Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Coevolutionary Predator-Prey Model with Quantitative Characters

A new model for coevolution in generalized predator-prey systems is presented by incorporating quantitative characters relevant to predation in both prey and predator. Malthusian fitnesses are derived from ecological models, and they include interspecific frequency and density dependence. Both prey and predator characters are under stabilizing selection even without predation, and predation adds an additional linear selection component to both characters. The nonlinear system of differential equations is studied analytically by using local linearization near the equilibrium points. Parameters related to intrinsic growth and death rates and stabilizing selection determine whether there are zero, one, or two equilibria. Additive genetic variances do not have an effect on the equilibrium points, but genetic variability is crucial for determining their stability. Analysis of the linearized model shows that at most one equilibrium can be stable, and stability is achieved when additive genetic variance is high enough in both the prey and predator populations. The stability properties are illustrated by numerical examples of the full dynamics of the original nonlinear model.
Historical Biogeography of the Marine Snail Littorina saxatilis Inferred from Haplotype and Shell Morphology Evolution in NW Spain

The marine snail Littorina saxatilis exhibits extreme morphological variation between and within geographical regions and represents an excellent model for assessing local adaptation. Previous studies support the hypothesis of parallel evolution in sympatry of two morphologically different ecotypes (named as RB and SU) that co-inhabit different habitats from Galician rocky shores (NW Spain), and which are interrupted by sheltered areas inhabited by a different morph never studied before (named as SRB). Here, we use morphological and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data to test hypotheses on the origin and diversification of SRB snails and to assess their evolutionary relationships with RB and SU ecotypes. Our results show that the SRB morph displays the largest size and shell elongation and the smallest relative shell aperture, representing an extreme type of the RB vs. SU polymorphism, which has been linked to adaptation to sheltered ecological factors. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the SRB morph shares ancestry with RB and SU ecotypes, rejecting the hypothesis that the SRB morph marks relict populations from which these ecotypes evolved in Galician coasts. Our data support that genetic differentiation among SRB, RB and SU morphs results from a general pattern of restricted gene flow and isolation by distance linked to the colonization of Galician coasts by two independent mtDNA lineages, rather than from a random fragmentation of the initial distributional range. Therefore, the confinement of distinct lineages to specific geographical areas denote evident limits to the distances these snails can disperse. Morphological analysis indicates no association between mtDNA lineage and a specific morphotype, and suggests the independent gain of convergent morphological patterns within each mtDNA lineage in populations occupying contrasting habitats following the colonization of Galician coasts.
Control of Trenching and Surface Roughness in Deep Reactive Ion Etched 4H and 6H SiC

An optimized deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) process for the fabrication of SiC microstructures has been developed. The optimized process enables the etching of 4H and 6H SiC to depths > 100 microns with the required characteristics of (1) high rate (>0.5 microns/min), (2) vertical sidewalls, (3) minimal microtrenching at the sidewall base, and (4) smooth etched surfaces. The optimized process was determined based on the results of an experiment (full factorial design) which determined how the etch characteristics are affected by four important process parameters: temperature of the wafer chuck, pressure within the chamber, and concentrations of O 2 and Ar in a gas flow comprised of O 2 , Ar and SF 6 . This study is believed to be the first systematic investigation of the effect of temperature on SiC DRIE characteristics; substrate heating was found to be a key in producing the desired etch properties.
The development of children's beliefs about social and biological aspects of gender differences.

2 studies examined children's beliefs about the origins of gender differences and addressed 2 main questions: (a) What age-related changes are there in children's beliefs about the contributions of nature and nurture to the development of gender roles? and (b) Do children differentiate between aspects of gender roles that adults believe to be more biologically determined and those they believe to be more socially influenced? 160 4- to 10-year-olds and 32 adults participated in Study 1. Participants were told about a child raised with only opposite-sex individuals and were asked whether the child would grow up to possess a series of gender-stereotyped, biological, and control properties. Until age 9 or 10, children believed that gender-stereotyped properties would develop in an infant regardless of the social context of upbringing. Study 2 provides evidence that children were not merely reporting stereotypical category associations. These studies suggest that young children may have an early bias to view gender categories as predictive of essential, underlying similarities between members, but later come to acknowledge the role of other causal mechanisms (e.g., the social environment) in shaping how category members develop.
OmpA Is the Critical Component for Escherichia coli Invasion-Induced Astrocyte Activation

Escherichia coli is the major Gram-negative bacterial pathogen in neonatal meningitis. Outer membrane protein A (OmpA) is a conserved major protein in the E. coli outer membrane and is involved in several host-cell interactions. To characterize the role of OmpA in the invasion of astrocytes by E. coli, we investigated OmpA-positive and OmpA-negative E. coli strains. Outer membrane protein A+ E44, E105, and E109 strains adhered to and invaded C6 glioma cells 10- to 15-fold more efficiently than OmpA-negative strains. Actin rearrangement, protein tyrosine kinase, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase activation were required for OmpA-mediated invasion by E. coli. In vitro infection of C6 cells and intracerebral injection into mice of the E44 strain induced expression of the astrocyte differentiation marker glial fibrillary acidic protein and the inflammatory mediators cyclooxygenase 2 and nitric oxide synthase 2. After intracerebral infection with E44, all C57BL/6 mice died within 36hours, whereas 80% of mice injected with E44 premixed with recombinant OmpA protein survived. Astrocyte activation and neutrophil infiltration were reduced in brain tissue sections in the mice given OmpA. Taken together, these data suggest that OmpA-mediated invasion plays an important role in the early stage of E.coli-induced brain damage, and that it may have therapeutic use in E. coli meningitis.
Discussion paper 15 / 08 FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AND EMPLOYMENT IN MANUFACTURING AND SERVICES SECTORS : FRESH EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM SINGAPORE Koi

Manufacturing and services have been regarded as the “twin engines” of growth for Singapore economy. As the economy is moving up the value chain from downstream to upstream activities, a significant proportion of FDI (foreign direct investment) has been attracted to the manufacturing and services sectors. This paper examines the causal relationships between inward FDI and the host country’s employment in these two sectors using tri-variate VAR (vector autoregressive) framework. The main findings show evidence of unidirectional causality, running from employment in manufacturing and services to FDI inflows. Furthermore, there is evidence showing strong employment linkages, predominantly from the manufacturing to services. The present study provides useful policy implications towards promoting foreign investment in emerging areas of and manpower development in both sectors of the economy.
Perceptions of cancer as a death sentence: Prevalence and consequences

Research suggests that perceiving cancer as a death sentence is a critical determinant of health care–seeking behaviors. However, there is limited information regarding the prevalence of this perception in the US population. Cross-sectional analysis of data (n = 7674 adults) from the 2007-2008 administration of the nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 3) was performed. A majority (61.6%) of respondents perceived cancer as death sentence, and more than one-third (36%) of respondents reported that they avoid seeing their physicians. In the adult US population, perceiving cancer as a death sentence is common and is associated with education level and avoidance of physicians.
A cross-cultural perspective of medical clowning: comparison of its effectiveness in reducing pain and anxiety among hospitalized Bedouin and Jewish Israeli children

Purpose Medical clowning has proven effective for reducing pain, anxiety, and stress, however, its differential effects on children from different cultures have not yet been researched. This study evaluated the effects of medical-clowning intervention on anxiety and pain among Jewish and Bedouin children, and anxiety among their parents, in southern Israel. Patients and methods The study was conducted in hospital pediatric departments and employed a pre–post design involving quantitative and qualitative methods. The study included 89 children whose ages ranged from 7.5 to 12 years (39 Jewish and 50 Bedouin) and 69 parents (19 Jewish and 50 Bedouin). Questionnaires assessing pain, anxiety, and demographics were used at the pre-intervention stage and pain, anxiety, and enjoyment of different aspects of the intervention were evaluated following the intervention. The intervention stage lasted for 8–10 minutes and included the use of word play, body language, and making faces, as well as the use of props brought by the clown. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted at the post-intervention stage. Results The intervention reduced pain and anxiety among both groups of children and reduced anxiety among both groups of parents. However, anxiety levels were reduced more significantly among Bedouin children. The nonverbal components of the clowns’ humor were most central, but it was the verbal components that mediated the reduction in anxiety among the Bedouin children. Conclusion This study underscored the effectiveness and importance of medical clowning in reducing pain and anxiety among children in different cultural contexts. Moreover, the issue of culturally appropriate humor was underscored and implications for intercultural clown training are discussed.
A Novel Pulse Power Supply for Insulated Ceramics by HS-WEDM

To and fro wire electrical discharge machining (HS-WEDM) has been employed widely. Currently, there is a new technology that using the assisting electrode method in insulated ceramics HS-WEDM machining. In this paper, a novel current wave pulse power supply is designed to machine the insulated ceramics by HS-WEDM. Aim to the two phases in the insulated ceramics HS-WEDM machining, through the high-low voltage composite method, the half-bridge circuit is designed to realize the abnormity current waveforms in the machining. The conducting layer is formed in the low current and the insulated ceramics is removed in high current for the high temperature. Compared to the normal pulse power supply, the machining speed of the novel pulse power supply is faster then the normal.
Molecular cloning of the lymphocyte activation marker Blast‐1.

Blast‐1 is an early activation‐associated glycoprotein expressed on the surface of human lymphocytes. Here we report the isolation and analysis of a cDNA encoding Blast‐1. The translated sequence of the Blast‐1 cDNA contains a hydrophobic putative signal peptide and a hydrophobic carboxyl terminus devoid of charged residues. The sequence also contains five N‐linked glycosylation sites, the utilization of which was confirmed by the shift in relative mol. wt of Blast‐1 upon digestion with N‐glycosidase F. The translated sequence reveals that Blast‐1 is related to members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, especially to CD4 and MHC class II molecules. The homology to these proteins is greatest in their amino termini where they demonstrate 30‐32% identity. This region of Blast‐1 also demonstrated 25% identity to a V kappa sequence. Considering conservative amino acid substitutions this homology to CD4, MHC class II and V kappa becomes 60, 49 and 48%, respectively.
Calcium and Calmodulin-dependent Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase Type II (CaMKII)-mediated Intramolecular Opening of Integrin Cytoplasmic Domain-associated Protein-1 (ICAP-1α) Negatively Regulates β1 Integrins*

Background: Integrin affinity is controlled by the recruitment of both activators and inactivators on their cytoplasmic domain. Results: We showed that CamKII phosphorylates the negative regulator ICAP-1α and thereby regulates its interaction with β1 integrins. Conclusion: This phosphorylation is required for proper focal adhesion dynamics and cell adhesion. Significance: Our findings support an important role of this pathway in cell adhesion and cell migration. Focal adhesion turnover during cell migration is an integrated cyclic process requiring tight regulation of integrin function. Interaction of integrin with its ligand depends on its activation state, which is regulated by the direct recruitment of proteins onto the β integrin chain cytoplasmic domain. We previously reported that ICAP-1α, a specific cytoplasmic partner of β1A integrins, limits both talin and kindlin interaction with β1 integrin, thereby restraining focal adhesion assembly. Here we provide evidence that the calcium and calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase type II (CaMKII) is an important regulator of ICAP-1α for controlling focal adhesion dynamics. CaMKII directly phosphorylates ICAP-1α and disrupts an intramolecular interaction between the N- and the C-terminal domains of ICAP-1α, unmasking the PTB domain, thereby permitting ICAP-1α binding onto the β1 integrin tail. ICAP-1α direct interaction with the β1 integrin tail and the modulation of β1 integrin affinity state are required for down-regulating focal adhesion assembly. Our results point to a molecular mechanism for the phosphorylation-dependent control of ICAP-1α function by CaMKII, allowing the dynamic control of β1 integrin activation and cell adhesion.
[Neuropeptide thyroliberin--an endogenous anticonvulsant in the brain].

Thyroliberin (TRH) promoting endogenous antidepressive effect is the most general regulator of the central mechanisms and visceral functions (especially respiration). Our group pioneered in applying the anticonvulsant action of TRH after local intranasal application. This application TRH in ultra-low doses contrast the method of systemic TRH administration (i.v., i.m. or oral in the large doses--mg). In our experiments intranasal application of 10(-9) M, 10(-10) M and 10(-12) M TRH significantly inhibited the severe epileptic motor fits in rats induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Beneficent effect of TRH is also confirmed by EEG (TRH suppressed SWD in cortex, amygdala and hippocamp). In the experiment that follows compared effects of TRH (pyroGlu-His-Pro-NH2) and its metabolite dipeptide cHis-Pro-NH2 (10(-10) M, 10(-5) M). The experiments make more precise that only TRH but not His-Pro posses the anticonvulsant properties. There is a good believe that medical potentialities of TRH have not been exhausted and its new possibilities of its usage will be revealed in epileptology.
A hybrid learning approach to tissue recognition in wound images

Purpose – Pressure ulcer is a clinical pathology of localized damage to the skin and underlying tissue caused by pressure, shear, and friction. Diagnosis, treatment and care of pressure ulcers involve high costs for sanitary systems. Accurate wound evaluation is a critical task to optimize the efficacy of treatments and health‐care. Clinicians evaluate the pressure ulcers by visual inspection of the damaged tissues, which is an imprecise manner of assessing the wound state. Current computer vision approaches do not offer a global solution to this particular problem. The purpose of this paper is to use a hybrid learning approach based on neural and Bayesian networks to design a computational system to automatic tissue identification in wound images.Design/methodology/approach – A mean shift procedure and a region‐growing strategy are implemented for effective region segmentation. Color and texture features are extracted from these segmented regions. A set of k multi‐layer perceptrons is trained with inputs.
Study of Epstein-Barr virus expression in Burkitt's lymphoma by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization: A study in Iran

Background: The association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is variable in different geographic regions. In developing countries, the association of EBV with BL is regarded to be of an endemic-type in equatorial Africa (> 95%) and sporadic-type in the developed countries (15-30%). The purpose of this study is to assess the frequency of EBV infection in BL, in Iran. The study also aims to compare Ribonucleic acid (RNA) in situ hybridization (RISH), the standard diagnostic method, with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for diagnosing BL. Materials and Methods: In this epidemiological study, the paraffinized specimens of 18 cases of BL were selected. Next, the ISH of EBV-encoded RNA (EBER-RISH) and PCR assays that were based on Epstein Barr Nuclear Antigen 2 (EBNA2) amplification were used. The EBV strain was determined by PCR. The data were analyzed using the SPSS10 software and by performing Pearson correlation coefficient formula at a significant level of 0.05. Results: EBV RNA was detected in 50% of the BL specimens. Type 1 and 2 accounted for 70 and 30% of the cases, respectively. Regarding RISH as the standard method for EBV diagnosis, the PCR assays showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 88.9%, respectively. Conclusion: According to the obtained findings, the frequency of EBV in BL was 50% and PCR and RISH showed high concordance and sensitivity in EBV detection. Therefore, PCR can be used as a faster method for EBV detection in high-risk geographical regions.
Extensor motoneurone properties are altered immediately before and during fictive locomotion in the adult decerebrate rat

This is the first report, in adult decerebrate rats, to examine intracellular hindlimb motoneurone properties during quiescence, fictive locomotion and a tonic period immediately before fictive locomotion that is characterized by increased peripheral nerve activity. It is shown for the first time during fictive locomotion that motoneurones become more responsive in the tonic period, suggesting that the motoneurone pool becomes primed before patterned motor output commences. Spike frequency adaptation exists in quiescence and during fictive locomotion during constant excitation with injected current but not during centrally driven fictive locomotion. Motoneurones within the extensor motor pool show changes in excitability even when they are not directly involved in locomotion. The data show increased responsiveness of motoneurones during locomotion via a lowered threshold for spike initiation and decreased rheobase.
Dynamic changes in the density of radial glial fibers of the developing murine cerebral wall: A quantitative immunohistological analysis

The density of radial glial fibers in the developing murine cerebral wall decreases dramatically during the terminal week of gestation. The present analysis characterizes these variations of fiber density quantitatively. Radial glial fibers were stained with monoclonal antibody RC2. Fibers were counted in a standard area of 2,000 μm2, passing orthogonally to the fiber long axis.
Disentangling the relationship between sex-biased gene expression and X-linkage

X chromosomes are preferentially transmitted through females, which may favor the accumulation of X-linked alleles/genes with female-beneficial effects. Numerous studies have shown that genes with sex-biased expression are under- or over-represented on the X chromosomes of a wide variety of organisms. The patterns, however, vary between different animal species, and the causes of these differences are unresolved. Additionally, genes with sex-biased expression tend to be narrowly expressed in a limited number of tissues, and narrowly expressed genes are also non-randomly X-linked in a taxon-specific manner. It is therefore unclear whether the unique gene content of the X chromosome is the result of selection on genes with sex-biased expression, narrowly expressed genes, or some combination of the two. To address this problem, we measured sex-biased expression in multiple Drosophila species and at different developmental time points. These data were combined with available expression measurements from Drosophila melanogaster and mouse to reconcile the inconsistencies in X-chromosome content among taxa. Our results suggest that most of the differences between Drosophila and mammals are confounded by disparate data collection/analysis approaches as well as the correlation between sex bias and expression breadth. Both the Drosophila and mouse X chromosomes harbor an excess of genes with female-biased expression after controlling for the confounding factors, suggesting that the asymmetrical transmission of the X chromosome favors the accumulation of female-beneficial mutations in X-linked genes. However, some taxon-specific patterns remain, and we provide evidence that these are in part a consequence of constraints imposed by the dosage compensation mechanism in Drosophila.
on Advancements in Computing Technologies

Fraud detection has become an important issue to be explored. Fraud detection involves identifying fraud as quickly as possible once it has been perpetrated. Fraud is often a dynamic and challenging problem in Credit card lending business. Credit card fraud can be broadly classified into behavioral and application fraud, with behavioral fraud being the more prominent of the two. Supervised Modeling/Segmentation techniques are commonly used in fraud
On-Demand Adhesive Control of Functional Gel-Tool for On-Chip Cell Measurement

An on-demand adhesive control of functional gel-tool for on-chip cell experiment was developed. Adhesiveness of the gel-tool was controlled by UV illumination in an electrolyte solution of an adjusted electrolyte concentration. Gel-tool adheres to objects such as glass substrate, other gel-tool and cell by contact to the target object under UV illumination. Without UV illumination, gel-tool does not adhere to objects in the same conditions. Gel-tool is made by salting-out of hydrophilic photo-crosslinkable resin. This gel-tool can be functionalized by introducing functional materials such as indicators. We produced gel-tool impregnated with pH indicator Bromothymol blue (BTB), which is used for neutral range, for measurement of ambient pH value of target cell. The pH sensing gel-tool is manipulated by optical tweezers. The pH value is measured by detecting the color of the gel-tool in calibrated color information. We succeeded in local pH measurement around a single yeast cell by surrounding the cell using ring-shaped gel-tool and by immobilizing the cell on the surface of the pH sensing gel-tool.