Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adolescent New Media Dependence Behavior: the Roles of Parental Factors and Refusal Self-efficacy

A sample of 500 students who claimed cell phone ownership were recruited to explore the characteristics of new media dependence (including internet addiction and cell-phone dependence) and its association with parental factors and refusal self-efficacy. Results showed: (1) There were 40% and 19.8% of adolescents respectively found to be marginal internet addicts and cell-phone dependents. In addition, 46.4% of adolescent reported at least one kind of dependent behaviors. Significant association was found between the two kinds of new media dependence behaviors. (2) New media dependence behaviors were significantly associated with refusal self-efficacy, parental attitudes towards dependence behaviors and parental monitoring. Refusal self-efficacy completely mediated the effect of parental behaviors and attitudes on adolescent new media dependence behavior. In addition, refusal self-efficacy partially mediated the effect of parental monitoring on adolescent new media dependence behaviors. The implications of designing effective adolescent new media dependence behaviors prevention intervention program were also addressed in the present study.
Statistical Primer: developing and validating a risk prediction model†

A risk prediction model is a mathematical equation that uses patient risk factor data to estimate the probability of a patient experiencing a healthcare outcome. Risk prediction models are widely studied in the cardiothoracic surgical literature with most developed using logistic regression. For a risk prediction model to be useful, it must have adequate discrimination, calibration, face validity and clinical usefulness. A basic understanding of the advantages and potential limitations of risk prediction models is vital before applying them in clinical practice. This article provides a brief overview for the clinician on the various issues to be considered when developing or validating a risk prediction model. An example of how to develop a simple model is also included.
Quantum Coherent Energy Transfer over Varying Pathways in Single Light-Harvesting Complexes

The initial steps of photosynthesis comprise the absorption of sunlight by pigment-protein antenna complexes followed by rapid and highly efficient funneling of excitation energy to a reaction center. In these transport processes, signatures of unexpectedly long-lived coherences have emerged in two-dimensional ensemble spectra of various light-harvesting complexes. Here, we demonstrate ultrafast quantum coherent energy transfer within individual antenna complexes of a purple bacterium under physiological conditions. We find that quantum coherences between electronically coupled energy eigenstates persist at least 400 femtoseconds and that distinct energy-transfer pathways that change with time can be identified in each complex. Our data suggest that long-lived quantum coherence renders energy transfer in photosynthetic systems robust in the presence of disorder, which is a prerequisite for efficient light harvesting.
Apple fruit acidity is genetically diversified by natural variations in three hierarchical epistatic genes: MdSAUR37, MdPP2CH and MdALMTII

Many efforts have been made to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) to facilitate practical marker-assisted selection (MAS) in plants. In the present study, using MapQTL and BSA-seq (bulk segregant analysis using next generation sequencing) with two independent pedigree-based populations, we identified four major genome-wide QTLs responsible for apple fruit acidity. Candidate genes were screened in major QTL regions, and three functional gene markers, including a non-synonymous A/G single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the coding region of MdPP2CH, a 36-bp insertion in the promoter of MdSAUR37 and a previously reported SNP in MdALMTII, were validated to influence the malate content of apple fruits. In addition, MdPP2CH inactivated three vacuolar H+ -ATPases (MdVHA-A3, MdVHA-B2 and MdVHA-D2) and one aluminium-activated malate transporter (MdALMTII) via dephosphorylation and negatively influenced fruit malate accumulation. The dephosphotase activity of MdPP2CH was suppressed by MdSAUR37, which implied a higher hierarchy of genetic interaction. Therefore, the MdSAUR37/MdPP2CH/MdALMTII chain cascaded hierarchical epistatic genetic effects to precisely determine apple fruit malate content. An A/G SNP (-1010) on the MdMYB44 promoter region from a major QTL (qtl08.1) was closely associated with fruit malate content. The predicted phenotype values (PPVs) were estimated using the tentative genotype values of the gene markers, and the PPVs were significantly correlated with the observed phenotype values. Our findings provide an insight into plant genome-based selection in apples and will aid in conducting research to understand the fundamental physiological basis of quantitative genetics.
Study on the molecular mechanism of miR-31 in the invasion and metastasis of glioma cells

Objective: This study aims to explore the molecular mechanism of miR-31 in the invasion and metastasis of glioma cells. Methods: The different expression of miR31 in glioma patients and control were detected by Realtime PCR method. Human glioma cell line U87 was transfected with miR-31 mimic and miR-31 inhibitor was used to inhibit the expression of miR-31. The invasion and metastasis of cells were detected by transwell experiment. The target gene of hsa-miR-31 was predicted by bioinformatic technology. The expression levels of RhoA and ROCK-1 were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting methods. Results: The expression level of miR-31 was lower in glioma group than that of control group (P < 0.05), there were no significant differences between different age and gender. The invasion ability of U87 cells was significantly down regulated after they were transfected with miR-31 mimic (P < 0.05). However, the invasion ability of U87 cells increased after miR-31 was inhibited. The expression level of miR31 in glioma cells showed a negative correlation with that of RhoA and ROCK-1. Conclusion: The expression level of miR-31 was low in glioma and displayed as anti-oncogene. It inhibited the invasion and metastasis of glioma cells by inhibiting the expression of RhoA and transmitted signal to the downstream molecules.
The Analysis of Survey Data with Framing Effects

ABSTRACT A well-known difficulty in survey research is that respondents’ answers to questions can depend on arbitrary features of a survey’s design, such as the wording of questions or the ordering of answer choices. In this paper, we describe a novel set of tools for analyzing survey data characterized by such framing effects. We show that the conventional approach to analyzing data with framing effects—randomizing survey-takers across frames and pooling the responses—generally does not identify a useful parameter. In its place, we propose an alternative approach and provide conditions under which it identifies the responses that are unaffected by framing. We also present several results for shedding light on the population distribution of the individual characteristic the survey is designed to measure.
Forced oscillation technique and impulse oscillometry

Conventional methods of lung function testing provide measurements obtained during specific respiratory actions of the subject. In contrast, the forced oscillation technique (FOT) determines breathing mechanics by superimposing small external pressure signals on the spontaneous breathing of the subject. FOT is indicated as a diagnostic method to obtain reliable differentiated tidal breathing analysis. Because FOT is performed without closure of a valve connected to the mouthpiece, and without maximal or forced respiratory manoeuvres, it is unlikely that FOT itself will alter airways smooth muscle tone. FOT utilises the external applied pressure signals and their resultant flows to determine lung mechanical parameters. These pressure–flow relationships are largely distinct from the natural pattern of individual respiratory flows, so that measured FOT results are, for the most part, independent of the underlying respiratory pattern. Therefore, oscillometry minimises demands on the patient and requires only passive cooperation of the subject: maintenance of an airtight seal of the lips around a mouthpiece and breathing normally through the measuring system with a nose-clip occluding the nares. Potential applications of oscillometry include paediatric, adult and geriatric populations, comprising diagnostic clinical testing, monitoring of therapeutic regimens, and epidemiological evaluations, independent of severity of lung disease. Oscillometry is also applicable to veterinary medicine. The last two main sections Relevance of oscillometry in clinical practice and Oscillometry in the clinical pulmonary laboratory emphasise clinical aspects of application and interpretation of FOT rather than methodological details and technological solutions, which are discussed in the two sections that follow immediately below. Clinical application of FOT does not require mastery of the mathematical infrastructure of the technical methodology, and readers interested in the clinical use of FOT may find it more useful to begin with these clinical sections and refer subsequently to methodological and technological details.
rTMS Induced Tinnitus Relief Is Related to an Increase in Auditory Cortical Alpha Activity

Chronic tinnitus, the continuous perception of a phantom sound, is a highly prevalent audiological symptom. A promising approach for the treatment of tinnitus is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as this directly affects tinnitus-related brain activity. Several studies indeed show tinnitus relief after rTMS, however effects are moderate and vary strongly across patients. This may be due to a lack of knowledge regarding how rTMS affects oscillatory activity in tinnitus sufferers and which modulations are associated with tinnitus relief. In the present study we examined the effects of five different stimulation protocols (including sham) by measuring tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related brain activity with Magnetoencephalography before and after rTMS. Changes in oscillatory activity were analysed for the stimulated auditory cortex as well as for the entire brain regarding certain frequency bands of interest (delta, theta, alpha, gamma). In line with the literature the effects of rTMS on tinnitus loudness varied strongly across patients. This variability was also reflected in the rTMS effects on oscillatory activity. Importantly, strong reductions in tinnitus loudness were associated with increases in alpha power in the stimulated auditory cortex, while an unspecific decrease in gamma and alpha power, particularly in left frontal regions, was linked to an increase in tinnitus loudness. The identification of alpha power increase as main correlate for tinnitus reduction sheds further light on the pathophysiology of tinnitus. This will hopefully stimulate the development of more effective therapy approaches.
TRANSLOCASE OF THE INNER MEMBRANE9 and 10 Are Essential for Maintaining Mitochondrial Function during Early Embryo Cell and Endosperm Free Nucleus Divisions in Arabidopsis1[C][W][OPEN]

Two mitochondrial translocases are essential for the division during early embryo and endosperm development in Arabidopsis. In the life cycle of flowering plants, the sporophytic generation takes up most of the time and plays a dominant role in influencing plant growth and development. The embryo cell and endosperm free nucleus divisions establish the critical initiation phase of early sporophyte development, which forms mature seeds through a series of cell growth and differentiation events. Here, we report on the biological functions of two Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mitochondrial proteins, TRANSLOCASE OF THE INNER MEMBRANE9 (TIM9) and TIM10. We found that dysfunction of either AtTIM9 or AtTIM10 led to an early sporophyte-lethal phenotype; the embryo and endosperm both arrest division when the embryo proper developed to 16 to 32 cells. The abortion of tim9-1 and tim10 embryos at the 16/32-cell stage was caused by the loss of cell viability and the cessation of division in the embryo proper region, and this inactivation was due to the collapse of the mitochondrial structure and activity. Our characterization of tim9-1 and tim10 showed that mitochondrial membrane permeability increased and that cytochrome c was released from mitochondria into the cytoplasm in the 16/32-cell embryo proper, indicating that mitochondrial dysfunction occurred in the early sporophytic cells, and thus caused the initiation of a necrosis-like programmed cell death, which was further proved by the evidence of reactive oxygen species and DNA fragmentation tests. Consequently, we verified that AtTIM9 and AtTIM10 are nonredundantly essential for maintaining the mitochondrial function of early embryo proper cells and endosperm-free nuclei; these proteins play critically important roles during sporophyte initiation and development in Arabidopsis.
Procedural level generation with answer set programming for general Video Game playing

This paper proposes an automatic way of evolving level generators for arbitrary 2D games, which are described in the Video Game Description Language (VGDL). The process works as follows: a game described in VGDL is interpreted and transformed in a set of rules defined in Answer Set Programming (ASP), along with other general and customizable rules. Although a set of rules described in ASP can generate multiple levels, not all of them will be playable or well designed. Therefore, an evolutionary process is run to determine the values of the parameters of those customizable rules. The different level generators are evaluated with general video game playing agents, which are able to play any game and level in the framework. The aim is to maximize the difference between their performance in the levels generated, under the assumption that levels are better designed if good skilled players play better than poor agents. This work presents some initial experiments that suggest that it is possible to evolve interesting level generators using this technique, and outlines some lines of future work.
Effects of high pressure on the ferromagnetism and in-plane electrical transport of (Ba0.904K0.096)(Zn0.805Mn0.195)2As2 single crystal

Pressure technique is an effective way to modify magnetic properties of diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS). Based on single crystal, in-plane electrical transport properties of a new generation DMS (Ba0.904K0.096)(Zn0.805Mn0.195)2As2 have been measured with hydrostatic pressure up to 1.8 GPa. Magnetic properties of the single crystal sample are effectively tuned by pressure. Upon compression, the in-plane resistivity initially decreases but then increases when pressure is higher than 1.2 GPa. First principle calculations suggest that decrease of the resistivity is due to enhancement of density of state at Femi energy while increase of the resistivity under higher pressure is caused by distorted MnAs4 tetrahedra. We reveal that the configuration of the MnAs4 tetrahedra and strength of interlayer As–As bonding are of importance to ferromagnetic coupling of (Ba,K)(Zn,Mn)2As2.
Exploring learners’ beliefs about science reading and scientific epistemic beliefs, and their relations with science text understanding

ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study was to explore learners' beliefs about science reading and scientific epistemic beliefs, and how these beliefs were associating with their understanding of science texts. About 400 10th graders were involved in the development and validation of the Beliefs about Science Reading Inventory (BSRI). To find the effects of reader beliefs and epistemic beliefs, a new group of 65 10th grade students whose reader and epistemic beliefs were assessed by the newly developed BSRI and an existing SEB questionnaire were invited to take part in a science reading task. Students' text understanding in terms of concept gain and text interpretations was collected and analyzed. By the correlation analysis, it was found that when students had stronger beliefs about meaning construction based on personal goals and experiences (i.e. transaction beliefs), they produced more thematic and critical interpretations of the content of the test article. The regression analysis suggested that students SEBs could predict concept gain as a result of reading. Moreover, among all beliefs examined in the study, transaction beliefs stood out as the best predictor of overall science-text understanding.
Matrine induced G 0 / G 1 arrest and apoptosis in human acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia ( TALL ) cells

Matrine, a natural product extracted from the root of Sophora flavescens, is a promising alternative drug in different types of cancer. Here, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of matrine on human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line, CCRF-CEM. Cell viability and IC50 values were determined by WST-1 cell cytotoxicity assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rates were analyzed by flow cytometry. Expression patterns of 44 selected miRNAs and 44 RNAs were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) using the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR System. Matrine inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis of CCRF-CEM cells in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that matrine-treated CCRF-CEM cells significantly accumulated in the G0/G1 phase compared with the untreated control cells. hsa-miR-376b-3p (-37.09 fold, p = 0.008) and hsa-miR106b-3p (-16.67 fold, p = 0.028) expressions were decreased, whereas IL6 (95.47 fold, p = 0.000011) and CDKN1A (140.03 fold, p = 0.000159) expressions were increased after matrine treatment. Our results suggest that the downregulation of hsa-miR-106b-3p leads to the upregulation of target p21 gene, CDKN1A, and plays a critical role in the cell cycle progression by arresting matrine-treated cells in the G0/G1 phase.
Adversarial Contrastive Estimation

Learning by contrasting positive and negative samples is a general strategy adopted by many methods. Noise contrastive estimation (NCE) for word embeddings and translating embeddings for knowledge graphs are examples in NLP employing this approach. In this work, we view contrastive learning as an abstraction of all such methods and augment the negative sampler into a mixture distribution containing an adversarially learned sampler. The resulting adaptive sampler finds harder negative examples, which forces the main model to learn a better representation of the data. We evaluate our proposal on learning word embeddings, order embeddings and knowledge graph embeddings and observe both faster convergence and improved results on multiple metrics.
Phonetically Balanced Code-Mixed Speech Corpus for Hindi-English Automatic Speech Recognition

The paper presents the development of a phonetically balanced read speech corpus of code-mixed Hindi-English. Phonetic balance in the corpus has been created by selecting sentences that contained triphones lower in frequency than a predefined threshold. The assumption with a compulsory inclusion of such rare units was that the high frequency triphones will inevitably be included. Using this metric, the Pearson’s correlation coefficient of the phonetically balanced corpus with a large code-mixed reference corpus was recorded to be 0.996. The data for corpus creation has been extracted from selected sections of Hindi newspapers.These sections contain frequent English insertions in a matrix of Hindi sentence. Statistics on the phone and triphone distribution have been presented, to graphically display the phonetic likeness between the reference corpus and the corpus sampled through our method.
Sporotrichin Skin Test for the Diagnosis of Sporotrichosis

Sporotrichosis is the most common implantation mycosis caused by several species of the Sporothrix schenckii complex. The gold standard for diagnosis is concerned with the isolation of the fungus; although, fresh examinations, staining, and biopsies are also helpful for this purpose. The sporotrichin is an antigenic complex comprised of a peptide-rhamnomannan, which is relevant with respect to pathogenic fungi; it is primarily used for serological and skin testing. We present a study regarding the use of sporotrichin as a diagnostic aid for cutaneous sporotrichosis. Furthermore, 138 cases with suspicion of sporotrichosis were included, 55 of which were proven through cultures. Moreover, out of these 55 cases, 52 (94.5%) tested positive for sporotrichin, while the negative cases corresponded to the disseminated cutaneous forms. We observed a sensitivity of 94.5% and a specificity of 95.2%. We consider that the use of sporotrichin as a skin test helps us as an auxiliary diagnosis before a positive sample culture.
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Vanda using protocorm-like bodies Bipna

* Author for correspondence: Masahiro Mii, Laboratory of Plant Cell Technology, Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, 648 Matsudo, Matsudo, Chiba 271-8510, Japan, E-mail: miim@faculty.chiba-u.jp. Abstract. Transgenic plants of Vanda were successfully regenerated after co-cultivating protocorm-like bodies (PLB) with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA101 (pIG121Hm) that harbored genes for beta-glucuronidase (gus), hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) and neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII). PLB of ‘Tokyo Blue’ maintained in liquid New Dogashima medium (NDM) supplemented with 0.1 mg l-1 NAA, 1 mg l-1 BA and 30 g l-1 maltose under dark condition, were subjected to transformation experiments. The PLBs infected with Agrobacterium produced secondary PLB 4 weeks after transfer onto 3 g l-1 gellan gum-solidified NDM containing 10 mg l-1 meropenem and 10 mg l-1 hygromycin. Transformation efficiency was increased by prolonged period of inoculation (4 h) with Agrobacterium suspension culture and wounding treatment of PLBs by sonication (5 min) during inoculation. Transformation of the hygromycin-resistant plantlets regenerated from different PLBs was confirmed by histochemical GUS assay, PCR analysis and Southern hybridization. With this transformation system, approximately 17 independent transgenic plants were obtained from 1g PLBs.
Location-Aware Incentive Mechanism for Traffic Offloading in Heterogeneous Networks: A Stackelberg Game Approach

This article investigates the traffic offloading problem in the heterogeneous network. The location of small cells is considered as an important factor in two aspects: the amount of resources they share for offloaded macrocell users and the performance enhancement they bring after offloading. A location-aware incentive mechanism is therefore designed to incentivize small cells to serve macrocell users. Instead of taking the amount of resources shared as the basis of the reward division, the performance promotion brought to the macro network is taken. Meanwhile, in order to ensure the superiority of small cell users, the significance of them weighs heavier than macrocell users instead of being treated equally. The offloading problem is formulated as a Stackelberg game where the macro cell base station is the leader and small cells are followers. The Stackelberg equilibrium of the game is proved to be existing and unique. It is also proved to be the optimum of the proposed problem. Simulation and numerical results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.