Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DepthFormer: A High-Resolution Depth-Wise Transformer for Animal Pose Estimation

Animal pose estimation has important value in both theoretical research and practical applications, such as zoology and wildlife conservation. A simple but effective high-resolution Transformer model for animal pose estimation called DepthFormer is provided in this study to address the issue of large-scale models for multi-animal pose estimation being problematic with limited computing resources. We make good use of a multi-branch parallel design that can maintain high-resolution representations throughout the process. Along with two similarities, i.e., sparse connectivity and weight sharing between self-attention and depthwise convolution, we utilize the delicate structure of the Transformer and representative batch normalization to design a new basic block for reducing the number of parameters and the amount of computation required. In addition, four PoolFormer blocks are introduced after the parallel network to maintain good performance. Benchmark evaluation is performed on a public database named AP-10K, which contains 23 animal families and 54 species, and the results are compared with the other six state-of-the-art pose estimation networks. The results demonstrate that the performance of DepthFormer surpasses that of other popular lightweight networks (e.g., Lite-HRNet and HRFormer-Tiny) when performing this task. This work can provide effective technical support to accurately estimate animal poses with limited computing resources.
Computer simulation studies of the a/2 〈111〉 edge dislocation in α‐iron

Core characteristics of the stable a/2 〈111〉 edge dislocation in α‐iron are presented for three two‐body interatomic potentials, and the importance of properly defining boundary conditions is demonstrated. The boundary requirements adopted for this analysis are as follows: (i) The coordinate of the dislocation line along the axis parallel to the burgers vector is such that, above and below the slip plane, the lattice to the right and left of the extra half‐planes of atoms forming the dislocation is symmetric. (ii) The coordinate of the dislocation line in the direction perpendicular to the slip plane is such that the slope of the strain energy curve in the linear region of the lattice agrees with the slope in the continuum. (iii) The positions of atoms at the lattice‐continuum interface are made to agree with the predictions of linear elasticity theory. Four interatomic potentials are examined, one of which is shown to be unsatisfactory. Results with the other three potentials are quite reasonable. Core r.
Expression of a Hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA Shikimate/Quinate Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase 4 Gene from Zoysia japonica (ZjHCT4) Causes Excessive Elongation and Lignin Composition Changes in Agrostis stolonifera

Hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) is considered to be an essential enzyme for regulating the biosynthesis and composition of lignin. To investigate the properties and function of ZjHCT4, the ZjHCT4 gene was cloned from Zoysia japonica with a completed coding sequence of 1284-bp in length, encoding 428 amino acids. The ZjHCT4 gene promoter has several methyl jasmonate (MeJA) response elements. According to analysis of expression patterns, it was up-regulated by MeJA, GA3 (Gibberellin), and SA (Salicylic acid), and down-regulated by ABA (Abscisic acid). Ectopic ZjHCT4 expression in creeping bentgrass causes excessive plant elongation. In addition, the content of G-lingnin and H-lingnin fell in transgenic plants, whereas the level of S-lingnin increased, resulting in a considerable rise in the S/G unit ratio. Analysis of the expression levels of lignin-related genes revealed that the ectopic expression of ZjHCT4 altered the expression levels of a number of genes involved in the lignin synthesis pathway. Simultaneously, MeJA, SA, GA3, IAA, BR (Brassinosteroid), and other hormones were dramatically enhanced in transgenic plants relative to control plants, whereas ABA concentration was significantly decreased. Expression of ZjHCT4 impacted lignin composition and plant growth via altering the phenylpropionic acid metabolic pathway and hormone response, as revealed by transcriptome analysis. HCTs may influence plant lignin composition and plant development by altering hormone content. These findings contributed to a deeper comprehension of the lignin synthesis pathway and set the stage for further investigation and application of the HCTs gene.
Incorporating teacher noticing video case reflection into scaffolded Lesson Study to encourage authentic pedagogy in social studies

ABSTRACT Authentic pedagogy is a complex enterprise for students and teachers. Planning and developing the instructional procedures and scaffolds for student success is daunting. In addition, the teacher implementing the lesson makes dozens of quick decisions as they attend to student thinking and decide how to respond. These spontaneous decisions can have large impacts in the level of student thinking demanded in an authentic pedagogy lesson. This two-year project integrated video teacher noticing reflection with scaffolded Lesson Study in a professional development project with two U.S. Government teachers. I investigated what teachers would notice while reflecting on six video cases of authentic pedagogy lessons, four of which they developed as a team. I also analyzed what teachers noticed during the lesson implementations, including the two research lessons and two independently developed lessons at the start and end of the project. Data revealed shifts in teacher attentiveness to student thinking in video reflection. However, the increased attention to student thinking did not play a significant role in decision-making while implementing independently developed lessons after two years. This article explores these findings and raises questions for future studies.
Process Improvement: Using Toyota's A3 Reports

In order to drive process improvement, Toyota uses A3 reports as a tool to identify and solve problems. A3 reports are usually written on paper size 11 inches by 17 inches and are enriched with visuals such as pictures, diagrams, and charts to improve communication. To date, the author has found no study explaining how to implement A3 reports in manufacturing operations. The purpose of this exploratory study is to show how A3 reports were implemented in a successful process improvement project in aircraft maintenance and repair operations. In doing so, he shows a systematic approach, improvement event, and the process used to implement and document A3 reports. The duration of an improvement event is generally four weeks and has four distinct phases: 1) preparation and training; 2) process mapping and current state analysis; 3) process mapping and future state analysis; and 4) implementation and ownership. Important for both practitioners and academicians, the author also discusses implications of A3 report implementation and directions for future research.
From Croatian Roma to 1000 Genomes: The Story of the CYP2D6 Gene Promoter and Enhancer SNPs

The CYP2D6 gene encodes an enzyme responsible for the metabolism of ~20% of clinically prescribed drugs. In this study, 18 SNPs from the enhancer and promoter regions of CYP2D6 in 323 Roma from Croatia were genotyped, to find out whether the demographic history of Roma affected the distribution of the studied SNPs and their linkage disequilibrium (LD) values, with the major SNPs defining the CYP2D6 star alleles. No differences were found between the three Roma groups in allele and genotype frequencies. The distribution of LD values of Roma was compared with LD values of European and Asian populations. Regulatory CYP2D6 SNPs (rs5758550, rs28624811, rs1080985 and rs1080983) showed similar distribution and the highest LDs with rs16947 from the gene-coding region in all populations. In the promoter region, a complete LD between rs1080989 and rs28588594, and between rs1080983 and rs28624811, was found in Croatian Roma and investigated populations from 1000 genomes. A high LD was also found between rs1080985 from the promoter and rs5758550 from the enhancer region. SNP rs28735595 from the gene promoter region had the highest LD, with two gene region SNPs, rs1058164 and rs1135840. To conclude, the Croatian Roma population shows an LD pattern of the CYP2D6 gene region similar to the 1000 Genomes European and Asian populations.
Machine Learning for Bankruptcy Prediction in the American Stock Market: Dataset and Benchmarks

Predicting corporate bankruptcy is one of the fundamental tasks in credit risk assessment. In particular, since the 2007/2008 financial crisis, it has become a priority for most financial institutions, practitioners, and academics. The recent advancements in machine learning (ML) enabled the development of several models for bankruptcy prediction. The most challenging aspect of this task is dealing with the class imbalance due to the rarity of bankruptcy events in the real economy. Furthermore, a fair comparison in the literature is difficult to make because bankruptcy datasets are not publicly available and because studies often restrict their datasets to specific economic sectors and markets and/or time periods. In this work, we investigated the design and the application of different ML models to two different tasks related to default events: (a) estimating survival probabilities over time; (b) default prediction using time-series accounting data with different lengths. The entire dataset used for the experiments has been made available to the scientific community for further research and benchmarking purposes. The dataset pertains to 8262 different public companies listed on the American stock market between 1999 and 2018. Finally, in light of the results obtained, we critically discuss the most interesting metrics as proposed benchmarks for future studies.
CDNF Interacts with ER Chaperones and Requires UPR Sensors to Promote Neuronal Survival

Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) is a neurotrophic factor that has beneficial effects on dopamine neurons in both in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson’s disease (PD). CDNF was recently tested in phase I-II clinical trials for the treatment of PD, but the mechanisms underlying its neuroprotective properties are still poorly understood, although studies have suggested its role in the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and the unfolded protein response (UPR). The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of CDNF through analyzing the involvement of UPR signaling in its anti-apoptotic function. We used tunicamycin to induce ER stress in mice in vivo and used cultured primary neurons and found that CDNF expression is regulated by ER stress in vivo and that the involvement of UPR pathways is important for the neuroprotective function of CDNF. Moreover, we used AP-MS and BiFC to perform the first interactome screening for CDNF and report novel binding partners of CDNF. These findings allowed us to hypothesize that CDNF protects neurons from ER-stress-inducing agents by modulating UPR signaling towards cell survival outcomes.
An analysis in Chinese stock market using the capital asset pricing model

China Stock Exchange was established in the 1990s and developed rapidly in the past 20 years. It is an important place for domestic equity financing and investment by investors, however, China's stock markets were too short to adapt to CAPM model. In this paper, Whether China's stock market is suitable for CAPM model is continuously analyzed and studied. We selected four representative stocks in Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 from 2010 to 2021 to confirm the applicability of CAPM model. The results show that only one of the four stocks conform to CAPM model theory, and the return of the other three stocks does not have a high degree of compensation for system risk. This does not conform to the CAPM model, so we conclude that the CAPM model is not applicable to CSI300, and the systemic risk accounts for a large proportion of the total risk. We draw our conclusion that the CAPM model theory is not yet applicable to both stock markets in China. In addition, according to the research results, this paper also summarizes the problems in the process, in order to find the most appropriate theoretical model for China's A-shares.
Are We in a Sixth Mass Extinction? The Challenges of Answering and Value of Asking

In both scientific and popular circles it is often said that we are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction. Although the urgency of our present environmental crises is not in doubt, such claims of a present mass extinction are highly controversial scientifically. Our aims are, first, to get to the bottom of this scientific debate by shedding philosophical light on the many conceptual and methodological challenges involved in answering this scientific question, and, second, to offer new philosophical perspectives on what the value of asking this question has been — and whether that value persists today. We show that the conceptual challenges in defining ‘mass extinction’, uncertainties in past and present diversity assessments, and data incommensurabilities undermine a straightforward answer to the question of whether we are in, or entering, a sixth mass extinction today. More broadly we argue that an excessive focus on the mass extinction framing can be misleading for present conservation efforts and may lead us to miss out on the many other valuable insights that Earth’s deep time can offer in guiding our future.
Quality control in tailings resource exploration at Havelock Mine, Eswatini

Quality assurance and quality control (or QAQC) plays a key role in safeguarding the level of confidence of the data generated during mineral exploration and mine development, and is also part of the reporting code requirements for resource estimation and reporting, as well as mining investment. Implementation of good policies and working protocols in quality management will result in the generation of reliable information, which is critical for decision-making on the future of the mining project. The use of certified reference materials, i.e., standard, blank, and duplicate samples, proves effective and efficient for ensuring the level of data confidence in terms of precision, accuracy, and sample contamination. This is well demonstrated by the practice of QC in the exploration programme for the chrysotile tailings storage facilities of Havelock Mine, using 1254 samples from 53 drill-holes. Different statistical tools were applied to analyse the assay results from these samples. The outcome substantiates that the QC practice established during the Havelock exploration project is aligned to best practice guidelines in the industry. The resource delineated indicates that the tailings material at Havelock could potentially become a significant source of supply to the global magnesium market.
Assessment of Viscoelastic Parameters of Muscles in Children Aged 4–9 Months with Minor Qualitative Impairment of the Motor Pattern after Vojta Therapy Implementation

The aim of this study was to assess if there are any objective changes in the viscoelastic parameters of the erector spinae muscle after Vojta stimulation. The study involved 22 healthy children at an average age of 7 months and with an Apgar score of 8–10 points, who were referred for rehabilitation due to a slight delay in the phases of psychomotor development. The first group consisted of 11 children with increased muscle tone (IMT) and the second group consisted of 11 children with non-increased muscle tone (nonIMT). All study participants received a one-time Vojta therapy session, which was continued for 4 weeks by parents at home. The viscoelastic parameters of the dorsal extensor muscle were measured three times. In the first study group, changes in the viscoelastic parameters of the extensor muscles of the back occurred immediately after the therapy at the first examination, whereas changes in the supporting and extensor function of the limbs occurred in both groups at the second examination. Analysis featuring an objective assessment allows physiotherapists to diagnose local changes in the viscoelastic parameters after the implementation of therapy. These studies are the first pilot studies to be continued with a 30- or 60-day follow-up.
Geometric spanner networks

Part I. Introduction: 1. Introduction 2. Algorithms and graphs 3. The algebraic computation-tree model Part II. Spanners Based on Simplical Cones: 4. Spanners based on the Q-graph 5. Cones in higher dimensional space and Q-graphs 6. Geometric analysis: the gap property 7. The gap-greedy algorithm 8. Enumerating distances using spanners of bounded degree Part III. The Well Separated Pair Decomposition and its Applications: 9. The well-separated pair decomposition 10. Applications of well-separated pairs 11. The Dumbbell theorem 12. Shortcutting trees and spanners with low spanner diameter 13. Approximating the stretch factor of Euclidean graphs Part IV. The Path Greedy Algorithm: 14. Geometric analysis: the leapfrog property 15. The path-greedy algorithm Part V. Further Results and Applications: 16. The distance range hierarchy 17. Approximating shortest paths in spanners 18. Fault-tolerant spanners 19. Designing approximation algorithms with spanners 20. Further results and open problems.
A web of leading for professional learning – leadership from a decentring perspective

ABSTRACT Research shows that leadership is crucial for professional learning, often highlighting principals' or middle leaders' leading practices. However, in leading, professions with differing roles work together. With a decentring perspective on leadership, we shift the focus from the individual principal or middle leader to joint leading practices. Based on a practice theoretical perspective, this article explores how educational leadership unfolds in shared leading practices in a Swedish case where professional learning is led by principals, middle leaders, and an external development leader. The findings visualise a web of practices focusing on understanding roles, changing structures and changing content for professional learning. The shared leading practices are enabled by shared ideas, different positions, and common arenas for communication, but constrained by simplified assumptions and exclusion of teachers. In this web, single dilemmas are handled in different practices from differing perspectives, with changes in plans for professional learning as an outcome.
Exploring Perceived Stress in Mothers with Singleton and Multiple Preterm Infants: A Cross-Sectional Study in Taiwan

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore mothers’ perceived level of stress one month after hospital discharge following the birth of singleton and multiple preterm infants. Design: A cross-sectional design was used to compare mother’s perceived stress in two groups of postpartum mothers and the relationship of the theoretical antecedents and these variables. Setting: A neonatal intensive care unit in a medical center in Taiwan. Participants: Mothers of 52 singletons and 38 multiple premature infants were recruited. One month after the infant was discharged, the participants completed a self-reported questionnaire that included demographic data about the mother and infant, the 21-item Social Support Scale, and the 15-item Perceived Stress Scale. This was returned by email or completed at the outpatient unit. Analysis: Descriptive and inferential analysis. Results: The mean social support scores were 76.6 and 76.5 (out of 105) for mothers with singleton and multiple birth infants, respectively. The most important supporter was the husband. The mean perceived stress scores of 25.8 and 31.0 for mothers with singleton and multiple birth infants, respectively, were significantly different (p = 0.02). Sleep deprivation and social support were predictive indicators of perceived stress in mothers with preterm infants. Conclusions: We suggest that the differences in stress and needs of mothers with singleton and multiple births should be recognized and addressed in clinics. The findings of this study serve as a reference for promoting better preterm infant care.
RNA Interference of Phenoloxidases of the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, Enhance Susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis Protein Vip3Aa19

Simple Summary Phenoloxidase (PO) is an important part of the innate immune system of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. In this study, we screened two PO genes specifically expressed in the hemocyte transcriptome data of the fall armyworm. qRT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression level of two PO genes gradually increased at different developmental stages. In different tissues, we found that the SfPO2 gene mainly existed in the hemolymph. As an important enzyme for activating the PO gene, the SfPAE gene existed in the midgut and hemolymph. When these two genes were silenced by RNA interference, the pathogenicity of Vip3Aa19 toxin increased significantly. A PO activity assay also confirmed the contribution of two PO genes to insect immune defenses against the Vip3Aa protein. Abstract Phenoloxidase (PO) is an important enzyme in the cellular immune system and is involved in defense against a wide range of pathogens, including Bacillus thuringiensis. Vip3Aa19 is secreted and expressed by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) at the middle exponential growth phase and is a kind of protein with efficient insecticidal activity against Spodoptera frugiperda. However, immune responses of the target insects have been regarded as a hindrance to Bt pathogenicity. This paper reports two phenoloxidase (PO) genes (SfPAE and SfPO2) identified from the hemocyte transcriptome data of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. qRT-PCR validation results showed that the expression levels of two PO genes were significantly upregulated after Vip3Aa19 (LC50 = 4.98 µg/g) toxin treatment compared with those of S. frugiperda fed an insecticide-free artificial diet. Meanwhile, two PO genes were expressed from the egg to adult stages even without an immune challenge. We noticed that at all developmental stages investigated in the S. frugiperda, SfPAE was generally expressed at a higher level than SfPO2. However, after Vip3Aa19 treatment, the SfPO2 gene mRNA expression level was significantly elevated in response to the toxin challenge. An injection of a specific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) against POs could suppress its expression. The third instar larvae of S. frugiperda treated with dsRNA were much more susceptible to Vip3Aa19 toxin than the control larvae were. Notably, the mortality rate was nearly 90% after a dsPO2 injection. These results proved that SfPO2 was more important for the survival of S. frugiperda. Finally, RNA interference and then PO activity detection revealed that PO genes mainly existed in the hemolymph and played an important role in immune defense against Bt toxin.
The attack tolerance of community structure in complex networks

Robustness is an important property of complex networks. Up to now, there are plentiful researches focusing on the network's robustness containing error and attack tolerance of network's connectivity and the shortest path. In this paper, the error and attack tolerance of network's community structure are studies through randomly and purposely disturbing interaction of networks. Two purposely perturbation methods are designed, that one methods is based on cluster coefficient and the other is attacking triangle. Dissimilarity function D is used to quantify the changes of community structure and modularity Q is used to quantify the significance of community structure. The numerical results show that after perturbation, network's community structure is damaged to be more unclear. It is also discovered that purposely attacking damages more to the community structure than randomly attacking.