Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Edaphic adaptation maintains the coexistence of two cryptic species on serpentine soils.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Divergent edaphic adaptation can contribute to reproductive isolation and coexistence between closely related species, yet we know little about how small-scale continuous edaphic gradients contribute to this phenomenon. We investigated edaphic adaptation between two cryptic species of California wildflower, Lasthenia californica and L. gracilis (Asteraceae), which grow in close parapatry on serpentine soil. METHODS We reciprocally transplanted both species into the center of each species' habitat and the transition zone between species. We quantified multiple components of fitness and used aster models to predict fitness based on environmental variables. We sampled soil across the ridge throughout the growing season to document edaphic changes through time. We sampled naturally germinating seedlings to determine whether there was dispersal into the adjacent habitat and to help pinpoint the timing of any selection against migrants. KEY RESULTS We documented within-serpentine adaptation contributing to habitat isolation between close relatives. Both species were adapted to the edaphic conditions in their native region and suffered fitness trade-offs when moved outside that region. However, observed fitness values did not perfectly match those predicted by edaphic variables alone, indicating that other factors, such as competition, also contributed to plant fitness. Soil water content and concentrations of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium were likely drivers of differential fitness. Plants either had limited dispersal ability or migrants experienced early-season mortality outside their native region. CONCLUSIONS Demonstrating that continuous habitats can support differently adapted, yet closely related, taxa is important to a broader understanding of how species are generated and maintained in nature.
The Problem of Political Exchange in Complex Governance Systems: The Case of Germany's Alliance for Jobs

A number of continental states have adopted tripartite concertation in order to reform their welfare and employment regimes. The German welfare state, in contrast, was highly resistant to reform efforts during the 1990s. The article analyses the emergence of tripartite concertation in Germany. It presents two arguments. First, unlike many European countries, Germany encountered major economic problems only from the mid-1990s. Second, the German case illustrates the very complex nature of institutional barriers which restrict government intervention in policy fields. The examples of the Alliances for Jobs in 1995 and 1998 show the interaction between institutional barriers and reform policies.
Does common stock hedge against inflation in G7 countries? A co-integration analysis

Inflation shock is always alarming as it can hurt the economy in different ways. The current study examines whether investments in stocks can hedge against inflation in G7 economies. Our empirical analysis is based upon Fisher hypothesis. Unit roots and Engle-Granger tests are applied to examine the stationarity and co-integration. It is found that four countries including UK, France, Germany and Canada has completely hedge against inflation during the sample period. These countries have also shown stability in their consumer price index and stock price index at first difference and found co-integrated.
Molecular genetic analysis of beta-toxin of Clostridium perfringens reveals sequence homology with alpha-toxin, gamma-toxin, and leukocidin of Staphylococcus aureus

Oligonucleotide probes designed on the basis of the N-terminal sequence of Clostridium perfringens beta-toxin were used to isolate the encoding gene (cpb). The nucleotide sequence of cpb was determined, and on the basis of DNA hybridization experiments it was shown that the gene is found only in type B and C strains of C. perfringens. The deduced amino acid sequence of the beta-toxin revealed homology with the alpha-toxin, gamma-toxin, and leukocidin of Staphylococcus aureus. The beta-toxin purified from C. perfringens appeared to exist in monomeric and multimeric forms. Recombinant beta-toxin, produced in Escherichia coli, appeared to be mainly in the multimeric form.
Visual association test to detect early dementia of the Alzheimer type

Background: The visual association test (VAT) is a brief learning task based on imagery mnemonics. The test materials consist of six line drawings of pairs of interacting objects or animals—for example, an ape holding an umbrella. The person is asked to name each object and, later, is presented with one object from the pair and asked to name the other. Objective: To verify that the task induces robust incidental or effortless learning (study 1), and to study the efficiency of the test as a discriminator between early dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and non-demented people (study 2) and non-DAT types of dementia (study 3). Methods: Study 1: two groups of elderly volunteers were administered the VAT. The stimuli were presented in the interactive fashion to group A—for example, a monkey carrying an umbrella (n=83)—and side by side to group B—for example, separate pictures of a monkey alone and an umbrella alone (n=79). Group B received learning instructions, but group A did not. Study 2: three groups of subjects were selected from a population based follow up study: incident DAT cases (n=24), cognitively declining subjects not diagnosed with dementia (n=21), and stable non-demented subjects (n=204). Test performance of the non-demented group at baseline was compared with that of patients with DAT at the time of their diagnosis, of patients with DAT a year before their diagnosis, and of non-demented declining subjects at baseline. Study 3: subjects were patients referred for neuropsychological assessment because of suspected dementia. They were diagnosed by consensus criteria of various dementia syndromes. Results: Study 1: recall was more than twice as high in group A as in group B. Thus interactive presentation, even in the absence of learning instructions, enhances learning. Study 2: at a level of 97.5% specificity, the VAT had a sensitivity of 87.5% for DAT cases at the time of diagnosis and 66.7% one year before diagnosis. The cognitively declining group scored significantly lower on the VAT at baseline than the non-demented group. The VAT discriminated more effectively than both the MMSE and the six item picture learning task from the CAMCOG. Study 3: VAT scores were significantly lower in patients with DAT (n=48) than in patients with vascular dementia (n=37), frontotemporal dementia (n=9), or subcortical dementia (n=15), but not lower than in patients with Lewy body dementia (n=7). Mean mini mental state examination scores of these groups were not significantly different. The VAT discriminated patients with DAT from patients with other types of dementia more effectively than a prose recall test. Sensitivity was 79% and specificity 69%. Conclusions: The VAT detects with high specificity a sizeable proportion of patients with DAT a year before the diagnosis, and a low VAT score is relatively uncommon in patients with non-DAT dementia.
Knowledge as a mediator between HRM practices and innovative activity

The objective of this paper is to test how human resources management (HRM) practices and employees' knowledge influence the development of innovative capabilities and, by extension, a firm's performance. Results confirm that HRM practices are not directly associated with innovation unless they take into account employees' knowledge. Specifically, our analyses establish a mediating role for the uniqueness of knowledge between collaborative HRM practices and innovative activity, a positive influence of knowledge-based HRM practices on valuable knowledge, and a positive contribution of innovations to the company's profit. We tested hypotheses in a sample of firms from the most innovative Spanish industries through structural equation modeling. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Understanding Chinese international graduate students adaptation to learning in North America: A cultural perspective

Chinese graduate students studying on American campuses as international or foreign students have very different experiences than other students. These differences relate to the fact that they are interfacing between two very different systems of higher education. It is important then, to find out more about their experiences, and how these differences might be connected to discourses and discussions that take place in the field of higher education. This is based on primary research drawn from the learning experiences of eleven newly-arrived Chinese international graduate students at one North American university. The major comparisons drawn include: a) learner responsibilities, b) learner engagement during and after class, and c) learner assessment. Chinese international students learned many hard lessons at this North American university. This paper discusses these experiences in the context of the literature of comparative higher education.
Numerical simulation of UWB impulse response of plane layered media with 2D inclusion

In the present paper one of possible approaches to the solution of a problem of modeling of propagation and diffraction UWB pulse signals on two-dimensional inclusions in plane-layered media is discussed. Key step consist of direct problem solution, which is based on the null-field method. As a result functional equations are reduced to a system of linear algebraic equations of the second kind, which allows the efficient numerical solution. Some practical results are presented and discussed.
Simplified transmission and generation system analysis procedures for subsynchronous resonance problems

An analysis of subsynchronous resonance problems requires a clear understanding of the physical relationships that produce the phenomenon. This paper presents these relationships and uses them to derive a number of useful formulas for studying the problems. The mathematical basis of these formulas is shown and the approximations required for their derivation are described. These formulas are most useful in planning a series capacitor compensated transmission system to avoid or minimize subsynchronous resonance problems. This application is the subject of a companion paper.
EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF INFLATION IN NIGERIA

This research work examined the causes and effects of inflation in Nigeria between 1969 and 2009 and what could be done to ameliorate the negative effects on the economy. The time series variables properties on some selected variables were examined using Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) Unit root test and co-integration analysis. The result revealed that the explanatory variables (money supply, growth rates, gross domestic product growth rates and expenditure revenue ratio) are not spurious but exchange rate of dollar to naira was non-stationary. The study also revealed that the gross domestic product growth rate is counter inflationary as against inflationary factors. Keywords : Inflation, Growth Rate, Economic Variables, Inflation Effects, Unit Root, Exchange Rates, Money Supply
Micropuncture study of changes in glomerular filtration and ion and water handling by the rat kidney during pregnancy

1. In rats receiving 200 μl. min−1 sodium chloride, glomerular filtration rate, single nephron glomerular filtration rate, and fractional reabsorption were measured at various points along the nephron, and ionic concentrations measured in early distal tubular fluid in virgin and 6, 12 and 19 day pregnant rats.
Towards Reusable Personas for Everyday Design

Personas are artificial character based representations of user goals, attitudes, motivations and abilities which enable designers to focus their design efforts on key, targeted users. The success of personas in design is due to their capacity to enable designers to empathize with users and understand user goals. Persona development is rooted in the rigorous collection and analysis of data specifically related to the design project being undertaken. New design projects thus require the development of new personas. Since redevelopment is not always achievable attention has turned towards reuse of personas and the underlying data. This paper reports on ongoing research into the development of reusable personas for use by non-expert, everyday designers. Such designers are regularly faced with small scale but diverse design challenges for which they cannot carry out user research and modelling. They can, however, make use of general, reusable personas developed independently of their current design project.
Eugenol nanocapsule for enhanced therapeutic activity against periodontal infections

Abstract Eugenol is a godsend to dental care due to its analgesic, local anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. The aim of the present research work was to prepare, characterize and evaluate eugenol-loaded nanocapsules (NCs) against periodontal infections. Eugenol-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) NCs were prepared by solvent displacement method. The nanometric size of the prepared NCs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The in vitro drug release was found to follow a biphasic pattern and followed Michaelis–Menten like model. The percentage cell viability values near to 100 in the cell viability assay indicated that the NCs are not cytotoxic. In the in vivo studies, the eugenol NC group displayed significant difference in the continuity of epithelium of the interdental papilla in comparison to the untreated, pure eugenol and placebo groups. The in vivo performance of the eugenol-loaded NCs using ligature-induced periodontitis model in rats indicated that eugenol-loaded NCs could prevent septal bone resorption in periodontitis. On the basis of our research findings it could be concluded that eugenol-loaded PCL NCs could serve as a novel colloidal drug delivery system for enhanced therapeutic activity of eugenol in the treatment of periodontal infections.
The Effects of Meritocracy Beliefs on Women's Well-Being After First-Time Gender Discrimination

This study examined how meritocracy beliefs may buffer women from the negative psychological effects of an acute situation of gender discrimination. Although some research indirectly suggests that believing that meritocracy exists may increase wellbeing, group consciousness theories suggest that disbelieving that meritocracy exists will enhance psychological adjustment to gender discrimination. Women who reported little past experience with discrimination, and either believed or disbelieved that meritocracy exists, were exposed to either a laboratory situation of discrimination or a nondiscrimination failure (control) condition. Consistent with group consciousness theories, women experiencing discrimination reported greater well-being if they disbelieved that meritocracy exists than if they were believers. In contrast, women in the control condition reported greater wellbeing if they believed that meritocracy exists than if they were disbelievers. Implications for coping with discrimination are discussed.
Causes of Dysphagia in a Tertiary-Care Swallowing Center

Objectives: Dysphagia can be caused by a myriad of disease processes, and it has significant impacts on patients' quality of life, life expectancy, and economic burden. To date, the most common causes of dysphagia in outpatient tertiary-care swallowing centers are unknown. We undertook this study to determine these prevalences. We also describe the diagnostic techniques utilized to establish the diagnosis. Methods: The electronic charts of 100 consecutive patients who presented to an outpatient tertiary-care university swallowing center between January 2010 and April 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Information regarding patient demographics, validated symptom surveys, diagnostic workups, and ultimate diagnoses was abstracted and tabulated into a central database. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the association between patient symptoms and diagnoses. Results: The mean age of the entire cohort was 62 ± 13.5 years, and 58% of the cohort was male. The most common identified causes of dysphagia were reflux (27%), postirradiation dysphagia (14%), and cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction (11%). In 13% of cases, the cause of dysphagia was undetermined. The diagnostic tests utilized included flexible laryngoscopy (71%; 17% with endoscopic swallow evaluation), modified barium swallow study (45%), esophagoscopy (35%), barium esophagography (21%), manometry (10%), and ambulatory pH testing (2%). Conclusions: The most common causes of dysphagia in a tertiary-care swallowing center are reflux, postirradiation dysphagia, and cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction. A precise cause for the symptom could not be identified in 13% of our cohort. Endoscopic visualization (laryngoscopy, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, and transnasal esophagoscopy) and fluoroscopic swallow studies were the investigations most often utilized. These techniques can be used to arrive at a diagnosis in 80% of cases.
Institutional ownership and executive compensation

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between institutional investor ownership and the compensation of executives at US banks during the financial crisis period. Design/methodology/approach - This paper uses a linear regression model to examine the association between institutional ownership and the level of executive compensation at US banks. Findings - Institutional investors influence executive compensation at banks with the impact being most pronounced for the CEO. Ownership by the top five investors is associated with greater total compensation. Active investors have the strongest impact on executive compensation as evidenced by a positive association between active ownership and both equity compensation and total compensation. As well, active ownership is negatively associated with bonus compensation. The paper also finds that passive and grey investors influence compensation but to a less significant extent than active investors. Research limitations/implications - The results suggest that the monitoring role of active and passive institutional investors is different in the banking industry. As well, institutional investors were likely a driving factor in shaping the compensation packages of the top executive team during the financial crisis period. Practical implications - Stakeholders at banks should be aware that not all types of institutional investors act as effective monitors over issues such as controlling the amount of executive compensation paid to the highest paid executive, the CEO. Prospective investors should consider the type of institutional investor that owns large blocks of equity when making an investment decision. Namely, the interests of existing institutional investors may differ from their own interests. Originality/value - This paper provides a new perspective on the monitoring roles played by different types of institutional investors. Furthermore, it provides a more comprehensive analysis by investigating the role of institutional investors in shaping the compensation packages of CEOs and other top executives including chief financial officers (CFOs) who play a vital role in risk management at banks.
Saccade-related activity in monkey superior colliculus. II. Spread of activity during saccades.

1. In the companion paper we described two classes of cells in the monkey superior colliculus (SC) that were related to saccade generation, buildup cells and burst cells, which fell into two functional sublayers within the intermediate layers of the SC. Fixation cells in the rostral SC were deemed to be part of the buildup cell layer. The buildup cells had several characteristics in common with cells in the cat described as having a "hill of activity" moving across the SC, but the burst cells had no such characteristics. In this paper we further investigate whether there is evidence for such a moving hill of activity in the monkey by analyzing the spatial and temporal activity of cells across the SC during the generation of visually guided saccades. 2. We recorded the activity of single cells while the monkey made saccades of different amplitudes (0.5-60 degrees). We recorded cells from locations extending from the rostral to caudal SC in order to sample cells whose optimal amplitudes ranged from small to large saccades. This allowed us to see any shift of activity across the SC before, during, and after saccades. It also allowed us to determine the fraction of the SC that was active during the successive phases of saccade generation. 3. During active visual fixation, the fixation cells in the rostral pole of the buildup layer showed an increased discharge rate. From the population reconstruction, we estimate that the zone of active cells spanned the most rostral 0.72 mm in each SC. Assuming the SC is 5 mm in length, approximately 15% of the cells lying along the horizontal meridian in the buildup layer would be active during fixation. 4. At least 100 ms before the initiation of a saccade, long-lead activity began to appear in the buildup layer at the site on the SC motor map related to the next saccade. Fixation activity in the rostral poles simultaneously began to diminish, but the cells in the burst layer remained relatively silent. 5. Approximately 25 ms before saccade onset, the fixation cells ceased firing and both burst and buildup cells began to burst. The active zone in the burst layer was estimated to be approximately 1.4 mm diam, occupying roughly 28% of the SC along a line running from the rostral pole through the center of the initially active zone. The size of this active area among the burst cells was independent of saccade amplitude. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Ultrastructural localization of major hydatid fluid antigens in brood capsules and protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus of human origin

Monospecific rabbit antisera obtained through experimental immunization with previously purified proteins were used in the ultrastructural localization of two hydatid fluid antigens, in brood capsules and protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus of human origin. The antigen‐antibody reaction was revealed by a colloidal gold based method. Reaction was evident in the connective region of the germinal membrane and in the parenchyma of the protoscoleces. Both antigen 5 and antigen B were located in the interstitial material between the parenchymal cells and precisely associated with disorganized areas. The brood capsule wall and the brood capsule contents, the tegument of the protoscoleces, the parenchymal cells, the muscle cells, the calcareous corpuscles and the hooks did not contain antigen 5 or antigen B. Label was not observed in the lumen of the collecting ducts or in the flame cells, although antigen 5 was evident in the periluminal cytoplasm. The origin of the antigens and their release are discussed.