Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative testicular structure and spermatogenesis in bony fishes

In most bony fishes, testes are paired elongated organs that are attached to the dorsal wall of the body by a mesorchium. Histological examination of teleost testes, and also in all vertebrates, shows that the testes are formed of germ cells and somatic cells, comprising the germinal and interstitial compartments. Both compartments are separated by a basement membrane. The germ cells may be spermatogonia, meiotic spermatocytes and haploid spermatids that differentiate into spermatozoa. The process of spermatogenesis includes a sequence of morphological and physiological changes of germ cells that begin with the differentiation of spermatogonia that become meiotic spermatocytes. After the second meiotic division, through a process of spermiogenesis, these differentiate into spermatozoa. Spermatogonia associate with Sertoli cells to form spermatocysts or cysts. The cyst is the unit of spermatogenic function, composed of a cohort of isogenic germ cells surrounded by encompassing Sertoli cells. The teleost testis is organized morphologically into 3 types of testis: 1) tubular testis type, present in lower bony fishes as salmonids, cyprinids and lepisosteids; 2) unrestricted spermatogonial testis type, found in neoteleosts except Atherinomorpha; and 3) restricted spermatogonial testis type, characteristic of all Atherinomorpha. The morphology of the testicular germinal epithelium changes during the annual reproductive cycle, reflecting reproductive seasonality.
Improving command tracking for QFT controllers

The two-degrees-of-freedom properties of controllers designed using QFT techniques are studied in this paper, giving an alternative proposal to change some aspects of the design in order to get improved command tracking and robustness of the design to changes in the controller. Thus, it is proposed to use a specific two-degrees-of-freedom structure, which through an adequate selection of the controller terms makes command tracking properties independent of the selection of the feedback controller. Then, the QFT technique can be used to design the feedback controller, without needing to redesign the prefilters if this feedback controller is re-designed. This technique is presented by way of an example using a process control problem.
Well-Being Under Chronic Stress: Is Morningness an Advantage?

This study investigated whether morningness was associated with better quality of life in individuals experiencing chronic stress. Thirty-one informal primary carers and 35 non-carers completed self-report measures of time-of-day preference, stress and well-being. The data were collected as part of a broader study of circadian rhythmicity under conditions of prolonged stress. There was a significant interaction between diurnal preference and caregiving, with morningness associated with better well-being outcomes in those providing long-term home care. It appears that chronic arousal, but not perceived stress, plays a role in this morningness–carer interaction, with lower arousal levels also evident in carers with a greater preference for morningness. These results point to a possible role for circadian influences in the relationship between stress and subjective well-being.
An analytical approach to the study of cooperation in wireless ad hoc networks

In wireless ad hoc networks, nodes communicate with far off destinations using intermediate nodes as relays. Since wireless nodes are energy constrained, it may not be in the best interest of a node to always accept relay requests. On the other hand, if all nodes decide not to expend energy in relaying, then network throughput will drop dramatically. Both these extreme scenarios (complete cooperation and complete noncooperation) are inimical to the interests of a user. In this paper, we address the issue of user cooperation in ad hoc networks. We assume that nodes are rational, i.e., their actions are strictly determined by self interest, and that each node is associated with a minimum lifetime constraint. Given these lifetime constraints and the assumption of rational behavior, we are able to determine the optimal share of service that each node should receive. We define this to be the rational Pareto optimal operating point. We then propose a distributed and scalable acceptance algorithm called Generous TIT-FOR-TAT (GTFT). The acceptance algorithm is used by the nodes to decide whether to accept or reject a relay request. We show that GTFT results in a Nash equilibrium and prove that the system converges to the rational and optimal operating point.
Identification and molecular characterization of a novel member of the siglec family (SIGLEC9).

Using the positional cloning approach, we have identified siglec-9 (HGMW-approved symbol SIGLEC9) a novel member of the sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin (Siglec) family, which belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF). We characterized the genomic structure of this gene and determined its chromosomal localization, its homology to other members of the siglec family, and its tissue expression profile. The siglec-9 gene is composed of seven exons, with six intervening introns. The coding region consists of 1392 nucleotides and produces a 463-amino-acid protein. Furthermore, we have localized this gene to 19q13.4, 43.19 kb more telomeric than KLK14 (a member of the kallikrein gene family) through genomic sequencing data and restriction mapping with EcoRI. This novel siglec shows a high degree of homology to many members of the siglec family, including siglec-7 (80%), siglec-8 (72%), siglec-5 (65%), and CD33 (64%). This high degree of homology is also conserved in the extracellular Ig-like domains. Through RT-PCR, we have examined the expression of siglec-9 in a large number of tissues and have found relatively high-level expression in bone marrow, placenta, spleen, and fetal liver. Based on its homology to CD33, we speculate that this gene may also have some utility as a target for immunological antineoplastic therapy.
Economic Evaluation of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Culture Media

Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major bacterial pathogen worldwide, requires a complex medium for culture, which complicates harvesting of antigens for vaccine production. Here we present an economic evaluation of factors affecting the production cost of a chemically defined medium for the scale up of fermentation of S. pneumoniae, compared with the most traditional fermentation media. A basic laboratory-scale experiment of 1 L and an industrial-scale production of 100 L were assumed. The economic analysis results show that at 1 L lab-scale the Chemically Defined Medium (CDM) is the most expensive (US$35/L) compared to Tryptic Soy Broth medium (TSB) and Tryptic Soy Vegitone medium (TSBv), (US$2.9/L), Todd Hewitt (US$22.8/L) and Brain Heart Broth (BHI) (US$10.8/L). However at 100 L production-scale all the media costs decrease and CDM becomes competitive with Todd Hewitt and BHI (US$8.4, 9.6, 8.2/L, respectively) and slightly more expensive than both TSB media (US$2.9/L). We conclude that although some aspects of culture growth should be studied in more detail, the production cost of the chemically defined medium for industrial scale fermentation of S. pneumoniae is economically competitive on the grounds not only of price, but also taking into account other benefits such us ease of isolation, and the possibility of fine-tuning of the individual chemical species in its formulation according to the culture requirements.
An Image mise en abyme

The essay analyses a 1934 photograph showing the making of a film in a workshop of the Renault Motor Company in Billancourt, France. What can this specific image tell us about photography, filming, and industrial work? It has limited historical value when viewed alone. One approach is to compare it to a corpus of related documents. Like any other historical vestige, images have to be interpreted in relation one to another as well as compared to other sources. They have to be (re)contextualized. A second approach is to investigate its archival origins. Returning as far as possible to the sources of an image, one can identify at least the logic of its conservation, and eventually the process of its making and the context of its usage. Thus, visual documents can become irreplaceable historical sources.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners’ Perceptions of the Influence of Race and Ethnicity on Victims’ Responses to Rape

Race/ethnicity plays a role in the perception of rape and experiences of victims. This research explores sexual assault nurse examiners’ (SANE) perceptions of the influence of victims’ race/ethnicity on their responses in hospitals to rape, and whether SANEs have different ways of addressing the needs of victims of color when treating them. Data from interviews with 40 SANEs indicate that the majority believe victims of color respond to rape differently or face different issues than White victims do, and 30% of SANEs believed race/ethnicity with other factors influence responses. Half of SANEs interviewed have different ways of responding to victims based on race/ethnicity.
Cascaded heterogeneous convolutional neural networks for handwritten digit recognition

This paper presents a handwritten digit recognition method based on cascaded heterogeneous convolutional neural networks (CNNs). The reliability and complementation of heterogeneous CNNs are investigated in our method. Each CNN recognizes a proportion of input samples with high-confidence, and feeds the rejected samples into the next CNN. The samples rejected by the last CNN are recognized by a voting committee of all CNNs. Experiments on MNIST dataset show that our method achieves an error rate 0.23% using only 5 C-NNs, on par with human vision system. Using heterogeneous networks can reduce the number of CNNs needed to reach certain performance compared with networks built from the same type. Further improvements include fine-tuning the rejection threshold of each CNN and adding CNNs of more types.
Bias-tolerant terrain following method for a field deployed manipulator

Manipulator operations are complicated by sensor noise, mechanical compliance, and system bias. These uncertainties are compounded in field environments, such as those encountered in humanitarian demining. By taking advantage of the generally flat and static structure of the terrain, a series of adaptive corrections and filters refine a sensed topographical model and generate a trajectory that is robust to inherent inaccuracies and modeling errors. Experimental testing on a mobile robot using stereo-vision as modeling sensor indicates that this method provides a tracking precision of plusmn5 mm on relatively flat ground. As such, it will keep the attached mine sensors close to the ground, improving effectiveness
Megakaryoblastic Leukemia-1/2, a Transcriptional Co-activator of Serum Response Factor, Is Required for Skeletal Myogenic Differentiation*

Serum response factor (SRF) is required for the expression of a wide variety of muscle-specific genes that are expressed upon differentiation and is thus required for both striated and smooth muscle differentiation in addition to its role in regulating growth factor-inducible genes. A heart and smooth muscle-specific SRF co-activator, myocardin, has been shown to be required for cardiac development and smooth muscle differentiation. However, no such co-factors of SRF have been identified in the skeletal myogenic differentiation program. Myocardin and the related transcription factor megakaryoblastic leukemia-1 (MKL1/MAL/MRTF-A) can strongly potentiate the activity of SRF. Here we report the cloning of the third member of the myocardin/MKL family in humans, MKL2. MKL2 binds to and activates SRF similar to myocardin and MKL1. To determine the role of these factors in skeletal myogenic differentiation we used a dominant negative MKL2 to show that the MKL family of proteins is required for skeletal myogenic differentiation. Expression of the dominant negative protein in C2C12 skeletal myoblasts blocked the differentiation-induced expression of the SRF target genes skeletal α-actin and α-myosin heavy chain and blocked differentiation of the myoblasts to myotubes in vitro. C2C12 cells express both MKL1 and MKL2, but not myocardin, implicating MKL1 and/or MKL2 in the requirement for skeletal myogenic differentiation. MKL1 was predominantly cytoplasmic in C2C12 cells, with a small amount in the nucleus, however, no movement of MKL1 to the nucleus was observed upon differentiation.
The Henderson Revision of the Test of Motor Impairment: A Comprehensive Approach to Assessment

This article describes the approach to testing that guided the recent revision of the Test of Motor Impairment (TOMI). Traditional attempts to measure intrinsic ability lent themselves to the labeling of children as defective. A test score should be regarded rather as a record of available capabilities. Performance depends on the abilities a child brings into play; the use of abilities and the development of skills depend in turn on motivational-emotional factors. Moreover, a composite score does not provide information about the reasons for failure. These considerations led to the compilation of qualitative diagnostic aids. The first directs the tester’s attention to the nature of a child’s failure of motor control, the second to behavioral sources of poor performance. The third checklist is a task-by-task, process-oriented analysis of motor faults designed for clinical diagnosis and professional training. In providing a detailed picture of a child’s performance, the TOMI bridges the gap between assessme.
Work motivation in the context of a globalizing economy

Contents: M. Erez, U. Kleinbeck, H. Thierry, Preface. M. Erez, D. Eden, Introduction: Trends Reflected in Work Motivation. Part I:Work Motivation--The Individual Level. U. Kleinbeck, M. Erez, Introduction. E.A. Locke, Self-Set Goals and Self-Efficacy as Mediators of Incentives and Personality. R.E. Wood, J. George-Falvy, S. Debrowski, Motivation and Information Search on Complex Tasks. J. Wegge, U. Kleinbeck, K-H. Schmidt, Goal Setting and Performance in Working Memory and Short-Term-Memory Tasks. D. Eden, Means Efficacy: External Sources of General and Specific Subjective Efficacy. Z. Millman, G. Latham, Increasing Reemployment Through Training in Verbal Self-Guidance. M. Frese, Personal Initiative (PI): The Theoretical Concept and Empirical Findings. A.N. Kluger, Feedback-Expectation Discrepancy, Arousal and Locus of Cognition. A.K. Korman, Self-Enhancement and Self-Protection: Toward a Theory of Work Motivation. W. Van Eerde, H. Thierry, VIE Functions, Self-Set Goals, and Performance: An Experiment. H. Thierry, The Reflection Theory on Compensation. Part II:The Group Level. U. Kleinbeck, Introduction. D.R. Ilgen, L. Sheppard, Motivation in Work Teams. U. Kleinbeck, J. Wegge, K-H. Schmidt, Work Motivation and Performance in Groups. J.A. Algera, Performance Management of Self-Managing Teams and Organizational Control Systems. G.B. Graen, C. Hui, Approaches to Leadership: Toward a Complete Contingency Model of Face-to-Face Leadership. Part III:The Organization Level. H. Thierry, Introduction. B. Schneider, D.B. Smith, M.C. Paul, P-E Fit and the Attraction-Selection-Attrition Model of Organizational Functioning: Introduction and Overview. A. Rafaeli, Employee-Organizational Relationships in Employment Ads. K.J. Klein, Creating a Strong, Positive Climate for Technology Implementation: Organizations Should, But Often Don't.Why? L.W. Porter, G.A. Bigley, Motivation and Transformational Leadership: Some Organizational Context Issues. K.A. Hanisch, C. Hulin, S.T. Seitz, Temporal Dynamics and Emergent Properties of Organizational Withdrawal Models. M. Koslowsky, Some New Organizational Perspectives on Moderators and Mediators in the Stress-Strain Process: Time Urgency, Management, and Worker Control. Part IV:The Cultural Level. M. Erez, Introduction. K. Leung, Different Carrots for Different Rabbits: Effects of Individualism--Collectivism and Power Distance on Work Motivation. S. Ronen, Self-Actualization Versus Collectualization: Implications for Motivation Theories. P.C. Earley, Understanding Social Motivation From an Interpersonal Perspective: Organizational Face Theory. N. Nicholson, An Evolutionary Perspective on Change and Stability in Personality, Culture, and Organization. Part V:Summary. M. Erez, Introduction. M.H. Bond, Surveying the Foundations: Approaches to Measuring Group, Organizational, and National Variation.
Coping: Effects of Death Education

The present investigation utilized coping capacities as desired outcomes and sought to evaluate the effects of one death education seminar. An experimental group (N = 24) experienced the entire seminar while a control group (N = 30) participated in only two class sessions. All completed the “Coping with Death Scale” at the beginning of the semester and again three weeks later. Results indicated significant changes in coping capacity on twenty-three out of thirty items for the experimental group. The control group revealed significance on only one item. Implications for students and death educators were discussed.
Intelligent web crawler

As the number of Internet users and the number of accessible Web pages grows, it is becoming increasingly difficult for users to find documents that are relevant to their particular needs. Users must either browse through a large hierarchy of concepts to find the information for which they are looking or submit a query to a publicly available search engine and wade through hundreds of results, most of them irrelevant. Web crawlers are one of the most crucial components in search engines and their optimization would have a great effect on improving the searching efficiency. This paper, introduces an intelligent web crawler that uses an ontological engineering concepts for improving its crawling performance. Intelligent crawler estimates the best path for crawling. This is the first crawler that acts intelligently without any relevance feedback or training.
Recognition of emotional states induced by music videos based on nonlinear feature extraction and SOM classification

This research aims at investigating the relationship between Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and human emotional states. A subject-independent emotion recognition system is proposed using EEG signals collected during emotional audio-visual inductions to classify different classes of continuous valence-arousal model. First, four feature extraction methods based on Approximate Entropy, Spectral entropy, Katz's fractal dimension and Petrosian's fractal dimension were used; then, a two-stage feature selection method based on Dunn index and Sequential forward feature selection algorithm (SFS) algorithm was used to select the most informative feature subsets. Self-Organization Map (SOM) classifier was used to classify different emotional classes with the use of 5-fold cross-validation. The best results were achieved using combination of all features by average accuracies of %68.92 and %71.25 for two classes of valence and arousal, respectively. Furthermore, a hierarchical model which was constructed of two classifiers was used for classifying 4 emotional classes of valence and arousal levels and the average accuracy of %55.15 was achieved.
Path planning in expansive configuration spaces

We introduce the notion of expansiveness to characterize a family of robot configuration spaces whose connectivity can be effectively captured by a roadmap of randomly-sampled milestones. The analysis of expansive configuration spaces has inspired us to develop a new randomized planning algorithm. This algorithm tries to sample only the portion of the configuration space that is relevant to the current query, avoiding the cost of precomputing a roadmap for the entire configuration space. Thus, it is well-suited for problems where a single query is submitted for a given environment. The algorithm has been implemented and successfully applied to complex assembly maintainability problems from the automotive industry.
Transitions in Children's Play: A Sequential Analysis of States Preceding and Following Social Pretense.

Kindergarten and Grade 1 children, half frequent pretenders and half infrequent pretenders, were observed playing in dyads. Negotiation of pretend plans (BN) preceded social pretend enactment (BSP) with greater than chance frequency for all groups. Frequent pretenders had more predictable pathyways to BSP and fewer predictable exit behaviors. BSP and nonpretend social activity (BSL) formed distinct spheres of play activity. The complexity of social interaction increased sooner after BSP onset than after BSL onset, supporting the importance of social pretend play for the practice of social skills
D1-Dependent 4 Hz Oscillations and Ramping Activity in Rodent Medial Frontal Cortex during Interval Timing

Organizing behavior in time is a fundamental process that is highly conserved across species. Here we study the neural basis of timing processes. First, we found that rodents had a burst of stimulus-triggered 4 Hz oscillations in the medial frontal cortex (MFC) during interval timing tasks. Second, rodents with focally disrupted MFC D1 dopamine receptor (D1DR) signaling had impaired interval timing performance and weaker stimulus-triggered oscillations. Prior work has demonstrated that MFC neurons ramp during interval timing, suggesting that they underlie temporal integration. We found that MFC D1DR blockade strongly attenuated ramping activity of MFC neurons that correlated with behavior. These macro- and micro-level phenomena were linked, as we observed that MFC neurons with strong ramping activity tended to be coherent with stimulus-triggered 4 Hz oscillations, and this relationship was diminished with MFC D1DR blockade. These data provide evidence demonstrating how D1DR signaling controls the temporal organization of mammalian behavior.
Human Development and the Transformation of the Academy

The idea of human is glossed in terms of agency and in terms of humans as the animals whose ecological niche is culture. The concept of “humanization by enlargement” is used to promote bringing modernity’s other (non-modern cultures) into the curriculum. The objective is not only to celebrate what humans have been, are, and can be, but also to solve the intractable problems of modernity by mobilizing non-modern cultural resources. It is claimed that many indigenous peoples know things many modern peoples do not know about how to achieve social cohesion and how to live in a sustainable relationship to the natural environment. “Modernity” is glossed in terms of typical characteristics of successor states of the Roman Empire (Britain, France, etc.) which formed the European World-system that later expanded to become the Modern World-system. The ancient word “metaphysics” is put to use to promote mutual respect among cultures who read the world through different categories.
Multi-resolution modeling for supply chain sustainability analysis

Consumers are increasingly becoming conscious of the need to reduce environmental impact. This has motivated the industry to make efforts to improve the sustainability of their products and supply chains. Such efforts require the ability to analyze the sustainability of supply chains and potential improvements. A systematic approach is needed to evaluate the alternatives that may range from those at the supply chain configuration level to those for improving equipment at a production facility. This paper presents a multi-resolution modeling approach that allows analyzing parts of the supply chain at appropriate level of detail. The capability allows studying the supply chain at high level initially and iteratively drilling down to detailed levels in the identified areas of opportunity and evaluating associated improvement alternatives. Multi-resolution modeling directly relates the impact of improvement in one part of the supply chain to overall supply chain performance thus reducing analyst effort and time.