Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reindeer turning maritime: Ice‐locked tundra triggers changes in dietary niche utilization

The rapid warming of the Arctic may not only alter species ’ abundances and distributions, but likely also the trophic interactions within and between ecosystems. On the high-arctic tundra, extreme warm spells and associated rain-on-snow events in winter can encapsulate the vegetation entirely in ground-ice (i.e., basal ice) and directly or indirectly affect plants, herbivores, and carnivores. However, the implications of such extreme events for trophic interactions and food-web ecology are generally far from understood. Here, we show that wild Svalbard reindeer populations increasingly isolated by lack of sea-ice respond to rain-on-snow and ice-locked pastures by increased kelp consumption. Based on annual population surveys in late winters 2006 – 2015, the proportion of individual reindeer feeding along the shoreline increased the icier the winter. Stable isotope values ( d 34 S, d 13 C, d 15 N) of plants, washed-ashore kelp, and fresh reindeer feces collected along coast-inland gradients, con ﬁ rmed ingestion of marine biomass by the reindeer in the shoreline habitat. Thus, even on remote islands and peninsulas increasingly isolated by sea-ice loss, effects of climate change may be buffered in part by behavioral plasticity and increased use of resource subsidies. This marine dimension of a terrestrial herbivore ’ s realized foraging niche adds to evidence that global warming signi ﬁ cantly alters trophic interactions as well as meta-ecosystem processes.
Relation Between Ankle Joint Dynamics and Patellar Tendinopathy in Elite Volleyball Players

ObjectiveAnkle joint complex dynamics developed during volleyball spike jumps take-offs and landings were quantified to assess potential relations between these joint dynamics and patellar tendinopathy. DesignThree-dimensional kinematic data provided information about movements of the lower limbs, while the kinetic data permitted analysis of ground reaction forces as players took-off and landed from full-speed spike jumps. SettingSimulated volleyball court with net in a biomechanics research laboratory. Participants10 members of the Canadian Men's National Volleyball Team. From history and physical examination, 3 of the 10 players had patellar tendon pain associated with activity and were diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy at the time of the study. Investigators were blinded about the injury status of the players. InterventionsNone. Main Outcome MeasuresThree-dimensional kinematics and joint moments of the ankle, knee, and hip joints. ResultsOur analysis revealed that maximal external tibial rotation occurred at or near maximal dorsiflexion while maximal internal tibial rotation coincided with maximal plantarflexion. The plantarflexion moment was 3 to 10 times greater than all the other moments measured, with the maximal plantarflexor moment being calculated at 0.4 BWm (360 Nm). In blinded logistic regression analyses, we found one of the dynamics variables (inversion moment during the landing of the spike jump) was a significant predictor of patellar tendinopathy. ConclusionsCoupling the results of the current analysis of ankle joint complex dynamics with previously reported results of knee joint dynamics related to patellar tendinopathy suggests that a cluster of variables linked to patellar tendinopathy includes: high ankle inversion–eversion moments, high external tibial rotation and plantarflexion moments, large vertical ground reaction forces, and high rate of knee extensor moment development.
Liquid Crystal Beam Shaping Devices Incorporating Coumarin-Based Photoalignment Layers

1. Abstract Liquid crystal (LC) devices incorporating photosensitive polymers based on coumarin were investigated for laser beam shaping applications. Presently, the OMEGA EP laser system uses pixelated metal beam shaping devices, though their relatively low damage threshold (approximately 0.2 J/cm 2) makes them poor options for long-term usage. LC devices have the major advantages of a much higher damage threshold (9-18 J/cm 2). Previously, 10 μm pixelated LC beam shapers were fabricated by patterning a commercially available cinnamate-based photopolymerizable LC alignment material (ROLIC) through a mask using polarized UV light to control the LCs' orientation. This project investigated fabrication and characterization of LC beam shaping devices employing a coumarin-based linearly photopolymerizable polymer (LPP) as an alternative to the cinnamate-based LPP. After developing an experimental procedure for creating coumarin-based LPP liquid crystal cells, analyzing cell transmission data, and evaluating LPP coating uniformity, it was determined that the coumarin-based LPP could be photolithographically patterned. However, more research is needed to improve coating uniformity and determine the UV irradiation conditions necessary to improve pixel resolution.
Comprehensive Definition of the SigH Regulon of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Reveals Transcriptional Control of Diverse Stress Responses

Expression of SigH, one of 12 Mycobacterium tuberculosis alternative sigma factors, is induced by heat, oxidative and nitric oxide stresses. SigH activation has been shown to increase expression of several genes, including genes involved in maintaining redox equilibrium and in protein degradation. However, few of these are known to be directly regulated by SigH. The goal of this project is to comprehensively define the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes and operons that are directly controlled by SigH in order to gain insight into the role of SigH in regulating M. tuberculosis physiology. We used ChIP-Seq to identify in vivo SigH binding sites throughout the M. tuberculosis genome, followed by quantification of SigH-dependent expression of genes linked to these sites and identification of SigH-regulated promoters. We identified 69 SigH binding sites, which are located both in intergenic regions and within annotated coding sequences in the annotated M. tuberculosis genome. 41 binding sites were linked to genes that showed greater expression following heat stress in a SigH-dependent manner. We identified several genes not previously known to be regulated by SigH, including genes involved in DNA repair, cysteine biosynthesis, translation, and genes of unknown function. Experimental and computational analysis of SigH-regulated promoter sequences within these binding sites identified strong consensus -35 and -10 promoter sequences, but with tolerance for non-consensus bases at specific positions. This comprehensive identification and validation of SigH-regulated genes demonstrates an extended SigH regulon that controls an unexpectedly broad range of stress response functions.
Shedding Light on the Grey Zone of Speciation along a Continuum of Genomic Divergence

Speciation results from the progressive accumulation of mutations that decrease the probability of mating between parental populations, or reduce the fitness of hybrids - the so-called species barriers. The speciation genomic literature, however, is mainly a collection of case studies, each with its own approach and specificities, such that a global view of the gradual process of evolution from one to two species is currently lacking. Of primary importance is the prevalence of gene flow between diverging entities, which is central in most species concepts, and has been widely discussed in recent years. Here we explore the continuum of speciation thanks to a comparative analysis of genomic data from 61 pairs of populations/species of animals with variable levels of divergence. Gene flow between diverging gene pools is assessed under an Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) framework. We show that the intermediate "grey zone" of speciation, in which taxonomy is often controversial, spans from 0.5% to 2% of net synonymous divergence, irrespective of species life-history traits or ecology. Thanks to appropriate modeling of among-loci variation in genetic drift and introgression rate, we clarify the status of the majority of ambiguous cases and uncover a number of cryptic species. Our analysis also reveals the high incidence in animals of semi-isolated species, when some but not all loci are affected by barriers to gene flow, and highlights the intrinsic difficulty, both statistical and conceptual, of delineating species in the grey zone of speciation.
Pushing the Boulder Uphill: The Persistence of First-Generation College Students

This study examined the impact of background, aspirations, achievement, college experiences, and price on the persistence of first-generation (F-gen) and continuing generation (C-gen) college students at 4-year institutions using the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study of 1995–96 (n = 24,262). We found differences between the two groups on the effect size for almost all of the significant variables. F-gen students were more sensitive to financial aid and averse to student loans than their peers. However, even variables such as high income, high test score, and high grade point average, which similar studies have found to be significant and positively associated with persistence, did not influence the persistence of F-gen students in this study.
Studies in porphyria. IV. Expression of the gene defect of acute intermittent porphyria in cultured human skin fibroblasts and amniotic cells: prenatal diagnosis of the porphyric trait

The gene lesion of the porphyrin-heme synthetic pathway in acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is reflected in a deficient level of activity of the cytosol enzyme uroporphyrinogen I synthetase (URO-S). A marked URO-S deficiency has been demonstrated in the liver and in circulating erythrocytes of individuals with both active and latent AIP. This enzymic abnormality accounts for the excessive production and excretion into urine of the porphyrin precursors, lamda-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG) in AIP subjects. In this study, utilizing cell culture techniques, a marked URO-S deficiency has also been demonstrated in skin fibroblasts from AIP patients and in cells derived through aminocentesis from an approximately 17-wk old fetus. The prenatal diagnosis of the AIP trait in this fetus was confirmed postnatally by the demonstration in the child of a deficient level of erythrocyte URO-S activity which was comparable to those found in her AIP mother and affected sibling and which was approximately one-half the levels characterizing her normal father and aunt and a second unaffected sibling. The identification of the URO-S deficiency in cultured human fibroblasts from AIP patients was facilitated by a newly developed, sensitive assay for the enzyme activity. In this assay, the ability of such cells to convert ALA to protoporphyrin was quantitated; in the sequence of reactions involved in this transformation, URO-S is limiting so that the gene defect of AIP could be simply and precisely determined by appropriate spectrofluorometry of cell extracts. The technique described has distinct advantages over the direct enzymatic assay for URO-S activity in cultured human skin fibroblasts and permits clear differentiation of AIP carrier from normal individuals.
The effects of the EMDR integrated play therapy on anxiety, anger and self-esteem with ADHD children

The purpose of the study is to examine what effects the EMDR integrated play therapy has on decreasing the anxiety and anger of ADHD children traumatized by domestic violence and parents’divorce and improving the positive self-esteem. EMDR integrated play therapy is proven powerful standard EMDR treatment 1-8 level and is applied to easily performed children integrated play therapy. As a result, I have concluded as follows: First, the EMDR integrated play therapy decreases the anxiety of ADHD children traumatized by domestic violence and parents’divorce. Second, the EMDR integrated play therapy decreases the anger of ADHD children traumatized by domestic violence and parents’divorce. Third, the EMDR integrated play therapy improves the positive self-esteem of ADHD children traumatized by domestic violence and parents’divorce. Through the results of the research, it is certain that the EMDR integrated play therapy has a great effectiveness on decreasing the anxiety and anger of ADHD children traumatized by domestic violence and parents’divorce and improving the positive self-esteem.
Memory dynamics for DTN protocol in deep-space communications

Considering the significant success of the terrestrial Internet, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other space agencies have been working for a few decades to enable space communications using the Internet-type protocols such as transmission control protocol/ Internet protocol (TCP/IP), namely, space internetworking or simply space Internet. It is well known that long propagation delays, intermittent connectivity, heavy channel noise, and asymmetric link rates in space environments all conspire to limit the effectiveness and performance of TCP over space communication channels, especially in deep-space communications [1]. The space Internet in deep-space interplanetary environments is generally named interplanetary Internet (IPN) [2]. Numerous literature surveys [2]-[7] have been done on IPN architectures and protocols.
Towards a complete census of AGN in nearby Galaxies: a large population of optically unidentified AGN

Using Spitzer-infrared spectrograph (IRS) spectroscopy, we investigate the ubiquity of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in a complete (≈94 per cent), volume-limited sample of the most bolometrically luminous galaxies [L IR , 8-1000 μm ≥(0.3-20) × 10 10 L ⊙ ] to D < 15 Mpc. Our analyses are based on the detection of the high-excitation emission line [Ne v]λ14. 32 μm (97.1 eV) to unambiguously identify AGN activity. We find that 17 of the 64 infrared (IR) bright galaxies in our sample host AGN activity (≈27+8/-6 per cent), ≥50 per cent of which are not identified as AGN using optical spectroscopy. The large AGN fraction indicates a tighter connection between AGN activity and IR luminosity for galaxies in the local Universe than previously found, potentially indicating a close association between AGN activity and star formation. The optically unidentified AGN span a wide range of galaxy type (S0-Ir) and are typically starburst-dominated systems hosting modest-luminosity AGN activity (L [Ne V] ≈ 10 37 -10 39 erg s -1 ). The non-identification of optical AGN signatures in the majority of these galaxies appears to be due to extinction towards the AGN, rather than intrinsically low-luminosity AGN activity; however, we note that the AGN optical signatures are diluted in some galaxies due to strong star formation activity. Examination of optical images shows that the optically unidentified AGN with evidence for extinction are hosted in either highly inclined galaxies or galaxies with dust lanes, indicating that obscuration of the AGN is not necessarily due to an obscuring torus. We therefore conclude that optical spectroscopic surveys miss approximately half of the AGN population simply due to extinction through the host galaxy.
A tubular linear machine with dual Halbach array

Purpose – Force output is extremely important for electromagnetic linear machines. The purpose of this study is to explore new permanent magnet (PM) array and winding patterns to increase the magnetic flux density and thus to improve the force output of electromagnetic tubular linear machines. Design/methodology/approach – Based on investigations on various PM patterns, a novel dual Halbach PM array is proposed in this paper to increase the radial component of flux density in three-dimensional machine space, which in turn can increase the force output of tubular linear machine significantly. The force outputs and force ripples for different winding patterns are formulated and analyzed, to select optimized structure parameters. Findings – The proposed dual Halbach array can increase the radial component of flux density and force output of tubular linear machines effectively. It also helps to decrease the axial component of flux density and thus to reduce the deformation and vibration of machines. By using .
A Novel Hybrid Mental Spelling Application Based on Eye Tracking and SSVEP-Based BCI

Steady state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs)-based Brain-Computer interfaces (BCIs), as well as eyetracking devices, provide a pathway for re-establishing communication for people with severe disabilities. We fused these control techniques into a novel eyetracking/SSVEP hybrid system, which utilizes eye tracking for initial rough selection and the SSVEP technology for fine target activation. Based on our previous studies, only four stimuli were used for the SSVEP aspect, granting sufficient control for most BCI users. As Eye tracking data is not used for activation of letters, false positives due to inappropriate dwell times are avoided. This novel approach combines the high speed of eye tracking systems and the high classification accuracies of low target SSVEP-based BCIs, leading to an optimal combination of both methods. We evaluated accuracy and speed of the proposed hybrid system with a 30-target spelling application implementing all three control approaches (pure eye tracking, SSVEP and the hybrid system) with 32 participants. Although the highest information transfer rates (ITRs) were achieved with pure eye tracking, a considerable amount of subjects was not able to gain sufficient control over the stand-alone eye-tracking device or the pure SSVEP system (78.13% and 75% of the participants reached reliable control, respectively). In this respect, the proposed hybrid was most universal (over 90% of users achieved reliable control), and outperformed the pure SSVEP system in terms of speed and user friendliness. The presented hybrid system might offer communication to a wider range of users in comparison to the standard techniques.
Increase of ADAM10 Level in Coronary Artery In-Stent Restenosis Segments in Diabetic Minipigs: High ADAM10 Expression Promoting Growth and Migration in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via Notch 1 and 3

Background This study aimed to identify major proteins in the pathogenesis of coronary artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) in diabetic minipigs with sirolimus-eluting stenting, and to investigate the roles of key candidate molecules, particularly ADAM10, in human arterial smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). Methods and Results The stents were implanted in the coronary arteries of 15 diabetic and 26 non-diabetic minipigs, and angiography was repeated at six months. The intima of one vascular segment with significant ISR and one with non-ISR in diabetic minipigs were isolated and cultured in conditioned medium (CM). The CM was analyzed by LC-MS/MS to uncover proteins whose levels were significantly increased (≥1.5-fold) in ISR than in non-ISR tissues. After literature searching, we focused on the identified proteins, whose biological functions were most potentially related to ISR pathophysiology. Among them, ADAM10 was significantly increased in diabetic and non-diabetic ISR tissues as compared with non-ISR controls. In cell experiments, retrovirus-mediated overexpression of ADAM10 promoted growth and migration of HASMCs. The effects of ADAM10 were more remarkable in high-glucose culture than in low-glucose culture. Using shRNA and an inhibitor of γ-secretase (GSI), we found that the influences of ADAM10 were in part mediated by Notch1 and notch 3 pathway, which up-regulated Notch downstream genes and enhanced nuclear translocation of the small intracellular component of Notch1 and Notch3. Conclusions This study has identified significantly increased expression of ADAM10 in the ISR versus non-ISR segment in diabetic minipigs and implicates ADAM10 in the enhanced neointimal formation observed in diabetes after vascular injury.
Regularized Minimax Conditional Entropy for Crowdsourcing

There is a rapidly increasing interest in crowdsourcing for data labeling. By crowdsourcing, a large number of labels can be often quickly gathered at low cost. However, the labels provided by the crowdsourcing workers are usually not of high quality. In this paper, we propose a minimax conditional entropy principle to infer ground truth from noisy crowdsourced labels. Under this principle, we derive a unique probabilistic labeling model jointly parameterized by worker ability and item difficulty. We also propose an objective measurement principle, and show that our method is the only method which satisfies this objective measurement principle. We validate our method through a variety of real crowdsourcing datasets with binary, multiclass or ordinal labels.
Novel Dental Adhesive with Biofilm-Regulating and Remineralization Capabilities

The mechanical properties and anti-caries effect of a novel anti-caries adhesive containing poly (amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM) and dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate (DMADDM) were investigated for the first time. Microtensile bond strength and surface charge density were measured for the novel anti-caries adhesives. Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Streptococcus gordonii were chosen to form three-species biofilms. Lactic acid assay, MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, exopolysaccharide staining and live/dead staining were performed to study anti-biofilm effect of the adhesive. The TaqMan realtime polymerase chain reaction was used to study the proportion change in three-species biofilms of different groups. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to observe the remineralization effect of PAMAM and DMADDM. The results showed that incorporating PAMAM and DMADDM into adhesive had no adverse effect on the dentin bond strength. The 1% PAMAM and 5% DMADDM adhesive group showed anti-biofilm properties and developed a healthier biofilm with a lower chance of inducing dental caries. Combination of 1% PAMAM and 5% DMADDM solution maintained remineralization capability on dentin, similar to that using 1% PAMAM alone. In conclusion, the adhesive containing PAMAM and DMADDM had strong antimicrobial properties and biological remineralization capabilities, and is promising for anti-caries clinical applications.
Perceived Organizational Politics, Support and Workplace Incivility of Supervisor as Predictors of Turnover Intention

The study examined perceived organizational politics, support and work-place incivility of supervisor as predictors of employees’ intention to quit. The results of the regression analyses revealed that perceived organizational politics significantly predicted turnover intention (β = .41, p < .001). Per-ceived politics accounted for 46.8% of the variance in turnover intention, above and beyond the control variables. Perceived organizational support was also found to be negatively related to turnover intention (β = - .69, p < .001), and accounted for additional 31% of the variance in turnover inten-tion. The results of the analyses equally indicated that workplace incivility significantly predicted turnover intention among employees (β = .25, p < .001). And explained additional 3% of the variance in turnover intention above and beyond the control variables, perceived organizational politics, and perceived organizational support. These results were discussed based on existing theories and on the Nigerian socio-economic realities.