Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphological diversity of tropical common bean germplasm.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces and varieties grown by farmers in the tropics are a major source of genes and genetic diversity for bean improvement. These materials are, however, threatened by genetic erosion. In this study, we sought to understand the current state of genetic diversity of common bean in Uganda, using the available collection consisting of 284 bean accessions. A field experiment was conducted at the National Crops Resources Research Institute in Namulonge, Uganda. The level of morphological variation estimated with the Shannon Weaver diversity index (H), ranged from 0.47 to 0.58, with an overall mean of 0.56±0.19, an indicator of moderate genetic diversity. Principal component analysis (PCA) clustered the germplasm into three major groups (G1, G2 and G3). The genotypes differed mostly for growth habit, pod cross-section, pod curvature, hypocotyl colour, days to flowering, node number on the main stem, number of flower buds, and 100 seed weight.
Rapid Deadenylation and Poly(A)-Dependent Translational Repression Mediated by the Caenorhabditis elegans tra-2 3′ Untranslated Region in XenopusEmbryos

ABSTRACT The 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of many eukaryotic mRNAs is essential for their control during early development. Negative translational control elements in 3′UTRs regulate pattern formation, cell fate, and sex determination in a variety of organisms.tra-2 mRNA in Caenorhabditis elegans is required for female development but must be repressed to permit spermatogenesis in hermaphrodites. Translational repression oftra-2 mRNA in C. elegans is mediated by tandemly repeated elements in its 3′UTR; these elements are called TGEs (for tra-2 and GLI element). To examine the mechanism of TGE-mediated repression, we first demonstrate that TGE-mediated translational repression occurs in Xenopus embryos and thatXenopus egg extracts contain a TGE-specific binding factor. Translational repression by the TGEs requires that the mRNA possess a poly(A) tail. We show that in C. elegans, the poly(A) tail of wild-type tra-2 mRNA is shorter than that of a mutant mRNA lacking the TGEs. To determine whether TGEs regulate poly(A) length directly, synthetic tra-2 3′UTRs with and without the TGEs were injected into Xenopus embryos. We find that TGEs accelerate the rate of deadenylation and permit the last 15 adenosines to be removed from the RNA, resulting in the accumulation of fully deadenylated molecules. We conclude that TGE-mediated translational repression involves either interference with poly(A)'s function in translation and/or regulated deadenylation.
Normalization as a barometer: Recreational drug use and the consumption of leisure by younger Britons

This article discusses the development of the normalization thesis in respect of monitoring sustained increases in young Britons’ consumption of illicit drugs and alcohol over the past decade. It describes five dimensions of normalization which have been applied in a cluster of studies undertaken by the author, highlighting results from the N.W. England Longitudinal Study showing easy accessibility, high rates of drug trying (76% at 22 years) and long-term recreational drugs careers involving both alcohol and illicit drugs. The social accommodation of ‘sensible’ substance use was apparent amongst most drug abstainers in the cohort who routinely had close friends who used drugs ‘recreationally’. Further cultural acceptance of recreational drug use is described. A sixth dimension – state or government responses to widespread recreational drug use – is introduced and illustrated. The article concludes by emphasizing the negative outcomes associated with recreational poly substance use in terms of personal and public health highlighting the ‘slippage’ from recreational to problem drug use as a growing phenomenon. It calls for a more integrative national strategy to address negative aspects of normalization.
Maximally joining probabilistic data

Conceptually, the common approach to manipulating probabilistic data is to evaluate relational queries and then calculate the probability of each tuple in the result. This approach ignores the possibility that the probabilities of complete answers are too low and, hence, partial answers (with sufficiently high probabilities) become important. Therefore, we consider the semantics in which answers are maximal (i.e., have the smallest degree of incompleteness), subject tothe constraint that the probability is still above a given threshold. We investigate the complexity of joining relations under the above semantics. In contrast to the deterministic case, this approach gives rise to two different enumeration problems. The first is finding all maximal sets of tuples that are join consistent, connected and have a joint probability above the threshold. The second is computing all maximal tuples that are answers of partial joins and have a probability above the threshold. Both problems are tractable under data complexity. We also consider query-and-data complexity, which rules out as efficient the following naive algorithm: compute all partial answers and then choose the maximal ones among those with probabilities above the threshold. We give efficient algorithms for several, important special cases. We also show that, in general, the first problem is NP-hard whereas the secondis #P-hard.
Promoting Smoke-Free Homes: A Novel Behavioral Intervention Using Real-Time Audio-Visual Feedback on Airborne Particle Levels

Interventions are needed to protect the health of children who live with smokers. We pilot-tested a real-time intervention for promoting behavior change in homes that reduces second hand tobacco smoke (SHS) levels. The intervention uses a monitor and feedback system to provide immediate auditory and visual signals triggered at defined thresholds of fine particle concentration. Dynamic graphs of real-time particle levels are also shown on a computer screen. We experimentally evaluated the system, field-tested it in homes with smokers, and conducted focus groups to obtain general opinions. Laboratory tests of the monitor demonstrated SHS sensitivity, stability, precision equivalent to at least 1 µg/m3, and low noise. A linear relationship (R2 = 0.98) was observed between the monitor and average SHS mass concentrations up to 150 µg/m3. Focus groups and interviews with intervention participants showed in-home use to be acceptable and feasible. The intervention was evaluated in 3 homes with combined baseline and intervention periods lasting 9 to 15 full days. Two families modified their behavior by opening windows or doors, smoking outdoors, or smoking less. We observed evidence of lower SHS levels in these homes. The remaining household voiced reluctance to changing their smoking activity and did not exhibit lower SHS levels in main smoking areas or clear behavior change; however, family members expressed receptivity to smoking outdoors. This study established the feasibility of the real-time intervention, laying the groundwork for controlled trials with larger sample sizes. Visual and auditory cues may prompt family members to take immediate action to reduce SHS levels. Dynamic graphs of SHS levels may help families make decisions about specific mitigation approaches.
Circuit-level information leakage prevention for fault detection

The security of cryptographic devices is gaining significance, of late, owing to their important role in ensuring information security in the internet of things (IoT). Amongst various implementation attacks, the laser and electromagnetic (EM) fault-based attacks are considered the most powerful because of their control over the injection timing and position. This paper discusses a practical countermeasure against fault attacks, focusing on a secure measure to prevent information leakage, in particular, after a fault is detected. Preliminary experiments using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) board show that cutting off the power supply (VDD) could be an effective counter-measure for preventing information leakage from cryptographic devices under the fault attacks.
Architectural Tradeoffs for Biodegradable Computing

Organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) have attracted increased attention because of the possibility to produce environmentally friendly, low-cost, lightweight, flexible, and even biodegradable devices. With an increasing number of complex applications being proposed for organic and biodegradable semiconductors, the need for computation horsepower also rises. However, due to the process characteristic differences, direct adaptation of silicon-based circuit designs and traditional computer architecture wisdom is not applicable. In this paper, we analyze the architectural tradeoffs for processor cores made with an organic semiconductor process. We built an OTFT simulation framework based on experimental pentacene OTFTs. This framework includes an organic standard cell library and can be generalized to other organic semiconductors. Our results demonstrate that, compared to modern silicon, organic semiconductors favor building deeper pipelines and wider superscalar designs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to explore the architectural differences between silicon and organic technology processes. CCS CONCEPTS • Hardware → Emerging architectures; Carbon based electronics; Impact on the environment; Standard cell libraries; Modeling and parameter extraction; Emerging simulation; • Social and professional topics → Sustainability;
Book Review: Christine Lane and Jocelyn Probert National Capitalisms, Global Production Networks

Nevertheless, overall, this book constitutes a rich and varied resource, to be dipped into and savored for many years to come. We thoroughly enjoyed reading it and reviewing it, and we particularly welcome the editors’ vision of an organizational institutionalism that is dynamic, open and expansive. Traditional perspectives on the power and progress of scientific fields conform to Pfeffer’s (1993) image of the consensual paradigm that enables agreement and accumulation on shared concepts and norms but that closes down its borders to alternatives and innovation to protect its central core. In contrast, the organizational institutionalism that we think we see in the ‘big green book’ is clearly developing rapidly, but rather differently. It is a dynamic, spreading, even invasive perspective – one sometimes wonders if there is any corner of ‘organizational theory’ that remains outside its influence – however, so far at least, its power and development has been achieved not by closing down its borders but rather by interacting with and indeed hybridizing everything in sight. We believe that this will be a constructive trend as long as the spirit of openness continues to allow richer, stronger and more interesting theorizing about organizations and about the world in which we and they live.
Predictors of Paternal Versus Maternal Stress in Families of Children With Neural Tube Defects

This study examined the types of stress experienced by maternal and paternal caretakers of children with Neural Tube Defects (NTD) and examined child and family characteristics that correlated with stress. Participants were 71 two-parent families of a child with spina bifida. Parents completed the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form to measure types of stress. Additional measures were completed to investigate variables potentially related to reported stress. Fathers reported significantly higher levels of stress from “dysfunctional parent–child interaction. ” Mothers' personal stress correlated with disability and medical characteristics of the child. Fathers reported more stress when the child had maladaptive behaviors and when experiencing fewer social supports and resources. Mothers and fathers coparenting a child with NTD have both common and unique stresses. It is important that both be included in parent support and education initiatives.
Peer and Teacher Assessment of the Oral and Written Tasks of a Group Project

ABSTRACT Undergraduate students, and their class teachers, assessed the performance of their peers in three oral and written tasks as part of a group project. The two sets of marks awarded by peers and teachers were subsequently compared to find out whether the students were competent to assess their peers alongside their class teachers and whether this competence, or lack of it, was partly determined by the nature of the task being assessed. A number of statistical tests were run to establish the levels of agreement, the ranges, differences and relationship between peer and teacher assessments. The results have led us to conclude that the peer assessments are not sufficiently reliable to be used to supplement teacher assessments. Students’ competencies in peer assessment do not appear to be dependent on the nature of the task being assessed, but there is some evidence that practical experience of assessing a particular task type can lead to an improvement in students’ assessment skills when they assess a.
The homecoming: a review of support practices for repatriates

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of repatriate support practices in organizations within the context of the current literature in this field of study.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 42 firms employing 3,234 expatriates were surveyed regarding human resource practices that support repatriation. Analysis focused on support practices as predictors of voluntary and involuntary turnover.Findings – Results indicate that the majority of firms surveyed used two or fewer repatriate support practices. While 60 percent of firms offered logistical assistance, such as relocation services, less than 70 percent offered career and training support for repatriates. The most common cause of involuntary turnover is the lack of job openings in the home organization upon reentry, while the most common cause of voluntary turnover is the organization's poor utilization of the expatriate's skills acquired on the overseas assignment. Organizations with more support practices reported a low.
Numerical study of the Ising spin glass in a magnetic field

We study the order parameter distribution P(q) in the 4d lsing spin glass with +J couplings in a magnetic field. We aise compare these results with simulations for the infinite ranged model (1.e. SK model.) Then we analyse our numerical results in the framework of the droplet picture as well as in the mean field approach.
Exome sequencing: Dual role as a discovery and diagnostic tool

Recent developments in high‐throughput sequence capture methods and next‐generation sequencing technologies have now made exome sequencing a viable approach to elucidate the genetic basis of Mendelian disorders with hitherto unknown etiology. In addition, exome sequencing is increasingly being employed as a diagnostic tool for specific genetic diseases, particularly in the context of those disorders characterized by significant genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, for example, Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease and congenital disorders of glycosylation. Such disorders are challenging to interrogate with conventional polymerase chain reaction–Sanger sequencing methods, because of the inherent difficulty in prioritizing candidate genes for diagnostic testing. Here, we explore the value of exome sequencing as a diagnostic tool and discuss whether exome sequencing can come to serve a dual role in diagnosis and discovery. We summarize the current status of exome sequencing, the technical challenges facing it, and its adaptation to diagnostics, and make recommendations for the use of exome sequencing as a routine diagnostic tool. Finally, we discuss pertinent ethical concerns, such as the use of exome sequencing data, originally generated in a diagnostic context, in research investigations. Ann Neurol 2012;71:5–14
Review of the Theoretical, Empirical, and Clinical Status of Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism

Clinical perfectionism has been implicated as a transdiagnostic construct involved in the aetiology, maintenance, and course of a wide range of Axis I disorders. Typically characterised by the setting of unrealistically high standards for performance, perfectionism has been suggested to be associated with a number of negative psychological outcomes. Moreover, it has been suggested that the process in which perfectionists set and strive for their high performance standards, including the way in which they revaluate such standards, may be maintained by a number of maladaptive cognitive, affective, and behavioural constructs. However, how such factors may differ across adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism remains unclear. This article reviews the adaptive and maladaptive conceptualisations of perfectionism and critically examines the empirical literature pertaining to the cognitive-behavioural model of clinical perfectionism. In addition, we also review outcomes of intervention studies that have focused on altering dysfunctional cognitions when treating clinical perfectionism. Clinical implications of these findings and directions for future research are also explored.
On symplectic and non--symplectic automorphisms of K3 surfaces

In this paper we investigate when the generic member of a family of K3 surfaces admitting a non--symplectic automorphism of finite order admits also a symplectic automorphism of the same order. We give a complete answer to this question if the order of the automorphism is a prime number and we provide several examples and partial results otherwise. Moreover we prove that, under certain conditions, a K3 surface admitting a non--symplectic automorphism of prime odd order, $p$, also admits a non--symplectic automorphism of order $2p$. This generalizes a previous result by J. Dillies for $p=3$.
Efficiently Solving the Redundancy Allocation Problem Using Tabu Search

A tabu search meta-heuristic has been developed and successfully demonstrated to provide solutions to the system reliability optimization problem of redundancy allocation. Tabu search is particularly well-suited to this problem and it offers distinct advantages compared to alternative optimization methods. While there are many forms of the problem, the redundancy allocation problem generally involves the selection of components and redundancy levels to maximize system reliability given various system-level constraints. This is a common and extensively studied problem involving system design, reliability engineering and operations research. It is becoming increasingly important to develop efficient solutions to this reliability optimization problem because many telecommunications (and other) systems are becoming more complex, yet with short development schedules and very stringent reliability requirements. Tabu search can be applied to a more diverse problem domain compared to mathematical programming methods, yet offers the potential of greater efficiency compared to population-based search methodologies, such as genetic algorithms. The tabu search is demonstrated on numerous variations of three different problems and compared to integer programming and genetic algorithm solutions. The results demonstrate the benefits of tabu search for solving this type of problem.
Phospholipid Signaling in Plants: Holding On to Phospholipase D

Plant cells contain various phospholipase-based signaling pathways. In fact, their repertoire of phospholipase D (PLD) molecules far outnumbers those of mammalian and yeast cells. Munnik and Musgrave take a broad look at PLD function in animal, yeast, and plant cells, and suggest that a PLD-based connection between membranes and microtubules is a biological property worth considering across species.
Identification of 2127 new HLA class I alleles in potential stem cell donors from Germany, the United States and Poland

We describe 2127 new human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles found in registered stem cell donors. These alleles represent 28.9% of the currently known class I alleles. Comparing new allele sequences to homologous sequences, we found 68.1% nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions, 28.9% silent mutations and 3.0% nonsense mutations. Many substitutions occurred at positions that have not been known to be polymorphic before. A large number of HLA alleles and nucleotide variations underline the extreme diversity of the HLA system. Strikingly, 156 new alleles were found not only multiple times, but also in carriers of various parentage, suggesting that some new alleles are not necessarily rare. Moreover, new alleles were found especially often in minority donors. This emphasizes the benefits of specifically recruiting such groups of individuals.
The antenna selection strategy of MIMO Y channel and performance analysis

We propose a new transmission scheme for MEMO Y channel by combining the antenna selection algorithm with signal space alignment and network coding strategy. This strategy works with more relaxed constraint between M and N. The average symbol error rate of the transmission scheme is analyzed for the multiple-access phase and the broadcast phase respectively. We show that the proposed scheme can provide |Φ| diversity gain when 2M-N <; 1 and 2M-N diversity gain when 2M-N ≥ 1.
An Interior Point Constraint Generation Algorithm for Semi-Infinite Optimization with Health-Care Application

We propose an interior point constraint generation (IPCG) algorithm for semi-infinite linear optimization (SILO) and prove that the algorithm converges to an e-solution of SILO after a finite number of constraints is generated. We derive a complexity bound on the number of Newton steps needed to approach the updated μ-center after adding multiple violated constraints and a complexity bound on the total number of constraints that is required for the overall algorithm to converge. We implement our algorithm to solve the sector duration optimization problem arising in Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ (Elekta, Stockholm Sweden) treatment planning, a highly specialized treatment for brain tumors. Using real patient data provided by the Department of Radiation Oncology at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, we show that our algorithm can efficiently handle problems in real-life health-care applications by providing a quality treatment plan in a timely manner. Comparing our computational results with MOSEK, a commercial software package, we show that the IPCG algorithm outperforms the classical primal-dual interior point methods on sector duration optimization problem arising in Perfexion™ treatment planning. We also compare our results with that of a projected gradient method. In both cases we show that IPCG algorithm obtains a more accurate solution substantially faster.