Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interim Rationalizable Implementation of Functions

This paper investigates rationalizable implementation of social choice functions (SCFs) in incomplete information environments. We identify weak interim rationalizable monotonicity (weak IRM) as a novel condition and show it to be a necessary and almost sufficient condition for rationalizable implementation. We show by means of robust examples that interim rationalizable monotonicity (IRM), found in the literature, is strictly stronger than weak IRM and that IRM is not necessary for rationalizable implementation, as had been previously claimed. These examples also demonstrate that Bayesian monotonicity, the key condition for full Bayesian implementation, is not necessary for rationalizable implementation. That is, rationalizable implementation can be more permissive than Bayesian implementation. We revisit well-studied classes of economic environments and show that the SCFs considered there are interim rationalizable implementable. A comprehensive discussion of related issues, including well-behaved mechanisms, mechanisms satisfying the best response property, double implementation, and responsive SCFs is also provided. Funding: This work was supported by Ministry of Education, Singapore [Grant MOE Academic Research Fund Tier 2/MOE-T2EP402A20-0].
VEF: a Variant Filtering tool based on Ensemble methods

Motivation Variant discovery is crucial in medical and clinical research, especially in the setting of personalized medicine. As such, precision in variant identification is paramount. However, variants identified by current genomic analysis pipelines contain many false positives (i.e., incorrectly called variants). These can be potentially eliminated by applying state-of-the-art filtering tools, such as the Variant Quality Score Recalibration (VQSR) or the Hard Filtering (HF), both proposed by GATK. However, these methods are very user-dependent and fail to run in some cases. We propose VEF, a variant filtering tool based on ensemble methods that overcomes the main drawbacks of VQSR and the HF. Contrary to these methods, we treat filtering as a supervised learning problem. This is possible by using for training variant call data for which the set of “true” variants is known, i.e., a gold standard exists. Hence, we can classify each variant in the training VCF file as true or false using the gold standard, and further use the annotations of each variant as features for the classification problem. Once trained, VEF can be directly applied to filter the variants contained in a given VCF file. Analysis of several ensemble methods revealed random forest as offering the best performance, and hence VEF uses a random forest for the classification task. Results After training VEF on a Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Human dataset of sample NA12878, we tested its performance on a WGS Human dataset of sample NA24385. For these two samples, the set of high-confident variants has been produced and made available. Results show that the proposed filtering tool VEF consistently outperforms VQSR and HF. In addition, we show that VEF generalizes well even when some features have missing values, and when the training and testing datasets differ either in coverage or in the sequencing machine that was used to generate the data. Finally, since the training needs to be performed only once, there is a significant saving in running time when compared to VQSR (50 minutes versus 4 minutes approximately for filtering the SNPs of WGS Human sample NA24385). Code and scripts available at: github.com/ChuanyiZ/vef.
The Impact of Service Quality Dimensions on Customers’ Trust

Customers’ trust is an inevitable asset for organizations. The long-term relationship of customer-organization depends upon the presence of customers’ trust on the organization. The significance of this phenomenon in services industry becomes even more critical where organizations have to know individual as well as contextual factors that influence on customers’ trust. This study tested the impact of different dimensions of perceived service quality (reliability, assurance, responsiveness, empathy and tangibility) on customers’ trust. 220 customers from Insurance sector of Pakistan were selected to form the sampling frame. Explanatory factor analysis, correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to test proposed hypotheses. The results indicate positive relationship between different dimensions of service quality and customers’ trust. This study has several insights and valuable implications for the researchers and policy makers. First, deliberate efforts are needed on the part of policy makers in Insurance companies to nurture a climate that is conducive to build long-term customer’s trust to retain and expand extent of customers. In particular, front line officers must be trained to harmonize customers’ need with swift and rational solutions.
A Novel Spaceborne MIMO-SAR Imaging Scheme Based on Improved OFDM Waveforms

In recent years, the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) concept has been widely researched because it can provide more degrees of freedom to dramatically improve SAR system performance. However, the echo separation issue of different transmit antennas is the most challenging issue and it stirs up extensive discussions. In this letter, a novel MIMO-SAR imaging scheme based on the improved orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) waveforms is proposed. The main contributions of this work are that: <list list-type="ordered"><list-item><label>1)</label><p>Improved generation method for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> OFDM waveforms is presented. This method can compensate the extra carrier frequency deviation and compared with the other compensation methods, this method is more general and suitable for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$M$ </tex-math></inline-formula> OFDM waveforms. </p></list-item><list-item><label>2)</label><p>Based on the proposed OFDM waveforms, a novel and low-cost spaceborne MIMO-SAR imaging scheme is proposed. </p></list-item> </list> In this scheme, a simple time-shift weighting process and a bandpass filter bank are employed to separate the echoes from the close arrival angles. Then, the digital beamforming (DBF) on receive in elevation is employed to separate the echoes from far arrival angles. Furthermore, the distributed scene simulation results are presented to verify the practicability of the proposed scheme.
Relevance of Ampk to Male Reproduction

Adenosine 5’-monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key enzymatic protein involved in linking the energy sensing to the many metabolic pathways and that has been recently shown to control male gonad and spermatozoa functions. It is indeed involved in the regulation of semen quality through its action on the proliferation of testicular somatic cells on spermatozoa motility and acrosome reaction. It also favors spermatozoa quality through the management of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes. AMPK is a heterotrimeric serine/threonine protein kinase consisting of one catalytic subunit () and two regulatory subunits ( and ) that exist as multiple isoforms and splice variants, resulting in the generation of twelve possible heterotrimeric combinations. The well-conserved genes encoding these subunits are found in the genomes of essentially all eukaryotes, including protists, fungi, plants, and animals. AMPK regulates metabolic energy balance at the whole-body level by responding to hormones and nutrient signals, which leads to changes in energy homeostasis [1].
Concepts, Roadmaps and Challenges of Ovenized MEMS Gyroscopes: A Review

The MEMS gyroscope by means of oven control, or the so-called ovenized MEMS gyroscope, isolates the die from the external environment and utilizes a closed-loop temperature control system. It is thought to be important as it does not produce bias, scale factor drift made by thermal variations. Hence, a better temperature stability of the device is expected, which potentially benefits greatly the next generation of high-performance MEMS sensor. Herein, we attempt to provide a comprehensive review of many areas of the ovenized gyros, consisting of principle, key technology, the state-of-the-art results and suggestions. The thermal error mechanism and the importance of temperature control are introduced. The descriptions of the principles and characteristics of both on-chip and off-chip architectures are provided. To suppress heat dissipation at the package level, thermal resistance models based on conduction, convection, and radiation are established and analyzed. In terms of heating drive energy efficiency, comparisons have been made within VCCS (Voltage-Controlled Current Source), V-I (Voltage-to-Current) converters and PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), followed by the analysis of SSP (Single Set Point) and MSP (Multiple Set Point) algorithms. With regards the feedback control system, a systematic discussion on its common temperature detection methods, including CMOS PTAT (Proportional To Absolute Temperature), RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) and TCF (Temperature Coefficient of Frequency) is presented. The control algorithms and limitations for the temperature control are also presented. At the end, we compared and discussed the most representative ovenized gyros to date, followed by suggestions to future development trends.
PROTOCOLO DE EXTRAÇÃO DE DNA E OBTENÇÃO DE PERFIL GENÉTICO VISANDO IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE CULTIVARES

Estudos sobre a divergência genética entre indivíduos ou populações nas espécies vegetais têm sido de grande importância em programas de melhoramento. O primeiro passo para proteger legalmente um novo cultivar é a sua identificação ou descrição através de critérios estabelecidos, ou seja, descritores. Tradicionalmente os melhoristas têm utilizado descritores morfológicos para caracterização de plantas. Ainda que a caracterização feita desta forma continue sendo predominante e importante, as limitações deste tipo de descritor têm gerado a necessidade de busca de alternativas. Uma delas têm sido os descritores de DNA, baseados no genótipo do indivíduo, que vem recebendo maior atenção, especialmente pelo seu potencial de distinção de genótipos morfologicamente similares e geneticamente aparentados. A extração e a purificação de ácidos nucléicos a partir de diversas amostras experimentais é uma etapa fundamental para se obter alta eficiência de amplificação nos protocolos que usam a reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). Desta forma, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo testar um protocolo de extração de DNA para espécie Desmanthus pernambucanus, visando futuros estudos com análises moleculares por meio de marcadores. O protocolo testado foi o de Ferreira e Grattapaglia, baseado no método fundamentado na utilização do detergente Brometo de Cetiltrimetilamônio (CTAB). Seguindo as especificidades de cada um do protocolo, ao final da extração, obtiveram-se amostras de DNA, as quais foram analisadas por meio de quantificação e visualização gel de agarose. Foi utilizada quinze amostras em duplicata. Foi possível extrair DNA de folhas de Desmanthus pernambucanus após 24 horas das folhas coletadas. O protocolo Ferreira e Gatapaglia possibilitou o isolamento de DNA puro e em ótimo estado para utilização em técnicas de biologia molecular, obtendo uma concentração dos DNAs de 75 a 90 ng/ul. As amplificações ocorreram com sucesso em alta qualidade com fragmentos bem definidos e apresentaram elevado polimorfismo.
Prevalence of intestinal helminth parasites in wild and soft-release Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) in Lamandau Wildlife reserve, Central Kalimantan

Faeces samples were collected from 35 orangutans in Lamandau Wildlife Reserve. The orangutan consists of wild and soft release orangutan in four camp (Gemini, JL, Rasak, Buluh). Samples were collected in November until December 2017. Faeces were examined to measure the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite in wild and soft-release orangutan. The examination performed by flotation and sedimentation (formalin-ethyl acetate concentration). The results showed the percentage of orangutan infected with gastrointestinal parasite was 91,4%. High prevalences were found for Strongyloides sp. (68,6%), Hookworm (71,4%), Enterobius sp. (20%) and Trichuris sp. (17,1%). Most orangutan infected with mixed infection parasite (62,8%) dominated by a combination between Strongyloides sp. and hookworm and only 28,6% infected with single infection.
Detection, Classification, and Quantification of Nonlinear Distortions in Time-Varying Frequency Response Function Measurements

The class of nonlinear time-varying (NLTV) systems includes all possible systems and, hence, is difficult to identify. Still, when the nonlinearities are not too strong then, depending on the application, a linear model might be sufficient for approximating the true response. To quantify the approximation error of the linear model, detecting and quantifying the nonlinear behavior are of key importance. In this article, we propose a fully automated procedure for detecting, classifying, and quantifying the nonlinear distortions in the response, possibly subject to a trend, of a specific class of NLTV systems to odd random phase multisine excitations. The result is a measurement of the time-varying frequency response function together with uncertainty bounds due to noise and nonlinear distortions. The user only has to specify four integer numbers: an upper bound on: 1) the degree on the time-domain polynomial modeling of the trend; 2) the degree of the frequency-domain polynomial basis function; 3) the number of frequency-domain hyperbolic-like basis functions, all used for modeling the output spectrum; and 4) a quality measure—called degrees of freedom (dof)—of the noise variance estimate. Guidelines are provided for obtaining reasonable values for these upper bounds.
Antimicrobial activity of three medicinal plants against acne-inducing bacteria Propionibacterium acnes

The antimicrobial activities of three medicinal plants (Senna alata L., Azadirachta indica A. Juss, and Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. ) against pimples causing bacterium Propionibacterium acnes was studied using disc diffusion method. Extracts from each plant were used on the bacterium at three different dosage concentrations (0.1 mL, 0.15 mL and 0.2 mL). Their Zone of inhibition was measured in millimeter (mm) and compared against a known synthetic standard (Gentamycin). Results indicate that the plants differ significantly in their activity against the studied microorganism. S. alata had the highest inhibitory effect of all the plants used (26.00 mm, 30.67 mm and 36.00 mm, for 0.1 mL, 0.15 mL and 0.2 mL dosage concentration, respectively). This was followed by A. indica with 9.33 mm, 15.67 mm and 16.67 mm zone of inhibition for 0.1 mL, 0.15 mL and 0.2 mL dosage concentration respectively. A. vera had no effect (0.0 mm zone of inhibition) at 0.1 mL and 0.15 mL dosage concentrations, but at 2.0 mL dosage concentration, 4.0 mm zone of inhibition was achieved. Gentamycin showed zones of inhibition of 17.33 mm, 26.67 mm and 22.67 mm, for 0.1 mL, 0.15 mL and 0.2 mL dosage concentration, respectively. A comparison of all result obtained from the three plant extracts and gentamycin shows that S. alata have a significantly higher (p < 0.05) inhibitory effect against the pimples causing bacterium; Propionibacterium acnes than all the other treatments. The trend follows S. alata > Gentamycin > A. indica > A. vera, respectively, in terms of their inhibitory effect. Therefore, S. alata is more active and is the most appropriate plant to be used for treating of acne vulgaris among the three plant species selected for this experiment.
Soil microbial abundance and activity across forefield glacier chronosequence in the Northern Patagonian Ice Field, Chile

ABSTRACT In recently deglaciated soils, microbial organisms drive soil transformations by increasing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools while depleting available phosphorous (P), thus improving plant colonization and soil development. However, the rate of soil development can vary in response to local environmental conditions that affect microbial abundance and activity. In this contribution we use observational and experimental approaches to evaluate the interplay between soil biogeochemical features and microbial abundance and function after approximately seventy years of soil development in the forefield of the Exploradores Glacier that is located at the northernmost end of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. Our findings suggest that after approximately seventy years of soil development, microbial abundance and soil C and N accumulation increase with soil age, soil bulk density and pH decreased, and microbial activity measured as soil chlorophyll a and nifH gene abundance increased. In turn, decomposition increased with fungal abundance, showing higher values in the late stages of soil development where the soil C:N ratio was higher and soil pH was lower. Overall, biogeochemical changes along this chronosequence followed the predicted pattern, with gradual increases in soil nutrients and microbial abundance, in addition to decomposition processes.
Wideband Dual-Feed, Dual-Sense Circularly Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna

In this article, a wideband dual-feed, dual-sense circularly polarized (CP) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is proposed and demonstrated. An L-shaped slot and a vertical metal strip, fed by the same microstrip line, simultaneously excite the antenna. Using this feeding method, a dual-band, dual-sense CP triangular DRA is obtained by employing the DRA mode excited at the lower band and the hybrid mode excited at the upper band. Building on this initial design, a rotationally symmetric bowtie DRA (bDRA) consisting of two triangular dielectrics is proposed for wideband dual-sense CP operation. An additional excited slot mode widens impedance bandwidth and broadens the axial-ratio bandwidth (ARBW) of the lower band. Meanwhile, a higher order DRA mode excitation widens the ARBW of the higher band. The characteristics of these two DRAs are explored via simulation. Moreover, a bDRA prototype is fabricated and measured. The results demonstrate a directional antenna with a wide 10 dB return loss bandwidth of 63.7%, a broad 3 dB ARBW of 27.1% for the left-hand circular polarization, and a broad 3 dB ARBW of 12.8% for the right-hand circular polarization.
Development of the gut microbiota and dysbiosis in children

The gut microbiota resides in the human gastrointestinal tract, where it plays an important role in maintaining host health. Recent advancements in next-generation sequencing methods have revealed the link between dysbiosis (imbalance of the normal gut microbiota) and several diseases, as this imbalance can disrupt the symbiotic relationship between the host and associated microbes. Establishment of the gut microbiota starts in utero or just after birth, and its composition dramatically changes to an adult-like composition by 3 years of age. Because dysbiosis during childhood may persist through adulthood, it is crucial to acquire a balanced gut microbiota in childhood. Therefore, current studies have focused on the factors affecting the infant gut microbiota. This review discusses recent findings, including those from our studies, on how various factors, including the delivery mode, feeding type, and administration of drugs, including antibiotics, can influence the infant gut microbiota. Here, we also address future approaches for the prevention and restoration of dysbiosis in children.
Influence de la température sur la structure et la dynamique des protéines collectrices de lumière des bactéries pourpres dans leur environnement natif

Ce travail concerne l'influence de la temperature sur la structure et la dynamique des proteines collectrices de lumiere des bacteries pourpres dans leur environnement natif, les membranes intracytoplasmiques. Pour mener a bien ces etudes, nous avons developpe au laboratoire une approche de “calorimetrie fonctionnelle” dans les membranes intracytoplasmiques par des techniques de spectroscopie d'absorption, de dichroisme circulaire et de Raman de resonance. Nous avons analyse l'effet de la temperature sur les proprietes spectrales de la proteine LH1 en utilisant les molecules de bacteriochlorophylles comme marqueur naturel de l'assemblage des polypeptides transmembranaires, constituant l'anneau de LH1. Il existe dans la litterature de nombreuses etudes sur les processus d'auto-assemblage de ces proteines antennes, mais toutes realisees apres solubilisation en presence de detergent. C'est pourquoi nos etudes ont ete realisees sans ajout de detergent ou autres agents chaotrophes, mais directement sur les membranes intracytoplasmiques contenant la proteine LH1 surexprimee naturellement, dans le but de comparer les chemins de dissociation-reassociation de ces proteines selon qu'elles sont extraites ou non de leur milieu natif. Nous avons montre que la variation de temperature autour de valeurs proches des conditions physiologiques revele la dynamique de la structure des proteines LH1 et LH2. Ces resultats mettent en evidence l'existence d'un equilibre entre deux formes spectrales demontrant une flexibilite conformationnelle des proteines antennes dans leur environnement natif. A des temperatures elevees, nous montrons qu'il est possible de dissocier de maniere reversible la proteine LH1, mais que le processus de dissociation et reassociation de la proteine suit un chemin different de celui observe a partir de la proteine solubilisee. Ces etudes montrent l'importance des interactions entre bacteriochlorophylles pour l'oligomerisation et le fonctionnement des proteines antennes dans leur “milieu naturel”
Socio-economic determinants of smallholder plantation sizes in Ghana and options to encourage reforestation

Reforestation, particularly in the tropics, is of crucial importance for the environment as well as society. However, small planting areas and low participation of smallholder farmers in tree planting programmes often obstruct realisation of set planting area targets. In this regard, we interviewed smallholder farmers undertaking indigenous species reforestation in Oda Kotoamso community within the Wassa Amenfi West District in Western Region of Ghana with a pre-tested questionnaire to identify (1) key socio-economic factors that predict the size of plantations they establish, (2) options that could encourage tree planting among smallholder farmers, and (3) tree species planted by the smallholder farmers and their conservation status according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Key socio-economic factors were predicted with multiple regression models and ANOVA. Options were ranked on a five-point Likert scale and their differences were tested with the Mann–Whitney U test. Age and income of smallholders are the significant predictors of plantation sizes but farmers’ household size and gender were not significant. Age and income accounted for 77.1% and 22.9%, respectively, of the total variation described by our model (R 2 = 38.4%). In order of importance, incentives (mean = 4.35, SD = 0.48), public nurseries (mean = 4.2, SD = 0.82) and agroforestry (mean = 4.06, SD = 0.56) were the options that could encourage reforestation, though incentives and public nurseries were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Almost half (9 of 19) of the tree species planted are categorised as Vulnerable species, which highlights the contribution of smallholder farmers to recovery of threatened tree species. Our findings suggest that sustainable provision of planting materials in incentivised and youth-based tree planting programmes could increase planting hectarage and conserve threatened tree species.