Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
`The Times They are A-Changin'

This study compared how selected broadsheet newspapers from three countries covered female and male tennis players competing in the 2004 Wimbledon Championships. From the UK, The Times; from the US, The New York Times; and from Canada, The Globe & Mail were examined. This cross-national comparison extends the work of Vincent (2004) who performed an analysis of three British newspapers' coverage of Wimbledon (one broadsheet and two tabloids). Content analysis was used to compare the amount and prominence of the coverage devoted to female and male tennis players in all articles and photographs during the Wimbledon Championships fortnight (20 June—5 July 2004). Data were also collected one day prior to the Championships and one day following for a total of 16 days. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine statistically significant differences (p<.05). Male players had significantly more total coverage than female players and significantly more articles/photographs. However, the size of the articles/photographs was not significantly different. The Times had the greater disparity in total space allocated to males versus females and significantly more total space devoted to Wimbledon coverage than the other two newspapers. Reasons for the results are discussed and compared to previous quantitative studies examining the newspaper coverage of other sport events.
Portable Wind Energy Harvesters for Low-Power Applications: A Survey

Energy harvesting has become an increasingly important topic thanks to the advantages in renewability and environmental friendliness. In this paper, a comprehensive study on contemporary portable wind energy harvesters has been conducted. The electrical power generation methods of portable wind energy harvesters are surveyed in three major groups, piezoelectric-, electromagnetic-, and electrostatic-based generators. The paper also takes another view of this area by gauging the required mechanisms for trapping wind flow from ambient environment. In this regard, rotational and aeroelastic mechanisms are analyzed for the portable wind energy harvesting devices. The comparison between both mechanisms shows that the aeroelastic mechanism has promising potential in producing an energy harvester in smaller scale although how to maintain the resonator perpendicular to wind flow for collecting the maximum vibration is still a major challenge to overcome for this mechanism. Furthermore, this paper categorizes the previously published portable wind energy harvesters to macro and micro scales in terms of their physical dimensions. The power management systems are also surveyed to explore the possibility of improving energy conversion efficiency. Finally some insights and research trends are pointed out based on an overall analysis of the previously published works along the historical timeline.
Replication Mode and Landscape Topology Differentially Affect RNA Virus Mutational Load and Robustness

ABSTRACT Regardless of genome polarity, intermediaries of complementary sense must be synthesized and used as templates for the production of new genomic strands. Depending on whether these new genomic strands become themselves templates for producing extra antigenomic ones, thus giving rise to geometric growth, or only the firstly synthesized antigenomic strands can be used to this end, thus following Luria's stamping machine model, the abundances and distributions of mutant genomes will be different. Here we propose mathematical and bit string models that allow distinguishing between stamping machine and geometric replication. We have observed that, regardless the topology of the fitness landscape, the critical mutation rate at which the master sequence disappears increases as the mechanism of replication switches from purely geometric to stamping machine. We also found that, for a wide range of mutation rates, large-effect mutations do not accumulate regardless the scheme of replication. However, mild mutations accumulate more in the geometric model. Furthermore, at high mutation rates, geometric growth leads to a population collapse for intermediate values of mutational effects at which the stamping machine still produces master genomes. We observed that the critical mutation rate was weakly dependent on the strength of antagonistic epistasis but strongly dependent on synergistic epistasis. In conclusion, we have shown that RNA viruses may increase their robustness against the accumulation of deleterious mutations by replicating as stamping machines and that the magnitude of this benefit depends on the topology of the fitness landscape assumed.
Effect of Ezetimibe Monotherapy on Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and on Markers of Cholesterol Synthesis and Absorption in Japanese Patients With Hypercholesterolemia

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of ezetimibe monotherapy on serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in Japanese patients and to investigate the association between changes of LDL-C and changes of markers for cholesterol synthesis and absorption. Methods Seventy-six hypercholesterolemic patients without statin therapy were enrolled and randomized to two groups, which were an ezetimibe group (group E, n = 44) and a control group without ezetimibe treatment that received diet therapy alone (group C, n = 32). The study period was 12 weeks. In group E, 10 mg of ezetimibe was administered daily after breakfast. Serum lipids were measured every 4 weeks, while lathosterol (a cholesterol synthesis marker) and campesterol and sitosterol (cholesterol absorption markers) were examined at baseline and at 12 weeks. Results A significant reduction of LDL-C was observed in group E at both 4 and 12 weeks (from 155 ± 3.9 to 128 ± 3.4 mg/dL and 132 ± 3.9 mg/dL, respectively, both P < 0.01), associated with an increase of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)at 12 weeks (from 53 ± 1.3 to 55 ± 1.5 mg/dL, P < 0.05) and no change of triglycerides. In contrast, none of these lipids changed in group C. An increase of lathosterol and a decrease of campesterol and sitosterol were observed in group E, while none of these markers changed in group C. When group E was divided into two subgroups according to the reduction of LDL-C, which were a good response group (reduction ≥ 20 mg/dL, ΔLDL-C = -27.9 ± 1.3 mg/dL, n = 18) and a poor response group (reduction < 20 mg/dL, ΔLDL-C = -3.7 ± 2.5 mg/dL, n = 26), baseline levels of campesterol and sitosterol were higher in the good response group. Conclusion Ezetimibe monotherapy reduced LDL-C and increased HDL-C, with the reduction of LDL-C being greater in patients with higher levels of cholesterol absorption markers.
Ethical Values of Transactional and Transformational Leaders

Abstract Ethical leadership literature (Bass & Steidlmeier, 1999; Kanungo & Mendonca, 1996) suggests that authentic transformational leadership must be based on some moral foundation. Such literature is not as clear, however, on whether transactional leadership can have moral foundation as well. The paper argues that transformational and transactional leadership behaviours are judged to be ethical based on two different sets of values, motives, and assumptions. These values, motives, and assumptions are grounded in two types of ethical perspective for understanding the behaviour of the two types of leaders. Transformational leaders have an organic worldview and moral altruistic motives grounded in a deontological perspective. Transactional leaders, on the other hand, have an atomistic worldview and mutual altruistic motives grounded in a teleological perspective. Resume La litterature sur le leadership ethique (Bass & Steidlmeier, 1999; Kanungo & Mendonca, 1996) suggere que le leadership transformationnel authentique doit etre base sur des fondements moraux quelconques. Par con-tre, la litterature ne precise pas si le leadership trans-actionnel doit aussi avoir des fondements moraux. Cette etude demontre que les comportements de leadership transformationnels ainsi que transactionnels sont juges comme etant bases sur deux differents groupes de valeurs, motifs et suppositions en ce qui attrait a l'ethique. Ces valeurs, motifs et suppositions sont fondes sur deux types de perspectives ethiques defacon a com-prendre le comportement des deux types de leaders. Les leaders transformationnels out une perception orga-nique du monde ainsi que des motifs moraux altruistes bases sur une perspective deontologique. A l'oppose, les leaders transactionnels ont une perception atomiste du monde et des motifs mutuels bases sur une perspective teleologique.
Identification of an antigen specific to Trypanosoma congolense by using monoclonal antibodies.

Using indirect immunofluorescence assays on acetone-fixed smears of a series of different parasites, we have shown that two monoclonal antibodies bind specifically to Trypanosoma congolense organisms. The antibodies bind to both bloodstream trypomastigotes and procyclic culture forms of the parasite and are thus not stage specific. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analysis showed that both monoclonal reagents bound a protein of approximately 31,000 m.w. This antigen appeared to be located on the plasma membrane of T. congolense, but the epitope was not exposed on the surface of living bloodstream or procyclic organisms. The antigen was detectable on acetone-fixed organisms or in trypanosome lysates in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and may therefore by useful as a species-specific marker in field assays for epidemiologic and clinical investigations.
Different modes of hypertrophy in skeletal muscle fibers

Skeletal muscles display a remarkable diversity in their arrangement of fibers into fascicles and in their patterns of innervation, depending on functional requirements and species differences. Most human muscle fascicles, despite their great length, consist of fibers that extend continuously from one tendon to the other with a single nerve endplate band. Other mammalian muscles have multiple endplate bands and fibers that do not insert into both tendons but terminate intrafascicularly. We investigated whether these alternate structural features may dictate different modes of cell hypertrophy in two mouse gracilis muscles, in response to expression of a muscle-specific insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 transgene (mIGF-1) or to chronic exercise. Both hypertrophic stimuli independently activated GATA-2 expression and increased muscle cross-sectional area in both muscle types, with additive effects in exercising myosin light chain/mIGF transgenic mice, but without increasing fiber number. In singly innervated gracilis posterior muscle, hypertrophy was characterized by a greater average diameter of individual fibers, and centralized nuclei. In contrast, hypertrophic gracilis anterior muscle, which is multiply innervated, contained longer muscle fibers, with no increase in average diameter, or in centralized nuclei. Different modes of muscle hypertrophy in domestic and laboratory animals have important implications for building appropriate models of human neuromuscular disease.
Gaussian Variational Approximate Inference for Generalized Linear Mixed Models

Variational approximation methods have become a mainstay of contemporary machine learning methodology, but currently have little presence in statistics. We devise an effective variational approximation strategy for fitting generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) appropriate for grouped data. It involves Gaussian approximation to the distributions of random effects vectors, conditional on the responses. We show that Gaussian variational approximation is a relatively simple and natural alternative to Laplace approximation for fast, non-Monte Carlo, GLMM analysis. Numerical studies show Gaussian variational approximation to be very accurate in grouped data GLMM contexts. Finally, we point to some recent theory on consistency of Gaussian variational approximation in this context. Supplemental materials are available online.
Probabilistic Logic *

Because many artificial intelligence applications require the ability to reason with uncertain knowledge , it is important to seek appropriate generalizations of logic for that case. We present here a semantical generalization of logic in which the truth values of sentences are probabili~ values (between 0 and 1). Our generalization applies to any logical system for which the consistency of a finite set of sentences can be established. The method described in the present paper combines logic with probability theory in such a way that probabilistic logical entaihnent reduces to ordinary logical entailment when the probabilities of all sentences are either 0 or 1.
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition by Biofumigant (Coumaran) from Leaves of Lantana camara in Stored Grain and Household Insect Pests

Recent studies proved that the biofumigants could be an alternative to chemical fumigants against stored grain insect pests. For this reason, it is necessary to understand the mode of action of biofumigants. In the present study the prospectus of utilising Lantana camara as a potent fumigant insecticide is being discussed. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by Coumaran, an active ingredient extracted from the plant L. camara, was studied. The biofumigant was used as an enzyme inhibitor and acetylthiocholine iodide as a substrate along with Ellman's reagent to carry out the reactions. The in vivo inhibition was observed in both dose dependent and time dependent in case of housefly, and the nervous tissue (ganglion) and the whole insect homogenate of stored grain insect exposed to Coumaran. The possible mode of action of Coumaran as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor is discussed.
Heuristic processing of distinctiveness information in minority and majority influence.

The role of distinctiveness information in majority and minority influence was studied. Students read a message containing strong or weak arguments advocated by a minority or majority source. The communicator's minority (majority) status was said to be either distinctive to the target topic or nondistinctive across topics. Major dependent variables were attitude judgments and cognitive responses. Across conditions, messages were processed systematically, and a majority communicator tended to be more persuasive than a minority communicator. Most importantly, high distinctiveness led to greater influence than low distinctiveness, and this effect was independent of argument strength and minority versus majority status. Theoretical and applied implications of these findings are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of Enterococcus faecalis Alkaline Phosphatase and Use in IdentifyingStreptococcus agalactiae Secreted Proteins

ABSTRACT We have identified and characterized an Enterococcus faecalis alkaline phosphatase (AP, encoded by phoZ). The predicted gene product shows homology with alkaline phosphatases from a variety of species; it has especially high similarity with two alkaline phosphatases from Bacillus subtilis. Expression ofphoZ in Escherichia coli, E. faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus [GBS]), or Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus [GAS]) produces a blue-colony phenotype on plates containing a chromogenic substrate, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylphosphate (XP or BCIP). Two tests were made to determine if the activity of the enzyme is dependent upon the enzyme’s subcellular location. First, elimination of the signal sequence reduced AP activity to 3% of the wild-type activity (or less) in three species of gram-positive bacteria. Restoration of export, using the signal sequence from C5a peptidase, restored AP activity to at least 50% of that of the wild type. Second, we engineered two chimeric proteins in which AP was fused to either a periplasmic domain or a cytoplasmic domain of lactose permease (a membrane protein). In E. coli, the periplasmic fusion had 17-fold-higher AP activity than the cytoplasmic fusion. We concluded that AP activity is export dependent. The signal sequence deletion mutant, phoZΔss, was used to identify random genomic fragments from GBS that encode exported proteins or integral membrane proteins. Included in this set of fragments were genes that exhibited homology with the Rib protein (a cell wall protein from GBS) or with DppB (an integral membrane protein from GAS). AP acts as a reporter enzyme in GBS, GAS, and E. faecalis and is expected to be useful in a variety of gram-positive bacteria.
Multiuser detection with sparse spectrum Gaussian process regression

Multiuser detection in direct-sequence code-division multiple access (DS-CDMA) systems can be implemented by using Gaussian process (GP) for regression in the sense of minimum mean square error criterion. In this Letter we investigate the application of sparse spectrum Gaussian process (SSGP) to the multiuser detection problem. The key point of the SSGP is that the sparsity of spectral representation of Gaussian process leads to an algorithm with much lower complexity than the full GP, while keeping almost the same bit error rate (BER) for DS-CDMA systems. Experimental results validate our proposed SSGP based multiuser detection method. It achieves greater efficiency and good BER performance.
Development of an ultrastable fiber optic frequency distribution system using an optical delay control module [for frequency standard and VLBI]

An ultrastable fiber optic frequency distribution system is described. The ultrastable phase stability is achieved by configuring a closed phase-locked loop with a single-mode optical fiber transmission line in which two optical carrier signals with different wavelengths are transmitted as a forward and a backward signal, and installing an optical delay control module which has no differential dispersion effect between the two optical carrier waves and induces no electrical noise. A phase stabilized optical fiber (PSOF) is used for the signal transmission line. The stabilities of this system are 7.5/spl times/10/sup -17/ and 1.1/spl times/10/sup -17/ in Allan standard deviation at 1000 and 10000 s averaging time, respectively, while the environmental temperature of the PSOF cable varies as much as the range of 10/spl deg/C and the rate of 10/spl deg/C/12 h.
Potential impact of global climate change on malaria risk.

The biological activity and geographic distribution of the malarial parasite and its vector are sensitive to climatic influences, especially temperature and precipitation. We have incorporated General Circulation Model-based scenarios of anthropogenic global climate change in an integrated linked-system model for predicting changes in malaria epidemic potential in the next century. The concept of the disability-adjusted life years is included to arrive at a single measure of the effect of anthropogenic climate change on the health impact of malaria. Assessment of the potential impact of global climate change on the incidence of malaria suggests a widespread increase of risk due to expansion of the areas suitable for malaria transmission. This predicted increase is most pronounced at the borders of endemic malaria areas and at higher altitudes within malarial areas. The incidence of infection is sensitive to climate changes in areas of Southeast Asia, South America, and parts of Africa where the disease is less endemic; in these regions the numbers of years of healthy life lost may increase significantly. However, the simulated changes in malaria risk must be interpreted on the basis of local environmental conditions, the effects of socioeconomic developments, and malaria control programs or capabilities. Imagesp458-aFigure 1.Figure 2.Figure 3.Figure 4.Figure 5.
Bias and Sensitivity in the Placement of Fossil Taxa Resulting from Interpretations of Missing Data

The utility of fossils in evolutionary contexts is dependent on their accurate placement in phylogenetic frameworks, yet intrinsic and widespread missing data make this problematic. The complex taphonomic processes occurring during fossilization can make it difficult to distinguish absence from non-preservation, especially in the case of exceptionally preserved soft-tissue fossils: is a particular morphological character (e.g., appendage, tentacle, or nerve) missing from a fossil because it was never there (phylogenetic absence), or just happened to not be preserved (taphonomic loss)? Missing data have not been tested in the context of interpretation of non-present anatomy nor in the context of directional shifts and biases in affinity. Here, complete taxa, both simulated and empirical, are subjected to data loss through the replacement of present entries (1s) with either missing (? s) or absent (0s) entries. Both cause taxa to drift down trees, from their original position, toward the root. Absolute thresholds at which downshift is significant are extremely low for introduced absences (two entries replaced, 6% of present characters). The opposite threshold in empirical fossil taxa is also found to be low; two absent entries replaced with presences causes fossil taxa to drift up trees. As such, only a few instances of non-preserved characters interpreted as absences will cause fossil organisms to be erroneously interpreted as more primitive than they were in life. This observed sensitivity to coding non-present morphology presents a problem for all evolutionary studies that attempt to use fossils to reconstruct rates of evolution or unlock sequences of morphological change. Stem-ward slippage, whereby fossilization processes cause organisms to appear artificially primitive, appears to be a ubiquitous and problematic phenomenon inherent to missing data, even when no decay biases exist. Absent characters therefore require explicit justification and taphonomic frameworks to support their interpretation.
Explorer Sparse Communication for Distributed Gradient Descent

We make distributed stochastic gradient descent faster by exchanging sparse updates instead of dense updates. Gradient updates are positively skewed as most updates are near zero, so we map the 99% smallest updates (by absolute value) to zero then exchange sparse matrices. This method can be combined with quantization to further improve the compression. We explore different configurations and apply them to neural machine translation and MNIST image classification tasks. Most configurations work on MNIST, whereas different configurations reduce convergence rate on the more complex translation task. Our experiments show that we can achieve up to 49% speed up on MNIST and 22% on NMT without damaging the final accuracy or BLEU.
Sources of Parental Pressure Among Age Group Swimmers

In response to claims that parents are a source of pressure on children in sport this study was designed to explore the value of a conceptual model of how it may be exerted. Male (n = 34) and female (n = 48) competitive swimmers completed a 31 item questionnaire designed to elicit responses about the behaviour of their parents with regard to their swimming activities. Subjects identified the frequency with which certain behaviours were (a) exhibited by, and (b) desired of their parents. Discrepancies between exhibited and desired behaviour indicated the extent of subjects’ satisfaction with those behaviours. Factor analysis yielded three scales which measured Directive Behaviour (DB), Active Involvement (AI), and Praise and Understanding (PU). A single item measure of Pressure (Press.) was included as a dependent variable. Single sample t‐tests showed that subjects perceived an excess of DB and Press. , insufficient PU, but satisfactory levels of AI. Multiple regression indicated that discrepancies between.