Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correction: Plant defense phenotypes determine the consequences of volatile emission for individuals and neighbors

Copyright Schuman et al. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited. Abstract Plants are at the trophic base of terrestrial ecosystems, and the diversity of plant species in an ecosystem is a principle determinant of community structure. This may arise from diverse functional traits among species. In fact, genetic diversity within species can have similarly large effects. However, studies of intraspecific genetic diversity have used genotypes varying in several complex traits, obscuring the specific phenotypic variation responsible for community-level effects. Using lines of the wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata genetically altered in specific well-characterized defense traits and planted into experimental populations in their native habitat, we investigated community-level effects of trait diversity in populations of otherwise isogenic plants. We conclude that the frequency of defense traits in a population can determine the outcomes of these traits for individuals. Furthermore, our results suggest that some ecosystem-level services afforded by genetically diverse plant populations could be recaptured in intensive monocultures engineered to be functionally diverse.
Demographic and Personality Characteristics of Internet Child Pornography Downloaders in Comparison to Other Offenders

This research study was conducted to map out the demographic and psychological aspects of Internet child pornography offenders. The backgrounds, characteristics, and MMPI profiles of 22 Internet child pornography offenders were statistically compared to those of 112 perpetrators of other offenses. In comparison to the other sexual offenders, the Internet child pornography offenders turned out to be significantly younger on average, were single and lived alone in most cases, and more often appeared to have no children of their own. It should be noted that the variables of age, being single, living alone, and not having children are associated to one another. Furthermore, no specific MMPI profile was found for Internet child pornography offenders compared to other sexual offenders.
Mechanical and thermal simulations of a microactuator for the Stimulation of the Perilymph

The design of a microactuator serving as an implantable hearing aid to overcome ambylacousia was conducted by executing mechanical and thermal Finite Element Method (FEM) analyses using the ANSYS® software simulation tool. To do so, the deflection conditions to be fulfilled by the system were determined. The two challenges were to achieve a sufficiently high resonance frequency and to accommodate the physiological restrictions in the middle ear and the cochlea defining the maximal size of the microactuator. A model of the mechanical system was created and modal analyses were carried out. In the next step, the force required to deflect the membrane in the static case and under damping of the cochlea was simulated. In a last step, a 3-D thermal model of the complete system including the micromagnetics was created to investigate the temperature rise in the system. This is important with respect to the implantation of the actuator into the human body, avoiding a necrosis of the human tissue.
The spore surface of intestinal isolates of Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis has been used for over 50 years as a model organism for biochemistry, genetic, molecular biology and cell biology studies. More recently, its spore has been proposed as a platform to display heterologous proteins and as a vehicle for mucosal vaccination. We characterize here the spore surface of four human intestinal strains of B. subtilis, previously identified as able to grow anaerobically and form biofilm. These properties, lost in laboratory strains, are relevant for the colonization of human mucosal sites and likely to improve the efficiency of strains to be used for mucosal delivery. Our characterization is an essential preliminary step for the development of these intestinal strains as display systems and has indicated that spores of at least one of them are more efficient than the laboratory strain for the non-recombinant display of two model heterologous proteins.
Myopathy in older people receiving statin therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to determine the risk of myopathy in older people receiving statin therapy. METHODS Eligible studies were identified searching Ovid Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane and PSYCHINFO databases (1987 to July 2014). The selection criteria comprised randomized controlled studies that compared the effects of statin monotherapy and placebo on muscle adverse events in the older adult (65+ years). Data were extracted and assessed for validity by the authors. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to calculate binary outcomes. Evidence from included studies were pooled in a meta-analysis using Revman 5.3. RESULTS The trials assessed in the systematic review showed little or no evidence of a difference in risks between treatment and placebo groups, with myalgia [odds ratio (OR) 1.03, 95% CI 0.90, 1.17; I(2) = 0%; P = 0.66] and combined muscle adverse events (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.91, 1.18; I(2) = 0%; P = 0.61) (myopathy). No evidence was found for an increased risk of rhabdomyolysis (OR 2.93, 95% CI 0.30, 28.18; I(2) = 0%; P = 0.35) in the seven trials that reported this. No trials reported mortality due to a muscle-related event. Discontinuations due to an adverse effect were reduced in the treatment group compared with placebo (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.50, 1.09; I(2) = 0%; P = 0.13). CONCLUSION The results obtained from the present review suggest that statins are relatively safe, even in older people. There was no evidence to suggest an increased risk of myopathy in older adults receiving statin therapy. There is slightly increased seen with rhabdomyolysis when compared with the general population, although the event is relatively rare. Statins should be prescribed to elderly people who need it, and not withheld, as its myopathy safety profile is tolerable.
Analysis of Hybrid Acquisition Schemes for Ultra Wide Band Impulse Radio

UWB (ultra wide band) is an emerging technology for short-range wireless communications, such as WPAN (wireless personal area networks). In the context of UWB impulse radio, one of the crucial challenges remains the acquisition of synchronization in terms of time, precision and number of operations. In this paper, we present a study on the acquisition time for hybrid strategies; the analysis relies on common assumptions on the fading statistics and the multipath intensity profile, while the simulations consider the complete channel models adopted by IEEE 802.15. 4a. The analysis and simulations highlight the advantages and drawbacks of this type of search strategies
The effects of perceived parenting style on the propensity for illicit drug use: the importance of parental warmth and control.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Research in adolescents has shown that parental warmth and control are important factors in drug use. The present study focused upon investigating perceived parental warmth and control in a sample of post-adolescent ecstasy/polydrug users, and investigating their relationship to severity of drug use. DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 128 (65 male) ecstasy/polydrug users, 51 (17 male), cannabis-only users and 54 (13 male) non-users were recruited from a university population. All participants completed the parenting styles and drug use questionnaires. RESULTS Compared to non-users, a greater proportion of ecstasy/polydrug users characterised their parents' style as neglectful. The modal style endorsed by non-users was authoritative. Those who rated their parents' style as authoritative had significantly lower lifetime consumption and average dose of ecstasy relative to those describing their parents as neglectful. Again, relative to those describing their parents as neglectful, participants from authoritarian backgrounds had significantly smaller lifetime consumption of ecstasy and cocaine and significantly smaller average doses of cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine. Contrary to expectation, there was no significant association between perceived parental warmth and the severity of ecstasy use. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The present study is, to our knowledge, the first to quantify drug use, and relate it to perceived parental practices in a post-adolescent sample of ecstasy/polydrug users. The results provide further support for the relationship between perceived parental control and drug use.
Mediator kinase module and human tumorigenesis

Abstract Mediator is a conserved multi-subunit signal processor through which regulatory informatiosn conveyed by gene-specific transcription factors is transduced to RNA Polymerase II (Pol II). In humans, MED13, MED12, CDK8 and Cyclin C (CycC) comprise a four-subunit “kinase” module that exists in variable association with a 26-subunit Mediator core. Genetic and biochemical studies have established the Mediator kinase module as a major ingress of developmental and oncogenic signaling through Mediator, and much of its function in signal-dependent gene regulation derives from its resident CDK8 kinase activity. For example, CDK8-targeted substrate phosphorylation impacts transcription factor half-life, Pol II activity and chromatin chemistry and functional status. Recent structural and biochemical studies have revealed a precise network of physical and functional subunit interactions required for proper kinase module activity. Accordingly, pathologic change in this activity through altered expression or mutation of constituent kinase module subunits can have profound consequences for altered signaling and tumor formation. Herein, we review the structural organization, biological function and oncogenic potential of the Mediator kinase module. We focus principally on tumor-associated alterations in kinase module subunits for which mechanistic relationships as opposed to strictly correlative associations are established. These considerations point to an emerging picture of the Mediator kinase module as an oncogenic unit, one in which pathogenic activation/deactivation through component change drives tumor formation through perturbation of signal-dependent gene regulation. It follows that therapeutic strategies to combat CDK8-driven tumors will involve targeted modulation of CDK8 activity or pharmacologic manipulation of dysregulated CDK8-dependent signaling pathways.
Mutations in the GUCA1A gene involved in hereditary cone dystrophies impair calcium‐mediated regulation of guanylate cyclase

The GUCA1A gene encodes the guanylate cyclase activating protein 1 (GCAP1) of mammalian rod and cone photoreceptor cells, which is involved in the Ca2+‐dependent negative feedback regulation of membrane bound guanylate cyclases in the retina. Mutations in the GUCA1A gene have been associated with different forms of cone dystrophies leading to impaired cone vision and retinal degeneration. Here we report the identification of three novel and one previously detected GUCA1A mutations: c.265G>A (p.Glu89Lys), c.300T>A (p.Asp100Glu), c.476G>T (p.Gly159Val) and c.451C>T (p.Leu151Phe). The clinical data of the patients carrying these mutations were compared with the functional consequences of the mutant GCAP1 forms. For this purpose we purified the heterologously expressed GCAP1 forms and investigated whether the mutations affected the Ca2+‐triggered conformational changes and the apparent interaction affinity with the membrane bound guanylate cyclase. Furthermore, we analyzed Ca2+‐dependent regulatory modes of wildtype and mutant GCAP1 forms. Although all novel mutants were able to act as a Ca2+‐sensor protein, they differed in their Ca2+‐dependent activation profiles leading to a persistent stimulation of guanylate cyclase activities at physiological intracellular Ca2+ concentration. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
AI@ntiPhish - Machine Learning Mechanisms for Cyber-Phishing Attack

SUMMARY This study proposes a novel machine learning architecture and various learning algorithms to build-in anti-phishing services for avoiding cyber-phishing attack. For the rapid develop of information technology, hackers engage in cyber-phishing attack to steal important personal information, which draws information security concerns. The prevention of phishing website involves in various aspect, for example, user training, public awareness, fraudulent phishing, etc. However, recent phishing research has mainly focused on preventing fraudulent phishing and relied on manual identiﬁcation that is ine ﬃ cient for real-time detection systems. In this study, we used methods such as ANOVA, X 2 , and information gain to evaluate features. Then, we ﬁltered out the unrelated features and obtained the top 28 most related features as the features to use for the training and evaluation of traditional machine learning algorithms, such as Support Vector Machine (SVM) with linear or rbf kernels, Logistic Regression (LR), Decision tree, and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN). This research also evaluated the above algorithms with the ensemble learning concept by combining multiple classiﬁers, such as Adaboost, bagging, and voting. Finally, the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model exhibited the best performance of 99.2%, among the algorithms considered in this study.
Dynamic power allocation in the cognitive radio system

The precoding based on signal-to-leakage-and-noise ratio (SLNR) improves the system performance because it makes a balance between eliminating the co-channel interference (CCI) and the noise in cognitive radio system. The channel quality effects the performance of the system because the channel state of every cognitive user is different. This paper uses a dynamic power allocation which can get a better performance. It will multiply a coefficient of power allocation after the precoding. Simulation results prove that the performance will improve after using the dynamic power allocation.
A small protein that mediates the activation of a two‐component system by another two‐component system

The PmrA–PmrB two‐component system of Salmonella enterica controls resistance to the peptide antibiotic polymyxin B and to several antimicrobial proteins from human neutrophils. Transcription of PmrA‐activated genes is induced by high iron, but can also be promoted by growth in low magnesium in a process that requires another two‐component system, PhoP–PhoQ. Here, we define the genetic basis for the interaction between the PhoP–PhoQ and PmrA–PmrB systems. We have identified pmrD as a PhoP‐activated gene that mediates the transcriptional activation of PmrA‐regulated genes during growth in low magnesium. When transcription of pmrD is driven from a heterologous promoter, expression of PmrA‐activated genes occurs even at repressing magnesium concentrations and becomes independent of the phoP and phoQ genes. The PmrD effect is specific for PmrA‐regulated genes and requires functional PmrA and PmrB proteins. A pmrD mutant is sensitive to polymyxin if grown in low magnesium, but resistant if grown in high iron. The PmrD protein controls the activity of the PmrA–PmrB system at a post‐transcriptional level.
A Framework to Analyze the Impact of Exchange Rate: Uncertainty on Output Decisions

Southern Cone economies exhibit a high record of exchange rate volatility. In this context, rms tend to contract dollar debt, irrespective of their trade orientation, and without available hedging instruments. This exposes them to bankruptcy risk, in the event of large exchange rate movements. This paper provides a framework to analyze the output e ect of exchange rate uncertainty in that context, by focusing on the channel uncertainty-output that operates through the nancial strategy of the rm. We nd that increases in exchange rate uncertainty increase the probability of bankruptcy, thus increasing expected marginal bankruptcy costs, and reducing optimal output of a risk-neutral rm. Furthermore, we nd that rms with higher than average liquidity balances will face lower marginal bankruptcy costs, thus producing more than the average rm. The model displays persistence, as any shock to current pro ts a ects future liquidity balances, and so, future output. This framework can easily be extended to explain the response of other rms' decisions to exchange rate uncertainty, such as investment.
Joint Optimization of Power and Channel Allocation with Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access for 5G Cellular Systems

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) with successive interference cancellation (SIC), is considered as a candidate multi-user access scheme for 5G cellular systems. In this paper, we provide theoretical insights and solution algorithm for optimizing multi- user power and channel allocation in NOMA systems. We mathematically formulate the NOMA resource allocation problem and prove its NP-hardness. For solving the problem, we propose an algorithm combining Lagrangian duality and dynamic programming to deliver a competitive suboptimal solution. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithmic solution can significantly improve the system performance over orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) as well as over other existing NOMA resource allocation scheme.
Carbohydrate uptake in Advenella mimigardefordensis strain DPN7T is mediated by periplasmic sugar oxidation and a TRAP‐transport system

In this study, we investigated an SBP (DctPAm) of a tripartite ATP‐independent periplasmic transport system (TRAP) in Advenella mimigardefordensis strain DPN7T. Deletion of dctPAm as well as of the two transmembrane compounds of the tripartite transporter, dctQ and dctM, impaired growth of A. mimigardefordensis strain DPN7T, if cultivated on mineral salt medium supplemented with d‐glucose, d‐galactose, l‐arabinose, d‐fucose, d‐xylose or d‐gluconic acid, respectively. The wild type phenotype was restored during complementation studies of A. mimigardefordensis ΔdctPAm using the broad host vector pBBR1MCS‐5::dctPAm. Furthermore, an uptake assay with radiolabeled [14C(U)]‐d‐glucose clearly showed that the deletion of dctPAm, dctQ and dctM, respectively, disabled the uptake of this aldoses in cells of either mutant strain. Determination of KD performing thermal shift assays showed a shift in the melting temperature of DctPAm in the presence of d‐gluconic acid (KD 11.76 ± 1.3 µM) and the corresponding aldonic acids to the above‐mentioned carbohydrates d‐galactonate (KD 10.72 ± 1.4 µM), d‐fuconic acid (KD 13.50 ± 1.6 µM) and d‐xylonic acid (KD 8.44 ± 1.0 µM). The sugar (glucose) dehydrogenase activity (E.C.1.1.5.2) in the membrane fraction was shown for all relevant sugars, proving oxidation of the molecules in the periplasm, prior to transport.
The RNA‐binding protein Spo5 promotes meiosis II by regulating cyclin Cdc13 in fission yeast

Meiosis comprises two consecutive nuclear divisions, meiosis I and II. Despite this unique progression through the cell cycle, little is known about the mechanisms controlling the sequential divisions. In this study, we carried out a genetic screen to identify factors that regulate the initiation of meiosis II in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We identified mutants deficient in meiosis II progression and repeatedly isolated mutants defective in spo5, which encodes an RNA‐binding protein. Using fluorescence microscopy to visualize YFP‐tagged protein, we found that spo5 mutant cells precociously lost Cdc13, the major B‐type cyclin in fission yeast, before meiosis II. Importantly, the defect in meiosis II was rescued by increasing CDK activity. In wild‐type cells, cdc13 transcripts increased during meiosis II, but this increase in cdc13 expression was weaker in spo5 mutants. Thus, Spo5 is a novel regulator of meiosis II that controls the level of cdc13 expression and promotes de novo synthesis of Cdc13. We previously reported that inhibition of Cdc13 degradation is necessary to initiate meiosis II; together with the previous information, the current findings indicate that the dual control of Cdc13 by de novo synthesis and suppression of proteolysis ensures the progression of meiosis II.
2-D Localization of Radio Frequency Identification Tags From Measurements of the Weighted Integrals of the Magnetic Flux Density

This paper presents a novel method for the localization of a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in a 2-D space. First, we show that the position of the tag can be estimated as the intersection of two orthogonal lines, which are determined by the weighted integrals of the magnetic flux density created by the tag. To measure them, we developed a square magnetic sensor composed of six coils: four rectangular coils, a set of four bow-tie-shaped coils connected in series, and a square coil. Using this sensor with side lengths of 200 mm, an RFID tag was localized in a 180 mm square domain with an average error of 5.1 mm. Using the sensor with side lengths of 400 mm, the RFID tag was also localized in a 300 mm square domain with an average error of 1.8 mm.
Participation in Informal Off-farm Labor Market and its Impact on Household Income and Food Security in Malawi

Most rural households in Malawi often opt to supplement their farm income with additional casual work on the farms of others (“ganyu” labor). However, there is a growing concern that such informal off-farm work will eventually drive rural households into absolute poverty. Using data from a 2010 Malawi household survey, this study seeks to explore this conjecture, first by examining the factors that motivate rural households to participate in informal off-farm work (ganyu) and later evaluate its outcome. Results from the average treatment effect indicate that participating in ganyu increases an individual‟s annual total off-farm income. On the other hand, it has a negative effect on own-farm income.
Feature issue introduction: Beyond Thin Films: Photonics with Ultrathin and Atomically Thin Materials

Rapid advances in nanotechnology have brought about the realization of material films that may comprise only as little as a few atomic layers. For example, semiconductors and metals of sub-10 nm thicknesses have been realized. Then, the graphene paradigm inspired a plethora of other 2D and quasi-2D materials. In this new era, materials have transcended beyond the traditional thin films to a domain of atomic-scale thicknesses, unleashing vast and unexplored possibilities for light-matter interactions. This Optical Materials Express virtual issue features a collection of thirty-five papers aiming to capture the current state-of-the art, trends and open research directions in photonics with ultrathin and atomically thin materials.