Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Extended UTAUT2 Model for e-Government Project Evaluation

—Recently the Greek Government has devoted significant effort to streamlining business processes using ICT to better manage public administration resources. To this end, public sector services are designed so that they are accessed through single points, while increasing transparency and reducing cycle time for executing processes and disseminating information to civil and other agencies. To control the services provided by state agencies and to improve them continuously, it seems essential that they are continuously evaluated by users. This paper focuses on the field of e-government and more precisely describes an evaluation method for investigating the success of an e-government project. Specifically, a technology adoption model is proposed, which focuses on the specific characteristics of users for the on-line services of an Independent Authority. The model is essentially based on the framework of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and the Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model, which has been enhanced with four additional criteria.
Identification of Five Key Genes Involved in Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway From Yellow Catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco and Their Transcriptional Responses to High Fat Diet (HFD)

The hypothesis of the present study is that apoptosis through an intrinsic mitochondrial pathway may mediate high fat diet (HFD)-induced changes in the metabolism of Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. To this end, we cloned the full-length cDNA sequences of Cycs, Apaf1, Casp9, Casp3a, and Casp3b involved in the mitochondria apoptotic pathway, and explored their mRNA tissue expressions and transcriptional responses to HFD. All of these members shared similar domains to their orthologous vertebrate genes. They were constitutively expressed in all analyzed tissues but varied from tissue to tissue. Compared to the control, HFD up-regulated the mRNA expression of partial genes among these five key genes (Cycs, Apaf1, Casp9, Casp3a, and Casp3b) in mesenteric fat, intestine, ovary and the kidney, indicating the induction of apoptosis in these tissues; in contrast, HFD down-regulated mRNA levels of partial genes among the five key genes (Cycs, Apaf1, Casp9, Casp3a, and Casp3b) in the heart, spleen and gill tissues, indicating the inhibition of apoptosis in these tissues. The present study will facilitate further exploration into the functions of these genes at the molecular level and disclose the critical involvement of these genes against nutrient changes, indicating that processes of apoptosis in various tissues may differentially be modified by HFD.
A Toolkit for High Resolution Imaging of Cell Division and Phytohormone Signaling in Legume Roots and Root Nodules

Legume plants benefit from a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis in association with rhizobia hosted in specialized root nodules. Formation of root nodules is initiated by de novo organogenesis and coordinated infection of these developing lateral root organs by rhizobia. Both bacterial infection and nodule organogenesis involve cell cycle activation and regulation by auxin and cytokinin is tightly integrated in the process. To characterize the hormone dynamics and cell division patterns with cellular resolution during nodulation, sensitive and specific sensors suited for imaging of multicellular tissues are required. Here we report a modular toolkit, optimized in the model legume Lotus japonicus, for use in legume roots and root nodules. This toolkit includes synthetic transcriptional reporters for auxin and cytokinin, auxin accumulation sensors and cell cycle progression markers optimized for fluorescent and bright field microscopy. The developed vectors allow for efficient one-step assembly of multiple units using the GoldenGate cloning system. Applied together with a fluorescence-compatible clearing approach, these reporters improve imaging depth and facilitate fluorescence examination in legume roots. We additionally evaluate the utility of the dynamic gravitropic root response in altering the timing and location of auxin accumulation and nodule emergence. We show that alteration of auxin distribution in roots allows for preferential nodule emergence at the outer side of the bend corresponding to a region of high auxin signaling capacity. The presented tools and procedures open new possibilities for comparative mutant studies and for developing a more comprehensive understanding of legume-rhizobia interactions.
Editorial: Metabolomics in Crop Research—Current and Emerging Methodologies

1 Laboratório de FTICR e Espectrometria de Massa Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, 3 School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 4 Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Paraquat Degradation From Contaminated Environments: Current Achievements and Perspectives

Paraquat herbicide has served over five decades to control annual and perennial weeds. Despite agricultural benefits, its toxicity to terrestrial and aquatic environments raises serious concerns. Paraquat cannot rapidly degrade in the environment and is adsorbed in clay lattices that require urgent environmental remediation. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and bioaugmentation techniques have been developed for this purpose. Among various techniques, bioremediation is a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach for pesticide-polluted soils. Though several paraquat-degrading microorganisms have been isolated and characterized, studies about degradation pathways, related functional enzymes and genes are indispensable. This review encircles paraquat removal from contaminated environments through adsorption, photocatalyst degradation, AOPs and microbial degradation. To provide in-depth knowledge, the potential role of paraquat degrading microorganisms in contaminated environments is described as well.
Prenatal Exposure to Methamphetamine: Up-Regulation of Brain Receptor Genes

Methamphetamine (METH) is a widespread illicit drug. If it is taken by pregnant women, it passes through the placenta and just as it affects the mother, it can impair the development of the offspring. The aim of our study was to identify candidates to investigate for changes in the gene expression in the specific regions of the brain associated with addiction to METH in rats. We examined the various areas of the central nervous system (striatum, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex) for signs of impairment in postnatal day 80 in experimental rats, whose mothers had been administered METH (5 mg/kg/day) during the entire gestation period. Changes in the gene expression at the mRNA level were determined by two techniques, microarray and real-time PCR. Results of two microarray trials were evaluated by LIMMA analysis. The first microarray trial detected either up-regulated or down-regulated expression of 2189 genes in the striatum; the second microarray trial detected either up-regulated or down-regulated expression of 1344 genes in the hippocampus of prenatally METH-exposed rats. We examined the expression of 10 genes using the real-time PCR technique. Differences in the gene expression were counted by the Mann–Whitney U-test. Significant changes were observed in the cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript prepropeptide, tachykinin receptor 3, dopamine receptor D3 gene expression in the striatum regions, in the glucocorticoid nuclear receptor Nr3c1 gene expression in the prefrontal cortex and in the carboxylesterase 2 gene expression in the hippocampus of prenatally METH-exposed rats. The microarray technique also detected up-regulated expression of trace amine-associated receptor 7 h gene in the hippocampus of prenatally METH-exposed rats. We have identified susceptible genes; candidates for the study of an impairment related to methamphetamine addiction in the specific regions of the brain.
Frameworks Regulating Hunting for Meat in Tropical Countries Leave the Sector in the Limbo

Despite restrictive legal frameworks, hunting for meat is a reality in tropical countries. In this policy paper, we argue that formal regulations are ill adapted to the contexts in which they should be applied and are characterized by gaps and contradictions that maintain the sector in a limbo. We use contemporary examples from Latin America and Africa described in detail in publications ranging from 2015 to 2018, to illustrate the need for legal reforms that clarify the rights to sell surplus of meat and align land tenure rights with wildlife use rights to suggest a new definition of subsistence hunting which accounts for the realities of communities from different cultural backgrounds.
Wikipedia as a Resource for Text Analysis and Retrieval

This tutorial examines the role of Wikipedia in tasks related to text analysis and retrieval. Text analysis tasks, which take advantage of Wikipedia, include coreference resolution, word sense and entity disambiguation and information extraction. In information retrieval, a better understanding of the structure and meaning of queries helps in matching queries against documents, clustering search results, answer and entity retrieval and retrieving knowledge panels for queries asking about popular entities.
How Consistent Are Challenge and Threat Evaluations? A Generalizability Analysis

Viewing stressful situations as more of a challenge than a threat (i.e., coping resources match or exceed situational demands) has been associated with better performance and long-term health. However, to date, little research has examined if individuals have tendencies to evaluate all stressful situations as more of a challenge or threat. Thus, this study used generalizability analyses to investigate the consistency (or variability) of challenge and threat evaluations across potentially stressful situations. 1813 roller derby players (89.0% female; Mage = 33 years, SD = 7) read nine stressful vignettes (e.g., injury, non-selection, family illness), before completing self-report items assessing challenge and threat evaluations. Generalizability analyses revealed that the Athlete × Stressor interaction accounted for the greatest amount of variance in challenge and threat evaluations (51.9%), suggesting that athletes had idiosyncrasies in their tendency to view particular stressors as more of a challenge or threat. The Athlete (15.4%) and Stressor (21.9%) components also accounted for a significant amount of variance. While the Athlete component suggested some consistency in challenge and threat evaluations, and that differences existed between athletes in whether they tended to view stressors as more of a challenge or threat, the Stressor component indicated some agreement among the athletes in their tendency to view some stressors as more of a challenge or threat than others. The findings offer direct support for transactional stress theories, and have important implications for practitioners developing stress management interventions.
Epistatic Analysis of the Contribution of Rabs and Kifs to CATCHR Family Dependent Golgi Organization

Multisubunit members of the CATCHR family: COG and NRZ complexes, mediate intra-Golgi and Golgi to ER vesicle tethering, respectively. We systematically addressed the genetic and functional interrelationships between Rabs, Kifs, and the retrograde CATCHR family proteins: COG3 and ZW10, which are necessary to maintain the organization of the Golgi complex. We scored the ability of siRNAs targeting 19 Golgi-associated Rab proteins and all 44 human Kifs, microtubule-dependent motor proteins, to suppress CATCHR-dependent Golgi fragmentation in an epistatic fluorescent microscopy-based assay. We found that co-depletion of Rab6A, Rab6A’, Rab27A, Rab39A and two minus-end Kifs, namely KIFC3 and KIF25, suppressed both COG3- and ZW10-depletion-induced Golgi fragmentation. ZW10-dependent Golgi fragmentation was suppressed selectively by a separate set of Rabs: Rab11A, Rab33B and the little characterized Rab29. 10 Kifs were identified as hits in ZW10-depletion-induced Golgi fragmentation, and, in contrast to the double suppressive Kifs, these were predominantly plus-end motors. No Rabs or Kifs selectively suppressed COG3-depletion-induced Golgi fragmentation. Protein-protein interaction network analysis indicated putative direct and indirect links between suppressive Rabs and tether function. Validation of the suppressive hits by EM confirmed a restored organization of the Golgi cisternal stack. Based on these outcomes, we propose a three-way competitive model of Golgi organization in which Rabs, Kifs and tethers modulate sequentially the balance between Golgi-derived vesicle formation, consumption, and off-Golgi transport.
The framework of GIS-based decision Support Systems (DSS) for water resources management at the Flint River Basin

In this paper, a surface water flow model with groundwater interaction for the Flint River Basin (FRB) is presented. The model consists of two layers of modeling systems which are HSPF hydrological model in first layer for streamflow simulation within subbasin and a Stella model in second layer for flow simulation in Flint River (main stream). To fully consider the dynamic interaction between surface and groundwater and more accurately simulate this complex water resources systems, a framework of dynamic surface and groundwater modeling systems is proposed for future improvement of current modeling systems. Furthermore, a framework of GIS-based decision support system (DSS) is constructed, which includes SW-GW modeling system, database, GISbased user-friendly graphic interface, analysis tool, and alternative analysis and evaluation module. This DSS, when finished, may provide strong technical support for best managing water resources in Flint River Basin.
Discourse Analysis and Its Applications

Discourse processing is a suite of Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks to uncover linguistic structures from texts at several levels, which can support many downstream applications. This involves identifying the topic structure, the coherence structure, the coreference structure, and the conversation structure for conversational discourse. Taken together, these structures can inform text summarization, machine translation, essay scoring, sentiment analysis, information extraction, question answering, and thread recovery. The tutorial starts with an overview of basic concepts in discourse analysis – monologue vs. conversation, synchronous vs. asynchronous conversation, and key linguistic structures in discourse analysis. We also give an overview of linguistic structures and corresponding discourse analysis tasks that discourse researchers are generally interested in, as well as key applications on which these discourse structures have an impact.
Characterizing Wildland Firefighters’ Thermal Environment During Live-Fire Suppression

Wildland firefighters work under adverse environments (e.g., heat and fire exposure), which contribute to increasing the heat strain. Despite this there is a paucity of knowledge about the thermal environment in real wildfire suppression scenarios. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to characterize the environmental thermal exposure and the risk of heat burn injuries during real wildfire suppression (n = 23). To characterize the wildland firefighter’s (n = 5) local thermal exposure, measurements of air temperature and heat flux were performed. Heat flux measurements were made using four thin-planar heat flux sensors. Two were affixed on the outer surface of the garment on the left chest and thigh. Two other sensors were placed on the inner surface of the fabric in parallel to those placed externally. Four thermal classes were defined based on the heat flux across the inner sensors (≤1000, ≤5000, ≤7000, and >7000 W⋅m–2). The risk of pain and first-degree burns were calculated using the dose of thermal radiation method. The inner sensors mean and maximum heat flux and environment temperature were 286.7 ± 255.0 and 2370.4 ± 3004.5 W⋅m–2 and 32.6 ± 8.9 and 78.0 ± 8.9°C, respectively. Approximately 81, 15, and 3.5% of the exposure time the heat flux was ≤1000, >1000–5000, and >5000 W⋅m–2, respectively. The highest average and maximum thermal dose values were ∼94 and ∼110 (kW⋅m–2)4/3⋅s. In conclusion, the thermal exposure obtained may be considered light. However, high thermal exposure values may be obtained in punctual moments, which can elicit first-degree burns.
Perceptual and Semantic Phases of Face Identification Processing: A Multivariate Electroencephalography Study

Rapid identification of a familiar face requires an image-invariant representation of person identity. A varying sample of familiar faces is necessary to disentangle image-level from person-level processing. We investigated the time course of face identity processing using a multivariate electroencephalography analysis. Participants saw ambient exemplars of celebrity faces that differed in pose, lighting, hairstyle, and so forth. A name prime preceded a face on half of the trials to preactivate person-specific information, whereas a neutral prime was used on the remaining half. This manipulation helped dissociate perceptual- and semantic-based identification. Two time intervals within the post-face onset electroencephalography epoch were sensitive to person identity. The early perceptual phase spanned 110–228 msec and was not modulated by the name prime. The late semantic phase spanned 252–1000 msec and was sensitive to person knowledge activated by the name prime. Within this late phase, the identity response occurred earlier in time (300–600 msec) for the name prime with a scalp topography similar to the FN400 ERP. This may reflect a matching of the person primed in memory with the face on the screen. Following a neutral prime, the identity response occurred later in time (500–800 msec) with a scalp topography similar to the P600f ERP. This may reflect activation of semantic knowledge associated with the identity. Our results suggest that processing of identity begins early (110 msec), with some tolerance to image-level variations, and then progresses in stages sensitive to perceptual and then to semantic features.
Assessment of the Genetic Connectivity Between Farmed Populations on a Typical Kelp Farm and Adjacent Spontaneous Populations of Saccharina japonica (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) in China

The commercially important brown alga Saccharina japonica in China has been believed to be accidentally introduced from Japan in 1920s. Meanwhile, spontaneous populations in the wild are assumed to be derived from the locally farmed populations. Spontaneous populations are often observed in the subtidal zones and on the cultivation infrastructure near farmed populations in the north of China. However, the genetic connectivity between these sympatric spontaneous and farmed populations remains unclear. Here, three commonly farmed cultivars (farmed populations) and three spontaneous populations (two from subtidal zones and one from cultivation rafts) were sampled from a typical kelp farm in Dalian, China, and analyzed with ten polymorphic microsatellite markers. Genetic diversity of farmed populations was found to be higher than that of the subtidal spontaneous populations. Neighbor joining cluster analysis based on genetic distance, Bayesian model-based structure analysis, and discriminant analysis of principal components revealed significant genetic divergence between the farmed populations and the subtidal spontaneous ones. Gene flow out of farmed populations to the subtidal spontaneous populations was revealed to be very limited, but gene flow in the contrary direction was more prominent. The spontaneous sporophytes on the structural rafts contained pedigree from both farmed and subtidal spontaneous populations. Results of this study may help us to understand reciprocal impacts between sympatric spontaneous and farmed populations of S. japonica
Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique and Specialized Applications

Biology of Cultured Cells. Design and Layout. Equipment. Aseptic Technique. Safety. Culture Vessels. Media. Serum-Free Media. Preparation and Sterilization. Primary Culture. Cell Lines. Cloning and Selection. Cell Separation. Characterization. Differentiation. Transformation. Contamination. Cryopreservation. Quantitation. Cytotoxicity. Specialized Cells. Tumor Cells. Organotypic Culture. Scale -Up. Specialized Techniques. Molecular Techniques. Problems Solving. In Conclusion.
Toward Usability Problem Identification Based on User Emotions Derived from Facial Expressions

Tracking down usability problems poses a challenge for developers since users rarely report explicit feedback without being asked for it. Hence, implicit feedback represents a valuable information source, in particular for rapid development processes with frequent software releases. Users' emotions expressed by their facial expressions during interactions with the application can act as the source of such information. Recent development in consumer hardware offers mechanisms to efficiently detect facial expressions. We developed a framework for interactive mobile applications to harness consumer hardware camera technology for facial feature extraction to enable emotion detection following the facial action coding system. In a study with 12 participants, we evaluated its performance within a sample application that was seeded with usability problems. A qualitative analysis of the study results indicates that the framework is applicable for detecting user emotions from facial expressions. A quantitative analysis shows that emotional responses can be detected in three out of four cases and that they relate to usability problems. We conclude that, in combination with interaction events, the framework can support developers in the exploration of usability problems in interactive applications.
In-utero Exposure to Maternal Stressful Life Events and Risk of Cryptorchidism: The Raine Study

Cryptorchidism, registered at birth or later, is the most common birth defect in males in western countries, estimated to affect around 2–3% of newborn boys, declining to around 2% at 3 months. We have previously described a potential association between stressful life events (SLEs) in pregnancy and reduced semen quality and testosterone levels in adult offspring. Both outcomes are believed to share a common etiology with cryptorchidism thus increased risk of cryptorchidism in boys exposed to prenatal SLEs may be plausible. The risk of cryptorchidism associated with prenatal SLE amongst 1,273 male Generation 2 offspring was estimated using the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Study. SLEs are discrete experiences that disrupt an individual's usual activities causing a life change and readjustment, such as death of a relative or friend, divorce, illness or job loss. Mothers prospectively reported SLEs, during pregnancy at gestational weeks (GW) 18 and 34 using a standardized 10-point questionnaire. A boy was diagnosed as cryptorchid if one or both testes was non-palpable in the scrotum and not able to be manipulated into the scrotum. Twenty-four (2%) cryptorchid boys were identified. Mean (standard deviation) of SLE exposures in GW34 was 1.1 (1.2) for non-cryptorchid boys and slightly higher 1.5 (1.8) for cryptorchid boys, similar differences were observed in GW18. Adjusted odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk of cryptorchidism in early (18-weeks) and late gestation (34-weeks) according to prenatal SLE exposures were: 1.06 (95% CI: 0.77–1.45) and 1.18 (95% CI: 0.84–1.67), respectively. This is the first-time report on the possible relationships between exposure to early and late pregnancy SLEs and risk of cryptorchidism in a birth cohort. Prenatal SLE exposure was not associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of cryptorchidism in male offspring. A small case population limits the statistical power of the study and future larger studies are required to evaluate this potential association.