Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Twenty-five Years of Delila and Molecular Information Theory

A brief personal history is given about how information theory can be applied to binding sites of genetic control molecules on nucleic acids. The primary example used is ribosome binding sites in Escherichia coli. Once the sites are aligned, the information needed to describe the sites can be computed using Claude Shannon’s method. This is displayed by a computer graphic called a sequence logo. The logo represents an average binding site, and the mathematics easily allows one to determine the components of this average. That is, given a set of binding sites, the information for individual binding sites can also be computed. One can go further and predict the information of sites that are not in the original data set. Information theory also allows one to model the flexibility of ribosome binding sites, and this led us to a simple model for ribosome translational initiation in which the molecular components fit together only when the ribosome is at a good ribosome binding site. Since information theory is general, the same mathematics applies to human splice junctions, where we can predict the effect of sequence changes that cause human genetic diseases and cancer. The second example given is the Pribnow “box,” which, when viewed by the information theory method, reveals a mechanism for initiation of both transcription and DNA replication. Replication, transcription, splicing, and translation into protein represent the central dogma, so these examples show how molecular information theory is contributing to our knowledge of basic biology.
Impact of Remittances on Household Health Care Expenditure: Evidence from the Nepal Living Standards Survey

This paper examines the effect of remittance inflows on health care expenditure in Nepal using the Nepal Living Standards Survey 2010–2011. Using the recursive three‐stage least square regression method, the propensity score matching method, and the Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition method, we find a positive and significant effect of remittances on health care expenditure. In particular, our analysis shows a 0.099% increase in health care expenditure for every 1% increase in overall remittances. This effect increases to 0.189% for earned remittances (remittances received from a household member). We also find that remittance‐receiving households with at least one migrant family member have different health care spending behavior than those with no migrant members.
MP47-17 DEEP LEARNING MODELS TO PREDICT PSYCHOMOTOR ERRORS USING RAW KINEMATIC DATA FROM VIRTUAL REALITY SIMULATOR

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Kinematic performance metrics during robotic surgery have been linked to clinical outcomes. Thus far, the kinematic data we have analyzed, in the form of automated performance metrics (APMs), have been summarized data over specific steps of a surgical procedure and focused on economy of movement (i.e., efficiency). Herein, we evaluate for the first time raw (unprocessed) kinematic data during robotic simulation, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) methods to predict Mimic's composite scoring and select psychomotor errors. METHODS: Our analysis of raw kinematic data centered around a single needle driving task (“Basic Suture Sponge”) on the Mimic Technologies FlexVR platform. Eleven participants (surgeons/ non-surgeons) completed the simulation exercise 5-11 times each. For each exercise, spatial x,y,z coordinates of the camera and instruments were collected at 30 Hz. This logged data was then used to infer “microdisplacements” along each degree of freedom and overall spatialtemporal instrument trajectory during the exercise. Psychomotor errors and composite “M Score” were reported by the simulator. We utilized several sequential deep learning algorithms, including Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) networks to map the raw data and to predict the composite score and general surgical skills: needle targeting and instrument collisions. RESULTS: 60 simulation sessions were divided into 37, 12, and 11 training, validation, and testing cohorts, respectively. The mean SD composite “M score” was 925.75 324.85. Predicting composite simulation score: the LSTM network was able to best predict the composite “M score” with a mean absolute error 273.09 (29%). Predicting Mistargeting of Needle: GRU and RNN were able to learn best from the dataset (accuracy[76%; p[0.38), achieving 6% more accuracy than the base ratio of classes in the dataset (30% perfect/near perfect needle targeting [0-1 misses] vs. 70% imperfect targeting [>1 misses]). Predicting Instrument Collision: RNN outperformed every other model in this exercise with 64.7% accuracy (11.1% more than the base classifier, p[0.18). LSTMs and GRUs were up next with 60% and 58.8% accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results suggest that the “micro-displacements data” captured during a simulation exercise can at minimum moderately capture aspects of suturing psychomotor skill. With further optimization, AI methods may be able to automate psychomotor skills assessment.
Comparison of Diatom Paleo-Assemblages with Adjacent Limno-Terrestrial Communities on Vega Island, Antarctic Peninsula

Diatoms are useful ecological and paleolimnological indicators routinely used to reconstruct past conditions and monitor environmental change. Despite this, diatom assemblages from lake sediment cores are often difficult to interpret due to a limited knowledge of the ecology of some species, some of which may originate from the adjacent limno-terrestrial landscape. Here, we compare diatom assemblages from two recently published Antarctic lake sediment cores collected from the northeast and southwest sides of Vega Island, Antarctic Peninsula. We further compare the sediment core assemblages with adjacent modern communities inhabiting four different limno-terrestrial habitat types to gauge the importance of landscape connectivity in determining paleo-assemblage structure. We found that diatom assemblage composition was significantly different between the two cores, and our survey of modern habitats further revealed habitat type to be an important factor determining the composition of limno-terrestrial samples. Differences in modern habitats were driven primarily by Chamaepinnularia krookiformis in mosses, Nitzschia paleacea in ponds, and Fistulifera pelliculosa in streams. When modern communities were compared with paleo-assemblages through ordination, the cored lake from the northeast side, which exhibited greater hydrological connectivity with its surroundings, clustered more closely with the adjacent modern samples. Meanwhile, the cored lake from the southwest side, which was more hydrologically isolated, formed a distinct cluster separate from the others. Overall, species richness and diversity were greater on the southwest side of the island than the northeast, and the known distributions of diatom taxa supported the notion that Vega Island was a transitional zone between the Maritime and Continental Antarctic bioregions. These results collectively suggested that while environmental and spatial controls may be influential in determining diatom community composition, the unique hydrogeological setting of individual waterbodies was an important consideration for determining the assemblage structure of lake cores. This paper furthermore expanded ongoing research of diatom diversity and distributions on maritime Antarctic islands, which will improve diatom-based interpretations for regional ecological monitoring and paleolimnology in the future.
Relative frequency of sympatric species influences rates of interspecific hybridization, seed production and seedling performance in the uncommon Eucalyptus aggregata

1 Habitat fragmentation can alter the relative frequency of cross‐compatible species within an area, which can affect the levels of interspecific hybrid production and reduce the viability of small populations through genetic and demographic swamping. For 18 populations of Eucalyptus aggregata, we examined the effects of absolute and relative population size (compared with its congeners E. rubida, E. viminalis and E. dalrympleana) on hybrid production, genetic diversity and subsequent seed production and seedling performance. 2 Relative population size was strongly negatively correlated with rates of hybrid seed production, suggesting increased hybridization when the potential sources of interspecific pollen outnumber the sources of intraspecific pollen for E. aggregata trees. 3 Genetic diversity was negatively correlated with relative population size which suggests that hybridization may maintain diversity lost through bottlenecks and drift following reductions in population size. However, the presence of fertile hybrid adults, and introgressed leaf traits within populations exhibiting high hybridization rates, suggests that small E. aggregata populations may be vulnerable to genetic swamping by common congeners. 4 Amongst an array of population parameters (population sizes, genetic diversity and inbreeding), seed production was only positively correlated with relative population size, whereby sites with low relative population sizes tended to produce fewer seed. This could be due to the action of pre‐zygotic barriers which removes inviable hybrid genotypes as levels of interspecific pollen flow increase. 5 Germination and survivorship displayed a similar positive correlation with relative population size, suggesting post‐zygotic hybrid breakdown may also contribute towards to demographic swamping of remnant populations. 6 Synthesis. Our results suggest that relative population size is an important parameter determining rates of hybrid production, seed production and seedling performance. Furthermore, relative population size has stronger effects on population fecundity than absolute population size, genetic diversity and levels of inbreeding. Relative population sizes > 0.5 (i.e. at least equal frequencies of parentals) may be required to avoid the deleterious effects of genetic and demographic swamping on the viability of rare species.
Stochastic Optimal Energy Management and Pricing for Load Serving Entity With Aggregated TCLs of Smart Buildings: A Stackelberg Game Approach

With the development of demand-side management in the smart grid, load-serving entity (LSE) plays a more important role for consumers, which purchases energy from the electricity market and sells it to consumers. Moreover, aggregated thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) in smart buildings can provide additional demand response capacities and require efficient energy management methods. This article proposes a stochastic optimal energy management and pricing model for LSE with aggregated TCLs and energy storage based on the Stackelberg game and stochastic programming. The energy management and pricing problem are formulated as a bilevel optimization model. The upper level model aims to maximize LSE's expected profit under market price uncertainties and determines the offering prices to consumers. According to the offering price from upper level model, the lower level model optimizes the power purchasing pattern for consumers of two types of buildings with TCLs: factory and office buildings. The nonlinear bilevel model is reformulated and converted into mixed-integer linear programming using a strong duality theory. The proposed model is validated by numerical studies based on real market prices from the PJM electricity market. In addition, the impacts of energy storage, number of buildings, comfortable indoor temperature limits, and offering price limits on LSE's profit are analyzed.
Self-Selective Resistive Device With Hybrid Switching Mode for Passive Crossbar Memory Application

In this letter, we experimentally demonstrated a novel resistive device with a hybrid switching mode that can be alternated between volatile threshold switching and non-volatile resistive switching. The device consists of dual-functional layers VO2 /HfO2 sandwiched by symmetrical TiN electrodes. A >20 unified ratio for selectivity and memory window is obtained. Owing to the stable resistive behavior of HfO2 and insulator-metal transition of VO2, the device shows excellent uniform switching parameters in both switching modes with a high on-state current density (1E4 A/cm2) and fast switching/recovery speed (< 30 ns). This self-selective resistive memory is of great potential in the high-density crossbar array, particularly for the future 3D-Vertical resistive random access memory (RRAM) integration.
Uniform propagation of cathode-directed surface ionization waves at atmospheric pressure

The uniform propagation of positive-polarity surface plasmas in air at atmospheric pressure has been achieved using a multi-layer structure, consisting of a silicon wafer covered by a 1 μm thick dielectric SiO2 layer as a propagation surface. Instead of the branched streamers observed in the same conditions when using conventional bulk dielectric surfaces, the plasma exhibits a homogenous ring-shaped structure with a high degree of reproducibility and stability. The plasma is generated by applying nanosecond positive voltage pulses to a tungsten wire touching the dielectric surface. The plasma has been imaged in single shot operation at high spatial resolution with an ultraviolet reflective microscope coupled with a fast intensified charge-coupled device camera. Time- and space-resolved optical emission spectroscopy shows that the homogenous ring corresponds to the propagation of an ionization front with a region of high N2+* emission. We discuss the origin of the ring-shaped ionization wave, considering the role of the Si–SiO2 interface and the effect of illumination by an external light source. The ring ionization wave may result from branching inhibition, due to a photoelectric effect at the interface created by the photons emitted by the plasma. The generation of stable uniform surface ionization waves, in ambient air at atmospheric pressure, could be of interest for further advanced plasma–surface interaction studies or flow control applications.
Speech/Music Classification Using Features From Spectral Peaks

Spectrograms of speech and music contain distinct striation patterns. Traditional features represent various properties of the audio signal but do not necessarily capture such patterns. This work proposes to model such spectrogram patterns using a novel Spectral Peak Tracking (SPT) approach. Two novel time-frequency features for speech vs. music classification are proposed. The proposed features are extracted in two stages. First, SPT is performed to track a preset number of highest amplitude spectral peaks in an audio interval. In the second stage, the location and amplitudes of these peak traces are used to compute the proposed feature sets. The first feature involves the computation of mean and standard deviation of peak traces. The second feature is obtained as averaged component posterior probability vectors of Gaussian mixture models learned on the peak traces. Speech vs. music classification is performed by training various binary classifiers on these proposed features. Three standard datasets are used to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed features for speech/music classification. The proposed features are benchmarked against five baseline approaches. Finally, the best-proposed feature is combined with two contemporary deep-learning based features to show that such combinations can lead to more robust speech vs. music classification systems.
Morphological and histochemical studies of Bidder’s organ in Rhinella schneideri (Amphibia: Anura) males

Abstract Bufonids have an organ that produces female germ cells in both sexes, known as the Bidder’s organ (BO). In males, BO is located in the anterior pole of the testis and it has been compared to a rudimentary ovary. It has been demonstrated that in some species the bidderian follicles can accumulate vitellogenin in males, while in other species, the development of follicles is inhibited by the differentiation of the corresponding gonad. This study describes the anatomical, histochemical and ultrastructural aspects of the BO in males of the neotropical frog Rhinella schneideri during the breeding season. A topographic model has also been built using three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. BO has an irregular shape with lobes varying in size and number. There is no physical barrier between the BO and male gonads and, for this reason, female cells are in intimate association with seminiferous locules. Histologically, two distinct regions are observed in the BO: the cortex, and medulla. In the cortex, bidderian oocytes are surrounded by follicle cells forming bidderian follicles, which are in pre-vitellogenic stage. The ooplasm of bidderian oocytes is rich in cytoplasmic organelles. Microvilosities are formed in the oolemma, where the follicular cells are juxtaposed with oocytes, and amorphous extracellular material is deposited. Lipofuscin and myelin bodies occur in the medulla as a result of the cellular degradation. Pigmented cells were also detected in the medullar region. The oogonias observed in the BO periphery, and the significant amount of degenerating oocytes in the cortex, showed the renewal capacity of BO cells in R. schneideri males. The BO anatomical pattern in R. schneideri is similar to that observed for most species of bufonids. This work describes for the first time specific aspects related to the morphological description with emphasis on architecture, morphometry and histochemistry.
Nest site characteristics of cavity-nesting birds on a small island, in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

Many studies of cavity-nesting birds in North America are conducted in large continental forests and much less is known about them in island ecosystems. We describe a 29-year study of tree species, nest site characteristics, and fledge dates of cavity-nesting birds on a small island in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (BC). Seven cavity-nesting bird species were documented on East Limestone Island and 463 nests were found in 173 different trees. Nest trees were significantly taller and had a greater diameter than a random sample of snags. Tree height did not differ among bird species but diameter at breast height was larger for trees used by Brown Creeper ( Certhia americana ) than for other species. Cavity-nesters selected tree decay classes 2–7 (all dead/near dead [snags]), with 85% in decay class 4 (35%) or 5 (50%), similar to the random snag sample (class 4, 32%; class 5, 42%). Cavity height ranged from 2.6 to 44.9 m and for all species, except Brown Creeper, the mean nest height was >60% of the mean tree height. Nest heights were generally greater than observed elsewhere in BC. Nest cavity orientation was random except for Red-breasted Sapsuckers ( Sphyrapicus ruber ), for which only 13% of the cavity entrances faced southeast. Median fledging dates ranged from 7 June (Chestnut-backed Chickadee [ Poecile rufescens ]) to 28 June (Northern Flicker [ Colaptes auratus ]). Estimated median dates of clutch completion were similar for all species. Our results show that large snags provide habitat for a high diversity of cavity-nesting birds on Haida Gwaii.
Variation in length and body weight of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in two different habitats

Summary References Page 93 94 100 100 101 101 102 102 102 103 105 106 Introduction Body weight is a useful measurement as it provides information about the size and condition of an individual. Differences in body weight between squirrels of the same population can be caused by differences in size or in the amount of fat under the skin, i.e. their condition. The layer of fat insulates the animal and can provide a valuable energy store in times of food shortage when, because of weather conditions, it cannot forage, and also when lactating and nursing young. Wauters & Dhondt (1985, 1986) showed that for red squirrels, Sciurus vulgaris L. , a high body weight is of importance in social contacts (heavier males are dominant), and is related to survival and reproductive success (heavier females are more likely to reproduce). Apart from weight differences between different animals, an individual’s body weight fluctuates seasonally. Food availability, and to a lesser extent weather conditions, are factors causing body weight variation in squirrels (Kenward & Tonkin, 1986; Holm, 1987). In this paper we will: (i) describe variation in length and weight in squirrel populations in two habitats in
Going Green Inside and Out: Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Financial Performance under Regulatory Stringency

While researchers have long examined the relationship between corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and financial performance, the evidence remains inconclusive. Moreover, whether sustainable supply chain management plays a role in enhancing the financial performance of focal firms has yet to be fully investigated. As firms’ investment in CER often pays off in the long-term, applying multiple time horizons, short- to long-term considerations, is needed to determine the effects of CER. This study examined the role of CER in improving financial performance based on multiple time horizons. In particular, the effects of CER on financial performance were explored in terms of internal operations and supply chains. The moderating effects of regulatory stringency on the relationship between CER and a firm’s short- or long-term financial performance were also investigated. Firms’ CER was studied using carbon data from Trucost. Carbon footprint can be an appropriate proxy for CER, as it provides information on supply partners’ environmental concerns. A unique dataset of the carbon footprint of 714 North American firms in 19 industry sectors in 2003–2010 was used. The results indicated that firms benefit from CER not only in their internal operations but also in their supply chains in both the short and long-terms. The moderating effects of regulatory stringency were significant for CER only in terms of the supply chain but not for internal operations. In industries with a high level of regulatory stringency, the positive effects of CER on short-term financial performance in the supply chain become weaker, but the same effects on long-term financial performance become stronger. By investigating the effects of two distinct carbon footprint aspects on financial performance at different time horizons, this study sheds light on the importance of CER in firms’ internal operations and supply chains.
Chapter 7: An Investigation Into Sports Coaches’ Twitter Use

Purpose: To investigate sports coaches’ Twitter use. Methods: Coaches (N = 310) from 22 countries and a range of sports completed an online survey. Quantitative survey data were analyzed descriptively and triangulated with qualitative data using Leximancer (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) text mining software. Results: Most participants reported using Twitter for ≥3 years and accessed the platform multiple times per day. More than half participants agreed that using Twitter had positively impacted both their own confidence as a coach and their athletes/players/team’s performance. The strongest overall themes from the qualitative data revealed that Twitter helped sports coaches improve their practices through the sharing of information, connecting with other coaches, and building positivity into their interactions when supporting players. Discussion/Conclusion: Sports coaches perceive Twitter to be a highly valuable platform to network, collaborate, gain access to information, and share ideas and resources.