Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Behaviour and chronology of pair formation by Harlequin Ducks Histrionicus histrionicus

The chronology of pairing and behaviours associated with pairing were studied on a small population of wintering Harlequin Ducks. Research was carried out on 17 days between 19 September and 21 November 1995 on a 2 km rocky coastline in south-western British Columbia. The behaviours rushing, agonistic pursuits and head-nodding were found to be specific to courtship. Males performed more courtship behaviour than females. Males which had completed their pre-alternate moult exhibited courtship behaviours more often than moulting males. Pairing began in mid-September and continued to increase steadily to between 44% and 70% of females paired by 21 November. Three pairs identified during the 1994-1995 non-breeding season, re-united in the fall of 1995. Harlequin Ducks pair relatively early, probably because many pairs are re-uniting in the fall. The courtship behaviour shown by males is probably mate guarding by paired males and active courtship by bachelor males.
Prevention of Male Life Course Persistent Antisocial Behavior A Proposal

The prevention of mental, emotional, and behavior problems in young people is a very high national mental health priority. Of all the various problems, a strong argument can be made that the prevention of male life-course-persistent (MLCP) antisocial behavior should assume the highest priority. MLCP refers to the childhood onset of severe overt conduct problems such as physical aggression, opposition-defiance, and rule-breaking that emerge from early neurodevelopmental risk factors such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and family adversity risk factors. MLCP greatly increases the risk for delinquency, adult criminality, and a host of other problems. If prevention of MLCP is ever to be effective, it must have three components: intensity, early beginning, and continuation over the long-term. This article makes the case that an essential part of the “early, intensive” components should be the preschool identification and treatment of children who have ADHD. It does so by establishing that ADHD is a major risk factor in the developmental sequence that leads to MLCP. It then argues that since there is massive evidence that ADHD can be very successfully treated, it follows that the early, intensive treatment of ADHD would be an effective means of preventing MLCP.
Internal dynamics of the galaxy cluster Abell 545 : the ideal case where to study the simultaneous formation of a galaxy system and its brightest galaxy

Context. The mechanisms giving rise to diffuse radio emission in galaxy clusters, and in particular the ir connection with cluster mergers, are still debated. Aims. We seek to explore the internal dynamics of the cluster Abell 545, which has been shown to host a radio halo. Abell 545 is also peculiar for hosting in its center a very bright, red, diffuse intracluster light due to an old, presumably metal-rich stellar population, so bright to be named as “star pile”. Methods. Our analysis is mainly based on redshift data for 110 galaxies acquired at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo. We identify 95 cluster members and analyze the cluster internal dynamics by combining galaxy velocities and positions. We also use both multiband photometric data acquired at the Isaac Newton Telescope and X-ray data from the XMM-Newton Science Archive. Results. We estimate the cluster redshift,h zi= 0.1580, a large line-of-sight (LOS) velocity dispersionσV∼ 1200 km s −1 , and ICM temperature kTX∼ 8 keV. Our optical and X-ray analyses detect substructures. Optical data reveal three main galaxy clumps (one at the center hosting the peak of X-ray emission; one at NNW, and one at NE); and possibly a fourth clump at South. There is not a dominant galaxy and the four brightest galaxies avoid the cluster core ‐& 0.4 h −1 70 Mpc distant from the cluster center ‐ and are& 1500 km s −1 far from the mean cluster velocity. Two of these brightest galaxies are located in the NNW and NE clumps. The analysis of the X-ray surface brightness distribution provides us evid ence of a disturbed dynamical phase: the strong NNW-SSE elongation, a western excess, and a sharp discontinuity in the northern region which is the likely signature of a shock. Located in the star pile region there are the brightest galaxy of the cluster core (CBCG) and a very compact elliptical galaxy, likely a M32-like dwarf. We show that the star pile, which has a previously determined redshift, h as a similar redshift to that of the CBCG. Both the star pile and the CBCG are at rest in the cluster rest frame. The elongation of the st ar pile and its relative position with respect to the CBCG indicate the same direction pointed out by the NE clump. Conclusions. The emerging picture of Abell 545 is that of a massive, M(R< 1.6 h −1 70 Mpc) = (1.1‐1.8)×10 15 h −1 70 M⊙, very complex cluster with merging occurring along two directions. Abell 545 gives another proof in the favor of the connection between cluster merger and extended, diffuse radio emission. The star pile, likely due to the process o f a brightest galaxy forming in the cluster core, is related to the accretion along the NE direction. Abell 545 represents a textbook cluster where to study the simultaneous formation of a galaxy system and its brightest galaxy.
High-Plex Predictive Marker Discovery for Melanoma Immunotherapy–Treated Patients Using Digital Spatial Profiling

Purpose: Protein expression in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue is routinely measured by IHC or quantitative fluorescence (QIF) on a handful of markers on a single section. Digital spatial profiling (DSP) allows spatially informed simultaneous assessment of multiple biomarkers. Here we demonstrate the DSP technology using a 44-plex antibody cocktail to find protein expression that could potentially be used to predict response to immune therapy in melanoma. Experimental Design: The NanoString GeoMx DSP technology is compared with automated QIF (AQUA) for immune marker compartment-specific measurement and prognostic value in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Then we use this tool to search for novel predictive markers in a cohort of 60 patients with immunotherapy-treated melanoma on a tissue microarray using a 44-plex immune marker panel measured in three compartments (macrophage, leukocyte, and melanocyte) generating 132 quantitative variables. Results: The spatially informed variable assessment by DSP validates by both regression and variable prognostication compared with QIF for stromal CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, and PD-L1 in NSCLC. From the 132 variables, 11 and 15 immune markers were associated with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Notably, we find PD-L1 expression in CD68-positive cells (macrophages) and not in tumor cells was a predictive marker for PFS, OS, and response. Conclusions: DSP technology shows high concordance with QIF and validates based on both regression and outcome assessment. Using the high-plex capacity, we found a series of expression patterns associated with outcome, including that the expression of PD-L1 in macrophages is associated with response.
Early Use of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy to Accelerate Symptomatic Relief and Complete Left Ventricular Function Recovery in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare cause of heart failure that develops during the last month of pregnancy or within first months of delivery. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with severely symptomatic PPCM characterized by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 10% and significant dyssynchrony secondary to a left bundle branch block (LBBB). Early cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was used to achieve remarkable functional and LVEF recovery. This case suggests that early CRT must be considered for patients suffering from severely symptomatic PPCM despite optimal medical therapy for whom advanced heart failure therapies are proposed.
Cytogenetic analysis in catfish species of the genus Peckoltia Miranda Ribeiro, 1912 (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

This study describes the karyotypes of three species of the genus Peckoltia (Loricariidae: Ancistrini). Fishes were collected in the Jari (Peckoltia sp. 1 and Peckoltia sp. 2) and Xingu rivers (Peckoltia vittata (Steindachner, 1881)) in the Amazon rainforest. Karyotypes were 2n = 52 for Peckoltia vittata (FN=102: 16 metacentrics (m), 20 submetacentrics (sm), 14 subtelocentrics (st), 2 acrocentrics (a)) and Peckoltia sp. 2 (FN=102: 32 m + sm, 18st, 2a). Peckoltia sp. 1 (FN=102: 44 m + sm, 6st, 2a, 1B) had 2n = 53 due to a B chromosome. The species differ in chromosomal morphology. Nucleolar Organizer Regions (NOR) was identifi ed within a distal region of the long arm of pair 9 in Peckoltia vittata, in pair 10 and in a homologue of pair 25 in Peckoltia sp. 1, as well as in pair 17 and in a homologue of pair 18 in Peckoltia sp. 2. Chromomycin A3 banding agreed with the location of the NORs. C-banding patterns revealed large non-centromeric heterochromatic blocks, probably of a common origin. Our results suggest a higher level of similarity between Peckoltia vittata and Peckoltia sp. 1.
Subject-Specific Studies of CSF Bulk Flow Patterns in the Spinal Canal: Implications for the Dispersion of Solute Particles in Intrathecal Drug Delivery

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent flow dynamics studies have shown that the eccentricity of the spinal cord affects the magnitude and characteristics of the slow bulk motion of CSF in the spinal subarachnoid space, which is an important variable in solute transport along the spinal canal. The goal of this study was to investigate how anatomic differences among subjects affect this bulk flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T2-weighted spinal images were obtained in 4 subjects and repeated in 1 subject after repositioning. CSF velocity was calculated from phase-contrast MR images for 7 equally spaced levels along the length of the spine. This information was input into a 2-time-scale asymptotic analysis of the Navier-Stokes and concentration equations to calculate the short- and long-term CSF flow in the spinal subarachnoid space. Bulk flow streamlines were shown for each subject and position and inspected for differences in patterns. RESULTS: The 4 subjects had variable degrees of lordosis and kyphosis. Repositioning in 1 subject changed the degree of cervical lordosis and thoracic kyphosis. The streamlines of bulk flow show the existence of distinct regions where the fluid particles flow in circular patterns. The location and interconnectivity of these recirculating regions varied among individuals and different positions. CONCLUSIONS: Lordosis, kyphosis, and spinal cord eccentricity in the healthy human spine result in subject-specific patterns of bulk flow recirculating regions. The extent of the interconnectivity of the streamlines among these recirculating regions is fundamental in determining the long-term transport of solute particles along the spinal canal.
Optimal torque controller for synchronous reluctance motors

A low cost software implementation of an angular velocity observer based control scheme for a space vector PWM inverter fed synchronous reluctance motor is presented. A standard saturated machine d-q model neglecting iron losses is used for torque control. Excellent performance using the maximum torque per ampere strategy is confirmed by simulation and experimental results on an axially-laminated machine.
Molecular outflow launched beyond the disk edge

One of the long-standing problems of star formation is the excess of angular momentum of the parent molecular cloud. In the classical picture, a fraction of angular momentum of the circumstellar material is removed by the magneto-centrifugally driven disk wind that is launched from a wide region throughout the disk. In this work, we investigate the kinematics in the envelope-disk transition zone of the Class I object BHB07-11, in the B59 core. For this purpose, we used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in extended configuration to observe the thermal dust continuum emission ($\lambda_0 \sim$ 1.3 mm) and molecular lines (CO, C$^{18}$O and H$_2$CO), which are suitable tracers of disk, envelope, and outflow dynamics at a spatial resolution of $\sim 30$ AU. We report a bipolar outflow that was launched at symmetric positions with respect to the disk ($\sim$80~AU in radius), but was concentrated at a distance of 90--130~AU from the disk center. The two outflow lobes had a conical shape and the gas inside was accelerating. The large offset of the launching position coincided with the landing site of the infall material from the extended spiral structure (seen in dust) onto the disk. This indicates that bipolar outflows are efficiently launched within a narrow region outside the disk edge. We also identify a sharp transition in the gas kinematics across the tip of the spiral structure, which pinpoints the location of the so-called centrifugal barrier.
Continuous behavioural ‘switching’ in human spermatozoa and its regulation by Ca2+-mobilising stimuli

Abstract Human sperm show a variety of different behaviours (types of motility) that have different functional roles. Previous reports suggest that sperm may reversibly switch between these behaviours. We have recorded and analysed the behaviour of individual human sperm (180 cells in total), each cell monitored continuously for 3–3.5 min either under control conditions or in the presence of Ca2+-mobilising stimuli. Switching between different behaviours was assessed visually (1 s bins using four behaviour categories), and was verified by fractal dimension analysis of sperm head tracks. In the absence of stimuli, ~90% of cells showed at least one behavioural transition (mean rate under control conditions = 6.4 ± 0.8 transitions.min−1). Type 1 behaviour (progressive, activated-like motility) was most common, but the majority of cells (>70%) displayed at least three behaviour types. Treatment of sperm with Ca2+-mobilising agonists had negligible effects on the rate of switching but increased the time spent in type 2 and type 3 (hyperactivation-like) behaviours (P < 2*10−8; chi-square). Treatment with 4-aminopyridine under alkaline conditions (pHo = 8.5), a highly-potent Ca2+-mobilising stimulus, was the most effective in increasing the proportion of type 3 behaviour, biasing switching away from type 1 (P < 0.005) and dramatically extending the duration of type 3 events (P < 10−16). Other stimuli, including 300 nM progesterone and 1% human follicular fluid, had qualitatively similar effects but were less potent. We conclude that human sperm observed in vitro constitutively display a range of behaviours and regulation of motility by [Ca2+]i, at the level of the single cell, is achieved not by causing cells to adopt a ‘new’ behaviour but by changing the relative contributions of those behaviours.
More on Religion and Fertility: The French Connection

This paper contributes to the study of the relationship between religion and fertility. More speci cally, I investigate the impact of being Catholic on fertility in France. Fertility is measured either by the number of children ever born or by completed fertility. I show that women who are strong practicers have signi cantly more children than other women ; however, being a Catholic believer has no signi cant impact on fertility. I also construct two variables allowing me to detect that the particularized ideology mechanisms can partially explain why religion has an impact on fertility in my dataset. Nevertheless, I cannot exclude the social interactions hypothesis. The multivariate analysis I provide also validates the main mechanisms of the rational actor model.
Predicting U.S. Recessions with Dynamic Binary Response Models

We develop dynamic binary probit models and apply them for predicting U.S. recessions using the interest rate spread as the driving predictor. The new models use lags of the binary response (a recession dummy) to forecast its future values and allow for the potential forecast power of lags of the underlying conditional probability. We show how multiperiod-ahead forecasts are computed iteratively using the same one-period-ahead model. Iterated forecasts that apply specific lags supported by statistical model selection procedures turn out to be more accurate than previously used direct forecasts based on horizon-specific model specifications.
Lassa fever: A recurring decimal in Plateau state, Nigeria

Background: Since the first reported case of Lassa fever (LF) in Jos, Plateau state Nigeria in the early 70’s, the state has been plagued with increasing number of cases. This could be due to poor environmental practices, food and personal hygiene. By the end of August 2017 there were 42 reported cases with 15 confirmed cases. Sadly, over the years there have been challenges with reporting and investigation of cases. This could be due to weak health systems commonly seen in developing countries.Methods and Materials: We reviewed 2012-2016 surveillance data from the State Ministry of Health (SMoH) using Microsoft Excel. Descriptive analysis was conducted on the reported LF cases in the state.Results: Between the years 2012 – 2016 there were 109 reported LF cases, with 57 (52.3%) males and 52 (47.7%) females. The mean age of the reported cases was 27.9± 13.6 years. Out of these, 23 (21.1%) were confirmed cases: 1 (4.5%) in 2012, none in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and 21 (91.3%) in 2016.The male: female ratio was10 (43.5%): 13 (56.5%). Six (26.1%) of the confirmed cases were health workers. The case fatality rate of the confirmed cases was 52.2%. Even though there is significant association between LF and death (P-value = 0.003) the odds ratio, 0.215 (95% CI) is low. The reporting years show consistent increasing trend from 2012 to 2016, except for 2015 where there was a decline in the number of reported cases. In 2016 there were 74 (67.9%) cases, 5 (4.6%) in 2015, 15 (13.7%) in 2014, 12 (11.0%) in 2013 and 3 (2.6%) in 2012.Conclusion: Even though reported cases are increasing, there are still gaps observed in the surveillance system of the SMoH. The annual recurrence of LF outbreak in the state without reciprocal preventive efforts on ground to combating it has exposed the populace and health workers to ill-health and death.
ANALYSIS OF THE SHOTS TO GOAL STRATEGIES OF FIRST DIVISION BRAZILIAN PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAMS

The purpose of this study was to analyze the shots to goal strategies during four soccer matches, through computational tracking. Software Dvideow was used to obtain data about players’ position and their technical actions and data treatment was performed in Matlab® environment. The results showed that the teams usually win the ball possession in their defensive soccer field and ball possessions that resulted in shot to goal can involve few or great number of passes depending on the game situation. Results do not corroborate with literature studies due to different methods of data treatment. Information about to these shots to goal strategies can help coaches to improve technical training, to find possible team mistakes and present it to players.
Impacts on Young Children and Their Families Two Years after Enrollment: Findings from the Child Outcomes Study. Summary Report. National Evaluation of Welfare-to-Work Strategies.

As policymakers have sought to balance the goal of fostering poor children's well-being with that of encouraging adult's self-sufficiency, public assistance has become more predicated on custodial parents' involvement in work or mandatory welfare-to-work programs. This summary report examines the effects of welfare-to-work programs implemented as part of the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program (JOBS) on the children of adults mandated to participate. The evaluation focused on children's development and well-being in a sample of families with preschool-age children at the start of the evaluation. The findings indicated that the welfare-to-work programs implemented as part of the JOBS program did have significant impacts on children's development, but these impacts were not widespread and were generally small. There were favorable impacts particularly in the area of cognitive development and particularly at one site. There were unfavorable child health impacts, specifically at one site. Findings in the area of children's behavior and emotional adjustment encompassed both favorable and unfavorable impacts. Findings for a subgroup of higher risk families were few and tended generally to be small. Unfavorable impacts were found for children from lower-risk families at three sites. The unfavorable and policy relevant impacts occurred in a concentrated manner and some had moderate to large effect sizes. It was concluded that Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. most children were not adversely affected, and in some cases were helped, by their mothers' participation in a JOBS program. Further follow-up will be important because of the limited unfavorable impacts. (Contains 37 references.) (KB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.
Evaluation of pest management packages for their performance against major insect pests and predatory fauna of Okra in Gangetic alluvial plain of West Bengal

The present investigation was carried out to study the field-effectiveness of different pest management modules (M-1: bio-intensive, M-2: farmers’ conventional package of practice, M-3: proposed IPM compatible bio-rational module and M-4: adaptable package of practice) against major insect pests of okra and their impact on prevailing natural enemies and crop yield during spring summer season of 2015 and 2016 (February-May). Mean percent reduction of leafhopper population over untreated control was highest in Module-3 (59.33%) followed by Module-4 (42.84%) while, in case of whitefly, Module-3 recorded lowest number of nymphs and adults (2.01/ leaf) followed by Module-2. Module-3 registered lowest mean population of Helicoverpa armigera (0.17 larvae/ plant) along with lowest mean fruit damage (3.22%) and highest yield (13.69 t/ ha). Highest mean number of Coccinellids and spiders were encountered in Module-3 (0.32 and 0.31 per plant respectively) also which can be an excellent option for sustainable management of major insect pests of okra.
Nonlinear force-free modelling: influence of inaccuracies in the measured magnetic vector

Context. Solar magnetic fields are regularly extrapolated into the corona starting from photospheric magnetic measurements that can be affected by significant uncertainty. Aims. We study how inaccuracies introduced into the maps of the photospheric magnetic vector by the inversion of ideal and noisy Stokes parameters influence the extrapolation of nonlinear force-free magnetic fields. Methods. We compute nonlinear force-free magnetic fields based on simulated vector magnetograms, by the inversion of Stokes profiles that were computed by a 3-D radiation MHD simulation snapshot. These extrapolations are compared with extrapolations that originate directly in the field in the MHD simulations, which is our reference. We investigate how line formation and instrumental effects such as noise, limited spatial resolution, and the effect of employing a filter instrument influence the resulting magnetic field structure. The comparison is performed qualitatively by visually inspecting the magnetic field distribution and quantitatively by different metrics. Results. The reconstructed field is most accurate if ideal Stokes data are inverted and becomes less accurate if instrumental effects and noise are included. The results demonstrate that the nonlinear force-free field extrapolation method tested here is relatively insensitive to the effects of noise in measured polarization spectra at levels consistent with present-day instruments. Conclusions. Our results show that we can reconstruct the coronal magnetic field as a nonlinear force-free field from realistic photospheric measurements with an accuracy of a few percent, at least in the absence of sunspots.