Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relationship between receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge: a perspective from vocabulary use in sentence writing

ABSTRACT The progression from receptive vocabulary knowledge to productive word use in language learning to date is unclear. Vocabulary size has been the primary focus of receptive and productive vocabulary research. The present study looks at the internal structure of vocabulary knowledge along the receptive and productive continuum within a multi-aspect framework informed by Nation [2001. Learning Vocabulary in Another Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press] and Coxhead [2007. Factors and aspects of knowledge affecting second language word use in writing. In Teaching and Learning Vocabulary in Another Language, ed. P. Davidson, C. Coombe, D. Lloyd and D. Palfreyman, 331–42. Dubai, UAE: TESOL Arabia]. It explores the relationship between receptive knowledge of meaning, form, word class, collocation and association and productive vocabulary knowledge, in particular the controlled productive word use in sentence writing, with a multi-task approach. Participants are 620 Year 8 English as a foreign language learners from two secondary schools in China. Results provide empirical evidence to the multi-aspect construct of receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge. The study describes the contribution of each aspect to controlled productive word use in context, and offer insights into the use of existing vocabulary assessment instruments to attain this goal. The findings have important pedagogical implications for vocabulary teaching and learning, as well as for instruments selection for vocabulary knowledge assessment and research purpose.
Ly49 receptors: evolution, genetic diversity, and impact on immunity

Natural killer (NK) cells express cell surface receptors that recognize class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC‐I) molecules to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy cells. The multigenic and polymorphic nature of the MHC‐I genes has influenced the convergent evolution of similarly polymorphic and diversified NK cell receptor families: the C‐type lectin‐like Ly49 receptors in mice, and the killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIRs) in humans. Although structurally distinct, both receptor families have similar functions in terms of MHC‐I recognition and downstream signal transduction, and they regulate multiple aspects of NK cell biology during development and after maturation as fully differentiated and functionally competent cells. The Ly49 gene locus has undergone rapid, lineage‐specific expansions and contractions resulting in multiple distinct haplotypes of variable gene number, allelic diversity, and MHC‐I ligand specificity. This in turn has influenced the type and degree of Ly49 receptor expression on NK cells, and their contribution to immunity in different mouse strains. In this review, we have attempted to describe the evolutionary processes that have shaped strain‐specific Ly49 receptor repertoires, and their impact on NK cell functions during health and disease.
Daubechies Wavelets Combined Sparse Basement Based on Compressed Sensing in Wireless Sensor Networks

A new method to construct a Daubechies wavelets combined sparse basement based on compressed sensing theory is proposed in this paper, which is particularly suitable for the sensing signals with time correlation characteristics. In this research, the simplified dictionary is constructed by Daubechies wavelets function after atoms checking and screening. This sparse basement is obtained by the coefficient vectors gotten from sparse decomposition of 24 elementary model signals. The simulation results show that this method has more advantages compared with existing algorithms, including low computational complexity, small storage requirement, short construction time and good sparse effect.
Molecular Basis for Converting (2S)-Methylsuccinyl-CoA Dehydrogenase into an Oxidase

Although flavoenzymes have been studied in detail, the molecular basis of their dioxygen reactivity is only partially understood. The members of the flavin adenosine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and acyl-CoA oxidase families catalyze similar reactions and share common structural features. However, both enzyme families feature opposing reaction specificities in respect to dioxygen. Dehydrogenases react with electron transfer flavoproteins as terminal electron acceptors and do not show a considerable reactivity with dioxygen, whereas dioxygen serves as a bona fide substrate for oxidases. We recently engineered (2S)-methylsuccinyl-CoA dehydrogenase towards oxidase activity by rational mutagenesis. Here we characterized the (2S)-methylsuccinyl-CoA dehydrogenase wild-type, as well as the engineered (2S)-methylsuccinyl-CoA oxidase, in detail. Using stopped-flow UV-spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based assays, we explain the molecular base for dioxygen reactivity in the engineered oxidase and show that the increased oxidase function of the engineered enzyme comes at a decreased dehydrogenase activity. Our findings add to the common notion that an increased activity for a specific substrate is achieved at the expense of reaction promiscuity and provide guidelines for rational engineering efforts of acyl-CoA dehydrogenases and oxidases.
An efficient LDPC code structure combined with the concept of difference family

In this paper, we construct a new irregular LDPC code structure combined with a concept of difference family [5]. The corresponding decoders for the proposed LDPC code structure achieve better performance than those decoders for random-structured codes and the quasi-cyclic codes, when simulated with the commonly used sum-product iterative decoding algorithm and the min-sum based algorithms. Meanwhile the resulting codes have both low encoding and decoding complexities comparable to those of the efficient quasi-cycle LDPC codes. Specifically, we propose a new code structure for parity-check matrices and devise new sets of the difference families for the new matrices. An LDPC decoder based on the proposed code structure has been realized with UMC 0.18 μm ASIC process technology. The decoder assumes a code rate of 3/4, a code length of 960 bits, with maximum 10 decoding iterations. The decoder can achieve a decoding throughput rate up to 370Mbps and take an area of 800k gates.
The Open University ’ s repository of research publications and other research outputs How well can charge transfer inefficiency be corrected ?

Radiation damage to space-based Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) detectors creates defects which result in an increasing Charge Transfer Inefficiency (CTI) that causes spurious image trailing. Most of the trailing can be corrected during post-processing, by modelling the charge trapping and moving electrons back to where they belong. However, such correction is not perfect – and damage is continuing to accumulate in orbit. To aid future development, we quantify the limitations of current approaches, and determine where imperfect knowledge of model parameters most degrade measurements of photometry and morphology. As a concrete application, we simulate 1.5×10 “worst case” galaxy and 1.5×10 star images to test the performance of the Euclid visual instrument detectors. There are two separable challenges: If the model used to correct CTI is perfectly the same as that used to add CTI, 99.68 % of spurious ellipticity is corrected in our setup. This is because readout noise is not subject to CTI, but gets over-corrected during correction. Second, if we assume the first issue to be solved, knowledge of the charge trap density within ∆ρ/ρ=(0.0272±0.0005)%, and the characteristic release time of the dominant species to be known within ∆τ/τ = (0.0400 ± 0.0004)% will be required. This work presents the next level of definition of in-orbit CTI calibration procedures for Euclid.
Laser-based Particle Acceleration

Using state-of-the-art high-power laser systems, we are able to routinely generate extreme energy densities and focused light intensities in a controlled laboratory environment. During the interaction of these laser pulses with matter a plasma is generated that can both sustain and support huge electric fields. These can be used as a novel type of accelerator structure for electrons and ions having properties favorable for a large number of future applications.
New brain pathways found in the vocal control system of a songbird

Songbirds use a complex network of discrete brain areas and connecting fiber tracts to sing their song, but our knowledge of this circuitry may be incomplete. The forebrain area, “caudal mesopallium” (CM), has received much attention recently for its song‐related activities. HVC, a prominent song system nucleus, projects to a restricted area of the CM known as the avalanche nucleus (Av). However, the other connections of Av remain unknown. Here we used tract‐tracing methods to examine the connections of Av to other song system nuclei. Injections of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) into Av labeled both afferent terminals and neurons in HVC and the interfacial nucleus of the nidopallium (NIf), suggesting that there is complex feedforward and feedback communication between these nuclei (HVC↔Av↔NIf). Labeled neurons were also found in the uvaeform nucleus (Uva), which was substantiated by BDA injections into Uva that labeled terminals in Av. Double fluorescent tracing experiments confirm that both HVC and Uva project to Av. The present study adds complex new connections that expand the traditional song system circuitry into the caudal mesopallium. These new pathways are likely to have broad implications for deciphering how this intricate system works. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:3086–3100, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
FGF‐23/Klotho signaling is not essential for the phosphaturic and anabolic functions of PTH

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is widely recognized as a key regulator of mineral ion homeostasis. Daily intermittent administration of PTH is the only currently available anabolic therapy for bone disorders such as osteoporosis. Recent studies have shown that PTH increases transcription and secretion of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF‐23), another important regulator of phosphate homeostasis and skeletal metabolism. However, the full relationship between PTH and FGF‐23 is largely unknown. This study evaluated the effect of FGF‐23/Klotho signaling on the phosphaturic and anabolic functions of PTH. Eight‐day‐old wild‐type (WT) Fgf23−/− and Kl−/− mice were injected with 100 µg/kg PTH(1–34) or vehicle daily for a 2‐week‐period and then euthanized. Intermittent injection of PTH successfully reduced the serum phosphate levels and reversed the hyperphosphatemia of Fgf23−/− and Kl−/− mice. Bone changes were analyzed in the distal femur metaphysis by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), micro–computed tomography (µCT), and histomorphometry. PTH treatment induced substantial increases in bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone volume in each mouse genotype. Expression of osteoblastic marker genes, including Runx2, Col1, Alp, Ocn, and Sost, was similarly altered. In addition, primary osteoblasts were isolated and treated with 100 nM PTH in vitro. PTH treatment similarly induced cAMP accumulation and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and CREB in the osteoblasts from each genotype. Taken together, our results demonstrate that FGF‐23/Klotho signaling is not essential for the phosphaturic and anabolic functions of PTH, suggesting that PTH can function as a therapeutic agent to improve the skeletal quality of patients even in the presence of abnormal serum FGF‐23 levels. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Tissue-specific NETs alter genome organization and regulation even in a heterologous system

ABSTRACT Different cell types exhibit distinct patterns of 3D genome organization that correlate with changes in gene expression in tissue and differentiation systems. Several tissue-specific nuclear envelope transmembrane proteins (NETs) have been found to influence the spatial positioning of genes and chromosomes that normally occurs during tissue differentiation. Here we study 3 such NETs: NET29, NET39, and NET47, which are expressed preferentially in fat, muscle and liver, respectively. We found that even when exogenously expressed in a heterologous system they can specify particular genome organization patterns and alter gene expression. Each NET affected largely different subsets of genes. Notably, the liver-specific NET47 upregulated many genes in HT1080 fibroblast cells that are normally upregulated in hepatogenesis, showing that tissue-specific NETs can favor expression patterns associated with the tissue where the NET is normally expressed. Similarly, global profiling of peripheral chromatin after exogenous expression of these NETs using lamin B1 DamID revealed that each NET affected the nuclear positioning of distinct sets of genomic regions with a significant tissue-specific component. Thus NET influences on genome organization can contribute to gene expression changes associated with differentiation even in the absence of other factors and overt cellular differentiation changes.
Using the affective priming paradigm to explore the attitudes underlying walking behaviour.

UNLABELLED Objectives. Walking is poorly represented in memory, making it difficult to measure using self-report and even harder to predict. To circumvent this, we used the affective priming paradigm (Fazio, Sanbonmatsu, Powell, & Kardes, 1986) to assess implicit attitudes towards walking. METHODS Royal Air Force trainee aircraftsmen (N=188) wore pedometers for 1 week prior to completing the affective priming paradigm, questionnaire and interview. The affective priming paradigm involved a computer-based response latency task containing physical activity words as primes followed by adjectives as targets to be evaluated. Targets were drawn from two bipolar dichotomies, good-bad (the original Fazio et al. items) and happy-sad (mood). RESULTS Priming for mood items was related to levels of physical activity with high frequency participants priming for the positive (happy) pole and low frequency participants priming for the negative (sad). Both groups primed for the negative element of the Fazio (good-bad) dichotomy. Regarding walking and running, there was no differentiation on the basis of participation level. Instead, facilitated responses to happy targets contrasted with inhibited responses to sad targets for both types of locomotion. There was weak evidence that intentions to run were associated with priming of positive target items, irrespective of category. CONCLUSIONS The relationship between implicit attitudes and behaviour is complex. Whereas implicit attitudes were related to overall exercise participation, they were not related to the specific activity of walking, despite the behaviour being mainly under automatic control.
Experimental Study of Discriminant Method with Application to Fault-Prone Module Detection

Some techniques have been applied to improving software quality by classifying the software modules into fault-prone or non fault-prone categories. This can help developers focus on some high risk fault-prone modules. In this paper, a distribution-based Bayesian quadratic discriminant analysis (D-BQDA) technique is experimental investigated to identify software fault-prone modules. Experiments with software metrics data from two real projects indicate that this technique can classify software modules into a proper class with a lower misclassification rate and a higher efficiency.
The Challenging Triangle: Balancing Outcomes, Transplant Numbers and Costs

Transplant centers juggle at least three objectives important to success: transplant volume, outcomes and costs. Improving one frequently occurs at the expense of the others. It may be difficult to have a high‐volume program with excellent outcomes and low costs. There are some programs that can do well in all these areas, but even they might be able to improve one of the outcome measures if they would compromise on the one of the others (i.e. a transplant center with good outcomes might be able to achieve even better outcomes if it restricted the patients it was willing to transplant or used only the best organs). It is up to transplant surgeons and physicians to balance all these objectives.
The effect of whole body vibration on the H‐reflex, the stretch reflex, and the short‐latency response during hopping

The effect of whole body vibration (WBV) on reflex responses is controversially discussed in the literature. In this study, three different modalities of reflex activation with increased motor complexity have been selected to clarify the effects of acute WBV on reflex activation: (1) the electrically evoked H‐reflex, (2) the mechanically elicited stretch reflex, and (3) the short‐latency response (SLR) during hopping. WBV‐induced changes of the H‐reflex, the stretch reflex, and the SLR during hopping were recorded in the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles and were analyzed before, during (only the H‐reflex), immediately after, 5 min and 10 min after WBV. The main findings were that (1) the H‐reflexes were significantly reduced during and at least up to 5 min after WBV, (2) the stretch reflex amplitudes were also significantly reduced immediately after WBV but recovered to their initial amplitudes within 5 min, and (3) the SLR during hopping showed no vibration‐induced modulation. With regard to the modalities with low motor complexities, the decreased H‐ and stretch reflex responses are assumed to point toward a reduced Ia afferent transmission during and after WBV. However, it is assumed that during hopping, the suppression of reflex sensitivity is compensated by facilitatory mechanisms in this complex motor task.
ViCAR: An Adaptive and Landmark-Free Registration of Time Lapse Image Data from Microfluidics Experiments

In order to understand gene function in bacterial life cycles, time lapse bioimaging is applied in combination with different marker protocols in so called microfluidics chambers (i.e., a multi-well plate). In one experiment, a series of T images is recorded for one visual field, with a pixel resolution of 60 nm/px. Any (semi-)automatic analysis of the data is hampered by a strong image noise, low contrast and, last but not least, considerable irregular shifts during the acquisition. Image registration corrects such shifts enabling next steps of the analysis (e.g., feature extraction or tracking). Image alignment faces two obstacles in this microscopic context: (a) highly dynamic structural changes in the sample (i.e., colony growth) and (b) an individual data set-specific sample environment which makes the application of landmarks-based alignments almost impossible. We present a computational image registration solution, we refer to as ViCAR: (Vi)sual (C)ues based (A)daptive (R)egistration, for such microfluidics experiments, consisting of (1) the detection of particular polygons (outlined and segmented ones, referred to as visual cues), (2) the adaptive retrieval of three coordinates throughout different sets of frames, and finally (3) an image registration based on the relation of these points correcting both rotation and translation. We tested ViCAR with different data sets and have found that it provides an effective spatial alignment thereby paving the way to extract temporal features pertinent to each resulting bacterial colony. By using ViCAR, we achieved an image registration with 99.9% of image closeness, based on the average rmsd of 4.10−2 pixels, and superior results compared to a state of the art algorithm.
Improved Scoring System to Assess Adult Donors For Cadaver Renal Transplantation

We previously proposed a quantitative approach to assess donor organs for cadaver renal transplantation. To improve on our original scoring system, we studied 34 324 patients who received cadaver renal transplants from adult donors between 1994 and 1999 and were reported to the UNOS Scientific Renal Transplant Registry. A scoring system was developed from five donor variables (age, 0–25 points; history of hypertension, 0–4; creatinine clearance before procurement, 0–4; cause of death, 0–3; HLA mismatch, 0–3) that showed a significant correlation with renal function and long‐term graft survival. Cadaver kidneys were stratified by cumulative donor score: grade A, 0–9 points; grade B, 10–19; grade C, 20–29; and grade D, 30–39. The influence of donor score on renal function and graft survival was most severe above 20 points, designated ‘marginal’ kidneys. In summary, a donor scoring system developed from a large population database was useful in predicting outcome after cadaver renal transplantation. The improved system provides a quantitative approach to evaluation of marginal kidneys and may improve allocation of these organs in cadaver renal transplantation.
Statistical Methods to Study Timing of Vulnerability with Sparsely Sampled Data on Environmental Toxicants

Background Identifying windows of vulnerability to environmental toxicants is an important area in children’s health research. Objective We compared and contrasted statistical approaches that may help identify windows of vulnerability by formally testing differences in exposure effects across time of exposure, incorporating continuous time metrics for timing of exposure, and efficiently incorporating incomplete cases. Methods We considered four methods: 1) window-specific and simultaneously adjusted regression; 2) multiple informant models; 3) using features of individual exposure patterns to predict outcomes; and 4) models of population exposure patterns depending on the outcome. We illustrate them using a study of prenatal vulnerability to lead in relation to Bayley’s Mental Development Index at 24 months of age (MDI24). Results The estimated change in MDI24 score with a 1-loge-unit increase in blood lead during the first trimester was −2.74 [95% confidence interval (CI), −5.78 to 0.29] based on a window-specific regression. The corresponding change in MDI24 was −4.13 (95% CI, −7.54 to −0.72) based on a multiple informant model; estimated effects were similar across trimesters (p = 0.23). Results from method 3 suggested that blood lead levels in early pregnancy were significantly associated with reduced MDI24, but decreasing blood leads over the course of pregnancy were not. Method 4 results indicated that blood lead levels before 17 weeks of gestation were lower among children with MDI24 scores in the 90th versus the 10th percentile (p = 0.08). Conclusions Method 2 is preferred over method 1 because it enables formal testing of differences in effects across a priori–defined windows (e.g., trimesters of pregnancy). Methods 3 and 4 are preferred over method 2 when there is large variability in the timing of exposure assessments among participants. Methods 3 and 4 yielded smaller p-values for tests of the hypothesis that not only level but also timing of lead exposure are relevant predictors of MDI24; systematic power comparisons are warranted.