.91), and current year living on campus (OR = 2.10). The same significant predictors with similar magnitudes were found for both measures of heavy episodic drinking. Peer use did not interact with college attendance or residence. CONCLUSIONS Predictors of drinking and heavy episodic drinking during the first year after high school included being White, living on campus, previous drinking, lower parental expectations, and having peers who drink.
Definitional Interpreters for Higher-Order Programming Languages

Higher-order programming languages (i.e., languages in which procedures or labels can occur as values) are usually defined by interpreters that are themselves written in a programming language based on the lambda calculus (i.e., an applicative language such as pure LISP). Examples include McCarthy's definition of LISP, Landin's SECD machine, the Vienna definition of PL/I, Reynolds' definitions of GEDANKEN, and recent unpublished work by L. Morris and C. Wadsworth. Such definitions can be classified according to whether the interpreter contains higher-order functions, and whether the order of application (i.e., call by value versus call by name) in the defined language depends upon the order of application in the defining language. As an example, we consider the definition of a simple applicative programming language by means of an interpreter written in a similar language. Definitions in each of the above classifications are derived from one another by informal but constructive methods. The treatment of imperative features such as jumps and assignment is also discussed.
Paleontologia Electronica is still number one for new open access fossil species

Andrew M. Bush. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Integrative Geosciences, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Rd, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3043 USA. andrew.bush@uconn.edu Julien Louys. Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111 Australia. j.louys@griffith.edu. au Jennifer Pattison Rumford. Palaeontologia Electronica, Texas USA. jennifer.rumford@gmail.com
Assessing the Influence of Taxpayer Services on Value Added Tax Compliance among Small and Medium Enterprises in Zanzibar

Recent years have seen SMEs' tax compliance become a major challenge. Many SMEs in developing countries struggle with VAT compliance, despite their important economic contributions. However, the factors that affect SMEs' VAT compliance in Zanzibar are understudied, leaving a major information vacuum that must be filled. To fill this information vacuum, this work investigates extensively by utilizing a cross-sectional research design. This technique enabled the collection of 400 SMEs data, whereas the logit model and propensity score matching were used for data analyses. The logit model results reveal that simplified tax systems, computerized tax payments, tax audits, and taxpayer services improve VAT compliance. Providing tax audits to SMEs in Zanzibar annually increases VAT tax compliance by 11%, while tax knowledge increases the chance of SMEs complying with VAT tax by 10 percent. Conversely, secondary and university education lowered compliance. University education decreases the probability of SMEs complying with VAT tax by 57%. An investigation of matching propensity scores showed that VAT compliance hurt SMB income. Compliant SMEs lost money due to electronic tax payments and IT tax management systems. In contrast, non-compliant SMEs reported higher incomes after adopting EFDs. Research outcomes lend to the sustainable growth and development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Zanzibar. They also reinforce the government's efforts at revenue mobilization in a way that enhances economic stability. It is recommended that governments should simplify tax systems, provide clear guidelines in local languages, and implement categorization based on size and turnover.
Faster Mahalanobis K-means clustering for Gaussian distributions

The famous probabilistic theory of Gaussian distribution suggests that distribution of real world data when collected in large quantities always follows Gaussian distribution. The increasing amount of data to be managed and analyzed currently requires clustering approaches which are successful in recognizing the dense areas of Gaussian model. These areas might not be always spherical, as often discovered by k-means; rather the shapes might be oblong. The shapes of clusters formed highly depend on the distance metric used. Use of Mahalanobis distance to identify clusters in a mixed Gaussian distribution field has always been appreciated, reasons being Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs) supporting Mahalanobis distance and its ability to identify real life-like elliptical clusters. The only challenge is deciding the proper initial estimates used in computation of Mahalanobis distance. The elliptical clusters recognized by use of this measure in k-means can be viewed as a general case of spherical clusters produced by Euclidean distance in k-means. This paper explores how well the initialization method of k-means++ works with Mahalanobis k-means.
Molecular and morphological data reveal two new species of Tropicoporus (Hymenochaetaceae, Basidiomycota) from Australia and tropical Asia

﻿Abstract Phylogenetic analyses and morphological examination confirmed two new species in the tropical polypore genus Tropicoporus, T.oceanianus and T.zuzaneae, from Australia and tropical Asia, respectively. A phylogenetic analysis based on the two DNA markers including the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the large subunit (nLSU) gene shows that these two new species form two independent lineages nested in the genus Tropicoporus. T.oceanianus is characterized by perennial and ungulate basidiomata, the occasional presence of hymenial setae, a trimitic hyphal structure in the context and a dimitic hyphal system in the trama, and broadly ellipsoid to subglobose basidiospores measuring 5.2–6 × 4–5 μm. T.zuzaneae is characterized by perennial and resupinate basidiomata with distinct receding margin, glancing pores, very thin to almost lacking subiculum, a dimitic hyphal structure, the absence of any setal elements, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose basidiospores measuring 3.8–4.9 × 3–4.2 µm. The differences among the new species and their phylogenetically related and morphologically similar species are discussed.
Effects of Drying and Re-Wetting on Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Recycling: A Manipulative Experiment

Climate change and water abstraction may change stream flow from perennial into intermittent lotic systems, modifying their abiotic and biotic benthic environment and impacting ecosystem processes such as nutrient turnover. We conducted a microcosm experiment to investigate the interactive effect of water intermittency, macrofauna and leaf size (Populus nigra leaves) on nutrient mineralization and recycling. Leaf disks (1 or 5 cm diameter) were incubated for 40 days with or without the leaf-consumer, Potamophylax cingulatus larvae (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae) and with or without an intervening, 10-days simulation of stream drying and subsequent rewetting. Nutrient fluxes, residual leaf biomass and leaf elemental composition were measured to evaluate how intermittency, macrofauna and leaf size affect organic matter mineralization rates and stoichiometry. Results suggest that drying slows decomposition rates, impacting both the microbial and setting to zero macrofauna activities. The presence of macrofauna increases mineralization and nutrient (C, N and P) regeneration rates. Our findings also suggest that leaf disks with higher diameter display higher microbial activity and NH4+ regeneration. During the experiment, the C:N:P ratios of residual litter changed, as the leaf material became enriched with N and P. Our study suggests that increasingly frequent dry events might slow mineralization rates and downstream nutrient transport.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging via Independent Component Analysis for Human Brain

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is a powerful noninvasive tool for localizing and analyzing brain activity. This study focuses on one very important aspect of the functional properties of human brain, specifically the estimation of the level of parallelism when performing complex cognitive tasks. Using fMRI as the main modality, the human brain activity is investigated through a purely data driven signal processing and dimensionality analysis approach. Specifically, the fMRI signal is treated as a multidimensional data space and its intrinsic 'complexity' is studied via dataset fractal analysis and blind source separation (BSS) methods. One simulated and two real fMRI datasets are used in combination with Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and fractal analysis for estimating the intrinsic (true) dimensionality, in order to provide data driven experimental evidence on the number of independent brain processes that run in parallel when visual or visuo motor tasks are performed.
Exclusion of circulating T cells from the thymus does not apply in the neonatal period

Although T cells arise in the thymus, migration of mature postthymic T cells back to the thymus is very limited in adult mice and is restricted to activated cells. In neonates, by contrast, we present evidence that circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with a naive/resting phenotype readily enter the thymus after intravenous injection and remain there for prolonged periods. The migration of resting T cells to the neonatal thymus is largely limited to an unusual subset of cells which lacks expression of the lymph node homing receptor, leukocyte- endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (LECAM-1) (MEL-14). Migration of mature T cells to the thymus in neonates may be important for self- tolerance induction.
Pengaruh Family-Controlled Firms, Government-Controlled Firms, dan Foreign-Controlled Firms Terhadap R&D Intensity

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh family-controlled firms, government-controlled firms, dan foreign-controlled firms terhadap R&D intensity pada perusahaan manufaktur yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia periode tahun 2017-2019. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah teknik analisis regresi berganda variabel dummy. Alat analisis data menggunakan SPSS Versi 22. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tidak terdapat pengaruh family-controlled firms terhadap R&D Intensity, karena pemilik keluarga enggan melibatkan dan melakukan sumber daya yang berlebihan untuk proyek-proyek berisiko dimana hasilnya tidak pasti, seperti dalam proyek R&D. Selanjutnya, government-controlled firms tidak berpengaruh terhadap R&D Intensity. Saat kepemilikan pemerintah lebih rendah dibanding kepemilikan non pemerintah, ini menunjukkan bahwa kepemilikan non pemerintah lebih termotivasi dalam meningkatkan inovasi untuk daya saing dibandingkan kepemilikan pemerintah. Foreign-controlled firms pun tidak berpengaruh terhadap R&D Intensity, ketika keberadaannya belum maksimal hingga pada peran sebagai agen atau jajaran manajemen.
Perspective on Intradiscal Therapies for Lumbar Discogenic Pain: State of the Science, Knowledge Gaps, and Imperatives for Clinical Adoption

Abstract Specific clinical diagnostic criteria have established a consensus for defining patients with lumbar discogenic pain. However, if conservative medical management fails, these patients have few treatment options short of surgery involving discectomy often coupled with fusion or arthroplasty. There is a rapidly-emerging research effort to fill this treatment gap with intradiscal therapies that can be delivered minimally-invasively via fluoroscopically guided injection without altering the normal anatomy of the affected vertebral motion segment. Viable candidate products to date have included mesenchymal stromal cells, platelet-rich plasma, nucleus pulposus structural allograft, and other cell-based compositions. The objective of these products is to repair, supplement, and restore the damaged intervertebral disc as well as retard further degeneration. In doing so, the intervention is meant to eliminate the source of discogenic pain and avoid surgery. Methodologically rigorous studies are rare, however, and based on the best clinical evidence, the safety as well as the magnitude and duration of clinical efficacy remain difficult to estimate. Further, we summarize the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) guidance regarding the interpretation of the minimal manipulation and homologous use criteria, which is central to designating these products as a tissue or as a drug/device/biologic. We also provide perspectives on the core evidence and knowledge gaps associated with intradiscal therapies, propose imperatives for evaluating effectiveness of these treatments and highlight several new technologies on the horizon.
Classifier Combination Schemes in Speech Impediment Therapy Systems

In the therapy of the hearing impaired one of the key problems is how to deal with the lack of proper auditive feedback which impedes the development of intelligible speech. The effectiveness of the therapy relies heavily on accurate phoneme recognition [1, 4, 17]. Because of the environmental difficulties, simple recognition algorithms may have a weak classification performance, so various techniques such as normalization and classifier combination are applied to increase the recognition accuracy. This paper examines Vocal Tract Length Normalization techniques [5, 13] focusing mainly on the real-time parameter estimation [12], and the majority of classifier combination schemes, including the traditional (Prod, Sum, Min, Max) [7], basic linear (simple, weighted, AHP-based [6] averaging), and some special linear (Bagging, Boosting) combinations. Based on the results we conclude that hybrid combinations can improve the effectiveness of the real-time normalization methods.
Candida albicans Genes Modulating Echinocandin Susceptibility of Caspofungin-Adapted Mutants Are Constitutively Expressed in Clinical Isolates with Intermediate or Full Resistance to Echinocandins

The opportunistic fungus Candida albicans is the leading cause of invasive candidiasis in immune-compromised individuals. Drugs from the echinocandin (ECN) class, including caspofungin, are used as a first line of therapy against invasive candidiasis. The only known mechanism of clinical resistance to ECNs is point mutations in the FKS1 gene, which encodes the drug target. However, many clinical isolates developed decreased ECN susceptibilities in the absence of resistance-associated FKS1 mutations. We have identified 15 C. albicans genes that contribute to decreased drug susceptibility. We explored the expression of these 15 genes in clinical isolates with different levels of ECN susceptibility. We found that these 15 genes are expressed in clinical isolates with or without FKS1 mutations, including those strains that are less susceptible to ECNs. In addition, FKS1 expression was increased in such less susceptible isolates compared to highly susceptible isolates. Similarities of gene expression patterns between isolates with decreased ECN susceptibilities in the absence of FKS1 mutations and clinically resistant isolates with mutations in FKS1 suggest that clinical isolates with decreased ECN susceptibilities may be a precursor to development of resistance.
Conditional Wwox Deletion in Mouse Mammary Gland by Means of Two Cre Recombinase Approaches

Loss of WWOX expression has been reported in many different cancers including breast cancer. Elucidating the function of this gene in adult tissues has not been possible with full Wwox knockout models. Here we characterize the first conditional models of Wwox ablation in mouse mammary epithelium utilizing two transgenic lines expressing Cre recombinase, keratin 5-Cre (BK5-Cre) and MMTV-Cre. In the BK5-Cre model we observed very efficient Wwox ablation in KO mammary glands. However, BK5-Cre Wwox KO animals die prematurely for unknown reasons. In the MMTV-Cre model we observed significant ablation of Wwox in mammary epithelium with no effect on survival. In both of these models we found that Wwox deletion resulted in impaired mammary branching morphogenesis. We demonstrate that loss of Wwox is not carcinogenic in our KO models. Furthermore, no evidence of increase proliferation or development of premalignant lesions was observed. In none of the models did loss of a single Wwox allele (i.e. haploinsufficiency) have any observable phenotypic effect in mammary gland. To better understand the function of Wwox in the mammary gland, transcriptome profiling was performed. We observed that Wwox ablation results in the deregulation of genes involved in various cellular processes. We found that expression of the non-canonical Wnt ligand, Wnt5a, was significantly upregulated in Wwox KO mammary epithelium. Interestingly, we also determined that components of the Jak/Stat3 signaling pathway were upregulated in KO mice and this correlated with a very robust increase in phospho-Stat3 signaling, which warrants further testing. Even though the loss of Wwox expression in breast and other cancers is very well documented, our findings suggest that Wwox does not act as a classical tumor suppressor as previously thought.
A Self-Balanced Min-Cut Algorithm for Image Clustering

Many spectral clustering algorithms have been proposed and successfully applied to image data analysis such as content based image retrieval, image annotation, and image indexing. Conventional spectral clustering algorithms usually involve a two-stage process: eigendecomposition of similarity matrix and clustering assignments from eigenvectors by k-means or spectral rotation. However, the final clustering assignments obtained by the two-stage process may deviate from the assignments by directly optimize the original objective function. Moreover, most of these methods usually have very high computational complexities. In this paper, we propose a new min-cut algorithm for image clustering, which scales linearly to the data size. In the new method, a self-balanced min-cut model is proposed in which the Exclusive Lasso is implicitly introduced as a balance regularizer in order to produce balanced partition. We propose an iterative algorithm to solve the new model, which has a time complexity of O(n) where n is the number of samples. Theoretical analysis reveals that the new method can simultaneously minimize the graph cut and balance the partition across all clusters. A series of experiments were conducted on both synthetic and benchmark data sets and the experimental results show the superior performance of the new method.