Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantification of Microscopic Events in the Process of Long-Term Evolutionary Dynamics

This paper describes a new standpoint to further understanding the evotvability of A-life systems, that is, quantification of the dependency of system constituents. If a system exhibits evolutionary activity, new events, including the development or extinction of systems constituents, may emerge one after the other. The occurrence of new events would involve a changing complexion in the course of the future direction of system behaviors. In this respect, there have been a considerable number of studies on captunng longterm dynamics in A-life systems in terms of, for example, population dynamics. On the other hand, we focus on the quantification of relational concepts between constituents to clarify the occurrence of fundamental events affecting longterm course of evolution. We apply a quantification method to our A-life simulation model. Sequential analysis of the obtained resulLs enables us to visualize its long-term evolutionary dynamics. We discuss the effectiveness of our approach and the quantified evolutionary dynamics.
Evaluation of Parasite Markers to Assess Swordfish Stock Structure

Executive Summary A preliminary trial was undertaken to determine if there are appropriate parasites in broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius) for testing residency hypotheses and stock relationships. The gills and guts of 34 swordfish, eight from New Caledonia, 10 from Australia (Queensland), and 16 from New Zealand, were examined for parasites. Three species of monogenean were found on the gills (Tristoma adintegrum, Tristoma adcoccineum and an unidentified capsalid); three species of nematode in the stomach (Maricostula sp., Hysterothylacium sp. A, and Hysterothylacium sp. B); two cestodes in the stomach and encysted in the mesenteries (Pseudeubothrium sp. and Hepatoxylon sp.); and one digenean in the stomach (Hirudinella sp.). Swordfish from New Caledonia were also examined for ectoparasites. The parasite fauna of swordfish from the three areas was dominated by adult nematodes. The largest of the nematodes, Maricostula sp. , showed differences in abundance among the three areas. The other two nematodes, species of Hysterothylacium, also showed significant differences between areas, but these adult worms may have limited application as a biological tag, reflecting short-term feeding patterns of the host. Three parasites were identified that are potential markers of movement of swordfish between tropical and temperate waters. 1) The digenean Hirudinella is likely to be a short lived parasite acquired in tropical areas. 2) Larval cestodes of Hepatoxylon sp. are thought to be acquired in temperate areas. 3) A pennellid copepod recorded in swordfish from New Caledonia, is likely to be acquired in tropical areas. This large ectoparasite is readily observed on whole swordfish, and presence/absence could be recorded by fishery observers, without the need for returning samples to the laboratory.
Physiological Effect Of Peri winkle (C.roseus) On Diabetic Albino Rat

Back ground: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health problem worldwide in recent time. Asia and Africa are the most viable areas where the disease is feared to raise 2–3 folds. Many herbal products have been recommended for the treatment of DM in ancient literature of Ayurveda in India and other worldwide. Material and method: Thirty male adult albino rats were used to investigate the effect of Catharanthus rosea (C.roseus) on diabetic rats. Rats were divided into three equal groups, control, diabetic non treated and diabetic C.roseus treated groups. After thirty days of treatment all rats of each group were sacrificed. The body weight of each rat was determined at the beginning and the end of each period. Blood glucose, serum insulin, lipid and protein profiles, liver and kidney functions, blood picture and liver glycogen were determined for each rat at the end of each period. Pancreatic samples were obtained and processed for microscopic and quantitative evaluation after staining the prepared sections with heamatoxylin and eosin as well as special stain for demonstration of the different pancreatic cells in the islets of Langerhans. Results: The obtained results showed that the diabetic rats were diagnosed by laboratory assessment to body weight loss, hyperglycemia, and hypoinsulinemia, significant increase in liver and kidney functions, lipid and protein profiles and decreased liver glycogen content. While, C.roseus treatment led to a significant improvement in these parameters except liver function. Microscopically there was definite vaculation, degeneration, karyolysis and pyknosis of beta pancreatic cells in the diabetic group, while other pancreatic cells were not affected (alpha and delta cells). The use of C.roseus treatment of this study greatly improves such cellular changes. Conclusion: It was recommended that the use of the water extract of C. roseus levies as a hypoglycemic agent may offer a new hope to the diabetics in future. It's well recommended to use variable doses and different periods of treatment to evaluate the best dose and period.
The Auxin-Regulated AP2/EREBP Gene PUCHI Is Required for Morphogenesis in the Early Lateral Root Primordium of Arabidopsis[W]

Organ primordia develop from founder cells into organs due to coordinated patterns of cell division. How patterned cell division is regulated during organ formation, however, is not well understood. Here, we show that the PUCHI gene, which encodes a putative APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element binding protein transcription factor, is required for the coordinated pattern of cell divisions during lateral root formation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Recessive mutations in PUCHI disturbed cell division patterns in the lateral root primordium, resulting in swelling of the proximal region of lateral roots. PUCHI expression was initially detected in all of the cells in early lateral root primordia, and later it was restricted to the proximal region of the primordia. Stable expression of PUCHI required auxin-responsive elements in its promoter region, and exogenous auxin increased the level of PUCHI mRNA accumulation. These results suggest that PUCHI acts downstream of auxin signaling and that this gene contributes to lateral root morphogenesis through affecting the pattern of cell divisions during the early stages of primordium development.
Effect of laparotomy on clearance and cytokine induction in Staphylococcus aureus infected lungs.

RATIONALE Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen complicating postsurgical care. OBJECTIVES To test the effect of sterile laparotomy (LAP) on pulmonary clearance of S. aureus in a murine model. METHODS Control and LAP mice were infected intranasally with 10(8) cfu of S. aureus. Microbial clearance, pulmonary leukocyte recruitment, and cytokine profiles were compared between the groups. Antibody neutralization or cytokine gene knockout mice were used to evaluate the role of cytokines. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Laparotomy resulted in a 10-fold increase in S. aureus lung colony-forming units on Days 2 and 3 postinfection. Both groups cleared the infection by Day 4. No defect in leukocyte recruitment into the lungs was observed in infected LAP animals; however, an increase in the number of Mac-3-positive cells and a significant decrease of cells with high surface expression of Fc-gammaR suggest suboptimal activation of leukocytes in the lungs of infected LAP animals. Infected LAP mice had decreased expression of interferon (IFN)-gamma and increased expression of mRNA for IL-13 in the lungs on Day 1 postinfection and decreased levels of IL-6, keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) in bronchoalveolar lavage at Day 2 postinfection. Neutralization of IFN-gamma mimicked the effect of LAP with impaired clearance on Day 2. CONCLUSIONS Sterile LAP induced temporary deactivation of innate immune responses to pulmonary S. aureus challenge. Impaired microbial clearance was accompanied by altered cytokine expression and suboptimal activation of pulmonary leukocytes. Lack of early IFN-gamma induction in the infected lungs of LAP animals is a likely mechanism contributing to the observed phenotype.
Investigating the impact of health difficulties in adolescence on the formation of valued abilities

The current adolescent health literature indicates that poor health impairs adolescents’ ability to flourish during adolescence. If an adolescent has a health difficulty, they are more likely to struggle with school attendance and experience social isolation. The human capital literature suggests that cognitive and socioemotional skills developed earlier in life influence the ongoing formation of these skills over time. The implication of these two streams of research is that poor health in adolescence may have a persisting impact the formation of individuals’ valued abilities. In this thesis, I explicitly test this hypothesis. Given the complex nature of the phenomena of interest, I combine both qualitative and quantitative methods. Both approaches support a combined investigation of how health influences individuals’ current and future ability to flourish in the wider aspects of life they consider of inherent value. The findings of the mixed methods research support the hypothesis that a health difficulty in adolescence has a persisting impact on the formation of valued abilities. Poor health in the period prior to GCSE examinations has a continuing impact on individuals’ ability to access education and employment opportunities. It is also associated with an increased risk of having a small friendship network in early adulthood. The accounts of those interviewed with health difficulties indicate they sought to overcome the constraints imposed by their health difficulty. However, their poor experienced health often led to a negative sense of “difference” – undermining a positive sense of self. A health difficulty in adolescence disrupts an individual’s current and future ability to enjoy a number of valued abilities. To efficiently allocate health care resources, policy makers should consider whether a greater priority needs to be apportioned to alleviating the poor experienced health of those populations in which these valued abilities are still at a highly formative stage.
Individuals, Interpersonal Relations, and Trust

In the analysis of trust, we are inevitably drawn to the complex two-way interrelationships between it, the economic and political fabric of society, and the individuals who constitute that society. On the one hand we may be concerned with its role in the creation of that fabric and its psychological impact on the individual, and on the other we may be concerned with how that fabric and the properties of those individuals can serve to maintain trust and any associated cooperative behaviours. While many of the authors in this volume have examined several aspects of these interrelationship, I will adopt a narrower focus and concentrate on two parts of the psychological literature which can contribute to our understanding of the individual as a trusting agent. The first of these is concerned with the conditions under which individuals are willing to trust one another in novel circumstances. This will be based mainly on laboratory studies of bargaining games in which the players can adopt either competitive or cooperative strategies. The second is concerned with factors which will affect the durability of trust. This will be based on various studies of the conditions under which an individual’s ideas become impervious to change and behaviour becomes routinized. Needless to say, the treatment of these two parts of the literature will be highly selective, and will ignore much of the fine detail in the attempt to frame a rather general picture. All of this will be prefaced by a consideration of the psychological consequences of trust for the individual, and a brief discussion of what I am taking trust to be.
Camguk/CASK Enhances Ether-Á-Go-Go Potassium Current by a Phosphorylation-Dependent Mechanism

Signaling complexes are essential for the modulation of excitability within restricted neuronal compartments. Adaptor proteins are the scaffold around which signaling complexes are organized. Here, we demonstrate that the Camguk (CMG)/CASK adaptor protein functionally modulates Drosophila Ether-á-go-go (EAG) potassium channels. Coexpression of CMG with EAG in Xenopus oocytes results in a more than twofold average increase in EAG whole-cell conductance. This effect depends on EAG-T787, the residue phosphorylated by calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Wang et al., 2002). CMG coimmunoprecipitates with wild-type and EAG-T787A channels, indicating that T787, although necessary for the effect of CMG on EAG current, is not required for the formation of the EAG-CMG complex. Both CMG and phosphorylation of T787 increase the surface expression of EAG channels, and in COS-7 cells, EAG recruits CMG to the plasma membrane. The interaction of EAG with CMG requires a noncanonical Src homology 3-binding site beginning at position R1037 of the EAG sequence. Mutation of basic residues, but not neighboring prolines, prevents binding and prevents the increase in EAG conductance. Our findings demonstrate that membrane-associated guanylate kinase adaptor proteins can modulate ion channel function; in the case of CMG, this occurs via an increase in the surface expression and phosphorylation of the EAG channel.
The surface-tension-driven evolution of a two-dimensional annular viscous tube

We consider the evolution of an annular two-dimensional region occupied by viscous fluid driven by surface tension and applied pressure at the free surfaces. We assume that the thickness of the domain is small compared with its circumference, so that it may be described as a thin viscous sheet whose ends are joined to form a closed loop. Analytical and numerical solutions of the resulting model are obtained and we show that it is well posed whether run forwards or backwards in time. This enables us to determine, in many cases explicitly, which initial shapes will evolve into a desired final shape. We also show how the application of an internal pressure may be used to control the evolution. This work is motivated by the production of non-axisymmetric capillary tubing via the Vello process. Molten glass is fed through a die and drawn off vertically, while the shape of the cross-section evolves under surface tension and any applied pressure as it flows downstream. Here the goal is to determine the die shape required to achieve a given desired final shape, typically square or rectangular. We conclude by discussing the role of our two-dimensional model in describing the three-dimensional tube-drawing process.
Families’ Support and Influence on College Students’ Educational Performance

The purpose of this study was to explore families’ support and influence on the educational performance of students on a faith-based campus in northern Indiana, USA. The study answered the following research question: How does families’ support influence college students’ educational performance? This research question was developed after reviewing the literature and coming to the realization that there is little research on families’ influence role in college students’ academic performance. The data was collected through in-depth interviews with 12 students who resided at the college campus. Themes recognized within the study were used to discuss families’ role in students’ academic performance. Considering the families’ role in students’ everyday life and the background support is vital to their educational performance. Themes included: (1) Frequency of contact with family, especially mother; (2) Levels of parental financial involvement; (3) Independence from family; (4) Siblings’ influence on academics; (5) Parents’ spiritual involvement; and (6) Parents’ educational background.
The Consequences of Spatial Inequality for Adolescent Residential Mobility

A large body of literature suggests that neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage is positively associated with out-mobility. However, prior research has been limited by (1) the inability to account for endogenous factors that both funnel families into deprived neighborhoods and increase their likelihood of moving out, and (2) the failure to consider how the spatial distribution of socioeconomic deprivation in the broader community conditions the effect of local deprivation on mobility. This paper attends to this gap in the literature by examining how changes in socioeconomic disadvantage between sending and receiving neighborhoods and the spatial patterning of deprivation in the areas surrounding destination neighborhoods influence future mobility among a representative sample of American adolescents. We employ a modeling strategy that allows us to examine the unique and separable effects of local and extralocal neighborhood disadvantage while simultaneously holding constant time-invariant factors that place some youth at a greater likelihood of experiencing a residential move. We find that moves to more impoverished neighborhoods decrease the likelihood of subsequent mobility and that this effect is most pronounced among respondents who move to neighborhoods surrounded by other similarly deprived neighborhoods. In this sense, geographical pockets of disadvantage strengthen the mobility-hampering effect of neighborhood deprivation on future mobility.
Inverting Phase Functions to Map Exoplanets

We describe how to generate a longitudinal brightness map for a tidally locked exoplanet from its phase function light curve. We operate under a number of simplifying assumptions, neglecting limb darkening/brightening, star spots, detector ramps, as well as time variability over a single planetary rotation. We develop the transformation from a planetary brightness map to a phase function light curve and simplify the expression for the case of an edge-on system. We introduce two models—composed of longitudinal slices of uniform brightness, and sinusoidally varying maps—which greatly simplify the transformation from map to light curve. We discuss numerical approaches to extracting a longitudinal map from a phase function light curve, explaining how to estimate the uncertainty in a computed map and how to choose an appropriate number of fit parameters. We demonstrate these techniques on a simulated map and discuss the uses and limitations of longitudinal maps. The sinusoidal model provides a better fit to the planet’s underlying brightness map, although the slice model is more appropriate for light curves which only span a fraction of the planet’s orbit. Regardless of which model is used, we find that there is a maximum of ~5 free parameters which can be meaningfully fit based on a full phase function light curve, due to the insensitivity of the latter to certain modes of the map. This is sufficient to determine the longitudes of primary equatorial hot spots and cold spots, as well as the presence of secondary maxima/minima.
Bisexual Women’s Discriminatory Experiences and Psychological Distress: Exploring the Roles of Coping and LGBTQ Community Connectedness

The present study examined the relations among antibisexual discrimination, coping mechanisms, psychological distress, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community connectedness among bisexual women. It was hypothesized that both adaptive (i.e., resistance, education/advocacy) and maladaptive (i.e., internalization, drug and alcohol use, detachment) coping mechanisms would significantly mediate the positive link between antibisexual discrimination and psychological distress. More specifically, we expected that antibisexual discrimination would predict more adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms, although adaptive coping would relate to less distress and maladaptive coping would relate to more distress. In addition, LGBTQ community connectedness was explored as a moderating variable in each of these links (i.e., moderated mediation). Antibisexual discrimination was significantly positively correlated with all coping mechanisms. Moreover, antibisexual discrimination, education/advocacy, internalization, resistance, and detachment significantly positively predicted psychological distress. In addition, education/advocacy, internalization, resistance, and detachment partially mediated the positive relation between antibisexual discrimination and psychological distress, whereas alcohol and drug use did not. LGBTQ community connectedness moderated the link between antibisexual discrimination and psychological distress, such that the relation was nonsignificant among higher levels of community connectedness. Practice implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Improving prediction accuracy for protein structure classification by neural network using feature combination

The classification of protein structures is essential for their function determination in bioinformatics. At present time, a reasonably high rate of prediction accuracy has been achieved in classifying proteins into four classes in the SCOP. However, it is still a challenge for classifying proteins into fine-grained folding categories, especially when the number of possible folding patterns as those defined in the SCOP is large. In our previous work, we have proposed a hierarchical learning architecture (HLA), two indirect coding features, and a gate function to differentiate proteins according to their classes and folding patterns. Our prediction accuracy rate for 27 folding categories was 65.5% compared favorably to previous results by Ding and Dubchak with 56.5% prediction accuracy rate. The success of the protein structure classification depends on two factors: the computational methods used and the features selected. In this paper, we use a combinatorial fusion analysis technique to facilitate feature selection and combination for improving predictive accuracy in protein structure classification. When applying the combinatorial fusion to our previous work, the resulting classification has an overall prediction accuracy rate of 87.8% for four classes and 70.9% for 27 folding categories. These rates are significantly higher than our previous work and demonstrate that combinatorial fusion is a valuable method for protein structure classification.
Discovery of X-ray absorption features from the dipping low-mass X-ray binary XB 1916-053 with XMM-Newton

We report the discovery of narrow Fe XXV and Fe XXVI K alpha X-ray absorption lines at 6.65 and 6.95 keV in the persistent emission of the dipping low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) XB 1916-053 during an XMM-Newton observation performed in September 2002. In addition, there is marginal evidence for absorption features at 1.48 keV, 2.67 kev, 7.82 keV and 8.29 keV consistent with Mg XII, S XVI, Ni XXVII K alpha and Fe XXVI K beta transitions, respectively. Such absorption lines from highly ionized ions are now observed in a number of high inclination (ie. close to edge-on) LMXBs, such as XB 1916-053, where the inclination is estimated to be between 60-80 degrees. This, together with the lack of any orbital phase dependence of the features (except during dips), suggests that the highly ionized plasma responsible for the absorption lines is located in a cylindrical geometry around the compact object. Using the ratio of Fe XXV and Fe XXVI column densities, we estimate the photo-ionization parameter of the absorbing material to be 10^{3.92} erg cm s^{-1}. Only the Fe XXV line is observed during dipping intervals and the upper-limits to the Fe XXVI column density are consistent with a decrease in the amount of ionization during dipping intervals. This implies the presence of cooler material in the line of sight during dipping. We also report the discovery of a 0.98 keV absorption edge in the persistent emission spectrum. The edge energy decreases to 0.87 keV during deep dipping intervals. The detected feature may result from edges of moderately ionized Ne and/or Fe with the average ionization level decreasing from persistent emission to deep dipping. This is again consistent with the presence of cooler material in the line of sight during dipping.