Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy-Aware Control of Error Correction Rate for Solar-Powered Wireless Sensor Networks

In a wireless sensor network (WSN) environment with frequent errors, forward error correction (FEC) is usually employed at the link layer to achieve reliable transmission. In the FEC scheme, the error correction rate varies depending on the length of parity used for the recovery of broken data. The longer the parity length, the higher the possible error correction rate. However, this also means that the energy consumption increases. Meanwhile, in a solar-powered WSN, the energy of each node can be periodically collected, but the amount of collected energy varies drastically depending on the harvesting environment, including factors such as the weather, season and time of day. Therefore, each node must control energy consumption according to the energy harvesting rate. The scheme proposed in this study executes this control by adaptively adjusting the parity length of FEC according to the given energy budget of a node for the next period. This means that the error recovery rate can be increased as much as possible without adversely affecting the blackout time. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme improves the amount of data collected from the entire network for each environment compared with previous schemes.
Continuous Dial User Interaction to Reduce Task Complexity in Designing Physical User Interfaces in Spatial Augmented Reality

This paper presents an investigation into the use of continuous physical dial interaction to specify the placement of controls on designs of physical interfaces. The designs are projected on white substrates with Spatial Augmented Reality technology. The inspiration is direct physical interaction is more intuitive to the designer than the traditional CAD-based speciﬁcation approach. The paper presents our initial Spatial Augmented Reality prototype. Categories and Subject Descriptors (according to ACM CCS) : H.5. 1 [Information Systems]: Artiﬁcial, augmented, and virtual realities—
Selecting Moving Targets in AR using Head Orientation

Along with the spread of augmented reality (AR) using head-mounted display or smart glass, attempts have been made to present information by superimposing information on people and things. In general, people are always moving about and usually do not stay stationary, so it is conceivable that the superimposed AR information also moves with them. However, it is often difﬁcult to follow and select moving targets. We propose two novel techniques, TagToPlace and TagAlong, which help users select moving targets using head orientation. We conducted a user study to compare our proposed techniques to a conventional gaze selection method - DwellTime. The results showed that our proposed techniques are superior to a conventional one in terms of throughput when selecting moving targets.
Prosopis juliflora (Sw.), DC induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in triple negative breast cancer cells: in vitro and in vivo investigations

Plant originated drugs/formulations are extensively prescribed by the physicians as a complementary therapy for treating various human ailments including cancer. In this study Prosopis juliflora leaves methanol extract was prepared and exposed to human breast cancer cell lines i.e. MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 and human keratinocytes HaCaT as a representative of normal cells. Initially, a series of in vitro experiments like cell proliferation, migration, colony formation, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of angiogenesis. After confirmation of the efficient and selective activity against triple negative breast cancer cell line, we further evaluated the possible mechanism of inducing cell death and experiments like detection of reactive oxygen species, caspases and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage study and Annexin V assay were performed. We also evaluated in vivo anti tumorigenic activity of the P. juliflora leaves by using 4T1 cells (a triple negative mouse origin breast cancer cell line) and BALB/c xenograft mouse model. In vitro experiments revealed that methanol extract of Prosopis juliflora leaves possess impressive anti-breast cancer activity more specifically against triple negative breast cancer cells, while the in vivo studies demonstrated that P. juliflora leaves extract significantly suppressed the 4T1 induced tumor growth. Present investigations clearly focus the significance of P. juliflora as an important resource for finding novel leads against triple negative breast cancer. The results may also act as a ready reference towards developing P. juliflora based formulation as an alternative and complementary medicine for the management of breast cancer.
Using social media in formal learning: Investigating learning strategies and satisfaction

Social media have been widely adopted by digital natives for learning purposes due to the wealth of educational resources afforded by these platforms. As such, educational researchers and practitioners have been advocating the integration of social media in formal learning. While a majority of research has highlighted the benefits of using social media in formal education, still lacking is research that examines students' learning behaviors and experience with social media. From the perspective of self‐regulated learning, we investigate students' learning strategies in social media, as well as the relationship between using these strategies and students' learning satisfaction. Drawing on a survey of 270 undergraduate and graduate students, we found that in the formal learning context, students employed four types of self‐regulated learning strategies (i.e., goal setting, environment structuring, performance control and self‐evaluation) to achieve effective learning with social media. Among the four strategies, goal setting was most commonly used. Further, a regression analysis revealed that all four types of self‐regulated learning strategies were significantly related to students' learning satisfaction with social media, while goal setting was the most prominent strategy. This article concludes by presenting limitations as well as implications for research and practice.
Structural and functional characterization of HIV-1 cell fusion inhibitor T20

Objective: The peptide drug T20 (enfuvirtide), derived from the C-terminal heptad repeat region of HIV-1 gp41, is the only membrane fusion inhibitor available for treatment of viral infection; however, its mechanism of action remains elusive and its structural basis is lacking. Design: We focused on determining the crystal structure of T20 in complex with N39, a target mimic peptide derived from the N-terminal heptad repeat region of gp41. On the basis of the structural information, the mechanisms of action of T20 and its resistance were further characterized. Methods: A panel of peptides was synthesized. The T20/N39 complex was assembled for crystallization studies. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (N-PAGE), and mutational analysis were applied to analyze the structural and functional properties. Results: A crystal structure of six-helical bundle (6-HB) structure formed by T20 and N39 was determined with a resolution limit of 2.3 Å, which revealed the critical intrahelical and interhelical interactions underlying the mechanism of action of T20 and its resistance mutations. Although the structural properties in the C-terminal tryptophan-rich motif (TRM) of T20 and the fusion peptide proximal region (FPPR) of N39 could not be finely defined by the structure, the data from biophysical and mutational analyses verified the essential roles of the TRM and FPPR motifs for the binding and inhibitory activities of T20. Conclusion: For the first time, our studies provide a structural basis of T20, which help our understanding on the mechanisms of HIV-1 fusion and its inhibition.
The cellular basis of the aggressive acrorhagial response of sea anemones

Some sea anemones possess structures called acrorhagi at the base of the tentacles. The acrorhagi are utilized solely for aggression. Acrorhagial aggression involves very exquisite intra‐ and interspecific recognition. This study examined acrorhagi and putative acrorhagial analogues or homologues in four species of sea anemone. The morphology and ultrastructure of tentacles, pseudoacrorhagi, column vesicles, and verrucae (adhesive column vesicles) differed from that of acrorhagi. Coral capitate tentacles and acrorhagi have different surface morphology, nematocysts, and functions. Besed on morphology, acrorhagi seem more likely to be homologous to tentacles than to verrucae.
Comorbidity of Physical and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescent: Functional Impairment, Self-Rated Health and Subjective Well-Being

Physical disorders and anxiety are frequently comorbid. This study investigates the characteristics of physical disorders, self-rated heath, subjective well-being and anxiety in adolescents. Data were drawn from the Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe cohort study. From 11 countries 11,230 adolescents, aged 14–16 years were included. Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), WHO-5 Well-Being Index and five questions prepared for this study to evaluate physical illnesses and self-rated heath were administered. Anxiety levels were significantly higher in adolescents who reported having physical disability (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.40), suffering from chronic illnesses (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.40), impairments associated to health conditions (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.61), or reported poor to very poor self-rated health (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.11). Mediational analyses revealed no direct effect of having a chronic illness/physical disability on subjective well-being, but the indirect effects through higher levels of anxiety were significant. Functional impairment related to health conditions was both directly and indirectly (through higher levels of anxiety) associated with lower well-being. The co-occurrence of anxiety and physical disorders may confer a greater level of disability and lower levels of subjective well-being. Clinicians have to screen anxiety, even in a subthreshold level in patients with choric physical illness or with medically unexplained physical symptoms.
Search successes and failures in query segments and search tasks: A field study

Searching for information could be difficult or problematic in situations where searchers possess inadequate knowledge and/or vague information needs, often leading to unsuccessful outcomes. Existing studies on search outcomes (successes and failures) have lacked a detailed analysis at query (expression of information need) level from a searcher's perspective and the connection between queries and their corresponding search tasks. In the work reported here, we adopt a mixed‐method approach to both explore how and why searchers succeeded or failed to fulfill their information need with each query and to link these query level outcomes to searchers' overall task goal realization. Twenty‐six participants finished two search tasks in three days in naturalistic settings and reported their experiences in online diaries. The log data containing their actions in nearly 200 query segments, their diary responses and post‐task semi‐structured interviews inspire both in‐depth discussion on search experiences and interesting comparison between successful and unsuccessful searchers. While quantitative analysis depicts the overall relationships between behavioral variables and search outcomes at both query and task levels, qualitative analysis reveals why those relationships took place. In general, searchers who viewed more pages and spent more time in each query segment were more likely to succeed. We also report reasons behind these phenomena.
Effects of Regulated Deficit Irrigation on Amino Acid Profiles and Their Derived Volatile Compounds in Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) Grapes and Wines

Amino acid contents and their derived volatile compositions in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and wines after regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) were investigated during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons in Yinchuan (NingXia, China). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used for amino acid and volatile compound analyses. Three RDI strategies were tested: 60% (RDI-1), 70% (RDI-2), and 80% (RDI-3) of grapevine estimated evapotranspiration (ETc), and 100% ETc was used as the control group (CK). RDI-treated vines had lower yields and berry weights with higher total soluble solids than the control treatment. RDI-1 increased proline levels in berries and wines. RDI-2 enhanced tyrosine and asparagine levels in wines. RDI-3 enhanced arginine, alanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine levels in berries and wines. RDI-2 and RDI-3 increased the concentrations of 2-methyl-1-butyl acetate, benzaldehyde, 3-methyl-1-pentanol, and 3-methyl-1-butanol in wines. The accumulation of volatile compounds was closely related to the amino acid concentrations—especially isoleucine, valine, and leucine—in grapes. Our results showed that RDI treatments altered amino acid concentrations and their derived volatile compositions in wines.
Effects of novel brominated flame retardant TBBPA on human airway epithelial cell (A549) in vitro and proteome profiling

The cellular toxicity response of human airway epithelial cells (A549) to tetrabromobisphenol (TBBPA) was assessed in vitro. Cell viability, levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (MDA), and caspase‐3 activity were determined after A549 treated with varying concentrations of TBBPA. A comparative proteomic analysis was performed in cells treated with different concentrations of TBBPA (0, 10, and 40 μg/mL). Two‐way anova analysis showed that cell viability was significantly decreased after treatment by TBBPA with a concentration of 16 μg/mL for 48 hr, however, the caspase‐3 activities, ROS generation, and MDA content increased. Ultrastructural observation revealed that the cell was morphological damaged after exposure to 64 μg/mL TBBPA, with mitochondria seriously injured and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum dilated. There was a good correlation between ROS generation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Seventeen differentially expressed proteins involved in various biological processes were identified. These findings provide a basis for understanding the mechanisms of cell dysfunction and perturbation of antioxidant status induced by additive flame retardant on airway epithelial cells.
Public services or private gains: Motives behind participation on a mobile crowdsourcing application in a smart city

The increased use of crowdsourcing to support smart city initiatives has been reported in the literature. However, a gap remains in understanding the needs motivating crowdsourcing participation in smart city projects. Integrating perspectives from self‐determination theory and public service motivation, this study investigates the motives driving the use of a mobile crowdsourcing platform prototype known as My Smart Mobile City app (i.e., MSMC) that aims to help smart cities manage public engagement with their residents. Data was collected from 100 participants. Factor analysis was conducted and results indicate that the motives driving the use of MSMC fell into three categories: affective, norm‐based and rational. Results and implications of our work are discussed.
Genome re-sequencing, SNP analysis, and genetic mapping of the parental lines of a commercial F1 hybrid cultivar of Chinese cabbage

The genome-wide characterization of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) between cultivars or between inbred lines contributes to the creation of genetic markers that are important for plant breeding. Functional markers derived from polymorphisms within genes that affect phenotypic variation are especially valuable in plant breeding. Here, we report on the genome re-sequencing and analysis of the two parental inbred lines of the commercial F1 hybrid Chinese cabbage cultivar “W77”. Through the genome-wide identification and classification of the SNPs and indels present in each parental line, we identified about 1,500 putative non-functional genes in each parent. We designed cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers using specific mutations found at Eco RI restriction sites in the parental lines and confirmed their Mendelian segregation by constructing a linkage map using 96 F2 plants derived from the F1 hybrid cultivar, “W77”. Our results and data will be a useful genomic resource for future studies of gene function and metagenomic studies in Chinese cabbage.
Structure of the shell from eggs of the tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus

Shells from eggs of the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) are 0.2 mm thick and are composed of a layer of calcite and a multi‐layered, fibrous shell membrane. Most of the calcareous layer is composed of roughly circular columns of crystalline material that extend deep into the shell membrane. The crystalline matrix of the columns is interwoven with fibers of the shell membrane except near the outer surface of the eggshell, where the calcareous material is more compact. Overlying the columns is a granular layer composed of blocks of crystalline material of random size, shape, and orientation. Disruption of this granular layer, perhaps through swelling of the eggs or as a result of environmental factors, gives the outer surface of the eggshell a coarse, weathered appearance. Removal of the calcareous material with a decalcifying agent shows that the outer surface of the shell membrane is composed of a meshwork of small fibers bound together by an amorphous matrix. No matrix was observed in inner layers of the shell membrane, and the fibers of these inner layers are arranged somewhat more regularly than the outer fibers. No structure comparable to the central cores of avian and certain chelonian eggs was observed in eggshells of the tuatara.
A Cloud Detection Method for Landsat 8 Images Based on PCANet

Cloud detection for remote sensing images is often a necessary process, because cloud is widespread in optical remote sensing images and causes a lot of difficulty to many remote sensing activities, such as land cover monitoring, environmental monitoring and target recognizing. In this paper, a novel cloud detection method is proposed for multispectral remote sensing images from Landsat 8. Firstly, the color composite image of Bands 6, 3 and 2 is divided into superpixel sub-regions through Simple Linear Iterative Cluster (SLIC) method. Then, a two-step superpixel classification strategy is used to predict each superpixel as cloud or non-cloud. Thirdly, a fully connected Conditional Random Field (CRF) model is used to refine the cloud detection result, and accurate cloud borders are obtained. In the two-step superpixel classification strategy, the bright and thick cloud superpixels, as well as the obvious non-cloud superpixels, are firstly separated from potential cloud superpixels through a threshold function, which greatly speeds up the detection. The designed double-branch PCA Network (PCANet) architecture can extract the high-level information of cloud, then combined with a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier, the potential superpixels are correctly classified. Visual and quantitative comparison experiments are conducted on the Landsat 8 Cloud Cover Assessment (L8 CCA) dataset; the results indicate that our proposed method can accurately detect clouds under different conditions, which is more effective and robust than the compared state-of-the-art methods.
Evaluating Whole Grain Intervention Study Designs and Reporting Practices Using Evidence Mapping Methodology

Consumption of whole grains have been associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases in many observational studies; yet, results of intervention studies are mixed. We aimed to use evidence mapping to capture the methodological and reporting variability in whole grain intervention studies that may contribute to this inconsistency. We conducted a reproducible search in OVID Medline for whole grain human intervention studies (published 1946 to February 2018). After screening based on a priori criteria, we identified 202 publications describing a total of 213 unique trials. Over half (55%) were acute trials, lasting ≤1 day, 30% were moderate duration studies (up to 6 weeks) and 15% were of longer duration (more than 6 weeks). The majority of acute trials (75%) examined measures of glycaemia and/or insulinemia, while most of the longer trials included measures of cardiometabolic health (71%), appetite/satiety (57%) and weight/adiposity (56%). Among the moderate and long duration trials, there was a wide range of how whole grains were described but only 10 publications referenced an established definition. Only 55% of trials reported the actual amount of whole grains (in grams or servings), while 36% reported the amount of food/product and 9% did not report a dose at all. Of the interventions that provided a mixture of whole grains, less than half (46%) reported the distribution of the different grain types. Reporting of subject compliance also varied and only 22% used independent biomarkers of whole grain intake. This evidence map highlights the need to standardize both study protocols and reporting practices to support effective synthesis of study results and provide a stronger foundation to better inform nutrition scientists and public health policy.
Overexpression of Ecm22 improves ergosterol biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ergosterol biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is complex and the underlying mechanism of regulation remains unclear. To clarify the influence of transcriptional regulation on the ergosterol content, transcription factor Ecm22 was overexpressed in S. cerevisiae. Results showed that the overexpression of ECM22 led to an increased invasive growth. Fluconazole susceptibility testing indicated that strains overexpressing ECM22 could grow at 20 μg(fluconazole) ml−1. By contrast, the control failed to grow at 16 μg(fluconazole) ml−1. Among truncated ECM22 fragments, only the 1440‐bp DNA fragment exerted almost the same impact on ergosterol content as that of the full‐length gene. In a 5‐l bioreactor, the highest ergosterol yield of the recombinant reached 32∙7 mg g(dry cell weight)−1, which was increased by about 20% compared with that of the control. In this work, a novel approach for enhancing the ergosterol production by overexpressing a transcription factor in S. cerevisiae was developed.