Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cucumber Metallothionein-Like 2 (CsMTL2) Exhibits Metal-Binding Properties

We identified a novel member of the metallothionein (MT) family, Cucumis sativus metallothionein-like 2 (CsMTL2), by screening a young cucumber fruit complementary DNA (cDNA) library. The CsMTL2 encodes a putative 77-amino acid Class II MT protein that contains two cysteine (Cys)-rich domains separated by a Cys-free spacer region. We found that CsMTL2 expression was regulated by metal stress and was specifically induced by Cd2+ treatment. We investigated the metal-binding characteristics of CsMTL2 and its possible role in the homeostasis and/or detoxification of metals by heterologous overexpression in Escherichia coli cells. Furthermore, we produced a deletion mutant form of the protein, CsMTL2m, that contained the two Cys-rich clusters but lacked the spacer region, in E. coli. We compared the metal-binding properties of CsMTL2 with those of CsMTL2m, the β domain of human metallothionein-like protein 1 (HsMTXb), and phytochelatin-like (PCL) heterologously expressed in E. coli using metal-binding assays. We found that E. coli cells expressing CsMTL2 accumulated the highest levels of Zn2+ and Cd2+ of the four transformed cell types, with levels being significantly higher than those of control cells containing empty vector. E. coli cells expressing CsMTL2 had a higher tolerance for cadmium than for zinc ions. These findings show that CsMTL2 improves metal tolerance when heterologously expressed in E. coli. Future studies should examine whether CsMTL2 improves metal tolerance in planta.
Mutant p53 protects ETS2 from non-canonical COP1/DET1 dependent degradation

Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 contribute to the development of approximately half of all human cancers. One mechanism by which mutant p53 (mtp53) acts is through interaction with other transcription factors, which can either enhance or repress the transcription of their target genes. Mtp53 preferentially interacts with the erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homologue 2 (ETS2), an ETS transcription factor, and increases its protein stability. To study the mechanism underlying ETS2 degradation, we knocked down ubiquitin ligases known to interact with ETS2. We observed that knockdown of the constitutive photomorphogenesis protein 1 (COP1) and its binding partner De-etiolated 1 (DET1) significantly increased ETS2 stability, and conversely, their ectopic expression led to increased ETS2 ubiquitination and degradation. Surprisingly, we observed that DET1 binds to ETS2 independently of COP1, and we demonstrated that mutation of multiple sites required for ETS2 degradation abrogated the interaction between DET1 and ETS2. Furthermore, we demonstrate that mtp53 prevents the COP1/DET1 complex from ubiquitinating ETS2 and thereby marking it for destruction. Mechanistically, we show that mtp53 destabilizes DET1 and also disrupts the DET1/ETS2 complex thereby preventing ETS2 degradation. Our study reveals a hitherto unknown function in which DET1 mediates the interaction with the substrates of its cognate ubiquitin ligase complex and provides an explanation for the ability of mtp53 to protect ETS2.
A Computer-Assistance Learning System for Emotional Wording

Language learners' limited lexical knowledge leads to imprecise wording. This is especially true when they attempt to express their emotions. Many learners rely heavily on the traditional thesaurus. Unfortunately, this fails to provide appropriate suggestions for lexical choices. To better aid English-as-a-second-language learners with word choices, we propose RESOLVE, which provides ranked synonyms of emotion words based on contextual information. RESOLVE suggests precise emotion words regarding the events in the relevant context. Patterns are learned to capture emotion events, and various factors are considered in the scoring function for ranking emotion words. We also describe an online writing system developed using RESOLVE and evaluate its effectiveness for learning assistance with a writing task. Experimental results showed that RESOLVE yielded a superior performance on NDCG@5 which significantly outperformed both PMI and SVM approaches, and offered better suggestions than Roget's Thesaurus and PIGAI (an online automated essay scoring system). Moreover, when applying it to the writing task, students' appropriateness with emotion words was 30 percent improved. Less-proficient learners benefited more from RESOLVE than highly-proficient learners. Post-tests also showed that after using RESOLVE, less-proficient learners' ability to use emotion words approached that of highly-proficient learners. RESOLVE thus enables learners to use precise emotion words.
Matrix elasticity regulates the optimal cardiac myocyte shape for contractility.

Concentric hypertrophy is characterized by ventricular wall thickening, fibrosis, and decreased myocyte length-to-width aspect ratio. Ventricular thickening is considered compensatory because it reduces wall stress, but the functional consequences of cell shape remodeling in this pathological setting are unknown. We hypothesized that decreases in myocyte aspect ratio allow myocytes to maximize contractility when the extracellular matrix becomes stiffer due to conditions such as fibrosis. To test this, we engineered neonatal rat ventricular myocytes into rectangles mimicking the 2-D profiles of healthy and hypertrophied myocytes on hydrogels with moderate (13 kPa) and high (90 kPa) elastic moduli. Actin alignment was unaffected by matrix elasticity, but sarcomere content was typically higher on stiff gels. Microtubule polymerization was higher on stiff gels, implying increased intracellular elastic modulus. On moderate gels, myocytes with moderate aspect ratios (∼7:1) generated the most peak systolic work compared with other cell shapes. However, on stiffer gels, low aspect ratios (∼2:1) generated the most peak systolic work. To compare the relative contributions of intracellular vs. extracellular elasticity to contractility, we developed an analytical model and used our experimental data to fit unknown parameters. Our model predicted that matrix elasticity dominates over intracellular elasticity, suggesting that the extracellular matrix may potentially be a more effective therapeutic target than microtubules. Our data and model suggest that myocytes with lower aspect ratios have a functional advantage when the elasticity of the extracellular matrix decreases due to conditions such as fibrosis, highlighting the role of the extracellular matrix in cardiac disease.
A Practical Approach for Planar Visibility Maintenance

In this paper, we propose a method for maintaining the region visible from a moving point observer inside a planar scene. In this method, we check the observer position in discrete time-stamps to detect and apply changes to the visible or illuminated region of a moving point observer q, or VP(q). We efficiently main- tain a list C(q) of edges in VP(q) which are subject to change during the motion. In each time-stamp that VP(q) is to be updated, we only refine and redraw the view against the edges of C(q) that indicate the positions of the visibility changes. We build an enriched representation of the visibility graph in a preprocessing step to apply the required updates on C(q) efficiently and ready to be used in the next time-stamp. Using these structures, the exact visible regions are updated in each time-stamp in O(|C(q)|) for sufficiently small values of time-stamp inter- vals. This is the best possible and superior to the current solutions. Although the time-stamp intervals are small enough in real applications, our method will still remain superior even if the intervals were relatively long in cases with high-speed observer or in dense scenes. The results of our implementation prove efficiency of our method in practice.
Trabajo emocional y burnout: un estudio con policías militares

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi verificar o papel preditor do trabalho emocional na incidencia de burnout em policiais militares. Participaram 525 profissionais militares. Os instrumentos utilizados foram a Emotional Labour Scale , a Emotion Work Requirements Scale e a subescala de exaustao emocional do Maslach Burnout Inventory for Human Service Survey, previamente adaptados para o portugues. As duas primeiras escalas passaram por uma validacao cruzada, e foi realizada uma regressao multipla com os fatores delas derivados e variaveis sociodemograficas . Os resultados indicam que estes fatores do trabalho emocional: variedade e intensidade das emocoes (β = 0,36; p < 0,001), frequencia de interacao com suspeitos e criminosos (β = 0,11; p < 0,01), atuacao profunda (β = 0,17; p <0,001) e atuacao superficial (β = 0,13; p < 0,001), e a necessidade de expressar emocoes positivas como parte do trabalho policial (β = -0,15; p <0,001) foram preditores de exaustacao emocional e incidencia de burnout. As variaveis sociodemograficas: ensino medio completo (β = -0,09; p < 0,05), ser Cabo (β = -0,10; p < 0,01), e atuar no servico externo (β = 0, 18; p <0,001) tambem tiveram um poder preditivo sobre o burnout.
Analysis of translational correspondence in view of sub-sentential alignment

This paper reports on the first results of an empirical study of translational correspondence in different text types for the English-Dutch language pair. A Gold Standard was created, which can be used as a standard data set for evaluating subsentential alignment. The manually indicated translational correspondences were analyzed in view of different heuristics used in existing sub-sentential alignment modules.
An SDN-based approach to enhance BGP security

BGP is vulnerable to a series of attacks. Many solutions have been proposed in the past two decades, but the most effective remain largely undeployed. This is due to three fundamental reasons: the solutions are too computationally expensive for current routers, they require changes to BGP, and/or they do not give the right incentives to promote deployment. In this abstract we propose a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) architecture to secure BGP routing. Our solution, BGPSecX, targets an IXP and it includes techniques to allow different IXPs to collaborate. With SDN we remove the computational burden from routers and do not make changes to BGP. Targeting IXPs and promoting inter-IXP collaboration enables the creation of incentives to foster adoption of BGP security services.
Hidden Markov models & principal component analysis for multispectral palmprint identification

Automatic personal identification from their physical and behavioral traits, called biometrics technologies, is now needed in many fields such as: surveillance systems, access control systems, physical buildings and many more applications. In this paper, we propose an efficient online personal identification system based on Multi-Spectral Palmprint images (MSP) using Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and Principal Components Analysis (PCA). In this study, the band image {RED, BLUE, GREEN and Nearest-InfraRed (NIR)} is rotated with different orientations then applying the PCA technique to each oriented image, to decorrelate the image columns, and concentrate the information content on the first components of the transformed vectors. Thus, the observation vector is formed by concatenate some components of the transformed vectors for all orientations. Subsequently, we use the HMM for modeling the observation vector of each MSP. Finally, log-likelihood scores are used for MSP matching. Our experimental results show the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed approach, which brings both high identification and accuracy rate.
Creating Functional and Livable Soundscapes for Peripheral Monitoring of Dynamic Data

Sonifications must be studied in order to match listener expectancies about data representation in the form of sound. In this study, a system was designed and implemented for dynamically rendering sonifications of simulated real-time data from the stock market. The system read and parsed the stock data then operated unit generators and mixers through a predefined sound mapping to create a ‘soundscape’ of complementary ecological sounds. The sound mapping consisted of a threshold-based model in which a percentage change in price value was mapped to an ecological sound to be played whenever that threshold or gradient had been reached. The system also provided a generic mechanism for fading and transitioning between gradients. The prototype system was presented to stock trader test subjects in their work-listening environment for evaluation as a stand-alone system and in comparison to their preferred tools.
Cooperative Information Sharing to Improve Distributed Learning in Multi-Agent Systems

Effective coordination of agents' actions in partially-observable domains is a major challenge of multi-agent systems research. To address this, many researchers have developed techniques that allow the agents to make decisions based on estimates of the states and actions of other agents that are typically learnt using some form of machine learning algorithm. Nevertheless, many of these approaches fail to provide an actual means by which the necessary information is made available so that the estimates can be learnt. To this end, we argue that cooperative communication of state information between agents is one such mechanism. However, in a dynamically changing environment, the accuracy and timeliness of this communicated information determine the fidelity of the learned estimates and the usefulness of the actions taken based on these. Given this, we propose a novel information-sharing protocol, post-task-completion sharing, for the distribution of state information. vVe then show, through a formal analysis, the improvement in the quality of estimates produced using our strategy over the widely used protocol of sharing information between nearest neighbours. Moreover, communication heuristics designed around our information-sharing principle are subjected to empirical evaluation along with other benchmark strategies (including Littman's Q-routing and Stone's TPOT-RL) in a simulated call-routing application. These studies, conducted across a range of environmental settings, show that, compared to the different benchmarks used, our strategy generates an improvement of up to 60% in the call connection rate; of more than 1000% in the ability to connect long-distance calls; and incurs as low as 0.25 of the message overhead.
Diffuse Interstellar Bands Toward HD 62542

Diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) have been detected for the first time along the peculiar translucent line of sight toward HD 62542, which passes through a diffuse cloud core. Although only a small fraction (18 out of more than 300) of generally weak DIB features have been shown to correlate with C2 and C3 (the "C2 DIBs"), it is predominantly these DIBs that are observed toward HD 62542. The typically strong DIBs λλ5780 and 5797 are detected but are significantly weaker than toward other lines of sight with similar reddening. Other commonly observed DIBs (such as λλ4430, 6270, and 6284) remain noticeably absent. These observations further support the suggestion that the line of sight toward HD 62542 crosses only the core of a diffuse cloud and show that the correlation between the C2 DIBs and small carbon chains is maintained in environments with very large fractions of molecular hydrogen, f > 0.8. A comparison of CH, CN, C2, and C3 column densities and C2 DIB strengths toward HD 62542, HD 204827, and HD 172028 suggests that the line of sight toward HD 204827 passes through a diffuse cloud core similar to that seen toward HD 62542, as well as what might be referred to as a diffuse cloud envelope. This indicates that the bare core toward HD 62542 may not have significantly different relative chemical abundances from other diffuse cloud cores and that the C2 DIBs may serve as a diagnostic of such cores.
A Systematic Review of the Evidence Base for Instructional Choice in K–12 Settings

We conducted this systematic literature review to explore the current evidence base of instructional choice, a low-intensity, teacher-delivered strategy to support academic engagement and decrease challenging behaviors. Specifically, we focused on school-based settings, applying quality indicators (QIs) and evidence-based standards of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). Included articles met five criteria: (a) independent variables included instructional choice; (b) dependent variables included behavior (e.g., disruptive behavior, problem behavior, aggression), time on task/academic engaged time, and/or academic performance (e.g., task initiation, completion, accuracy, fluency); (c) interventions occurred with school-age students in traditional school settings; (d) the study followed an experimental design; and (e) the article was published in English in a refereed journal. Twenty-five articles (26 studies) from 13 journals met inclusion criteria. Findings indicated providing students instructional choices increased desired academic behavior while decreasing instances of disruptive behavior. Of the 26 studies, three met all QIs, with nine additional studies addressing 80% or more. Due to small participant numbers, effect sizes, and other factors in these studies, we classified instructional choice into the CEC evidence-based category of insufficient evidence. We conclude with a discussion of limitations and directions for future inquiry.
Impact of organizational citizenship behavior on role conflict: a study of a leading paints manufacturing company in Sri Lanka

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) on Role conflict in a leading paint company Sri Lanka. This is a quantitative study conducted within the positivistic research philosophy using the deductive approach. This study was carried out as cross sectional study with a sample of 150 operational level employees who are directly engaged with the production process. Simple random sampling and survey strategy was followed in the study. A self-administered, anonymous, pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection purpose. A theoretical basis for a relationship between OCB and role conflict was identified using Role theory. The first hypothesis was tested using multiple regression analysis and it was possible to conclude that there is a that 60 % of the variance in role conflict of operational level employees is explained by organizational citizenship behavior alone. The dimensional analysis was conducted to test sub hypotheses of H1 and it revealed that civic virtue as a most influential dimension (s =.580, p < 0.05) of OCB on role conflict of operational level employees. As the number of studies testified OCB on role conflict in the Sri Lankan context is limited the present findings have implications for researchers and practitioners to identify efforts that work toward increasing commitment of team members, thereby increasing organizational citizenship behavior in the organization.
Networks for the Separation of Sources that Are Superimposed and Delayed

We have created new networks to unmix signals which have been mixed either with time delays or via filtering. We first show that a subset of the Herault-Jutten learning rules fulfills a principle of minimum output power. We then apply this principle to extensions of the Herault-Jutten network which have delays in the feedback path. Our networks perform well on real speech and music signals that have been mixed using time delays or filtering.
Ets and GATA Transcription Factors Play a Critical Role in PMA-Mediated Repression of the ckβ Promoter via the Protein Kinase C Signaling Pathway

Background Choline kinase is the most upstream enzyme in the CDP-choline pathway. It catalyzes the phosphorylation of choline to phosphorylcholine in the presence of ATP and Mg2+ during the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine, the major phospholipid in eukaryotic cell membranes. In humans, choline kinase (CK) is encoded by two separate genes, ckα and ckβ, which produce three isoforms, CKα1, CKα2, and CKβ. Previous studies have associated ckβ with muscle development; however, the molecular mechanism underlying the transcriptional regulation of ckβ has never been elucidated. Methodology/Principal Findings In this report, the distal promoter region of the ckβ gene was characterized. Mutational analysis of the promoter sequence and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) showed that Ets and GATA transcription factors were essential for the repression of ckβ promoter activity. Supershift and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays further identified that GATA3 but not GATA2 was bound to the GATA site of ckβ promoter. In addition, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) decreased ckβ promoter activity through Ets and GATA elements. PMA also decreased the ckβ mRNA and protein levels about 12 hours after the promoter activity was down-regulated. EMSA further revealed that PMA treatment increased the binding of both Ets and GATA transcription factors to their respective DNA elements. The PMA-mediated repressive effect was abolished by chronic PMA treatment and by treatment with the PKC inhibitor PKC412, but not the PKC inhibitor Go 6983, suggesting PKCε or PKCη as the PKC isozyme involved in the PMA-mediated repression of ckβ promoter. Further confirmation by using PKC isozyme specific inhibitors identified PKCε as the isozyme that mediated the PMA repression of ckβ promoter. Conclusion/Significance These results demonstrate the participation of the PKC signaling pathway in the regulation of ckβ gene transcription by Ets and GATA transcription factors.
Application of model - based geostatistics for natural hazards identification

Annually much agricultural productions are lost by natural hazards such as flooding, extreme temperature, and drought. In this research we present a procedure to identify such hazards for rice cropping from remote sensing imagery. Extreme temperature is investigated by comparing actual temperatures with tolerance temperatures during the growing stage. Drought is investigated using the evapotranspiration ratio (ETa/ETp) and comparing it with the allowable range. Flooding is studied by finding sudden drops in NDVI values after an extreme rain fall. The procedures are applied to a rice growing area in Iran, 2006. The results, however, did not show any of these hazards to have occurred in the area during the study period. To study spatial effects of hazard, we next created a yield map using model-based geostatistics. We compared ordinary kriging (OK) with external drift kriging (KED). Smaller prediction errors exist when using KED with NDVI and Distance from city as external drift. Cross validation indicates that the straightforward OK that ignores the information from secondary data yields the largest prediction errors (1.36 compare to 0.061 for KED). The results suggest using spatially intensive ancillary data leads to increasing the accuracy of prediction of yield map.
Saddle-free Hessian-free Optimization

Nonconvex optimization problems such as the ones in training deep neural networks suffer from a phenomenon called saddle point proliferation. This means that there are a vast number of high error saddle points present in the loss function. Second order methods have been tremendously successful and widely adopted in the convex optimization community, while their usefulness in deep learning remains limited. This is due to two problems: computational complexity and the methods being driven towards the high error saddle points. We introduce a novel algorithm specially designed to solve these two issues, providing a crucial first step to take the widely known advantages of Newton's method to the nonconvex optimization community, especially in high dimensional settings.