Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic modeling for locomotion-manipulation of a snake-like robot by using geometric methods

A snake-like robot can locomote in various environments; and it can manipulate objects when one end is fixed. A method of dynamic modeling for locomotion-manipulation of the snake-like robot is developed in order to unify the dynamic equations of two states. A virtual structure for orientation and position and the product-of-exponentials formula describe the mechanism and the kinematics of the robot. The dynamics of the robot are established in a Riemannian manifold. Furthermore, the dynamics of manipulation can be directly degenerated from those of locomotion. This method unifies the dynamics of locomotion and manipulation of the snake-like robot in the differential geometry formulation. Finally, simulation results of the method are presented.
Calmodulin Oxidation and Methionine to Glutamine Substitutions Reveal Methionine Residues Critical for Functional Interaction with Ryanodine Receptor-1*

Calmodulin (CaM) binds to the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channel (RyR1) with high affinity, and it may act as a Ca2+-sensing subunit of the channel. Apo-CaM increases RyR1 channel activity, but Ca2+-CaM is inhibitory. Here we examine the functional effects of CaM oxidation on RyR1 regulation by both apo-CaM and Ca2+-CaM, as assessed via determinations of [3H]ryanodine and [35S]CaM binding to skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. Oxidation of all nine CaM Met residues abolished functional interactions of CaM with RyR1. Incomplete CaM oxidation, affecting 5–8 Met residues, increased the CaM concentration required to modulate RyR1, having a greater effect on the apo-CaM species. Mutating individual CaM Met residues to Gln demonstrated that Met-109 was required for apo-CaM activation of RyR1 but not for Ca2+-CaM inhibition of the channel. Furthermore, substitution of Gln for Met-124 increased the apo- and Ca2+-CaM concentrations required to regulate RyR1. These results thus identify Met residues critical for the productive association of CaM with RyR1 channels and suggest that oxidation of CaM may contribute to altered regulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release during oxidative stress.
Lost in Translation

Language ideologies shape educational practices in ways that can either limit or expand students' engagement with academic content. This article examines science lessons with third and fourth grade English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students, focusing on (a) regular lessons, in which the monolingual teacher speaks English while a bilingual coteacher interprets, and (b) an atypical lesson without the coteacher, in which the teacher relies on a few, more English-proficient students to interpret for the others. Analysis of classroom discourse suggests an underlying ideology that views languages as neutral, semantically equivalent vehicles for science concepts that are themselves viewed as independent of language and context. This ideology must be critically examined if educational policy and practice are to productively engage the interpretive work demanded of ESOL students in science classrooms.
ResSim at SemEval-2017 Task 1: Multilingual Word Representations for Semantic Textual Similarity

Shared Task 1 at SemEval-2017 deals with assessing the semantic similarity between sentences, either in the same or in different languages. In our system submission, we employ multilingual word representations, in which similar words in different languages are close to one another. Using such representations is advantageous, since the increasing amount of available parallel data allows for the application of such methods to many of the languages in the world. Hence, semantic similarity can be inferred even for languages for which no annotated data exists. Our system is trained and evaluated on all language pairs included in the shared task (English, Spanish, Arabic, and Turkish). Although development results are promising, our system does not yield high performance on the shared task test sets.
Performance analysis of chi models using discrete-time probabilistic reward graphs

We propose the model of discrete-time probabilistic reward graphs (DTPRGs) for performance analysis of systems exhibiting discrete deterministic time delays and probabilistic behavior, via their interpretation as discrete-time Markov reward chains. We build on the χ environment, a full-ﬂedged platform for qualitative and quantitative analysis of timed systems based on the modeling language χ . The extension proposed in this paper is based on timed branching bisimulation reduction followed by inclusion of probabilities and rewards. The approach is applied in an industrial case study of a turntable drilling system. The resulting performance measures are shown to be comparable to those obtained by two other methods of the χ environment, viz. simulation and continuous-time Markovian analysis.
Identification of a Calmodulin-Regulated Soybean Ca2+-ATPase (SCA1) That Is Located in the Plasma Membrane

Ca2+-ATPases are key regulators of Ca2+ ion efflux in all eukaryotes. Animal cells have two distinct families of Ca2+ pumps, with calmodulin-stimulated pumps (type IIB pumps) found exclusively at the plasma membrane. In plants, no equivalent type IIB pump located at the plasma membrane has been identified at the molecular level, although related isoforms have been identified in non–plasma membrane locations. Here, we identify a plant cDNA, designated SCA1 (for soybean Ca2+-ATPase 1), that encodes Ca2+-ATPase and is located at the plasma membrane. The plasma membrane localization was determined by sucrose gradient and aqueous two-phase membrane fractionations and was confirmed by the localization of SCA1p tagged with a green fluorescent protein. The Ca2+-ATPase activity of the SCA1p was increased approximately sixfold by calmodulin (K1/2 ∼10 nM). Two calmodulin binding sequences were identified in the N-terminal domain. An N-terminal truncation mutant that deletes sequence through the two calmodulin binding sites was able to complement a yeast mutant (K616) that was deficient in two endogenous Ca2+ pumps. Our results indicate that SCA1p is structurally distinct from the plasma membrane–localized Ca2+ pump in animal cells, belonging instead to a novel family of plant type IIB pumps found in multiple subcellular locations. In plant cells from soybean, expression of this plasma membrane pump was highly and rapidly induced by salt (NaCl) stress and a fungal elicitor but not by osmotic stress.
Human Erythrocytes Selectively Bind and Enrich Infectious HIV-1 Virions

Although CD4(+) cells represent the major target for HIV infection in blood, claims of complement-independent binding of HIV-1 to erythrocytes and the possible role of Duffy blood group antigen, have generated controversy. To examine the question of binding to erythrocytes, HIV-1 was incubated in vitro with erythrocytes from 30 healthy leukapheresis donors, and binding was determined by p24 analysis and adsorption of HIV-1 with reduction of infectivity for CD4(+) target cells. All of the cells, regardless of blood group type, bound HIV-1 p24. A typical preparation of erythrocytes bound <2.4% of the added p24, but erythrocytes selectively removed essentially all of the viral infectivity as determined by decreased infection of CD4(+) target cells; however, cell-associated HIV-1 was approximately 100-fold more efficient, via trans infection, than unadsorbed virus for infection of CD4(+) cells. All of the bound HIV-1 p24 was released by treatment of the cells with EDTA, and binding was optimized by adding Ca2+ and Mg2+ during the washing of erythrocytes containing bound HIV-1. Although the small number of contaminating leukocytes in the erythrocyte preparation also bound HIV-1 p24, there was no significant binding to CD4, and it thus appears that the binding occurred on leukocytes at non-CD4 sites. Furthermore, binding occurred to erythrocyte ghosts from which contaminating leukocytes had been previously removed. The results demonstrate that erythrocytes incubated in vitro with HIV-1 differentially adsorb all of the infectious HIV-1 virions (as opposed to non-infectious or degraded virions) in the absence of complement and independent of blood group, and binding is dependent on divalent cations. By analogy with HIV-1 bound to DC-SIGN on dendritic cells, erythrocyte-bound HIV-1 might comprise an important surface reservoir for trans infection of permissive cells.
NUMBERS WITHOUT SCIENCE

NUMBERS WITHOUT SCIENCE by Russell Marcus Adviser: Professor David Rosenthal Numbers without Science opposes the Quine-Putnam indispensability argument, seeking to undermine the argument and reduce its profound influence. Philosophers rely on indispensability to justify mathematical knowledge using only empiricist epistemology. I argue that we need an independent account of our knowledge of mathematics. The indispensability argument, in broad form, consists of two premises. The major premise alleges that we are committed to mathematical objects if science requires them. The minor premise alleges that science in fact requires mathematical objects. The most common rejection of the argument denies its minor premise by introducing scientific theories which do not refer to mathematical objects. Hartry Field has shown how we can reformulate some physical theories without mathematical commitments. I argue that Field’s preference for intrinsic explanation, which underlies his reformulation, is ill-motivated, and that his resultant fictionalism suffers unacceptable consequences. I attack the major premise instead. I argue that Quine provides a mistaken
Parenting Practices in Preschool Leading to Later Cognitive Competence: A Family Stress Model

Research Findings: This study investigates the effect of the early home environment on self-regulation in preschoolers, and how self-regulation relates to later school achievement, while taking into account family resources. Participants were part of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Our model tested paths from family income and maternal depression through parenting to dyadic and child outcomes, including attachment, self-regulation, and child cognitive outcomes in the 1st grade. Findings indicated that family income and maternal depression had a substantial effect on parenting practices. Children whose parents did not display negative affect toward them during episodes of depression were more likely to maintain healthy attachment styles. Parenting, which was directly affected by family income, was the most important predictor of children's cognitive development. Practice or Policy: Regarding implications for practice, this research indicates that parents who provide a safe and stimulating environment for their children, despite limited financial resources or mental health issues, are more likely to have children who are prepared for school. School counselors, child care administrators, and policymakers should be aware of the importance of parenting to school success and should provide opportunities for parent education and involvement during the first years of life.
A Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitor Targeting CREB-CBP Complex Possesses Anti-Cancer Effects along with Cell Cycle Regulation, Autophagy Suppression and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Lung adenocarcinoma, the most common subtype of lung cancer, is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Despite attempts for the treatment of lung cancer which have been accumulating, promising new therapies are still needed. Here, we found that cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein (CREB)-CREB binding protein (CBP) transcription factors complex inhibitor, Naphthol AS-TR phosphate (NASTRp), is a potential therapeutic agent for lung cancer. We show that NASTRp inhibited oncogenic cell properties through cell cycle arrest with concomitant suppression of tumor-promoting autophagy with down-regulations of Atg5-12 and Atg7, and accumulation of p62 in human lung cancer cell lines. In addition, NASTRp induced expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers such as DDIT3/CHOP, and led to apoptosis along with Bim induction. These findings suggest that transcription factor/co-activator complex, CREB-CBP, can be a potential therapeutic target and its inhibition could be a novel therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.
Regulation and Role of the Arabidopsis Abscisic Acid-Insensitive 5 Gene in Abscisic Acid, Sugar, and Stress Response1

Abscisic acid (ABA) and stress response from late embryonic growth through early seedling development is regulated by a signaling network that includes the Arabidopsis ABA-insensitive (ABI)5 gene, which encodes a basic leucine zipper transcription factor. We have characterized genetic, developmental, and environmental regulation ofABI5 expression. Although expressed most strongly in seeds, the ABI5 promoter is also active in vegetative and floral tissue. Vegetative expression is strongly induced by ABA, and weakly by stress treatments during a limited developmental window up to approximately 2 d post-stratification, but ABA and some stresses can induce expression in specific tissues at later stages.ABI5 expression is autoregulated in transgenic plants and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and stress response appears to involve ABI5-dependent and -independent mechanisms. To determine whether ABI5 is necessary and/or sufficient for ABA or stress response, we assayed the effects of increasedABI5 expression on growth and gene expression. Although overexpression of ABI5 confers hypersensitivity to ABA and sugar, as previously described for ABI4 andABI3 overexpression lines, it has relatively limited effects on enhancing ABA-responsive gene expression. Comparison of expression of eight ABI5-homologous genes shows overlapping regulation by ABI3, ABI4, andABI5, suggestive of a combinatorial network involving positive and negative regulatory interactions.
The Relationship Between Psychological Empowerment and Innovative Behavior A Dimensional Analysis With Job Involvement as Mediator

Past studies have established the importance of psychological empowerment in fostering innovative behavior. This paper broadens the conceptual understanding by exploring the mechanisms of this linkage through dimensional analysis. The study also examines the mediating role of job involvement in this relationship. In this study of 401 women primary school teachers in India, the dimensions of psychological empowerment were self-rated whereas innovative behavior and job involvement were assessed by colleagues. Our findings show partial mediation for the meaning dimension and complete mediation for the non-work domain control dimension. Self-determination at job and organization levels have a direct effect on employees’ innovative behavior but no effect through job involvement. Competence and impact has no direct or indirect effect on innovative behavior.
Ways of interprofessional collaboration and learning in emergency work

In the paper we aim to identify various ways of interprofessional collaboration and learning in an emergency unit at a hospital in Finland. According to previous studies, health care work faces various constraints which also challenge interprofessional interaction and learning. We ask what kinds of learning situations and challenges are manifested in moments of interprofessional practice. Ethnography was applied as a methodological approach. Empirical data were collected with the help of observations, audio taping, individual and focus group interviews, and suitable qualitative methods were utilised in the analysis. It was found that multi- and interprofessional collaboration and learning was present in many ways in emergency practice, for instance, in mutual planning of patient care and in situations where specific patient groups were treated. However, collaboration and learning were also challenged in these situations. Although collaborative practice was mostly fluent, coordination between professions need to be developed more collaboratively to promote learning and shared understanding among all employees.
Molecular and quantitative trait variation across the native range of the invasive species Hypericum canariense: evidence for ancient patterns of colonization via pre‐adaptation?

To understand the success of invasive species, it is important to know whether colonization events are facilitated by adaptive evolution or are limited to sites where a species is pre‐adapted to thrive. Studies of the ancient colonization patterns of an invader in its native range provide an opportunity to examine its natural history of adaptation and colonization. This study uses molecular (internal transcribed spacer sequence and amplified fragment length polymorphism) and common garden approaches to assess the ancient patterns of establishment and quantitative trait evolution in the invasive shrub Hypericum canariense. This species has an unusually small and discrete native range in the Canary Islands. Our data reveal two genetic varieties with divergent life histories and different colonization patterns across the islands. Although molecular divergence within each variety is large (pairwise FST from 0.18 to 0.32 between islands) and nearly as great as divergence between them, life‐history traits show striking uniformity within varieties. The discrepancy between molecular and life‐history trait divergence points to the action of stabilizing selection within varieties and the influence of pre‐adaptation on patterns of colonization. The colonization history of H. canariense reflects how the relationship between selective environments in founding and source populations can dictate establishment by particular lineages and their subsequent evolutionary stasis or change.
Various Levels of Cross-Resistance toBacillus sphaericus Strains in Culex pipiens(Diptera: Culicidae) Colonies Resistant to B. sphaericusStrain 2362

ABSTRACT We studied the cross-resistance to three highly toxicBacillus sphaericus strains, IAB-59 (serotype H6), IAB-881 (serotype H3), and IAB-872 (serotype H48), of four colonies of theCulex pipiens complex resistant to B. sphaericus 2362 and 1593, both of which are serotype H5a5b strains. Two field-selected highly resistant colonies originating from India (KOCHI, 17,000-fold resistance) and France (SPHAE, 23,000-fold resistance) and a highly resistant laboratory-selected colony from California (GeoR, 36,000-fold resistance) showed strong cross-resistance to strains IAB-881 and IAB-872 but significantly weaker cross-resistance to IAB-59 (3- to 43-fold resistance). In contrast, a laboratory-selected California colony with low-level resistance (JRMM-R, 5-fold resistance) displayed similar levels of resistance (5- to 10-fold) to all of the B. sphaericusstrains tested. Thus, among the mosquitocidal strains of B. sphaericus we identified a strain, IAB-59, which was toxic to several Culex colonies that were highly resistant to commercial strains 2362 and 1593. Our analysis also indicated that strain IAB-59 may possess other larvicidal factors. These results could have important implications for the development of resistance management strategies for area-wide mosquito control programs based on the use of B. sphaericus preparations.
Design and Fabrication of Interdigital Nanocapacitors Coated with HfO2

In this article nickel interdigital capacitors were fabricated on top of silicon substrates. The capacitance of the interdigital capacitor was optimized by coating the electrodes with a 60 nm layer of HfO2. An analytical solution of the capacitance was compared to electromagnetic simulations using COMSOL and with experimental measurements. Results show that modeling interdigital capacitors using Finite Element Method software such as COMSOL is effective in the design and electrical characterization of these transducers.
Intraoperative assessment of microsurgery with three-dimensional optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE To evaluate three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT) for use in the assessment of the microsurgical anastomoses of vessels and nerves. MATERIALS AND METHODS OCT is an optical analogue of ultrasonography and is capable of imaging nontransparent biologic tissue by detecting backscattered infrared light. Cross-sectional in vitro images of rabbit and human vessels and nerves were obtained in as little as 125 msec at 10-micron resolution by using a solid-state laser as a light source. A surgical microscope was integrated with OCT to perform simultaneous imaging with en face visualization. Cross-sectional images were assembled to produce three-dimensional reconstructions of microsurgical specimens. RESULTS Three-dimensional OCT reconstructions depicted the structure within an arterial anastomosis and helped identify sites of luminal obstruction. The longitudinal spatial orientation of individual nerve fascicles was tracked in three dimensions to identify changes in position. In vitro human arteries and nerves embedded in highly scattering tissue and not visible at microscopy were located and imaged with OCT at eight frames per second. CONCLUSION The three-dimensional, micrometer-scale, diagnostic imaging capabilities of OCT permit rapid feedback for assessment of microsurgical procedures. OCT technology can be readily integrated with surgical microscopes and has potential for intraoperative monitoring to improve patient outcome.
Computer‐Assisted Reading: The Effect of Glossing Format on Comprehension and Vocabulary Retention

Abstract:This article focuses on the issue of the optimal on-line glossing format. Two glossing methods are compared. The first method provides readers with sentence-level translation equivalents of the second-language (L2) words. The second method connects the words with their meanings through basic dictionary forms. The main purpose of the study was to determine which of the two glossing formats is more beneficial for text comprehension and vocabulary retention. The results of the study show that retention of lexical items is better aided by reading the text with dictionary-form equivalents of the L2 words, because it involves a deeper level of cognitive processing. The situation is less clear-cut regarding the effect of the two glossing formats on global comprehension. The pedagogical implications of the data obtained are discussed.
Retrieval and Re-Ranking of Images with Better Optimization Using Hyper Graph

The process of image search includes searching of images based on user given keywords. Most of the image retrieval techniques are based on text based image retrievals. But it has certain problems like images are time duplicated, low precision, and irrelevant. This paper represents the multiple scenario may occur due to sparse and noisy textual query. Because of this user cannot be always sure of perfect images being obtained in available time. To moderate image search user clicks are introduced into the search query so that the relevance between given query and result obtained should be maximized. User clicks are integrated to textual features to make refinement of textual query. The major bottleneck is likely mismatch between the image content and the given text. Image search re-ranking attempts to resolve this bottleneck by relying on both the text information and visual information during the image search process. This paper represents the trends in image search reranking and optimization with hyper graph.