Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variability in a German-Speaking Child as Viewed from a Constraint-Based Nonlinear Phonology Perspective

Abstract This paper provides an overview of constraint-based nonlinear phonological theories (Bernhardt & Stemberger, 1998) in clinical application to German. Tenets of the theories are briefly introduced, and then illustrated with longitudinal data from a 3-year-old German-speaking child with variable and protracted phonological development. The child's consonant system showed both improvement and regression over time. Fricatives and /l/ decreased in accuracy and prevalence over time, whereas dorsal (velar) stops increased in accuracy and prevalence over time, replacing both /l/ and fricatives. The analysis proposes that the child showed an unusual ranking of constraints in which the feature [Dorsal] (velar) became a secondary default place feature whenever the global default [Coronal] place feature was ruled out by other constraints. The relevance of these data is discussed for variants of constraint-based theories.
Adolescent risk perception, substance use, and educational attainment

This paper studies whether adolescents who are more aware of the risks on substance use in the early teenage years are later less likely to turn into binge drinkers or smokers. It also examines if reduction in substance use, due to high risk perception among adolescents, consequently improves their educational achievement. This research is important for two reasons. First, enhancing risk perception of substance use is an important strategy to prevent the youth from binge drinking and smoking. Second, adolescent substance use and educational achievement are key predictors of adulthood outcomes. We apply a bivariate probit model to a large representative dataset which codes youth risk perception, substance use, and educational attainment. The analysis shows high risk perception lowers the likelihood of substance use among the high school seniors. The resulting low alcohol use increases the chance of attending college and decreases the probability of dropping out of high school. The reduction in cigarette use caused by high risk perception has a similar effect on such two educational outcomes. It also increases high school graduation by 22%. Overall, this study suggests that enhancing recognition on the hazards of substance use is an effective policy intervention to reduce adolescent binge drinking and smoking, as well as improve educational attainment.
Overexpression of MpCYS4, A Phytocystatin Gene from Malus prunifolia (Willd.) Borkh., Enhances Stomatal Closure to Confer Drought Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis and Apple

Phytocystatins (PhyCys) comprise a group of inhibitors for cysteine proteinases in plants. They play a wide range of important roles in regulating endogenous processes and protecting plants against various environmental stresses, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we detailed the biological functions of MpCYS4, a member of cystatin genes isolated from Malus prunifolia. This gene was activated under water deficit, heat (40°C), exogenous abscisic acid (ABA), or methyl viologen (MV) (Tan et al., 2014a). At cellular level, MpCYS4 protein was found to be localized in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane of onion epidermal cells. Recombinant MpCYS4 cystatin expressed in Escherichia coli was purified and it exhibited cysteine protease inhibitor activity. Transgenic overexpression of MpCYS4 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and apple (Malus domestica) led to ABA hypersensitivity and series of ABA-associated phenotypes, such as enhanced ABA-induced stomatal closing, altered expression of many ABA/stress-responsive genes, and enhanced drought tolerance. Taken together, our results demonstrate that MpCYS4 is involved in ABA-mediated stress signal transduction and confers drought tolerance at least in part by enhancing stomatal closure and up-regulating the transcriptional levels of ABA- and drought-related genes. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which phytocystatins influence plant growth, development, and tolerance to stress.
Characterizing working memory load using EEG delta activity

In this paper, we extract a range of features including time-based, spectral-based, and phase-based to characterize working memory load in EEG recordings from a reading task in which different levels of working memory load were induced. It is demonstrated that a subset of time-based and spectral-based features - the mean, cross-correlation, and energy of the EEG signals - recorded from a few frontal channels in the delta frequency band, and also the statistics of selected wavelet coefficients are representative of working memory load and change most consistently in accordance with the induced load. We show classification accuracy of up to 100% for three working memory load levels across all five subjects. This is achieved using a multi-class support vector machine (SVM) trained on the above features from four frontal EEG channels. We present results suggesting that delta frequency sub-band carries most of the information associated with working memory load. Having used the above features, we also demonstrate that shorter window lengths and a smaller number of EEG channels can be successfully applied for similar contexts.
Effects of Muscle Fatigue, Creep, and Musculoskeletal Pain on Neuromuscular Responses to Unexpected Perturbation of the Trunk: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Trunk neuromuscular responses have been shown to adapt under the influence of muscle fatigue, as well as spinal tissue creep or even with the presence of low back pain (LBP). Despite a large number of studies exploring how these external perturbations affect the spinal stability, characteristics of such adaptations remains unclear. Aim: The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the quality of evidence of studies investigating trunk neuromuscular responses to unexpected trunk perturbation. More specifically, the targeted neuromuscular responses were trunk muscle activity reflex and trunk kinematics under the influence of muscle fatigue, spinal creep, and musculoskeletal pain. Methods: A research of the literature was conducted in Pubmed, Embase, and Sport-Discus databases using terms related to trunk neuromuscular reflex responses, measured by electromyography (baseline activity, reflex latency, and reflex amplitude) and/or trunk kinematic, in context of unexpected external perturbation. Moreover, independent variables must be either trunk muscle fatigue or spinal tissue creep or LBP. All included articles were scored for their electromyography methodology based on the “Surface Electromyography for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles (SENIAM)” and the “International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK)” recommendations whereas overall quality of articles was scored using a specific quality checklist modified from the Quality Index. Meta-analysis was performed on reflex latency variable. Results: A final set of 29 articles underwent quality assessments. The mean quality score was 79%. No effect of muscle fatigue on erector spinae reflex latency following an unexpected perturbation, nor any other distinctive effects was found for back muscle fatigue and reflex parameters. As for spinal tissue creep effects, no alteration was found for any of the trunk reflex variables. Finally, the meta-analysis revealed an increased erector spinae reflex latency in patients with chronic LBP in comparison with healthy controls following an unexpected trunk perturbation. Conclusion: The literature provides some evidence with regard to trunk adaptions in a context of spinal instability. However, most of the evidence was inconclusive due to a high methodological heterogeneity between the studies.
1V supply 16-bit second order Sigma-Delta modulator in a 90nm CMOS process

This paper presents a second order Sigma-Delta modulator using a 1V dual supply in 90nm technology. The schematic modulator design achieves a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 96.7 dB or 15.7 bits. A gain boosted fully differential folded cascode operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with a switched capacitor common-mode feedback circuit is implemented as the integrator. The OTA design is able to achieve a 500 V/V DC gain, with a 400mV output swing, Gain Bandwidth (GBW) of 303.5 MHz and a phase margin of 50.9 degrees. A fully-differential preamplifier-based latched comparator is also implemented, achieving a rail-to-rail output and a sensitivity of 10 μV. Data presented from each of the blocks are from post-layout simulations.
Rule-based system for data leak threat estimation

User data has become a backbone of today's ICT services and applications, where various providers compete to provide better services to their users based on a personalized content. However, user data is simultaneously becoming a tempting target for malicious individuals who try to get the data and exploit it for their own financial gain. The necessity for high-quality data loss prevention is obvious to protect the users and to comply with new regulations of the European Union, specifically General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which imposes strict restrictions regarding manipulation of user data. There are various solutions available that try to monitor sensitive user data, identify it, and prevent such data from exiting the service or application domain. This paper proposes a stand-alone system for data leak detection and prevention based on a rule-engine and threat estimation. Unlike the most of the widely used solutions, the proposed system can be customized to a specific purpose, where each service provider can select which type of data should be monitored and blocked if a leak is suspected.
Generating topological structures for surface models

Rapid prototyping has imposed new requirements on the processing of CAD models. To manufacture an object directly, the model must correspond to a real object and thus represent a closed volume. Its boundary must be continuous and closed, and no cracks or improper intersections are allowed. CAD models cannot always meet these requirements, especially when they are constructed by a surface modeler. The algorithm discussed analyzes surface models and generates a topological structure for them that meets rapid prototyping requirements for a closed volume with a continuous, closed boundary. >
The Making of Masculinities: Fighting the Forces of Hierarchy and Hegemony in the High School Setting

This study stems from a yearlong qualitative inquiry examining the influence that gender ideologies exercised in the lives of four young men in the high school setting. Utilizing a feminist, post-structuralist perspective (Davies, 1997, 1989; Connell, 1996, 1997, 1989; Martino, 1995), it analyzes how masculinity constructs itself through discursive practices. The study involves four adolescent boys, Michael, Peter, Aiden and Jack, all friends and classmates in a small, Midwestern high school comprised mainly of working class and farming families. This study examines each boy’s idiosyncratic positioning within dominant discourses of masculinity, specifically questioning its ability to shape, influence and possibly constrain posture and performance in the classroom setting.
An efficient hybrid scheduling algorithm for high speed cellular networks

Some of the transmission scheduling algorithms are throughput efficient and others are fairness efficient. The approach used here is to have a transmission scheduler that has the capability of improving throughput with acceptable fairness. In this paper, a new transmission scheduling algorithm for high speed cellular networks is introduced. This method aims to take the advantage of two existing scheduling algorithms. The high throughput of the maximum signal-to-interference ratio scheduler and the fairness of the proportional fair scheduler. Simulation results show that the proposed scheduler provides higher throughput than the proportional fair scheduler with acceptable fairness.
Protein NMR Structures Refined with Rosetta Have Higher Accuracy Relative to Corresponding X-ray Crystal Structures

We have found that refinement of protein NMR structures using Rosetta with experimental NMR restraints yields more accurate protein NMR structures than those that have been deposited in the PDB using standard refinement protocols. Using 40 pairs of NMR and X-ray crystal structures determined by the Northeast Structural Genomics Consortium, for proteins ranging in size from 5–22 kDa, restrained Rosetta refined structures fit better to the raw experimental data, are in better agreement with their X-ray counterparts, and have better phasing power compared to conventionally determined NMR structures. For 37 proteins for which NMR ensembles were available and which had similar structures in solution and in the crystal, all of the restrained Rosetta refined NMR structures were sufficiently accurate to be used for solving the corresponding X-ray crystal structures by molecular replacement. The protocol for restrained refinement of protein NMR structures was also compared with restrained CS-Rosetta calculations. For proteins smaller than 10 kDa, restrained CS-Rosetta, starting from extended conformations, provides slightly more accurate structures, while for proteins in the size range of 10–25 kDa the less CPU intensive restrained Rosetta refinement protocols provided equally or more accurate structures. The restrained Rosetta protocols described here can improve the accuracy of protein NMR structures and should find broad and general for studies of protein structure and function.
The Perceived Effect of Parental Participation on the Academic Achievement of Female English as a Second Language Middle School Students in the Persian Gulf Region

This article provides a description of a correlational study that examined parents’ views on the impact of parental participation on female English as a second language (ESL) middle school students’ academic achievement in the Persian Gulf Region. A Likert-type survey based on the research literature explored the relationship between the 12 patterns of parental participation (e.g., monitoring student grades, parental expectations, etc.) and students’ academic achievement, as measured by parent report of the students' numerical grade averages. Findings showed that although there was no significant correlation between reported parental involvement and students’ academic averages overall, significant correlations were obtained for two subsamples of Saudi and Palestinian parents. Barriers that deter parents from participating in their daughters’ academics were identical to those reported among Hispanic and Asian parents in the United States. The article concludes with a discussion of the results and recommendations for future research.
Playing to teach music – embodiment and identity-making in musikdidaktik

Musikdidaktik is a central subject within music teacher training in the Nordic countries. In musikdidaktik acts of teaching (music) and learning (musikdidaktik) constitute possibilities for identity formation. The objective of learning is closely connected to their future profession, in which musical and educational competences are blended, combined and used in different ways. The study presented in this article was based on a phenomenological way of thinking about education as an arena for identity development. Students’ identity formation in relation to their education in musikdidaktik was investigated. In an interview study where seven musikdidaktik professors and three groups of music teacher trainees participated, the following questions were asked from a phenomenological perspective: How can education in musikdidaktik function as an arena for identity formation? What constitutes processes of music teacher trainees’ identity formation? What connections can be seen between ways of teaching musikdidaktik and identity? What competences (are expected to) develop during the processes and how are they connected to employability? The results show that trainee identity formation processes can be communicated. It became evident that awareness of and reflections upon one's own experiences, learning, goals and identity development are important issues in the trainees’ identity formation processes. That the trainees had the possibilities to try to act as music teachers proved to be important. When it comes to the challenges for the professor, they are primarily concerned with handling situations in a way that encourages the growth of the trainees, but also challenges them to reflect; and to be a role model, but also to offer them meetings with different role models. The competences that the trainees develop are combined in different ways within the trainees’ identity formation. Musikdidaktik constitutes an arena where the students should have the opportunity to be in the world as music teachers through playing to teach music.
NEMO meets VANET: A Deployability Analysis of Network Mobility in Vehicular Communication

The document analyzes the deployability of approaches for network mobility (NEMO) in wireless vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). The vision for VANETs is road safety and commercial comfort applications enabled by short-range wireless technology. For a potential integrated solution of VANETs and NEMO, referred to as 'VANEMO', we consider a deployable system architecture and define requirements from a holistic view, taking into account economic, functional, and performance aspects. Next, we regard the vehicular network as a conventional mobile ad hoc network (VANET as a MANET), generalize possible solutions and classify them into two comprehensive approaches: MANET-centric and NEMO-centric. We analyze the two approaches with respect to the VANET specific requirements. We conclude that the MANET-centric approach meets the VANET functional and performance requirements better than the NEMO-centric approach.
Heritage Buildings and Tourism: An Experiential View

There has been a lack of attention in previous heritage tourism studies to the experiential relationship between heritage buildings and tourism. The aim of this paper is to explore the experiences gained by international tourists from heritage buildings in a particular region of New Zealand: Hawke's Bay. Specifically, the paper seeks insight into the specific attributes of heritage buildings that influenced the experiences of international tourists in the region. An increased understanding of the experiential relationship between heritage buildings and tourism is essential in strengthening support for preservation, for product development and promotion. Fifty semi-structured, and 66 photograph-supported, interviews conducted with international tourists visiting Hawke's Bay elicited three key experiential themes that emerged from respondents' narratives. These are ‘visual appeal’, ‘personal reflections’ and ‘engaging experiences’. Specifically, it was found that a tourism townscape is not a passive space. Heritage buildings render the townscape an experiential space filled with emotion, mindfulness, engagement and personal meaning. The paper concludes that this finding has important implications for destination promotion and product development and stresses the need for future research into the relationship between heritage buildings and tourism.
Dive Risk Factors, Gas Bubble Formation, and Decompression Illness in Recreational SCUBA Diving: Analysis of DAN Europe DSL Data Base

Introduction: The popularity of SCUBA diving is steadily increasing together with the number of dives and correlated diseases per year. The rules that govern correct decompression procedures are considered well known even if the majority of Decompression Sickness (DCS) cases are considered unexpected confirming a bias in the “mathematical ability” to predict DCS by the current algorithms. Furthermore, little is still known about diving risk factors and any individual predisposition to DCS. This study provides an in-depth epidemiological analysis of the diving community, to include additional risk factors correlated with the development of circulating bubbles and DCS. Materials and Methods: An originally developed database (DAN DB) including specific questionnaires for data collection allowed the statistical analysis of 39,099 electronically recorded open circuit dives made by 2,629 European divers (2,189 males 83.3%, 440 females 16.7%) over 5 years. The same dive parameters and risk factors were investigated also in 970 out of the 39,099 collected dives investigated for bubble formation, by 1-min precordial Doppler, and in 320 sea-level dives followed by DCS symptoms. Results: Mean depth and GF high of all the recorded dives were 27.1 m, and 0.66, respectively; the average ascent speed was lower than the currently recommended “safe” one (9–10 m/min). We found statistically significant relationships between higher bubble grades and BMI, fat mass, age, and diving exposure. Regarding incidence of DCS, we identified additional non-bubble related risk factors, which appear significantly related to a higher DCS incidence, namely: gender, strong current, heavy exercise, and workload during diving. We found that the majority of the recorded DCS cases were not predicted by the adopted decompression algorithm and would have therefore been defined as “undeserved. ” Conclusion: The DAN DB analysis shows that most dives were made in a “safe zone,” even if data show an evident “gray area” in the “mathematical” ability to predict DCS by the current algorithms. Some other risk factors seem to influence the possibility to develop DCS, irrespective of their effect on bubble formation, thus suggesting the existence of some factors influencing or enhancing the effects of bubbles.
Characterization of the Binding Specificity of K88ac and K88ad Fimbriae of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli by Constructing K88ac/K88ad Chimeric FaeG Major Subunits

ABSTRACT Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains expressing K88 (F4) fimbriae are the major cause of diarrhea in young pigs. Three antigenic variants of K88 fimbriae (K88ab, K88ac, and K88ad) have been identified among porcine ETEC strains. Each K88 fimbrial variant shows a unique pattern in binding to different receptors on porcine enterocytes. Such variant specificity in fimbrial binding is believed to be controlled by the major subunit (FaeG) of the K88 fimbriae, because the genes coding for the only other fimbrial subunit are identical among the three variants. Uniqueness in binding to host receptors may be responsible for differences in the virulence levels of porcine diarrhea disease caused by K88 ETEC strains. To better understand the relationships between the structure of FaeG proteins and fimbrial binding function, and perhaps virulence in disease, we constructed and expressed various K88ac/K88ad faeG gene chimeras and characterized the binding activity of each K88 chimeric fimbria. After verifying biosynthesis of the chimeric fimbriae, we examined their binding specificities in bacterial adherence assays by using porcine brush border vesicles that are specific to either the K88ac or K88ad fimbria. Results showed that each fimbria switched binding specificity to that of the reciprocal type when a peptide comprising amino acids 125 to 163 was exchanged with that of its counterpart. Substitutions of a single amino acid within this region negatively affected the binding capacity of each fimbria. These data indicate that the peptide including amino acids 125 to 163 of the FaeG subunit is essential for K88 variant-specific binding.