Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Finding the bird’s wings: Dimensions of factional conflict on Twitter

Intra-party politics has long been neglected due to lacking data sources. While we have a good understanding of the dynamics of ideological competition between parties, we know less about how individuals or groups inside parties influence policy, leadership selection and coalition bargaining. These questions can only be answered if we can place individual politicians and sub-party groups like factions on the same dimensions as in inter-party competition. This task has been notoriously difficult, as most existing measures either work on the party level, or are in other ways determined by the party agenda. Social media is a new data source that allows analyzing positions of individual politicians in party-centered systems, as it is subject to limited party control. I apply canonical correspondence analysis to account for hierarchical data structures and estimate multidimensional positions of the Twitter accounts of 498 Members of the German Bundestag based on more than 800,000 tweets since 2017. To test the effect of intra-party actors on their relative ideological placement, I coded the faction membership of 247 Twitter users in the Bundestag. I show that Twitter text reproduces party positions and dimensions. Members of factions are more likely to represent their faction’s positions, both on the cultural and the economic dimension.
Meiotic recombination and its implications for plant breeding

Meiotic recombination has long been studies in the model plant Arabidopsis but major questions still remain about the repair of double strand breaks (DSBs), the number and tract lengths of gene conversions and the positioning of recombination events. We set out to answer these questions using wholegenome sequencing in the most detailed study of Arabidopsis meiosis so far. Deep sequencing of five complete meiotic tetrads and ten homozygous doubled haploids reveals the precise genetic makeup of crossover and non-crossover positions. A typical tetrad displays about ten COs, six CO associated gene conversions (GCs) and five to six non-crossovers. CO-associated GCs have significantly longer conversion tracts than NCOs (~500 vs ~153-~282 bp). The latter estimate is unreliable because of the relatively low SNP density in Arabidopsis. CO recombination sites occur in the genome irrespective of promoteror otherwise annotated regions, but preferentially occur near poly-A sequences which are known to be free from nucleosomes. Such a localization pattern is highly reminiscent of meiosis in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Surprisingly, we find a palindromic CTTCTTCTTCT microsatellite repeat overrepresented at CO sites, which has high similarity to a (TL1) known binding site of a heat shock transcription factor.
Alternative stable equilibria and critical thresholds created by fire regimes and plant responses in a fire‐prone community

1 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– © 2018 The Authors. This is an Online Open article This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Subject Editor: Erica Fleishman Editor-in-Chief: Miguel Araújo Accepted 27 May 2018 41: 1–12, 2018 doi: 10.1111/ecog.03491 doi: 10.1111/ecog.03491 41 1–12
Effects of menstrual cycle phases and dietary behavior on threshold and preference for sucrose

dietary behavior (p = 0.4037), or the interaction of these two variables (p = 9.2940). Preference for sucrose fluctuated as a result of MC phase only (p = 0.0441). Of the variables assessed daily, only "other discomfort" (p = 0.0486), "feeling good" (p = 0.0091), and "feeling hungry" (p = S.0944) correlated with preference for sucrose. However, these correlations did not relate with MC phase clearly, indicating preference ls not the manifestation of these theorized causes of MC distress. In general this study does not support the negative mood, or increased metabolic need for energy theory of MC distress. The theory of a decreased pain threshold found some support. The theory implicating dietary behavior in the development of MC distress symptoms was significantly supported. The fact MC phases have been implicated in the perpetuation of eating disorders implies the need for a counseling approach for the women most significantly affected, i.e.
Reviewing Microbial Behaviors in Ecosystems Leading to a Natural Quorum Quenching Occurrence

ABSTRACT Quorum sensing is considered one of the most important discoveries in cell-to-cell communication. Although revealed in Bacteria, it has been identified as well as a mechanism present in the other two domains, Eukaryota and Archaea. This phenomenon consists mainly of an exchange and sensing of “words” produced by each cell: chemical signals known as autoinducers. The process takes places at high cell densities and confined environments, triggering the expression of specific genes that manifest in a determined phenotype. Quorum sensing has a fundamental importance in the organisms’ fitness in natural ecosystems since it activates many of the traits needed by cells to survive under specific conditions, and thus a wide variety of chemical signals, which are detailed throughout the review, have evolved in response to the needs of an organism in the ecosystem it inhabits. As a counterpart, derived from the natural occurrence of quorum sensing, comes it’s antagonistic process named quorum
Structural and Functional Studies on Proteins involved in Proteasomal Degradation, Photosynthesis and the Cellular Stress Response

Crystal structure determination and functional analyses were applied for three projects covering the fields of proteasomal degradation, photosynthesis and the cellular stress response. The crystal structure of a metallopeptidase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe suggests a new class of peptidases to be involved in SUMO-directed proteasomal degradation. Functional tests demonstrated proteolytic activity. Crystal structure analysis of a ternary complex comprising two molecules of the key photosynthetic enzyme FNR and a peptide representing a membrane recruiting motif from Tic62 reveals the mode of membrane anchoring by increasing the respective contact area. A pH-dependent binding affinity reflects the adaption to varying light conditions. The atomic model of the small heat shock protein Hsp17.7 from Deinococcus radiodurans contributes to the explanation of its atypical physiological quaternary structure.
Discovery and whole genome sequencing of a human clinical isolate of the novel species Klebsiella quasivariicola sp. nov

Originally thought to be a single species, Klebsiella pneumoniae has been divided into three distinct species: K. pneumoniae, K. quasipneumoniae and K. variicola. In a recent study of 1,777 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella strains recovered from human infections in Houston, we discovered one strain (KPN1705) causing a wound infection that was phylogenetically distinct from all currently recognized Klebsiella species. Whole genome sequencing of strain KPN1705 revealed that it was single locus variant of the multilocus sequence type ST-1155. This sequence type was reported only once previously. To further investigate the phylogeny of these two organisms, we sequenced the genome of strain KPN1705 to closure and compared its genetic features to Klebsiella reference strains. Results demonstrated strain KPN1705 extensively shares core gene content, antimicrobial resistance genes, and plasmids with K. pneumoniae, K. quasipneumoniae and K. variicola. Since strain KPN1705 and the previously reported novel strain are phylogenetically most closely related to K. variicola, we propose the name K. quasivariicola sp. nov.
Chasing Clean Air: Pollution-Induced Travels in China

This study uses “big” data to empirically investigate a highly effective, but underexamined way of reducing one’s exposure toward air pollution—short-term travel. We determine subscribers’ locations using mobile phones’ signals and thereby establish linkages between air pollution and short-term population movements between cities in China. Using an instrumental variable based on daily variation in wind directions and pollution levels from distant upwind locations, we find that a one-unit increase in the origin city’s air quality index (AQI) over the destination city’s AQI increases short-term population flow from origin to destination by 0.15%. Further analyses provide richer characterizations of the decision-making process behind travel movements. Our findings add to the evidence base by examining in detail an understudied behavioral response toward air pollution.
Differential nitrogen supply causes large variability in photosynthetic traits in wheat germplasm

Abstract. Increased food production and enhanced sustainability depend on improving nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) of crops. Breeding for enhanced NUE can take advantage of doubled-haploid populations derived from parents differing in the trait. This study evaluated variation in photosynthetic parameters at various growth stages in 43 wheat genotypes (parents of the existing doubled-haploid mapping populations) under optimal and low (one-quarter of the optimal) N supply. For relative chlorophyll content, the genotype × N treatment interaction was significant at tillering, booting, pre-anthesis and anthesis. Genotypes with small differences in relative chlorophyll content between the two N supplies were CD87 at tillering and pre-anthesis, and Batavia at anthesis. Potential photochemical activity (Fv/Fm) was measured at tillering and anthesis. The genotype × N treatment interaction was significant in both growth stages. Based on net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and intrinsic water usez efficiency, there was variable potential of the genotypes to cope with low N supply; significant differences were found among genotypes at ambient CO2 and between N treatments at elevated CO2 concentration (2000 µmol mol–1) for all three parameters. Based on all studied parameters, a dissimilarity matrix was constructed, separating the 43 genotypes into four groups. Group 2 comprised 15 of the genotypes (Batavia, Beaver, Calingiri, CD87, Frame, Krichauff, Neepawa, Soissons, Spear, Stiletto, WAWHT2036, WAWHT2074, Westonia, Wilgoyne, Yitpi), characterised by small differences in relative chlorophyll content and Fv/Fm caused by different N supply at tillering and anthesis. These genotypes therefore appear to have relative tolerance to low N supply and a potential to be used in discerning the molecular basis of tolerance to low N supply.
Parent-child relationship quality and emotional adjustment among college students: The role of parental financial support

Many emerging adults experience increases in well-being as they exit adolescence, but college students are at particular risk for emotional adjustment problems, including depression and anxiety. Although receiving financial support from parents may reduce stress and aid emotional adjustment, not all parents are able to provide financial support. Maintaining high-quality relationships with parents may be particularly important for emotional adjustment in these instances. The present study examined whether the quality of parent-emerging adult relationships differed depending on level of parental financial support, and whether parental financial support moderated associations between relationship quality and emotional adjustment. Participants were 260 college students who completed questionnaires during their first and fourth year of college about the quality of their relationships with mothers and fathers, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and parental financial support. On average, parent-child relationships were high-quality, especially when parents provided more financial support. Furthermore, high-quality relationships with parents were related to fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms 3 years later for female students, especially when they received less financial support. However, high-quality relationships along with greater financial support was related to increased anxiety among male students. Results may help colleges and universities developing parent programming understand the nuanced implications of parental support for student mental health.
Morphometric analyses of Staurosira inflata comb. nov. (Bacillariophyceae) and the morphologically related Staurosira tabellaria from north-western Russia

ABSTRACT The morphology and ontogenetic allometric trends of a rare diatom Fragilaria heidenii Østrup and the morphologically related Staurosira tabellaria (W. Smith) Leuduger-Fortmorel were compared using conventional and semilandmark-based geometric morphometric analyses. Fragilaria heidenii was studied in detail by light and electron microscopy using type material and recent samples from Lake Ladoga and Lake Ilmen (north-western Russia). The taxon is transferred into the genus Staurosira Ehrenberg as Staurosira inflata comb. nov. on the basis of its valve morphology. This taxon is characterized by the absence of rimoportulae, lack of perforated copulae, spines located on the interstriae, internal vola occlusion in the areolae and the features of the areolae and apical pore fields. Conventional morphometric analysis showed considerable overlapping of S. inflata and S. tabellaria in their frustule characteristics such as length, width, length-to-width ratio and striae density. Moreover, at later stages of the vegetative life cycle, S. inflata has a tendency to resemble S. tabellaria by its valve outline that makes it difficult to separate these two taxa. The geometric morphometric analysis revealed two shape groups corresponding to S. inflata and S. tabellaria that were separated by a clear gap. Semilandmarks representing shape of the middle part of the valve were primarily responsible for discrimination between species. Apart from differences in valve shapes, S. inflata and S. tabellaria also differed significantly in their ontogenetic allometric trajectories. Overall, our results demonstrate that the semilandmark-based geometric morphometrics is sensitive enough to distinguish species by their outlines, when traditional morphometric parameters are not able to discriminate them with confidence.
Predict Loan Approval in Banking System Machine Learning Approach for Cooperative Banks Loan Approval

- In today’s world, taking loans from financial institutions has become a very common phenomenon. Everyday a large number of people make application for loans, for a variety of purposes. But all these applicants are not reliable and everyone cannot be approved. Every year, we read about a number of cases where people do not repay bulk of the loan amount to the banks due to which they suffers huge losses. The risk associated with making a decision on loan approval is immense. So the idea of this project is to gather loan data from multiple data sources and use various machine learning algorithms on this data to extract important information. This model can be used by the organizations in making the right decision to approve or reject the loan request of the customers. In this paper, we examine a real bank credit data and conduct several machine learning algorithms on the data for that determine credit worthiness of customers in order to formulate bank risk automated system.
Compare Catalase Activity Between Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus, Isolated from Clinical and Environmental Specimens

Background: Catalase enzyme is a potential virulence factor for Aspergillus species. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the catalase activity in conidium and mycelium of Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus isolated from environmental and clinical samples. Methods: Forty Aspergillus species (20 A. fumigatus and 20 A. flavus) were evaluated. Species were identified using the macroscopic and microscopic criteria of the isolates on culture media and the PCR-RFLP method, using the MwoI enzyme. The activity of the enzyme was evaluated using the Amplex red catalase assay kit. The Shapiro Wilk, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean conidial and mycelial catalase activities in A. flavus clinical and environmental isolates were 58.10, 57.80 mU/mL, and 1328.30, 531.60 mU/mL, respectively. In A. fumigatus clinical and environmental isolates, the activities were 61.10 and 61.40 mU/mL, and 1248.90 and 722.90 mU/mL, respectively. A significant difference was found between conidial and mycelial catalase activity in Aspergillus species (P = 0.01). The mycelial catalase activity of Aspergillus species isolated from clinical samples was higher than the environmental ones (A. flavus P = 0.01 and A. fumigatus P = 0.04). Conclusions: The mycelial catalase activity was higher than conidia. Clinical isolates of A. flavus had similar mycelium activity to A. fumigatus. By using the information provided in the present study, the severity of aspergillosis can be predicted, which paves the way for identifying new antifungal agents.
The coloration toolkit of flowers

The coloration of flowers is due to the combined effect of pigments and light-scattering structures. To interpret flower coloration, we applied an optical model that considers a flower as a stack of layers, where each layer can be treated with the Kubelka-Munk theory for diffusely scattering and absorbing media. We applied our model to the flowers of the Chilean Bellflower, Nolana paradoxa, which have distinctly different-colored adaxial and abaxial sides. We found that the flowers have a pigmented, strongly scattering upper layer, in combination with an unpigmented, moderately reflecting lower layer. The model allowed quantitative interpretation of the reflectance and transmittance spectra measured with an integrating sphere. The absorbance spectrum of the pigment measured with a microspectrophotometer confirmed the spectrum derived by modeling. We discuss how different pigment localizations yield different reflectance spectra. The absorbing layer stack model aids in understanding the various constraints and options for plants to tune their coloration. Published as: Stavenga DG and van der Kooi CJ. 2015. Planta. In press, doi 10.1007/s00425015-2395-0.
A Risk Budgeting Approach Improved by Genetic Algorithms

The risk budgeting approach has been applied to manage and monitor the portfolio risk of large and sophisticated institutional investors. How to decide proper parameters to obtain the optimal or near-optimal solutions for the risk budgeting approach is a problem. In this paper, a risk budgeting approach improved by genetic algorithms is proposed. Experiment results on real financial data demonstrate that, compared with some traditional methods, the proposed algorithm is capable of generating a set of parameters which can attain near-optimal return on investment with high probability and computational complexity of searching process also has been reduced
Integrating 21st century competencies into a K-12 curriculum reform in Macau

ABSTRACT In recent decades, the term “competencies” has been widely discussed and become an impetus for innovating school curriculum and instruction. This study focused on a recent K-12 curriculum reform in Macau with the purpose of exploring the issue of integrating 21st century competencies in the subjects-based curriculum documents, i.e., Requirements of Basic Academic Attainments (RBAAs). Based on an analytical framework of 21st century competencies, the distributions of those competencies embedded in “curriculum goals” of 39 RBAAs across the K-12 schooling were analysed. Key findings can be summarized in three ways: (1) the category of “Ways of thinking” takes the most proportion while that of “Tools for working” takes the least from primary to senior secondary with “Living in the world” being most concerned in pre-primary; (2) discrepancies exist among the distributions of ten 21st century competencies across the K-12 schooling and (3) some competencies are more concerned in some certain learning domains. The results of this study have provided two implications for the issue of integrating 21st century competencies in the school curriculum in the rest of the world: a reasonable relation should be taken between key competencies and curriculum goals and different competencies will be emphasized at different educational stages and for different subjects.
Evaluation on the effects of ageing factor, sampling and preservation methods on Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) noninvasive DNA amplification

Noninvasive genetic sampling allows studying wildlife without having to catch, handle or even observe individuals. In this study, factors which may affect the quality of noninvasive samples of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the subtropical areas were identified. We collected hair and faecal samples from captive Asiatic black bears and quantitatively evaluated the effects of hair age (from fresh to 60 days), faeces age (from fresh to 14 days), faeces sampling locations (i.e. sample collected from either the surface, inside or a mixture of both the surface and inside of faeces), and faeces preservation methods (frozen or kept at room temperature in 95% ethanol) on amplification success rates of mitochondrial DNA fragments of different sizes (450bp, 900bp, and 1600bp). The results showed that the amplification success rates decreased with sample age and amplicon size in both hair and faecal DNA. In subtropical environment, there was no significant difference between amplification success of DNA extracted from fresh and 7-day-old samples of either the hair or faeces. The amplification success rates were not influenced by sampling location of faeces. For faeces preserved in 95% ethanol, the amplification success appeared unaffected by frozen at -20 °C or kept at room temperature in shorter mtDNA fragments, but was significantly influenced when amplicon size was 1600bp. The results of this study will reinforce the optimization of noninvasive sampling approaches in Asiatic black bear research, especially in the subtropics.
Patient Experience of Obstetric Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results From a Recurring National Survey

The experience of pregnant and postpartum patients continues to evolve during the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited clinical data and the unknown nature of the virus’ impact and transmission routes have forced constant changes to traditional care delivery. Dependence on telehealth technology such as telephonic and videoconferencing has surged, and patients’ willingness to visit traditional health care facilities has plummeted. We set out to create an ongoing surveillance system to monitor changes to prenatal and obstetric care and the patient experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effects of a pain management programme on occupational performance are influenced by gains in self-efficacy

Introduction The perceived capacity to perform particular activities or skills (i.e. self-efficacy) is paramount in occupational therapy and is thought to be reinforced by actual functional capacity. This study examined whether changes in self-efficacy or confidence to lift weighted items influences changes in occupational performance and disability levels in patients attending a cognitive behavioural therapy pain management programme. Method Clients attending an 8-week cognitive behavioural therapy pain management programme (N = 125) completed questionnaires before treatment, at discharge, and at 3-month and 6-month reviews, including measures of pain self-efficacy, disability and self-perceived performance and satisfaction using the Canadian occupational performance measure. Analyses examined disability and occupational performance over time, adjusting for baseline characteristics (age, sex, education), and sought to determine whether self-efficacy or lifting confidence influenced the outcomes. Results The level of disability, lifting confidence, self-efficacy and occupational performance all improved over time; however, only occupational performance and lifting confidence maintained improvements up to the 6-month review. Self-efficacy had a greater impact on occupational performance than lifting confidence.