Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Ubiquitination of Stallion Sperm Proteins: Possible Implications for Infertility and Reproductive Seasonality1

Abstract Antibodies against ubiquitin, a universal proteolytic marker, show increased cross-reactivity with defective spermatozoa in men and bulls. We investigated sperm ubiquitination in the stallion, a seasonally polyestrous mammal. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that anti-ubiquitin antibodies bind to the surface of both membrane-intact and aldehyde-fixed spermatozoa. Cross-reactivity to the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 was also detected in sperm. Immunohistochemistry showed that ubiquitinated spermatozoa were first detected in the caput epididymis, coincident with a strong accumulation of ubiquitin and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase, protein gene product 9.5, in the apical stereocilia of the epididymal epithelium. Testicular spermatozoa did not display significant ubiquitin cross-reactivity. Similarly, lesser accumulation of ubiquitin cross-reactive substrates was identified in the accessory sex glands. Semen samples were collected from three fertile stallions and one subfertile stallion between December and February and probed for ubiquitin by flow cytometry and immunoblotting. Flow cytometric analysis showed that sperm from the subfertile stallion had higher ubiquitin levels than sperm from the other three stallions. In addition, immunoblot analysis of sperm proteins from the subfertile stallion showed two unique ubiquitin cross-reactive bands that were not present in sperm extracts from the three fertile stallions. To screen for a possible role for ubiquitin in seasonal changes in sperm production, semen samples from two fertile stallions were collected in March, June, September, and December and subjected to a flow cytometric ubiquitin assay. The lowest levels of ubiquitin-labeled sperm were found in March, approximately coincident with the onset of the natural horse breeding season. A progressive increase in sperm ubiquitin levels was found during summer and fall, with a peak in December. These data suggest that stallion sperm are differentially ubiquitinated during epididymal maturation and that this ubiquitination may reflect changes in sperm numbers and semen quality. The association between changes in sperm ubiquitination and seasonal changes in sperm production will be subjected to further studies in a larger cohort of animals.
Research on economic dispatch of large power grid based on granular computing

Granular computing, as a new and rapidly growing paradigm of information processing, has attracted many researchers and practitioners. The large power grid could be decomposed into particles with different granularity according to granular computing method. Based on this, a hierarchical quotient space model could be built, so it would be convenient to choose the proper granule in the quotient space rapidly to find the optimal power flow under different circumstances. Thereby reducing the complexity of problem solving processes. The network topology is taken into consideration during the process of granulation, so the equivalent simplification of the network topology can accelerate the calculation speed.
Victimisation, limbic system irritability and sociomoral reasoning in male sex offenders

ABSTRACT This study used Narvaez's (2010) Triune Ethics Theory to examine the victim-to-perpetrator hypothesis. The study surveyed 68 sex offenders from the New York State Sex Offender Registry to investigate correlates of physical and sexual abuse, and to analyse associations between victimisation, limbic system irritability, and sociomoral reasoning. Surveys were mailed to sex offenders and analysed using correlation and multivariate analysis of variance. Post hoc analysis of Sexual and Physical Abuse Questionnaire and Limbic System Check List-33 scores showed a significant relationship between physical and sexual abuse and limbic system irritability. Using the Sociomoral Reflection Measure-Short Form, sex offenders were found on average to reason at the Transitional stage 2(3). Predicting self-report abuse history resulted in a 35% correct classification rate based on within-group correlations between predictors and discriminate functions as well as standardised weights.
REPLY TO EARLIER COMMENTARY What Determines the Speed of Lexical Access: Homophone or Specific-Word Frequency? A Reply to Jescheniak et al. (2003)

A. Caramazza, A. Costa, M. Miozzo, and Y. Bi (2001) reported a series of experiments showing that naming latencies for homophones are determined by specific-word frequency (e.g., frequency of nun) and not homophone frequency (frequency of nun none). J. D. Jescheniak, A. S. Meyer, and W. J. M. Levelt (2003) have challenged these studies on a variety of grounds. Here we argue that these criticisms are not well founded and try to clarify the theoretical issues that can be meaningfully addressed by considering the effects of frequency on homophone production. We conclude that the evidence from homophone production cannot be considered to provide support to 2-layer theories of the lexical system.
Towards generic SCADA simulators : A survey of existing multi-purpose co-simulation platforms , best practices and use-cases

SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems monitor industrial and critical infrastructures, so assessment of their performance and security is important. They are complex systems deployed over wide areas, hence their modeling and simulation is far from trivial. In fact, often it necessitates the co-simulation of the processes supervised, as well as the network communications between SCADA components. Selecting the appropriate modeling and simulation tools is critical, because the combination of domain specific simulators with network simulators while considering the crucial aspect of time synchronization, enables the deployment of dependable simulation environments. This paper describes the architecture of SCADA networks, analyzes the characteristics of the most common used network simulators and surveys existing simulator implementations in multiple SCADA application domains. As SCADA systems have evolved towards standardization, there are great opportunities for simulation tools that will allow us to enhance and fine-tune their performance. The key objective of this paper is to review the state of the art of performance simulation of SCADA simulation systems. Keywords—SCADA system architecture, SCADA networks, SCADA security, co-simulation environments, network simulators
Using the NEMA NU 4 PET Image Quality Phantom in Multipinhole Small-Animal SPECT

Several commercial small-animal SPECT scanners using multipinhole collimation are presently available. However, generally accepted standards to characterize the performance of these scanners do not exist. Whereas for small-animal PET, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU 4 standards have been defined in 2008, such standards are still lacking for small-animal SPECT. In this study, the image quality parameters associated with the NEMA NU 4 image quality phantom were determined for a small-animal multipinhole SPECT scanner. Methods: Multiple whole-body scans of the NEMA NU 4 image quality phantom of 1-h duration were performed in a U-SPECT-II scanner using 99mTc with activities ranging between 8.4 and 78.2 MBq. The collimator contained 75 pinholes of 1.0-mm diameter and had a bore diameter of 98 mm. Image quality parameters were determined as a function of average phantom activity, number of iterations, postreconstruction spatial filter, and scatter correction. In addition, a mouse was injected with 99mTc-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate and was euthanized 6.5 h after injection. Multiple whole-body scans of this mouse of 1-h duration were acquired for activities ranging between 3.29 and 52.7 MBq. Results: An increase in the number of iterations was accompanied by an increase in the recovery coefficients for the small rods (RCrod), an increase in the noise in the uniform phantom region, and a decrease in spillover ratios for the cold-air– and water-filled scatter compartments (SORair and SORwat). Application of spatial filtering reduced image noise but lowered RCrod. Filtering did not influence SORair and SORwat. Scatter correction reduced SORair and SORwat. The effect of total phantom activity was primarily seen in a reduction of image noise with increasing activity. RCrod, SORair, and SORwat were more or less constant as a function of phantom activity. The relation between acquisition and reconstruction settings and image quality was confirmed in the 99mTc-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate mouse scans. Conclusion: Although developed for small-animal PET, the NEMA NU 4 image quality phantom was found to be useful for small-animal SPECT as well, allowing for objective determination of image quality parameters and showing the trade-offs between several of these parameters on variation of acquisition and reconstruction settings.
Measuring customer service quality of English public sport facilities

Based on the database of Sport England's National Benchmarking Service, this paper analyses the customer service quality of 72 English public sport facilities by adopting three service quality measurement models and multivariate statistical analysis. The results suggest that cleanliness is the major weakness of the industry. It also has a significant impact on shaping customers' perception of value for money and classifying different levels of overall service quality. By contrast, accessibility is the main strength due to its high satisfaction level and low service quality gap. It is also the main driver of overall value for money. Significant differences in service quality are found due to facility type and size, where dry and small facilities outperform other kinds of facilities. Finally, alternative models provide inconsistent results for the dimension of catering, which implies that using different models can yield a more comprehensive measurement of performance.
Implications of EU Accession for Disability Rights Legislation and Housing in Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

The effects of European Union (EU) candidacy and accession on disability rights in areas of legislation and housing—especially deinstitutionalization—are examined in Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Analysis is based on the existing literature, including reports from the European Commission and national and international watchdog groups. Although considerable progress has been made in antidiscrimination legislation in the four countries, a lack of political will and inadequate financing means that real on-the-ground progress in advancing disability rights is limited. Nongovernmental organizations and watchdog groups can play an important role in monitoring and reporting human rights abuses in the area of disability. The article concludes with recommendations on how the EU and its administrative bodies and members of disability communities in the four countries can work together to better advance disability rights issues as part of the accession process.
Impact of inaccessible spaces on community participation of people with mobility limitations in Zambia

Background The study investigated the perspective of people with mobility limitations (PWML) in Zambia, firstly of their accessibility to public buildings and spaces, and secondly of how their capacity to participate in a preferred lifestyle has been affected. Objectives Firstly to provide insight into the participation experiences of PWML in the social, cultural, economic, political and civic life areas and the relationship of these with disability in Zambia. Secondly to establish how the Zambian disability context shape the experiences of participation by PWML. Method A qualitative design was used to gather data from 75 PWML in five of the nine provinces of Zambia. Focus group discussions and personal interviews were used to examine the accessibility of the built environment and how this impacted on the whole family’s participation experiences. The nominal group technique was utilised to rank inaccessible buildings and facilities which posed barriers to opportunities in life areas and how this interfered with the whole family’s lifestyle. Results Inaccessibility of education institutions, workplaces and spaces have contributed to reduced participation with negative implications for personal, family, social and economic aspects of the lives of participants. Government buildings, service buildings, and transportation were universally identified as most important but least accessible. Conclusion Zambians with mobility limitations have been disadvantaged in accessing services and facilities provided to the public, depriving them and their dependants of full and equitable life participation because of reduced economic capacity. This study will assist in informing government of the need to improve environmental access to enable equal rights for all citizens.
A NEW INTEGRATION METHOD OF INFORMATION FOR TABLE TENNIS TRAINING FROM A DATA WAREHOUSE

A continuing challenge for Integration Information of Table Tennis Training (TTT) is to develop efficient data unit component part. Many see data unit integration as a potential solution; however, the quality of data integration of Table Tennis Training tends to outweigh the potential benefits. The quality of TTT data unit integration include establishing and maintaining a data warehouse of Table Tennis Training data unit, searching for applicable data unit to be integrated in a design, as well as adapting data unit toward a proper structure. In this paper, a new Data Feature Model (DFM) method is suggested here for data classification and integration of TTT which consists of K-Shortest Path (KSP) algorithm and Data Feature Model Method. We found that this new method gives a higher accuracy and precision in data selection and integration process of TTT compared to the existing formal methods.
Towards a Holistic Understanding of Technology-mediated Learning Appropriation

IT support in the learning process is one of the key success factors for innovative learning scenarios. A necessary pre-condition is the faithful appropriation of technology-mediated learning (TML) to ensure learning outcomes in innovative learning scenarios. However, information systems research still lacks insights concerning what actually determines a faithful appropriation of TML and little is known about the consequences of a faithful appropriation. In consequence, this research-in-progress paper presents a mixed-methods research approach to gain a holistic understanding of TML appropriation. In a first step, based on the insights of adaptive structuration theory, a theoretical model is developed considering both objective and subjective measures for TML appropriation as well as antecedents and consequences of TML appropriation. In a second step, the mixed-method approach is presented in order to evaluate the theoretical model. Our expected contribution to theory includes an extension of both TML and adaptive structuration theory with an in-depth view of the TML appropriation process, and contributions to practice include the derivation of design implications for TML services that are faithfully appropriated to ensure learning success for TML participants.
What Do Mobile App Users Complain About ? A Study on Free iOS Apps

The quality of mobile apps is becoming an increasingly important issue. These apps are generally delivered through app stores that allow users to post reviews about apps. These user-reviews provide a rich data source that can be leveraged to understand user reported issues. In this study, we qualitatively study 6,390 low star-rating user-reviews for 20 free iOS apps. Our study uncovers 12 types of complaints that users complain about. We find that functional errors, feature requests and app crashes are the most frequent complaints. Privacy and ethical issues, and hidden app costs are the complaints with the most negative impact on app ratings. We also find that users attributed their complaint to updating the app in 11% of the reviews. Our study provides developers an insight into the user-raised issues of iOS apps, along with their frequency and impact, which can help developers better prioritize their limited Quality Assurance resources.
Waveform design for target detection based on priori characteristics

In this paper we analyze the problem of waveform design for target detection in the presence of clutter and noise environment. We use the target priori characteristics to design the transmitted waveform. The waveform is designed by mutual information criterion. Firstly, we present the signal model and information theoretic approach to design waveform. Secondly, we discuss the waveform design is the one that maximizing mutual information between the target priori characteristics and the radar received signal. The results of simulation evaluate the efficiency of the proposed method to compare with the chirp signal.
Physics Beyond the Standard Model

I present a brief overview of some exciting possibilities for physics Beyond the Standard Model. I include short discussions of neutrino physics, the strong CP problem and axions, GUTs, large and warped extra dimensions, Little Higgs models and supersymmetry. The chances appear excellent that in the next few years‐ as the LHC era gets underway‐ data from a bevy of experiments will point the way to a new paradigm for the laws of physics as we know them.
On the prediction of popularity of trends and hits for user generated videos

User generated content (UGC) has emerged as the predominant form of media publishing on the Web 2.0. Motivated by the large adoption of video sharing on the Web 2.0, the objective of our work is to understand and predict popularity trends (e.g, will a video be viral? ) and hits (e.g, how may views will a video receive? ) of user generated videos. Such knowledge is paramount to the effective design of various services including content distribution and advertising. Thus, in this paper we formalize the problem of predicting trends and hits in user generated videos. Also, we describe our research methodology on approaching this problem. To the best of knowledge, our work is novel in focusing on the problem of predicting popularity trends complementary to hits. Moreover, we intend on evaluating efficacy of our results not only based on common statistical error metrics, but also on the possible online advertising revenues our predictions can generate. After describing our proposal, we here summarize our latest findings regarding (1) uncovering common popularity trends; (2) measuring associations between UGC features and popularity trends; and (3) assessing the effectiveness of models for predicting popularity trends.
The Structure of Obsessions and Compulsions: Implications for the Classifcation of Hoarding

Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are broad in content, reflecting a heterogeneous condition. Substantial consideration has been given to the construct of hoarding and whether it is best considered a symptom of OCD, part of another disorder, or a distinct disorder. Several lines of research target this issue, including epidemiology and estimated comorbidity, cognitive processing, neuroimaging, and treatment response. Structural analyses, such as exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, also have been used. In this paper, the role of structural analyses for addressing hoarding-OCD relations is considered. Issues include the identification of hoarding factors within OCD symptom measures, the magnitude of association between hoarding and symptoms considered to be “classic” OCD, strength of factor loadings, and between-groups comparisons on factor-analytically derived scales. Collectively, these lines of analysis do not consistently support the inclusion of hoarding as a core OCD symptom, b.
MicroRNAs in Human Diseases: From Cancer to Cardiovascular Disease

The great discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) has revolutionized current cell biology and medical science. miRNAs are small conserved non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by targeting the 3' untranslated region of specific messenger RNAs for degradation or translational repression. New members of the miRNA family are being discovered on a daily basis and emerging evidence has demonstrated that miRNAs play a major role in a wide range of developmental process including cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell differentiation, metabolism, apoptosis, developmental timing, neuronal cell fate, neuronal gene expression, brain morphogenesis, muscle differentiation and stem cell division. Moreover, a large number of studies have reported links between alterations of miRNA homeostasis and pathological conditions such as cancer, psychiatric and neurological diseases, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disease. Interestingly, in addition, miRNA deficiencies or excesses have been correlated with a number of clinically important diseases ranging from cancer to myocardial infarction. miRNAs can repress the gene translation of hundreds of their targets and are therefore well-positioned to target a multitude of cellular mechanisms. As a consequence of extensive participation in normal functions, it is quite logical to ask the question if abnormalities in miRNAs should have importance in human diseases. Great discoveries and rapid progress in the past few years on miRNAs provide the hope that miRNAs will in the near future have a great potential in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. Currently, an explosive literature has focussed on the role of miRNA in human cancer and cardiovascular disease. In this review, I briefly summarize the explosive current studies about involvement of miRNA in various human cancers and cardiovascular disease.
Novel β-1,4-Mannanase Belonging to a New Glycoside Hydrolase Family in Aspergillus nidulans

Background: Filamentous fungi produce various mannanolytic enzymes including β-1,4-mannanases for β-mannan degradation. Results: Fungal β-1,4-mannanase, Man134A, has an unusual sequence and substrate specificity that differs from Man5C belonging to the GH5 family. Conclusion: Man134A is involved in β-mannan degradation in vivo. Significance: An Aspergillus nidulans β-1,4-mannanase reveals a novel glycoside hydrolase family, GH134. Many filamentous fungi produce β-mannan-degrading β-1,4-mannanases that belong to the glycoside hydrolase 5 (GH5) and GH26 families. Here we identified a novel β-1,4-mannanase (Man134A) that belongs to a new glycoside hydrolase (GH) family (GH134) in Aspergillus nidulans. Blast analysis of the amino acid sequence using the NCBI protein database revealed that this enzyme had no similarity to any sequences and no putative conserved domains. Protein homologs of the enzyme were distributed to limited fungal and bacterial species. Man134A released mannobiose (M2), mannotriose (M3), and mannotetraose (M4) but not mannopentaose (M5) or higher manno-oligosaccharides when galactose-free β-mannan was the substrate from the initial stage of the reaction, suggesting that Man134A preferentially reacts with β-mannan via a unique catalytic mode. Man134A had high catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) toward mannohexaose (M6) compared with the endo-β-1,4-mannanase Man5C and notably converted M6 to M2, M3, and M4, with M3 being the predominant reaction product. The action of Man5C toward β-mannans was synergistic. The growth phenotype of a Man134A disruptant was poor when β-mannans were the sole carbon source, indicating that Man134A is involved in β-mannan degradation in vivo. These findings indicate a hitherto undiscovered mechanism of β-mannan degradation that is enhanced by the novel β-1,4-mannanase, Man134A, when combined with other mannanolytic enzymes including various endo-β-1,4-mannanases.