Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic architecture of age at maturity can generate divergent and disruptive harvest-induced evolution

Life-history traits are generally assumed to be inherited quantitatively. Fishing that targets large, old individuals is expected to decrease age at maturity. In Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), it has recently been discovered that sea age at maturity is under strong control by a single locus with sexually dimorphic expression of heterozygotes, which makes it less intuitive to predict how life histories respond to selective fishing. We explore evolutionary responses to fishing in Atlantic salmon, using eco-evolutionary simulations with two alternative scenarios for the genetic architecture of age at maturity: (i) control by multiple loci with additive effects and (ii) control by one locus with sexually dimorphic expression. We show that multi-locus control leads to unidirectional evolution towards earlier maturation, whereas single-locus control causes largely divergent and disruptive evolution of age at maturity without a clear phenotypic trend but a wide range of alternative evolutionary trajectories and greater trait variability within trajectories. Our results indicate that the range of evolutionary responses to selective fishing can be wider than previously thought and that a lack of phenotypic trend need not imply that evolution has not occurred. These findings underscore the role of genetic architecture of life-history traits in understanding how human-induced selection can shape target populations. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Human influences on evolution, and the ecological and societal consequences’.
Contingent valuation of ecotourism development in country parks in the urban shadow

To optimise the use and management of Hong Kong's country parks, ecotourism has recently been promoted by the government and echoed by the leisure sector. Visitors' valuation of ecotourism development hitherto remains scant and could add a new dimension to the knowledge and management base. This study estimated the potential value of ecotourism development using the contingent valuation method (CVM). A total of 613 visitors in three country parks were interviewed. The results showed that the bid amounts and the motives to experience and learn more about nature were significant predictors of willingness-to-pay (WTP). The mean and median WTP were, respectively, HK$101.1 and HK$85.0 annually, varying slightly between parks. The differences were associated with the special ecological and accessibility characteristics of individual parks. The results could justify financial support from the government for ecotourism development and associated nature conservation endeavours and promote the incorporation of natural resource valuation in formulation of public policies in Hong Kong and other developing regions.
Widely linear filtering based kindred co-channel interference suppression in FBMC waveforms

This paper evaluates the performance of widely linear filtering based equalization for suppression of kindred co-channel interference. The presented approach is extension of the MMSE method proposed for ICI/ISI compensation for OQAM/FBMC transmission system in [1][2]. The analysis and computer simulation results show the relevance of widely linear filtering based equalization approach when the interfering signal exhibit improper statistics. This indicates the need to consider alternative forms of I/Q staggered multicarrier waveforms for 5G standardization that differs from the conventional one with 100% roll-off subchannels.
A feedback control design of buck converter: An artificial immune system based approach

This article presents design of a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control for a buck converter by incorporating the principles derived from the processes of Artificial Immune System present in vertebrates in the control design algorithm. The buck converter represents a class of variable structure systems and its controller design by conventional means yields a near-satisfactory performance, however not the best transient and steady state dynamics at wider range of operating points. Therefore a feedback control design problem of buck converter is rearranged as an optimization goal and the concern parameters of the PID controller are found through an intelligent Artificial Immune System (AIS) based technique. Computations have been done by using Matlab software. The output voltage response of buck converter is tested for 1. ) reference voltage change, 2. ) load resistance change and 3. ) input voltage change. To verify the findings obtained in simulations, a prototype of buck converter is build and controlled in the laboratory with the proposed methodology. The results found are then evaluated against the performance of conventional controller design and genetic algorithm (GA) based approach, followed by tabulation of performance measures, which clearly indicates that the AIS method of PID controller design provides better static and dynamic response in the output voltage besides achieving a faster convergence of parameters, thereby confirming the validity of new approach.
ICA Based Synthetic Ultrasonic Transmit Aperture

In traditional synthetic aperture ultrasound imaging system, the elements in a transducer array transmit ultrasound pulse consecutively and then all elements receive the echo signals simultaneously. Though it is capable of obtain an complete dataset of the echoes, the process is very slow and thus not practical due to too many transmission times. We developed an simultaneously transmitting approach by introducing the concept of ICA (Independent Component Analysis) into the separation of the mixed echo signals. Using this method, two or more elements can be excited at one time to transmit distinct waveforms, and the received mixed echoes can be separated through ICA operation to extract the different components. Consequently, a complete dataset can be obtained through less transmission times. Simulation results show that it can raise the rate of ultrasound imaging while maintaining high resolution.
Exposing scholarly information as Linked Open Data: RDFizing DSpace contents

Purpose – This paper aims to introduce a transformation engine which can be used to convert an existing institutional repository installation into a Linked Open Data repository. Design/methodology/approach – The authors describe how the data that exist in a DSpace repository can be semantically annotated to serve as a Semantic Web (meta)data repository. Findings – The authors present a non-intrusive, standards-compliant approach that can run alongside with current practices, while incorporating state-of-the art methodologies. Originality/value – Also, they propose a set of mappings between domain vocabularies that can be (re)used towards this goal, thus offering an approach that covers both the technical and semantic aspects of the procedure.
Continuous auditing: the audit of the future

Technological advances (e.g. e‐commerce and the Internet) have changed business practices and the process of recording and storing business transactions. Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) will soon be built into accounting and reporting software which would allow on‐line real‐time preparation, publication, examination, and extraction of financial information. Thus, outside, independent auditors should use continuous, electronic auditing when most financial information exists only in electronic form under real‐time accounting systems. Continuous auditing and its implications for independent auditors, including internal control considerations and audit procedures, are described and analyzed.
Human papillomavirus tumour status is not associated with a positive depression screen for patients with oropharyngeal cancer

Abstract Background: Several risk factors for depression in patients with oropharyngeal cancer have been determined. However, it is unknown whether human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer, which has a distinct clinico-demographic profile, modulates this risk. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of patients with oropharyngeal cancer. These patients had completed a 10-item depression screening questionnaire before receiving treatment for their disease from 2011 to 2014. Associations between patient or disease characteristics and depression screening questionnaire results were investigated. Results: The study comprised 69 patients, 31 (44.9 per cent) of whom screened positive for depression. There were no significant differences in distributions of clinico-demographic or histopathological characteristics, including human papillomavirus tumour status, by depression screen result. Conclusion: This population has a high risk for depression, but no obvious risk factors, including human papillomavirus tumour status, were associated with an elevated risk. This inability to risk-stratify patients by clinico-demographic or disease characteristics emphasises the importance of regular depression screening for all patients in this population.
A Platform-Based Design Methodology With Contracts and Related Tools for the Design of Cyber-Physical Systems

We introduce a platform-based design methodology that uses contracts to specify and abstract the components of a cyber-physical system (CPS), and provide formal support to the entire CPS design flow. The design is carried out as a sequence of refinement steps from a high-level specification to an implementation built out of a library of components at the lower level. We review formalisms and tools that can be used to specify, analyze, or synthesize the design at different levels of abstraction. For each level, we highlight how the contract operations can be concretely computed as well as the research challenges that should be faced to fully implement them. We illustrate our approach on the design of embedded controllers for aircraft electric power distribution systems.
2 Related work 2 . 2 . 1 High-and low-volume spammers

Filtering large amounts of unsolicited bulk e-mail, also known as spam, is expensive. Either because of the time spent on manual deletion or complex analysis by algorithms putting heavy load on e-mail servers. Due to exponential growth of the volume of spam campaigns, Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) are increasingly forced to use rigorous rejection policies to prevent their filter servers from being overloaded. Concurrently, legitimate e-mail servers end up in blacklists due to compromised end-users. This endangers the reliability of e-mail communication and the process of automatically filtering spam. Transmitting spam is currently easy, cheap and mostly anonymous. Restraining spam transmissions at the source network could put a halt to this; furthermore, it is less complicated and cheaper than filtering at the destination network, because of lower volumes and easier detection. This paper proposes a novel architecture designed to restrain spam transmissions at the source network. Experimentation suggests 75% to 100% of all spam campaigns could be restrained relatively easy and cheap if ISP’s and hosting providers would enforce simple restrictions and checks on the outgoing e-mail of their end-users.
Can Social Disorganization and Social Capital Factors Help Explain the Incidences of Property Crimes in Turkey

Organized crime and terrorism taking place in the Turkish provinces get more attention in the public agenda than other type of crimes. Although property crimes receive less attention, they pose a serious threat to public order and the social welfare of Turkish society. Academic researchers have also paid little attention to the analysis of property crimes at the macro level in Turkey. For these reasons, this study focused on the analysis of property crimes for three years period, 2005, 2006 and 2007 in Turkey, using a conceptual model of social disorganization. Provincial level data from Turkish governmental agencies were used. The findings of multivariate analyses showed that social disorganization approach, as measured in this study, provided a partial explanation of property crime rates in Turkey. Family disruption and urbanization had significant effects on property crime rate, while remaining exogenous elements of social disorganization (i.e., SES, population heterogeneity and residential mobility) did not have any expected effects. In mediation analysis, using faith-based engagement and political participation rates as mediators between the structural factors of social disorganization and property crime rate provided marginal support for the theory. Political participation rate partially mediated the relationship between property crime rate and urbanization rate, while faith-based engagement rate did not mediate the effects of social disorganization variables on property crime rate. These findings were consistent with the findings of research that has been completed in other nations, and made a unique contribution to the Turkish research on crime.
Dynamic R&D Competition with Learning

To account for the possibility that firms are unsure about the ease of innovation, we formulate a differential game of R&D competition with an unknown hazard rate. We show, as time passes with success, firms become more pessimistic about eventual innovation, reducing their R&D investment and possibly exiting the race. An increase in the number of competing firms tends to increase firms' R&D intensities, for given beliefs, but because beliefs evolve at different rates depending on the number of firms in the race, time paths of R&D investment intensity are not unambiguously ordered with respect to the number of competing firms.
Determinants of the Price of German Tourist Packages on the Island of Mallorca

The prices of tourist packages offered by various tour operators are not directly comparable, given the diversity of their characteristics. The services contracted differ in volume, quality and location. This work studies the vacations offered on the island of Mallorca by a sample of German tour operators, analysing the structure of the hotels contracted and the price distribution of tourist packages. This last variable is described taking as essential references the tour operator, hotel star rating, type of board and hotel location.
[Pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy: incidence, predisposing factors, and treatment].

OBJECTIVES We investigated the incidence and etiologic factors of pharyngocutaneous fistulas occurring after total laryngectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 53 patients (46 males, 7 females; mean age 59 years; range 34 to 84 years) who underwent total laryngectomy for epidermoid carcinoma. Risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula, its incidence and time of occurrence, treatment approaches, and length of hospital stay were evaluated. RESULTS Pharyngocutaneous fistula developed in 19 patients (35.9%) within a mean of 7.4 days postoperatively. Age, smoking, the presence of chronic systemic disease; T1-T2 stage, localization, and differentiation of tumor, concomitant bilateral neck dissection, T/Y shaped pharyngeal closure, and high fever in the first postoperative 48 hours did not show any significant relationship with the formation of fistula. Factors significantly associated with fistula formation were T4 stage, alcohol consumption, postoperative anemia, and hypoproteinemia. The mean hospital stay was 40.5 days in patients with pharyngocutaneous fistula compared with 15.3 days in patients without fistula. CONCLUSION Postoperative anemia, hypoproteinemia, alcohol consumption, and T4 stage are significant risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula formation.
Physicochemical Features of the hERG Channel Drug Binding Site*

Blockade of hERG K+ channels in the heart is an unintentional side effect of many drugs and can induce cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death. It has become common practice in the past few years to screen compounds for hERG channel activity early during the drug discovery process. Understanding the molecular basis of drug binding to hERG is crucial for the rational design of medications devoid of this activity. We previously identified 2 aromatic residues, Tyr-652 and Phe-656, located in the S6 domain of hERG, as critical sites of interaction with structurally diverse drugs. Here, Tyr-652 and Phe-656 were systematically mutated to different residues to determine how the physicochemical properties of the amino acid side group affected channel block by cisapride, terfenadine, and MK-499. The potency for block by all three drugs was well correlated with measures of hydrophobicity, especially the two-dimensional approximation of the van der Waals hydrophobic surface area of the side chain of residue 656. For residue 652, an aromatic side group was essential for high affinity block, suggesting the importance of a cation-π interaction between Tyr-652 and the basic tertiary nitrogen of these drugs. hERG also lacks a Pro-Val-Pro motif common to the S6 domain of most other voltage-gated K+ channels. Introduction of Pro-Val-Pro into hERG reduced sensitivity to drugs but also altered channel gating. Together, these findings assign specific residues to receptor fields predicted by pharmacophore models of hERG channel blockers and provide a refined molecular understanding of the drug binding site.
Visual stimuli in intervention approaches for pre-schoolers diagnosed with phonological delay

Abstract The aim of this study was to develop and content validate specific speech and language intervention picture cards: The Letter-Sound (L&S) cards. The present study was also focused on assessing the influence of these cards on letter-sound correspondences and speech sound production. An expert panel of six speech and language therapists analysed and discussed the L&S cards based on several criteria previously established. A Speech and Language Therapist carried out a 6-week therapeutic intervention with a group of seven Portuguese phonologically delayed pre-schoolers aged 5;3 to 6;5. The modified Bland–Altman method revealed good agreement among evaluators, that is the majority of the values was between the agreement limits. Additional outcome measures were collected before and after the therapeutic intervention process. Results indicate that the L&S cards facilitate the acquisition of letter-sound correspondences. Regarding speech sound production, some improvements were also observed at word level. The L&S cards are therefore likely to give phonetic cues, which are crucial for the correct production of therapeutic targets. These visual cues seemed to have helped children with phonological delay develop the above-mentioned skills.
Assessment for learning as a participative pedagogy

Assessment for learning (AfL) practices observed in case studies in a North Queensland school were analysed from a sociocultural theoretical perspective. AfL practices of feedback, dialogue and peer assessment were viewed as an opportunity for students to learn the social expectations for being an autonomous learner, or central participant, within the classroom community of practice. This process of becoming more expert and belonging within the community of practice involved students negotiating identities of participation that included knowing both academic skills and the social expectations within the classroom. This article argues that when AfL practices are viewed as ways of enhancing participation, there is potential for learners to negotiate identities as autonomous learners. AfL practices within the daily classroom interactions and pedagogy that enabled students to develop a shared repertoire, joint enterprise and mutual engagement in the classroom communities of practice are described. The challenges for teachers in shifting their gaze to patterns of participation are also briefly discussed.
A simple and efficient non-organic procedure for the isolation of genomic DNA from blood.

The isolation of genomic DNA from blood typically involves digestion of nuclei with a combination of Proteinase K and SDS followed by deproteiniza-tion with organic reagents such as phenol and chloroform. Additional purification steps such as extensive dialysis, precipitation with a saturated solution of NaCl and/or absolute ethanol are then required for enzymatic analysis of the extracted DNA (1). The isolation procedure described here is both simple and rapid, eliminating the necessity for hazardous organic reagents. The method involves the incubation of nuclei with only Proteinase K at 65'C. It has been shown that Proteinase K is more active on denatured protein and that after prolonged incubation at 65°C it autoinactivates As a result, a 2 hour incubation, the extracted DNA can be used directly for enzymatic analysis without any additional purification.
Reciprocal expression of 17 a -hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase and aromatase cytochrome P450 during bovine trophoblast differentiation: a two-cell system drives placental oestrogen synthesis

No deﬁnitive information is yet available on the steroidogenic capacity of the two morphologically distinct cell types forming the bovine trophoblast, the uninucleated trophoblast cells (UTCs) and the trophoblast giant cells (TGCs). Hence, in order to localise 17 a -hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase (P450c17) on a cellular level and to monitor its expression as a function of gestational age, placentomes from pregnant (days 80–284; n 5 19), prepartal (days 273–282; 24–36h prior to the onset of labour; n 5 3) and parturient cows ( n 5 5) were immunostained for P450c17 using an antiserum against the recombinant bovine enzyme. At all stages investigated, P450c17 was exclusively found in the UTCs of chorionic villi (CV), where staining was ubiquitous between days 80 and 160, but was largely restricted to primary CV and the branching sites of secondary CV between days 160 and 240. Thereafter, a distinct ubiquitous staining reoccurred in the UTCs of all CV in late pregnant, prepartal and parturient animals. Using an antiserum against human aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom), speciﬁc cytoplasmic staining was observed in TGCs. In placentomes from pregnant cows, staining intensity was higher in mature compared with immature TGCs and was more pronounced in the trophoblast covering big stem villi compared with the trophoblast at other sites of the villous tree. In placentomes of a parturient cow, speciﬁc staining was only found in mature TGCs that survived the normal, but substantial, prepartal decline in TGC numbers. These results clearly showed that bovine UTCs and TGCs exhibit different steroidogenic capacities, constituting a ‘two-cell’ organisation for oestrogen synthesis. P450c17 expression appears to be quickly down-regulated and P450arom is up-regulated when UTCs enter the TGC differentiation pathway.