Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Haplodiploidy and the Evolution of Eusociality: Worker Reproduction

Hamilton’s haplodiploidy hypothesis suggests that the relatively higher relatedness of full sisters in haplodiploid populations promotes altruistic sib rearing and, consequently, the evolution of eusociality. This haplodiploidy effect works when some broods have a relatively female-biased sex ratio and other broods have a relatively male-biased sex ratio, termed split sex ratios. There is empirical evidence for two scenarios having potentially led to split sex ratios en route to eusociality: unmated queens and queen replacement. A recent analysis of these two scenarios has suggested that haplodiploidy can either promote or inhibit the evolution of eusociality and that the effect is usually small. However, this work made the simplifying assumptions that there is only negligible reproduction by workers and that their offspring have the same sex ratio as those produced by the queen. Here, we relax these assumptions and find that worker reproduction has a negative influence on the evolution of helping, either reducing the extent to which it is promoted or leading to it being inhibited. This is particularly so when workers are unmated and hence constrained to produce only sons, by arrhenotoky. Overall, when parameterized with empirical data, our results suggest that split sex ratios in haplodiploid species have not played an important role in facilitating the evolution of eusociality.
Compact Dual-Band Textile PIFA for 433-MHz/2.4-GHz ISM Bands

A textile planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) is proposed. By co-designing the PIFA antenna and the ground plane, a wide matching bandwidth is achieved around 433 MHz for a relatively small electrical size (0.202 × 0.115 × 0.01 <italic>λ</italic><sub>0</sub><sup>3</sup>). A slot within the PIFA patch enables the 2.4-GHz operating band. The measured bandwidths are 35 and 309 MHz in the lower and upper bands, respectively. The corresponding radiation efficiencies are 48% and 64%. The analysis of the effect of bending and the on-body characterization show the robust performance of the antenna.
Optimal position of a new bone conduction implant

Introduction The bone conduction hearing aid (BAHA) was introduced in the early 1980s as a hearing aid for rehabilitation of patients with conductive hearing loss (CHL). The BAHA is attached to an abutment on a titanium fixture, which is osseointegrated in the skull bone 55 mm behind and slightly above the ear canal opening. The BAHA is a percutaneous device which means that the abutment penetrates a thin skin flap. Sound is transmitted via the titanium fixture and through the skull bone, to the cochleae. Thus, there is no attenuation due to soft tissues interposed between the transducer and the skull. Moreover, skin problems due to static pressure of the transducer on the skin are avoided. Compared with former bone conduction hearing aids, the BAHA provides improved sound quality and comfort. Today, the indications for the BAHA also include mixed hearing loss, single-sided deafness (SSD), and severe external otitis. In bilateral CHL, bilateral application of the BAHA improves speech reception threshold in quiet and in noise as well as directional hearing, compared to unilateral application. The benefit from bilateral application, and thus binaural hearing, is less than in normal hearing listeners. The reason for this could be that BC sound crosses over to the contralateral side, decreasing the difference in stimulation between the two cochleae (Stenfelt, 2005). In SSD the BAHA is placed at the standard BAHA position on the deaf side. Sound crosses over to the only hearing cochlea on the contralateral side. Before proceeding with BAHA surgery in SSD patients it is common to evaluate the possible benefit by wearing a BAHA on a head band. A majority of the patients with SSD do not proceed with surgery after trying BAHA on a head band. The reason for this is unknown but Stenfelt (2005) discussed that a low transcranial transmission (TT) could be part of the explanation. Although the BAHA for the last three decades has been an important contribution in hearing rehabilitation, the percutaneous solution is associated with drawbacks such as skin irritation, skin and bone growth around the abutment, and fixture losses. These drawbacks, as well as a cosmetic issue, have led to an ongoing research in developing a bone conduction implant (BCI) (Eeg-Olofsson et al., 2011; Hakansson et al., 2008, 2010), leaving the skin intact. One important question is where a BCI should be placed. The optimal placement can vary depending on indication. The aim of this study was to describe possible effects on hearing perception from placing a vibratory stimulation source at different locations on the adult human skull.
Detecting Highly Confident Word Translations from Comparable Corpora without Any Prior Knowledge

In this paper, we extend the work on using latent cross-language topic models for identifying word translations across comparable corpora. We present a novel precision-oriented algorithm that relies on per-topic word distributions obtained by the bilingual LDA (BiLDA) latent topic model. The algorithm aims at harvesting only the most probable word translations across languages in a greedy fashion, without any prior knowledge about the language pair, relying on a symmetrization process and the one-to-one constraint. We report our results for Italian-English and Dutch-English language pairs that outperform the current state-of-the-art results by a significant margin. In addition, we show how to use the algorithm for the construction of high-quality initial seed lexicons of translations.
Haptic Feedback Enhances Grip Force Control of sEMG-Controlled Prosthetic Hands in Targeted Reinnervation Amputees

In this study, we hypothesized that haptic feedback would enhance grip force control of surface electromyography (sEMG)-controlled prosthetic hands for targeted reinnervation (TR) amputees. A new miniature haptic device, a tactor, that can deliver touch, pressure, shear, and temperature sensation, allows modality-matching haptic feedback. TR surgery that creates sensory regions on the patient's skin that refer to the surface of the missing limb allows somatotopic-matching haptic feedback. This paper evaluates the hypothesis via an sEMG-controlled virtual prosthetic arm operated by TR amputees under diverse haptic feedback conditions. The results indicate that the grip force control is significantly enhanced via the haptic feedback. However, the simultaneous display of two haptic channels (pressure and shear) does not enhance, but instead degrades, grip force control.
Oligomerization domains in the glycan‐binding receptors DC‐SIGN and DC‐SIGNR: Sequence variation and stability differences

Human dendritic cell‐specific intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 grabbing nonintegrin, DC‐SIGN, and the sinusoidal endothelial cell receptor DC‐SIGNR or L‐SIGN, are closely related sugar‐binding receptors. DC‐SIGN acts both as a pathogen‐binding endocytic receptor and as a cell adhesion molecule, while DC‐SIGNR has only the pathogen‐binding function. In addition to differences in the sugar‐binding properties of the carbohydrate‐recognition domains in the two receptors, there are sequence differences in the adjacent neck domains, which are coiled‐coil tetramerization domains comprised largely of 23‐amino acid repeat units. A series of model polypeptides consisting of uniform repeat units have been characterized by gel filtration, differential scanning calorimetry and circular dichroism. The results demonstrate that two features characterize repeat units which form more stable tetramers: a leucine reside in the first position of the heptad pattern of hydrophobic residues that pack on the inside of the coiled coil and an arginine residue on the surface of the coiled coil that forms a salt bridge with a glutamic acid residue in the same polypeptide chain. In DC‐SIGNR from all primates, very stable repeat units predominate, so the carbohydrate‐recognition domains must be held relatively closely together. In contrast, stable repeat units are found only near the membrane in DC‐SIGN. The presence of residues that disrupt tetramer formation in repeat units near the carbohydrate‐recognition domains of DC‐SIGN would allow these domains to splay further apart. Thus, the neck domains of DC‐SIGN and DC‐SIGNR can contribute to the different functions of these receptors by presenting the sugar‐binding sites in different contexts.
A Dynamically Constrained Multiobjective Genetic Fuzzy System for Regression Problems

In this paper, a multiobjective genetic fuzzy system (GFS) to learn the granularities of fuzzy partitions, tuning the membership functions (MFs), and learning the fuzzy rules is presented. It uses dynamic constraints, which enable three-parameter MF tuning to improve the accuracy while guaranteeing the transparency of fuzzy partitions. The fuzzy models (FMs) are initialized by a method that combines the benefits of Wang-Mendel (WM) and decision-tree algorithms. Thus, the initial FMs have less rules, rule conditions, and input variables than if WM initialization were to be used. Moreover, the fuzzy partitions of initial FMs are always transparent. Our approach is tested against recent multiobjective and monoobjective GFSs on six benchmark problems. It is concluded that the accuracy and interpretability of our FMs are always comparable or better than those in the comparative studies. Furthermore, on some benchmark problems, our approach clearly outperforms some comparative approaches. Suitability of our approach for higher dimensional problems is shown by studying three benchmark problems that have up to 21 input variables.
An exploration of stress and its perception in childhood

This research explores the concept of stress as it is perceived by children and builds a paradigm of this perception. The thesis argues that a cognitive paradigm is useful in understanding the stress process but seems incomplete without an acknowledgement of the role of unconscious cognition and phenomenology. This research extends this model to include these elements. A review of the literature includes an exploration of the definitions of the concept of stress and an examination and evaluation of the usefulness of the models of stress from which these definitions arise. From an initial literature review, a starting point in terms of an examination of "stressors" was identified and lead to a survey in this area. This led, in turn, to five subsequent investigations being undertaken for this thesis, each driven by questions and issues which emerged from the previous one. The methodology used in each study was different and driven by the questions that were under exploration. However, all had a qualitative philosophical base. The samples are described study by study and encompassed children from the age of eleven to adults. Results from this research confirm that triggers of and responses to stress are many and various. The individuals' perception of the stress appears to rest upon factors which include learned responses, social support and personality. Coping strategies are also many and various and likewise appear to rest upon the same mediating factors, as well as the individuals perceived control over the stressors. Suggestions are also offered for interventions that could be used in schools to help children to cope more successfully with stress. These suggestions look at the psychological environment of schools as well as the individual adolescents and events which may be stressful.
AN ENERGY EFFICIENT LINEAR CHAIN-BASED CLUSTERING ROUTING PROTOCOL FOR WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS

A highly distributed network with number of nodes deployed in a wide area for the accumulation and transmission of information perceived by monitoring the environment to the remote base station and facilitation analysis is the Wireless Sensor Network. Sensor nodes are highly power limited leading to depletion in a short span of time. The main challenge defamation is in designing a routing mechanism with efficient energy utilization, minimal delay and the network life time is high. In this paper we propose a routing protocol and data gathering using linear chain and binary combining schemes where the sensor nodes configure the cluster. The linear chaining is the communication and data gathering, aggregation is happening only through the Cluster Head. We develop an energy-efficient chaining algorithm which uses a sequence of insertions to add the least amount of energy consumption to the whole chain. It consumes less power compared to the closest neighbor node.
THE CHANGING PACE OF INSULAR LIFE: 5000 YEARS OF MICROEVOLUTION IN THE ORKNEY VOLE (MICROTUS ARVALIS ORCADENSIS)

Island evolution may be expected to involve fast initial morphological divergence followed by stasis. We tested this model using the dental phenotype of modern and ancient common voles (Microtus arvalis), introduced onto the Orkney archipelago (Scotland) from continental Europe some 5000 years ago. First, we investigated phenotypic divergence of Orkney and continental European populations and assessed climatic influences. Second, phenotypic differentiation among Orkney populations was tested against geography, time, and neutral genetic patterns. Finally, we examined evolutionary change along a time series for the Orkney Mainland. Molar gigantism and anterior‐lobe hypertrophy evolved rapidly in Orkney voles following introduction, without any transitional forms detected. Founder events and adaptation appear to explain this initial rapid evolution. Idiosyncrasy in dental features among different island populations of Orkney voles is also likely the result of local founder events following Neolithic translocation around the archipelago. However, against our initial expectations, a second marked phenotypic shift occurred between the 4th and 12th centuries AD, associated with increased pastoral farming and introduction of competitors (mice and rats) and terrestrial predators (foxes and cats). These results indicate that human agency can generate a more complex pattern of morphological evolution than might be expected in island rodents.
Microarray‐based DNA methylation analysis of imprinted loci in a patient with transient neonatal diabetes mellitus

Jose I. Martin-Subero, Marina Bibikova, Deborah Mackay, Eliza Wickham-Garcia, Nadia Sellami, Julia Richter, Rene Santer, Almuth Caliebe, Jian-Bing Fan, I. Karen Temple, and Reiner Siebert* Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany Illumina Inc., San Diego, California Division of Human Genetics, Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany Division of Human Genetics, Academic Unit of Genetic Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
Towards a critical theory of access and retention in Irish Higher Education

The themes of respect, confidence and self-esteem emerging in the interviews undertaken as part the RANLHE research project have been both striking and thought provoking. This has forced us to reconsider what is at stake when students talk about studying in university. The students we spoke to were clearly not seeking status or prestige alone but rather recognition, which touches on both one’s ‘private’ sense of self and one’s ‘public’ self. Intersubjective recognition has emerged as a key theme in our data and has been central in students’ accounts of their motivation for applying to college and their determination ‘to stay the course. ’ This has offered us some new insights about the successful formation of learner identity, student motivation and retention. We are in the process of identifying the broader pedagogical, institutional and social implications. What is not being proposed is that all the issues that have emerged from a grounded examination of the data can be understood under the rubric of recognition but that this is one highly significant and under-theorised aspect of student experience that merits careful consideration.The extent to which students have chosen to foreground these issues in their stories has surprised us. Our sensitising concepts reflected our previous engagement with critical theory, critical pedagogy, social psychology and the reflexive sociology of Pierre Bourdieu (Johnston et al., 2009).
Wavelet Neural Network Disturbance Observer-based Adaptive Robust Tracking Control for Servo System

This paper presents an adaptive robust control approach of the nonlinear systems using a wavelet neural network disturbance observer (WNNDOB). The proposed WNNDOB based on multiresolution analysis theory is used to estimate external disturbance and internal parameter uncertainties. Novel update and control laws are proposed to guarantee that all the signals in the closed-loop control system are uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB) in the sense of Lyapunov. In addition, a robust compensator is designed to improve the tracking performance. Finally, a computer simulation example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness and the applicability of the suggested method.
Association of Liposome-Encapsulated Trivalent Antimonial with Ascorbic Acid: An Effective and Safe Strategy in the Treatment of Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a chronic debilitating disease endemic in tropical and subtropical areas, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Annually, it is estimated the occurrence of 0.2 to 0.4 million new cases of the disease worldwide. Considering the lack of an effective vaccine the afflicted population must rely on both, an accurate diagnosis and successful treatment to combat the disease. Here we propose to evaluate the efficacy of trivalent antimonial encapsulated in conventional liposomes, in association with ascorbic acid, by monitoring its toxicity and efficacy in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania infantum. Methodology/Principal Findings: Infected mice were subjected to single-dose treatments consisting in the administration of either free or liposome-encapsulated trivalent antimony (SbIII), in association or not with ascorbic acid. Parasite burden was assessed in the liver, spleen and bone marrow using the serial limiting dilution technique. After treatment, tissue alterations were examined by histopathology of liver, heart and kidney and confirmed by serum levels of classic biomarkers. The phenotypic profile of splenocytes was also investigated by flow cytometry. Treatment with liposome-encapsulated SbIII significantly reduced the parasite burden in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Co-administration of ascorbic acid, with either free SbIII or its liposomal form, did not interfere with its leishmanicidal activity and promoted reduced toxicity particularly to the kidney and liver tissues. Conclusions/Significance: Among the evaluated posological regimens treatment of L. infantum-infected mice with liposomal SbIII, in association with ascorbic acid, represented the best alternative as judged by its high leishmanicidal activity and absence of detectable toxic effects. Of particular importance, reduction of parasite burden in the bone marrow attested to the ability of SbIII-carrying liposomes to efficiently reach this body compartment.
Developmental expression of TERM-1 glycoprotein on growth cones and terminal arbors of individual identified neurons in the grasshopper

The chemoaffinity theory postulates the existence of cell-specific molecular signals that uniquely identify individual developing neurons. Such molecules are thought to promote both accurate axon outgrowth and the formation of correct synaptic connections. To identify candidates for such neuron-specific recognition molecules, we generated monoclonal antibodies that recognize surface-associated antigens expressed by individual identified neurons in the grasshopper embryo. Here we report on a molecular label that is expressed exclusively by two pairs of sibling interneurons in the developing CNS. Our experiments indicate that during axogenesis, this molecule is expressed at the surface of the growth cones of these cells, while during subsequent synaptogenesis, it becomes concentrated at the cells' developing terminal arbors. In both cases the molecule appears to be secreted by the labeled structures. This molecule, which we call TERM-1, is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 48 kDa. The highly restricted spatiotemporal expression pattern of TERM-1 implies that individual developing neurons can acquire and retain unique molecular labels that may be important for neuron-specific outgrowth and target recognition.
Thermodaynamic Stability Analysis for Multi-Component Mixtures with Capillary Pressure

Despite the great interest and importance of modeling hydrocarbon production from tight oil reservoirs, the thermodynamic stability of multicomponent mixtures with capillary pressure has not been studied sufficiently. This paper introduces a practical algorithm for phase stability analysis of multi-component mixtures with capillary pressure. The capillary pressure is determined from a realistic saturation-dependent function which is representative of pore size distributions as well as other petrophysical properties such as wettability and water saturation in tight oil reservoirs. The new stability procedure is coupled with calculations of the phase behavior. The significance and robustness of the new method is shown in several examples with realistic tight oil and gas-condensate mixtures.
Vertex-Partitioning into Fixed Additive Induced-Hereditary Properties is NP-hard

Can the vertices of an arbitrary graph $G$ be partitioned into $A \cup B$, so that $G[A]$ is a line-graph and $G[B]$ is a forest? Can $G$ be partitioned into a planar graph and a perfect graph? The NP-completeness of these problems are special cases of our result: if ${\cal P}$ and ${\cal Q}$ are additive induced-hereditary graph properties, then $({\cal P}, {\cal Q})$-colouring is NP-hard, with the sole exception of graph $2$-colouring (the case where both ${\cal P}$ and ${\cal Q}$ are the set ${\cal O}$ of finite edgeless graphs). Moreover, $({\cal P}, {\cal Q})$-colouring is NP-complete iff ${\cal P}$- and ${\cal Q}$-recognition are both in NP. This completes the proof of a conjecture of Kratochvil and Schiermeyer, various authors having already settled many sub-cases.
The feasibility of a functional neuromuscular stimulation powered mechanical gait orthosis with coordinated joint locking

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a hybrid orthosis for walking after spinal cord injury (SCI) that coordinates the locking and unlocking of knee and ankle joints of a reciprocating gait orthosis (RGO), while injecting propulsive forces and controlling unlocked joints with functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS). The effectiveness of the hybrid system relative to gait stability and posture were determined in this simulation study. A three-dimensional computer model of a hybrid orthosis system (HOS) combining FNS with a RGO incorporating feedback control of muscle activation and coordinated joint locking was developed in Working Model 3D. The simulated hybrid orthosis system achieved gait speeds, stride lengths, and cadences of 0.51 /spl plusmn/ 0.03 m/s, 0.85 /spl plusmn/ 0.04 m, and 72 /spl plusmn/ 4 steps/min respectively, exceeding the performance of other hybrid systems. Forward trunk tilt was found to be necessary during initial step from standing and pro-swing, but posture and stability were significantly improved over FNS-only systems. The results of the model shows that a HOS that coordinates knee and ankle joint locking with electrical stimulation to the paralyzed muscles holds significant advantages over brace- and FNS-only walking systems in terms of enhanced trunk stability and posture.