Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Genetic Diversity, Population Differentiation and Population Dynamics of Cycas segmentifida (Cycadaceae) Endemic to Southwest China by Multiple Molecular Markers

Climate change, species dispersal ability and habitat fragmentation are major factors influencing species distribution and genetic diversity, especially for the range-restricted and threatened taxa. Here, using four sequences of chloroplast DNAs (cpDNAs), three nuclear genes (nDNAs) and 12 nuclear microsatellites (SSRs), we investigated the genetic diversity, genetic structure, divergence time and population dynamics of Cycas segmentifida D. Y. Wang and C. Y. Deng, a threatened cycad species endemic to Southwest China. High levels of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation were revealed in C. segmentifida. Haplotypes of networks showed two evolutionary units in C. segmentifida, with the exception of the nuclear gene GTP network. Meanwhile, the UPGMA tree, structure and PCoA analyses suggested that 14 populations of C. segmentifida were divided into two clades. There was significant effect of isolation by distance (IBD) in this species. However, this species did not display a significant phylogeographic structure. The divergence time estimation suggested that its haplotypes diverged during the Middle Pleistocene. Additionally, the population dynamics inferred from different DNA sequences analyses were discordant. Bottleneck analysis showed that populations of C. segmentifida did not experience any recent bottleneck effect, but rather pointed to a contraction of its effective population size over time. Furthermore, our results suggested that the population BM which held an intact population structure and occupied undisturbed habitat was at the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, implying that this population is a free-mating system. These genetic features provide important information for the sustainable management of C. segmentifida.
Congestion-Aware Randomized Routing in Autonomous Mobility-on-Demand Systems

In this paper we study the routing and rebalancing problem for a fleet of autonomous vehicles providing on-demand transportation within a congested urban road network (that is, a road network where traffic speed depends on vehicle density). We show that the congestion-free routing and rebalancing problem is NP-hard and provide a randomized algorithm which finds a low-congestion solution to the routing and rebalancing problem that approximately minimizes the number of vehicles on the road in polynomial time. We provide theoretical bounds on the probability of violating the congestion constraints; we also characterize the expected number of vehicles required by the solution with a commonly-used empirical congestion model and provide a bound on the approximation factor of the algorithm. Numerical experiments on a realistic road network with real-world customer demands show that our algorithm introduces very small amounts of congestion. The performance of our algorithm in terms of travel times and required number of vehicles is very close to (and sometimes better than) the optimal congestion-free solution.
Circular polarization in pulsar integrated profiles

We present a systematic study of the circular polarization in pulsar integrated profiles, based on published polarization data. For core components, we find no significant correlation between the sense change of circular polarization and the sense of linear position-angle variation. Circular polarization is not restricted to core components and, in some cases, reversals of circular polarization sense are observed across the conal emission. In conal double profiles, the sense of circular polarization is found to be correlated with the sense of position-angle variation. Pulsars with a high degree of linear polarization often have one hand of circular polarization across the whole profile. For most pulsars, the sign of circular polarization is the same at 50-cm and 20-cm wavelengths, and the degree of polarization is similar, albeit with a wide scatter. However, at least two cases of frequency-dependent sign reversals are known. This diverse behaviour may require more than one mechanism to generate circular polarization.
A STATEWIDE STUDY OF SCHOOL-BASED INTERVENTION TEAMS: CHARACTERISTICS, MEMBER PERCEPTIONS, AND OUTCOMES

Surveys were administered to members of approximately 400 school-based teams participating in a statewide initiative promoting intervention-based assessment. Team members provided information about their teams' demographic characteristics, communication, leadership, and decision-making processes. Results were analyzed in terms of team features and characteristics as well as relationships between these features and several outcomes, including school faculty/staff perceptions of the acceptability of teams; ratings of school support for, and teams' mastery of, the consultative intervention-planning process; number of “traditional” multifactored evaluations conducted in the school; and actual student goal attainment. Significant relationships were found between structural and procedural aspects of team functioning and a number of these outcomes but not with student goal attainment. Results are discussed in terms of future research directions.
Self/other Perception Mediates Between Personality and Suicidal Ideation in Young Adults

Background and Objectives: Individual differences in vulnerability to suici- dal ideation have been recently addressed to internal working models of attachment. Howev- er, to date, research has mainly focused on adolescents. Few studies have investigated the role of adult attachment and personality dimensions in suicidal ideation, either examined from a mediational perspective . In this study, we aimed at testing a theoretical model in which Self/other perception mediates between personality and suicidal ideation in young adults. Methods: Dimensions of Attachment (self/other perception), Personality (the Big Five factor model), and Suicidal Ideation (hopelessness and depression) were assessed in a community sample of 319 young adults from Northern Italy. Structural Equation Model- ing and mediation analysis were conducted. Controlling for demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, education, and job), we tested three structural models. Results : The final model confirmed our hypothesis that self/other perception mediates between personality (high neuroticism and low extraversion) and suicidal ideation, pro- viding excellent fit to data. Conclusions: In line with the conceptual framework of the Attachment Theory, find- ings suggest that failure to resolve attachment-related distress is related to the emergence of negative self/other models in adults. Such internal models are likely to attenuate the as- sociation between neuroticism and extraversion with depressive symptoms, hopelessness and suicidal ideation.
Performance measures of academic faculty – a case study

This case study is the first to track the method used by an Israeli institution of higher education to assess and reward faculty members using a set of performance measures (‘Excellence criteria’). The study profiles faculty members who received financial rewards for excellence during 2005–2007, based on the previous year’s activities, as measured by their performance in traditional roles of higher education: research, teaching and academic administration, as well as contribution to the community. Faculty members’ performance measures were also analysed for correlations with individual and occupational data. Specifically, the study examined links between the achievements of the faculty members, personal features (gender, age, seniority) and elements related to their academic work (rank, tenure, representation on senate committees). The study is grounded on the premise that quality measures of academic faculty are significant – and influential – for a truly holistic appraisal of academic staff. The study concludes that the institution successfully managed to institute a performance-based method of assessment and reward.
Serum disease-associated proteins of ankylosing spondylitis: results of a preliminary study by comparative proteomics.

OBJECTIVES Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is difficult to diagnose at the early stage since it lacks simple and specific diagnostic indicators. Proteomics is a new enabling technology to screen disease-associated proteins which can be used in diagnostics or therapeutics. This study was performed by using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) in combination with mass spectrometry to search for disease-associated proteins in the sera of AS patients. METHODS Sera from 6 AS patients and 6 healthy volunteers (HVs) were mixed respectively and high-abundance proteins were depleted by Plasma 7 Multiple Affinity Removal System. The protein expression profiles of the sera between the two groups were compared by 2-DE and proteins over/under-expressed in the AS group were identified by mass spectrometry. Two of the identified proteins were then chosen to be verified by using ELISA in the individual sera of 32 AS patients and 32 HVs. RESULTS Serum amyloid A, apolipoprotein A (ApoA)-IV, ApoA-IV precursor, haptoglobin 2, ceruloplasmin (Cp) and immunoglobulin superfamily 22 were over-expressed by more than 3-fold in the sera of AS patients compared with HVs. Plasma glutathione peroxidase, similar to complement component 3 and chain A of transthyretin (TTR) were under-expressed in the sera of the AS patients. ELISA experiments showed the same trends in the expression levels of Cp and TTR with 2-DE. CONCLUSIONS There were 9 differentially expressed proteins in the sera of the AS group compared with the HV group, which might be candidate AS-associated proteins and might be promising diagnostic indicators or therapeutic targets for AS.
Cognitive vulnerability to depression in never depressed subjects

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dysfunctional cognitions could be measured in never-depressed individuals after a sad mood prime, and if these dysfunctional cognitions would predict future depression. Subjects were first screened for current or past depression. Never-depressed subjects were randomly assigned to a prime or no-prime condition and completed the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale. After one month, subjects completed the Beck Depression Inventory. The mood induction was successful in producing a sad mood, but had no effect on accessibility of dysfunctional cognition. Dysfunctional cognitions did predict depressive symptoms one month later, for the women in the sample, but not the men. These results were actually stronger for the unprimed subjects. The results provide some support for the cognitive diathesis-stress model, and suggest that cognitive vulnerability to depression may exist prior to a clinically significant depressive episode. However, mood priming does not appear to be a useful strategy with never-depressed subjects.
Cultural Transformation, Art, and Collective Action in Polity Building

Data coded from a worldwide sample of 30 premodern states demonstrate that collective action was an important social force in political regime building across civilizational traditions, regions, and time periods. Collectivity brought advantages, for example, overall increases in material standard of living, but also entailed the potential for cooperation problems such as free riding and agency. These problematic aspects of collectivity were addressed, in part, through cultural innovation aimed at developing new ways to understand the roots of moral capacity and the nature of the morally virtuous person. Here, I analyze one aspect of cultural innovation by investigating figural representation in the coded societies. From this comparative study, I propose that two artistic processes were concomitants of collective governance: the emergence of naturalism, including portraiture, and representation that highlights the commoner and the quotidian elements of commoner life ways.
The Effects of National Culture and Face Concerns on Intention to Apologize: A Comparison of the USA and China

The current study examined national culture differences between US American and Chinese participants (N = 317) regarding face need concerns and apology intention, based on positive and negative face needs (Brown & Levinson, 1987) and concerns for self-face and other-face (Ting-Toomey, 2005). Participants read vignettes that varied in relationship types (in-group vs. out-group members) and situation types (negative face vs. positive face threatening) and responded to scales measuring realism of the vignettes, intention to apologize, and five types of face need concerns. The findings showed that Chinese participants, compared to US Americans, had stronger intentions to apologize when their acts threatened the other person's positive face, while US American participants, compared to Chinese, had stronger intentions to apologize when their acts threatened the other's negative face. Other findings and implications thereof are discussed.
Is the Asian quality assurance system for higher education going glonacal? Assessing the impact of three types of program accreditation on Taiwanese universities

Tertiary education institutions are currently learning to integrate and balance the needs of varying stakeholders, including local students, national governments, and the global market. These three dimensions combine into the concept of a ‘glonacal’ – global + national + local – region of higher education. At the same time, quality assurance influences higher education in terms of policy decisions and processes, putting more emphasis on teaching as a core function of universities, and leading to an increased bureaucratization and heavier administrative workload. Yet, there is little evidence of the consequences of the glonacal approach for the quality of teaching and learning within universities and colleges. The main purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of the glonacal quality assurance system of Asian higher education through a case study of the effects of three program accreditations on higher education institutions in Taiwan (Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan [HEEACT], Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International [AACSB International] and Institute of Engineering Education Taiwan [IEET]).
The human Rad51 protein: polarity of strand transfer and stimulation by hRP‐A

The human Rad51 protein is homologous to the Escherichia coli RecA protein and catalyses homologous pairing and strand transfer reactions in vitro. Using single‐stranded circular and homologous linear duplex DNA, we show that hRad51 forms stable joint molecules by transfer of the 5′ end of the complementary strand of the linear duplex to the ssDNA. The polarity of strand transfer is therefore 3′ to 5′, defined relative to the ssDNA on which hRad51 initiates filament formation. This polarity is opposite to that observed with RecA. Homologous pairing and strand transfer require stoichiometric amounts of hRad51, corresponding to one hRad51 monomer per three nucleotides of ssDNA. Joint molecules are not observed when the protein is present in limiting or excessive amounts. The human ssDNA binding‐protein, hRP‐A, stimulates hRad51‐mediated reactions. Its effect is consistent with a role in the removal of secondary structures from ssDNA, thereby facilitating the formation of continuous Rad51 filaments.
On User Association in Multi-Tier Full-Duplex Cellular Networks

We address the user association problem in multi-tier in-band full-duplex (FD) networks. Specifically, we consider the case of decoupled user association (DUA), in which users (UEs) are not necessarily served by the same base station (BS) for uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) transmissions. Instead, UEs can simultaneously associate to different BSs based on two independent weighted path-loss user association criteria for UL and DL. We use stochastic geometry to develop a comprehensive modeling framework for the proposed system model, where BSs and UEs are spatially distributed according to independent point processes. We derive closed-form expressions for the mean rate utility in FD, half-duplex (HD) DL, and HD UL networks as well as the mean rate utility of legacy nodes with only HD capabilities in a multi-tier FD network. We formulate and solve an optimization problem that aims at maximizing the mean rate utility of the FD network by optimizing the DL and UL user association criteria. We investigate the effects of different network parameters, including the spatial density of BSs and power control parameter. We also investigate the effect of imperfect self-interference cancellation (SIC) and show that it is more severe at UL, where there exist minimum required SIC capabilities for BSs and UEs, for which FD networks are preferable to HD networks; otherwise, HD networks are preferable. In addition, we discuss several special cases and provide guidelines on the possible extensions of the proposed framework. We conclude that DUA outperforms coupled user association, in which UEs associate to the same BS for both UL and DL transmissions.
Allopurinol safely and effectively optimizes tioguanine metabolites in inflammatory bowel disease patients not responding to azathioprine and mercaptopurine

Background : Many non‐responders to azathioprine or mercaptopurine (6‐mercaptopurine) have high normal thiopurine methyltransferase activity and preferentially metabolize mercaptopurine to produce 6‐methylmercaptopurine instead of the active 6‐tioguanine (6‐tioguanine) metabolites.
Globalization and scientific labour: patterns in a life-history study of intellectual workers in the periphery

Sociological theories about intellectuals need to be rethought in relation to globalization. The interplay between intellectual work and globalization is studied via life-history interviews with 18 Australians involved in natural science. Centre–periphery relations are important in their careers, an interactive process not a simple domination. Quasi-globalization rather than full globalization is the main pattern of internationalization of science. The commodification of knowledge, now an important force in natural-science research, follows similar spatial patterns. Personal and institutional connections remain important vehicles of international connection, alongside traditional formats such as journal publication; electronic communications are emerging as an associated pattern rather than as an alternative. Participating from the periphery is structured by metropolitan predominance, with regional satellite centres complicating the pattern. Participation in elite world networks is possible, though tending to reinforce centre–periphery patterns; which in turn create problems for the reproduction of the scientific workforce in the periphery under a neoliberal political regime.
Pelvic Floor Levator Hiatus Measurements: MRI Versus Ultrasound

Objective The objective of this study is to compare levator hiatus measurements between pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pelvic ultrasound (US) imaging modalities. Methods We performed pelvic MRI and 3-dimensional US in 37 asymptomatic nulliparous women. For the MRI protocols, we performed axial and sagittal sequences at rest. We then obtained sagittal sequences during Kegel squeeze and Valsalva maneuvers. Blinded to the findings of the MRI, we obtained 3-dimensional pelvic US images using a perineal approach at rest, Kegel and Valsalva maneuvers. Finally, we measured the levator hiatus in both sagittal and axial planes. Results For the resting sagittal measurements, the mean levator hiatus measurement using MRI (5.0 cm; SD, 0.8) is significantly greater than that using US (4.4 cm; SD, 0.6; P < 0.05). Although the absolute mean levator measurements between the 2 modalities are significantly different, this difference is not influenced by the magnitude of the measurements as noted in Bland-Altman plots of the limits of agreement. Conclusions We found that the MRI measurements obtained from the sagittal images were consistently greater than the corresponding US images. In contrast, there was not the same consistency of difference between MRI and US for the axial images. This suggests possible variation in acquisition planes for axial images or interpretation of landmarks for the sagittal images.
Hematological characterization of congenital osteopetrosis in op/op mouse. Possible mechanism for abnormal macrophage differentiation

Compared with normal littermates, the op/op mice had very few macrophages in the peritoneal cavity and severely reduced numbers of monocytes in the peripheral blood. Moreover, osteopetrotic animals demonstrated an altered distribution of hemopoietic tissue with a 10- fold decrease in the number of marrow cells. Liver hemopoiesis persisted in 4-wk-old mice as evidenced by the presence of hemopoietic stem cells (HSC). Moreover, the concentration of HSC was decreased in marrow and increased in the spleen of op/op mice. In spite of the paucity of cells of monocyte-macrophage lineage in vivo, progenitor cells from hemopoietic tissues of op/op mice formed increased numbers of monocyte-macrophage colonies in vitro in the presence of exogenous colony-stimulating activity (CSA). The source of this critical CSA was a medium conditioned by stromal fibroblastoid colonies formed in vitro by normal marrow cells. Therefore, these data suggest that op/op mice possess normal monocyte-macrophage-osteoclast progenitor cells but these cells are unable to fully differentiate in the op/op mouse microenvironment. In support of this, in cultures of stromal fibroblastoid colonies from op/op marrow or spleen, the concomitant growth of macrophages, normally very dense, was drastically reduced. Moreover, transplantation of op/op spleen cells into lethally irradiated littermate recipients resulted in their hemopoietic reconstitution without signs of macrophage defect. Thus, the op/op splenic cells do not transfer the disease and are capable of normal differentiation in normal in vivo environment. These observations support the hypothesis that the defect in op/op mice is a result of the failure of hemopoietic stromal fibroblastoid cells to release sufficient amounts of CSA necessary for normal differentiation of cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage.
Fluid Dynamics in Suspension-Feeding Blackfish

Measurements of flow patterns and water velocities inside the oral cavity of blackfish (Orthodon microlepidotus), made with a fiberoptic endoscope and thermistor flow probe, revealed that gill-arch structures act in blackfish as barriers that direct particle-laden water to the mucus-covered roof of the oral cavity, where particles are retained. Gill-arch structures have previously been assumed to be the site of particle retention in suspension-feeding fishes. Water does not pass between these structures in blackfish, and they do not serve as filters that separate particles from the water. These results emphasize the importance of directly assessing flow velocity and direction inside the oral cavity of vertebrate suspension feeders, particularly at the level of the filtering elements.
Risikostereotype, Risikowahrnehmung und Risikoverhalten im Zusammenhang mit HIV

Zusammenfassung. Das eigene Risiko, mit dem HIV infiziert zu werden, wird meist als geringer eingeschatzt als das entsprechende Risiko anderer Personen. Dieses Phanomen ist als “optimistischer Fehlschluss“ bekannt geworden. Weiterhin wird angenommen, dass stereotype Vorstellungen von hochgefahrdeten Personen (Hochrisikostereotyp) als Vergleichsgrundlage fur die Einschatzung des eigenen Risikos dienen. Die vorliegende Studie geht daruber hinaus, indem sie zusatzlich einen Gegenpol zum Hochrisikostereotyp untersucht, d.h. stereotype Vorstellungen von geringgefahrdeten Personen (Niedrigrisikostereotyp). In einer schriftlichen Befragung (N = 64) wurden Verhaltensweisen und Eigenschaften der Befragten sowie deren wahrgenommene Relevanz fur eine HIV-Infektion erfasst. Zusatzlich sollten die Befragten angeben, welche Verhaltensweisen und Eigenschaften eine typische Person aufweist, die ein entweder hohes oder geringes HIV-Risiko tragt (Hoch- und Niedrigrisikostereotyp). Es ergab sich ein moderater Zusammenhang z.