Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The control of nest climate in bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) colonies: interindividual variability and self reinforcement in fanning response

Interindividual variability in response to environmental stimuli is believed to have a major impact on collective behaviors in social insects. The present study presents a detailed investigation of the variability in individual fanning behavior underlying the collective control of nest climate in bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) colonies. Four colonies were repeatedly exposed to increasing temperature and CO2 levels. The response threshold of each worker (defined as the mean stimulus intensity at which a worker responded by fanning) was determined. Temperature response thresholds of 118 workers and CO2 response thresholds of 88 workers were analyzed. Workers differed in their response thresholds. Some consistently responded to low stimulus intensities, others consistently responded to high stimulus intensities. No consistent correlation between temperature and CO2 thresholds was found within individuals. Response thresholds of fanning bees decreased over successive trials, providing empirical support for the idea of specialization through individual threshold reinforcement. In addition to variability in individual response thresholds, workers of a colony differed in two other parameters of responsiveness: response probability (the probability of responding to a stimulus once it exceeded an individual’s response threshold) and response duration (the persistency with which fanning was performed once an individual responded). The results of the present study suggest that response threshold, response probability and response duration are important independent parameters of individual responsiveness in the collective control of nest climate in bumblebee colonies. Key words: division of labor, nest climate, reinforcement, response thresholds, selforganization. [Behav Ecol 15:120–128 (2004)]
Mindful Classroom: Developing and Testing Strategies for Resilience among Urban 7th Grade Students

Introduction: A growing body of research suggests mindfulness-based classroom interventions are an effective, low cost approach to reducing the effects of toxic stress among youth. The purpose of this project was to identify key sources of stress among urban 7th grade students at De Marillac Academy and develop and test mindfulness techniques to actively engage and potentially improve stress management skills among students. Methods: Five focus groups with students were conducted to assess the most prominent sources of stress inside and outside of school as well as current self-management strategies. Additionally, anonymous online surveys were distributed to 7th grade parents, faculty, and staff to determine perceived sources of stress and areas for student growth. Based on findings, a nine-week series of mindfulness activities was piloted in the classroom for 30 minutes each week. Activities were designed to encourage motivation, self-awareness, positive decision making, and stress management. Students completed a feedback survey after five and nine weeks. Results: Academic achievement, staying focused in class, and family problems were identified as the three primary sources of stress. Students responded best to activities that encouraged a space for calm and quiet, interactive learning, and clear explanations. After nine weeks, although some students experienced challenges staying focused and still, most students could accurately describe mindfulness and identify a mindful practice to employ when stressed. Discussion: The results suggest promising strategies for teaching and engaging urban, lowincome students in mindfulness. Future research is recommended to evaluate long-term student behavioral outcomes from mindfulness activities.
THE EFFECT OF MECHANICAL STRESS ON BARKHAUSEN NOISES FROM HEAT-TREATED NICKEL PLATES

The effect of mechanical stress on Barkhausen noise from pure nickel plates is reported for as-rolled plate and plates which are annealed at various temperatures up to 1000 K. The data are compared with Vickers hardness and SEM images. The Barkhausen noise energy detected has been found generally to decrease rapidly with nominal stress except a case of a plate annealed at around 400 K. The larger the annealing temperature, the larger the rate of decrease was observed. Overall features are explained qualitatively by a model in which tensile stress pull out the Barkhausen jumps from an observable condition and annealing makes the number of pinning sites small.
Broad Absorption Line Quasars in the Early Data Release from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

A new broad absorption line (BAL) quasar sample is derived from the first data released by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. With 116 objects, it is the largest BAL quasar sample yet assembled. Over the redshift range 1.8 ≤ z ≤ 3.8, the crude fraction with broad absorption in the C IV line is ≃15%. This fraction may be subject to small selection-efficiency adjustments. There are also hints of redshift dependence in the BAL quasar fraction. The sample is large enough to permit the first estimate of the distribution of the "balnicity index": subject to certain arbitrary parameters in the definition of this quantity, it is very broad, with (roughly) equal numbers of objects per logarithmic interval of balnicity. BAL quasars are also found to be redder on average than non-BAL quasars. The fraction of radio-loud BAL quasars is (weakly) consistent with the fraction of radio-loud ordinary quasars.
An Explicit Construction of Universally Decodable Matrices

Universally decodable matrices can be used for coding purposes when transmitting over slow fading channels. These matrices are parameterized by positive integers $L$ and $n$ and a prime power $q$. Based on Pascal's triangle we give an explicit construction of universally decodable matrices for any non-zero integers $L$ and $n$ and any prime power $q$ where $L \leq q+1$. This is the largest set of possible parameter values since for any list of universally decodable matrices the value $L$ is upper bounded by $q+1$, except for the trivial case $n = 1$. For the proof of our construction we use properties of Hasse derivatives, and it turns out that our construction has connections to Reed-Solomon codes, Reed-Muller codes, and so-called repeated-root cyclic codes. Additionally, we show how universally decodable matrices can be modified so that they remain universally decodable matrices.
Genes That Act Downstream of Sensory Neurons to Influence Longevity, Dauer Formation, and Pathogen Responses in Caenorhabditis elegans

The sensory systems of multicellular organisms are designed to provide information about the environment and thus elicit appropriate changes in physiology and behavior. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, sensory neurons affect the decision to arrest during development in a diapause state, the dauer larva, and modulate the lifespan of the animals in adulthood. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are incompletely understood. Using whole-genome microarray analysis, we identified transcripts whose levels are altered by mutations in the intraflagellar transport protein daf-10, which result in impaired development and function of many sensory neurons in C. elegans. In agreement with existing genetic data, the expression of genes regulated by the transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO was affected by daf-10 mutations. In addition, we found altered expression of transcriptional targets of the DAF-12/nuclear hormone receptor in the daf-10 mutants and showed that this pathway influences specifically the dauer formation phenotype of these animals. Unexpectedly, pathogen-responsive genes were repressed in daf-10 mutant animals, and these sensory mutants exhibited altered susceptibility to and behavioral avoidance of bacterial pathogens. Moreover, we found that a solute transporter gene mct-1/2, which was induced by daf-10 mutations, was necessary and sufficient for longevity. Thus, sensory input seems to influence an extensive transcriptional network that modulates basic biological processes in C. elegans. This situation is reminiscent of the complex regulation of physiology by the mammalian hypothalamus, which also receives innervations from sensory systems, most notably the visual and olfactory systems.
An Embodied Approach to Perception

When humans perceive the environment, angular units of visual information must be transformed into units appropriate for the specification of such parameters of surface layout as extent, size, and orientation. Our embodied approach to perception proposes that these scaling units derive from the body. For example, hand size is relevant for scaling the size of a strawberry, whereas an extent across a meadow is scaled by the amount of walking required to traverse it. In his article, Firestone (2013, this issue) argued that our approach is wrong; in fact, he argued that it must be wrong. This reply to Firestone’s critique is organized into three parts, which address the following questions: (a) What is the fundamental question motivating our approach? (b) How does our approach answer this question? (c) How can we address Firestone’s arguments against our approach? A point-by-point critique of Firestone’s arguments is presented. Three conclusions are drawn: (a) Most of Firestone’s arguments reflect a misunderstanding of our approach, (b) none of his arguments are the fatal flaws in our approach that he believes them to be, and (c) there are good reasons to believe that perception—just like any other biological function—is a phenotypic expression.
Information Asymmetry, R&D, and Insider Gains

Although researchers have documented gains from insider trading, the sources of private information leading to information asymmetry and insider gains have not been comprehensively investigated. We focus on research and development (R&D)-an increasingly important yet poorly disclosed productive input-as a potential source of insider gains. Our findings, for the period from 1985 to 1997 indicate that insider gains in R&D-intensive firms are substantially larger than insider gains in firms without R&D. Insiders also take advantage of information on planned changes in R&D budgets. R&D is thus a major contributor to information asymmetry and insider gains, raising issues concerning management compensation, incentives, and disclosure policies. Copyright The American Finance Association 2000.
Peptic ulcer complications requiring surgery: what has changed in the last 50 years in Turkey.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The incidence and prevalence of peptic ulcer disease has decreased in recent years, but it is not so easy to make the same conclusion when complications of peptic ulcer are taken into consideration. The aim of this study is to determine the time trends in complicated peptic ulcer disease and to state the effects of H2 receptor blockers, proton pump inhibitors (PPI), and H. pylori eradication therapies on these complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study retrospectively evaluated the patients who were operated on for complications (perforation, bleeding, and obstruction) of peptic ulcer for the last 50 years. Patients were grouped into four groups (G1-G4) according to the dates in which H2 receptor blockers, PPIs, and eradication regimens for H. pylori were introduced The time periods that were studied were: (G1) 1962-1980, (G2) 1981-1990, (G3) 1991-1997, and (G4) 1998-2012. RESULTS In total, 2953 patients were operated on for complications of peptic ulcer disease, of which 86% of the patients were male. In G1, perforation and obstruction were significantly the most frequent complications (p<0.001), followed by bleeding. In groups G2 and G3, obstruction was still the most frequent complication requiring surgery (p<0.001). In G2 and G3, obstruction was followed by perforation and bleeding, respectively. In G4, perforation was significantly the most frequent complication (p<0.001). CONCLUSION From 1962 to 1990 obstruction was the most common complication requiring surgery. In the last decade, perforation became the most common complication. In contrast to reports in the literature, bleeding was the least common complication requiring surgery in Turkey.
DNA-dependent protein kinase is one of a subset of autoantigens specifically cleaved early during apoptosis

Proteolytic cleavage of key substrates appears to be an important biochemical mechanism underlying the apoptotic process, and the centrality of interleukin 1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-like proteases as mediators of apoptosis has been suggested. The identification of the relevant substrates of the ICE protease family during apoptosis therefore constitutes a major challenge. Using human autoantibodies, we demonstrate here that a subset of autoantigens is specifically cleaved early during apoptosis. One of these cleaved molecules is identified as the catalytic subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase. The time courses of all proteolytic cleavages are identical and coincide with the onset of morphologic apoptosis. Furthermore, all cleavages share the same inhibition characteristics, which implicate an ICE-like activity(ies). We propose that cleavage of these autoantigens targets these molecules for an autoimmune response by revealing immunocryptic fragments in a proimmune apoptotic setting. Study of the immunogenicity of these fragments may yield insights into the autoimmune targeting of molecules. Moreover, the autoantibodies described will be valuable tools for the elucidation of mechanistically important proteolytic steps along the apoptotic pathway.
Effects of Intravenous Anesthetics on Ca2+ Sensitivity in Canine Tracheal Smooth Muscle

Background Halothane and other volatile anesthetics relax airway smooth muscle in part by decreasing the amount of force produced for a particular intracellular calcium concentration (the Ca2+ sensitivity) during muscarinic receptor stimulation. In this study, ketamine, propofol, and midazolam were evaluated to determine whether the inhibitory effect of volatile anesthetics on this signal transduction pathway is a general property of other types of anesthetic drugs. Methods A &bgr;-escin permeabilized canine tracheal smooth muscle preparation was used. Ketamine, propofol, and midazolam, in concentrations producing near-maximal relaxation in intact airway smooth muscle (200 &mgr;M, 270 &mgr;M, and 100 &mgr;M, respectively), were applied to permeabilized muscles stimulated with calcium in either the absence or the presence of muscarinic receptor stimulation provided by acetylcholine. The effect of halothane also was evaluated. Results Confirming previous studies, halothane (0.75 mM) decreased calcium sensitivity during muscarinic receptor stimulation. None of the intravenous anesthetics studied affected Ca2+ sensitivity, either in the absence or the presence of muscarinic receptor stimulation. Conclusions Intravenous anesthetics in high concentrations directly relax canine tracheal smooth muscle without affecting Ca2+ sensitivity. The inhibition of agonist-induced increases in Ca2+ sensitivity of canine tracheal smooth is not a common property of anesthetics, but is unique to volatile agents.
The Organization of Supply: A Vertical Equilibrium Analysis

In this paper I study how the make-or-buy decision of a firm depends on the organization of its peers. I consider a multi-firm framework in which firms choose whether to integrate into the supply of an intermediate input or to outsource its production, and choose the size of their supplier network if outsourcing. Firms find it optimal to share the same set of suppliers, as there are economies of scope in investment to suppliers taking multiple designs. These economies are due to spillovers of technical or operational know-how between projects and to savings in the setup costs on physical capital. The model admits multiple vertical equilibria that are Pareto-ranked, the one with the highest level of outsourcing being most efficient. Outsourcing is more likely in larger markets and when the economies of scope are stronger. The size of the optimal supplier network however typically decreases when the spillovers are stronger. These findings provide insight into the patterns of reorganization of vertical supply relations observed over the last two decades.
Awakening Blood Pressure Rise in a Patient with Spinal Cord Injury

Patient: Male, 66 Final Diagnosis: Awakening blood pressure rise Symptoms: Syncope Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring Specialty: Cardiology Objective: Challenging differential diagnosis Background: The pathophysiological mechanism causing awakening blood pressure (BP) rise is not clear. Case Report: We report the case of a 66-year-old man with a history of spinal cord injury, and who had remarkable awakening BP rise in ambulatory BP monitoring. The patient also had orthostatic hypotension and post-prandial hypotension associated with an increased insulin level. This case suggests that awakening BP rise can occur without increased physical activity or positional changes, in those with autonomic nerve dysreflexia associated with a spinal cord injury. The reduction of elevated awakening BP level can be affected by eating breakfast in association with an increased insulin level. However, in ambulatory BP monitoring, the awakening BP rise was reproducible, but this patient also exhibited evening BP rise in home BP monitoring when he took a nap. Conclusions: Exaggerated awakening BP rise can occur in patients with spinal cord injury without positional change, and the recovery of BP may be modified by post-prandial and orthostatic BP drop.
Effects of cytomegalovirus infection on the prognosis of inflammatory bowel disease patients

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on the prognosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Various databases were searched using a combination of keywords associated with CMV infection and IBD. Subsequent to the selection of relevant studies in line with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, a meta-analysis was conducted using the Stata 12.0 software. A total of 195 studies were initially retrieved, including 28 studies in Chinese and 167 in English. Following the exclusion of unsuitable studies, 7 cohort studies with 374 IBD patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results of the present study identified significant differences between patients with and without CMV infection regarding the disease duration of IBD [standardized mean difference, −0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI), −1.19 to −0.43; P<0.001], the efficacy of corticosteroid therapy [relative risk (RR), 1.24; 95% CI, 1.02–1.49; P=0.029], the colectomy rate (RR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.03–4.40; P=0.042) and the incidence of severe IBD (RR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.04–1.67; P=0.022). Considering the IBD onset area, patients with CMV infection may have higher susceptibility to pancolitis (RR, 1.31; 95% CI; 1.01–1.72; P=0.045); however, no difference in susceptibility to left-sided IBD was observed between patients with or without CMV infection (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.72–1.30; P=0.828). In conclusion, CMV infection may be associated with the disease duration, efficacy of corticosteroid therapy, colectomy rate, severe IBD incidence and disease location of IBD; thus, the presence of CMV infection may be considered as an important biomarker for determining the prognosis of IBD.
Extremely stringent activation of p16INK4a prevents immortalization of uterine cervical epithelial cells without human papillomavirus oncogene expression

Cervical epithelial cell immortalization with defined genetic factors without viral oncogenes has never been reported. Here we report that HPV-negative cervical epithelial cells failed to be immortalized by telomerase activation or the combination of p53 knockdown and telomerase activation. Under those conditions, p16INK4a expression was always elevated during the late stage of limited cell lifespan, suggesting that cervical epithelial cells possess an intrinsic property of uniquely stringent activation of p16INK4a, which may offer an explanation for the rarity of HPV-negative cervical cancer. Combining p16INK4a knockdown with telomerase activation resulted in efficient immortalization of HPV-negative cervical epithelial cells under ordinary culture conditions. Compared with the HPV16-E6E7-immortalized cell lines derived from the same primary cell sources, the novel HPV-negative immortalized cell lines had lower degrees of chromosomal instability, maintained more sensitive p53/p21 response to DNA damage, exhibited more stringent G2 checkpoint function, and were more resistant to replication-stress-induced genomic instability. The newly immortalized HPV-negative cervical epithelial cell lines were non-tumorigenic in nude mice. The cell lines can be used not only as much-needed HPV-negative non-malignant cell models but also as starting models that can be genetically manipulated in a stepwise fashion to investigate the roles of defined genetic alterations in the development of HPV-negative cervical cancer.
Effective descriptions of branes on non-geometric tori

We investigate the low-energy effective description of non-geometric compactifications constructed by T-dualizing two or three of the directions of a T^3 with non-vanishing H-flux. Our approach is to introduce a D3-brane in these geometries and to take an appropriate decoupling limit. In the case of two T-dualities, we find at low energies a non-commutative T^2 fibered non-trivially over an S^1. In the UV this theory is still decoupled from gravity, but is dual to a little string theory with flavor. For the case of three T-dualities, we do not find a sensible decoupling limit, casting doubt on this geometry as a low-energy effective notion in critical string theory. However, by studying a topological toy model in this background, we find a non-associative geometry similar to one found by Bouwknegt, Hannabuss, and Mathai.
Genetic aspects of epitestosterone formation and androgen disposition: influence of polymorphisms in CYP17 and UGT2B enzymes

Objective Testosterone is a commonly abused androgen in sports and in the gym culture of the society. Its abuse is conventionally disclosed by urinary assay of the testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) glucuronide ratio, which should not exceed 4. A noteworthy number of athletes, however, have higher natural ratios than 4, most likely because of decreased excretion of epitestosterone glucuronide. Falsely positive doping test results are of great concern for the legal rights of the sportsman. Our objective was to study the genetic aspects of epitestosterone formation, and to elucidate the impact of genetic variation in androgen-metabolizing enzymes. Methods Urine from different study populations was analysed for androgen glucuronides by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. All men were genotyped for the uridine diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B17 deletion polymorphism and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the cytochrome P-450c17&agr; (CYP17), UGT2B15 and UGT2B7 genes. Expression of UGT2B15 mRNA in human liver samples was analysed using real-time PCR. Results A T>C (A1>A2) promoter polymorphism in the CYP17 gene was associated with the urinary glucuronide levels of epitestosterone and its putative precursor androstene-3&bgr;, 17&agr;-diol, resulting in 64% higher T/E ratios in A1/A1 homozygotes. Individuals devoid of UGT2B17 had significantly higher UGT2B15 mRNA levels in liver than individuals carrying two functional UGT2B17 alleles. Conclusion The CYP17 promoter polymorphism may partly explain high natural (>4) T/E ratios. Our data indicate that 5-androstene-3&bgr;, 17&agr;-diol is an important precursor of epitestosterone and that CYP17 is involved in its production. In addition, we found that lack of the UGT2B17 enzyme may be compensated for by increase in UGT2B15 transcription.