Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE HISTORICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY OF TWO CARIBBEAN BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA: HELICONIIDAE) AS INFERRED FROM GENETIC VARIATION AT MULTIPLE LOCI

Abstract Mitochondrial DNA and allozyme variation was examined in populations of two Neotropical butterflies, Heliconius charithonia and Dryas iulia. On the mainland, both species showed evidence of considerable gene flow over huge distances. The island populations, however, revealed significant genetic divergence across some, but not all, ocean passages. Despite the phylogenetic relatedness and broadly similar ecologies of these two butterflies, their intraspecific biogeography clearly differed. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed that populations of D. iulia north of St. Vincent are monophyletic and were probably derived from South America. By contrast, the Jamaican subspecies of H. charithonia rendered West Indian H. charithonia polyphyletic with respect to the mainland populations; thus, H. charithonia seems to have colonized the Greater Antilles on at least two separate occasions from Central America. Colonization velocity does not correlate with subsequent levels of gene flow in either species. Even where range expansion seems to have been instantaneous on a geological timescale, significant allele frequency differences at allozyme loci demonstrate that gene flow is severely curtailed across narrow ocean passages. Stochastic extinction, rapid (re)colonization, but low gene flow probably explain why, in the same species, some islands support genetically distinct and nonexpanding populations, while nearby a single lineage is distributed across several islands. Despite the differences, some common biogeographic patterns were evident between these butterflies and other West Indian taxa; such congruence suggests that intraspecific evolution in the West Indies has been somewhat constrained by earth history events, such as changes in sea level. Corresponding Editor: S. Karl
An electric music baton system using a haptic interface for visually disabled persons

This paper describes the assignment of a haptic interface. We are proposing an electric music baton system for visually disabled persons. An acceleration sensor, radio module, and haptic interface device constitute the proposed system. We carried out an experiment on the response time using visual and haptic interfaces to determine the difference between the visual and tactile senses. In the case of the visual interface, when clue motion was added to the experiment, the response time was decreased to approximately 0 ms. In the case of the haptic interface, when clue motion using pre-vibration was added to the experiment, the response time also improved.
Probing the Uncanny Valley with the Eye Size Aftereffect

Natural human faces with abnormal visual features produce uncomfortable impressions, but artificial faces (e.g., robotic faces) do not necessarily do so. This is an example of the phenomenon called the uncanny valley. We hypothesized that this phenomenon indicates that natural and artificial faces are processed by different perceptual mechanisms, or they are processed differently by common mechanisms. We tested these hypotheses using a facial aftereffect where prolonged observation of adaptation faces with enlarged eyes induced a bias to underestimate the eye size of test faces. The results showed that adaptation to natural stimuli induced the aftereffect for both natural and artificial test stimuli. This suggests that the two types of faces engage common perceptual mechanisms. Adaptation to artificial stimuli also induced the aftereffect for natural test stimuli. However, artificial stimuli required a longer adaptation period (120 s) for the aftereffect to be induced compared to natural stimuli (60 s), suggesting that the processing of artificial faces by the human visual system may be inefficient. The uncanny valley may reflect that artificial faces are processed inefficiently by perceptual mechanisms that are common for processing natural and artificial faces.
How social identification and trust influence organizational online knowledge sharing

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to propose a conceptual structural equation model to, first, investigate the relationships among knowledge management (KM) system quality, employees' self‐perceived social identification, trust at workplace as well as online knowledge sharing behaviors, and, second, demonstrate the direct and indirect effect of social identification and trust at workplace on online knowledge sharing from the perspective of KM system quality.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was distributed to 437 full‐time employees (n=437) from three technology companies in Taiwan. These companies have had years of experience in implementing KM systems. Data were analyzed by employing structural equation modeling.Findings – The results show that: social identification and trust at workplace have a mediating effect on online knowledge sharing within organizations; trust at workplace is the stronger mediator than social identification; social identification has a positive and significant i.
Adolescent Attitudes Toward Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening in the Emergency Department

Objectives Adolescents who seek care in emergency departments (EDs) are often at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The objective of this study was to assess adolescent attitudes toward ED-based STI screening. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study that evaluated STI screening acceptability and prevalence when STI testing was universally offered to asymptomatic adolescents presenting to the ED for care. Adolescents 14 to 21 years old completed a computerized survey and answered questions regarding attitudes toward ED-based STI screening and sexual behavior. We performed multivariable logistic regression to compare differences in attitudes toward ED-based STI screening among patients who agreed versus declined STI testing. Results Of 553 adolescents, 326 (59.0%) agreed to be tested for STIs. Most (72.1%) believed the ED was an appropriate place for STI screening. Patients who agreed to be tested for STIs were more likely to positively endorse ED-based STI screening than those who declined STI testing [77.0% vs 64.8%; adjusted odds ratios, 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1–2.4]. Most (82.6%) patients stated they would feel comfortable getting tested for STIs in the ED. There was no difference in the comfort level of ED-based STI testing between those who agreed and declined STI testing (83.5% vs 81.4%; adjusted odds ratios, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.7–1.8). Conclusion Our results suggest that adolescents view the ED as an acceptable location for STI screening. Therefore, the ED may serve a role in increasing the accessibility of STI detection and prevention resources for adolescents.
Genetic reassortants of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: unexpected disease and mechanism of pathogenesis

Reassortant viruses of different strains of lymphocytic choriomeningitis viruses cause lethal disease after inoculation into neonatal BALB/c WEHI mice, but, in contrast, parental strains or reciprocal reassortants do not cause lethal disease. The disease is characterized by inhibition of growth and death. The pathogenic mechanism is the induction of interferon combined with higher virus titers and subsequent liver necrosis. The generation of lethal reassortants from nonlethal parent viruses likely has implications for understanding the outbreaks of unanticipated virulent disease within a viral family.
White-Opaque Switching of Candida albicans Allows Immune Evasion in an Environment-Dependent Fashion

ABSTRACT Candida albicans strains that are homozygous at the mating type locus can spontaneously and reversibly switch from the normal yeast morphology (white) to an elongated cell type (opaque), which is the mating-competent form of the fungus. White-opaque switching also influences the ability of C. albicans to colonize and proliferate in specific host niches and its susceptibility to host defense mechanisms. We used live imaging to observe the interaction of white and opaque cells with host phagocytic cells. For this purpose, we generated derivatives of the switching-competent strain WO-1 that express green fluorescent protein from a white-specific promoter and red fluorescent protein from an opaque-specific promoter or vice versa. When mixed populations of these differentially labeled white and opaque cells were incubated with human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) on a glass slide, the neutrophils selectively phagocytosed and killed white cells, despite frequent physical interaction with opaque cells. White cells were attacked only after they started to form a germ tube, indicating that the suppression of filamentation in opaque cells saved them from recognition by the PMNs. In contrast to neutrophils, dendritic cells internalized white as well as opaque cells. However, when embedded in a collagen matrix, the PMNs also phagocytosed both white and opaque cells with similar efficiency. These results suggest that, depending on the environment, white-opaque switching enables C. albicans to escape from specific host defense mechanisms.
Design and development of dynamically stable bipedal walking system

There has been a lot of development in Biped walking around the world. Biped walking is a very complex problem in robotics and control domain. This paper describes the (small scale) design and implementation of bipedal system for humanoid. The system is intended for an autonomous robot, and has a total of 13 degrees of freedom of with 3 DoF for hip joint, 1 Dof for knee joint and 2 DoF for ankle joint for each leg. The objective of this work is to design bipedal walking system prototype. Realization and implementation of control strategy in MATLAB environment. for straight and inclined plane walking.
BCR CDR3 length distributions differ between blood and spleen and between old and young patients, and TCR distributions can be used to detect myelodysplastic syndrome

Complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) is the most hyper-variable region in B cell receptor (BCR) and T cell receptor (TCR) genes, and the most critical structure in antigen recognition and thereby in determining the fates of developing and responding lymphocytes. There are millions of different TCR Vβ chain or BCR heavy chain CDR3 sequences in human blood. Even now, when high-throughput sequencing becomes widely used, CDR3 length distributions (also called spectratypes) are still a much quicker and cheaper method of assessing repertoire diversity. However, distribution complexity and the large amount of information per sample (e.g. 32 distributions of the TCRα chain, and 24 of TCRβ) calls for the use of machine learning tools for full exploration. We have examined the ability of supervised machine learning, which uses computational models to find hidden patterns in predefined biological groups, to analyze CDR3 length distributions from various sources, and distinguish between experimental groups. We found that (a) splenic BCR CDR3 length distributions are characterized by low standard deviations and few local maxima, compared to peripheral blood distributions; (b) healthy elderly people's BCR CDR3 length distributions can be distinguished from those of the young; and (c) a machine learning model based on TCR CDR3 distribution features can detect myelodysplastic syndrome with approximately 93% accuracy. Overall, we demonstrate that using supervised machine learning methods can contribute to our understanding of lymphocyte repertoire diversity.
Coronary heart disease moderates the relationship of chronic stress with the metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome levels (MSLs) were compared in caregivers (CGs) of spouses with Alzheimer's disease who had diagnoses of coronary heart disease (CHD; n = 27) with non CGs with CHD diagnoses (n = 18), and CGs (n = 44) to non CGs (n = 52) free of CHD. MSLs were greater for CGs than non CGs, but only in persons with CHD (CHD, B for CG status = -.41; non CHD, B = .12; p < .05) at study entry (Time 1 = T1) and CHD, B = -. 32; non CHD, B = . 14; p < . 05) 15-18 months later (Time 2 = T2). In the CHD group, MSLs were associated with poorer health habits at T1 (r = .39, p < .01), uplifts (r = -.37, p < .01) at T2, and CG status (p < .05) at T1 and T2. Relationships of CG status and MSLs declined in the presence of poor health habits at T1 and uplifts at T2. Poorer health habits and fewer uplifts may be associated with elevated MSLs in CGs with CHD.
Institutional Portfolio Flows and International Investments

Using a new technique, and weekly data for 25 countries from 1994 to 1998, we analyze the relationship between institutional cross-border portfolio flows, and domestic and foreign equity returns. In emerging markets, institutional flows forecast statistically indistinguishable movements in country closed-end fund NAV returns and price returns. In contrast, closed-end fund flows forecast price returns, but not NAV returns. Furthermore, institutional flows display trend-following (trend-reversing) behavior in response to symmetric (asymmetric) movements in NAV and price returns. The results suggest that institutional cross-border flows are linked to fundamentals, while closed-end fund flows are a source of price pressure in the short run.
How People Read Graphs

The graph layout problem has long been a major concern for effectiveness of conveying information. To propose user-centred aesthetic criteria for a "good" layout, it is important to have knowledge on how people read graphs; how a particular graph layout characteristic can affect people's reading performance. On the other hand, despite the increasingly wide use of graphs in everyday life, yet we know surprisingly little about how people actually read graphs. The present eye tracking study in this paper is an attempt to perform an initial investigation into this issue and provide data that can help build the basic understanding of how people read graphs.
Change in backbone torsion angle distribution on protein folding

Understanding protein folding requires the determination of the configurational space accessible to the protein at different stages in folding. Here, computer simulation analysis of small angle neutron scattering results is used to probe the change in the distribution of configurations on strong denaturation of a globular protein, phosphoglycerate kinase, in 4 M guanidine hydrochloride solution. To do this atomic‐detail ensembles of the unfolded protein chain are modeled and their scattering profiles compared with the experiment. The local conformational statistics are found to strongly influence the experimental intensity at scattering vectors between 0.05 and 0.3 Å−1. Denaturation leads to a reduction in the protein atom‐pair distance distribution function over the ∼3‐15 Å region that is associated with a quantifiable shift in the backbone torsional angle (φ,ψ) distribution toward the β region of the Ramachandran plot.
Gynecological problems of married women in the reproductive age group of urban Belgaum, Karnataka

Background: Gynecological problems are universal in occurrence, however, the prevalence, awareness and treatment seeking for these problems varies from region to region. In Indian scenario the women are faced with social and economic barriers in seeking care. In order to understand the gynecological problems of women in our newly adapted urban field practice area this study was undertaken. Objective: To determine the prevalence of gynecological problems among the married women of the reproductive age group in urban area of Belgaum city. Methodology: 400 married women were interviewed using a pre-tested, pre-designed, semi structured questionnaire. The participants were subjected to medical examination by a qualified gynecologist and subjected to lab investigations as required. Results: 282 (70.50 %) women had reproductive tract infections, 83 (20.75%) had menstrual problems, 108 (27.00%) had UTIs, 97 (24.25 %) had chronic and 77(19.25%) had acute pelvic inflammatory disease. The total prevalence of gynecological problems per woman was 1.51. There was no significant association of prevalence of gynecological problems and the age, education and socio-economic status. The overall treatment seeking behavior was 15.72%. Treatment seeking was highest for conceiving difficulty (48.14 %) and least for RTIs (9.57 %). Conclusion: There is high prevalence of gynecological problems among the urban married women of Belgaum city.
A Knowledge Server for Sustainable Agriculture - Main Computing Features

Agriculture must evolve into a more environmentally-friendly approach, while remaining economically viable and socially interesting, which is necessary so that the process can be pursued in the long term, i.e that the process is sustainable (Brundtland, 1987). Sustainable agriculture has a systemic logic and therefore requires a strong knowledge base. In this study, we propose a knowledge management computing tool. In the first part of our article, we discuss the potential actors of the tool and their possible implications. The second part deals with its contents. In the third part, the main computing features of the tool are shown.
Heart Failure Symptom Assessment and Management: Can Caregivers Serve as Proxy?

Background:Caregivers (CGs) of heart failure (HF) patients are increasingly assuming greater responsibilities in symptom assessment, evaluation, and decision making and may be asked to serve as proxies. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree of congruence between HF patients and their primary CG on symptom assessment and self-care management behaviors. Methods:The sample consisted of 70 HF patients receiving home healthcare and their designated CG. Patients were primarily between 40 and 85 years of age and female (60%). Caregivers were predominately female (76%) and spouses (43%). Congruence in symptom assessment and management between HF patients and their designated CGs was measured in this descriptive cross-sectional study using the Heart Failure Symptom Survey and Self-care of Heart Failure Index. Results:The Spearman correlation coefficient and concordance correlation coefficient were used to assess the degree of congruence on symptom evaluation scores from the Heart Failure Symptom Survey. Dyads had the strongest correlations on ratings of the HF patients' symptoms of extremity edema, difficulty concentrating, and dizziness. Lower congruence (Spearman correlation <0.40) was found on feeling depressed, shortness of breath at night, and shortness of breath when lying down. Scores on the Self-care of Heart Failure Index self-care management and self-care confidence scales were not significantly different within the HF dyads. Conclusions:Based on moderate levels of correlations on most HF symptoms in this study, the CG as proxy appears to be a reasonable substitute for patient responses in a community setting. However, greater family preparation for symptom assessment is warranted to improve congruence for future symptom assessment.
Interval Estimation for a Difference Between Intraclass Kappa Statistics

Summary. Model‐based inference procedures for the kappa statistic have developed rapidly over the last decade. However, no method has yet been developed for constructing a confidence interval about a difference between independent kappa statistics that is valid in samples of small to moderate size. In this article, we propose and evaluate two such methods based on an idea proposed by Newcombe (1998, Statistics in Medicine, 17, 873–890) for constructing a confidence interval for a difference between independent proportions. The methods are shown to provide very satisfactory results in sample sizes as small as 25 subjects per group. Sample size requirements that achieve a prespecified expected width for a confidence interval about a difference of kappa statistic are also presented.
Pathways to Children's Externalizing Behavior: A Three-Generation Study

ABSTRACT In this study, based on Family Interactional Theory (FIT), the authors tested a longitudinal model of the intergenerational effects of the grandmothers’ parent–child relationships and the grandparents’ smoking on the grandchildren's externalizing behavior via parents’ psychological symptoms, tobacco use, and child rearing. Using Mplus, the authors obtained a structural equation model that demonstrated generational associations from grandmothers (G1) to parents (G2) to their oldest children (G3) and thus was in accord with FIT. They identified a pathway from the grandmothers' parenting to the grandchildren's externalizing behavior via the parents’ psychological symptoms, their smoking, and their child rearing. Parents’ psychological symptoms in adolescence were associated with their tobacco use in their late twenties, controlling for the continuity of their psychological symptoms and their tobacco use. This 3-generational model adds to the literature on parent–child relationships (G1), smoking from adolescence to early adulthood (G2), and externalizing behavior in the G3 child.
Effect of monensin on nitrogen utilization and digestibility of concentrate diets by steers.

Monensin was fed at levels of 0 and 33 ppm in a series of digestion and metabolism trials to determine its effect on utilization of high grain diets and on ruminal parameters in yearling steers. Monensin had no effect (P greater than .05) on apparent digestibility of dry matter, gross energy or starch when fed with a 90% corn diet (10.5% crude protein, dry matter basis). Monensin in this corn-based diet tended to increase crude protein digestibility (63.4 vs 61.3%) and decrease ruminal ammonia concentration (2.5 vs 6.5 mg/100 ml) measured 3 hr postprandially (P greater than .05). In metabolism trials with a 76% sorghum grain diet (11.7% crude protein, dry matter basis), monensin improved apparent digestibility of crude protein (P less than .05) but not dry matter or gross energy (P greater than .05). Retention of nitrogen, expressed as a percentage of nitrogen intake, tended to improve (24 vs 20%) in response to monensin addition to the sorghum grain-based diet (P greater than .05); a similar trend was observed (P greater than .05) for nitrogen retention expressed as a percentage of nitrogen absorbed (41 vs 36%). Total ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations measured 3 hr postprandially were not altered by monensin fed with either diet. The proportion of acetic acid d-creased (P less than .05) and that of propionic acid increased (P less than .05) in response to monensin fed with the corn-based diet. Monensin did not appreciably alter proporations of VFA when fed with the sorghum grain-based diet. Results suggest that a possible improvement in N utilization may account for some of the benefits of feeding monensin with high grain diets.