Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between the Algal-foraging Ability and Expression of Sexually Selected Traits in the Male Guppy

In the guppy Poecilia reticulata, males exhibit orange spots on their body and tail, and the orange spot patterns are often criteria of female mate choice. The orange spot coloration of the males is determined by the intake of algae, a natural source of carotenoids. Therefore, it is considered that males exhibiting conspicuous orange coloration possess high algal-foraging ability. In the present study, we examined the influence of the algal-foraging ability with regard to an algal-searching ability and algal-foraging frequency on the expression of the orange spot patterns and on other sexually selected traits in male guppies. The males exhibiting a greater performance in terms of both the algal-searching ability and algal-foraging frequency grew larger. The size of the orange spots of the males also increased with the algal-foraging ability. However, neither the algal-searching ability nor the algal-foraging frequency influenced the coloration of the orange spots of the males. In this experiment, it is possible that the shortage of carotenoids due to limited carotenoid supply prevented the males from completely developing their orange spots to the intrinsic size. The results of this study suggest that in male guppies under a carotenoid-limited situation, the allocation of carotenoids is based toward the enlargement of the size of the orange spots rather than the enhancement of coloration. Since both the body size and orange spot patterns of the males contribute to their sexual attractiveness to females, the high algal-foraging ability may enhance their mating success.
Punching-Shear Strength of Normal and High-Strength Two-Way Concrete Slabs Reinforced with GFRP Bars

AbstractThis paper investigated the punching-shear behavior of two-way concrete slabs reinforced with glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars of different grades. A total of 10 full-scale interior slab-column specimens measuring 2,500×2,500 mm with thicknesses of either 200 or 350 mm and 300×300 mm square column stubs were fabricated with normal and high-strength concretes. The specimens were tested under monotonic concentric loading until failure. The effects of concrete strength as well as reinforcement type and ratio were evaluated. The test results revealed that increasing the reinforcement ratio resulted in higher punching-shear capacity, lower reinforcement and concrete strains, and lower deflections. In addition, the high-strength concrete increased the punching-shear capacity, significantly reduced concrete strains, increased strains in the GFRP reinforcing bars, and reduced deflection due to the high tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. The test results and results from literature wer.
Envy and Compassion in Tournaments

Many experiments indicate that most individuals are not purely motivated by material self interest, but also care about the well being of others. In this paper we examine tournaments among inequity averse agents, who dislike disadvantageous inequity (envy) and advantageous inequity (compassion). It turns out that inequity averse agents exert higher effort levels than purely self-interested agents for a given prize structure. Contrary to standard tournament theory first-best efforts can not be implemented when prizes are endogenous. Several extensions are studied like the case of spiteful agents, sabotage, asymmetric agents and an application on the choice between vertical and lateral promotions within firms.
Multisensory Integration in the Superior Colliculus Requires Synergy among Corticocollicular Inputs

Influences from the visual (AEV), auditory (FAES), and somatosensory (SIV) divisions of the cat anterior ectosylvian sulcus (AES) play a critical role in rendering superior colliculus (SC) neurons capable of multisensory integration. However, it is not known whether this is accomplished via their independent sensory-specific action or via some cross-modal cooperative action that emerges as a consequence of their convergence on SC neurons. Using visual–auditory SC neurons as a model, we examined how selective and combined deactivation of FAES and AEV affected SC multisensory (visual–auditory) and unisensory (visual–visual) integration capabilities. As noted earlier, multisensory integration yielded SC responses that were significantly greater than those evoked by the most effective individual component stimulus. This multisensory “response enhancement” was more evident when the component stimuli were weakly effective. Conversely, unisensory integration was dominated by the lack of response enhancement. During cryogenic deactivation of FAES and/or AEV, the unisensory responses of SC neurons were only modestly affected; however, their multisensory response enhancement showed a significant downward shift and was eliminated. The shift was similar in magnitude for deactivation of either AES subregion and, in general, only marginally greater when both were deactivated simultaneously. These data reveal that SC multisensory integration is dependent on the cooperative action of distinct subsets of unisensory corticofugal afferents, afferents whose sensory combination matches the multisensory profile of their midbrain target neurons, and whose functional synergy is specific to rendering SC neurons capable of synthesizing information from those particular senses.
Fabrication of Functional Polyurethane/Rare Earth Nanocomposite Membranes by Electrospinning and Its VOCs Absorption Capacity from Air

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a source of air pollution and are harmful to both human health and the environment. In this study, we fabricated polyurethane/rare earth (PU/RE) composite nanofibrous membranes via electrospinning with the aim of removing VOCs from air. The morphological structure of PU/RE nanofibrous mats was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) experimental analyses. A certain amount of RE (up to 50 wt. % compared to PU pellets) nanoparticles (NPs) could be loaded on/into PU fibers. The tensile strength of PU/RE nanofibrous membranes decreased slightly with the increasing RE powder content. The PU nanofiber containing 50 wt. % RE powder had the smallest fiber diameter of 356 nm; it also showed the highest VOC absorption capacity compared with other composite membranes, having an absorption capacity about three times greater than pure PU nanofibers. In addition, all of the PU/RE nanofibrous membranes readily absorbed styrene the most, followed by xylene, toluene, benzene and chloroform. Therefore, the PU/RE nanofibrous membrane can play an important role in removing VOCs from the air, and its development prospects are impressive because they are emerging materials.
Fludarabine, cytosine arabinoside, granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor with or without idarubicin in the treatment of high risk acute leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndromes

The combination of fludarabine (FDR), high dose cytarabine and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (FLAG) with or without idarubicin (Ida) was used in the treatment of poor risk acute leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in a single centre experience. A total of 105 patients were treated over a 4‐year period with 59% achieving a complete remission (CR); no statistical difference observed between FLAG and FLAG‐Ida. For patients responding to FLAG ± Ida, the median event‐free survival (EFS) was 11 months and 23% at 5 years. Such patients proceeded either to further chemotherapy or a haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The median EFS (13 months vs. 8 months) and projected 5‐year survival (37% vs. 13%) of patients undergoing HSCT was significantly better than those who did not (P = 0.021). In all, 14 of 72 patients remain alive in continuing CR (median duration 43 months) with 10 of 31 having had a HSCT vs. four of 41 that did not (P = 0·033). Both regimens were well tolerated, with the majority of patients experiencing grade 1 or less non‐haematological toxicity (mainly nausea and vomiting). The median time to neutrophil and platelet recovery was 28 and 31 d, respectively. No significant differences were seen with the addition of ida. There was a 17% incidence of treatment‐related deaths, of which 39% was caused by invasive aspergillus infection. The results show that FLAG ± Ida is an effective and well‐tolerated remission induction regimen for poor risk leukaemia and MDS.
BILUTM: A Domain-Based Multilevel Block ILUT Preconditioner for General Sparse Matrices

This paper describes a domain-based multilevel block ILU preconditioner (BILUTM) for solving general sparse linear systems. This preconditioner combines a high accuracy incomplete LU factorization with an algebraic multilevel recursive reduction. Thus, in the first level the matrix is permuted into a block form using (block) independent set ordering and an ILUT factorization for the reordered matrix is performed. The reduced system is the approximate Schur complement associated with the partitioning, and it is obtained implicitly as a by-product of the partial ILUT factorization with respect to the complement of the independent set. The incomplete factorization process is repeated with the reduced systems recursively. The last reduced system is factored approximately using ILUT again. The successive reduced systems are not stored. This implementation is efficient in controlling the fill-in elements during the multilevel block ILU factorization, especially when large size blocks are used in domain decomposition-type implementations. Numerical experiments are used to show the robustness and efficiency of the proposed technique for solving some difficult problems.
Miscarriage but not fecundity is associated with progression of joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: To determine whether reproductive history before disease onset is associated with severity of joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: A special early arthritis clinic (EAC) was established at the department of rheumatology of Leiden University Medical Centre. General practitioners were encouraged to refer patients with joint complaints to this clinic, where the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was made by a rheumatologist. In all, 113 female patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis were included in this study. A structured questionnaire was administered and joint damage was assessed by sequential x rays of the hands and feet, using the modified Sharp score. Results: The length of time of unprotected intercourse until first pregnancy (fecundity) was comparable with data from earlier studies, with 16% of the patients reporting a time to first pregnancy of more than 12 months. Fecundity did not reflect the extent of joint damage over time. The miscarriage rate was 15% per pregnancy, comparable to population figures (12–15%). A significant increase in joint damage over a two year follow up was found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had experienced at least one miscarriage compared with those who had never had a miscarriage (mean modified Sharp scores at 2 years, 24 (95% confidence interval, 15 to 32) and 16 (10 to 23), respectively; p<0.05). At baseline, the Sharp scores were similar in the two subgroups. Conclusions: Miscarriage before disease onset but not fecundity is associated with the progression of joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis.
A type-theoretic foundation of continuations and prompts

There is a correspondence between classical logic and programming language calculi with first-class continuations. With the addition of control delimiters (prompts), the continuations become composable and the calculi are believed to become more expressive. We formalise that the addition of prompts corresponds to the addition of a single dynamically-scoped variable modelling the special top-level continuation. From a type perspective, the dynamically-scoped variable requires effect annotations. From a logic perspective, the effect annotations can be understood in a standard logic extended with the dual of implication, namely subtraction.
Investor clienteles and industry factor-price exposure

We find robust evidence of investor clienteles for industry factor-price exposure: Investor interest, measured using share turnover and the number of institutions that hold a firm’s stock, is positively associated with stocks’ industry exposure, and institutional investors systematically overweight (underweight) high (low) industry exposure stocks in their portfolios. Clientele effects are most pronounced in industries in which return correlation with the aggregate market is low, where the benefits from learning about industry risk and from substituting investment in high-exposure stocks for investment in the industry assets are greatest. Clientele effects are strongest among small, transient, institutional investors. Contrary to traditional views of risk management, our findings suggest that market frictions may create incentives for some firms to not hedge to attract liquidity.
Fusion of a Flavin-Based Fluorescent Protein to Hydroxynitrile Lyase from Arabidopsis thaliana Improves Enzyme Stability

ABSTRACT Hydroxynitrile lyase from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtHNL) was fused to different fluorescent reporter proteins. Whereas all fusion constructs retained enzymatic activity and fluorescence in vivo and in vitro, significant differences in activity and pH stability were observed. In particular, flavin-based fluorescent reporter (FbFP) fusions showed almost 2 orders of magnitude-increased half-lives in the weakly acidic pH range compared to findings for the wild-type enzyme. Analysis of the quaternary structure of the respective FbFP-AtHNL fusion proteins suggested that this increased stability is apparently caused by oligomerization mediated via the FbFP tag. Moreover, the increased stability of the fusion proteins enabled the efficient synthesis of (R)-mandelonitrile in an aqueous-organic two-phase system at a pH of <5. Remarkably, (R)-mandelonitrile synthesis is not possible using wild-type AtHNL under the same conditions due to the inherent instability of this enzyme below pH 5. The fusion strategy presented here reveals a surprising means for the stabilization of enzymes and stresses the importance of a thorough in vitro characterization of in vivo-employed fluorescent fusion proteins.
Discrete multi-physics: A mesh-free model of blood flow in flexible biological valve including solid aggregate formation

We propose a mesh-free and discrete (particle-based) multi-physics approach for modelling the hydrodynamics in flexible biological valves. In the first part of this study, the method is successfully validated against both traditional modelling techniques and experimental data. In the second part, it is further developed to account for the formation of solid aggregates in the flow and at the membrane surface. Simulations of various types of aggregates highlight the main benefits of discrete multi-physics and indicate the potential of this approach for coupling the hydrodynamics with phenomena such as clotting and calcification in biological valves.
Outcome analysis of reoperations after lumbar discectomies: a report of 22 patients.

Our aim was to analyse causes for persistence of pain after lumbar discectomy and outcome of reoperations. Out of 37 reoperated patients, 22 with a minimum follow-up period of one year were included in this retrospective study concerning the years 1993 to 2000. All patients had previously undergone laminotomy and discectomy and fusion was not required during second operations. Outcome was evaluated according to the modified criteria of Kawabata et al. Overall incidence of reoperation was 6.5%. Reoperations were performed because of recurrent disc herniation in 9 patients, epidural fibrosis in 8, and de novo disc herniation at a different level in 5. Contrast enhanced computerized tomography was used in 17 patients and this might be the reason for misdiagnosis of recurrent disc herniation in the two patients with epidural fibrosis. In patients with de novo disc herniation, symptoms recurred earlier. In 20 patients, satisfactory relief of pain, as well as better outcome could be achieved (p<0.05), but no significant improvement in neurological deficits was observed. Excellent results were obtained more in patients with recurrent disc herniation and poor outcomes correlated with long (> 1 year) time intervals for onset of recurrent sciatica (p<0.05). However, patients with epidural fibrosis were also glad postoperatively for decreased pain severity. Only co-existence of epidural fibrosis and de novo disc herniation predicted an inferior outcome. Although recurrent disc herniation seemed to respond best to surgical treatment, we recommend reoperation when objective preoperative findings indicate the presence of surgically correctable compression regardless of its type.
Global Classical Solutions to the Compressible Euler-Maxwell Equations

In this paper, we consider the compressible Euler–Maxwell equations arising in semiconductor physics, which take the form of Euler equations for the conservation laws of mass density and current density for electrons, coupled to Maxwell's equations for self-consistent electromagnetic fields. We study the global well-posedness in critical spaces and the limit to zero of some physical parameters in the scaled Euler–Maxwell equations. More precisely, using high- and low-frequency decomposition methods, we first construct uniform (global) classical solutions (around constant equilibrium) to the Cauchy problem of Euler–Maxwell equations in Chemin–Lerner spaces with critical regularity. Furthermore, based on the Aubin–Lions compactness lemma, it is justified that the (scaled) classical solutions converge globally in time to the solutions of compressible Euler–Poisson equations in the process of nonrelativistic limit and to that of drift-diffusion equations under the relaxation limit or the combined nonrelativis.
Resistant starch: a promising dietary agent for the prevention/treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and bowel cancer

Purpose of reviewResistant starch represents a diverse range of indigestible starch-based dietary carbohydrates. Resistant starch has been investigated in the past for its effects on bowel health (pH, epithelial thickness, and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells); reduction in postprandial glycemia; increased insulin sensitivity; and effects on the gut microbiome. This review highlights advances as resistant starch gains clinical relevance as a potential treatment/preventive tool for diseases such as colorectal cancer (CRC) and diabetes. Recent findingsRecent articles have evaluated the comparative physiological effects of different types of resistant starch and investigated the effects of resistant starch on blood lipids, body weight, and defining resistant starch-induced changes to the micriobiome that may be important in health and disease. The most novel and relevant recent data describe a role for resistant starch in ameliorating inflammation; the use of resistant starch for optimal bowel health and prevention of CRC; and, further, that the systemic effects of resistant starch may be important for the treatment of other forms of cancer, such as breast cancer. SummaryThis review describes advances in resistant starch research highlighting the gastrointestinal effects that are now being linked to systemic, whole body effects with clinical relevance. These effects have important implications for overall health and the prevention or amelioration of various chronic diseases.
Do CIOs Matter? Assessing the Value of CIO Presence in Top Management Teams

Though the importance of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) is well recognized in academic literature, concerns have often been expressed about the status of CIOs and their waning influence. In fact, not all firms choose to have Chief Information Officers (CIOs)as a part of their top management teams. This research investigates whether CIO presence/absence in top management teams affect firm performance. We assembled a multi-industry dataset of 205 firms that included CIOs in their TMTs and assessed their financial and market performance over a three year period (2002-2004). We found firms that included CIOs in their top management teams to have significantly better financial performance than their peer firms who did not. The results and their implications are discussed. This study provides an initial step towards understanding the empirical linkages between IT leadership and firm performance.
An in vitro study of thermal necrosis in ultrasonic-assisted drilling of bone

In case of human bone fracture, the best way to better and faster knitting is when a traumatologist fixes the fractured bone ends by drilling and setting the immobilization plates by screws. Heat generation during bone drilling may result in thermal injury due to exposure to elevated temperatures, with potentially devastating effect on the outcome of orthopedic surgery. A recent and promising method for reducing temperature in bone drilling is the use of ultrasonic assistance, where high-frequency and low-amplitude vibrations are added in feed direction during cutting process. In this research, experimental tests are carried out in five cutting speeds and three feed rates. The results demonstrate that ultrasonic-assisted drilling offered lower thrust forces and lower process temperatures as compared to conventional drilling at 1000 r/min. In addition, it is obvious that at 2000 r/min, since the values of temperature rise and thermal injury are independent from the feed rate, this method can be applied in the orthopedic surgery.
Bare-hand human-computer interaction

In this paper, we describe techniques for barehanded interaction between human and computer. Barehanded means that no device and no wires are attached to the user, who controls the computer directly with the movements of his/her hand.Our approach is centered on the needs of the user. We therefore define requirements for real-time barehanded interaction, derived from application scenarios and usability considerations. Based on those requirements a finger-finding and hand-posture recognition algorithm is developed and evaluated.To demonstrate the strength of the algorithm, we build three sample applications. Finger tracking and hand posture recognition are used to paint virtually onto the wall, to control a presentation with hand postures, and to move virtual items on the wall during a brainstorming session. We conclude the paper with user tests, which were conducted to prove the usability of bare-hand human computer interaction.
Entailment above the word level in distributional semantics

We introduce two ways to detect entailment using distributional semantic representations of phrases. Our first experiment shows that the entailment relation between adjective-noun constructions and their head nouns (big cat|= cat), once represented as semantic vector pairs, generalizes to lexical entailment among nouns (dog|= animal). Our second experiment shows that a classifier fed semantic vector pairs can similarly generalize the entailment relation among quantifier phrases (many dogs|= some dogs) to entailment involving unseen quantifiers (all cats|= several cats). Moreover, nominal and quantifier phrase entailment appears to be cued by different distributional correlates, as predicted by the type-based view of entailment in formal semantics.
Functional Distributional Semantics

Vector space models have become popular in distributional semantics, despite the challenges they face in capturing various semantic phenomena. We propose a novel probabilistic framework which draws on both formal semantics and recent advances in machine learning. In particular, we separate predicates from the entities they refer to, allowing us to perform Bayesian inference based on logical forms. We describe an implementation of this framework using a combination of Restricted Boltzmann Machines and feedforward neural networks. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by training it on a parsed corpus and evaluating it on established similarity datasets.