Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Malanson GP. 2015. Diversity differs among three variations of the stress gradients hypothesis in two representations of niche space. Journal of Theoretical Biology 384: 121-130.

How does the stress-gradient hypothesis affect coexistence in relation to established theory? For two orthogonal stress gradients, a spatially explicit agent based simulation is used to project diversity for simple competitive and facilitative interactions and for three variations of the stress-gradient hypothesis: intraspecific and interspecific competitive and facilitative interactions are a function of the abiotic environment; interactions are relative to species-specific fitness along gradients; or interaction is fixed by species regardless of the abiotic environment. Simulations are run with two orthogonal environmental gradients for two representations of niche. Facilitation can increase diversity by maintaining larger source populations and thus higher establishment rates and sink populations. With species hierarchically related in niche space, the simulations show that positive interactions and changing interactions along a stress gradient maintain greater diversity through intraspecific competition that is effective where dominance would occur and through facilitation where stress is high. A changing environment that favors some species and harms others decreases diversity in the hierarchical cases, where poor competitors most likely subject to interspecific interaction respond most strongly. Diversity outcomes differ among the three stress gradient variations because the intensity of interactions differs across the environmental gradients, not because of change in the environment. & 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Density of Pooling Matrices vs. Sparsity of Signals for Group Testing Problems

SUMMARY In this paper, we consider a group testing (GT) problem. We derive a lower bound on the probability of error for successful decoding of defected binary signals. To this end, we exploit Fano’s inequality theorem in the information theory. We show that the probability of error is bounded as an entropy function, a density of a pooling matrix and a sparsity of a binary signal. We evaluate that for decoding of highly sparse signals, the pooling matrix is required to be dense. Conversely, if dense signals are needed to decode, the sparse pooling matrix should be designed to achieve the small probability of error.
Extending the technology acceptance model to evaluate discussion forum adoption in a learning management system

The inclusion of ICT for educational purposes has burgeoned over the past decade. However, preliminary investigations indicate that e-learning systems remain underutilized, including systems such as discussion forums. The purpose of this study is to establish constructs that may promote adoption and use of discussion forums. The Technology Acceptance Model forms the theoretical framework for this study and is extended by including digital inclusion, perceived attention and perceived enjoyment. Thirty ICT students were purposively selected and interviewed. Findings suggest that perceived usefulness and ease along with digital inclusion may positively influence discussion forum adoption among undergraduate students.
Escenarios climáticos para temporadas con alto y bajo número de huracanes en el Atlántico

Variability in the annual number of Tropical Cyclones for the Atlantic was studied as a function of the interannual and decadal variability of Sea Surface Temperature (SST). Given a scenario below normal, neutral and above normal in some selected SST indices for 1944-2004 (61 years), contingency table analysis was used to calculate the conditional probabilities for scenarios below normal, neutral and above normal for different annual time series of tropical cyclones activity in the Atlantic basin. This annual activity was conditioned on the difference between the normalized SST of the tropical North Atlantic and the Equatorial Eastern Pacific. Lower than average activity years were observed with cooler (warmer) than average temperatures in the Tropical North Atlantic (Eastern Equatorial Pacific), greater wind shear over the Tropical North Atlantic but smaller over the Eastern Tropical Pacific, near Central America; and higher (lower) sea level pressure in the Tropical North Atlantic (Eastern Equatorial Pacific). Higher than average activity years were observed in general terms with opposite anomaly patterns in the regions described previously.
Oral nutritional support of older (65 years+) medical and surgical patients after discharge from hospital: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective: To estimate the effectiveness of oral nutritional support compared to placebo or usual care in improving clinical outcome in older (65 years+) medical and surgical patients after discharge from hospital. Outcome goals were: re-admissions, survival, nutritional and functional status, quality of life and morbidity. Data sources: Three recent Cochrane reviews and an update of their literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science. Search terms included randomized controlled trials; humans; age 65+ years; subset: dietary supplements. Review methods: One reviewer assessed trials for inclusion, extracted data and assessed trial quality. Results: Six trials were included (N = 716 randomly assigned participants). All trials used oral nutritional supplements. A positive effect on nutritional intake (energy) and/or nutritional status (weight) (in compliant participants) were observed in all trials. Two pooled analysis was based on a fixed-effects model. No significant effect were found on mortality (four randomized controlled trials with 532 participants, odds ratio 0.80 (95% confidence (CI) interval 0.46 to 1.39)) or re-admissions (four randomized controlled trials with 478 participants, odds ratio 1.07 (95% CI 0.71 to 1.61)). Conclusion: Although the evidence is limited, we suggest that oral nutritional support may be considered for older malnourished medical and surgical patients after discharge from hospital.
Prevalence of human papillomaviruses in urine samples of male patients infected with HIV‐1 in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Human papillomavirus is a DNA virus that includes 118 genotypes. HPV16 is responsible for 80% of cervical cancer in women. Men are important reservoirs and major transmitters of HPV to their partners. The aim of this study was to detect HPV DNA and to determine the prevalence of HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in urine samples of men infected with HIV‐1. This study included 223 patients infected with HIV‐1 from the Center of Reference on HIV/AIDS (CRT‐SP) and an outpatient clinic of HIV. Urine samples were collected and after DNA extraction real‐time PCR was performed for detection of HPV DNA. Positive samples were then tested by conventional PCR using type‐specific primers for the four HPV types. A total of 223 men infected with HIV‐1 were tested, 81% of whom were on HAART. Four (5.8%) were positive for HPV6, 18 (26.1%) were positive for HPV11, 22 (31.9%) were positive for HPV16 and five (7.2%) were positive for HPV18 by conventional PCR. Twenty (29%) patients had other HPV types and five patients (1.5%) had multiple types. The mean T CD4+cells count was 517 and 441 cells/mm3 (P = 0.30), in HPV negative and positive men, respectively. The HIV viral load was higher in the HPV negative group than for in the men with HPV (P = 0.0002). A 30.9% prevalence of HPV was found in asymptomatic urine samples of men infected with HIV‐1. This study suggests that urine may be a useful specimen for HPV screening. J. Med. Virol. 81:2007–2011, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Geophysical characterization of the Daskop granophyre dyke and surrounding host rocks, Vredefort impact structure, South Africa

Granophyre dykes in the central part of the Vredefort impact structure are believed to be the remnants of the impact melt sheet, which intruded downwards along the fractures in the crater floor. Little is known about their original penetration depth, dip, structural relationships with the host rocks, and their general geophysical characteristics. This information is critical to understand the emplacement history of the granophyre dykes, as it relates to the formation and modification of large impact structures. We conducted magnetic and resistivity surveys across the Daskop granophyre dyke (DGD), one of the impact melt dykes in the structure's core. The magnetic survey revealed that the DGD gives a strong magnetic response at positions where the dyke outcrop exceeds the surface topography, but a very weak response where the outcrop is nearly at the same elevation as the surrounding topography. The magnetic anomaly is thus predominantly due to the outcrop protruding above ground level, suggesting a limited volume of dyke material in the subsurface and a small penetration depth. The resistivity survey performed on two profiles, set perpendicularly across the DGD, indicated a shallow penetration depth (<3 m), consistent with the magnetic interpretation. Thus, our geophysical study demonstrates that the DGD is currently at the very bottom of its original emplacement. This may either be an erosional coincidence, or it may be controlled by a fundamental process of impact cratering. Further studies are warranted to determine if other granophyre dykes at Vredefort are similarly at their lowermost terminations.
Histological localization of estrogen receptors in normal and diseased human prostates by immunocytochemistry

The role of estrogens and estrogen receptors (ER) in the human prostate remains unresolved. In this study we have used the monoclonal ER antibody H222 to investigate the histological localization of ER in normal and diseased human prostates by immunocyto‐chemistry. Prostate tissue was obtained from 3 young organ donors (Group I—normal prostate), from 14 prostates removed by radical prostatectomy or radical cystoprostatectomy, which had caused no or only mild obstructive symptoms (Group II—non‐obstructive prostate), and from 11 prostates removed by suprapubic prostatectomy, which had caused severe obstructive symptoms due to a large benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (Group III—obstructive prostate). In prostates of all groups ER were found to be in nuclei of the prostatic urethra and of the periurethral prostatic duct. In striking contrast, ER in the interglandular prostatic stroma was not as homogeneous among the different groups. We observed a low concentration of ER in the stroma of normal prostates, the highest concentration in non‐malignant stroma of non‐obstructive prostates, and no ER at all in stroma of obstructive prostates. Based on the immunocytochemical localization of ER in normal and diseased human prostate, our results indicate that stromal growth in obstructive BPH may not be mediated via ER. However, we cannot exclude that an increase of stromal ER concentration (as observed in non‐obstructive prostates) is directly involved in induction of BPH, leading further prostate growth thereafter into an estrogen independent state.
Project-based Peer Teaching on Socially Responsible Business

This study assessed students’ perception of their learning outcomes towards socially responsibility after participation in a project-based peer teaching method. A pre-and post-survey was used to compare perceptions between the group of students who participated in the project-based peer teaching (n = 79) and those who participated in the traditional teaching method (n = 91). In a project-based peer teaching method, teams of five-to-sixstudents created presentation projects to educate their peers on socially responsible businesses. The results indicated the project-based peer teaching method significantly enhanced students’ understanding and familiarity of the issues. This study provides insightful implications including instructional technology benefits and the interdisciplinary curriculum development for business ethics.
Essays in exports and ownership outcomes

Received wisdom indicates that, due to a liability of foreignness, foreign firms exit with greater likelihood than do comparable domestic firms and that the difference attenuates as firms age and overcome the liability. We posit that foreign firms are also intrinsically more volatile and footloose than domestic ones and that this leads to an increasing divergence between the exit rates of foreign and domestic firms. Empirically, we find that the difference between exit rates of foreign firms and domestic firms increases with age, as exit of foreign firms increases with age while that of purely domestic firms decreases. Exit rates of domestic based multinationals do not change significantly with age; they are between those of foreign and purely domestic firms, but are closer to the latter. This suggests that the footlooseness observed for foreign firms is due to foreignness more than to multinationality.
Protein tyrosine kinase is downstream of protein kinase C for ischemic preconditioning's anti-infarct effect in the rabbit heart.

The present study tested the hypothesis that one or more tyrosine kinase(s) are downstream of protein kinase C (PKC) in the signal transduction pathway responsible for the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning (PC). Isolated rabbit hearts were subjected to 30 min of regional ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Infarct size was measured by triphenyltetrazolium staining and expressed as a percentage of the area at risk. Infarction in control hearts was 32.9+/-1.8%. Ischemic PC with 5-min ischemia/10-min reperfusion reduced infarct size to 11.5+/-1.5% (P<0.05). Infusion of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein (50 microM) or lavendustin A (0.5 microM), alone did not affect the level of infarction. When infused around the 5-min PC ischemia genistein failed to block protection (13.7+/-1.0%). However, when present at the onset of the 30-min ischemia both genistein and lavendustin A completely aborted protection (31.4+/-2.0 and 28.1+/-1.5%, respectively). Activation of PKC by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 0.05 nmol) was as protective is ischemic PC (14.9+/-3.0%; P<0. 05). Similar to PC, PMA-induced protection was completely prevented by both genistein and lavendustin A. Conversely, anisomycin (50 ng/ml), an activator of MAP kinase kinases (dual tyrosine and threonine kinases), was very protective (7.5+/-1.6%; P<0.05) and this protection was still present when PKC was inhibited by 5 microM chelerythrine (12.1+/-1.6%; P<0.05). In conclusion, activation of a tyrosine kinase during the long ischemia appears to be required for cardioprotection in the rabbit heart. Furthermore, the ability of tyrosine kinase inhibitors to block PMA-induced protection in conjunction with the failure of PKC inhibition to prevent anisomycin-induced protection suggests that the tyrosine kinase is downstream of PKC and that the tyrosine kinase may be a MAP kinase kinase.
The effects of age, feeding pattern and sucrose on glucose tolerance, and plasma free fatty acids and insulin concentrations in the rat

I. The effect of various dietary regimens imposed on young rats on growth, glucose tolerance and plasma insulin and free fatty acids (FFA) concentration has been examined. 2. In rats fasted for 16 h the increase in blood glucose concentration following an intra- peritoneal dose of glucose was inversely related to the amount of food eaten in the previous 24 h. 3. Body-weight gain was greater and food conversion ratio was better in rats trained to eat their day's food in a short time (mcal-eating) compared with rats eating the same amount of food continuously throughout 24 11. 4. Fasting plasma FFA concentrations decreased after the rats were about 33 d of age irres- pective of feeding regimen. 5. In rats that had been on various feeding regimens for z j-40 d, the plasma insulin concen- tration, 15 min after an intraperitoneal dose of glucose, decreased with increasing time on the regimen in every instance cxcept when the rats were restricted to one feeding period of 2 h each day, when the concentrations increased with time. 70 Meal-eating rats were given sucrose or starchas the dietary carbohydrate. At first, feeding w&h starch gave a poorer glucose tolerance than feeding with sucrose, but in older rats the type of carbohydrate had no effect.
Direct seeding and outplantings in drylands of Argentinean Patagonia: estimated costs, and prospects for large‐scale restoration and rehabilitation

In large areas of the world that are deeply scarred by desertification and hampered by low capacity for natural regeneration, the scaling up of ecological restoration and rehabilitation can be achieved only if it is low in cost with high return on investment, and shows promise of providing long‐lasting social‐economic as well as ecological benefits. In the Monte Austral region of Patagonia Argentina, concerted efforts are underway to facilitate scaling up of ecological restoration and rehabilitation practices. Here, we evaluate financial costs and preliminary results of direct seeding as compared to outplanting of nursery‐grown seedlings of three native species (Atriplex lampa, Senecio subulatus var. subulatus, and Hyalis argentea var. latisquama) considered to be high‐priority dryland framework species. Comparative success is expressed in terms of plant survival and in monetary terms. The three candidate species showed low survival rates, ranging from 4.3 to 22.3%, after the first summer following direct seeding. In contrast, survival rates for planted seedlings of the same three taxa varied between 84 and 91%, after the first summer following reintroduction. However, cost of direct seeding varied between 1,693 and 1,772 US$ less per hectare, that is, 64% less than the cost of outplanting nursery seedlings. Therefore, in the search for ways to scale up ecological restoration and rehabilitation in drylands, direct seeding should receive more attention. We discuss the social and ecological perspectives and the way forward for direct seeding techniques in Patagonia. We also consider how costs could be reduced and effectiveness improved in large‐scale efforts.
The 1918 influenza pandemic: Lessons for 2009 and the future

The 1918 to 1919 H1N1 influenza pandemic is among the most deadly events in recorded human history, having killed an estimated 50 to 100 million persons. Recent H5N1 avian influenza epizootics associated with sporadic human fatalities have heightened concern that a new influenza pandemic, one at least as lethal as that of 1918, could be developing. In early 2009, a novel pandemic H1N1 influenza virus appeared, but it has not exhibited unusually high pathogenicity. Nevertheless, because this virus spreads globally, some scientists predict that mutations will increase its lethality. Therefore, to accurately predict, plan, and respond to current and future influenza pandemics, we must first better-understand the events and experiences of 1918.Although the entire genome of the 1918 influenza virus has been sequenced, many questions about the pandemic it caused remain unanswered. In this review, we discuss the origin of the 1918 pandemic influenza virus, the pandemic's unusual epidemiologic features and the causes and demographic patterns of fatality, and how this information should impact our response to the current 2009 H1N1 pandemic and future pandemics. After 92 yrs of research, fundamental questions about influenza pandemics remain unanswered. Thus, we must remain vigilant and use the knowledge we have gained from 1918 and other influenza pandemics to direct targeted research and pandemic influenza preparedness planning, emphasizing prevention, containment, and treatment.
AFM force spectroscopy reveals how subtle structural differences affect the interaction strength between Candida albicans and DC‐SIGN

The fungus Candida albicans is the most common cause of mycotic infections in immunocompromised hosts. Little is known about the initial interactions between Candida and immune cell receptors, such as the C‐type lectin dendritic cell‐specific intracellular cell adhesion molecule‐3 (ICAM‐3)‐grabbing non‐integrin (DC‐SIGN), because a detailed characterization at the structural level is lacking. DC‐SIGN recognizes specific Candida‐associated molecular patterns, that is, mannan structures present in the cell wall of Candida. The molecular recognition mechanism is however poorly understood. We postulated that small differences in mannan‐branching may result in considerable differences in the binding affinity. Here, we exploit atomic force microscope‐based dynamic force spectroscopy with single Candida cells to gain better insight in the carbohydrate recognition capacity of DC‐SIGN. We demonstrate that slight differences in the N‐mannan structure of Candida, that is, the absence or presence of a phosphomannan side chain, results in differences in the recognition by DC‐SIGN as follows: (i) it contributes to the compliance of the outer cell wall of Candida, and (ii) its presence results in a higher binding energy of 1.6 kBT. The single‐bond affinity of tetrameric DC‐SIGN for wild‐type C. albicans is ~10.7 kBT and a dissociation constant kD of 23 μM, which is relatively strong compared with other carbohydrate–protein interactions described in the literature. In conclusion, this study shows that DC‐SIGN specifically recognizes mannan patterns on C. albicans with high affinity. Knowledge on the binding pocket of DC‐SIGN and its pathogenic ligands will lead to a better understanding of how fungal‐associated carbohydrate structures are recognized by receptors of the immune system and can ultimately contribute to the development of new anti‐fungal drugs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A study of some selected factors affecting academic performance of students at Kotebe College of Teacher Education

This study attempts to assess the predictive validity of some selected variables on students past experience, identification, parental economic and educational backgrounds and college facilities . It investigates the most dominant predictors of the first year first semester average score of students at Kotebe College of Teacher Education. Subjects of the study consist of 102 randomly selected freshman students from the Natural and Social Science students who were admitted to the college in the year 1998/99. Preliminary analysis is carried out through Chi-square tests and correlation analysis. The combined effect of the variables is analyzed using stepwise regression analysis. The results show that high school overall average score, age, sex, ESLCE mathematics grade, region high school attended and mother ' s education are significant predictors of first year first semester average score. Implications are discussed and suggestions are given.
An active serological survey of antibodies to newcastle disease and avian influenza (H9N2) viruses in the unvaccinated backyard poultry in Bushehr province,Iran, 2012-2013.

OBJECTIVE To test the antibodies against newcastle disease virus (NDV) and avian influenza virus (AIV, H9N2) in the unvaccinated backyard poultry in Bushehr province, Iran from 2012 to 2013. METHODS A total of 1 530 blood samples from unvaccinated backyard chickens in Bushehr province, south of Iran, were tested for antibodies against NDV and AIV (H9N2) by hemagglutination inhibition test according to International Epizootic Office (OIE) recommendation. RESULTS Of these, 614 (40.13%) and 595 (39.00%) were positive for NDV and AIV (H9N2) respectively. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the present study indicated that NDV and AIV (H9N2) were endemic and widely distributed in backyard areas of Bushehr province which should be incorporated in the control strategies. Further studies are needed to identify the circulating virus genotypes, model their transmission risk, provide adapted control measures and design proper and applicable vaccination program.