Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phenology and phenotypic natural selection on the flowering time of a deceit-pollinated tropical orchid, Myrmecophila christinae.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Flowering phenology is described and the effect of flowering time on pollination success is evaluated in the deceit-pollinated tropical orchid, Myrmecophila christinae. It was expected that, due to this species' deceit pollination strategy and low observed pollinator visit rate, there would be a higher probability of natural selection events favouring individuals flowering away from the population flowering peak. METHODS The study covers two consecutive years and four populations of M. christinae located along the north coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. For phenological and pollination success data, a total of 110 individuals were monitored weekly in 1998, and 83 individuals in 1999, during all the flowering and fruiting season. KEY RESULTS The results showed significant differences in the probability of donating and receiving pollen throughout the flowering season. The probability of receiving or donating pollen increased the further an individual flowering was from the flowering peak. Regression analysis showed directional and disruptive phenotypic natural selection gradients, suggesting the presence of selection events unfavourable to flowering during flowering peak, for both male success (pollen removal) and female success (fruit production). However, the intensity and significance of the natural selection events varied between populations from year to year. The variation between seasons and populations was apparently due to variations in the density of reproductive individuals in each population and each season. CONCLUSIONS As in other deceit-pollinated orchids, natural selection in M. christinae favours individuals flowering early or late in relation to population peak flowering. However, results also suggested a fluctuating regime of selective events act on flowering time of M. christinae.
The dissipative merger progenitors of elliptical galaxies

We address the deviations of the scaling relations of elliptical galaxies from the expectations based on the virial theorem and homology, including the 'tilt' of the 'Fundamental Plane' and the steep decline of density with mass. We show that such tilts result from dissipative major mergers once the gas fraction available for dissipation declines with progenitor mass, and derive the scaling properties of the progenitors. We use hydrodynamical simulations to quantify the effects of major mergers with different gas fractions on the structural properties of galaxies. The tilts are driven by the differential shrinkage of the effective stellar radius as a function of dissipation in the merger, while the correlated smaller enhancements in internal velocity and stellar mass keep the slope of the velocity-stellar mass relation near V ∝ M 1/4 . The progenitors match a straightforward model of disc formation in A cold dark matter haloes. Their total-to-stellar mass ratio within the effective radius varies as M/M ∝ M -(0.2-0.3) , consistent with the effect of supernova feedback. They are nearly homologous in the sense that the dark matter fractions within the effective and virial radii scale with mass in a similar way, with only a weak decline of density with mass. The progenitor radius is roughly R ∝ M 0.3 , compatible with today's intermediate late-type galaxies. This may indicate that the latest dissipative mergers in the history of ellipticals involved relatively big discs. The dissipative gas-to-stellar mass ratio is predicted to decline ∝ M -(0.4-0.6) , similar to the observed trend in today's blue-sequence galaxies. Such a trend should be observed in relatively massive gaseous galaxies at z ∼ 1-4. The corresponding 'baryonic' relations are consistent with homology and spherical virial equilibrium, V oc R ∝ M 1/3 bar .
Conscious and nonconscious discrimination of facial expressions

Abrupt discontinuities in recognizing categories of emotion are found for the labelling of consciously perceived facial expressions. This has been taken to imply that, at a conscious level, we perceive facial expressions categorically. We investigated whether the abrupt discontinuities found in categorization for conscious recognition would be replaced by a graded transition for subthreshold stimuli. Fifteen volunteers participated in two experiments, in which participants viewed faces morphed from 100% fear to 100% disgust along seven increments. In Experiment A, target faces were presented for 30 ms, in Experiment B for 170 ms. Participants made two-alternative forced-choice decisions between fear and disgust. Results for the 30 ms presentation time indicated a significant linear trend between degree of morphing and classification of the images. Results for 170 ms presentation time followed the higher order function found in studies of categorical perception. These results provide preliminary evidence for separate processes underlying conscious and nonconscious perception of facial expressions of emotion.
MPPT of Photovoltaic Systems Using Sensorless Current-Based Model Predictive Control

Variability in the solar irradiance level and ambient temperature of photovoltaic (PV) systems necessitates the use of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of PV systems to ensure continuous harvesting of maximum power. This paper presents a sensorless current (SC) MPPT algorithm using model predictive control (MPC). The main contribution of this paper is the use of model-based predictive control principle to eliminate the current sensor that is usually required for well-known MPPT techniques such as perturb and observe (P&O). By predicting the PV system states in horizon of time, the proposed method becomes an elegant, embedded controller that allows faster response and lower power ripple in steady state than the conventional P&O technique under rapidly changing atmospheric conditions. This becomes possible without requiring expensive sensing and communications equipment and networks for direct measurement of solar irradiation changes. The performance of the proposed SC-MPC-MPPT with reduced load sensitivity is evaluated on the basis of industrial European Efficiency Test, EN 50530, that assesses the performance of PV systems under dynamic environmental conditions. The proposed control technique is implemented experimentally using dSPACE DS1007 platform to verify the simulation results.
Purification and characterization of β-Fructosidase with inulinase activity from Aspergillus niger - 245

Aspergillus niger - 245, a strain isolated from soil samples showed good β-fructosidase activity when inoculated in medium formulated with dahlia extract tubers. The enzyme was purified by precipitation in ammonium sulphate and percolated in DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and CM-cellulose columns, witch showed a single peack in all the purification steps, maintaining the I/S ratio between 0.32 to, 0.39. Optimum pH for inulinase activity (I) was between 4.0 - 4.5 and for invertase activity (S) between 2.5 and 5.0. The optimum temperature was 60O.C for both activities and no loss in activity was observed when it was maintained at this temperature for 30 min. The Km value was 1.44 and 5.0, respectively, for I and S and Vm value 10.48 and 30.55, respectively. The I activity was strongly inhibited by Hg2+ and Ag+ and 2 x 10-3 M of glucose, but not by fructose at the same concentration. The enzyme showed an exo-action mechanism, acting on the inulin of different origins. In assay conditions total hydrolysis of all the frutans was obtained, although it has shown larger activity on the chicory inulin than that one from artichoke Jerusalem and dahlia, in the first 30 min. The obtained results suggested that the enzyme presented good potential for industrial application in the preparing the fructose syrups
Genomic Stability of Lyophilized Sheep Somatic Cells before and after Nuclear Transfer

The unprecedented decline of biodiversity worldwide is urging scientists to collect and store biological material from seriously threatened animals, including large mammals. Lyophilization is being explored as a low-cost system for storage in bio-banks of cells that might be used to expand or restore endangered or extinct species through the procedure of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT). Here we report that the genome is intact in about 60% of lyophylized sheep lymphocytes, whereas DNA damage occurs randomly in the remaining 40%. Remarkably, lyophilized nuclei injected into enucleated oocytes are repaired by a robust DNA repairing activity of the oocytes, and show normal developmental competence. Cloned embryos derived from lyophylized cells exhibited chromosome and cellular composition comparable to those of embryos derived from fresh donor cells. These findings support the feasibility of lyophylization as a storage procedure of mammalian cells to be used for SCNT.
An investigation of non-use and abandonment of microblogging

We examine the non-usage and abandonment of microblogging, identifying why people do not use, or why they abandon their microblogging accounts. Studying non-usage is important for microblogging service providers to develop strategies to address users' concerns, and for businesses to explore new marketing and information dissemination channels. Focus group interviews were conducted to uncover non-usage reasons, and surveys containing more detailed questions were administered. Our analysis suggests that preference for other technologies, privacy concern and time constraints are the top three reasons contributing to the non-use and abandonment of microblogs. The paper also proposes potential improvements to attract users to microblogging services.
Interpretations of Peer Behavior: Affective Bias in Childhood and Adolescence.

HYMEL, SHELLEY. Interpretations of Peer Behavior: Affective Bias in Childhood and Adolescence. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1986, 57, 431-445. Based on constructive theories of interpersonal attraction, 2 studies were conducted examining the hypothesis that biases in peer interpretations of social behavior may contribute to the stability of social acceptance and rejection in children. Variations in children's explanations of the behavior of known peers were examined as a function of the valence of the behavior performed (positive, negative) and prior affect toward the actor (liked, disliked) as well as the age and social status of the perceiver. Popular and unpopular secondand fifth-grade children (approximately 7 and 10 years old) (Study 1) or tenth-grade (approximately 15 years) (Study 2) children responded to 4 hypothetical situations in which liked or disliked peers performed behaviors that had either positive or negative outcomes for the subject. Results indicated that children's explanations of peer behavior varied significantly as a function of both affect toward the actor and valence of behavior, although age and status differences were generally nonsignificant. More specifically, positive behaviors were attributed to more stable causes when performed by liked peers than by disliked peers. In contrast, negative behaviors were attributed to more stable causes when performed by disliked peers than by liked peers. In addition, greater responsibility or blame for negative behavior was attributed to disliked peers than to liked peers. Results are discussed in terms of implications for research on children's peer relations.
Expanding the affective and normative components of the theory of planned behavior: A meta-analysis of anticipated affect and moral norms

Meta-analysis was used to determine the predictive validity of anticipated affect and moral norms in the theory of planned behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1991). Medium-to-large sample-weighted average correlations were obtained. Anticipated affect and moral norms increased the variance explained in intentions by 5% and 3%, respectively, controlling for TPB variables. Intention mediated the influence of both variables on behavior. Moderator analyses showed that younger samples and behaviors with a moral dimension were associated with stronger moral-norm/intention relations, and anticipated regret was associated with a stronger anticipated-affect/intention relation. The implications of the findings for the TPB are discussed.
Assessing Causality in the Relationship Between Community Attachment and Local News Media Use

Numerous studies have demonstrated a relationship between community attachment and local news media use. Despite calls for panel studies to determine the direction of causality in this relationship, there is little evidence beyond cross-sectional surveys, which are often further limited to single communities. In order to contribute to the debate about causal direction, we conducted a four-wave national panel study with repeated measurement of community attachment and local news media use. Cross-sectional analyses confirmed the expected relationship between news use and community attachment. However, more conservative panel analyses controlling for a lagged measure of the dependent variable failed to produce evidence of causal relationships. The hypothesized role of population density and ethnic diversity as cross-level moderators of this relationship was examined using multilevel modeling. Methodological and theoretical reasons for the results are discussed and suggestions for alternative study designs are proposed.
Pre-logging Treatment of Invasive Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus Mill.) Promotes Regeneration of Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus L.)

Non-native glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus Mill.) is invasive in forests of the northeastern USA but little is known of its effects on tree regeneration. We tested whether killing buckthorn stems before logging reduces its post-logging abundance and increases the density and height of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) seedlings. Three 0.4 ha plots were clearcut, three were thinned, and three were left as controls. Each plot had previously been divided into three subplots that received different buckthorn treatments during the two years before logging. Buckthorn treatments were (1) stems cut at base five times; (2) stems cut once then heat killed four times; (3) untreated control. Three years post-logging, buckthorn density and stem height were unaffected by logging but equally reduced by the two buckthorn treatments. Buckthorn reduction increased density and height of pine seedlings, and seedling height also increased with logging. In the fifth year post-logging, pine height growth and biomass were greater in clearcut than in thinned treatments, greater in areas of buckthorn removal and, within treated subplots, greater in areas with low buckthorn density than in thickets of recovering buckthorn. Thus, although buckthorn inhibited regenerating pine, pre-logging destruction of buckthorn stems reduced such competition for at least four years.
Metabolic clearance and production rates of human growth hormone in subjects with normal and abnormal growth.

ABSTRACT The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) and production rate (PR) of human growth hormone (HGH) was estimated bymeans of a continuous infusion of 131I-HGH. Forty-four subjects, ages 4½–60 yr, with normal and abnormal growth, participated in this investigation. A significant correlation (p <.01) was found between MCR and surface area. The MCR/m2 was similar in childhood, adolescence and adult life. The MCR/m2 in ml/min (mean ±se) in 9 normal males (112 ±5) was similar to that in 8 normal females (111 ±10). The results found in hypopituitary (109 ±8) and acromegalic (118 ±16) individuals indicate that the MCR/m2 is independent of plasma HGH concentration. The MCR of HGH was normal in patients with delayed adolescence, hyperthyroidism and gonadal dysgenesis. Reduced MCR was seen in severe hypothyroidism and in one form of primordial dwarfism. The production rate (PR) of HGH in normal patients, calculated on the basis of mean plasma hormone levels, is significantly higher than that observed in hypopituitar.
Local RNA Translation at the Synapse and in Disease

Local regulation of protein synthesis in neurons has emerged as a leading research focus because of its importance in synaptic plasticity and neurological diseases. The complexity of neuronal subcellular domains and their distance from the soma demand local spatial and temporal control of protein synthesis. Synthesis of many synaptic proteins, such as GluR and PSD-95, is under local control. mRNA binding proteins (RBPs), such as FMRP, function as key regulators of local RNA translation, and the mTORC1 pathway acts as a primary signaling cascade for regulation of these proteins. Much of the regulation occurs through structures termed RNA granules, which are based on reversible aggregation of the RBPs, some of which have aggregation prone domains with sequence features similar to yeast prion proteins. Mutations in many of these RBPs are associated with neurological diseases, including FMRP in fragile X syndrome; TDP-43, FUS (fused in sarcoma), angiogenin, and ataxin-2 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ataxin-2 in spinocerebellar ataxia; and SMN (survival of motor neuron protein) in spinal muscular atrophy.
Evaluating Management Climate in Head Start Programs: The Measurement Properties of the Policy and Program Management Inventory

The reliability and validity of the Policy and Program Management Inventory (PMI) was investigated. The PMI was designed to measure management climate in Head Start programs. Particular attention was paid to the voice of Head Start teachers and their perceptions of administrators. Three validation studies are described and offer evidence for the reliability, construct validity, and predictive validity of the PMI. The PMI offers information that can be useful to program administrators and researchers as it gives a picture of the perceptions of teachers concerning the management climate of a program. It has also been shown to be a useful indicator of teacher and administrator congruence as well as a correlate of teacher job satisfaction and is therefore useful as a program evaluation tool in early childhood educational research.
Perceived Interactional Justice and Trust-in-supervisor as Mediators for Paternalistic Leadership

This study identifies the influencing processes that underlie the effect of the three paternalistic leadership dimensions on subordinates' work performance/ organizational citizenship behaviours. The results, based on data collected from private firms in China, showed that perceived interactional justice mediated the effects of moral leadership and benevolent leadership on trust-in-supervisor. However, perceived interactional justice did not mediate the relationship between authoritarian leadership and trust-in-supervisor. In addition, trust-in-supervisor was found to be positively associated with work performance and organizational citizenship behaviours. Cultural and practical implications and future research directions are also discussed.
Association Between Fatigue and Occupational Physical Trauma Among Male Iranian Workers in the Copper Extraction Industry

BACKGROUND: Fatigue may lead to several consequences and principally produces occupational physical trauma among the workforce. Objectives: This study was designed to explore the relationship between work-related physical trauma and fatigue in the copper extraction industry. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 453 male workers employed in the copper extraction industry in Kerman, Iran. The validated Persian version of the Piper Chronic Fatigue Scale was used for the data collection. An additional self-administrated questionnaire was prepared to obtain demographic and occupational data, including age, work experience, smoking, and history of physical trauma in the workplace. Results: The results showed that 28.5% of the participants had experienced work-related physical trauma during the past three years. Severe fatigue was most commonly reported on the subscale for life and emotions (14.79%). A higher rate of work-related fatigue was associated with physically strenuous activities and an inappropriate work place. The mean fatigue scores for subjects both with and without physical trauma experiences were 3.75 ± 0.98 and 2.86 ± 0.79, respectively (P = 0.005). Conclusions: General fatigue and its subscales had a significant relationship with workplace physical trauma among miners. Workplace physical trauma can be reduced by managing fatigue with different programs, including decreasing the workload, scheduling rest breaks at the facilities, and possibly providing welfare and entertainment opportunities for the workers. Keywords: Fatigue; Occupational Physical Trauma; Copper Extraction Industry; Iran Language: en
Pond biodiversity and habitat loss in the UK

Ponds are common landscape features but have been poorly studied compared to other freshwater habitats in the UK, despite their high frequency of occurrence. In the last century, many ponds have been lost and those that remain face increasing pressure due to agricultural land drainage, pollution and urban development. However, ponds provide important habitats for diverse floral and faunal communities, including a number of rare taxa of conservation interest. This paper examines the biodiversity and wider environmental value of ponds, with particular reference to the aquatic invertebrate and amphibian communities they support, and the adverse impact of anthropogenic activity on their aquatic habitats.
Parental Status and Influence and the Achievement Orientations of High School Seniors.

In a population of 3,461 high-school seniors, achievement values were higher among females than males, were related to parental socioeconomic status and size of residence and to educational performance and aspiration. Elaboration of the association between parental characteristics and student achievement values resulted in two important interpretations. First, achievement values of males, but not females, depended upon the combination of internal family influence and external status. Secondly, the elaboration suggested that male achievement value-orientations may be due to internal family socialization processes, but those of females to external influences. The consistency of findings on the interaction of influences within the family and external status In this and other studies, even when various measures of achievement patterns are used, suggests the importance of family interaction processes in achievement orientations and questions the validity of treating motive, value, and aspiration as discrete aspects of an achievement syndrome.