Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The dynamics of evolutionary stasis

Abstract The fossil record displays remarkable stasis in many species over long time periods, yet studies of extant populations often reveal rapid phenotypic evolution and genetic differentiation among populations. Recent advances in our understanding of the fossil record and in population genetics and evolutionary ecology point to the complex geographic structure of species being fundamental to resolution of how taxa can commonly exhibit both short-term evolutionary dynamics and long-term stasis.
Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient-based bandwidth extension of narrowband speech

Abstract We present a novel MFCC-based scheme for the BandwidthExtension (BWE) of narrowband speech. BWE is based onthe assumption that narrowband speech (0.3–3.4 kHz) cor-relates closely with the highband signal (3.4–7 kHz), en-abling estimation of the highband frequency content given thenarrow band. While BWE schemes have traditionally usedLP-based parametrizations, our recent work has shown thatMFCC parametrization results in higher correlation betweenboth bands reaching twice that using LSFs. By employinghigh-resolution IDCT of highband MFCCs obtained from nar-rowband MFCCs by statistical estimation, we achieve high-quality highband power spectra from which the time-domainspeech signal can be reconstructed. Implementing this schemefor BWE translates the higher correlation advantage of MFCCsinto BWE performance superior to that obtained using LSFs,as shown by improvements in log-spectral distortion as well asItakura-based measures (the latter improving by up to 13%). Index Terms : Bandwidth extension, high-resolution IDCT,highband certainty, mutual information, source-ﬁlter model
Detecting event-related recurrences by symbolic analysis: applications to human language processing

Quasi-stationarity is ubiquitous in complex dynamical systems. In brain dynamics, there is ample evidence that event-related potentials (ERPs) reflect such quasi-stationary states. In order to detect them from time series, several segmentation techniques have been proposed. In this study, we elaborate a recent approach for detecting quasi-stationary states as recurrence domains by means of recurrence analysis and subsequent symbolization methods. We address two pertinent problems of contemporary recurrence analysis: optimizing the size of recurrence neighbourhoods and identifying symbols from different realizations for sequence alignment. As possible solutions for these problems, we suggest a maximum entropy criterion and a Hausdorff clustering algorithm. The resulting recurrence domains for single-subject ERPs are obtained as partition cells reflecting quasi-stationary brain states.
Theta activity in neurons and networks of the amygdala related to long‐term fear memory

With a combined in vitro/in vivo electrophysiological and behavioral approach, we have correlated conditioned fear behavior to electrophysiological activities in the lateral amygdala and the hippocampal formation in rodents. Data indicate that projection neurons in the lateral amygdala display a continuum of spike patterns including accommodating patterns, regular firing, and oscillatory activity at theta frequencies. The firing pattern is controlled to an important part by the intracellular cAMP system, in that an increase in intracellular cAMP concentration facilitates regular firing and theta oscillations. Oscillatory electrical activity, in turn, provides an important cellular element of synchronized theta activity at 4–8 Hz (indicating atropine‐sensitive type 2 theta) occurring in amygdalo‐hippocampal pathways during conditioned fear responses. This type of rhythmic network activity is associated with the retrieval of long‐term fear memory following cued and contextual fear conditioning, but is not related to the expression of fear behavior per se or to short‐term fear memory. Synchronization at theta frequencies is suggested to represent activity in amygdalo‐hippocampal pathways associated with system consolidation of fear memory, which is supported by the cholinergic system. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Effect of Age on the Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential and Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Tonic Electromyogram Level

Objective:Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) are short-latency electromyogram (EMG) evoked by high-level acoustic stimuli recorded from the activated sternocleidomastoid muscle and used to evaluate otolith organ function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aging on the cVEMP and on the sternocleidomastoid muscle EMG level. Design:A cross-sectional observational study was used to investigate differences in cVEMP and sternocleidomastoid muscle EMG level in a group of 24 younger and 24 older individuals. cVEMPs were recorded during activation of the sternocleidomastoid muscle at target EMG levels ranging from 0 to 90 &mgr;V and during maximum voluntary contraction of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Results:The sternocleidomastoid muscle EMG amplitude increased as a function of target EMG level for both age groups; however, the mean EMG amplitude was greater for the younger group than the older group, and the variability of EMG amplitude was greater for the older group. The EMG amplitude at maximum voluntary contraction ranged from 88 to 279 &mgr;V for the younger subjects and from 32 to 230 &mgr;V for the older subjects, and the mean EMG amplitude at maximum voluntary contraction was significantly greater for the younger group than the older group. The cVEMP amplitude increased as a function of EMG target level for each age group. Although cVEMP amplitude increased as a function of target EMG level for both groups, the older group exhibited smaller cVEMP amplitudes, overall, compared with the younger group. To separate the influence of EMG level from aging on cVEMP amplitude, only the responses obtained at the 30 &mgr;V target EMG level were considered for the statistical analysis because there was no significant difference in EMG level between groups at the 30 &mgr;V target level. The mean cVEMP amplitudes at the 30 &mgr;V target level were 101 and 51 &mgr;V for the younger and older groups, respectively, and a statistical analysis indicated that cVEMP amplitude for the younger group was significantly greater than the older group. Conclusions:The findings suggest that the decrement in cVEMP amplitude is related to both age-related changes in the vestibular system and age-related changes in the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
Electrochemical DNA Sensors for Detection of DNA Damage

Electrochemical devices have received particular attention due to their rapid detection and great sensitivity for the evaluation of DNA-hazard compounds interaction mechanisms. Several types of bioanalytical method use nucleic acids probes to detect DNA damage. This article reviews current directions and strategies in the development and applications of electrochemical DNA sensors for the detection of DNA damage.
Dynamics of On-Off Neural Firing Patterns and Stochastic Effects near a Sub-Critical Hopf Bifurcation

On-off firing patterns, in which repetition of clusters of spikes are interspersed with epochs of subthreshold oscillations or quiescent states, have been observed in various nervous systems, but the dynamics of this event remain unclear. Here, we report that on-off firing patterns observed in three experimental models (rat sciatic nerve subject to chronic constrictive injury, rat CA1 pyramidal neuron, and rabbit blood pressure baroreceptor) appeared as an alternation between quiescent state and burst containing multiple period-1 spikes over time. Burst and quiescent state had various durations. The interspike interval (ISI) series of on-off firing pattern was suggested as stochastic using nonlinear prediction and autocorrelation function. The resting state was changed to a period-1 firing pattern via on-off firing pattern as the potassium concentration, static pressure, or depolarization current was changed. During the changing process, the burst duration of on-off firing pattern increased and the duration of the quiescent state decreased. Bistability of a limit cycle corresponding to period-1 firing and a focus corresponding to resting state was simulated near a sub-critical Hopf bifurcation point in the deterministic Morris—Lecar (ML) model. In the stochastic ML model, noise-induced transitions between the coexisting regimes formed an on-off firing pattern, which closely matched that observed in the experiment. In addition, noise-induced exponential change in the escape rate from the focus, and noise-induced coherence resonance were identified. The distinctions between the on-off firing pattern and stochastic firing patterns generated near three other types of bifurcations of equilibrium points, as well as other viewpoints on the dynamics of on-off firing pattern, are discussed. The results not only identify the on-off firing pattern as noise-induced stochastic firing pattern near a sub-critical Hopf bifurcation point, but also offer practical indicators to discriminate bifurcation types and neural excitability types.
Redistribution in a Model of Voting and Campaign Contributions

I propose a framework in which individual political participation can take two distinct forms, voting and contributing resources to campaigns, in a context in which the negligible impact of any individual's actions on aggregate outcomes is fully recognized by all agents. I then use the framework to reassess the relationship between inequality and redistribution. The model shows that, even though each contribution has a negligible impact, the interaction between contributions and voting leads to an endogenous wealth bias in the political process, as the advantage of wealthier individuals in providing contributions encourages parties to move their platforms closer to those individuals' preferred positions. This mechanism can in turn explain why the standard median-voter-based prediction, that more inequality produces more redistribution, has received little empirical support: higher inequality endogenously shifts the political system further in favor of the rich. In equilibrium, there is a non-monotonic relationship in which redistribution is initially increasing but eventually decreasing in inequality. I present some empirical evidence supporting the framework, using data on campaign contributions from US presidential elections. In particular, inequality increases contributions to Republicans, but not to Democrats, as predicted by the model.
A Theorem of Sylvester and Schur

The theorem in question asserts that, if n > k, then, in the set of integers n, n+1, n-J-2,. , n +k-1, there is a number containing a prime divisor greater than k. If n = k+ 1, we obtain the well-known theorem of Chebyshev. The theorem was first asserted and proved by Sylvester t about forty-five years ago. Recently Schurt has rediscovered and again proved the theorem. The following proof is shorter and more elementary than the previous ones. We shall not use Chebyshev*s results, so that we shall also prove Chebyshev's theorem § .
Perceptual-cognitive training improves biological motion perception: evidence for transferability of training in healthy aging

In our everyday life, processing complex dynamic scenes such as crowds and traffic is of critical importance. Further, it is well documented that there is an age-related decline in complex perceptual-cognitive processing, which can be reversed with training. It has been suggested that a specific dynamic scene perceptual-cognitive training procedure [the three-dimensional multiple object tracking speed task (3D-MOT)] helps observers manage socially relevant stimuli such as human body movements as seen in crowds or during sports activities. Here, we test this assertion by assessing whether training older observers on 3D-MOT can improve biological motion (BM) perception. Research has shown that healthy older adults require more distance in virtual space between themselves and a point-light walker to integrate BM information than younger adults. Their performances decreased markedly at a distance as far away as 4 m (critical for collision avoidance), whereas performance in young adults remained constant up to 1 m. We trained observers between 64 and 73 years of age on the 3D-MOT speed task and looked at BM perception at 4 and 16 m distances in virtual space. We also had a control group trained on a visual task and a third group without training. The perceptual-cognitive training eliminated the difference in BM perception between 4 and 16 m after only a few weeks, whereas the two control groups showed no transfer. This demonstrates that 3D-MOT training could be a good generic process for helping certain observers deal with socially relevant dynamic scenes.
Massive and Red Objects Predicted by a Semianalytical Model of Galaxy Formation

We study whether hierarchical galaxy formation in a concordance ΛCDM universe can produce enough massive and red galaxies compared to the observations. We implement a semianalytical model in which the central black holes gain their mass during major mergers of galaxies and the energy feedback from active galaxy nuclei (AGNs) suppresses the gas cooling in their host halos. The energy feedback from AGNs acts effectively only in massive galaxies when supermassive black holes have been formed in the central bulges. Compared with previous models without black hole formation, our model predicts more massive and luminous galaxies at high redshift, agreeing with the observations of K20 up to z ~ 3. Also, the predicted stellar mass density from massive galaxies agrees with the observations of GDDS. Because of the energy feedback from AGNs, the formation of new stars is stopped in massive galaxies with the termination of gas cooling and these galaxies soon become red with color R - K > 5 (Vega magnitude), comparable to the extremely red objects (EROs) observed at redshift z ~ 1-2. Still, the predicted number density of very EROs is lower than observed at z ~ 2, and it may be related to inadequate descriptions of dust extinction, star formation history and AGN feedback in those luminous galaxies.
EFFECTS OF FOLIAR APPLICATIONS OF NITROGEN, BORON AND ZINC ON FRUIT SETTING AND QUALITY OF ALMONDS

Fruit drop in orchards of almonds (prunus amygdalus L.) is one of the major problems encountered by producers of fruit in Iran. Nutritional elements, particularly nitrogen and boron, have an effective role in this issue. To study the effect of these elements, a factorial experiment was done based on randomized complete blocks with 18 applications and three repetitions – altogether, 108 8-year-old Azar trees were tested in the county of Shabestar during 2002 and 2003. The first factor was nitrogen supplied from a urea source in two levels (zero and 5000 ppm), the second factor was boron from a boric acid source in three levels (zero, 2000 ppm and 4000 ppm), and the third factor was zinc supplied by a source of zinc sulfate in three levels (zero, 2000 ppm and 4000 ppm). The highest percentage of fruit setting (24 percent) was measured at the third levels of boron and zinc. The highest final fruit setting percentage (15 percent) was obtained for secondand third-level boric acid. Also, the highest single kernel weight (2.4 grams) was measured for combined foliar application with 5000-ppm urea and 4000-ppm boric acid. The highest kernel percentage (14 percent), on the other hand, was achieved with third-level boron. The highest fruit length (4.4 centimeter) was also obtained for third-level boron. Furthermore, secondand third-levels of boric acid led to the highest fruit width (3.1 centimeter). The highest oil percentage measured (53 percent) was observed for third-level zinc without applying nitrogen. The highest hard shell percentage (22 percent) was obtained when combined foliar applications of secondlevel nitrogen and secondand third-level boric acid were used. On the other hand, the highest protein percentage (23 percent) was measured for the combined foliar application of urea and third-level boric acid. No significant simple or interactive year by location effects were obtained for any of the fertilization applications. [Mohammad Taher Nezami. The Effects of Foliar Applications of Nitrogen, Boron, and Zinc on the Fruit Setting and the Quality of Almonds. Life Sci J:9(4):1979-1989]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com. 297
Gate level fault diagnosis in scan-based BIST

A gate level, automated fault diagnosis scheme is proposed for scan-based BIST designs. The proposed scheme utilizes both fault capturing scan chain information and failing test vector information and enables location identification of single stuck-at faults to a neighborhood of a few gates through set operations on small pass/fail dictionaries. The proposed scheme is applicable to multiple stuck-at faults and bridging faults as well. The practical applicability of the suggested ideas is confirmed through numerous experimental runs on all three fault models.
Delivering PSP course in tertiary education environment: Challenges and solution

Nowadays, many universities include Personal Software Process (PSP) into their software engineering curriculum. However, delivering PSP course in tertiary education environment always faces at least two challenges. Firstly, in a typical PSP course in education environment, one teacher may teach much more students than a typical PSP class in industry, hence it is extremely difficult to provide evaluation of students' assignments in time. Secondly, participation of students in university often has significantly different characteristics compared to those trainees who had industry experiences. Based on education practice in Software Institute of Nanjing University, this paper proposed an approach to teaching PSP in tertiary education environment with higher efficiency and effectiveness. In this approach, a complete PSP course is delivered and cooperative learning (in pair) is encouraged. Besides, an evaluation team is established to provide timely evaluation on students' submissions and to help students correct their development behaviors. To validate this teaching approach, we conducted an experiment which involved all the freshman students enrolled in software engineering. We compared some process data collected from the submissions of both groups (individual and pair) of students. The results of the experiment show that the load of students' submissions reduced by half while students' interest of learning increased.
The Genetic Structure of Wild Orobanche cumana Wallr. (Orobanchaceae) Populations in Eastern Bulgaria Reflects Introgressions from Weedy Populations

Orobanche cumana is a holoparasitic plant naturally distributed from central Asia to south-eastern Europe, where it parasitizes wild Asteraceae species. It is also an important parasitic weed of sunflower crops. The objective of this research was to investigate genetic diversity, population structure, and virulence on sunflower of O. cumana populations parasitizing wild plants in eastern Bulgaria. Fresh tissue of eight O. cumana populations and mature seeds of four of them were collected in situ on wild hosts. Genetic diversity and population structure were studied with SSR markers and compared to weedy populations. Two main gene pools were identified in Bulgarian populations, with most of the populations having intermediate characteristics. Cross-inoculation experiments revealed that O. cumana populations collected on wild species possessed similar ability to parasitize sunflower to those collected on sunflower. The results were explained on the basis of an effective genetic exchange between populations parasitizing sunflower crops and those parasitizing wild species. The occurrence of bidirectional gene flow may have an impact on wild populations, as new physiological races continuously emerge in weedy populations. Also, genetic variability of wild populations may favour the ability of weedy populations to overcome sunflower resistance mechanisms.
Correlation of Shape and Size of Sella Turcica With the Type of Facial Skeletal Class in an Iranian Group

Background: In orthodontic science, diagnosis of facial skeletal type (class I, II, and III) is essential to make the correct treatment plan that is usually expensive and complicated. Sometimes results from analysis of lateral cephalometry radiographies are not enough to discriminate facial skeletal types. In this situation, knowledge about the relationship between the shape and size of the sella turcica and the type of facial skeletal class can help to make a more definitive decision for treatment plan. Objectives: The present study was designed to investigate this relationship in patients referred to a dental school in Iran. Patients and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, cephalometric radiographies of 90 candidates for orthodontic treatment (44 females and 46 males) with an age range of 14 - 26 years and equal distribution in terms of class I, class II, and class III facial skeletal classification were selected. The shape, length, diameter, and depth of the sella turcica were determined on the radiographs. Linear dimensions were assessed by one-way analysis of variance while the correlation between the dimensions and age was investigated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Sella turcica had normal morphology in 24.4% of the patients while irregularity (notching) in the posterior part of the dorsum sella was observed in 15.6%, double contour of sellar floor in 5.6%, sella turcica bridge in 23.3%, oblique anterior wall in 20% and pyramidal shape of the dorsum sella in 11.1% of the subjects. In total, 46.7% of class I patients had a normal shape of sella turcica, 23.3% of class II patients had an oblique anterior wall and a pyramidal shape of the dorsum sella, and 43.3% of class III individuals had sella turcica bridge (the greatest values). Sella turcica length was significantly greater in class III patients compared to class II and class I (P < 0.0001). However, depth and diameter of sella turcica were similar in class I, class II, and class III patients. Furthermore, age was significantly correlated to the diameter of sella turcica as greater diameters were observed in older ages (P < 0.04). Conclusion: A significant relationship exists between the type of facial skeletal classification and the shape of the sella turcica; as in class III patients, sella turcica bridge was reported with a higher frequency. Also, sella turcica had a significantly higher length in these patients than in those with class I and class II facial skeletal types.
Face recognition based on stretchy regression

In this paper, an asymmetric kernel is proposed for extracting sparse features from two-dimensional visual face images for identity recognition. Essentially, the kernel consists of an inner product of two vectors where one of them has been raised to power terms element-wise. The impact of such a power term is suppression of less influential features where only relevant ones are used for estimation. Our experiments on public data sets show encouraging results regarding the potential of such an asymmetric kernel.