Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
POLYANDRY INCREASES OFFSPRING FECUNDITY IN THE BULB MITE

Abstract The common occurrence of polyandry continues to puzzle evolutionary biologists, as female reproductive success is thought to be limited mostly by her fecundity. Here we test whether females of the bulb mite, a species in which the females are highly promiscuous, benefit from polyandry in terms of increased fitness of their progeny. Females were given opportunity to mate with either one or six males, but the experiment was designed to allow the same number of matings per female in both groups, that is, irrespective of the number of males. We found that daughters of females mated to six males had significantly higher fecundity than daughters of females mated to one male, whereas other fitness components of progeny (male virility and longevity of both sexes) were not affected. These findings appear to support hypotheses proposing that multi-male mating enables females to exercise postcopulatory mate-choice (direct or indirect, via sperm competition) and thus accrue genetic benefits. Corresponding Editor: D. Wheeler
Parallel volume rendering on a network of workstations

An algorithm for parallel volume rendering on general-purpose workstations connected to a local area network (LAN) is presented. The algorithm is based on an efficient scan-line algorithm for volume rendering of irregular meshes. This algorithm computes images by intersecting the mesh with successive planes defined through each scan line and perpendicular to the screen. These planes are called scan planes. Image coherency from one scan plane to the next, and within each scan plane, speeds up image computation. The proposed algorithm is a modified version of the scan-line algorithm, suitable for parallelization and for handling large data sets efficiently. Based on an efficiency analysis of this version, it is concluded that minimal additional computing and communication are required if each processor is given the task of computing sequences of successive lines in the image. Ways of achieving good load balancing on a group of heterogeneous workstations that have arbitrary loads by other users are suggested. <<ETX>>
Recovering Architectural Views of OO Systems

paper, we present an iterative, user-guided approach to recovering architectural information of OO legacy systems based on a framework for analyzing and visualizing software systems. The framework is built around a pluggable and extensible set of clues and rules about a given problem domain, execution environment, and/or programming language. Architecture- relevant information is recovered by providing several architectural views. While the purpose view captures the high- level functionality of the system elements, the usage view identifies the regions of related elements. These views are then used as input to the phase which results in high-level structure and interaction views of the system. We have developed an implementation prototype of our framework targeted at Java systems. The tool is integrated with IBM Rational Rose®.
The Pathogenesis of Rift Valley Fever

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an emerging zoonotic disease distributed in sub-Saharan African countries and the Arabian Peninsula. The disease is caused by the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) of the family Bunyaviridae and the genus Phlebovirus. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, and virus replication in domestic ruminant results in high rates of mortality and abortion. RVFV infection in humans usually causes a self-limiting, acute and febrile illness; however, a small number of cases progress to neurological disorders, partial or complete blindness, hemorrhagic fever, or thrombosis. This review describes the pathology of RVF in human patients and several animal models, and summarizes the role of viral virulence factors and host factors that affect RVFV pathogenesis.
Measuring the Influences of Musical Parameters on Cognitive and Behavioral Responses to Audio Notifications Using EEG and Large-scale Online Studies

Prior studies have evaluated various designs for audio notifications. However, calls for more in-depth research on how such notifications work, especially at the level of users' cognitive states, have gone unanswered; and studies evaluating audio notifications with large numbers of participants in multiple environments have been rare. This study conducted an electroencephalography study (N=20) and an online study (N=967) to enhance understandings of how three musical parameters - melody (simple, complex), pitch (high, low), and tempo (fast, slow) - influenced users' cognition and behaviors. There are eight different notifications with different combinations of these parameters. The online study analyzed the effects of user-specific and environmental information on users' behaviors while they listened to these notifications. The results revealed that tempo and pitch have the main effect on the speed and strength (accuracy) of users' cognition and behaviors. The users' characteristics and environments influenced the effects of these musical parameters.
Gap Balancing vs. Measured Resection Technique in Total Knee Arthroplasty

A goal of total knee arthroplasty is to obtain symmetric and balanced flexion and extension gaps. Controversy exists regarding the best surgical technique to utilize to obtain gap balance. Some favor the use of a measured resection technique in which bone landmarks, such as the transepicondylar, the anterior-posterior, or the posterior condylar axes are used to determine proper femoral component rotation and subsequent gap balance. Others favor a gap balancing technique in which the femoral component is positioned parallel to the resected proximal tibia with each collateral ligament equally tensioned to obtain a rectangular flexion gap. Two scientific studies have been performed comparing the two surgical techniques. The first utilized computer navigation and demonstrated a balanced and rectangular flexion gap was obtained much more frequently with use of a gap balanced technique. The second utilized in vivo video fluoroscopy and demonstrated a much high incidence of femoral condylar lift-off (instability) when a measured resection technique was used. In summary, the authors believe gap balancing techniques provide superior gap balance and function following total knee arthroplasty.
Developing thinking with four and five year old pupils: the impact of a cognitive acceleration programme through early science skill development

This thesis examines the extent to which a specific learning intervention programme, based on specific early science skill development may increase development in thinking in a particular early childhood sample. The background literature has focused on Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories of cognitive development as they relate to the intervention programme and the age group of the participants in this research study. The review discusses the need to teach thinking and the relevant literature on the intervention programme is critically reviewed. This research study, undertaken in and adapted for an Irish primary school, involved a sample of forty four participants aged between four and six years old. An intervention group of twenty pupils participated in the learning intervention Lets Think! -Early Years programme – based on the theory of cognitive acceleration. The learning intervention programme consisted of fifteen lessons based on the early science skills of classification, seriation and causality. The remainder of the group were the non-intervention group. All participants underwent three pre and post intervention tests and completed a pupil questionnaire. Local teachers completed a teacher questionnaire on questions relating to the research question and this combined with the researcher's observations recorded in a reflective journal provided the data to be analysed. A comparative analysis of responses obtained from the above tests, questionnaires and reflective journal, suggest that pupils from the intervention group displayed a greater improvement in their thinking ability in comparison to the nonintervention group, with the factors of gender and age of the pupils having a significant effect. This finding indicates that a cognitive intervention programme through science may have a significant immediate and positive effect on the rate of the early year's pupil's cognitive development.
A programming language for writing domain-specific software system generators

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Profile of brivaracetam and its potential in the treatment of epilepsy

Brivaracetam (BRV) (UCB 34714) is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency for approval as an add-on treatment for adult patients with partial seizures. Similar to levetiracetam (LEV), BRV acts as a high-affinity ligand of the synaptic vesicle protein 2A, however, it has been shown to be 10- to 30-fold more potent than LEV. Moreover, BRV does not share the LEV inhibitory activity on the high voltage Ca2+ channels and AMPA receptors, and it has been reported to act as a partial antagonist on neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels. The pharmacokinetic profile of BRV is favorable and linear, and it undergoes an extensive metabolism into inactive compounds, mainly through the hydrolysis of its acetamide group. Furthermore, it does not significantly interact with other antiepileptic drugs and more than 95% is excreted through the urine, with an unchanged fraction of 8%–11%. BRV has a half-life of approximately 8–9 hours and it is usually given twice daily. To date, a wide range of experimental studies have reported the effectiveness of BRV with regards to partial and generalized seizures. In humans, six randomized, placebo-controlled trials and two meta-analyses highlighted the efficacy, or good tolerability, of BRV as an add-on treatment for patients with uncontrolled partial seizures. A wide dose range of BRV has been evaluated in those trials (5–200 mg), but the most suitable for clinical use appears to be 50–100 mg/day. The most common adverse reactions to BRV are mild to moderate, transient, often improve during the course of the treatment, and mainly consist of central nervous system symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, and somnolence. The aim of this paper is to critically review the literature data regarding experimental animal models and clinical trials on BRV, and to define its potential usefulness for the clinicians who manage patients with epilepsy.
Tariff Rates, Offshoring and Productivity: Evidence from German and Austrian Firm-Level Data

This paper studies the impact of trade liberalization in terms of tariff cuts within the Eastern European enlargement on German and Austrian firm productivity. Unique matching of data from 1994 to 2003 suggests that tariff reductions raise parent firm productivity significantly. A ten percentage point decrease in tariff rates can lead to total factor productivity gains of up to 2 percent. The data allow distinction between three types of tariffs: output, intra-firm and input tariff rates. The size of the results strongly depends on the type of tariff and country analyzed.
Dual targeting of AKT and mammalian target of rapamycin: A potential therapeutic approach for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway may constitute a potential target for the treatment of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). However, investigations of other cancers suggest that mTOR blockade can paradoxically induce activation of prosurvival, protumorigenic signaling molecules, especially upstream AKT. Consequently, we hypothesized that dual phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT-mTOR blockade might be applicable for MPNST treatment. Expression of activated mTOR downstream targets (p4EBP1 and pS6RP) and pAKT was evaluated immunohistochemically in a tissue microarray of human MPNSTs (n = 96) and benign neurofibromas (n = 31). Results were analyzed by Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. mTOR and AKT pathways in human MPNST cell lines, and the effects of rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor), LY294002 (dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor), and PI-103 (potent dual PI3K/AKT-mTOR inhibitor) on pathway activation were evaluated by Western blot. Effects on cell growth were evaluated via MTS and colony formation assays. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were assessed by propidium iodide/fluorescence-activated cell sorting staining and Annexin V assays. Acridine orange staining/fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, electron microscopy, and Western blot evaluated autophagy induction. p4EBP1, pS6Rp, and pAKT levels were found to be significantly higher in MPNST versus neurofibroma (P < 0.05 for all markers). mTOR and AKT pathways were found to be highly activated in MPNST cell lines. MPNST cells were sensitive to rapamycin; however, rapamycin enhanced pAKT and peIF4E expression. PI-103 abrogated MPNST cell growth and induced G1 cell cycle arrest potentially through repression of cyclin D1. PI-103 did not elicit apoptosis but significantly induced autophagy in MPNST cells. These results suggest further study of combined PI3K/AKT and mTOR inhibition as a novel therapy for patients harboring MPNST. [Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(5):OF1–12]
REFLEXIONES SOBRE EL SIGNIFICADO SOCIAL DE LA HUMILLACIÓN

Humiliation refers to both an action and an emotion: it is the action of unjustly devaluating a person or a group by others who have the power to do it. Humiliation is also the emotion that is aroused when the victims are conscious that such devaluation has occurred to them. The emotion of humiliation is deeply damaging for its victims, with powerful consequences that are still to be completely determined. Evelin Lindner, one of the scholars that has studied more deeply the phenomenon of humiliation, has recently published the book Making Enemies: Humiliation and International Conflict (2006). In her book, the author warns about the crucial role that humiliation is currently playing in some of the cruelest social conflicts among groups. The present article summarizes the main ideas of the book, completing them with some other contributions to the subject contained in the works of other authors.
Extending and Evaluating a Pattern Language for Safety-Critical User Interfaces

This paper describes the extension and evaluation of an existing pattern language for safety-critical user interface development. The patterns were updated and new patterns were added by examining existing medical systems. The new patterns were found by generating problem definitions from perceived exemplary solutions. This method of pattern development and its application is described. A qualitative evaluation of the pattern language was performed by designing a safety-critical user interface for a hypothetical radiation therapy machine. Discussion of the design process focuses on the usefulness of our patterns as a design tool for safety-critical user interfaces.
Avaliao do raciocnio verbal em estudantes do 2 grau

This research has as its objective the assessment of the cognitive capacity called verbal reasoning in high school students. It deals with our capacity to express ideas using verbal symbols. The random sample was composed of 658 high school students from public and private schools in the city of Fortaleza in the state of Ceara (Brazil), while the instrument used was the Verbal Reasoning Test developed by Andriola & Pasquali (1995). By using analysis of variance (ANOVA) it was possible to compare the variables: sex, age and academic level with the performance on the Verbal Reasoning Test, using the software SPSS for Windows (V. 6.1).
Loss network models and multiple metric performance sensitivity analysis for mobile wireless multi-hop networks

We develop and evaluate a new method for estimating and optimizing various performance metrics of mobile wireless multi-hop networks, including MANETs. The method utilizes approximate (throughput) loss model that couples the physical, MAC and routing layers effects. The model provides quantitative statistical relations between the loss parameters that are used to characterize multiuser interference and physical path conditions on the one hand and the traffic rates between origin destination pairs on the other. The model considers effects of the hidden nodes, node scheduling algorithms, MAC and PHY layer failures and unsuccessful packet transmission attempts at the MAC layer in arbitrary time varying network topologies where multiple paths share nodes. The method then applies Automatic Differentiation (AD) to these implicit performance models, to compute sensitivities of various performance metrics with respect to network parameters. We demonstrate the method by applying it to time varying mobile network topologies, including reduced connectivity instances, with both random access MAC (contention mode of the 802.11) as well as reservation based MAC (USAP TDMA based protocol). We analyze throughput, delay and packet loss as metrics and investigate metric optimization and tradeoff analysis. Finally we provide numerical results for realistic mobile networks with time varying topologies.
Integration of conditionally dependent object features for robust figure/background segmentation

We propose a new technique for focusing multiple cues to robustly segment an object from its background in video sequences that suffer from abrupt changes of both illumination and position of the target. Robustness is achieved by tile integration of appearance and geometric object features and by their description using particle filters. Previous approaches assume independence of the object cues or apply the particle filter formulation to only one of the features, and assume a smooth change in the rest, which can prove is very limiting, especially when the state of some features needs to be updated using other cues or when their dynamics follow non-linear and unpredictable paths. Our technique offers a general framework to model the probabilistic relationship between features. The proposed method is analytically justified and applied to develop a robust tracking system that adapts online and simultaneously the color space where the image points are represented, the color distributions, and the contour of the object. Results with synthetic data and real video sequences demonstrate the robustness and versatility of our method
Redefining Literacy: The Realities of Digital Literacy for Students with Disabilities in K-12

Technology has shaped the definition of literacy from the traditional meaning of having the ability to read and write to being a social practice that enables individuals to learn and interact with the world. With this notion of literacy, technology has become a tool to motivate and engage all learners through broad practices and platforms that could effectively strengthen a student’s learning experience. The shifting from printed content to digital form is a transfer point of the traditional understanding of literacy to a new and modern meaning. This has led to a new term known as digital literacy, whereby perceiving information, gaining knowledge, and expressing understanding for the purposes of learning are delivered through a digital format. Therefore, this study has comprehensively reviewed implementing technology into digital learning for K–12 students with disabilities. Moreover, the study has investigated special and general education teachers ( n = 682) through open-ended questions to have a better understanding of the integration of learning and digital literacy. The results of the study have been interpreted to enhance the practice and research of the future of technology through digital literacy. Keywords: Digital literacy, students with disabilities, K-12, special education, general education, technology
Mapping the receptivity of malaria risk to plan the future of control in Somalia

Objectives To measure the receptive risks of malaria in Somalia and compare decisions on intervention scale-up based on this map and the more widely used contemporary risk maps. Design Cross-sectional community Plasmodium falciparum parasite rate (PfPR) data for the period 2007–2010 corrected to a standard age range of 2 to <10 years (PfPR2–10) and used within a Bayesian space–time geostatistical framework to predict the contemporary (2010) mean PfPR2–10 and the maximum annual mean PfPR2–10 (receptive) from the highest predicted PfPR2–10 value over the study period as an estimate of receptivity. Setting Randomly sampled communities in Somalia. Participants Randomly sampled individuals of all ages. Main outcome measure Cartographic descriptions of malaria receptivity and contemporary risks in Somalia at the district level. Results The contemporary annual PfPR2–10 map estimated that all districts (n=74) and population (n=8.4 million) in Somalia were under hypoendemic transmission (≤10% PfPR2–10). Of these, 23% of the districts, home to 13% of the population, were under transmission of <1% PfPR2–10. About 58% of the districts and 55% of the population were in the risk class of 1% to <5% PfPR2–10. In contrast, the receptivity map estimated 65% of the districts and 69% of the population were under mesoendemic transmission (>10%–50% PfPR2–10) and the rest as hypoendemic. Conclusion Compared with maps of receptive risks, contemporary maps of transmission mask disparities of malaria risk necessary to prioritise and sustain future control. As malaria risk declines across Africa, efforts must be invested in measuring receptivity for efficient control planning.
PHOTOEXCITATION OF RHODOPSIN: CONFORMATION CHANGES IN THE CHROMOPHORE, PROTEIN AND ASSOCIATED LIPIDS AS DETERMINED BY FTIR DIFFERENCE SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract— The visual pigment rhodopsin is the major membrane protein in the rod photoreceptor membrane. Rhodopsin's function is to transduce the light induced isomerization (ll‐cis to all‐trans) of its internally located retinylidene chromophore into transient expression of signal sites at the surface of the protein. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) difference spectroscopy has been used to study all of the steps in the photobleaching sequence of rhodopsin. Early protein alterations involving the peptide backbone and aspartic and/or glutamic carboxyl groups were detected which increase upon lumirhodopsin formation and spread to water exposed carboxyl groups by metarhodopsin II. The intensified and frequency shifted hydrogen‐out‐of‐plane vibrations of the chromophore that are present in bathorhodopsin are absent in lumirhodopsin. This indicates that by lumirhodopsin, the chromophore has relaxed relative to its more strained all‐frans form in bathorhodopsin. Finally, the transition to metarhodopsin II is found to involve perturbation of the acyl tail region of unsaturated phospholipid molecules possibly in response to small changes in the shape of the rhodopsin.