Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Danger Comes from All Fronts: Predator-Dependent Escape Tactics of Túngara Frogs

The escape response of an organism is generally its last line of defense against a predator. Because the effectiveness of an escape varies with the approach behaviour of the predator, it should be advantageous for prey to alter their escape trajectories depending on the mode of predator attack. To test this hypothesis we examined the escape responses of a single prey species, the ground-dwelling túngara frog (Engystomops pustulosus), to disparate predators approaching from different spatial planes: a terrestrial predator (snake) and an aerial predator (bat). Túngara frogs showed consistently distinct escape responses when attacked by terrestrial versus aerial predators. The frogs fled away from the snake models (Median: 131°). In stark contrast, the frogs moved toward the bat models (Median: 27°); effectively undercutting the bat’s flight path. Our results reveal that prey escape trajectories reflect the specificity of their predators’ attacks. This study emphasizes the flexibility of strategies performed by prey to outcompete predators with diverse modes of attack.
Topographical relationship of the greater palatine artery and the palatal spine. Significance for periodontal surgery.

AIM The aims of this study were to (1) identify the branching pattern and course of the greater palatine artery (GPA), (2) carry out a morphological analysis of the palatal bony prominence that divides the medial and lateral grooves and (3) characterize the topographical relationships between these two structures. METHODS Thirty-six hemimaxillae were studied with the aid of a surgical microscope to elucidate the GPA. A further 25 dry skulls were examined to establish the morphology of the palatal spine. RESULTS The most common GPA branching pattern was type I (41.7%, 15 sides), which gave off the medial and canine branches after the bony prominence. The distances from the CEJ to the lateral branch of the GPA were 9.04 ± 2.93 mm (canine), 11.12 ± 1.89 mm (first premolar), 13.51 ± 2.08 mm (second premolar), 13.76 ± 2.86 mm (first molar) and 13.91 ± 2.20 mm (second molar). The palatal spine was frequently observed as the bony prominence (66.3%, 57 sides), and was located at 6.49 ± 1.76 mm from the greater palatine foramen, with a length of 10.42 ± 2.45 mm. There was no a correlation between the bony prominence shape and the GPA branching pattern. CONCLUSIONS These results could provide the reference data regarding the topography of the GPA for periodontal surgery.
A molecular atlas of the developing ectoderm defines neural, neural crest, placode, and nonneural progenitor identity in vertebrates

During vertebrate neurulation, the embryonic ectoderm is patterned into lineage progenitors for neural plate, neural crest, placodes and epidermis. Here, we use Xenopus laevis embryos to analyze the spatial and temporal transcriptome of distinct ectodermal domains in the course of neurulation, during the establishment of cell lineages. In order to define the transcriptome of small groups of cells from a single germ layer and to retain spatial information, dorsal and ventral ectoderm was subdivided along the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral axes by microdissections. Principal component analysis on the transcriptomes of these ectoderm fragments primarily identifies embryonic axes and temporal dynamics. This provides a genetic code to define positional information of any ectoderm sample along the anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral axes directly from its transcriptome. In parallel, we use nonnegative matrix factorization to predict enhanced gene expression maps onto early and mid-neurula embryos, and specific signatures for each ectoderm area. The clustering of spatial and temporal datasets allowed detection of multiple biologically relevant groups (e.g., Wnt signaling, neural crest development, sensory placode specification, ciliogenesis, germ layer specification). We provide an interactive network interface, EctoMap, for exploring synexpression relationships among genes expressed in the neurula, and suggest several strategies to use this comprehensive dataset to address questions in developmental biology as well as stem cell or cancer research.
Characterization of electrical and mechanical activities of rabbit uterus associated with the presence of capacitated and non-capacitated spermatozoa

To investigate the effects capacitated spermatozoa may exert upon motility of the rabbit uterus, both contractility and electrical activity (frequency and intensity) were measured in 3 distinctive uterine segments of anaesthetized does: horn (UH), uterotubal junction (UTJ) and tube (UT) after 1) natural mating, 2) infusion of either seminal plasma or PBS, 3) infusion of either capacitated or non-capacitated spermatozoa. Basal values were: 17.1, 15.7, 16.4 g (contractility, P>0.05); 3.5, 3.5, 3.4 Hz (frequency, P>0.05); 0.49, 0.50, 0.57 μV (intensity, P>0.05) for UH, UTJ, UT, respectively. Seminal plasma caused an increase (P<0.05) in the UH contractility: 26.3 vs. 11.7 (natural mating) and 17.0 g (PBS); it also caused a decrease (P<0.05) in electrical intensity at the UTJ: 0.24 vs. 0.67 (natural mating) and 0.58 μV (PBS). The presence of either capacitated or non-capacitated spermatozoa caused no changes in contractility and electrical frequency in any of the uterine segments. However, there was a change in electrical intensity at UTJ (0.37 vs. 0.57 μV for non-capacitated and capacitated spermatozoa, respectively; P<0.05). There were also differences between segments by treatment: UTJ (0.37) vs. UT (0.59 μV) for non-capacitated; UH (0.46) vs. UT (0.71 μV) for capacitated spermatozoa (P<0.05). In conclusion, use of this experimental model showed that uterine electrical activity was slightly modified by the presence of capacitated spermatozoa.
A systemic view of the ADIDA framework

This paper is an attempt to gain mathematical insight into the aggregate–disaggregate intermittent demand approach (ADIDA) forecasting framework, by formulating it as a multi-rate signal processing system. After a brief synopsis of the framework's background, an alternative way to perceive ADIDA from a systemic viewpoint is derived by breaking down its managerial steps into fundamental and well-studied components. Mathematical properties stemming from each separate system block are thoroughly explored and their practical effects are then exemplified through simulated paradigms of common time series patterns. Subsequently, theoretical and practical evidence are combined to draw useful conclusions about the framework's performance and make suggestions on its application. Finally, guidelines for further research are proposed.
Prognostic Role of KiSS-1 and Possibility of Therapeutic Modality of Metastin, the Final Peptide of the KiSS-1 Gene, in Urothelial Carcinoma

The KiSS-1 gene has been reported to be a metastasis suppressor gene in human melanoma. The gene product was isolated from human placenta as the ligand of GPR54, a G protein–coupled receptor, and the C-terminally amidated peptide of 54 amino acids is called metastin. The binding of metastin to GPR54 has been shown to inhibit tumor metastasis in some tumor cells; however, its function remains unclear in urothelial carcinoma. We first evaluated KiSS-1 expression and GPR54 expression in 151 patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma to determine their prognostic significance. Next, we examined the role of metastin in the invasiveness and lung metastasis of MBT-2 variant (MBT-2V), which is a highly metastatic murine bladder cancer cell. Multivariate analysis revealed that KiSS-1 expression was an independent predictor of metastasis and overall survival. However, GPR54 expression was not selected. Hematogeneous metastasis had a significantly lower level of KiSS-1 expression compared with lymph node metastasis. Metastin treatment significantly reduced the invasiveness of MBT-2V cells and inhibited the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB by blocking its nuclear translocation, leading to a reduction in the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9. Metastin treatment dramatically prevented the occurrence of lung metastatic nodules (6.3 ± 2.3, n = 15) compared with controls (30.4 ± 5.1, n = 15; P < 0.01), as well as had survival benefit. KiSS-1 plays an important role in the prognosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma and metastin may be an effective inhibitor of metastasis in urothelial carcinoma through its blockade of NF-κB function. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(4); 853–63. ©2012 AACR.
A study on industrial customers loyalty to application service providers – The case of logistics information services

The growth of application service providers has been phenomenal in application service industry worldwide. Application service providers usually provide service which is comprised with modularized and standard components. Customers can easily switch to another supplier based on the comparison between cost and benefit if their service is comprised with modularized and standard components. So, keeping a long-term relationship with industrial customers is getting an imperative strategy for application service providers in order to pursue more predictable source of revenues and successive income streams. Yet, cost-effective feature of ASPs is not the sufficient condition for ensuring business success. Cultivating relationship management whose core concept is to enhance loyalty of existing customers gradually becomes a critical issue for application service providers. This study investigates economic and psychological factors simultaneously and compares subtle difference between influences of economic and psychological factors on customer loyalty. Empirical result from a questionnaire survey leads to several findings. The importance of psychological factors is relative importance to loyalty formation in comparison with economic factors. Service quality both directly and indirectly affects customer loyalty. Trust affects loyalty mediated by affective commitment. Switching barrier affects continuous commitment, while it positively moderates the relationship of service quality and loyalty. This finding is contrary to literature. Moreover, influences of affective and continuous commitment are distinct by business types. Findings reveal that psychological factors are also important to loyalty formation in B2B environment. Firms could pay more attention on commitment. Implications and limitations are discussed. Keywords—Commitment, Loyalty, Switching barrier, Service quality, Trust.
Association among stress, salivary cortisol levels, and chronic periodontitis

Purpose Chronic periodontitis (CP) seems to be associated with stress and depression, but little information on this possible association is available in the literature. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the association among stress, the salivary cortisol level (SCL), and CP. Methods Seventy systemically healthy subjects were included in the study from January to September 2011. Full medical and dental histories were obtained, and the following measurements were recorded: 1) probing depth; 2) clinical attachment level; 3) bleeding on probing; and 4) tooth mobility. Saliva samples were collected for the evaluation of SCL (via a highly sensitive electrochemiluminescence immunoassay), and all subjects also answered a questionnaire (i.e., the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale). The odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated, and one way analysis of variance and the Tukey-Kramer method were performed. Results A total of 36 subjects with CP (51.4%) and 34 without CP were evaluated. Of them, all of the subjects with CP and one periodontally healthy subject were diagnosed with depression. Subjects with moderate CP had statistically significantly higher levels of SCL than subjects with a diagnosis of slight CP (P=0.006). Also, subjects with severe CP showed the same outcome when compared to those with slight CP (P=0.012). In addition, 46 subjects presented high SCL whereas 24 had a normal level. CP was found to be correlated with the SCL, with an OR of 4.14 (95% CI, 1.43 to 12.01). Conclusions Subjects with a high SCL and depression may show an increased risk for CP.
Testing zero-feedback distributed beamforming with a low-cost SDR testbed

Collaborative beamforming from distributed wireless transmitters has been envisioned as a means for range extension/connectivity enhancement if the signals transmitted from distributed terminals constructively add (i.e. in phase) at the destination receiver. The research community has mainly relied on feedback schemes from the final receiver towards the distributed transmitters, either in the form of pilot signals or explicit messages that coordinate the distributed transmissions and alleviate, to an extent, the frequency and time synchronization problems. This work assumes zero-feedback from destination towards the distributed transmitters, in sharp contrast to prior art. The frequency offsets among the distributed transmitters, typically undesired in classic beamforming schemes, are turned into an advantage and offer beamforming gains through signal alignment, i.e. when the transmitted signal-phasors align in time. The idea is validated in a custom, low-cost testbed, consisting of three embedded commodity radio transmitters with highly inaccurate, internal oscillators and a software-defined radio (SDR) receiver. This collaborative beamforming demonstration, perhaps the first of its kind on zero-feedback from the final destination, could potentially spark interest on relevant critical applications with ultra low complexity portable radios such as in emergency radio.
Picking up threads—women pursuing further studies at the University of Zimbabwe

Abstract The study aims to identify the motivating factors and the barriers encountered by women returning to study at tertiary level at the University of Zimbabwe. Data were collected from two main sources—survey questionnaire and in-depth interview. The study reveals that women in Zimbabwe are returning to study to empower themselves economically, improve their skills at work and to elevate their status in society. It is evident that work overloads and financial constraints hinder their participation. The study shows that these barriers are mainly a result of the gender expectations created by cultural and social values, which have relegated women to second class citizenship and confined them to the home. The government of Zimbabwe, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and women's agencies' efforts to remove gender discrimination are frustrated by a male-dominated society that is yet to fully accept women as equal partners. Apparently some women seem to accept the situation they are in thus defeating the efforts of those who are trying to uplift them. Out of the study, recommendations are made for policy makers and programme providers to consider in the effort to enhance development of women.
Evaluation of a socially assistive robot in eldercare

The most studied socially assistive robot for eldercare purposes is the baby seal robot Paro. We evaluated the application of Paro in eldercare in The Netherlands and focussed on how elderly people perceive and interact with this robot. This paper mainly supports prior findings of Paro research with elderly people. When we introduced Paro to elderly people, they became more active and started to interact with the robot and each other. However, not all the elderly responded positively to the application of Paro. Especially elderly males would not to interact with Paro in a serious way. A meaningful application of this companion robot in eldercare depends on how elderly make sense of Paro and their willingness to interact with it.
The Nature of their Bodies: Women and their Doctors in Victorian Canada

In 1864 a woman was admitted to the Toronto asylum and diagnosed as suffering from 'mania,' a not uncommon diagnosis for women, a step beyond 'hysteria. ' The cause cited by doctors for the patient's insanity was lactation.This was one of the scores of cases cited by Wendy Mitchinson in her history of the medical treatment of women in Victorian Canada. The cases, combined with the medical literature of the period, reflect the society's preoccupations, both among the general population and the medical profession. Above all, they illustrate in sharp detail the society's perception of women.For most medical practitioners, the male body was taken to be the norm; women were 'other. ' Doctors were uncomfortable with some of the central physiological experiences of women, such as menstruation and menopause. They often felt that healthy bodies should not undergo such stresses.From this attitude it was a short leap to viewing the normal functions of women's bodies as illnesses to be treated by specialists. One of the most significant medical developments of this period was the rise of gynaecology and medical obstetrics as major medical specialties. Practitioners used surgical gynaecology to alleviate disorders -- mental as well as physical -- in women.In documenting the changing nature of interventional medicine, Mitchinson considers the medical treatment of women within the context of what was available to physicians at the time. She also explores the kind of pressure that women themselves brought to bear. Faced with a medical profession that viewed them as creatures of weakness, women used their strength and stamina to change attitudes and treatments.
Understanding Motivational Processes in University Rugby Players: A Preliminary Test of the Hierarchical Model of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation at the Contextual Level

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceptions of autonomy support, structure and involvement provided by the head coach and motivational processes at mid- and late-season in competitive rugby players. Participants (Mage = 20.17 years, SD = 1.61 years, Range = 18 to 27 years) completed assessments of perceived coaching style and psychological need fulfillment at the mid-season point (n mid-season = 102; 47.05% female) and motivation to continue playing rugby and perceived effort spent playing rugby at the late-season assessment (N late-season = 82; 53.64% female). Structural equation modeling analyses provided support for a conceptual model whereby global perceptions of coach support predicted greater need fulfillment which, in turn, was associated with autonomous sport motivation and greater perceived effort. Overall, the results of this study lend partial support for Vallerand's contentions regarding the importance of motivation processes in sport and imply structure and involvement may be important components of a coach's interactional style that impact athletes' motivation.
A Race for survival: can Bromus tectorum seeds escape Pyrenophora semeniperda-caused mortality by germinating quickly?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Pathogen-seed interactions may involve a race for seed resources, so that seeds that germinate more quickly, mobilizing reserves, will be more likely to escape seed death than slow-germinating seeds. This race-for-survival hypothesis was tested for the North American seed pathogen Pyrenophora semeniperda on seeds of the annual grass Bromus tectorum, an invasive plant in North America. In this species, the seed germination rate varies as a function of dormancy status; dormant seeds germinate slowly if at all, whereas non-dormant seeds germinate quickly. METHODS Three experimental approaches were utilized: (a) artificial inoculations of mature seeds that varied in primary dormancy status and wounding treatment; (b) naturally inoculated undispersed seeds that varied in primary dormancy status; and (c) naturally inoculated seeds from the carry-over seed bank that varied in degree of secondary dormancy, habitat of origin and seed age. KEY RESULTS In all three approaches, seeds that germinated slowly were usually killed by the pathogen, whereas seeds that germinated quickly frequently escaped. Pyrenophora semeniperda reduced B. tectorum seed banks. Populations in drier habitats sustained 50 times more seed mortality than a population in a mesic habitat. Older carry-over seeds experienced 30 % more mortality than younger seeds. CONCLUSIONS Given the dramatic levels of seed death and the ability of this pathogen to reduce seed carry-over, it is intriguing to consider whether P. semeniperda could be used to control B. tectorum through direct reduction of its seed bank.
Combining zooprophylaxis and insecticide spraying: a malaria–control strategy limiting the development of insecticide resistance in vector mosquitoes

Strategies to eradicate the vector–borne infectious diseases (e.g. malaria and Japanese encephalitis) are often directed at controlling vectors with insecticides. Spraying insecticide, however, opens the way for the development of insecticide resistance in vectors, which may lead to the failure of disease control. In this paper, we examine whether the combined use of insecticide spray and zooprophylaxis can limit the development of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. Zooprophylaxis refers to the control of vector–borne diseases by attracting vectors to domestic animals in which the pathogen cannot amplify (a dead–end host). The human malaria parasite Plasmodium spp. has a closed transmission cycle between humans and mosquitoes, and hence cattle can serve as a dead–end host. Our model reveals that, by a suitable choice of insecticide spraying rate and cattle density and location, malaria can, in some situations, be controlled without mosquitoes developing insecticide resistance.
THEORETICAL APPROACH OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN A HUMAN HEAD MODEL AND A MOBILE HANDSET HELICAL ANTENNA USING NUMERICAL METHODS

The interaction of a helical antenna,mounted on a mobile handset,with a human head phantom is investigated in this paper. Using the Genetic Algorithms (GA) technique combined with the Method of Moments (MoM),an optimization of the antenna structure is achieved regarding the input impedance at the operating frequency. The Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method is then applied to simulate the handset's function in the close region of a spherical homogeneous and heterogeneous head phantom. A formula,based on an application of an existing model proposed by Kuster and Balzano for dipole antennas,provides a rather accurate prediction of the induced Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values in the human head due to the radiating helical antenna. The concept of relating the SAR to the current on the antenna is used in this study to formulate the final expression. Moreover,using the theory of regression,the results of the calculated peak or average SAR are correlated with the distance between the antenna and phantom and with the standing wave ratio (SWR) at the antenna feed point. Thus,the conception that the SAR is indeed related to the antenna operational parameters is reinforced by the outcome of the current study.
Estimated lifetime prevalence of trichotillomania in college students.

BACKGROUND Trichotillomania, a disorder of hair pulling, has been considered a rare condition. Estimations of the prevalence of this disorder have been based largely on clinical experience, and there have been no estimates of its prevalence based on data collected from a large, nonclinical population. METHOD 2579 freshman college students at two state universities and one liberal arts college were asked to provide written responses to questions designed to practically apply DSM-III-R criteria for trichotillomania and estimate the prevalence of trichotillomania in this population. RESULTS 2534 students (97.9% of the study population) responded. We found a 0.6% lifetime prevalence of DSM-III-R trichotillomania for both male and female respondents. Hair pulling resulting in visible hair loss, but failing to meet full DSM-III-R criteria, was identified in 1.5% of males and 3.4% of females. CONCLUSION Trichotillomania may not be as rare as previously suspected and may affect males as often as females.