Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gubernatorial candidates in polarizing times: examining gubernatorial discourse through political interviews

The rise of partisan political news over the past two decades has influenced how political candidates discursively construct their image. While there is an extensive literature devote to presidential discourse, little is known about what gubernatorial discourse looks like and how they construct their image. This study examines how gubernatorial candidates discursively construct their image in a hyperpolarized electoral environment. An extensive content analysis of gubernatorial political interviews (n = 94), and specifically the utterances arising from those interviews (n = 1,524), was conducted. Findings show that gubernatorial candidates discursively construct their own image as a savior to the state, while creating their opponent’s and the DC elite’s image as a villain. Additionally, gubernatorial candidates do not adhere to the image bound by their party, and construct an image that is unique to their environment. Consequently, the environment that a gubernatorial candidate is situated influences how they communicate and construct their image and their opponent’s image. By examining gubernatorial discourse through political interviews, this study offers theoretical implications into understanding the influence of polarization, issue ownership, and tone in gubernatorial discourse. Practical implications examine the role of media outlets in gubernatorial discourse. This study contributes to scholarly understanding of gubernatorial discourse in a changing and polarizing political environment. Key terms: Gubernatorial discourse, Political interview, Election, Polarization, Issue ownership
Bounds on the American Option

The essential feature of American style claims lies in the holder's right to time the exercise decision. The value of the claim depends on the information about future prices that the holder will acquire over time. Much of the literature makes restrictive assumptions about information revelation - for example that the underlying price process is Markov. This paper explores the upper bound on the price of an American option, placing no assumptions on the information structure. The analysis provides insight into the processes that make the American feature valuable, and points the way to hedging strategies for American options that are robust to model error.
The Challenge of Sentiment Quantification

Among the many challenges that sentiment analysis (SA) faces, I want to concentrate on one which has not received much attention within the SA community, but that is going to play a major role in future applications: Sentiment Quantification (SQ) (Esuli and Sebastiani, 2010). Quantification is defined as the task of estimating the prevalence (i.e., relative frequency) of the classes of interest in a set of unlabelled data via supervised learning (Forman, 2008); examples of SQ are (i) determining the prevalence of endorsements in a set of tweets about a political candidate, or (ii) determining the prevalence of rebuttals in a set of reviews of a given book. A naı̈ve way to tackle quantification is by classifying each unlabelled item independently and computing the fraction of such items that have been attributed the class. However, a good classifier is not necessarily a good quantifier: assuming the binary case, even if (FP +FN) is comparatively small, bad quantification accuracy results if FP and FN are significantly different (since perfect quantification coincides with the case FP = FN ). This has led researchers to study quantification as a task on its own right, rather than as a byproduct of classification. Within SA, quantification plays a major role, since in many applications we are interested in estimating sentiment not at the individual level, but at the aggregate level. For instance, when SA is applied to tweets, it is rarely (if at all) the case that we are interested in the sentiment conveyed by an individual tweet (Gao and Sebastiani, 2015): it is the sentiment of the crowd, and how it is distributed, that
Progress in Metropolitan Integration

veniently. Fifty years ago nearby suburbs were peopled by steam-railroad commuters and customers of the rapidly developing trolley lines. Up to that time, however, the outward movement of population in search of cheaper rents and precious light and air had not been so rapid but that city growth by annexation had been able to keep up with it. With the development of the automobile and the paved highway city population has literally exploded over the surrounding country until in many places more of the population which economic forces have drawn to the city live outside of it than in it. This result is most notable, of course, in the case of our great population centers, but there is scarcely an urban community so small or of such slow growth that it is not evident. The effects of this outward sweep of city workers by bus, streetcar, subway, steam train, and automobile have been complicated further by the movement of industry into the outskirts so that in numerous instances the morn-
Non-melanoma skin cancer in Australia.

OBJECTIVES To report the burden and cost of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) treatments in Australia and to project estimates of numbers and costs to 2015. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective study of data obtained from Medicare Australia for NMSC treated by excision, curettage, laser or cryotherapy between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2010, by year, sex, age group and state or territory. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Total number, total Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) benefit and total cost in Australian dollars of NMSC treatments. RESULTS The total number of NMSC treatments increased from 412 493 in 1997 to 767 347 in 2010, and we estimated that the number of treatments would increase to 938 991 (95% CI, 901 047-976 934) by 2015. The total MBS benefit for NMSC treatments in 2010 was $93.5 million, and we estimated that this will increase to $109.8 million (95% CI, $105.9-$113.7 million) by 2015, whereas the total cost with inflation (ie, cost which includes diagnosis, treatment and pathology) was $511.0 million in 2010, estimated to increase to $703.0 million (95% CI, $674.6-$731.4 million) by 2015. CONCLUSION NMSC treatments increased by 86% between 1997 and 2010. We anticipate that the number and the total cost without inflation of NMSC treatments will increase by a further 22% between 2010 and 2015. NMSC will remain the most costly cancer and place an increasing burden on the Australian health care system.
Communities detection algorithm to minimize risk during an evacuation

Recent dramatic events recall to the world that is has to deal with risk problematic. Thus, to face risk in an agglomeration, we study hazards from natural or anthropic origin. One problem is to decide if it is necessary to evacuate or confine population. To help decision makers, we analyze the road network structure which may influence flow fluidity especially in a dangerous case. In this work, we detail an algorithm to detect communities in large graphs. It allows to identify routes that may cause problems in an evacuation case. Thanks to this algorithm, we study a toxic cloud propagation in a given zone and identify roads to avoid when evacuating this zone
Release of Protoplasts in the Yeast Phase of Histoplasma capsulatum without Added Enzyme

Cells of the yeast phase of the dimorphic systemic fungus pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum readily released large numbers of intact protoplasts without degradation of their cell walls by snail or microbial enzymes, previously regarded as a requirement for all yeast and mycelial fungal forms. Over 90 percent of "B" type yeast cells in the early logarithmic phase of growth released living protoplasts when incubated at 37�C with 2 molar magnesium sulfate, whereas "A" type yeast cells required prior exposure for 24 hours to 2-deoxy-D-glucose before incubation in the 2 molar magnesium sulfate.
A bioassay for determination of lipopolysaccharide in environmental samples

Although the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay is widely used to determine the concentration of LPS in biological samples, it is known to be susceptible to interference caused by substances of non-bacterial origin. In particular, polysaccharides such as β-glucans and pectic polysaccharides from fungi or plants, respectively, were shown to give higher LPS readings than were actually present in the sample. Here, we describe an assay for the determination of LPS in biological samples based on the stimulation of TLR4/MD2/CD14 transfected HEK293 cells which dose dependently release IL-8 upon stimulation with increasing concentrations of highly purified Escherichia coli LPS. The resulting standard curve is used to determine the LPS concentration in unknown samples. We show that the outcome of the LPS stimulation is not affected by the presence of β-glucans or other environmental substances found in dust extracts. Although, we present evidence that the LPS concentration measured with the kinetic chromogenic LAL test correlates with data from the TLR4 assay, the LAL test displays higher LPS readings. We conclude that the described TLR4 assay is a reliable alternative to assess the concentration of LPS in environmental samples without being influenced by polysaccharides such as β-glucans and other environmental substances found in dust extracts.
Centralization and Government Budget Size

Since the government budget size is inherently a political decision, the assertions about overspending or underspending, which are associated with centralization, are usually based upon some inadequacy of the decision-making processes such as, the problems created by coalition formation in legislative bodies, or the distortion of the appropriate benefit and cost figures in the decision calculus. ' Opinion is divided, however, as to whether the centralization of activities in a system of governments is likely to increase or decrease the overall level of spending.
Object modeling for environment perception through human-robot interaction

In this paper we propose a new method of object modeling for environment perception through human-robot interaction. Particularly, within a multi-modal object modeling architecture, we tackle the gestural language part using a stereo camera. To do that, we define three human gestures based on the size of target objects; holding small objects, pointing at medium ones, and contacting two corner points of large ones. When a user indicates where the target object is located in the environment, the robot interprets the user's gesture and captures one or more images including the target objects. The region of interest where a target object is likely to be located in the captured image is estimated from the environmental context and the user's gesture. Finally, given an image with a region of interest, the robot performs foreground/background segmentation automatically. Here, we suggest a marker-based watershed segmentation method for object segmentation. Experimental results show that the segmentation quality of our method is as good as that of the GrabCut algorithm, but the computational time of ours is so much faster that it is appropriate for on-line interactive object modeling.
Calibrated measurement of acuity, color and stereopsis on a Nintendo® 3DS™ game console

Significance: A Nintendo® 3DS™ game can reliably test monocular near acuity, stereopsis and color without the need for occlusion patches or goggles. Purpose: We developed dynamic, forced-multiple choice games to measure monocular near acuity, color vision and stereopsis on the autostereoscopic barrier screen of the Nintendo 3DS gaming system. Methods: In an institutional review board-approved study, pediatric and adult patients and normal subjects performed routine patched near visual acuity, Ishahara’s color test and Stereo Fly tests. Then each subject performed a two-phase orientation and testing game, “PDI Check”, on a Nintendo 3DS. Results: Forty-five patients aged 5–60 years completed the routine and Nintendo near tests, resulting in positive, consistent, discriminatory correlation functions. From ROC curves, referral criteria were determined to separate poor from fair-to-normal monocular acuity with 98% sensitivity and 100% specificity, stereoacuity with 80% sensitivity and 97% specificity, and color with 83% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Conclusion: The Nintendo 3DS game PDI Check can provide consistent near vision testing via a dynamic, randomized method that does not require goggles for stereo, and does not require patching to assure monocular testing.
RNase G complementation of rne null mutation identifies functional interrelationships

 with RNase E in Escherichia coli

The Escherichia coli endoribonucleases RNase E (Rne) and RNase G (Rng) have sequence similarity and broadly similar sequence specificity. Whereas the absence of Rne normally is lethal, we show here that E. coli bacteria that lack the rne gene can be made viable by overexpression of Rng. Rng‐complemented cells accumulated precursors of 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and the RNA component of RNase P (i.e. M1 RNA), indicating that normal processing of these Rne‐cleaved RNAs was not restored by RNase G; additionally, neither 5S rRNA nor M1 RNA was generated from precursors by RNase G cleavage in vitro. Using DNA microarrays containing 4405 Escherichia coli open reading frames (ORFs), we identified mRNAs whose steady‐state level was affected by Rne, Rng or the N‐terminal catalytic domain of RNase E. Most transcript species affected by RNase E deficiency were also elevated in an rne deletion mutant complemented by Rng. However, approximately 100 mRNAs that accumulated in Rne‐deficient cells were decreased by rng‐complemention, thus identifying targets whose processing or degradation may be the basis for RNase E essentiality. Remarkably prominent in this group were mRNAs implicated in energy‐generating pathways or in the synthesis or degradation of macromolecules.
Fertility Effects on Female Labor Supply: IV Evidence from IVF Treatments

This paper introduces a new IV strategy based on IVF induced fertility variation in childless families to estimate the causal effect of having children on female labor supply using IVF treated women in Denmark. Because observed chances of IVF success do not depend on labor market histories, IVF treatment success provides a plausible instrument for childbearing. Our IV estimates indicate that fertility effects are: (a) negative, large and long lasting; (b) much stronger at the extensive margin than at the intensive margin; and (c) similar for mothers, not treated with IVF, which suggests that IVF findings have a wider generalizability.
A Wireless ExG Interface for Patch-Type ECG Holter and EMG-Controlled Robot Hand

This paper presents a wearable electrophysiological interface with enhanced immunity to motion artifacts. Anti-artifact schemes, including a patch-type modular structure and real-time automatic level adjustment, are proposed and verified in two wireless system prototypes of a patch-type electrocardiogram (ECG) module and an electromyogram (EMG)-based robot-hand controller. Their common ExG readout integrated circuit (ROIC), which is reconfigurable for multiple physiological interfaces, is designed and fabricated in a 0.18 μm CMOS process. Moreover, analog pre-processing structures based on envelope detection are integrated with one another to mitigate signal processing burdens in the digital domain effectively.
A low-power, 3-5-GHz CMOS UWB LNA using transformer matching technique

This paper presents the design of a 3-5-GHz CMOS ultra-wideband (UWB) Iow-noise amplifier (LNA) utilizing an on-chip transformer to achieve low-power operation and to realize a compact input matching network. Detailed analyses of the input match, voltage gain, and noise figure of the LNA are provided. Implemented in 0.13-mum CMOS, the LNA achieves a maximum power gain of 16.2 dB, an input return loss of greater than 11.0 dB, and a minimum noise figure of 2.8 dB for the 3-5-GHz UWB while consuming only 6.7 mW from a 1.2-V supply. The active area of the fabricated CMOS UWB LNA is 0.32 mm2.
Autotransporter-based cell surface display in Gram-negative bacteria

Abstract Cell surface display of proteins can be used for several biotechnological applications such as the screening of protein libraries, whole cell biocatalysis and live vaccine development. Amongst all secretion systems and surface appendages of Gram-negative bacteria, the autotransporter secretion pathway holds great potential for surface display because of its modular structure and apparent simplicity. Autotransporters are polypeptides made up of an N-terminal signal peptide, a secreted or surface-displayed passenger domain and a membrane-anchored C-terminal translocation unit. Genetic replacement of the passenger domain allows for the surface display of heterologous passengers. An autotransporter-based surface expression module essentially consists of an application-dependent promoter system, a signal peptide, a passenger domain of interest and the autotransporter translocation unit. The passenger domain needs to be compatible with surface translocation although till now no general rules have been determined to test this compatibility. The autotransporter technology for surface display of heterologous passenger domains is critically discussed for various applications.
Comparative corrosion protection studies of electroactive/non-electroactive epoxy thermoset composites containing conductive rGO/non-conductive GO platelets

In this study, comparative corrosion protection studies of cold-rolled steel (CRS) electrodes coated with elec-troactive/non-electroactive epoxy thermoset (denoted as EET/NEET) composites containing dispersed reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphene oxide (GO) platelets are presented. All composites were obtained through the thermal ring-opening reaction of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) with amino-capped aniline trimer (ACAT) or trimethylolpropane tris[poly(propylene glycol), amine terminated] ether (T-403) at a specific mixing ratio in the presence of dispersed rGO/GO were characterized Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). In gas permeability measurements, the GO was found to display a slightly better dispersion capability in both EET and NEET membrane than in rGO. Conductive rGO platelets were found to promote the redox behavior of EET and non-conductive GO platelets was found to depress the redox behavior of EET, as measured by electrochemical cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies. Corrosion protection of composite coatings was investigated by electrochemical corrosion measurements in saline solution. It should be noted, in the EET system, that rGO was found to exhibit better anticorrosion performance as compared to that of GO. However, in NEET system, GO was found to have better anticorrosion performance than rGO. Better anticorrosion of rGO in EET may be attributed to better synergistic effect of electro-catalytic and the oxygen barrier properties of rGO in EET. On the contrary, better anticorrosion of GO in NEET may be associated with better oxygen barrier property of GO alone in NEET than that of rGO. The passive metal oxide layer formed on the cold rolled steel (CRS) electrode induced by EET was further confirmed by Raman and Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA).
Multiple Evolutionary Origins of Magnetotaxis in Bacteria

Magnetosomes are intracellular, iron-rich, membrane-enclosed magnetic particles that allow magnetotactic bacteria to orient in the earth's geomagnetic field as they swim. The magnetosomes of most magnetotactic bacteria contain iron oxide particles, but some magnetotactic species contain iron sulfide particles instead. Phylogenetic analyses of small subunit ribosomal RNA sequences showed that all known magnetotactic bacteria of the iron oxide type are associated with the a subgroup of the Proteobacteria in the domain Bacteria. In contrast, uncultured magnetotactic bacteria of the iron sulfide type are specifically related to the dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria within the δ subdivision of the Proteobacteria. These findings indicate a polyphyletic origin for magnetotactic bacteria and suggest that magnetotaxis based on iron oxides and iron sulfides evolved independently.
Mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species mediate sympathoexcitation induced by angiotensin II in the rostral ventrolateral medulla

Objectives Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the central nervous system are thought to contribute to sympathoexcitation in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and heart failure. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase is a major source of ROS in the central nervous system, which acts as a key mediator (mediators) of angiotensin II (AngII). It is not clear, however, whether mitochondria-derived ROS in the central nervous system also participate in sympathoexcitation. Methods In an in-vivo study, we investigated whether the AngII-elicited pressor response in the rostral ventrolateral medulla, which controls sympathetic nerve activity, is attenuated by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of a mitochondria-derived antioxidant (Mn-SOD). In an in-vitro study, using differentiated PC-12 cells with characteristics similar to those of sympathetic neurons, we examined whether AngII increases mitochondrial ROS production. Results Overexpression of Mn-SOD attenuated the AngII-induced pressor response and also suppressed AngII-induced ROS production, as evaluated by microdialysis in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. Using reduced MitoTracker red, we showed that AngII increased mitochondrial ROS production in differentiated PC-12 cells in vitro. Overexpression of Mn-SOD and rotenone, a mitochondrial respiratory complex I inhibitor, suppressed AngII-induced ROS production. Depletion of extracellular Ca2+ with ethylene glycol bis-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetate (EGTA) and administration of p-trifluoromethoxycarbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone, which prevents further Ca2+ uptake into the mitochondria, blocked AngII-elicited mitochondrial ROS production. Conclusion These results indicate that AngII increases the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and that the increase in mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake leads to mitochondrial ROS production.
The syntaxin SYP132 contributes to plant resistance against bacteria and secretion of pathogenesis-related protein 1

In contrast to many mammalian pathogens, potential bacterial pathogens of plants remain outside the host cell. The plant must, therefore, promote an active resistance mechanism to combat the extracellular infection. How this resistance against bacteria is manifested and whether similar processes mediate basal, gene-for-gene, and salicylate-associated defense, however, are poorly understood. Here, we identify a specific plasma membrane syntaxin, NbSYP132, as a component contributing to gene-for-gene resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana. Silencing NbSYP132 but not NbSYP121, the apparent orthologue of a syntaxin required for resistance to powdery mildew fungus, compromised AvrPto-Pto resistance. Because syntaxins may play a role in secretion of proteins to the extracellular space, we performed a limited proteomic analysis of the apoplastic fluid. We found that NbSYP132-silenced plants were impaired in the accumulation of at least a subset of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins in the cell wall. These results were confirmed by both immunoblot analysis and imunolocalization of a PR protein, PR1a. These results implicate NbSYP132 as the cognate target soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor for exocytosis of vesicles containing antimicrobial PR proteins. NbSYP132 also contributes to basal and salicylate-associated defense, indicating that SYP132-dependent secretion is a component of multiple forms of defense against bacterial pathogens in plants.