Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Breeding synchrony in colonial birds: from local stress to global harmony

Why and how birds in colonies often breed in striking synchrony is an unsolved question. In colonies, conspecific birds often destroy eggs and kill chicks, either intentionally or not. We propose that social tranquillity at the time of laying can be achieved if a bird's stress level is partly determined by the agitation of its neighbours. Moreover, we propose that this local process, together with environmental cues, can synchronize breeding between neighbours and through a whole colony. We tested our hypotheses using a generic individual-based model where the breeding predisposition of females was updated daily depending on an increase in the photoperiod (positively) and the stress level of neighbours: negatively if they were agitated, and positively otherwise. A female laid her eggs when her stress level fell to a critical value. Even giving only a low relevance to the neighbour's stress level was enough to synchronize the laying date of neighbours and also of a huge colony. Moreover, females bred in a safer environment, which is known from field studies to increase fitness. Our study highlights the power of local adaptive (individual) behaviour to create global (colony) patterns. We argue that collective patterns such as breeding synchrony in colonial birds could have simple adaptive individual-level explanations.
Spectro-temporal analysis of speech affected by depression and psychomotor retardation

To enhance current diagnostic methods used when assessing a depressed individual, an objective screening mechanism, ideally based on non-intrusive behavioral signals, is needed. Given the clinical description of depression speech as `dull, monotonous and flat' and promising previous results from spectral features, we hypothesize that the effects of depression on speech are embedded in spectro-temporal events. To test this hypothesis we explore different methodologies, based on the modulation spectrum, for extracting long-term spectro-temporal information from speech and assess their suitability as a clinical marker of depression. Results indicate that: depressive speech information is captured in the modulation spectrum, long-term spectro-temporal information is important in depressed speech identification and there are potential differences in the effects that depression and psychomotor retardation have on speech production mechanisms.
On the Anisotropic Tensile Behaviors of Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride-coated Fabrics

The aim of this study was to provide a practical approach towards discovering the anisotropic behaviors of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-coated fabrics under low tensile stresses, as well as those at the tensile failure stage. Test specimens were PVC-coated polyester woven fabrics. One group of bias tensile experiments, with off-axial angles of 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75° and 90°, was conducted under low tensile stresses. The anisotropic behaviors on elastic constants of coated fabrics were analyzed with the application of off-axial constitutive response of orthotropic and elastic materials. The experiment data agreed well with the prediction of the off-axial constitutive response. It was proved that coated fabrics can be regarded as orthotropic and elastic materials within 20 % of the ultimate tensile stress. To analyze the anisotropic behaviors at the tensile failure stage, another group of bias tensile experiments with the same off-axial angles was carried out. Three types of failure mechanisms, pure tensile failure, pure shear failure and a mixed failure of tensile and shear, were observed by analyzing the fracture configuration of the specimens under each bias tensile loading. For the prediction of the anisotropic failure strength of coated fabrics, Tsai-Hill strength criterion was used and the results analyzed.
Preparation of Thick Functionally Graded Layers of Ceramics by Surface Modification of Tantalum and Titanium Using High Temperature Plasma Processing

Surfaces of metals, such as Ta and Ti, have been changed successfully to a new type of ceramic layers having the compositional gradient by means of the plasma processing at high temperature above 900°C. Surfaces of Ta and Ti were transformed to thick layers of ceramics, i.e. TiC, TiN, TaC or TaN components, respectively, by carburizing or nitriding. Resultantly, a Vicker’s hardness of each modified sample surface remarkably increased over 3000 kg/mm2. The density of carbides or nitrides in the modified layer and at the interface was measured to decrease with depth. The width of interface was wide about 7 \\micron, in the case of TiC . Additionally, the irradiation of 20 MeV-electron beam to samples as the pretreatment before the plasma processing was effective to increase the thickness of modified layer.
Parabolic and Elliptic Systems in Divergence Form with Variably Partially BMO Coefficients

We establish the solvability of second order divergence type parabolic systems in Sobolev spaces. The leading coefficients are assumed to be only measurable in one spatial direction on each small parabolic cylinder with the spatial direction allowed to depend on the cylinder. In the other orthogonal directions and the time variable the coefficients have locally small mean oscillations. We also obtain the corresponding $W^1_p$-solvability of second order elliptic systems in divergence form. Our results are new even for scalar equations and the proofs simplify the methods used previously in [12]
Chemical communication is not sufficient to explain reproductive inhibition in the bumblebee Bombus impatiens

Reproductive division of labour is a hallmark of eusociality, but disentangling the underlying proximate mechanisms can be challenging. In bumblebees, workers isolated from the queen can activate their ovaries and lay haploid, male eggs. We investigated if volatile, contact, visual or behavioural cues produced by the queen or brood mediate reproductive dominance in Bombus impatiens. Exposure to queen-produced volatiles, brood-produced volatiles and direct contact with pupae did not reduce worker ovary activation; only direct contact with the queen could reduce ovary activation. We evaluated behaviour, physiology and gene expression patterns in workers that were reared in chambers with all stages of brood and a free queen, caged queen (where workers could contact the queen, but the queen was unable to initiate interactions) or no queen. Workers housed with a caged queen or no queen fully activated their ovaries, whereas ovary activation in workers housed with a free queen was completely inhibited. The caged queen marginally reduced worker aggression and expression of an aggression-associated gene relative to queenless workers. Thus, queen-initiated behavioural interactions appear necessary to establish reproductive dominance. Queen-produced chemical cues may function secondarily in a context-specific manner to augment behavioural cues, as reliable or honest signal.
Algorithm and software for simulation of spiking neural networks on the multi-chip SpiNNaker system

This paper presents the algorithm and software developed for parallel simulation of spiking neural networks on multiple SpiNNaker universal neuromorphic chips. It not only describes approaches to simulating neural network models, such as dynamics, neural representations, and synaptic delays, but also presents the software design of loading a neural application and initial a simulation on the multi-chip SpiNNaker system. A series of sub-issues are also investigated, such as neuron-processor allocation, synapses distribution, and route planning. The platform is verified by running spiking neural applications on both the SoC Designer model and the physical SpiNNaker Test Chip. This work sums the problems we have solved and highlights those requiring further investigations, and therefore it forms the foundation of the software design on SpiNNaker, leading the future development towards a universal platform for real-time simulations of extreme large-scale neural systems.
Women and cardiac rehabilitation: accessibility issues and policy recommendations.

The purpose of this study was to identify whether certain factors related to accessibility can predict women's participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR). This cross-sectional comparative study used a convenience sample of 370 women cardiac patients who were treated and discharged between April 1, 1995, and September 30, 1995. A self-report instrument and medical record reviews were used to collect data at five hospitals and four CR centers in three midsized cities in northeastern Ohio. Differences between participants and nonparticipants were examined on the groups of variables. Logistic regression showed women's participation in CR to be overwhelmingly determined by physician referral (odds ratio [OR] = 0.000), which was more likely to occur if the patient had CR insurance (OR = 0.73). The probability of compliance with a referral in women with CR insurance and no history of coronary heart disease (CHD) was . 89; with no insurance and a history of CHD, the probability of participation was . 37. Participation was associated with level of education, coronary artery bypass surgery, and available transportation. We recommend the promotion and encouragement of the use of Clinical Practice Guidelines by physicians, and lower cost and more accessible approaches to CR, such as contracting with managed care, home rehabilitation, and community-based programs.
Complement inhibitor eculizumab in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is associated with a congenital or acquired dysregulation of the complement alternative pathway that leads to continuous complement activation on host cells causing inflammation and damage. Eculizumab, a humanized mAb against complement protein C5, inhibits activation of the terminal complement pathway. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS We report an adolescent with relapsing unclassified aHUS. On admission, a high plasma creatinine level indicated a poor prognosis, and hemodialysis had to be started. Plasma exchanges were initially effective against the microangiopathic hemolytic activity and allowed a temporary improvement of renal function with termination of hemodialysis after 7 wk. Subsequently, plasma exchanges (three times per week) failed to prevent ongoing aHUS activity and progressive renal failure. After 12 wk, aHUS treatment was switched to eculizumab. RESULTS Eculizumab was effective in terminating the microangiopathic hemolytic process in two aHUS relapses; however, after normalization of complement activity, aHUS recurred and ultimately led to anuric end-stage renal failure. CONCLUSIONS In this patient, complement inhibition by eculizumab temporarily terminated the microangiopathic hemolytic activity. Nevertheless, renal damage as a result of preceding and subsequent aHUS activity resulted in end-stage renal failure; therefore, therapeutic success may depend on early administration of eculizumab. The optimal duration of treatment may be variable and remains to be determined.
Intermittent hypoxia does not affect endurance performance at moderate altitude in well-trained athletes

Abstract In this study, we examined the effects of a pre-acclimatization programme on endurance performance at moderate altitude using a resting intermittent hypoxia protocol. The time-trial performance of 11 cyclists was determined at low altitude (600 m). Athletes were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to the hypoxia or the control group. The pre-acclimatization programme consisted of seven sessions each lasting 1 h in normobaric hypoxia (inspired fraction of oxygen of 12.5%, equivalent to approximately 4500 m) for the hypoxia group (n = 6) and in normoxia (inspired fraction of oxygen of 20.9%) for the control group (n = 5). The time-trials were repeated at moderate altitude (1970 m). Mean power output during the time-trial at moderate altitude was decreased in the hypoxia group (−0.26 ± 0.11 W · kg−1) and in the control group (−0.13 ± 0.04 W · kg−1) compared with at low altitude but did not differ between groups (P = 0.13). Our results suggest that the applied protocol of intermittent hypoxia had no positive effect on endurance performance at moderate altitude. Whether different intermittent hypoxia protocols are advantageous remains to be determined.
The Effectiveness of Health Screening

Using a matched insurant-general practitioner panel data set, we estimate the effect of a general health-screening program on individuals' health status and health-care cost. To account for selection into treatment, we use regional variation in the intensity of exposure to supply-determined screening recommendations as an instrumental variable. We find that screening participation increases inpatient and outpatient health-care costs up to 2 years after treatment substantially. In the medium run, we find cost savings in the outpatient sector, whereas in the long run, no statistically significant effects of screening on either health-care cost component can be discerned. In sum, screening participation increases health-care cost. Given that we do not find any statistically significant effect of screening participation on insurants' health status (at any point in time), we do not recommend a general health-screening program. However, given that we find some evidence for cost-saving potential for the sub-sample of younger insurants, we suggest more targeted screening programs.
Antibodies to Deamidated Gliadin Peptide in Diagnosis of Celiac Disease in Children

Objectives: Determination of antibodies to synthetic deamidated gliadin peptides (anti-DGPs) may work as an alternative or complement the commonly used test for tissue transglutaminase antibodies (TGA) in the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD). We analyzed the performance of a time-resolved immunofluorometric anti-DGP assay (TR-IFMA) in the diagnosis of CD in children and also retrospectively analyzed the appearance of anti-DGP antibodies before TGA seroconversion. Methods: The study included 92 children with biopsy-confirmed CD. Serum samples were taken at the time or just before the clinical diagnosis. The control group comprised 82 TGA-negative children who were positive for human leucocyte antigen-DQ2 or -DQ8. Results: Based on receiver operating characteristic curves, the optimal cutoff value for immunoglobulin (Ig) A anti-DGP positivity was 153 arbitrary units (AUs) with a sensitivity of 92.4% and specificity of 97.6% and that for IgG anti-DGP 119 AU, with a sensitivity of 97.8% and specificity of 97.6%. All 92 children with CD were either IgA or IgG anti-DGP positive at the time of diagnosis. Sera from 48 children with CD were also analyzed retrospectively before the diagnosis. Anti-DGP antibodies preceded TGA positivity in 35 of the 48 children with CD and appeared a median of 1 year earlier. Conclusions: The TR-IFMA assay for detecting anti-DGP antibodies shows high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CD in children. In a majority of our study population, anti-DGP seropositivity preceded TGA positivity, indicating that earlier detection of CD may be possible by monitoring anti-DGP antibodies frequently in genetically susceptible children.
Preparation of Mineralized Electrospun PCL/Gelatin Scaffolds via Double Diffusion System

For successful reconstruction of skeletal defects, a range of materials including ceramics, polymers and their composites have been developed. The goal of our work is to prepare mineralized PCL/gelatin composite scaffolds in a double diffusion system as implants for bone tissue engineering application. Fibrous PCL/gelatin scaffold fabricated via electrospinning followed by immersing into disodium-β-glycerophosphate(β-GP) (10 mg/ml) for 12h were used as substrates for calcium phosphate (CaP) mineralization. The precipitation reaction was biomimetically carried out in a double diffusion system for a week. The CaP minerals precipitated on the scaffold were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The results show that apatite aggregates are combination of HAP, DCPD and ACP. β-GP can effectively promote the formation of CaP crystals. The composite scaffold fabricated in this paper hold promise for use in bone tissue engineering.
Curvature of co-links uncovers hidden thematic layers in the World Wide Web

Beyond the information stored in pages of the World Wide Web, novel types of “meta-information” are created when pages connect to each other. Such meta-information is a collective effect of independent agents writing and linking pages, hidden from the casual user. Accessing it and understanding the interrelation between connectivity and content in the World Wide Web is a challenging problem [Botafogo, R. A. & Shneiderman, B. (1991) in Proceedings of Hypertext (Assoc. Comput. Mach., New York), pp. 63–77 and Albert, R. & Barabási, A. -L. (2002) Rev. Mod. Phys. 74, 47–97]. We demonstrate here how thematic relationships can be located precisely by looking only at the graph of hyperlinks, gleaning content and context from the Web without having to read what is in the pages. We begin by noting that reciprocal links (co-links) between pages signal a mutual recognition of authors and then focus on triangles containing such links, because triangles indicate a transitive relation. The importance of triangles is quantified by the clustering coefficient [Watts, D. J. & Strogatz, S. H. (1999) Nature (London) 393, 440–442], which we interpret as a curvature [Bridson, M. R. & Haefliger, A. (1999) Metric Spaces of Non-Positive Curvature (Springer, Berlin)]. This curvature defines a World Wide Web landscape whose connected regions of high curvature characterize a common topic. We show experimentally that reciprocity and curvature, when combined, accurately capture this meta-information for a wide variety of topics. As an example of future directions we analyze the neural network of Caenorhabditis elegans, using the same methods.
Near‐wall hydrodynamic effects related to flow‐induced localized corrosion

The relationship between near‐wall hydrodynamic conditions and flow‐induced localized corrosion of copper alloys was investigated. Flow‐induced localized corrosion tests for copper alloys were conducted in corrosive solutions using a jet‐in‐slit testing apparatus, in which various hydrodynamic conditions were reproduced. To evaluate local damage, the profiles of the specimens were measured using a surface roughness meter. In addition, the near‐wall hydrodynamic conditions on the material surface in the apparatus were measured by pressure gauges to determine the distribution of near‐wall velocities and velocity fluctuations. In the equation used to predict corrosion damage, three types of hydrodynamic conditions were applied as parameters related to the mass transfer coefficient in the film of corrosion products. The damage profiles calculated from the equation could be fitted to that obtained from the corrosion test.
The dilemma of Fisherian sexual selection: Mate choice for indirect benefits despite rarity and overall weakness of trait‐preference genetic correlation

Fisher's mechanism of sexual selection is a fundamental element of evolutionary theory. In it nonrandom mate choice causes a genetic covariance between a male trait and female preference for that trait and thereby generates a positive feedback process sustaining accelerated coevolution of the trait and preference. Numerous theoretical models of Fisher's mechanism have confirmed its mathematical underpinnings, yet biologists have often failed to find evidence for trait‐preference genetic correlation in populations in which the mechanism was expected to function. We undertook a survey of the literature to conduct a formal meta‐analysis probing the incidence and strength of trait‐preference correlation among animal species. Our meta‐analysis found significant positive genetic correlations in fewer than 20% of the species studied and an overall weighted correlation that is slightly positive. Importantly, a significant positive correlation was not found in any thorough study that included multiple subgroups. We discuss several ways in which the dynamic, multivariate nature of mate choice may reduce the trait‐preference genetic correlation predicted by Fisher's mechanism. We then entertain the possibilities that Fisherian‐like processes sometimes function without genetic correlation, and that mate choice may persist in a population as long as genetic correlation, and therefore Fisher's mechanism, occurs intermittently.
Resilient event detection in wireless sensor networks

As wireless sensor networks become widely used, the need to provide fault-tolerant, user-friendly middleware for detecting sensed events increases. Our contribution is the motivation, design, implementation and evaluation of Res TAG, which provides fault-tolerant aggregate queries in the popular, user-friendly TinyDB middleware. If a sensor becomes mis-calibrated or physically compromised, the fault-tolerant queries use the network redundancy to reduce the confidence in any report from that sensor. Queries implemented using Res TAG detect faulty nodes within a predictable threshold that depends on both the percentage and failure type of faulty nodes.
Oral magnesium supplementation in insulin‐requiring Type 2 diabetic patients

Oral magnesium (Mg) supplementation can improve insulin sensitivity and secretion in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We studied the effect of Mg supplementation on glycaemic control, blood pressure, and plasma lipids in insulin‐requiring patients with Type 2 DM. Fifty moderately controlled patients were randomized to 15 mmol Mg or placebo daily for 3 months. Plasma Mg, glucose, HbA1c, lipids, erythrocyte Mg, Mg and glucose concentrations in 24‐h urine, and systolic and diastolic pressure were measured before and after 3 months treatment. Plasma Mg concentration was higher after supplementation than after placebo (0.82 ± 0.07 vs 0.78 ± 0.08 mmol l−1, p<0.05), as was Mg excretion (5.5 ± 1.9 vs 3.7 ± 1.4 mmol 24 h−1, p = 0.004) but erythrocyte Mg concentrations were similar. No significant differences were found in glycaemic control (glucose: 10.7 ± 3.8 vs 11.6 ± 6.2 mmol l−1, p = 0.8; HbA1c: 8.9 ± 1.6 vs 9.1 ± 1.2%, p = 0.8), lipids or blood pressure. On‐treatment analysis (34 patients: 18 on Mg, 16 on placebo) yielded similar results. An increase in plasma Mg concentration irrespective of medication was associated with a tendency to a decrease in diastolic pressure (increased plasma Mg vs no increase: −4.0 ± 10.1 vs +2.5 ± 12.0 mmHg, p = 0.059). Three months’ oral Mg supplementation of insulin‐requiring patients with Type 2 DM increased plasma Mg concentration and urinary Mg excretion but had no effect on glycaemic control or plasma lipid concentrations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Silver filled single-wall carbon nanotubes—synthesis, structural and electronic properties

In our study we use methodology based on a wet chemistry process to fill single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with silver nanowires. The novelty of the study comes from long continuous silver nanowires incorporated in a SWCNT with a mean diameter of 1.22 nm. Using high resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction we evidence the formation of 100–250 nm long silver wires within SWCNTs. The electronic structure of Ag-SWCNTs is presented in comparison to the corresponding reference purified SWCNTs using electron energy-loss spectroscopy in transmission. The structural changes and the variation of the electronic properties are analysed with electron diffraction and the core-level excitations.