Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neighbours' Breeding Success and the Sex Ratio of Their Offspring Affect the Mate Preferences of Female Zebra Finches

Several hypotheses on divorce predict that monogamous pairs should split up more frequently after a breeding failure. Yet, deviations from the expected pattern “success-stay, failure-leave” have been reported in several species. One possible explanation for these deviations would be that individuals do not use only their own breeding performance (i.e., private information) but also that of others (i.e., public information) to decide whether or not to divorce. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the relative importance of private and public information for mate choice decisions in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). We manipulated the reproductive performance of breeding pairs and measured females' preferences for their mate and the neighbouring male first following pair formation and then seven weeks later when all females had laid eggs and the young were independent. Although all females reduced their preference for their mate after a breeding failure, the decrease was significant only when the neighbouring pair had reproduced successfully. Furthermore, there was no evidence that females biased the sex ratio of their offspring according to their mate's attractiveness. On the other hand, after reproduction, both successful and unsuccessful females increased their preferences for males who had produced a larger proportion of sons. Despite the fact that other mechanisms may have also contributed to our findings, we suggest that females changed their mate preferences based on the proportion of sons produced by successful males, because offspring sex ratio reflects the male's testosterone level at the moment of fertilization and hence is an indicator of his immune condition.
Excess mortality in a population with diabetes and the impact of material deprivation: longitudinal, population based study

Abstract Objectives: To establish the age and sex specific mortality for people with diabetes in comparison with local and national background populations; to investigate the relationship between mortality and material deprivation in an unselected population with diabetes. Design: Longitudinal study, using a population based district diabetes register. Setting: South Tees, United Kingdom. Participants: All people known to have diabetes living in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland local authorities on 1 January 1994. Main outcome measure: Death, from any cause, between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1999. Results: Over the six years of the study 1205 (24.9%) of 4842 participants died. All cause standardised mortality ratios for type 1 diabetes were 641 (95% confidence interval 406 to 962) in women and 294 (200 to 418) in men, and those for type 2 diabetes were 160 (147 to 174) in women and 141 (130 to 152) in men. Cause specific standardised mortality ratios were increased for ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and renal disease; no reductions in mortality from other causes were seen. The risk of premature death increased significantly with increasing material deprivation (P<0.001). Conclusions: Diabetes is associated with excess mortality, even in an area with high background death rates from cardiovascular disease. This excess mortality is evident in all age groups, most pronounced in young people with type 1 diabetes, and exacerbated by material deprivation. Aggressive approaches to the management of cardiovascular risk factors could reduce the excess mortality in people with diabetes. What is already known on this topic Mortality, mainly from cardiovascular disease, is increased in people with diabetes, but this excess varies considerably by country and ethnic group Previous British studies have reported no excess mortality in old age, a reduction in deaths from non-cardiovascular causes, and that mortality may be adversely affected by deprivation What this study adds Mortality is increased, across all ages, in an unselected population with diabetes compared with the local population without diabetes, which itself has high mortality Most of the excess is from cardiovascular causes, but there are no reductions in other causes of death Mortality among people with diabetes is increased even in the most affluent group, and this excess increases with worsening material deprivation
A Lossy Graph Model for Delay Reduction in Generalized Instantly Decodable Network Coding

The problem of minimizing the decoding delay in Generalized instantly decodable network coding (G-IDNC) for both perfect and lossy feedback scenarios is formulated as a maximum weight clique problem over the G-IDNC graph in . In this letter, we introduce a new lossy G-IDNC graph (LG-IDNC) model to further minimize the decoding delay in lossy feedback scenarios. Whereas the G-IDNC graph represents only doubtless combinable packets, the LG-IDNC graph represents also uncertain packet combinations, arising from lossy feedback events, when the expected decoding delay of XORing them among themselves or with other certain packets is lower than that expected when sending these packets separately. We compare the decoding delay performance of LG-IDNC and G-IDNC graphs through extensive simulations. Numerical results show that our new LG-IDNC graph formulation outperforms the G-IDNC graph formulation in all lossy feedback situations and achieves significant improvement in the decoding delay especially when the feedback erasure probability is higher than the packet erasure probability.
Quality of randomized clinical trials in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES We evaluated the quality of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of therapy for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) using an individual component approach and assessed temporal changes. METHODS A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify all RCTs involving exclusively JIA patients. Two investigators independently assessed the identified articles for six quality indicators: generation of allocation sequence, allocation concealment, masking, intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, dropout rates and clearly stated primary outcome. RESULTS Fifty-two RCTs involving JIA patients were assessed. Generation of allocation sequence was unclear in 79% of the studies. Reporting of allocation concealment was adequate in only one-third of the studies. Masking was adequate in 73%, inadequate in 19% and unclear in 8% of the reports. ITT analysis was employed in 37% of the reports. Per-protocol analysis was used in 40% and in 23% the method was unclear. Most of the reports (67%) had dropout rates < or = 20%. About half of the reports (n = 25) failed to show a significant effect of the experimental treatment. No significant associations were found between the study results and quality indicators. With the exception of adequate masking and dropout rate, all quality indicators showed a trend of improvement over the decades. CONCLUSIONS The quality of RCTs in JIA based on the selected indicators was poor. Although there were some positive changes over time, the reporting and methodological quality of trials should be improved. New, more powerful and acceptable RCT designs should be developed in this patient population.
OFDM-based nonlinear fixed-gain amplify-and-forward relay systems: SER optimization and experimental testing

In this paper, we analyze the symbol-error rate of a two-hop fixed-gain amplify-and-forward OFDM relay network when nonlinear distortion, as a consequence of relay amplifier saturation, is considered at the relay. We begin by constructing a theoretical model of the system. Due to the Gaussianity of OFDM waveforms, we are able to employ Bussgang's theorem in our model, which enables the calculation of a closed form expression for the SER. From our theoretical analysis, we can calculate the optimal relay gain that should be applied to minimize the symbol error rate. We demonstrate the performance gain achieved through the application of the optimal relay gains through both numerical simulations and real-world experimentation using a USRP relay network testbed.
Comparing Critical Realism and the Situated Knowledges Approach in Research on (In)equity in Health Care: An Exploration of their Implications

This article compares knowledge claims within critical realism and the situated knowledges approach, and will discuss the implications of adopting these two perspectives in research on inequity in health care. The concept of medical gender bias, as well as two empirical studies on inequity among patients waiting for cataract extractions in Sweden, will be used in order to illustrate the different implications of adopting a critical realist or a situated knowledges perspective. The article suggests that the latter of these two perspectives is compatible with critical realist claims about epistemic relativism, but that it is much harder to combine with the concept of judgmental rationality, at least in so far as this rationality is not treated as being situated itself. The article will also claim that critical realism and the situated knowledges approach emphasize different implications concerning responsibility during processes of knowledge production. Finally, it will suggest that the adoption of a critical realist-based intersectional ontology, in combination with a greater emphasis on the fact that researchers are always situated in various ways, is a fruitful starting point for grounding studies on inequity in health care.
The evolution of submillimetre galaxies : two populations and a redshift cut-off

We explore the epoch dependence of number density and star formation rate for submillimetre galaxies (SMGs) found at 850 μm. The study uses a sample of 38 SMG in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS)-N field, for which cross-waveband identifications have been obtained for 35/38 members together with redshift measurements or estimates. A maximum-likelihood analysis is employed, along with the 'single-source-survey' technique. We find a diminution in both space-density and star formation rate at z > 3, closely mimicking the redshift cut-offs found for quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) selected in different wavebands. The diminution in redshift is particularly marked at a significance level too small to measure. The data further suggest, at a significance level of about 0.001, that two separately evolving populations may be present, with distinct luminosity functions. These results parallel the different evolutionary behaviours of Luminous Infrared Galaxies and Ultra-Luminous Infrared Galaxies, and represent another manifestation of 'cosmic down-sizing', suggesting that differential evolution extends to the most extreme star-forming galaxies.
PIN1 promoter polymorphism (−842 G>C) contributes to a decreased risk of cancer: Evidence from meta-analysis

Peptidyl-prolylcis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (encoded by the PIN1 gene) regulates the conformation of proline-directed phosphorylation sites and is important in the etiology of cancer. Since the identification of a functional polymorphism of PIN1, (−842 G>C; rs2233678), in the PIN1 promoter region, numerous studies have evaluated the association between the PIN1 promoter polymorphism (−842 G>C) and cancer risk. However, the available results are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation, a meta-analysis of seven previous case-control studies was performed, which included 4,524 cases exhibiting different tumor types and 4,561 control subjects. The published literature was retrieved from PubMed and EMBASE. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of the association. Overall, the results of the present study demonstrated that individuals carrying the variant C allele (G/C and C/C) were associated with a significantly decreased cancer risk (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62–0.90 for GC vs. GG; OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.64–0.88 for GC/CC vs. GG). In further stratified analyses, a decreased cancer risk was observed in the following subgroups: Breast and lung cancer patients, Asian individuals, and in studies with a sample size >500. The results indicated that the PIN1 promoter polymorphism (−842 G>C; rs2233678) contributes to a decreased risk of cancer via attenuating the transcriptional activity.
Gender Fairness in Self-Efficacy? A Rasch-Based Validity Study of the General Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (GASE)

ABSTRACT Studies have reported gender differences in academic self-efficacy. However, how and if academic self-efficacy questionnaires are gender-biased has not been psychometrically investigated. The psychometric properties of a general version of The Physics Self-Efficacy Questionnaire – the General Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (GASE) – were analyzed using Rasch measurement models, with data from 1018 Danish university students (psychology and technical), focusing on gender invariance and the sufficiency of the score. The short 4-item GASE scale was found to be essentially objective and construct valid and satisfactorily reliable, though differential item functioning was found relative to gender and academic discipline, and can be used to assess students’ general academic self-efficacy. Research on gender and self-efficacy needs to take gender into account and equate scores appropriately for unbiased analysis within academic disciplines.
Physical Activity and Ethnicity as Determinants for Depressive Symptoms

Aims: Epidemiological research has shown that regular physical activity can help in the prevention of depression. Recent research has been unclear about the racial components of depression and knowing which population is at the greatest risk will help clinics, nurses, and teachers seek and promote interventions with the population. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship of physical activity, gender, and ethnicity on depressive symptoms. Study Design: Survey sample. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Health and Physical Education, Eastern New Mexico University, between March 2016 and April 2016. Methodology: Eighty-seven individuals completed a non-experimental research study and data was collected on demographics, the Center for Epidemiological Studies on Depression (CES-D), and the Johnson Space Center/NASA Physical Activity Rating Scale (PAR). Results: Regression analysis showed that physical activity and non-minority status significantly influenced depressive symptoms [CES-D = 17.702 2.242(PAR) – 5.487(Caucasian)]. Conclusion: Results of the analysis revealed that being a Caucasian decrease the chance of developing depressions, and a lack of habitual physical activity can increase an individual’s likelyhood of developing depressive symptoms. Access to mental health care must be improved for minorities to help improve these rates.
Critical thinking and learner diversity in the Australian Curriculum: implications and epistemological tensions

Abstract The new Australian Curriculum (AC) aims to prepare school leavers for the twenty-first century and the development of critical and creative thinking in school leavers is seen as a key dimension in preparing “students to live and work in the twenty-first century” and “fundamental to effective learning”. More broadly, the AC is also envisioned as a curriculum that is inclusive and one which embraces learner diversity, especially in the context of increasing student diversity. However, an examination of the understandings of critical thinking in the AC suggests that they are underpinned by Western traditions and epistemologies. While such Western notions of critical thinking are common and prevalent in numerous global educational reforms, what would require further examination is how such Western understandings of critical thinking and their undergirding epistemologies might engender tensions in the Australian context of learners of increasing diverse epistemologies and cultures which evidently includes the non-Western. This paper explores these implications and tensions.
Population-based proband-oriented pedigree information system: application to hypertension with population-based screening data (KCIS No. 25)

Objective To develop a population-based proband-oriented pedigree information system that can be easily applied to various diseases in genetic epidemiological studies, making allowance for the capture of theoretical family relationships. Designs and Measurements A population-based proband-oriented pedigree information system with ties of consanguinity based on both population-based household registry data and Keelung Community Integrated Screening data was proposed to build a comprehensive extended family pedigree structure to accommodate a series of genetic studies on different diseases. We also developed an algorithm to efficiently assess how well theoretical family relationships affecting the occurrence of diseases across three generations with respect to the relative relationship score, a quantitative indicator of genetic influence, were captured. Results We applied this population-based proband-oriented pedigree information system to estimate the rate of hypertension with various relative relationships given the selection of probands. The degree of capturing complete familial relationships was assessed for three generations. The risk for early onset of hypertension was proportional to the proband-oriented relative relationship score with 2% increased risk and 1% correction for incomplete capture. Conclusions The population-based proband-oriented pedigree information system is powerful and can support various genetic descriptive and analytic epidemiological studies.
Promoting Critical Thinking Skills Through Problem-Based Learning

The objectives of this study were to compare the critical thinking skills before and after the implementation of the problem-based learning (PBL) approach among Chinese baccalaureate nursing students and to describe students’ comments on PBL. A quasi-experimental pre-test/ post-test design was conducted. Through purposive sampling, twenty-three second-year baccalaureate nursing students were invited to participate in this study. PBL was used as the intervention for a one-semester course in nursing. The California Critical Thinking Skills Test Form A (CCTST-A Chinese Taiwan Version) was used to measure the critical thinking skills and was given to students at both pre-test (at the beginning of the course) and post-test (at the end of the course). A paired t-test indicated that PBL students’ critical thinking skills significantly increased over one semester (P< .05). In addition, most of the students suggested that PBL encouraged them to share their opinions with others, analyze situations in different ways and think of more possibilities for solving problems. However, a few students felt very stressed and overloaded during the PBL process. In conclusion, PBL promoted nursing students’ critical thinking skills.
Cloning and Characterization of a Specific Receptor for the Novel CC Chemokine MIP-3α from Lung Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells are potent antigen-presenting cells involved in the initiation of immune responses. The trafficking of these cells to tissues and lymph nodes is mediated by members of the chemokine family. Recently, a novel CC chemokine known as MIP-3α or liver and activation-regulated chemokine has been identified from the EMBL/GenBank/DDBJ expressed sequence tag database. In the present study, we have shown that the messenger RNA for MIP-3α is expressed predominantly in inflamed and mucosal tissues. MIP-3α produced either synthetically or by human embryonic kidney 293 cells is chemotactic for CD34+-derived dendritic cells and T cells, but is inactive on monocytes and neutrophils. MIP-3α was unable to displace the binding of specific CC or CXC chemokines to stable cell lines expressing their respective high affinity receptors, namely CCR1–5 and CXCR1 and CXCR2, suggesting that MIP-3α acts through a novel CC chemokine receptor. Therefore, we used degenerate oligonucleotide-based reverse transcriptase PCR to identify candidate MIP-3α receptors in lung dendritic cells. Our results show that the orphan receptor known as GCY-4, CKRL-3, or STRL-22 is a specific receptor for MIP-3α, and that its activation leads to pertussis toxin–sensitive and phospholipase C–dependent intracellular Ca2+ mobilization when it is expressed in HEK 293 cells.
An Interactive Application for Modeling Two-Dimensional IFS Fractals

The paper presents a novel interactive application created in the C# programming language under the Microsoft Visual Studio environment, called Fractal Engine. The application enables generating and interactive modeling of two dimensional IFS fractals in real time, modifying different parameters in the IFS code, making animations by gradually changing one or more coefficients in the IFS code, coloring fractals, saving files in different image formats for later post-processing or creating more complex images. The modeling is enabled by assigning barycentric coordinates of the points that form the fractal image, with respect to three non-collinear points defined by the user. The application allows finding vertexes of a kind of triangle with minimal area that contains the fractal, which has particular advantages in modeling.
IIIT-H System Submission for FIRE2014 Shared Task on Transliterated Search

This paper describes our submission for FIRE 2014 Shared Task on Transliterated Search. The shared task features two sub-tasks: Query word labeling and Mixed-script Ad hoc retrieval for Hindi Song Lyrics. Query Word Labeling is on token level language identification of query words in code-mixed queries and back-transliteration of identified Indian language words into their native scripts. We have developed letter based language models for the token level language identification of query words and a structured perceptron model for back-transliteration of Indic words. The second subtask for Mixed-script Ad hoc retrieval for Hindi Song Lyrics is to retrieve a ranked list of songs from a corpus of Hindi song lyrics given an input query in Devanagari or transliterated Roman script. We have used edit distance based query expansion and language modeling followed by relevance based reranking for the retrieval of relevant Hindi Song lyrics for a given query.
Alignment of the Garbage Can and NK Fitness Models: A Virtual Experiment in the Simulation of Organizations

Simulation models are finding increasing application and acceptance in the field of organizational theory (Carley and Hill, 2001; Cohen, 1998; Liebrand, 1998). While some work in aligning (or “docking”) different models has been done in recent years (e.g., Axtell, 1996), increased attention to this dimension of model validation stands to increase validity of simulation modeling still further (Burton, 1998). In the virtual experiment summarized in this paper, we demonstrate the technique of docking by developing and comparing results of the canonical Garbage Can model (Cohen, March and Olsen, 1972) with those of the more recent “NK Model” (Kauffman and Levin, 1987; Kauffman et. al, 1988; Kauffman, 1993; Levinthal, 1997). We define a specific domain of comparison of organizational decision-making, formulate propositions with respect to the models’ anticipated results, compare the results empirically, and show that while the models’ behavior is relatively similar their level of mathematical comparability and theoretical integrity is limited.