Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A description of the Yunnan English accent

This paper presents findings of an acoustic investigation of monophthong vowels produced by learners of English from Yunnan, China. Speech data for the present study were collected from 15 participants comprising five Han Chinese English majors, five Han Chinese non-English majors and five Yi minority ethnic English majors. The findings show that the three groups share more differences than similarities in terms of vowel duration but not in terms of vowel quality though the results of Euclidean distance show that the Han Chinese English majors and the Han Chinese non-English majors are different from the Yi minority ethnic English majors. Results of standard deviation reveal that the Yi minority ethnic English majors have the lowest inter-speaker variability, followed by the Han Chinese English majors and the Han Chinese non-English majors.
Recovering 6D Object Pose: Multi-modal Analyses on Challenges

A large number of studies analyse object detection and pose estimation at visual level in 2D, discussing the effects of challenges such as occlusion, clutter, texture, etc., on the performances of the methods, which work in the context of RGB modality. Interpreting the depth data, the study in this paper presents thorough multi-modal analyses. It discusses the above-mentioned challenges for full 6D object pose estimation in RGB-D images comparing the performances of several 6D detectors in order to answer the following questions: What is the current position of the computer vision community for maintaining"automation"in robotic manipulation? What next steps should the community take for improving"autonomy"in robotics while handling objects? Direct comparison of the detectors is difficult, since they are tested on multiple datasets with different characteristics and are evaluated using widely varying evaluation protocols. To deal with these issues, we follow a threefold strategy: five representative object datasets, mainly differing from the point of challenges that they involve, are collected. Then, two classes of detectors are tested on the collected datasets. Lastly, the baselines' performances are evaluated using two different evaluation metrics under uniform scoring criteria. Regarding the experiments conducted, we analyse our observations on the baselines along with the challenges involved in the interested datasets, and we suggest a number of insights for the next steps to be taken, for improving the autonomy in robotics.
Deriving four functional anti-HIV siRNAs from a single Pol III-generated transcript comprising two adjacent long hairpin RNA precursors

Several different approaches exist to generate expressed RNA interference (RNAi) precursors for multiple target inhibition, a strategy referred to as combinatorial (co)RNAi. One such approach makes use of RNA Pol III-expressed long hairpin RNAs (lhRNAs), which are processed by Dicer to generate multiple unique short interfering siRNA effectors. However, because of inefficient intracellular Dicer processing, lhRNA duplexes have been limited to generating two independent effective siRNA species. In this study, we describe a novel strategy whereby four separate anti-HIV siRNAs were generated from a single RNA Pol III-expressed transcript. Two optimized lhRNAs, each comprising two active anti-HIV siRNAs, were placed in tandem to form a double long hairpin (dlhRNA) expression cassette, which encodes four unique and effective siRNA sequences. Processing of the 3′ position lhRNA was more variable but effective multiple processing was possible by manipulating the order of the siRNA-encoding sequences. Importantly, unlike shRNAs, Pol III-expressed dlhRNAs did not compete with endogenous and exogenous microRNAs to disrupt the RNAi pathway. The versatility of expressed lhRNAs is greatly expanded and we provide a mechanism for generating transcripts with modular lhRNAs motifs that contribute to improved coRNAi.
A New DiffServ Supported AQM Algorithm

This paper gives a new active queue management algorithm for differentiated service (DiffServ) network, which is based on an new adaptive random early detection (RED) algorithm called pre-estimation RED, so we name it DiffServ PERED. PERED utilizes a short term discrete-time Markov queuing model to estimate the future queue state, then self-adjusts the parameters based on the estimation to gain better performance. DiffServ PERED self-adjusts the parameters not only according to the estimation, but also the priorities of service subscribers, which makes sure that the higher priorities services gain lower drop priorities by utilizing different parameters adjusting functions. In the DiffServ PERED, we present a new idea to control the congestion in network: previous estimation, and a new method to discriminate the services: utilizing different functions to adjust maximum drop probabilities of different priorities services. We demonstrate the performance of Diffserv PERED by comparison between two different priorities services
The stringent factor RelA adopts an open conformation on the ribosome to stimulate ppGpp synthesis

Under stress conditions, such as nutrient starvation, deacylated tRNAs bound within the ribosomal A-site are recognized by the stringent factor RelA, which converts ATP and GTP/GDP to (p)ppGpp. The signaling molecules (p)ppGpp globally rewire the cellular transcriptional program and general metabolism, leading to stress adaptation. Despite the additional importance of the stringent response for regulation of bacterial virulence, antibiotic resistance and persistence, structural insight into how the ribosome and deacylated-tRNA stimulate RelA-mediated (p)ppGpp has been lacking. Here, we present a cryo-EM structure of RelA in complex with the Escherichia coli 70S ribosome with an average resolution of 3.7 Å and local resolution of 4 to >10 Å for RelA. The structure reveals that RelA adopts a unique ‘open’ conformation, where the C-terminal domain (CTD) is intertwined around an A/T-like tRNA within the intersubunit cavity of the ribosome and the N-terminal domain (NTD) extends into the solvent. We propose that the open conformation of RelA on the ribosome relieves the autoinhibitory effect of the CTD on the NTD, thus leading to stimulation of (p)ppGpp synthesis by RelA.
Context-aware adaptation for group communication support applications with dynamic architecture

In this paper, we propose a refinement-based adaptation approach for the architecture of distributed group communication support applications. Unlike most of previous works, our approach reaches implementable, context-aware and dynamically adaptable architectures. To model the context, we manage simultaneously four parameters that influence Qos provided by the application. These parameters are: the available bandwidth, the exchanged data communication priority, the energy level and the available memory for processing. These parameters make it possible to refine the choice between the various architectural configurations when passing from a given abstraction level to the lower level which implements it. Our approach allows the importance degree associated with each parameter to be adapted dynamically. To implement adaptation, we switch between the various configurations of the same level, and we modify the state of the entities of a given configuration when necessary. We adopt the direct and mediated Producer- Consumer architectural styles and graphs for architecture modelling. In order to validate our approach we elaborate a simulation model.
Genetic and phytochemical difference between some Indian and Italian plants of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

The geographical distribution of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is quite wide. However, in Italy, this species is very rare and grows spontaneously only in Sicily and in Sardinia. The PCR–RAPD technique has been utilized in this work to determine the genetic relationship among Sicilian, Sardinian and Indian samples and the HPLC analysis of whitaferin A was used as a marker to evaluate the phytochemical differences. The genetic difference between Indian and Sicilian plants of W. somnifera turned out to be smaller than that between Indian and Sardinian plants of this species. The phytochemical analysis as well showed that the Sardinian specimen strongly differed from the Indian and Sicilian ones in its contents of withaferin A. Our results seem to confirm the hypothesis that the Italian populations of this species may not be indigenous but naturalised. Due to the high withaferin A content of the Sardinian samples, these plants could be used as a source for pharmaceutical purposes.
Association of serum EPCA-2 level with prostate cancer in Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND Early prostate cancer antigen 2 (EPCA-2), a kind of nuclear matrix protein, may relate to prostate cancer. However, the association of EPCA-2 level in serum with prostate diseases has not been clarified in Chinese Han population. METHODS EPCA-2 and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in 116 patients with prostate cancer (PCa), 342 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and 174 healthy controls (Control) in Chinese population. Associations of serum EPCA-2 and PSA level with prostate diseases were analyzed by ANOVA. Comparison of diagnostic effect for prostate cancer between EPCA-2 and PSA was evaluated by Receiver Operator Curve, Chi-square test, and others. RESULTS Serum EPCA-2 and PSA levels in PCa group were significantly higher than BPH and Control group (EPCA-2: F=200.05, P<0.01; PSA: F=210.65, P<0.01). However, EPCA-2 levels in the prostate cancers with different pathological grade were no significant difference. Furthermore, for detection of prostate cancer, EPCA-2 had a sensitivity of 81.9% and a specificity of 87.6%. CONCLUSIONS Serum EPCA-2 could be used as a potential serological marker to diagnose prostate cancer in Chinese Han population, which was more specific than PSA and did not associate with pathological grades of prostate cancer.
Efficient algorithm for rational kernel evaluation in large lattice sets

This paper presents an effective method for evaluation of the rational kernels represented by finite-state automata. The described algorithm is optimized for processing speed and thus facilitates the usage of state-of-the-art machine learning techniques like Support Vector Machines even in the real-time application of speech and language processing, such as dialogue systems and speech retrieval engines. The performance of the devised algorithm was tested on a spoken language understanding task and the results suggest that it consistently outperforms the baseline algorithm presented in the related literature.
Structural correlates of functionally distinct X‐cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat

In the companion paper (Humphrey and Weller, '88), we demonstrated 2 physiologically different groups of X‐cells (XL and XN) in the A‐laminae of the cat lateral geniculate nucleus. In order to investigate their possible morphological correlates, we iontophoresed horseradish peroxidase intracellularly into physiologically identified XL‐ and XN‐cells and examined their light microscopic appearance.
Vaccinia DNA topoisomerase I: single-turnover and steady-state kinetic analysis of the DNA strand cleavage and ligation reactions.

Vaccinia DNA topoisomerase I catalyzes a reversible, site-specific strand cleavage and resealing reaction with duplex DNA involving a transient 3'-phosphotyrosyl linkage between the DNA and Tyr-274 of the enzyme. Single-turnover and steady-state kinetic measurements, as well as DNA binding studies with DNA duplexes containing the preferred cleavage sequence (5'-CCCTT decreases -3') in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, at 20 degrees C, have permitted the evaluation of the individual rate constants for strand cleavage (kcl) and religation (kr) and for duplex DNA binding and dissociation. The values of kcl = 0.07 s-1 and kr = 0.66 s-1 indicate that the internal cleavage equilibrium (Kcl = kcl/kr = 0.1) favors the uncleaved E.DNA complex. The apparent second-order rate constant kcl/KmDNA + = 8 x 10(5) M-1 s-1 for the single-turnover cleavage reaction is 10(2)-10(3)-fold less than the rate of diffusional encounter and provides an estimate of k(on) (DNA). Single-turnover cleavage experiments using a duplex substrate with a nonbridging racemic phosphorothioate nucleotide substitution at the cleavage site showed biphasic cleavage kinetics with equal amplitudes for each phase, which was fit to a double exponential: kfast = 0.01 s-1 and kslow = 0.0004 s-1. These "thio effects" (= kclphos/kclthiol) of 4.6- and 115-fold indicate that cleavage is at least partially rate-limiting in the single-turnover reaction; the two kinetic phases indicate a strong preference for cleavage of one thio isomer. Multiple-turnover cleavage-religation reactions showed an initial pre-steady-state burst proportional to enzyme, followed by a slower steady-state rate with a value of kcat = 0.006 s-1. The phosphorothioate substrate showed a smaller burst and no significant thio effect on kcat. These results indicate fast chemical steps and largely rate-limiting dissociation of the religated product (KD = 54 nM) in the steady-state, a conclusion confirmed by direct measurement of the rate constant for product dissociation as 0.01 s-1. MgCl2 (5 mM) increases this rate constant by an order of magnitude, thus explaining the divalent cation induced acceleration of DNA supercoil relaxation by this enzyme. No divalent cation binding by the enzyme was detected indicating this effect to result from metal binding to DNA. The rate constants kcl and kr for the nucleophilic attack of Tyr-274 and deoxyribose 5'-OH at phosphorus represent approximately 10(9)- and 10(12)-fold enhancements over the analogous attack of phenolate and alcoholate anions at the phosphorus backbone of DNA in solution at pH 7.5. Consistent with this estimate, the Y274F mutant is at least 10(6)-fold less active in cleavage than the wild-type enzyme.
Rotational Remapping in Human Spatial Memory during Eye and Head Motion

The brain uses vision and other senses to compute the locations of objects relative to the body, and then must update these locations when the body moves. How geometrically sophisticated is this internal updating? It has been suggested that updating simply shifts the stored locations of all objects uniformly, by a common vector, when the eye or head turns. For horizontal and vertical turns, a uniform shift would often approximate the real changes in location of objects in front of the subject. But for torsional rotations, a shift would be inadequate: accurate updating would call for a more geometrically exact remapping, not shifting but rotating the stored locations through the inverse of the rotation of the eye in space. Here we asked human subjects to make eye saccades to remembered targets after torsional head rotations. Their accuracy showed that spatial updating works in the torsional dimension and operates by rotation rather than shifting.
Effect of plant nitrogen and water status on the foraging behavior and fitness of an omnivorous arthropod

Abstract Omnivorous arthropods make dietary choices according to the environment in which they forage, mainly availability/quality of plant and/or prey resources. Such decisions and their subsequent impacts on life‐history traits may be affected by the availability of nutrients and water to plants, that is, through bottom‐up forces. By setting up arenas for feeding behavior observation as well as glasshouse cages for plant preference assessment, we studied effects of the presence of prey (Lepidoptera eggs) and nitrogen/water availability to host tomato plants on the foraging behavior and life‐history traits in the omnivorous predator Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera: Miridae). In the absence of prey, the predator fed equally on the plants treated with various levels of nitrogen and water. In the presence of prey, however, the feeding rate on plants decreased when the plant received low water input. The feeding rate on prey was positively correlated with feeding rate on plants; that is, prey feeding increased with plant feeding when the plants received high water input. Moreover, plants receiving high water input attracted more M. pygmaeus adults compared with those receiving low water input. For M. pygmaeus fitness, the presence of prey enhanced its fertility and longevity, but the longevity decreased when plants received low compared with high water input. In conclusion, the omnivorous predator may be obliged to feed on plants to obtain water, and plant water status may be a limiting factor for the foraging behavior and fitness of the omnivorous predator.
Science communication on YouTube: Factors that affect channel and video popularity

YouTube has become one of the largest websites on the Internet. Among its many genres, both professional and amateur science communicators compete for audience attention. This article provides the first overview of science communication on YouTube and examines content factors that affect the popularity of science communication videos on the site. A content analysis of 390 videos from 39 YouTube channels was conducted. Although professionally generated content is superior in number, user-generated content was significantly more popular. Furthermore, videos that had consistent science communicators were more popular than those without a regular communicator. This study represents an important first step to understand content factors, which increases the channel and video popularity of science communication on YouTube.
Quality Issues in Interview Surveys- Some Contributions

Des problèmes de qualité dans des enquête par entretien, quelques contributions : Cet article est l'introduction d'une thèse avec le même titre (fait au Départment de Statistique de l'université de Stockholm) et qui s'adresse à des problèmes associés avec la qualité des enquêtes par entretiens. L'intervieweur a plusieurs taches à accomplir et ils peuvent souvent commetre des erreurs. L'auteur présente quelques thèmes généraux ainsi que leur traitement habituel. Elle suggère ensuite des approches nouvelles et des idées pour des recherches futures sur la question de coopération dans les enquêtes et d'accomplir correctement l'entretien avec un répondant. Elle examine aussi certaines procédures pour la réduction des non-réponses en termes de coûts et de réduction d'erreurs.
Performance Evaluation of Two-Priority Network Schema for Single-Buffered Delta Networks

In this paper a novel two-priority network schema is presented, and exemplified through its application on single- buffered Delta Networks in packet switching environments. Network operations considered include conflict resolution and communication strategies. The proposed scheme is evaluated and compared against the single-priority scheme. Performance evaluation was conducted through simulation, due to the complexity of the model, and uniform traffic conditions were considered. Metrics were gathered for the two most important network performance factors, namely packet throughput and the mean time a packet needs to traverse the network. The model can also be uniformly applied to several representative networks providing a basis for fair comparison and the necessary data for network designers to select optimal values for network operation parameters.
Inhibition of adsorption of Streptococcus mutans strains to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite by galactose and certain amines

Adsorption of all of eight strains of Streptococcus mutans to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite (S-HA) surfaces was inhibited by galactose and melibiose, but not by other neutral sugars tested. This observation supports the hypothesis that lectin-like components participate in the attachment of these streptococci to salivary glycoproteins on saliva-treated hydroxyapatite surfaces. Adsorption of all strains was also inhibited by iodoacetate and spermine; other amines tested reduced adsorption of some strains, but not others.
Calculation of penalties due to polarization effects in a long-haul WDM system using a Stokes parameter model

We derive a Stokes parameter model to calculate the penalties due to the combination of polarization mode dispersion (PMD), polarization dependent loss (PDL), and polarization dependent gain (PDG) in long-haul, dense wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems. In this model, we follow the Stokes parameters for the signal and the noise in each channel instead of following the full time domain behavior of each channel. This approach allows us to determine the statistical distribution of penalties with up to 10/sup 5/ fiber realizations and 40 channels. We validate this model to the extent possible by comparison to full numerical simulations. Using this model, we find that the interaction of PMD and PDL is the major source of penalties and that the effect of PDG is negligible in WDM systems with more than ten channels.
DNA hybridization kinetics: zippering, internal displacement and sequence dependence

Although the thermodynamics of DNA hybridization is generally well established, the kinetics of this classic transition is less well understood. Providing such understanding has new urgency because DNA nanotechnology often depends critically on binding rates. Here, we explore DNA oligomer hybridization kinetics using a coarse-grained model. Strand association proceeds through a complex set of intermediate states, with successful binding events initiated by a few metastable base-pairing interactions, followed by zippering of the remaining bonds. But despite reasonably strong interstrand interactions, initial contacts frequently dissociate because typical configurations in which they form differ from typical states of similar enthalpy in the double-stranded equilibrium ensemble. Initial contacts must be stabilized by two or three base pairs before full zippering is likely, resulting in negative effective activation enthalpies. Non-Arrhenius behavior arises because the number of base pairs required for nucleation increases with temperature. In addition, we observe two alternative pathways—pseudoknot and inchworm internal displacement—through which misaligned duplexes can rearrange to form duplexes. These pathways accelerate hybridization. Our results explain why experimentally observed association rates of GC-rich oligomers are higher than rates of AT- rich equivalents, and more generally demonstrate how association rates can be modulated by sequence choice.
Biogenesis and Mechanism of Action of Small Non-Coding RNAs: Insights from the Point of View of Structural Biology

Non-coding RNAs are dominant in the genomic output of the higher organisms being not simply occasional transcripts with idiosyncratic functions, but constituting an extensive regulatory network. Among all the species of non-coding RNAs, small non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, siRNAs and piRNAs) have been shown to be in the core of the regulatory machinery of all the genomic output in eukaryotic cells. Small non-coding RNAs are produced by several pathways containing specialized enzymes that process RNA transcripts. The mechanism of action of these molecules is also ensured by a group of effector proteins that are commonly engaged within high molecular weight protein-RNA complexes. In the last decade, the contribution of structural biology has been essential to the dissection of the molecular mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis and function of small non-coding RNAs.