Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dissimilation of C 3 -sulfonates

Cysteate and sulfolactate are widespread natural products in the environment, while propanesulfonate, 3-aminopropanesulfonate and propane-1,3disulfonate are xenobiotics. While some understanding of the bacterial assimilation of cysteate sulfur has been achieved, details of the dissimilation of cysteate and sulfolactate by microbes together with information on the degradation of the xenobiotics have only recently become available. This minireview centres on bacterial catabolism of the carbon moiety in these C3-sulfonates and on the fate of the sulfonate group. Three mechanisms of desulfonation have been established. Firstly, cysteate is converted via sulfopyruvate to sulfolactate, which is desulfonated to pyruvate and sulfite; the latter is oxidized to sulfate by a sulfite dehydrogenase and excreted as sulfate in Paracoccus pantotrophus NKNCYSA. Secondly, sulfolactate can be converted to cysteate, which is cleaved in a pyridoxal 5¢-phosphatecoupled reaction to pyruvate, sulfite and ammonium ions; in Silicibacter pomeroyi DSS-3, the sulfite is excreted largely as sulfite. Both desulfonation reactions seem to be widespread. The third desulfonation mechanism is oxygenolysis of, e.g. propanesulfonate(s), about which less is known.
Natural Photometric Stereo ?

The human brain seems to have the ability of inferring shape from the binocular fusion of some kinds of monocular images. Recently, we have observed that photometric stereo (PS) images, which are monocular images obtained under different illuminations, produce a vivid impression of depth, when viewed under a stereoscope. Lately, we have found that the same is true of pairs of images obtained in different spectral bands. Employing an optical-flow based photometric stereo algorithm on a type of “colour separated images”, which have been so produced as to emulate the kinds of records generated by the photosensitivecells in the human retina, we have been able to obtain depth estimates from them. This has led us to speculate on the possibility that a process similar to PS could work on the human visual system. Here we present our claim for a natural photometric stereo process, invoking some physical and biological arguments, along with experimental results, that could support it.
Analysis of inverse class frequency in centroid-based text classification

Most previous works on text categorization applied term occurrence frequency and inverse document frequency for representing importance of terms. This work presents an analysis of inverse class frequency in centroid-based text categorization. There are two aims of this paper. The first one is to find appropriate functions of inverse class frequency. The other is to find the key factors for using inverse class frequency. The experimental results show that the key factors, which improve classification accuracy, are the numbers of few-class terms and most-class terms. When large numbers of few-class terms and most-class terms are obtained, the logarithmic function of inverse class frequency is the most effective when it is combined with term frequency. The square root of inverse class frequency incorporated into TFIDF, works well in the case when data sets include a small number of few-class terms and most-class terms. To increase the numbers of these effective terms, some methods are involved i.e. using higher gram models, small number of classes and large number of training sets.
Structural Transformation and the Volatility of Aggregate Output in OECD Countries

This paper finds a negative relationship between the employment share of the service sector and the volatility of aggregate output in the OECD — after controlling for the level of financial development. This result reflects volatility differentials across sectors: labor productivity is more volatile in agriculture and manufacturing than in services. Aggregate output would therefore become less volatile as labor moves away from agriculture and manufacturing and toward the service sector. I examine the quantitative role of these labor shifts — termed structural transformation — on the volatility of aggregate output in OECD countries. I first calibrate to the U.S. economy an indivisible labor model in which the reallocation of labor across sectors emerges endogenously from sectoral labor productivity growth differentials. The setup is then used to generate the time path of labor shares in agriculture, manufacturing and services in individual countries. Finally, I perform a set of counterfactual analyzes in which the reallocation of labor across sectors is constrained endogenously. I find that the secular shift of labor towards the service sector was volatility-reducing in OECD countries during 1970–2006.
Clinical Interventions in Aging Dovepress Caregiver Burden, Productivity Loss, and Indirect Costs Associated with Caring for Patients with Poststroke Spasticity

Objective: Many stroke survivors experience poststroke spasticity and the related inability to perform basic activities, which necessitates patient management and treatment, and exerts a considerable burden on the informal caregiver. The current study aims to estimate burden, productivity loss, and indirect costs for caregivers of stroke survivors with spasticity. Methods: Internet survey data were collected from 153 caregivers of stroke survivors with spasticity including caregiving time and difficulty (Oberst Caregiver Burden Scale), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment measures, and caregiver and patient characteristics. Fractional logit models examined predictors of work-related restriction, and work losses were monetized (2012 median US wages). Results: Mean Oberst Caregiver Burden Scale time and difficulty scores were 46.1 and 32.4, respectively. Employed caregivers (n=71) had overall work restriction (32%), absenteeism (9%), and presenteeism (27%). Caregiver characteristics, lack of nursing home coverage, and stroke survivors' disability predicted all work restriction outcomes. The mean total lost-productivity cost per employed caregiver was US$835 per month ($10,000 per year; 72% attributable to presenteeism). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the substantial burden of caring for stroke survivors with spasticity illustrating the societal and economic impact of stroke that extends beyond the stroke survivor.
INOX: a managed service platform for inter-connected smart objects

In this paper we present a service management platform and an architecture which integrates the features of IoT with the management features of modern autonomic network management, and many service features from the world of Services. We present an architecture for INOX, a robust and adaptable Service Platform for the Internet of Things and Inter-Connected Smart Objects. The platform integrates many of the ideas from Autonomic Network Management and Services and provides the functionality which allows for better use of the sensors, things and the smart objects through enhanced application development, more flexible service deployment, virtualized elements, and better service management. This paper presents the current status of our work on a reference framework for the management and integration of smart objects and virtual networks into such a service platform.
Send Orders of Reprints at Reprints@benthamscience.org Are You Telling the Truth? Psychopathy Assessment and Impression Management in a Community Sample

Objectives: Researchers have suggested that approximately 1% of individuals within the community have psy-chopathic tendencies (Neumann and Hare, 2008), although confirmatory evidence is scant. Design: The current study aimed to extend previous research beyond university student samples to explore the effect of impression management and self-deception on the identification of psychopathic traits. Methods: A non-incarcerated community sample comprising of 300 adults completed the Self-Reported Psychopathy scale – version 3 Results: Results indicated that at least 1% of the current community sample had clear psychopathic tendencies, and that such tendencies were found in younger males who misused alcohol. Conclusions: Importantly, individuals with psychopathic traits did not present with an inflated propensity to distort assessment responses, which provides support for future research endeavours that aim to conduct larger-scale psy-chopathy assessments within the community. This paper further outlines the study implications in regards to the practical assessment of psychopathy. INTRODUCTION The construct, measurement and effect of psychopathy have remained central issues within psychological research for over a century. However, while such research has traditionally focused on criminal offenders, increasing efforts are now being directed towards identifying and understanding psychopathic traits within the broader community. There are a number of benefits to this endeavour including the potential to extend current understanding of psychopathy which will not be confounded by criminality or the effects of long-term institutionalisation (Kirkman, 2002). More specifically, such pursuits provide an opportunity to disentangle the attributes that are specific to psychopathy and those specific to criminality, thus contributing to an overall understanding (as well as more effective measurement) of the psychopathy construct. Furthermore, given the link between psychopathy and violence (and particularly since psychopathy is one of the best predictors of violent recidivism), the importance of increasing scientific knowledge regarding the type and extent of psychopathy within the community becomes paramount (DeMatteo, Heilbrun & Marczyk, 2005).
Liposome-Mediated Herpes Simplex Virus Uptake Is Glycoprotein-D Receptor-Independent but Requires Heparan Sulfate

Cationic liposomes are widely used to facilitate introduction of genetic material into target cells during transfection. This study describes a non-receptor mediated herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) entry into the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells that naturally lack glycoprotein D (gD)-receptors using a commercially available cationic liposome: lipofectamine. Presence of cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) increased the levels of viral entry indicating a potential role of HS in this mode of entry. Loss of viral entry in the presence of actin de-polymerizing or lysosomotropic agents suggests that this mode of entry results in the endocytosis of the lipofectamine-virus mixture. Enhancement of HSV-1 entry by liposomes was also demonstrated in vivo using a zebrafish embryo model that showed stronger infection in the eyes and other tissues. Our study provides novel insights into gD receptor independent viral entry pathways and can guide new strategies to enhance the delivery of viral gene therapy vectors or oncolytic viruses.
Measuring the performance of gaze and speech for text input

A popular word processor application was adapted to include the use of eye gaze and speech as a modality for text entry. An onscreen keyboard was used whereby users were expected to focus on the desired character and then issue a verbal command in order to type the character in the document. Measures of speed and accuracy were captured and analyzed. Results indicate that the keyboard is superior to the gaze and speech entry method in terms of both speed and accuracy. Keyboard button sizes and spacing between the buttons did not affect either measure in any way.
Toward the monophyly of Haeckel's radiolaria: 18S rRNA environmental data support the sisterhood of polycystinea and acantharea.

In 1887, Ernst Haeckel published a monumental and amazingly illustrated monograph describing several thousand different radiolarian species, which had been collected during the 4-year journey (1872–1876) of the British oceanographic corvette H.M.S. Challenger (Haeckel 1887). Radiolaria consist of diverse marine planktonic protists, mostly unicellular, usually endowed with complex, conspicuous mineral skeletons. Haeckel applied the term Radiolaria to three different groups: Acantharea, Polycystinea (Spumellaria and Nassellaria), and Phaeodarea. All of them are united by the possession of a central capsule defining an intracapsular and an extracapsular region in the cytoplasm, and some of them, (all Acantharea and several Spumellaria), also by the ability to secrete strontium sulfate (SrSO4) (Anderson 1983). This led some contemporary authors to classify, as Haeckel did one century ago, Acantharea, Polycystinea, and Phaeodarea within a common group (Cavalier-Smith 1987). Nevertheless, a recent study based on the phylogenetic analysis of small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) sequences challenged this view and supported the early emergence of Polycystines before Acantharea (Zettler, Sogin, and Caron 1997). This would render Haeckel’s Radiolaria polyphyletic and inappropriate as a taxonomic entity. We present here a phylogenetic analysis, including new Polycystineaand Acantharea-related 18S rRNA sequences retrieved from an oceanic environmental genomic library (500 m depth, Antarctic Polar Front). Our study strongly supports the monophyly of both groups, which constitutes a first piece of evidence for the legitimacy of Radiolaria sensu Haeckel as a valid taxon. During a recent study on the 18S rRNA gene–based diversity of small protists (0.2–5 mm fraction) inhabiting deep Antarctic waters (250–3,000 m depth), we retrieved a sequence close to the Acantharea (DH147EKD17, see fig. 1) from 2,000 m depth (Lopez-Garcia et al. 2001). Three additional acantharean environmental sequences were determined from surface waters (75 m depth) in the equatorial Pacific by other authors (Moonvan der Staay, De Wachter, and Vaulot 2001). To complement our previous PCR-based study avoiding possible amplification-induced biases (Wintzingerode, Gobel, and Stackerbrandt 1997; Polz and Cavanaugh 1998), we
Right-branching Tree Transformation for Eager Dependency Parsing

This paper presents a reversible transformation on dependency trees that produces purely right-branching structures. On their own, these structures are easier for stack-based shift-reduce parsers to learn. We describe experiments training parsers on the transformed trees, parsing raw text, and then reversing the transformation on the results to evaluate. While these conditions do not significantly change parsing accuracy, a parser tailored to exploit the greater predictability of the transformed trees is able to run ten times faster than the widelyused MaltParser system, while using the same modeling and learning infrastructure. We conclude with experiments that explore further search strategies enabled by the transformed structures.
A statistical approach to map matching using road network geometry, topology and vehicular motion constraints

This paper presents a method for reliable matching of position and orientation measurements from a standard GPS receiver to a digital map. By incorporating road network topology in the matching process using a hidden Markov model, an optimum position and orientation history can be computed from a sequence of GPS measurements. Increased robustness is achieved by introducing constraints for vehicular motion in an extended Kalman filter and by reconstructing the original road network from the digital map using cubic spline interpolation. The proposed method delivers robust matching results for standard inner-city scenarios and gives a reliable estimate of the optimal position history even for severely disturbed GPS measurements.
Comparison The Effects of Two Monocyte Isolation Methods, Plastic Adherence and Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting Methods, on Phagocytic Activity of Generated Dendritic Cells

Objective: It is believed that monocyte isolation methods and maturation factors affect the phenotypic and functional characteristics of resultant dendritic cells (DC). In the present study, we compared two monocyte isolation methods, including plastic adherence-dendritic cells (Adh-DC) and magnetic activated cell sorting- dendritic cells (MACS-DC), and their effects on phagocytic activity of differentiated immature DCs (immDCs). Materials and Methods: : In this experimental study, immDCs were generated from plastic adherence and MACS isolated monocytes in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) in five days. The phagocytic activity of immDCs was analyzed by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated latex bead using flow cytometry. One way ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis of differences among experimental groups, including Adh-DC and MACS-DC groups. Results: We found that phagocytic activity of Adh-DC was higher than MACS-DC, whereas the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of phagocytic cells was higher in MACS-DC (p<0.05). Conclusion: : We concluded that it would be important to consider phagocytosis parameters of generated DCs before making any decision about monocyte isolation methods to have fully functional DCs.
On Eliminating Redundant Computation from High-Level Array Statements

High-level array programming languages are well-suited for scientific computing. Such languages free the programme r from the responsibility of managing burdensome low-level details t hat complicate programming in languages like C and Fortran. But these detai ls do not vanish. We argue that the compiler should relieve the progra mmer of this burden. In this paper, we present a compiler optimization ca lled partial array redundancy elimination that removes redundant compu tation from certain high-level array statements resulting in cleaner, more portable and more concise code without any performance loss. This opt mization is critical to certain codes and achieves a speedup of 36% on t he NAS MG parallel benchmark.
Software defined 5G mobile backhaul

A major challenge of future mobile networks is providing the needed elastic scaling to the increased traffic demand, number of users and applications with acceptable cost. Another challenge is suitability for numerous communications applications while curbing unwanted traffic on the air interface and the mobile devices. This paper proposes a vision of how these challenges can be met by applying the concept of Software Defined Networking (SDN) to mobile networks. We also discuss the needed migration path that minimizes unnecessary replacement investments. While we have verified some key parts of the vision with experiments, we realize that the effectiveness of the proposed approach depends on the adoption of SDN technology for other purposes so that mass production of SDN switches leads to significant economies of scale. The paper shows how we can model mobile networks using SDN concepts and migrate the 3GPP mobile architecture to SDN. The resulting control plane of the mobile architecture consists of a group of SDN applications starting from the base stations i.e., virtual eNodeBs, Backhaul transport, Mobility management, Access, Caching, Monitoring, and Services delivery. The data plane consists of simplified access points and SDN and Carrier Grade Ethernet switches. Our experiments are based on using OpenFlow as the interface between the planes.
Performance evaluation of the IEEE 802.15.4 MAC for low-rate low-power wireless networks

IEEE 802.15. 4 is a new standard to address the need for low-rate low-power low-cost wireless networking. We provide in this paper one of the first simulation-based performance evaluations of the new medium access protocol in IEEE 802.15. 4, focusing on its beacon-enabled mode for a star-topology network. We describe its key features such as the superframe structure, which allows devices to access channels in a contention access period (CAP) or a collision free period (CFP) and the beacon-based synchronization mechanism. Our performance evaluation study reveals some of the key throughput-energy-delay tradeoffs inherent in this MAC protocol. We provide an analysis comparing the energy costs of beacon tracking and non-tracking modes for synchronization, showing that the optimum choice depends upon the combination of duty cycles and data rates.
The secret life of teens : Online versus offline photo displays at home

1 The secret life of teens: Online versus offline photo displays at home Abigail Durrant, David Frohlich, Abigail Sellen and David Uzzell 1 University of Surrey 2 Microsoft Research Cambridge Abstract In this article we describe findings from a recent study in which we interviewed four British teenage girls about their photo display practices, online and offline, in family homes. We adopted a phenomenological approach to inquiry, with a particular interest in exploring how photographic representations of self and family signal self-development in emerging adulthood. Findings reveal how teens portrayed themselves differently to friends, online, and family, offline. Self-presentation to peers was managed separately from the family and largely free from parental control. The separate, online-peer domain was used to explore alternative self-representations with real friends. Our findings appear to signal changing politics of photo ownership and family representation between the generations.
Linear Probability Models in Information Systems Research

Sizes of datasets used in IS research are growing quickly due to data available from digital technologies such as mobile, RFID, sensors, online markets, and more. It is not uncommon to see studies using tens and hundreds of thousands or even millions of records. Linear regression is among the most popular statistical model in social sciences research. Linear probability models, which are linear regression models applied to a binary outcome, are commonly used in many social science disciplines, despite criticisms of such usage. Surprisingly, LPMs are rare in the IS literature, where logit and probit regression models are typically used for binary outcomes. Whether LPMs provide value or constitute an abuse has been discussed only for specific aspects. A thorough and broad evaluation of their pros and cost for different goals in different scenarios is missing. We carry out an extensive study to evaluate the advantages and dangers of LPMs, especially in the realm of Big Data that now affects IS research, where large samples and many variables are available. We evaluate performance in terms of coefficient estimation as well as predictive power. We compare performance to alternatives suggested in the literature. We find that the LPM is beneficial for explanatory modeling when the outcome is naturally binary, whereas it is beneficial for predictive modeling when the outcome is binary by dichotomization. In large-sample studies IS researchers should consider LPMs for purposes of coefficient estimation if the outcome is naturally binary, but not if it is dichotomized. For predictive purposes, LPM should be considered even with small samples. We motivate and illustrate our study using a large dataset on online auctions from eBay.
Fe b 20 08 Thresholding methods to estimate the copula density

This paper deals with the problem of the multivariate copula density estimation. Using wavelet methods we provide two shrinkage procedures based on thresholding rules for which the knowledge of the regularity of the copula density to be estimated is not necessary. These methods, said to be adaptive, are proved to perform very well when adopting the minimax and the maxiset approaches. Moreover we show that these procedures can be discriminated in the maxiset sense. We produce an estimation algorithm whose qualities are evaluated thanks some simulation. Last, we propose a real life application for financial data.
A commitment-based approach to agent speech acts and conversations

This paper presents the main elements of Albatross, an agent communication language whose definition is currently under development. The semantics of Albatross, based on the social notion of commitment, allows one to define speech act types in a neat and concise way. I describe the logical relationship between messages and speech acts; give sample definitions of declarative, assertive, commissive, and directive speech acts; discuss the relationship between speech acts, normative systems, and rational action; and suggest a way of dealing with agent conversations.