Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An optimization method for estimating functional connectivity and electrophysiology within a biological neuronal network

We employ an optimization procedure to estimate parameters of a small model biological neuronal network. The input to the network and resulting network output are: time series of stimulating electrical current delivered to each constituent neuron, and time series of membrane voltage of each neuron, respectively. We write a cost function as a measurement error and a model error term. An iterative reweighting of these terms permits a systematic method to identify the lowest-minimum, within a specific region of state-and-parameter space, on the surface of a non-convex cost function. We use the estimates corresponding to the lowest minimum of the cost function to predict the particular mode of activity that the network is expressing, where each mode is known to be associated with a particular set of parameter values. Finally, we show how this method can prune a model of unnecessarily high complexity down to a representation that contains the maximum dimensionality required to explain the available experimental measurements. The design for simulated experiments presented in this paper might apply in an experimental laboratory, to estimate properties of extremely small biological circuits.
The key characteristics of different types of employees: a summary of six studies

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is, first, to summarize six studies which analyze the key characteristics of different types of employees. Three types of employees found in workplaces all over the world are identified as “Necessities,” “Commoners,” and “Parasites” and, second, to combine the results of these studies in order to identify the key traits and behaviors that characterize each type of worker across a variety of social and cultural settings. Design/methodology/approach - For starters, three types of employees are defined. First, a person is a Necessity if s/he is irreplaceable and critical to the functioning of an organization. Second, a Commoner is a person of normal ability and talent who has no significant impact on organizational processes. Last, Parasites are detrimental freeloaders who damage the functioning of an organization. To identify the principal characteristics of these three types of workers, a group of researchers led by the first author conducted six studies in which they collected survey data from undergraduate and graduate business students in the USA, India, Korea, Chile, and Japan. Findings - The authors note the points of commonality and difference across the data sets, and offer their thoughts on future research in the area. The perceptions of what characterizes really good workers (people of Necessity) and very bad workers (Parasites) appear to be the same in all five countries. The picture painted for the Commoner across all data sets, however, is not as clear-cut. Originality/value - The study described in this paper helps to explain both similarities and differences in employee characteristics between and among workers in different countries and cultures.
30-W/mm GaN HEMTs by field plate optimization

GaN high-electron-mobility-transistors (HEMTs) on SiC were fabricated with field plates of various dimensions for optimum performance. Great enhancement in radio frequency (RF) current-voltage swings was achieved with acceptable compromise in gain, through both reduction in the trapping effect and increase in breakdown voltages. When biased at 120 V, a continuous wave output power density of 32.2 W/mm and power-added efficiency (PAE) of 54.8% at 4 GHz were obtained using devices with dimensions of 0.55/spl times/246 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ and a field-plate length of 1.1 /spl mu/m. Devices with a shorter field plate of 0.9 /spl mu/m also generated 30.6 W/mm with 49.6% PAE at 8 GHz. Such ultrahigh power densities are a dramatic improvement over the 10-12 W/mm values attained by conventional gate GaN-based HEMTs.
Effect of light scattering from source optics in goniometric diffuse reflectance measurements

The significance of light scattering around the main beam in a gonioreflectometer based measurement of spectral diffuse reflectance is discussed. This kind of scatter is always present in goniometric measurement systems that use a shaped measurement beam. Furthermore, errors due to this effect are a potential cause of discrepancies between goniometer and integrating-sphere based measurement methods. Procedures used to determine such errors and the required corrections are presented. At the Helsinki University of Technology, the determined wavelength-dependent correction in the worst case was as high as −1.6% and could be reduced to −0.2% with improvements in the optical setup of the gonioreflectometer. The measurement results for our diffuse reflectance reference materials with the appropriate corrections in each case are in good agreement, which gives a new view on some measurements reported earlier.
Relationships between Metacognition, Self-efficacy and Self-regulation in Learning

The ability to manage study activities by themselves is one of the educational goals that learners should achieve at the end of secondary school. Self-regulation, however, includes a variety of metacognitive issues. Firstly, self-regulated students should be aware of the mental processes they rely on when performing cognitive tasks, of the degree of autonomy they are allowed in managing study activities and of how effective they are in facing school demands. Secondly, students should be able to plan and monitor study activities strategically. Thirdly, students should identify the kind of learning which is expected to be reached. A sample of 130 students were administered 5 different of questionnaires designed to investigate the metacognitive awareness (MAI: Schraw & Dennison, 1994), the perception of autonomy in school learning (AILI: Elishout-Mohr, Van Daalen-Kapteijns, & Meijer, 2004), the sense of self-efficacy (Adaptive Self-Efficacy Scale: Sibilia, Schwarzer, & Jerusalem, 1995), the attitudes of study strategies (LASSI: Weinstein & Palmer, 2002), and the questionnaire on the conceptions of learning (QAPCOL: Perez-Tello, Antonietti, Liverta-Sempio, & Marchetti, 2002). Results revealed that self-regulated learning is linked to metacognitive skills such as planning, monitoring, evaluation and concentration. In addition, the knowledge and the proper use of learning strategies – such as the selection of the main ideas in a text – constitutes a related set of metacognitive skills. Finally, it was found that the acquisition of metacognitive knowledge, skills and attitudes is linked to autonomy in the study and to self-efficacy.
Using Surveys to Value Public Goods: The Contingent Valuation Method

Foreword Preface 1. Valuing Public Goods Using the Contingent Valuation Method 2. Theoretical Basis of the Contingent Valuation Method 3. Benefits and Their Measurement 4. Variations in Contingent Valuation Scenario Designs 5. The Methodological Challenge 6. Will Respondents Answer Honestly? 7. Strategic Behavior and Contingent Valuation Studies 8. Can Respondents Answer Meaningfully? 9. Hypothetical Values and Contingent Valuation Studies 10. Enhancing Reliability 11. Measurement Bias
Application of Enzymes in Sunflower Oil Extraction: Antioxidant Capacity and Lipophilic Bioactive Composition

A 23 factorial design with center point in triplicate was used to evaluate the application of different enzymes in extraction of sunflower oil, comparing its quality with the oil obtained by conventional methods (solvent and pressing) in relation to antioxidant capacity, phytosterol and tocopherol contents, and fatty acid composition. Three enzymes were used; Pectinex Ultra SPL, Celluclast 1.5 L and Alcalase 2.4 L; and three factors were evaluated: enzyme concentration, sample/water ratio and extraction time. Enzymatic aqueous extraction produced oil with better quality in relation to some of the evaluated parameters: highest antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (371 µmol Trolox g-1 of oil), total phytosterols (183 mg 100 g-1 of oil) and omega-3 fatty acid content, as well the lowest content of saturated fatty acids. The application of enzymes in sunflower oil extraction represents an environmentally friendly methodology, free of toxic solvent residues and providing a final product of high quality.
Habitat Specialization by Birds in Western Amazonian White‐sand Forests

In the Peruvian Amazon, white‐sand forests are patchily distributed and restricted to a few localities in the North. Although recent studies have documented patterns of habitat specialization by plants in these unique forests, very few studies of the fauna of these habitats have been conducted. The species composition of the avifauna of the white‐sand forests at six localities in the region was sampled by conducting transects and point counts. Surrounding habitats were also sampled to compare avifaunal communities and to determine the degree of restriction of bird species to white‐sand habitats. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed that bird communities of white‐sand forests were more similar to each other than they were to terra firme or flooded forest communities. Sites on either side of the Amazon‐Marañón barrier were the most similar within habitat type consistent with the hypothesis that these rivers represent a major biogeographic barrier. Twenty‐six species, belonging to 13 families, were to some degree specialized to white‐sand forests. This is the first comprehensive ornithological assessment carried out on these habitats in Peru. The high degree of habitat specialization found in these 26 bird species highlights the need for conservation and management measures that will protect white‐sand forests.
Pre-Participation Physical Fitness does not Influence Adherence to a Supervised Exercise Program

Background Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation tends to reduce mortality. However, it requires medium/long-term adherence to regular physical exercise. It is relevant to identify the variables that affect adherence to an supervised exercise program (SEP). Objective To evaluate the influence of pre-participation levels of aerobic and non-aerobic physical fitness components in medium-term adherence to SEP. Methods A total of 567 SEP participants (65 ± 12 years) (68% men) were studied. Participants adherent to the program for less than 6 months (48%) (non-adherent - NAD) were compared with 52% of participants who were adherent for 6 months or more (adherents - AD). In the non-aerobic fitness, flexibility (FLX) (Flexitest) and muscle power (MPW)/body weight in standing rowing (watts/kg) were evaluated while aerobic fitness was obtained by direct measure of VO2max/body weight (VO2). These measurements were normatized for sex and age based on percentiles (P) (P-FLX/P-MPW) of reference data or percentages of predicted (P-VO2). Additionally, AD and NAD with extreme results (tertiles) were simultaneously compared for the three variables. Results There was no difference between AD and NAD for non-aerobic results, in median [P25-P75], P-FLX: 30 [13-56] and 31 [9-52], respectively, (p = 0.69) and P-MPW: 34 [17-58] and 36 [16-62], respectively (p = 0.96), and for aerobic results (mean ± standard error) P-VO2 (75.9 ± 1.3% and 75.0 ± 1.3%, respectively) (p = 0.83). When comparing extreme tertiles, a difference was found for P-MPW in the lower tertile only, with a slight advantage of AD over NAD- 9 [5-16] versus 4 [1-11] (p = 0.04). Conclusion Although awareness of the pre-participation levels of aerobic and non-aerobic physical fitness components is useful for individualized exercise prescription, these variables do not seem to influence medium-term adherence to SEP.
Controlling the Deformation Mechanism in Disk Superalloy at Low and Intermediate Temperatures

The newly developed TMW ® disk superalloy exhibits better overall mechanical properties in the intended service temperature region (650-750 ℃) than the most advanced cast & wrought disk alloy U720Li. Clarification of the underlying mechanisms is beneficial for designing advanced superalloys. Among the TMW alloys, TMW-4M3 has the best tensile strength and creep resistance. In this study, tensile tests of U720Li and TMW-4M3 were conducted at temperatures ranging from 25 ℃ to 750 ℃. The deformation microstructures have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Dislocation activity, involving anti-phase boundary (APB), was the dominant mechanism in U720Li up to 725 ℃. However, the transition of deformation mechanisms from dislocation pairs cutting to stacking fault (SF) shearing and deformation twinning was observed in TMW-4M3. A concise model related to the increased surface energy is put forward to describe the competing mechanisms. It is found that APB energy, SF energy (SFE), and volume fraction of tertiary γ΄ have important influence on the transition of deformation mechanisms. The controlling of deformation mechanism by alloy design is discussed.
Characterizing swells in the southern Pacific from seismic and infrasonic noise analyses

A temporary network of 10 broad-band seismic stations has been installed in French Polynesia for the Polynesian Lithosphere and Upper Mantle Experiment (PLUME). All the seismic stations were installed either on volcanic islands or on atolls of the various archipelagos of French Polynesia in a manner which complements the geographic coverage provided by the regional permanent stations. The primary aim of PLUME is to image the upper mantle structures related to plate motion and hotspot activity. However, because of its proximity to all sites, the ocean is responsible for a high level of noise in the seismic data and we show that these data can also be used to analyse ocean wave activity. The power spectral density (PSD) analyses of the seismic data recorded in French Polynesia show clear peaks in the 0.05– 0.10 Hz band (periods between 10 and 20 s), which corresponds to swell frequencies. Clear peaks in this frequency band are also observed in infrasonic data recorded on Tahiti. Ground motion analysis shows that the swell-related seismic noise (SRSN) is linearly polarized in the horizontal plane and its amplitude decreases rapidly with the distance from the shore. The microseismic and the infrasonic 'noise' amplitudes show very similar variations from station to station and both are strongly correlated with the swell amplitudes predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), wind-forced, 'WaveWatch' models. The swell direction can be estimated from SRSN polarization analysis but this has to be done with care since, for some cases, the ground motions are strongly controlled by the islands' anisometric shapes and by swell refraction processes. We find cases, however, such as Tahiti or roughly circular Tuamotu atolls, where the azimuth of the swell is in good agreement with the seismic estimates. We, therefore, demonstrate that the SRSN and the infrasonic signal observed in French Polynesia can be used in such cases as a proxy for swell amplitude and azimuth. From the continuous analysis of the data recorded in 2003 at the permanent seismic station PPTL in Tahiti, transfer functions have been obtained. This could provide a way to quantify the swell activity during the last two decades and, therefore, assist in the investigation of climate changes.
İlköğretim Okullarının Değişime Açıklığı

Bu arastirmanin amaci ilkogretim okullarinin degisime acikliginin, bu okullarda calisan ogretmenlerin goruslerine dayali olarak incelenmesidir. Arastirma betimsel bir calismadir. Arastirmanin evrenini; Malatya ili merkez ilcedeki tum resmi ilkogretim okullarinda calisan 3808 ogretmen, orneklemini ise 16 ilkogretim okulunda gorev yapan toplam 407 ogretmen olusturmustur. Arastirmada, ilkogretim okullarinin degisime acikligini belirlemek amaciyla, Smith ve Hoy (2007) tarafindan gelistirilen (Faculty Change Orientation Scale- FCOS) ve arastirmaci tarafindan Turkceye uyarlamasi yapilan “Okullarin Degisime Aciklik Olcegi” kullanilmistir. Arastirma sonucunda ilkogretim okulu ogretmenlerinin, okullarinin degisime acikligini “cogunlukla” duzeyinde degerlendirdikleri bulunmustur. Arastirmanin diger bulgulari; ilkogretim okullarinin degisime acikliginin cinsiyet, kidem, en son mezun olunan yuksekogretim programi degiskenlerine gore olcegin cesitli boyutlarinda anlamli bicimde farklilastigi seklindedir
Sylvatic host associations of Triatominae and implications for Chagas disease reservoirs: a comprehensive review and new host records based on archival specimens

Background: The 148 species of kissing bug include important vectors of the debilitating, chronic, and often fatal Chagas disease, which affects several million people in Central and South America. An understanding of the natural hosts of this speciose group of blood-feeding insects has and will continue to aid ongoing efforts to impede the spread of Chagas disease. However, information on kissing bug biology is piecemeal and scattered, developed using methods with varying levels of accuracy over more than 100 years. Existing host records are heavily biased towards well-studied primary vector species and are derived from primarily three different types of observations, associational, immunological or DNA-based, with varying reliability. Methods: We here gather a comprehensive and unparalleled number of sources reporting host associations via rigorous targeted searches of publication databases to review all known natural, or sylvatic, host records including information on how that record was collected. We integrate this information with novel host records obtained via attempted amplification and sequencing of a ~160 base pair (bp) region of the vertebrate 12S mitochondrial gene from the gastrointestinal tract of 64 archival specimens of Triatominae representing 19 species collected primarily in sylvatic habitats throughout the southern U.S. and Central and South America during the past 10 years. We show the utility of this method for uncovering novel and under-studied groups of Triatominae hosts, as well as detecting the presence of the Chagas disease pathogen via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of a ~400 bp sequence of the trypanosome 18S gene. Results: New host associations for several groups of arboreal mammals were determined including sloths, New World monkeys, coatis, arboreal porcupines and, for the first time as a host of any Triatominae, tayras. A thorough review of previously documented sylvatic hosts, organized by triatomine species and the type Abstract 11 Background: 12 The 148 species of kissing bug include important vectors of the debilitating, chronic, and 13 often fatal Chagas disease, which affects several million people in Central and South America. 14 An understanding of the natural hosts of this speciose group of blood-feeding insects has and 15 will continue to aid ongoing efforts to impede the spread of Chagas disease. However, 16 information on kissing bug biology is piecemeal and scattered, developed using methods with 17 varying levels of accuracy over more than 100 years. Existing host records are heavily biased 18 towards well-studied primary vector species and are derived from primarily three different types 19 of observations, associational, immunological or DNA-based, with varying reliability. Methods:
Detecting coherent local patterns from time series gene expression data by a temporal biclustering method

Time-series gene expression data analysis plays an important role in bioinformatics. In this paper, we propose a biclustering method to detect local expression patterns in time-series gene expression data by performing clustering on both gene and time dimensions. Our method aims to find gene subsets which show coherent expression profiles in some time subsets which have a consecutive order in a bicluster. Specifically, our temporal biclustering method is composed of a discretization procedure and a follow-up sequence alignment, which can identify similar local expression profiles and further reveal coherent local relations such as complementary and time-lagged coherence. We apply our method to yeast cell cycle data, and find several biologically important biclusters.
Aganaspis alujai (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae), a New Species Attacking Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the Neotropical Region

Abstract A new neotropical species of Aganaspis (Hymenoptera: Figitidae, Eucoilinae) is described and compared to other Aganaspis species occurring in the Neotropical Region. This thelytokous species was reared from pupae of 2 species of fruit flies in the genus Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae), both in the suavis species group, and collected from 2 species of native walnuts in Mexico. Evidence of host specialization through diapause timing and notes on basic biology are provided.
Effect of dietary n6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio on prostaglandin plasma levels and genes expression peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ( PPAR ) in pregnant Sprague Dawley rats

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a family of nuclear transcription factors thought to act as receptors for polyunsaturated fatty acids and to reduce production of series 2 prostaglandins (PG). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different ratio n-6:n-3 on the PPAR expression of rats endometrial tissue. The findings obtained from this study showed significant induction of PPARδ mRNA levels in endomatral cells treatment 1:1 group by 1.38 fold compared with the PPARδ mRNA levels in endomatral cells treatment 30:1 group. This induction was due to the cellular demands for prostaglandin were high in the endometrial cells when cells were treated with high ratio n6:n3 on 30:1 group, thus, resulting in an increase in both prostaglandin PGE2 and PGF2α production by induction of PPARδ genes. On the other hand, treatment 1:1 group and control group of endometrial cells did not show any significant changes in mRNA level of PPARδ, compared with treatment ratio n6:n3 on 6:1 group and treatment high ratio n6:n3 on 30:1 group of the endometrial cells. These findings show that inhibition of uterine PGF2α synthesis by n-3 fatty acids may depend on the amount of n-6 fatty acids reaching the target tissue. In conclusion, PPARδ function in the response of rat endometrium to long chain n-6:n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Promising prediction of the monsoon trough and its implication for tropical cyclone activity over the western North Pacific

The monsoon trough (MT) is generally recognized as a feeding ground for tropical cyclones (TCs) over the western North Pacific (WNP). In view of the many challenges that remain in current seasonal TC forecasting, it would be a profound benefit to understand the predictability of variations in the MT and the implications of this for the seasonal prediction of TC activity. This study reveals that high predictability of the MT is shown by the current atmosphere–ocean coupled forecasting system, with the correlation coefficient being 0.84 for the model-ensemble prediction with observations from 1960 to 2005. This high predictability arises mainly from the tropical dipole sea surface temperature over the Maritime Continent and tropical Pacific Ocean, which favors convection around the warm pool and further excites the vorticity anomalies over the WNP. It is further found that good knowledge of the MT could provide promising prediction of TC activity over the WNP, including the occurrence and energy of TCs. The findings of this study suggest that coupling between the WNP circulation and tropical ocean acts as an important source of seasonal predictability in the WNP, and highlight the importance of the MT for seasonal prediction of TCs over the WNP.