Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biodiversity, Urban Areas, and Agriculture: Locating Priority Ecoregions for Conservation

Urbanization and agriculture are two of the most important threats to biodiversity worldwide. The intensities of these land-use phenomena, however, as well as levels of biodiversity itself, differ widely among regions. Thus, there is a need to develop a quick but rigorous method of identifying where high levels of human threats and biodiversity coincide. These areas are clear priorities for biodiversity conservation. In this study, we combine distribution data for eight major plant and animal taxa (comprising over 20,000 species) with remotely sensed measures of urban and agricultural land use to assess conservation priorities among 76 terrestrial ecoregions in North America. We combine the species data into overall indices of richness and endemism. We then plot each of these indices against the percent cover of urban and agricultural land in each ecoregion, resulting in four separate comparisons. For each comparison, ecoregions that fall above the 66th quantile on both axes are identified as priorities for conservation. These analyses yield four "priority sets" of 6-16 ecoregions (8-21% of the total number) where high levels of biodiversity and human land use coincide. These ecoregions tend to be concentrated in the southeastern United States, California, and, to a lesser extent, the Atlantic coast, southern Texas, and the U.S. Midwest. Importantly, several ecoregions are members of more than one priority set and two ecoregions are members of all four sets. Across all 76 ecoregions, urban cover is positively correlated with both species richness and endemism. Conservation efforts in densely populated areas therefore may be equally important (if not more so) as preserving remote parks in relatively pristine regions.
CALL FOR PAPERS NextGen Sequencing Technology-based Dissection of Physiological Systems RNA-Seq reveals expression signatures of genes involved in oxygen transport, protein synthesis, folding, and degradation in response to heat stress in catfish

Shikai Liu,* Xiuli Wang,* Fanyue Sun, Jiaren Zhang, Jianbin Feng, Hong Liu, K. V. Rajendran, Luyang Sun, Yu Zhang, Yanliang Jiang, Eric Peatman, Ludmilla Kaltenboeck, Huseyin Kucuktas, and Zhanjiang Liu The Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures and Program of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Aquatic Genomics Unit, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama; The Shellfish Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Peoples Republic of China; and College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, Liaoning, Peoples Republic of China
Crime and Immigration: Evidence from Large Immigrant Waves

Abstract This paper focuses on empirical connections between crime and immigration, studying two large waves of recent U.K. immigration (the late 1990s/early 2000s asylum seekers and the post-2004 inflow from EU accession countries). The first wave led to a modest but significant rise in property crime, while the second wave had a small negative impact. There was no effect on violent crime; arrest rates were not different, and changes in crime cannot be ascribed to crimes against immigrants. The findings are consistent with the notion that differences in labor market opportunities of different migrant groups shape their potential impact on crime.
Persons living with diagnosed HIV in New York City: over 50% over 50 years old

ABSTRACT Using NYC HIV surveillance data, we estimated the annual median age of persons living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH) and the proportion of PLWDH over 50 years old in NYC between 2008 and 2015, and described the characteristics, retention in care and viral suppression status among PLWDH in NYC in 2015, by age (<50 vs. ≥50 years old). The median age of PLWDH in NYC increased from 46.4 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 39.4, 53.2) in 2008 to 50.2 years (IQR: 39.8, 57.5) in 2015, and the proportion of PLWDH over 50 years old increased from 35.9% in 2008 to 50.6% in 2015. In 2015, by race/ethnicity, whites had the highest proportion over 50 years old (57.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders had the lowest (36.2%); by transmission risk, men who have sex with men were the lowest (40.0%) and injection drug users were the highest (76.1%). A large and increasing proportion of PLWDH over 50 years old presents challenges for HIV-infected individuals and healthcare system. Better social support services for HIV-infected individuals and additional training for medical and public health staff are needed.
Sentimental Fabulations, Contemporary Chinese Films: Attachment in the Age of Global Visibility

Review(s) of: Sentimental Fabulations, Contemporary Chinese Films: Attachment in the Age of Global Visibility, by Rey Chow. New York: Columbia University Press, 2007. xvi + 263 pp. US$69.50/ 45.00 (hardcover), US$22.50/ 14.50 (paperback).
CLASS SIZE REDUCTION IN CALIFORNIA 1996-98 Early Findings Signal Promise and Concerns

VERVIEW In the summer of 1996, the California Legislature and then-Governor Pete Wilson adopted a sweeping reform to revive academic performance by lowering class size in the early grades from a maximum of 33 to no more than 20 students per teacher. With virtually no planning time, school districts managed to put hundreds of thousands of students in small classes by the time school started, just six weeks after the legislation (SB 1777) passed. By 1999-00, the fourth year of the program, virtually all 1 st and 2 nd graders will be part of the program, plus an estimated 95% of kindergartners and 90% of 3 rd graders. California's class size reduction (CSR) initiative is thought to be the largest state education reform in history, now costing over $1.5 billion per year. Given that price tag, the stakes and expectations for the program are high. What has been found so far? Class Size Reduction in California: Early Evaluation Findings, 1996-1998, the first report of a four-year, legislatively-mandated evaluation shows evidence of successes. But it also points to unintended consequences that are cause for concern. On the positive side, the evaluation of CSR in its second year (1997-98) finds: s Relative to students in larger classes, 3 rd grade students in smaller classes showed, on average, a small positive achievement gain.The level of gain was similar for all groups of students, regardless of ethnicity, income status, or English language ability. s Districts rose to the challenge of implementing CSR quickly, finding 23,500 additional teachers in two years.The result: over 1.6 million students in kindergarten to 3 rd grade were placed in reduced size classes. s Teachers in smaller K-3 classes reported spending more time working individually with problem readers and attending to the personal needs of students.They also spent less time on discipline than teachers in larger classes. s Parents of students in reduced size classes had more contact with teachers and were more satisfied with their children's education. Other findings from this two-year assessment of CSR are less positive: s To implement CSR quickly, some districts with already overcrowded facilities had to take classroom space away from other educational programs. s Because space was particularly tight in districts with high proportions of low-income, minority, or English language learner (ELL) students, these districts were slower to implement smaller classes in all four grades, K-3. Districts that could not reduce class size …
Security or opportunity: the influence of risk‐taking tendency on risk information preference

It has been suggested that risk avoiders and risk takers differ in the extent to which they focus on the worst and best outcomes of a risky activity. By implication risk avoiders and risk takers should also differ in their risk information preferences. Specifically, as risk avoiders focus more on the worst outcomes, it was hypothesized that they would prefer negative information about the risk. In contrast, as risk takers focus more on the best outcomes, it was hypothesized that they would prefer positive information about the risk. In an information selection task, subjects could select newspaper headlines that indicated negative and positive information about a variety of risks. Contrary to the hypothesis, risk avoiders selected more positive information than risk takers. The results are discussed in relation to the influence of personality on risk taking. One tentative explanation is that differences in anxiety between risk avoiders and risk takers account for these results in that risk avoiders try to find reassurance by seeking positive information. Another is that the participants were seeking reassurance in a relatively involuntary confrontation with risks.
Patterns of Participation in Lifelong Learning: do families make a difference?

This article draws on the results of a large-scale study of lifetime participation in education and training. Focusing on the datasets relating to parents and children in the same family, it suggests that despite large changes in educational and training provision since 1945, individual participation trajectories remain very similar within families. The article also illustrates some of the varied ways in which family influences have been played out, and concludes that there is sufficient evidence here to indicate that explanatory models of lifelong participation in education and training need to take account of family effects on participation both immediately after completion of compulsory education and later in life too.
Bidirectional Heuristic Search Again

Extensive modifications of a previously published bidirectional heuristic search algorithm (see D. de Champeaux and L. Sint, IBID., vol.24, no.2, p.177-91, 1977) are presented in order to preserve the property that shortest solutions are found under appropriate circumstances. Theoretical results encompass the generalisation of the unidirectional optimality theorem. 5 references.
Containing the Narrative: Strategy and Tactics in Countering the Storyline of Global Jihad

ABSTRACT It has long been recognised that telling a better story is an important part of countering the appeal of Global Jihad. The ‘War on Terror’ will be difficult to win if the ‘War on Ideas’ is lost. The mushrooming literature on terrorism notwithstanding, the counter‐narrative issue has been the subject of surprisingly scant academic attention. Part of the problem is that this is an issue with relatively little empirical work. Still, significant inferences for a counter‐narrative strategy can be drawn from existing research. Here we argue that counter‐narratives must be tailored to different audiences and must be designed to attack particular mechanisms of radicalisation. In contrast to the top‐down approach that has thus far been advocated to confront the claims of Global Jihad ‘head on’, what is actually needed is a bottom‐up approach that reaches vulnerable individuals early on by means of a nuanced approach that is sensitive to the multiple logics of radicalisation.
Effectuation and Over–Trust: Response to Sarasvathy and Dew

In their response to our article, Sarasvathy and Dew (S&D) agree with us that effectuation supposes over–trust and yet claim that trust is irrelevant to an effectual entrepreneur. They further claim that our approach to entrepreneurship is trait based. We respond to these comments by pointing out the more subtle ways in which entrepreneurs deal with trust. In addition, while acknowledging the utility (and limitations) of a trait–based approach in advancing entrepreneurship theory, we refute their assertions that our paper is based on this approach. Finally, we address the “alternate” behavioral assumptions that S&D advance. Independent of the merit of these alternate assumptions, they are not contradicted in our article. We believe that these assumptions need to be developed further to contribute to a debate on their merits for advancing theory building in entrepreneurship.
Exploring the experiences of women who breastfeed long-term

This thesis reports the results of qualitative research using ethnographic methods to explore the experiences of women who have breastfed long-term. Data collection methods included participant observation in three breastfeeding support groups, face-to-face interviews and online asynchronous interviews using email. A clear contribution to new knowledge has been demonstrated in a number of areas. Knowledge has been furthered by presenting in-depth, rich findings about the experience of an under-researched group in a sensitive area. Placing these within the context of a cross-disciplinary perspective and by using insider research methods has strengthened their authenticity and credibility. The Social-Ecological Model is used both to structure a review of relevant literature and to underpin the thesis as a whole, demonstrating the complex social and cultural contexts within which women breastfeed longterm. Findings, from a group of strong-willed and determined women show that breastfeeding long-term is a rewarding but challenging commitment, often undertaken in the absence of societal support. Theoretical concepts of liminality, stigma and taboo are explored within the thesis and used as a lens through which to view the findings from the study. Previous work using these concepts to think about breastfeeding is drawn on and developed to further understanding of the experiences of long-term breastfeeding.
An ESL Index of Development

This paper is a report on the progress we are making in an attempt to establish a second language acquisition index of development. Such an index would be a developmental yardstick by which researchers could expediently and reliably gauge a learner's proficiency in a second language. Encouraged by the findings of an earlier pilot study, a more ambitious project involving the analysis of 212 compositions was undertaken. These compositions, written by university ESL students, were analyzed using several measures based on Kellogg Hunt's T-unit performance variable. Two measures applied in the analysis, the percentage of error-free T-units and the average length of error-free T-units, proved to be the best discriminators among the five levels of ESL proficiency represented in this population. In addition to a discussion of these results, included in this paper is a survey of L2 acquisition studies which have also employed T-unit length as a proficiency measure. Finally, an outline is offered of the studies currently being conducted in an attempt to further refine these measures.
State-of-the-art in privacy preserving data mining

We provide here an overview of the new and rapidly emerging research area of privacy preserving data mining. We also propose a classification hierarchy that sets the basis for analyzing the work which has been performed in this context. A detailed review of the work accomplished in this area is also given, along with the coordinates of each work to the classification hierarchy. A brief evaluation is performed, and some initial conclusions are made.
Wrapping of the Legs Reduces the Decrease in Blood Pressure Following Spinal Anesthesia: A Study in Men Undergoing Urologic Procedures

Background and Objectives. Hypotension after induction of spinal anesthesia remains a common and a potentially serious complication despite acute expansion of intravascular volume. The current study evaluated the role of leg wrapping as an adjunct to acute volume expansion. Methods. Twenty-four men undergoing elective urologic procedures were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the experimental group had their legs wrapped tightly while those in the control group had their legs wrapped loosely with elastic bandages immediately following spinal anesthesia. Significant hypotension was defined as a decrease in mean arterial pressure to less than 65 mm Hg. Results. Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower (P < .05) in the control group at 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12.5, and 15 minutes following spinal injection. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly lower (P < .05) in control subjects at 7, 8, 10, and 15 minutes following the block. None of the patients in either group became hypotensive following removal of the elasticized bandages. Conclusions. Tightly wrapping the legs with elastic bandages immediately after placing spinal anesthesia in mature men is a safe and efficient adjunct in preventing hypotension.
Cardiac state diagnosis using higher order spectra of heart rate variability

Heart rate variability (HRV) refers to the regulation of the sinoatrial node, the natural pacemaker of the heart, by the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system. Heart rate variability analysis is an important tool to observe the heart's ability to respond to normal regulatory impulses that affect its rhythm. A computer-based intelligent system for analysis of cardiac states is very useful in diagnostics and disease management. Like many bio-signals, HRV signals are nonlinear in nature. Higher order spectral analysis (HOS) is known to be a good tool for the analysis of nonlinear systems and provides good noise immunity. In this work, we studied the HOS of the HRV signals of normal heartbeat and seven classes of arrhythmia. We present some general characteristics for each of these classes of HRV signals in the bispectrum and bicoherence plots. We also extracted features from the HOS and performed an analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The results are very promising for cardiac arrhythmia classification with a number of features yielding a p-value <0.02 in the ANOVA test.
Nonverbal communication and business success

Attempts to link nonverbal communication and business success by advocating that salespeople in particular should be aware of nonverbal communication and what it means. Claims that verbal and nonverbal communication, taken together, provide more complete information and states that women are innately more knowledgeable than men when it comes to understanding nonverbal communication. Covers and explains metalanguage, paralanguage, body motion or kinesic behaviour, emblems, illustrators, affect displays, regulators, adaptors, physical characteristics, touching behaviour, proxemics, artifacts, and environmental factors. Outlines the opportunity for feedback, covering reinforcement behaviour, response‐matching, accommodation, and identifying indicators of deception. Asserts that understanding of nonverbal communication is vital in cross‐national negotiations and can lead to business success in selling or persuasive roles such as advertising.
Searching for the Next Generation of Teacher Educators

In light of a documented shortage of candidates for teacher education faculty positions, this article explores the academic labor market for teacher education faculty using job announcements from the Chronicle of Higher Education and a survey of search chairs to examine the qualifications sought. The authors conclude that the demand for teacher educators is high and the pool of qualified candidates in less than adequate in terms of number of applicants as well as quality. Ads at all types of institutions favored generalists with a terminal degree and K-12 teaching experience, with research universities predictably searching for research experience. The authors discuss implications of various elements of the search process for schools and colleges of education.
The role of cognitive development and linguistic input in language acquisition

Recent years have witnessed a cognitivist reaction against previous views of language learning. It had been held that mere exposure to language is a sufficient condition for language acquisition, whether by hypothesis testing (Katz 1966) or through passive learning (Braine 1971). Symptomatic of this approach were experiments investigating the learning of grammar in which subjects were taught artificial miniature languages without meaning, either through making guesses and receiving feedback from the experimenter (e.g. Hunt 1965) or passively, just by listening (Braine 1971). Although no such claim was explicitly made, language learning was actually treated as if it occurred independently of cognitive development. This one-sided approach has since been corrected by the cognitivists as represented in particular by the Geneva school (Sinclair 1971), who stress the importance of general cognitive development in language acquisition. Experiments with artificial languages bear the imprint of this approach and now involve semantic referents of the linguistic symbols (e.g. Moeser & Bregman 1972, 1973).
Influence of endogenous opioids on the response of selected hormones to exercise in humans.

To examine the influence of endogenous opioids on the hormonal response to isotonic exercise, eight males were studied 2 h after oral administration of placebo or 50 mg naltrexone, a long-lasting opioid antagonist. Venous blood samples were obtained before, during, and after 30 min of bicycle exercise at 70% VO2max. Naltrexone had no effect on resting cardiovascular, endocrine, or serum variables. During exercise epinephrine was higher [mean 433 +/- 100 (SE) pg/ml] at 30 min with naltrexone than during placebo (207 +/- 26 pg/ml, P less than 0.05). Plasma norepinephrine showed the same trend but the difference (2,012 +/- 340 pg/ml with naltrexone and 1,562 +/- 241 pg/ml with placebo) was not significant. Plasma glucose was higher at all times with naltrexone. However, the difference was significant only 10 min into recovery from exercise (104.7 +/- 4.7 vs. 94.5 +/- 2.8 mg/dl). Plasma growth hormone and cortisol increased during recovery and these elevations were significantly (P less than 0.05) augmented by naltrexone. Plasma vasopressin and prolactin increased with exercise as did heart rate, blood pressure, lactic acid, and several serum components; these increases were not affected by naltrexone. Psychological tension or anxiety was lower after exercise compared with before and this improved psychological state was not influenced by the naltrexone treatment. These data suggest that exercise-induced activation of the endogenous opioid system may serve to regulate the secretion of several important hormones (i.e., epinephrine) during and after exercise.
Toward Needs Profiles of Shelter-Based Abused Women

Shelter-based abused women report a variety of needs across different domains (e.g., housing, finances, relationships, health, safety, and empowerment). This diversity of needs underscores the necessity for different types of services. In the current study, the authors constructed profiles of Dutch shelter-based abused women (N = 218) based on their reported needs. Further, the authors compared their needs profiles with respect to sociodemographic and social–economic characteristics, abuse type, symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), general life satisfaction, social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and the attuning of the shelter services to the needs reported. Latent class analysis (LCA) identified four needs profiles: a High Needs class, a Practical Needs class, an Empowerment Needs class, and a Low Needs class. The classes differed with respect to migration, mental health, well-being variables, and the attuning of care needs. The results of this study underline the necessity for specifically tailored interventions for these four subgroups in women’s shelters.