Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Condition and brightness of structural blue-green: motmot tail-racket brightness is related to speed of feather growth in males, but not in females

Coloration plays an important role in sexual and social communication, and in many avian species both males and females maintain elaborate colours. Recent research has provided strong support for the hypothesis that elaborate female traits can be maintained by sexual or social selection; however, most research on female ornamentation has focused on pigment-based colours, and less is known about how structural colours are maintained. Both sexes of the turquoise-browed motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) have a blue-green racket-tipped tail, and it remains unknown if tail coloration serves as a sexual or social signal in one or both sexes. Here, we describe sexual dichromatism in the blue-green portion of the tail racket, and we test for a relationship between coloration and condition, as indicated by growth bars. Tail colour of both sexes has a similar spectral shape, and there is significant, although moderate, sexual dichromatism: males are brighter than females, and males have marginally greater blue-green saturation than females. The length of feather grown per day is positively related to overall feather brightness, but this relationship is only present in males. The relationship between male coloration and condition suggests that tail colour has the potential to convey information about individual quality during mate choice or contest competition. The lack of a similar relationship in females suggests that female tail colour does not convey the same condition-dependent information that we suggest may be reflected by male colour. Female tail colour may therefore reflect other aspects of condition, be involved in other (non-condition-dependent) forms of communication, or be expressed as a non-functional byproduct of genetic correlation between the sexes. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 106, 673‐681. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: condition dependence ‐ growth bars ‐ mutual ornamentation ‐ structural coloration.
The elephant in the room? Class and creative careers in British advertising agencies

Advertising in Britain has traditionally been the preserve of a middle-class, public school and Oxbridge-educated workforce. Although this narrow recruitment base is recognized as problematic, the influence of social class on advertising careers remains largely unexplored. This article explores the career trajectories of British advertising creatives from different social class backgrounds and the forms of capital at their disposal. Drawing on life history interviews with creatives, we explore how they got started, got in and got on in advertising careers. In particular, we highlight how the `working-class' creatives struggled to overcome the economic, social and cultural barriers they face in entering the industry. We suggest, however, that once `in', the influence of their social class background was more subtle and less detrimental, due to the social capital they accumulated en route and the value of their distinctive brand of cultural capital.
Positive Correlations Between Cerebral Protein Synthesis Rates and Deep Sleep in Macaca mulatta

Local rates of cerebral protein synthesis (ICPSleu), were determined with the autoradiographic L‐[1‐14C]leucine method in seven awake and seven asleep, adult rhesus monkeys conditioned to sleep in a restraining chair in a darkened, ventilated chamber while EEG, EOG, and EMG were monitored. Prior to the period of measurement all animals slept for 1–4 h. Controls were awakened after at least one period of rapid‐eye‐movement (REM) sleep. Experimental animals were allowed to remain asleep, and they exhibited non‐REM sleep for 71–99% of the experimental period. Statistically significant differences in ICPSleu between control and experimental animals were found in four of the 57 regions of brain examined, but these effects may have occurred by chance. In the sleeping animals, however, correlations between ICPSleu, and percent time in deep sleep were positive in all regions and were statistically significant (P≤ 0.05) in 35 of the regions. When time in deep sleep was weighted for the integrated specific activity of leucine in grey matter, positive correlations were statistically significant (P≤ 0.05) in 18 regions in the experimental animals. These results suggest that rates of protein synthesis are increased in many regions of the brain during deep sleep compared with light sleep.
High-Pressure Creep of Serpentine, Interseismic Deformation, and Initiation of Subduction

The supposed low viscosity of serpentine may strongly influence subduction-zone dynamics at all time scales, but until now its role could not be quantified because measurements relevant to intermediate-depth settings were lacking. Deformation experiments on the serpentine antigorite at high pressures and temperatures (1 to 4 gigapascals, 200° to 500°C) showed that the viscosity of serpentine is much lower than that of the major mantle-forming minerals. Regardless of the temperature, low-viscosity serpentinized mantle at the slab surface can localize deformation, impede stress buildup, and limit the downdip propagation of large earthquakes at subduction zones. Antigorite enables viscous relaxation with characteristic times comparable to those of long-term postseismic deformations after large earthquakes and slow earthquakes. Antigorite viscosity is sufficiently low to make serpentinized faults in the oceanic lithosphere a site for subduction initiation.
Translating a Visual Description Technique to a Synchronous Language: From DiChartsto PURR

We give a translation of the visual description technique DiCharts to the synchronous language PURR. As a result, the design of a system can start with a graphical description technique at a very high-level and can then be automatically translated to the synchronous language PURR. This translation allows the further synthesis of the system and in particular, its verification.
APOE &egr;4 is associated with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea: The Sleep Heart Health Study

Background:Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea (OSAH) has a strong heritable component, although its genetic basis remains largely unknown. One epidemiologic study found a significant association between the APOE &egr;4 allele and OSAH in middle-aged adults, a finding that was not replicated in a cohort of elderly adults. The objective of this study was to further examine the association of the APOE &egr;4 allele with OSAH in a community-dwelling cohort, exploring age dependency of the association. Methods:A genetic association study was performed, nested within a prospective cohort study of the cardiovascular consequences of OSAH. Unattended, in-home nocturnal polysomnography was used to measure apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in 1,775 participants age 40 to 100 years. OSAH was defined as an AHI ≥ 15. The relation of APOE genotype to prevalent OSAH was analyzed using generalized estimating equations to account for non-independent observations of individuals from the same sibship. Results:At least one APOE &egr;4 allele was present in 25% of subjects, with 1.3% &egr;4/&egr;4 homozygotes. The prevalence of OSAH was 19%. After adjustment for age, sex, and BMI, the presence of any APOE &egr;4 allele was associated with increased odds of OSAH (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.87, p = 0.02). The effect was approximately twice as great in subjects <75 (OR 1.61, CI 1.02 to 2.54) as in those ≥75 years old (OR 1.32, CI 0.91 to 1.90). Exploratory analyses revealed that the strongest effect of APOE &egr;4 was in subjects age <65 (OR 3.08, CI 1.43 to 6.64), and was stronger in those with hypertension or cardiovascular disease than in those without. Conclusion:The APOE &egr;4 allele is associated with increased risk of OSAH, particularly in individuals under age 65. The mechanisms underlying this association are uncertain. Age-dependency of the APOE-OSAH association may explain previous conflicting results.
Inclusive school placements and surplus/deficit in performance for students with intellectual disabilities: Is there a connection? Û

Vianello and Lanfranchi (2009) have presented a noteworthy hypothesis regarding students with intellectual disabilities, when they suggest that the location of a student’s education can produce a surplus (or deficit) relative to academic and social/behavior development. We provide a brief review of research on the effectiveness of placement settings for students with intellectual disabilities conducted in the U.S. that provides some support for the surplus/deficit hypothesis. This is followed by a review of the qualities of inclusive programs that may produce a surplus for these students, and how schools with these qualities are developed. Finally, we discuss the need to support schools as they transform practices to make differences ordinary for students with disabilities.
The Complex Agenda-Setting Power of Protest: Demonstrations, Media, Parliament, Government, and Legislation in Belgium, 1993-2000

We conducted pooled time-series analyses to assess how number and size of demonstrations affect the political agenda in Belgium (1993-2000). Taking twenty-five issues into account, this study finds that protest matters for the political agenda setting. This study also advances scholarly understanding of the agenda-setting power of protest by showing that the causal mechanisms of protest impact are complex and contingent. The parliamentary, governmental, and legislative attention for issues is significantly and differently affected by preceding protest activities. The media act as an intermediary variable: media coverage emerges in response to protest and, in turn, affects the political agenda afterwards. Protests on some issues have more effect than on others: in Belgium, new social movements protests are especially effective in causing parliament and government to focus attention on the issue.
Sound-Specific Vibration Interface: Its Performance of Tactile Effects and Applications

The tactile effects of a sound-specific vibration interface is presented in this paper. The sound-specific vibration interface generates a vibration according to a sound stream using 16 oscillators arranged in 4 times 4 array. By setting time frame, we were able to generate various patterns of vibrations. So, the main purpose of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness the sound- specific vibration interface. We first analyze the immersiveness of the vibration depending on the tone of sound. Second, different parts of body were evaluated to find the most suitable part of body for our sound-specific vibration interface. Next, we also assess the various patterns of vibration using four patterns for a gun-shot. In addition, we also compare the results of the vibration device with those of two other vibration interfaces: a vibrating mouse and a vibrating head-set. In the experiment, participants listened to music and played a shooting game, wearing our sound-specific vibration interface. The experiments on different patterns of vibrations lead us to conclude that a certain vibration pattern is more effective than others and our vibrations interface is more effective than other vibrating devices, especially it works best when being attached to shoulders.
Income comparisons in China. Discussion

Capitulo en: CLARK, Andrew E. ; SENIK, Claudia (eds.) Happiness and Economic Growth : Lessons from Developing Countries. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014, p.216-239. (Studies of Policy Reform) ISBN 0198723652. ISBN 9780198723653. DOI 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198723653.003. 0006
Multiple activation pathways of benzene leading to products with varying genotoxic characteristics.

Benzene and 13 potential metabolites were investigated for genotoxicity in Salmonella typhimurium and V79 Chinese hamster cells. In the presence of NADPH-fortified hepatic postmitochondrial fraction (S9 mix), benzene reverted his- S. typhimurium strains. The effect was strongest in strain TA1535. Among the potential metabolites, only the trans-1,2-dihydrodiol, in the presence of S9 mix, and the diol epoxides, in the presence and absence of S9 mix, proved mutagenic in this strain. The anti-diol epoxide was more potent than the syn-diastereomer. Both enantiomers of the anti-diastereomer showed similar activities. S9 mix did not appreciably affect the mutagenicity of the anti-diol epoxide. However, detoxification was observed when purified rat liver dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.1.20) was used at concentrations comparable to that present in the liver. The (1S)-anti-diol epoxide was a much better substrate than the (1R)-enantiomer, as was true also for (1S)-versus (1R)-trans-1,2-dihydrodiol. The anti-diol epoxide reverted all six strains of S. typhimurium used and induced all four genotoxic effects studied in V79 cells (sister chromatid exchange greater than acquisition of 6-thioguanine resistance, acquisition of ouabain resistance, micronuclei). However, other potential benzene metabolites showed genotoxic effects in V79 cells, as well: sister chromatid exchange was induced by the syn-diol epoxide, 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene, hydroquinone, catechol, and 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene. Elevated frequencies of micronucleated cells were observed after treatment with hydroquinone, 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene, catechol, phenol, 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene, and quinone. Mutations to 6-thioguanine resistance were induced by quinone, hydroquinone, 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene, catechol, and the trans-1,2-dihydrodiol. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Temporal modulation of the dynamics of neuronal networks with cognitive function : experimental evidence and theoretical analysis

We investigated the putative function of the fine temporal dynamics of neuronal networks for implementing cognitive processes. First, we characterized the coding properties of spike trains recorded from the dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (dACC) of monkeys. dACC is thought to trigger behavioral adaptation. We found evidence for (i) high spike count variability and (ii) temporal reliability (favored by temporal correlations) which respectively hindered and favored information transmission when monkeys were cued to switch the behavioral strategy. Also, we investigated the nature of the neuronal variability that was predictive of behavioral variability. High vs. low firing rates were not robustly associated with different behavioral responses, while deviations from a neuron-specific prototypical spike train predicted slower responses of the monkeys. These deviations could be due to increased or decreased spike count, as well as to jitters in spike times. Our results support the hypothesis of a complex spatiotemporal coding of behavioral adaptation by dACC, and suggest that dACC signals are unlikely to be decoded by a neural integrator. Second, we further investigated the impact of dACC temporal signals on the downstream decoder by developing mean-field equations to analyze network dynamics. We used an adapting single neuron model that mimics the response of cortical neurons to realistic dynamic synaptic-like currents. We approximated the time-dependent population rate for recurrent networks in an asynchronous irregular state. This constitutes an important step towards a theoretical study of the effect of temporal drives on networks which could mediate cognitive functions.
The effects of trainee ability and motivation on the transfer process

Nunes, Charné, MComm (Industrial Psychology), University of Stellenbosch THE EFFECTS OF TRAINEE ABILITY AND MOTIVATION ON THE TRANSFER PROCESS STUDY LEADERS: Dr R du Preez, PhD (University of Stellenbosch) Prof CC Theron, MA, DPhil (University of Stellenbosch) Training represents an expensive investment organisations make in their human resources. For this reason, it is imperative that the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours gained in training be transferred into visible on-the-job performance and results. Unfortunately, despite the increasing amounts of time, effort and money being spent on organisational training, the so-called “transfer problem” remains a threat. Continued low transfer puts a major portion of the training investment at risk, thus justifying practical efforts to leverage greater transfer of training. This study is one such effort. The primary goal of this study was to develop and test an empirical model of the transfer process so as to establish the effects of trainee ability and motivation on this process. More specifically, it aimed to establish the relationships between the constructs trainee ability to learn, motivation to learn, intention to learn, learning and retention, motivation to transfer, intention to transfer and consequently, transfer. A comprehensive study of the transfer of training literature was conducted so as to gain a better understanding of the issues relevant to the purpose of the study. The sample used for this study consisted of 116 trainees attending an assessor training course provided by the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authorities (W&RSETA) in South Africa.
Fetal spina bifida in a mouse model: loss of neural function in utero.

OBJECT The devastating neurological deficit associated with myelomeningocele has previously been assumed to be a direct and inevitable consequence of the primary malformation-failure of neural tube closure. An alternative view is that secondary damage to the pathologically exposed spinal cord tissue in utero is responsible for the neurological deficiency. If the latter mechanism were shown to be correct, it would provide an objective rationale for the performance of in utero surgery for myelomeningocele, because coverage of the exposed spinal cord could be expected to alleviate or perhaps prevent neurodegeneration. To examine this question, the authors studied the development of neuronal connections and neurological function of mice during fetal and neonatal stages in a genetic model of exposed lumbosacral spina bifida. METHODS The persistently exposed spinal cord of mouse fetuses carrying both curly tail and loop-tail mutations exhibited essentially normal anatomical and functional hallmarks of development during early gestation (embryonic Days 13.5-16.5), including sensory and motor projections to and from the cord. A significant proportion of fetuses with spina bifida at early gestation exhibited sensorimotor function identical to that seen in age-matched healthy controls. However, at later gestational stages, increasing neurodegeneration within the spina bifida lesion was detected, which was paralleled by a progressive loss of neurological function. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide support for the hypothesis that neurological deficit in human myelomeningocele arises following secondary neural tissue destruction and loss of function during pregnancy.
Replicative senescence of mesenchymal stem cells causes DNA-methylation changes which correlate with repressive histone marks

Cells in culture undergo replicative senescence. In this study, we analyzed functional, genetic and epigenetic sequels of long-term culture in human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Already within early passages the fibroblastoid colonyforming unit (CFU-f) frequency and the differentiation potential of MSC declined significantly. Relevant chromosomal aberrations were not detected by karyotyping and SNP-microarrays. Subsequently, we have compared DNA-methylation profiles with the Infinium HumanMethylation27 Bead Array and the profiles differed markedly in MSC derived from adipose tissue and bone marrow. Notably, all MSC revealed highly consistent senescence-associated modifications at specific CpG sites. These DNA-methylation changes correlated with histone marks of previously published data sets, such as trimethylation of H3K9, H3K27 and EZH2 targets. Taken together, culture expansion of MSC has profound functional implications - these are hardly reflected by genomic instability but they are associated with highly reproducible DNA-methylation changes which correlate with repressive histone marks. Therefore replicative senescence seems to be epigenetically controlled.
Perceptual Confl ict and Response Competi ti on: Event-Related Potenti als of the Stroop Eff ect*

Method: The sample included 50 healthy volunteer adults (23 female and 27 male) from the university population. Stimulation, recording and analyses were carried under NeuroScan 4.2 hardware-software system. The effect of the experimental variables (stimulus congruency, response accuracy and electrode location) on event-related potentials (ERPs) was studied using 2×2×3 analysis of variance for repeated measures.
Dilatonic black holes with Gauss-Bonnet term

We discuss black holes in an effective theory derived from a superstring model, which includes a dilaton field, a gauge field and the Gauss-Bonnet term. Assuming U(1) or SU(2) symmetry for the gauge field, we find four types of spherically symmetric solutions, i.e., a neutral, an electrically charged, a magnetically charged and a “colored” black hole, and discuss their thermodynamical properties and fate via the Hawking evaporation process. For neutral and electrically charged black holes, we find critical point and a singular end point. Below the mass corresponding to the critical point, no solution exists, while the curvature on the horizon diverges and a naked singularity appears at the singular point. A cusp structure in the mass-entropy diagram is found at the critical point and black holes on the branch between the critical and singular points become unstable. For magnetically charged and “colored” black holes, the solution becomes singular just at the end point with a finite mass. Because the black hole temperature is always finite even at the critical point or the singular point, we may conclude that the evaporation process will not be stopped even at the critical point or the singular point, and the black hole will move to a dynamical evaporation phase or a naked singularity will appear.
Reproductive outcome after bariatric surgery: a critical review.

BACKGROUND After many cycles of weight loss and weight gain, more and more morbidly obese patients undergo bariatric surgery, like gastric banding or gastric bypass, as the ultimate treatment for their obesity-problem. Since women of reproductive age are candidates for bariatric surgery, concerns arise regarding the potential impact on future pregnancy. METHODS English-language articles were identified in a PUBMED search from 1982 to January 2008 using the keywords for pregnancy and bariatric surgery or gastric bypass or gastric banding. RESULTS The few reported case-control and cohort studies clearly show improved fertility and a reduced risk in obstetrical complications, including gestational diabetes, macrosomia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, in women after operatively induced weight loss when compared with morbidly obesity women. The incidence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) appears to be increased, however. No conclusions can be drawn concerning the risk for preterm labour and miscarriage, although these risks are probably increased compared with controls matched for body mass index. Operative complications are not uncommon with bariatric surgery and several cases have pointed to the increased risk for intestinal hernias and nutritional deficiencies in subsequent pregnancy. Deficiencies in iron, vitamin A, vitamin B(12), vitamin K, folate and calcium can result in both maternal complications, such as severe anaemia, and fetal complications, such as congenital abnormalities, IUGR and failure to thrive. CONCLUSIONS Close supervision before, during and after pregnancy following bariatric surgery and nutrient supplementation adapted to the patient's individual requirements can help to prevent nutrition-related complications and improve maternal and fetal health, in this high-risk obstetric population.