Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating tooth strontium and barium as indicators of weaning age in Pacific walruses

Lactation length and weaning age provide important information about maternal investment, which can reflect the health and nutritional status of the mother, as well as broader reproductive strategies in mammals. Calcium‐normalized strontium (Sr) and barium (Ba) concentrations in the growth layers of mammalian teeth differ for nursing animals and those consuming non‐milk foods, thus can be used to estimate age‐at‐weaning. To date, this approach has been used only for terrestrial animals, and almost exclusively for primates. The goal of this study was to determine whether Sr and Ba concentrations in the cementum of Pacific walrus Odobenus rosmarus divergens teeth can be used to estimate weaning age. Teeth from 107 walruses were analysed using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and calcium‐normalized 88Sr and 137Ba concentrations were quantified. For most walruses, both Sr and Ba concentrations exhibited rapid changes in early life. Ba concentrations matched closely with expected patterns in the published literature, rapidly declining from high to low concentrations (typically from ~10 ppm to ~5 ppm). In contrast, Sr exhibited a pattern opposite to that presented in studies of terrestrial mammals, appearing nearly identical to Ba (typically declining from ~400 ppm to ~200 ppm). To explain these findings, we present conceptual models of the factors generating weaning signals in Sr and Ba for terrestrial mammals, as well as a new, hypothetical model for walruses. Both a visual and mathematical approach to weaning age estimation indicated a median weaning age of walruses at the end of the second year of life (in the second dark layer of the tooth cementum), with many walruses estimated to have weaned in their third year of life, and a smaller group weaning in their fourth or fifth year. This is later than expected, given a published estimate of walrus weaning at 18–24 months. These results do not conclusively support the use of tooth Sr and Ba for estimating weaning age in walruses, and further research is warranted to better understand the drivers of the observed patterns of Ba and Sr accumulation in walrus teeth.
The relationship of microRNAs to clinical features of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a major system of post-transcriptional regulation, by either preventing translational initiation or by targeting messenger RNA transcripts for storage or degradation. miRNA deregulation has been reported in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington’s disease (HD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), which may impact gene expression and modify disease progression and/or severity. To assess the relationship of miRNA levels to HD, small RNA sequence analysis was performed for 26 HD and 36 nondisease control samples derived from human prefrontal cortex. 75 miRNAs were differentially expressed in HD brain as compared to controls at genome-wide significance (FDR q<0.05). Among HD brains, nine miRNAs were significantly associated with the extent of neuropathological involvement in the striatum and three of these significantly related to a continuous measure of striatal involvement, after statistical adjustment for the contribution of HD gene length. Five miRNAs were identified as having a significant, inverse relationship to age of motor onset, in particular, miR-10b-5p, the mostly strongly over-expressed vii miRNA in HD cases. Although prefrontal cortex was the source of tissue profiled in these studies, the relationship of miR-10b-5p levels to striatal involvement in the disease was independent of cortical involvement. In blood plasma from 26 HD, 4 asymptomatic HD gene carriers and 8 controls, miR-10b-5p levels were significantly elevated in HD as compared to non-diseased and preclinical HD subjects, demonstrating that miRNA alterations associated with diseased brain may be detected peripherally. Using small RNA sequence analysis for 29 PD brains, 125 miRNAs were identified as differentially expressed at genome-wide significance (FDR q<0.05) in PD versus controls. A set of 29 miRNAs accurately classified PD from non-diseased brain (93.9% specificity, 96.6% sensitivity, 4.8% absolute error). In contrast to HD, among PD cases, miR-10b-5p was significantly decreased and had a significant, positive association to onset age independent of age at death. These studies provide a detailed miRNA profile for HD and PD brain, identify miRNAs associated with disease pathology and suggest miRNA changes observed in brain can be detected in blood. Together, these findings support the potential of miRNA biomarkers for the diagnosis and assessment of progression for neurodegenerative diseases.
ROLE OF PHRASEOLOGY IN DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE

This article provides information on the effectiveness of improving communicative competence in the teaching process and discusses some ways to develop it. Cultural awareness promotes important ties between culture and language learning encourage teachers of foreign languages. In order to be bilingual and competitive, a non-native learner has to be bicultural. The article investigates some main aspects and principles of communication explicitly and implicitly underline the importance of cultural studies at English as a foreign language classes in the Karakalpak auditoriums. The article depicts the system of values characteristic to a nation can be introduced to learners through proverbs. The methods of descriptive, comparative and logical-semantic analyses are used in the research. The article analyzes the examples that are based on phraseological units, mainly proverbs in Karakalpak in comparison with English proverbs. Communicative competence is considered to be important in order to understand communication ethics, and to improve cultural awareness skills, to develop critical thinking as well. Also, the authors conclude that cultural codes could be a subject of practical study during English as a foreign language, along with other exercises on grammar and speaking skills that could be used by a Karakalpak ESP (English as a specific purpose) teacher.
Compact Modeling of 3D Vertical Junctionless Gate-all-around Silicon Nanowire Transistors

This paper presents a physics based, computationally efficient compact modeling approach for 3D vertical gate-all-around junctionless nanowire transistor (JLNT) arrays designed for future high performance computational logic circuit. The model features an explicit continuous analytical form adapted for a 14 nm channel JLNT technology and has been validated against extensive characterization results on a wide range of JLNT geometry, depicting good accuracy. Finally, preliminary logic circuit simulations have been performed for benchmarking performances of transistor logic circuits, such as inverters and ring oscillators, designed using the developed model.
Evaluation of Fatigue Damage in 304 Stainless Steel by Measuring Residual Magnetic Field

To demonstrate the feasibility of the passive magnetic NDT method for damage assessment of 304 austenitic stainless steel, the residual magnetic field change of the 304 stainless steel specimens under fatigue loads was investigated. The measurement was carried out using a fluxgate sensor and the magnetic characteristics were extracted for analysis of fatigue state. Then, the XRD test was carried out to investigate the mechanism of magnetic field changes and verify the reliability of the proposed method. The results show that the variation of the maximum gradient is consistent with the process of fatigue crack growth, which indicates that the fatigue damage can be estimated by residual magnetic field measuring. In future stage, how to distinguish the magnetic field changes derived from martensite transformation or stress magnetization effect will be investigated.
An autophagy-related diagnostic biomarker for uterine fibroids: FOS

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign gynecologic tumors in reproductive-aged women. The typical diagnostic strategies of UFs are transvaginal ultrasonography and pathological feature, while molecular biomarkers are considered conventional options in the assessment of the origin and development of UFs in recent years. Here, we extracted the differential expression genes (DEGs) and differential DNA methylation genes (DMGs) of UFs from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, GSE64763, GSE120854, GSE45188, and GSE45187. 167 DEGs with aberrant DNA methylation were identified, and further Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were performed by the relevant R package. We next discerned 2 hub genes (FOS, and TNFSF10) with autophagy involvement by overlapping 167 DEGs and 232 autophagic regulators from Human Autophagy Database. FOS was identified as the most crucial gene through the Protein–Protein Interactions (PPI) network with the correlation of the immune scores. Moreover, the down-regulated expression of FOS in UFs tissue at both mRNA and protein levels was validated by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of FOS was 0.856, with a sensitivity of 86.2% and a specificity of 73.9%. Overall, we explored the possible biomarker of UFs undergoing DNA—methylated autophagy and provided clinicians with a comprehensive assessment of UFs.
The Humanistic Revolution in Psychology: Its Inaugural Vision

This article presents a textual analysis of the inaugural issue of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology. The analysis culminated in the creation of a composite narrative that expresses the character of the humanistic vision for psychological science, a historical snapshot of the evolving humanistic revolution circa 1961. The analysis showed humanistic psychology to have proposed a nonreactionary, inclusive, integrative approach to psychology. This approach was anchored in a radicalized image of humanity, one that would not rely wholly on theories and methods of research designed for nonhuman beings. The findings further indicate that, from its inception, humanistic psychology was envisioned to be a unique amalgam of what would today be considered cultural psychology, cognitive psychology, and developmental psychology, without being reducible to any one of these subfields. It was and remains an effort in earnest to do justice to a truer self, engaged in the process of becoming, operating within biological and cultural parameters.
Quantificação de DNA por PCR em Tempo Real em diferentes Amostras Forenses

The strength and quality of the results from DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis are of main importance in Forensic Genetics. The ability to obtain results in unknown DNA samples is essential, allowing to decide how to proceed most effectively without any loss of sample. The high copy number per cell and high resistance to environmental factors, that allow its use in studies of degraded biological material and/or small quantities, make the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) a determining tool in forensic casework. However, analysis of the nuclear DNA (ncDNA) remains the leading forensic genetics tool due to the uniqueness of each genetic profile obtained. The quantification of DNA ensures the competence of the assays in forensic samples. Obtaining a clear estimation of the quantity of DNA molecules present in a sample to prevents the wastage during the tests. Its implementation by PCR Real-Time (RT-PCR), which stands out for its reproducibility, precision and sensitivity, makes it an attractive test for absolute quantification of unknown samples. In this study, the quantification of human DNA (nuclear – ncDNA and mitochondrial mtDNA) was performed from three different types of biological samples (blood, buccal swabs and hair) and various concentrations of DNA control DNA K562 (Promega). It was used two methods of quantification by Real-time PCR (a commercial kit, "Quantifiler®Trio Quantification Kit" for quantifying the ncDNA and test the "TaqMan®Universal Master Mix" for quantifying mtDNA). Based on these results, several PCR protocols was tested to determine the most appropriate assay. The aim of this study was to obtain a protocol methodology capable of reproducibility, fulfilling the requirements of a good practice in the laboratory routine, reducing costs and time.
Exchange Rates and Domestic Credit-Can Macroprudential Policy Reduce the Link?

This paper examines empirically the role of macroprudential policy in addressing the effects of external shocks on financial stability. In a sample of 62 economies over the period of 2000: Q1–2016: Q4, our dynamic panel regressions show that an appreciation of the local exchange rate is associated with a subsequent increase in the domestic credit gap, while a prior tightening of macroprudential policies dampens this effect. These results are strong for small open economies, and robust when we explicitly account for potential simultaneity and reverse causality biases. We also examine a feedback effect where strong domestic credit pulls in additional cross-border funding, potentially further increasing systemic risk, and find that targeted capital controls can play a complementary role in alleviating this effect.
A large-scale genome-wide enrichment analysis identifies new trait-associated genes, pathways and tissues across 31 human phenotypes*

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) aim to identify genetic factors that are associated with complex traits. Standard analyses test individual genetic variants, one at a time, for association with a trait. However, variant-level associations are hard to identify (because of small effects) and can be difficult to interpret biologically. “Enrichment analyses” help address both these problems by focusing on sets of biologically-related variants. Here we introduce a new model-based enrichment analysis method that requires only GWAS summary statistics, and has several advantages over existing methods. Applying this method to interrogate 3,913 biological pathways and 113 tissue-based gene sets in 31 human phenotypes identifies many previously-unreported enrichments. These include enrichments of the endochondral ossification pathway for adult height, the NFAT-dependent transcription pathway for rheumatoid arthritis, brain-related genes for coronary artery disease, and liver-related genes for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. A key feature of our method is that inferred enrichments automatically help identify new trait-associated genes. For example, accounting for enrichment in lipid transport genes yields strong evidence for association between MTTP and low-density lipoprotein levels, whereas conventional analyses of the same data found no significant variants near this gene.
A Reinforcement Learning-Based Decision System for Electricity Pricing Plan Selection by Smart Grid End Users

With the development of deregulated retail power markets, it is possible for end users equipped with smart meters and controllers to optimize their consumption cost portfolios by choosing various pricing plans from different retail electricity companies. This article proposes a reinforcement learning-based decision system for assisting the selection of electricity pricing plans, which can minimize the electricity payment and consumption dissatisfaction for individual smart grid end user. The decision problem is modeled as a transition probability-free Markov decision process (MDP) with improved state framework. The proposed problem is solved using a Kernel approximator-integrated batch Q-learning algorithm, where some modifications of sampling and data representation are made to improve the computational and prediction performance. The proposed algorithm can extract the hidden features behind the time-varying pricing plans from a continuous high-dimensional state space. Case studies are based on data from real-world historical pricing plans and the optimal decision policy is learned without a priori information about the market environment. Results of several experiments demonstrate that the proposed decision model can construct a precise predictive policy for individual user, effectively reducing their cost and energy consumption dissatisfaction.
Urology at your fingertips: the development of a urology m-learning app for medical students

Background Surgical education has embraced advancing technology with an emphasis on e-learning in recent years. Smartphones are a useful tool for medical teaching and learning with increasing use by medical students to access e-books, medical calculators, podcasts, and medical applications (apps). Our aim was to develop a dedicated urology app for medical students as an adjunct to traditional teaching. Methods We published an e-book: Urology Handbook for Medical Students in 2017 based on the core urology curriculum for medical students. Subsequently, we developed a concise, simple and user-friendly smartphone app for medical students called “Urology Med”, available for download on App Store and Google Play. Results This app is an introduction to urology for medical students but may also be useful for interns and surgical trainees. The app encompasses core urology topics subdivided into common urological presentations, urological examination, urological diseases, and urological devices. To make the app interactive, it includes 5 clinical cases that complement the reading material and six quizzes for self-assessment. A comprehensive checklist of 31 “must see” and “good to see” urology experiences is included. Within one month of launch, the app was downloaded 435 times in five countries across three continents. It has a 5-star rating on the Apple store. Conclusions High educational standards with relevant content make e-learning a valuable learning tool for surgical education. The Urology Med app facilitates easy access to urology and is ideal for quick reading while working or revising.
Collaboration practices between the two tiers of school leadership in eradicating underperformance

Collaboration between the school governing body (SGB) and the school management team (SMT) in underperforming schools remains the crest for successful action taken to turn around performance as envisaged in the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 (Republic of South Africa, 1996). Their interaction is crucial in advancing the course of performance improvement. In the study reported on here a qualitative method and an interpretivist approach was used to explore how shared leadership collaboration practices between the SGB and SMT can improve performance. A case of 3 purposefully sampled underperforming schools in the Gauteng West district was undertaken. Interviews with 3 principals (individually) and 3 focus group interviews with parent SGB members, SMT members and teachers were conducted. Findings show that when developmental needs of SGBs are considered significant and stakeholders are mobilised towards collective effort (letsema), collaboration and interaction enable school performance. It is recommended that SGB development be contextualised to enable swift interaction with stakeholders; the essence of the SGB and SMT collaboration in providing leadership and dealing with issues impacting on performance should be highlighted, so that they can plan activities that bring about improved performance. Employing courageous conversations to achieve institutional goals should be through collaborative endeavours that are inspired by ubuntu leadership practice.
Wireless indoor localization using convolutional neural network

This paper provides a wireless localization method using convolutional neural networks (CNN) and based on WIFI fingerprinting data. We pre-processed WIFI fingerprinting data from Jaume I University public database and used it to train our CNN model. A WIFI fingerprint is composed of a series of received signals’ strength (RSS) released by many access points (APs). We changed the RSSs’ value at the edge of the signal disappearance. This operation can help the CNN model extract the features of fingerprints and have a better performance. After this operation, a CNN model can have about 21.2% lower loss and 23.5% higher accuracy than usual. Changing edge RSS is shown to be a good way to improve the performance of indoor localization.
Assessment of Diversity based on Agro-morphological and Quality Characterization of Germplasm Accessions of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice has the largest germplasm collections in the world consisting of tremendous genetic variability and serving as store house of elite genes which can further be exploited for enriching the rice cultivars with potential genes of desirable traits. Germplasm can serve as a good source of resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses like drought and insect pest and diseases but they are often inferior to commercial cultivars because of several agronomically undesirable features such as poor plant type, spreading habit, high grain shattering, long awns, purple pericarp and/or red kernel and low yield (Gupta et al., 2014). For better utilization of germplasm accessions and estimation of genetic variability present in germplasm, characterization and evaluation are two important activities to be performed. Agromorphological characterization provides the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 8 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
The effect of enforcement action on audit fees and the audit reporting lag

We study the effect of audit market regulation on auditor contracting by examining a sample of enforcement actions on engagement auditors by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). We conjecture that sanctions change auditor behaviour through increased effort and diligence. Specifically, we hypothesise that sanctioned auditors would (a) increase audit fees and (b) increase reporting lag. We find results consistent with these hypotheses. We also provide supporting evidence using a battery of output measures of audit quality including abnormal accruals (various kinds), modified audit opinion, F-score, and restatements. Thus, both input-based and output-based indicators show that sanctioned auditors improve audit quality. Additionally, in nuanced tests, we present evidence on other aspects of auditor behaviour: we find that audit firms combine sanctioned auditors with more seasoned co-partners and assign a lighter workload. By far, this is the most direct and compelling evidence that auditors respond to sanctions. Overall, sanctions appear to encourage sanctioned auditors as well as their firms to take a concerted and strategic approach to improve audit quality.
Current Status of M. hyopneumoniae in Pigs in Grenada, West Indies

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, cause of enzootic pneumonia is known for serious economic losses in pigs. The disease is prevalent all over the world. There is no published report on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae incidence in Grenadian pigs. The aim of this study was to estimate seroprevalence of antibodies for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in non vaccinated pigs in Grenada. Sera were collected randomly from 459 pigs of all ages from all six parishes of Grenada. Sera were tested for antibodies to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae using an indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) kit. Antibodies to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were found in 8.71% (95% CI: 0.0644 to 0.1167) pigs. The greatest percent of positives (62.5%) (95% CI: 0.4699 to 0.7582) were in youngest group 22.5% (95% CI: 0.1211 to 0.3771) in >2 year. Positive females were overrepresented compared to males by 3:1. This is the first report on the sero-prevalence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in pigs from Grenada, West Indies.