Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality Estimation for Scarce Scenarios Within Mobile Crowdsensing Systems

Mobile crowdsensing (MCS) is a paradigm that exploits the presence of a crowd of moving human participants to acquire, or generate, data from their environment. As a part of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) paradigm, MCS serves the quest for a more efficient operation of a smart city. Big data techniques employed on this data produce inferences about the participants’ environment, the smart city. However, sufficient amounts of data are not always available. Sometimes, the available data are scarce as it is obtained at different times, locations, and from different MCS participants who may not be present. As a consequence, the scale of data acquired may be small and susceptible to errors. In such scenarios, the MCS system requires techniques that acquire reliable inferences from such limited data sets. To that end, we resort to small data (SD) techniques that are relevant for scarce and erroneous scenarios. In this article, we discuss SD and propose schemes to tackle the problems associated with such limited data sets, in the context of the smart city. We propose two novel quality metrics: 1) MAD quality metric (MAD-Q) and 2) MAD bootstrap quality metric (MADBS-Q), to deal with SD, focusing on evaluating the quality of a data set within MCS. We also propose an MCS-specific coverage metric that combines the spatial dimension with MAD-Q and MADBS-Q. We show the performance of all the presented techniques through closed-form mathematical expressions, with which simulation results were found to be consistent.
Calculation of the critical delay for the double inverted pendulum

Single and double inverted pendulum systems subjected to delayed state feedback are analyzed in terms of stabilizability. The maximum (critical) delay that allows a stable closed-loop system is determined via the multiplicity-induced-dominancy property of the characteristic roots, that is the dominant (rightmost) roots are associated with higher multiplicity under certain conditions of the system parameters. Other methods such as tracking the changes of the D-curves with increasing delay and the Walton–Marshall method are also demonstrated for the example of the single pendulum. For the double inverted pendulum subjected to full state feedback, the number of control gains is four, and application of numerical methods requires therefore high computational effort (i.e. optimization in a four-dimensional space). It is shown that, with the multiplicity-induced-dominancy–based approach, the critical delay and the associated control gains can be determined directly using the characteristic equation and its derivatives.
Grappling with Funds of Knowledge in Rural Appalachia and Beyond: Shifting Contexts of Pre-Service Teachers

ABSTRACT Funds of Knowledge (FoK) is a form of research in which families’ practices inform education. Unfortunately, neoliberalism minimizes understanding families’ assets because educators must transmit standardized knowledge for tests. In Appalachia, grappling with complex knowledge is challenging because of the opioid crisis. Through Bakhtin’s theory of polyvocality, this case study examined how White pre-service teachers (PSTs) in rural Appalachia attempted to “grapple” with FoK during student teaching and in diversified settings after graduation. Findings showed that teacher educators sought to promote FoK but PSTs thought about the children and families they worked with in rural and Appalachian settings through a deficit lens. Former PSTs that remained in rural and Appalachian contexts presented emergent knowledge of FoK yet framed their White students as “traumatized. ” Those who moved to urban/suburban contexts with many students of color focused on behaviors and did not discuss FoK. Suggestions for policymakers and teacher educators are included.
Bioactive Compounds in Velvet Bean Seeds: Effect of Certain Indigenous Processing Methods

Effect of different indigenous processing methods on the levels of certain bioactive compounds in the seed materials of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens L. DC), a promising wild type legume collected from different agro-ecological locations of the world, was investigated. Ten different accessions of velvet bean seeds were found to contain appreciable levels of certain bioactive compounds, such as total free phenolics (5.24–8.65 g/100 g DM), tannins (1.77–3.49 g/100 g DM), L-Dopa (4.30–6.23 g/100 g DM), and phytic acid (1.17–2.37 g/100 g DM). In general, velvet bean accession with black coloured seed coat (collected from Zimbabwe, Mexico, and Guinea) registered high levels of total free phenolics and tannins, whereas the maximum level of L-Dopa was detected in Guatemala accession. Furthermore, among the different indigenous processing methods employed in the present study, sprouting and oil-frying can be considered as mild and suitable treatment for the consumption of velvet bean grains as a natural source of health promoting bioactive compounds.
Comparison of Irradiation Effect of ThO2 and ThZrH on Neutronic Parameter of the TRIGA 2000 Reactor

The present work discusses two different models of thorium irradiation in the TRIGA 2000 reactor core to compare the neutronic characteristics of irradiation of thorium dioxide (ThO2) and thorium zirconium hydride (ThZrH). The Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) Transport code, based on the Monte Carlo method, is used to design three dimensional models for TRIGA reactor core at typical operating power 2 MW. These models are used to determine the effective multiplication factor (keff) and neutron flux distribution. The ORIGEN code is used to calculate the 233U isotope production. It is found that decreasing of keff from the effect of hydride irradiation rod is a little lower than the oxide irradiation rod.
Transcriptome Profiling of Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) Challenged With Pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila: Inference on Immune Gene Response

Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is a Neotropical fish of major importance for South American aquaculture. Septicemia caused by Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria is currently considered a substantial threat for pacu aquaculture that have provoked infectious disease outbreaks with high economic losses. The understanding of molecular aspects on progress of A. hydrophila infection and pacu immune response is scarce, which have limited the development of genomic selection for resistance to this infection. The present study aimed to generate information on transcriptome of pacu in face of A. hydrophila infection, and compare the transcriptomic responses between two groups of time-series belonging to a disease resistance challenge, peak mortality (HM) and mortality plateau (PM) groups of individuals. Nine RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) libraries were prepared from liver tissue of challenged individuals, generating ∼160 million 150 bp pair-end reads. After quality trimming/cleanup, these reads were assembled de novo generating 211,259 contigs. When the expression of genes from individuals of HM group were compared to individuals from control group, a total of 4,413 differentially expressed transcripts were found (2,000 upregulated and 2,413 downregulated candidate genes). Additionally, 433 transcripts were differentially expressed when individuals from MP group were compared with those in the control group (155 upregulated and 278 downregulated candidate genes). The resulting differentially expressed transcripts were clustered into the following functional categories: cytokines and signaling, epithelial protection, antigen processing and presentation, apoptosis, phagocytosis, complement system cascades and pattern recognition receptors. The proposed results revealing relevant differential gene expression on HM and PM groups which will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular defense mechanisms during A. hydrophila infection.
Exposure of Normal Human Fibroblasts to Heavy-Ion Radiation Promotes Their Morphological Differentiation

Here we investigated the potential impact of energetic heavy ions on fibroblast differentiation. The differentiation pattern was morphologically determined at days 3 and 5 after exposure to graded dose of γ-rays (0.2 keV/μm) or carbon ions (18.3 MeV/u, 108 keV/μm). The cells irradiated with higher doses progressed toward later differentiation stages as time goes postirradiation, but underwent fewer cell divisions. Thus, radiation exposure accelerated morphological differentiation, for which carbon ions were more effective than γ-rays. The relative biological effectiveness of carbon ions for differentiation was higher than that for the clonogenic survival, and this was the most case for terminally differentiated cells that may not divide any more. The results are suggestive of the distinct mechanism underlying inactivation of clonogenic potential between the radiation quality, such that the contribution of the differentiation to heavy ion-induced reductions in the survival is greater than to those induced by photons. Such accelerated differentiation could be a protective mechanism that minimizes further expansion of aberrant cells.
cDNA Cloning and Gene Expression of Anthocyanidin Synthase from Torenia fournieri

The cDNA clone, TAN1, encoding anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) was isolated by screening of a cDNA library constructed from flower petals of Torenia fournieri cv. Summer Wave Blue using a heterologous probe. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that it contains an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 376 amino acids. The postulated amino acid sequence shows 48% to 72% identities with those of previously reported ANSs. Southern blot analysis suggested that there is a single copy of ANS gene in the genome of T. fournieri. Northern blot analysis indicated that ANS gene is expressed in flower bud but not in leaf or mature flower.
Big Data System for Medical Images Analysis

Big Data in medicine contains conceivably fast processing of large data volumes, alike new and old in perseverance associate the diagnosis and treatment of patients’ diseases. Backing systems for that kind activities may include pre-programmed rules based on data obtained from the medical interview, and automatic analysis of test diagnostic results will lead to classification of observations to a specific disease entity. The current revolution using Big Data significantly expands the role of computer science in achieving these goals, which is why we propose a computer data processing system using artificial intelligence to analyse and process medical images. We conducted research that confirms the need to use GPUs in Big Data systems that process medical images. The use of this type of processor increases system performance.
Political Economy of Exclusion: State-Based Incitement of Intolerance as a Distraction from a Downturn in the Economy

Abstract Middle East scholars have traditionally attributed the survival of monarchs in the Gulf to the use of financial appeasements fueled by oil revenues. With rampant political insecurity in the region and the revolutionary fervor present after the Arab Spring, leaders have gone beyond the traditional rentier state system to ensure political survival by playing on the sentiments of sectarianism and identity politics. This paper argues that religious sectarianism is not only a question of attitudes and sentiments toward a religious minority but also a politically motivated state mechanism used to maintain the status quo and ensure an extended legitimation of power. We argue that the state often capitalizes on people's fear of economic adversities to incite sectarian exclusions of religious minorities, this is especially evident in times of economic hardships. With survey data from the Arab Barometer, we examined such political psychology in Saudi Arabia in 2011, at the onset of the Arab Spring. We found that Sunni Muslim sentiments of sectarian exclusion toward the Shi‘a minority could be attributed to not just religiosity but also state crafted incitement by the Saudi government. In particular, our results show that state-based sectarian intolerance was in part fueled by the government's scapegoating of the Shi‘a communities during times of economic downturns.
Complete mitogenome of Uca rosea and Uca paradussumieri, and their implications in evolution history of fiddler crab in Ocypodidae

Abstract We determined the complete mitogenomes of two fiddler crabs Uca rosea (15,643 bp) and Uca paradussumieri (15,614 bp) of Ocypodidae within Brachyura. Both consist of 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and one control region). The mitogenomes composition of U. rosea and U. paradussumieri are highly A + T biased, 70.77% and 71.12%, respectively, and showed positive AT (0.03 and 0.02) and negative GC (−0.29 and −0.24) skews. Phylogenetic analysis showing all the fiddler crabs were under monophyletic group relationship and belong to Ocypodidae; U. rosea has a sister group relationship with U. paradussumieri.
Ctenis clarnoensis sp. n., an Unusual Cycadalean Foliage from the Eocene Clarno Formation, Oregon

Premise of research. Leaves of an extinct kind of cycad are recognized from the middle and late Eocene Clarno Formation of Oregon. Although the pinnately compound leaf is similar in gross form and organization to some other extant and Cenozoic cycads such as Dioon Lindl. , Encephalartos Lehm. , and Dioonopsis Horiuchi et Kimura, it is readily distinguished from them by its venation, consisting of a closed reticulum of a single order of veins with a frequent dichotomizing and anastomosing pattern. Methodology. Fossils stored in the Museum of Paleontology (University of California), Florida Museum of Natural History (University of Florida), and Condon Museum of Natural History (University of Oregon) were studied applying conventional macromorphological and micromorphological methods including transmitted light and epifluorescence microscopy. Pivotal results. The leaves conform in their peculiar venation and epidermal anatomy to the extinct genus Ctenis Lindley et Hutton, which previously was known only from Mesozoic occurrences. Ctenis clarnoensis Erdei et Manchester sp. n. adds to the diversity of cycads known from the Paleogene of western North America. Conclusions. The record of the reticulate-veined C. clarnoensis and other fossil cycad genera with anastomosing venation patterns from the Paleogene implies that an extinct lineage or lineages of cycads sharing the character of reticulate venation, previously considered to be restricted to the Mesozoic, may have persisted into the Paleogene. Some physiognomic features of leaflets including the involute margin and pointed apex may suggest periodically dry conditions. By the present record the stratigraphic range of Ctenis is significantly extended from its previously known latest records in the Early Cretaceous up to as late as the Eocene.
Physiological profile of high intensity functional training athletes

Introduction: High intensity functional trainings (HIFT) are among the most common and popular training modalities. The aim of the present study was to examine the physiological characteristics of a group of HIFT competitive athletes both in a laboratory and field setting. Methods: Twenty HIFT athletes, 10 men (29 ± 5.3 years) and 10 women (30 ± 3.2 years), were evaluated in the laboratory for anthropometric characteristics, VO 2peak , lactate threshold, maximal anaerobic power, maximal voluntary isometric and isokinetic strength, and muscle power during a countermovement jump. Athletes were also monitored in the field by measuring VO 2 and lactate during a training session. Results: HIFT competitive athletes reached high levels in VO 2peak (52.9 ± 5.67 ml·kg-1·min-1 in men; 52.4 ± 6.17 ml·kg-1·min-1 in women), VO 2 at lactate threshold (79.7% of VO 2peak in men; 74.5% of VO 2peak in women), maximal anaerobic power (7.6 ± 1.32 W·kg-1 in men; 5.0 ± 1.13 W·kg-1 in women; p < .05), maximal voluntary knee extension isometric strength (11.7 ± 1.43 N·kg-1 in men; 9.5 ± 2.25 N·kg-1 in women; p < .05) and isokinetic strength (281.4 ± 31.56 N·kg-1 in men; 243.1 ± 44.13 N·kg-1 in women; p < .05), and muscle power during a countermovement jump (54 ± 5.9 W·kg-1 in men; 40 ± 4.8 W·kg-1 in women; p < .05). VO 2peak during the on-field training session (50.6 ± 3.82 ml·kg-1·min-1 in men; 51.9 ± 5.76 ml·kg-1·min-1 in women) and lactate production (10.4 ± 0.69 mmol·l-1 in men; 9.7 ± 0.96 mmol·l-1 in women) revealed the high intensity nature of HIFT. Conclusions: Overall, HIFT athletes show exceptional performances in physiological components that are key to many different sports. The lack of specialization in exclusively one domain of physical fitness reveals the comprehensive nature of this training methodology.
Isolation of High Lignolytic Bacteria from Termites’s Gut as Potential Booster in for Enhanced Biogas Production

Bacteria strain capable of degrading lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose were isolated from wood Feeding termite gut using spread plate technique. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing methodology was adopted in the identification of the isolate. The isolate’s Morganella morganii (strain S4L2C (MH745964) were found to have a high lignin degradation potential. The organism was able to reduce the lignin content of rice straw from 17.43% to 7.29% after 30 days of pretreatment with 53.27% reduction of the lignin content. This study revealed that termite’s gut bacteria are Potential sources of lignocellulose degrading bacteria for the biological conversion of biomass to biogas production.
Age‐Grading Nymphal Instars of Apterous Virginoparae of Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

A reliable method for age‐grading field‐collected nymphal instars of apterous virginoparae of Eriosoma lanigerum is reported. A classification criterion in the form of linear discriminant function analysis was developed for laboratory populations of E. lanigerum using measurements of several morphological characters. This model was cross‐validated using field‐collected aphids that had been sorted a priori into instar stages on the basis of a set of morphometric measurements. All field‐collected second instars were classified as sorted, while almost all third and fourth instars were classified as sorted. to attain this degree of accuracy in classifying individuals from field populations, measurements of the distance between cornicles, cauda width, body length and hind tibia length are required. This method was developed to obtain quantitative estimates of the effect of mortality factors and the rates of increase of field populations of E. lanigerum.
The pattern of age differences in self-esteem is similar between males and females in Japan: Gender differences in developmental trajectories of self-esteem from childhood to old age

Abstract The current research examined gender differences in age difference patterns of self-esteem in Japan. Previous research has shown that self-esteem is high in childhood, decreases in adolescence, and increases gradually in adulthood and old age in Japan. However, gender differences in the pattern of age differences in self-esteem had not been investigated sufficiently. Gender differences are important for understanding human psychology and behavior. Therefore, I analyzed two cross-sectional datasets from large (Study 1: N = 15,965, Study 2: N = 5,258) and diverse samples ranging from elementary school students to older adults in their 60s. Results showed that the patterns of age differences in self-esteem are consistent between males and females. Thus, regarding the global evaluation of the self, males and females show a similar pattern over the life course.
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as a possible ruxolitinib reservoir in the bone marrow niche

Myelofibrosis (MF), a chronicmyeloproliferative disorder, is characterized by early bonemarrow (BM) hyperplasia and late-stage fibrosis and splenomegaly. More than 50% of patients carry a somatic mutation (V617F) in the gene encoding for the Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2), a tyrosine kinase involved in several signaling pathways [1,2], ultimately leading to uncontrolled proliferation and cell survival [3]. In 2011, a JAK1/2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, has been approved for treatment of primary MF (PMF) [4,5]. This drug competitively inhibits the JAK2 ATP-binding catalytic site and decreases STAT5 activity, downregulates inflammatory signaling pathways, and reduces hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) proliferation rate especially in those cells harboring the JAK2V617F mutation [3]. BM-mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could modify the BM niche composition, ameliorate fibrosis during various treatments [6], and might also modulate uptake, release, and metabolism of ruxolitinib. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro the uptake rate of ruxolitinib by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) derived from MF patients and to study the effects of treated BM-MSCs and conditioned culture media on leukemic cell growth in order to add further information to ruxolitinib mechanism of action inMF. BM heparinized specimens were collected from five patients with PMF or postpolycythemia vera myelofibrosis (PV-MF) carrying the JAK2V617F mutation (Figure 1A) after informed consent obtained in accordance with protocols approved by the Ethic Committee of Our Institution (ASL Napoli 3 Sud, Naples, Italy; prot./SCCE n. 24988). Patients received a diagnosis of PMF or PV-MF according to the 2016 WHO criteria (BM histology of two representative patients in Figure 1B). A total of 5 × 104 BM mononuclear cells/cm2 was seeded in the presence of alpha-MEMwith L-glutamine supplemented with 10% FBS (Corning Inc., Corning, NY) and antibiotics (penicillin 100 U/mL, streptomycin 100 mg/mL, and amphotericin B 0.25 mg/mL; Biowest, Nuaillé, France). MSC colony growth was monitored for 14 days; then, colonies were detached by trypsinization (4.5 mL/Flask of 0.025% Tripsin/EDTA, for 7 min at +37◦C), and cells were seeded at 4000 cells/cm2. BM-MSCs were expanded up to the third passage and mesenchymal phenotype was confirmed according to the International Society of Cellular Therapy guidelines [7]. A total of 1 × 105 cells was stained with the following antibodies: CD90-FITC or HLA-DR-FITC;
A Survey on Privacy Protection of Blockchain: The Technology and Application

As a kind of point-to-point distributed public ledger technology, blockchain has been widely concerned in recent years. The privacy protection of blockchain technology has always been the core issue of people’s attention. In this paper, some existing solutions to the current problems of user identity and transaction privacy protection are surveyed, including coin mixing mechanism, zero knowledge proof, ring signature and other technologies. Secondly, five typical applications of privacy protection technology based on blockchain are proposed and analyzed, which are mainly divided into technology applications based on coin mixing protocol, encryption protocol, secure channel protocol and so on. Finally, in view of the shortages of the existing blockchain privacy protection technology, we explore future research challenges that need to be studied in order to preserve privacy in blockchain system, and looks forward to the future development direction.