Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predation and the Evolutionary Dynamics of Species Ranges

Gene flow that hampers local adaptation can constrain species distributions and slow invasions. Predation as an ecological factor mainly limits prey species ranges, but a richer array of possibilities arises once one accounts for how predation alters the interplay of gene flow and selection. We extend previous single-species theory on the interplay of demography, gene flow, and selection by investigating how predation modifies the coupled demographic-evolutionary dynamics of the range and habitat use of prey. We consider a model for two discrete patches and a complementary model for species along continuous environmental gradients. We show that predation can strongly influence the evolutionary stability of prey habitat specialization and range limits. Predators can permit prey to expand in habitat or geographical range or, conversely, cause range collapses. Transient increases in predation can induce shifts in prey ranges that persist even if the predator itself later becomes extinct. Whether a predator tightens or loosens evolutionary constraints on the invasion speed and ultimate size of a prey range depends on the predator effectiveness, its mobility relative to its prey, and the prey’s intraspecific density dependence, as well as the magnitude of environmental heterogeneity. Our results potentially provide a novel explanation for lags and reversals in invasions.
Interactions in vocational education: negotiation of meaning of students and teaching strategies

ABSTRACT This study aimed to describe verbal student–teacher interactions in vocational education from a socio-cultural perspective on negotiation of meaning. Teaching as part of these interactions is addressed by a combination of diagnosing, checking and intervening strategies. A study was conducted in which students (n students = 20) and teacher (n teachers = 5) from Social Work (SW) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) worked together in small groups (n groups = 5) discussing vocational core problems. Each group held five discussions (n discussions = 25). All discussions were audio recorded and transcribed before they were analysed for negotiation of meaning including teaching strategies. The results showed that 5–8% of the interactions include negotiation of meaning. Interactions in SW groups revealed more negotiation of meaning than in interactions in ICT groups. Teaching strategies mainly included checking and intervening activities in favour of diagnosing activities. Furthermore, teachers used meta-cognitive and conceptual interventions most frequently. The implications of these results are discussed by reflecting on occupational differences and on how negotiation of meaning including teaching strategies can be enhanced.
Fatty Acid Composition and Conjugated Linoleic Acid Content in Different Carcass parts of Dağlıç Lambs

This study was conducted to compare fatty acid composition and content of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in different regions of sheep carcasses. Lambs of the Dağlıç breed were used for this purpose. Subsequent to a 68-day period of intensive fattening, fatty acids were examined in samples taken from the legs, shoulders, breasts, and ribs of lamb carcasses. According to the analysis, in leg, shoulder, breast, and rib, respectively, total saturated fatty acids (SFA) were found to be 40.38, 42.69, 42.56, and 40.27%, unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were found to be 40.38, 44.17, 46.17, and 49.50%, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were found to be 4.79, 4.29, 3.80, and 3.72%, and CLAs were found to be 1.49, 1.69, 1.53, and 1.59%.
Early defect of transforming growth factor β1 formation in Huntington’s disease

A defective expression or activity of neurotrophic factors, such as brain‐ and glial‐derived neurotrophic factors, contributes to neuronal damage in Huntington’s disease (HD). Here, we focused on transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β1), a pleiotropic cytokine with an established role in mechanisms of neuroprotection. Asymptomatic HD patients showed a reduction in TGF‐β1 levels in the peripheral blood, which was related to trinucleotide mutation length and glucose hypometabolism in the caudate nucleus. Immunohistochemical analysis in post‐mortem brain tissues showed that TGF‐β1 was reduced in cortical neurons of asymptomatic and symptomatic HD patients. Both YAC128 and R6/2 HD mutant mice showed a reduced expression of TGF‐β1 in the cerebral cortex, localized in neurons, but not in astrocytes. We examined the pharmacological regulation of TGF‐β1 formation in asymptomatic R6/2 mice, where blood TGF‐β1 levels were also reduced. In these R6/2 mice, both the mGlu2/3 metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist, LY379268, and riluzole failed to increase TGF‐β1 formation in the cerebral cortex and corpus striatum, suggesting that a defect in the regulation of TGF‐β1 production is associated with HD. Accordingly, reduced TGF‐β1 mRNA and protein levels were found in cultured astrocytes transfected with mutated exon 1 of the human huntingtin gene, and in striatal knock‐in cell lines expressing full‐length huntingtin with an expanded glutamine repeat. Taken together, our data suggest that serum TGF‐β1 levels are potential biomarkers of HD development during the asymptomatic phase of the disease, and raise the possibility that strategies aimed at rescuing TGF‐β1 levels in the brain may influence the progression of HD.
Who is the engaged citizen? Correlates of secondary school students’ concepts of good citizenship

ABSTRACT The opinions about what characterises a good citizen are diverse, yet survey research usually employs variable-centred analytical strategies to examine people’s concepts of good citizenship. The present study builds on a person-centred approach towards good citizenship and validates previously identified types of good citizenship among Australian secondary school students. Following an in-depth characterisation of these types by sociodemographic variables and civic attitudes, this study incorporates multinomial regression analysis to take a closer look at very extreme but practically important patterns. These analyses suggest that students need to believe in the value of civic action to become political enthusiasts and not politically alienated. Civic knowledge may prevent political alienation; however, it is not the ultimate solution as it is negatively correlated with political enthusiasm when controlling for multiple predictors. The results are discussed with respect to their significance for civics and citizenship teaching and learning.
Augmented reality: The future tense of 3D advertisement

We all agree with the fact that the reality is pretty good this will be experience by our sensory organs. Even the virtual world is amazing but the virtual and real world together working is complex. Gratefully this is changing now a days by new tool by which we can see our world with a layer of new information that's we called as Augmented reality (AR). Simply we can say that it's a combination of a virtual object or 3D objects which are overlaid on live camera feed information. We described an integrated solution for advertising different products of same party without using multiple markers. Instead of having multiple markers for augmenting a virtual object we can use single marker for showcasing dissimilar virtual object. The ultimate goal of this paper is to augmenting the virtual video and a 3d object onto a real world on which it will increase the person's conceptual understanding of the subject [1]. For performing this, various methods have been used like model based and feature based methods for making a connection between the 3D object coordinates and the 2D coordinates which are obtained on processing the live camera feed information[14].
Disclosing the secrets of memristors and implication logic

Memristors have become interesting to many research areas within the last years. This paper discusses memristors in the context of digital logic synthesis. Giving a brief overview about memristor characteristics it is explained how they can be used in digital logic. It will be explained how memristors map to digital logic operations and how this can be used with common synthesis methods to turn an arbitrary boolean function into a logic circuit. This will highlight several fundamental differences limitations as well as chances between memristive and standard digital logic. The paper closes with referencing to essential publications and to address future work.
High-dose-rate vaginal brachytherapy with chemotherapy for surgically staged localized uterine serous carcinoma

Purpose To evaluate our institutional experience combining carboplatin-paclitaxel (C/T) chemotherapy with high-dose-rate (HDR) intra-vaginal brachytherapy (IVB) following comprehensive surgical staging in localized uterine serous carcinoma (USC). Material and methods Institutional chart review identified 56 patients with FIGO 2009 stage I-II USC treated between 2000-2010. Patients underwent total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy, and comprehensive surgical staging including pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection, omentectomy, and peritoneal cytology. Chemotherapy was 6 cycles of C/T, and the IVB dose was 14 Gy in 2 fractions, prescribed to 0.5 cm from the cylinder surface. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Results The median follow-up time was 49 months (range: 9-145). The 5-yr RFS and OS were 85% and 93%, respectively. In all cases of recurrence (n = 8), the first site of failure was extra-pelvic. There were no isolated vaginal recurrences, however, there was one vaginal apex recurrence recorded at 19 months in a patient with simultaneous lung metastases. Thus, the 2-year vaginal RFS was 98%. Conclusions Excellent vaginal/pelvic control rates were observed. Further study of HDR brachytherapy dose and fractionation in combination with chemotherapy is worthwhile.
Sobre el uso de curvas de salarios en modelos empíricos de equilibrio económico. Reseña e introducción computacional

This article evaluates the sensitivity of counterfactual results provided by a general equilibrium model to changes in the wage-unemployment sensitivity, using a wage curve. It specifies, calibrates, and simulates a small economy model with imperfect substitution between the components of the added value. The model includes a government that finances its spending with taxes and makes transfers to a representative consumer. It is not an empty labor market, at least not in a Walrasian sense, so there is unemployment in the base equilibrium. Different counterfactual configurations are studied for this economy, given certain changes in the parameter sensitivity of the wage curve.
The Macrophage Galactose-Type C-Type Lectin (MGL) Modulates Regulatory T Cell Functions

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are physiologically designed to prevent autoimmune disease and maintain self-tolerance. In tumour microenvironments, their presence is related to a poor prognosis, and they influence the therapeutic outcome due to their capacity to suppress the immune response by cell-cell contact and to release immunosuppressive cytokines. In this study, we demonstrate that Treg immunosuppressive activity can be modulated by the cross-linking between the CD45RA expressed by Tregs and the C-type lectin MGL. This specific interaction strongly decreases the im-munosuppressive activity of Tregs, restoring the proliferative capacity of co-cultured T lymphocytes. This effect can be attributed to changes in CD45RA and TCR signalling through the inhibition of Lck and inactivation of Zap-70, an increase in the Foxp3 methylation status and, ultimately, the reduced production of suppressive cytokines. These results indicate a role of MGL as an immunomodulator within the tumour microenvironment interfering with Treg functions, suggesting its possible use in the design of anticancer vaccines.
MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF SOFT-SWITCHING DC / DC CONVERTER WITH HIGH VOLTAGE GAIN

A soft-switching dc/dc converter with high voltage gain is proposed in this paper. It provides a continuous input current and high voltage gain. Moreover, soft-switching characteristic of the proposed converter reduces switching loss of active power switches and raises the conversion efficiency. The reverse-recovery problem of output rectifiers is also alleviated by controlling the current changing rates of diodes with the use of the leakage inductance of a coupled inductor. Experimental results obtained on 200W prototype are discussed.
Near‐infrared surface photometry of a sample of barred galaxies

We have obtained deep J and K s images of a sample of nine barred galaxies in order to collect a reliable and homogeneous set of images to which N-body simulations of barred galaxies will be compared. The observations were performed using the new near-infrared camera available at the 2.1-m telescope of the Observatorio Astrofisico Guillermo Haro (OAGH) in Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. We present the results of surface photometry techniques applied to the observed images, as well as to the deprojected images. These results include radial profiles of surface brightness (elliptically averaged), colour, position angle, ellipticity and the b 4 Fourier component. In addition, we present isophotal maps, colour maps, surface brightness profiles along the bar major and minor axes, characteristic radial scalelengths and bar length estimates. We discuss how projection effects can influence these measurements and the uncertainties introduced by deprojecting galaxy images. We show that analytical expressions can be used to obtain reliable estimates of deprojected bar lengths, ellipticities and position angles directly from the observed images. These expressions are based on the assumption that the outer parts of the bar are vertically thin, as shown by theoretical work. The usefulness of our data in addressing issues on bar formation and evolution is also discussed. In particular, we present results showing a steep drop in the ellipticity profile, as expected for bar formation processes in which the dark matter halo plays a fundamental role. Furthermore, we show that the location of this drop is a good indicator of the end of the bar in strongly barred galaxies, as predicted by numerical models.
Slow but Likeable? Inefficient Robots as Caring Team Members

This position paper discusses the notion of efficiency as a criterion for designing and evaluating the contributions that robots might make to human work teams. Participation in teams requires the coordination and prosecution of task-centric work activity but also requires the investment of caring social behavior as a distinctive kind of positive contribution to group interaction. Team spirit, emotional support, trust and reputation are all the outcome of such investments; they reinforce the capabilities of a team for particular joint activities, and contribute to its resilience over time. The requisite social behavior for these qualities of a team might be treated as a given in design considerations for human work teams. But the picture must change for human-robot teams: socially supportive behavior can only exist if it is explicitly designed in, and the consequent “task inefficiencies” are treated as a core part of the design equation. We draw on our own research on relational effort in social communication to offer some initial considerations about how task-inefficient action might be required for robots to engage in caring interactions with human collaborators.
Brief Treatment of Co-Occurring Post-Traumatic Stress and Depressive Symptoms by Use of Accelerated Resolution Therapy®

This uncontrolled prospective cohort study evaluated the use of accelerated resolution therapy (ART) for treatment of comorbid symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder. Twenty-eight adult subjects, mean age of 41 years (79% female, 36% Hispanic), received a mean of 3.7 ± 1.1 ART treatment sessions (range 1–5). ART is a new exposure-based psychotherapy that makes use of eye movements. Subjects completed a range of self-report psychological measures before and after treatment with ART including the 17-item PCL-C checklist (symptoms of PTSD) and 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). For the PCL-C, the pre-ART mean (±standard deviation) was 62.5 (8.8) with mean reductions of −29.6 (12.5), −30.1 (13.1), and −31.4 (14.04) at post-ART, 2-month, and 4-month follow-up, respectively (p < 0.0001 for comparisons to pre-ART score). Compared to pre-ART status, this corresponded to standardized effect sizes of 2.37, 2.30, and 3.01, respectively. For the CES-D, the pre-ART mean was 35.1 (8.8) with mean reductions of −20.6 (11.0), −18.1 (11.5), and −15.6 (14.4) at post-ART, 2-month, and 4-month follow-up, respectively (p ≤ 0.0001 compared to Pre-ART score). This corresponded to standardized effect sizes of 1.88, 1.58, and 1.09, respectively. Strong correlations were observed at 2-month and 4-month follow-up for post-treatment changes in PTSD and depression symptom scores (r = 0.79, r = 0.76, respectively, p ≤ 0.0002). No serious treatment-related adverse effects were reported. In summary, ART appears to be a promising brief, safe, and effective treatment for adults with clinically significant comorbid symptoms of PTSD and depression. Future controlled and mechanistic studies with this emerging therapy are warranted, particularly given its short treatment duration, and in light of current heightened emphasis on health care cost constraints.
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Background: Previous studies have evaluated the individual effects of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and diabetes mellitus on health-related quality of life outcomes (QOL). Due to the rising incidence of these comorbid conditions, it is important to examine the synergistic impact of diabetes mellitus and AMI on QOL. Methods: In this study, we assessed using several previously validated questionnaires the QOL and functional status of 96 diabetic patients and 491 non-diabetic patients admitted to Quebec hospital sites with AMI between 1997 and 1998. We also conducted multivariate analyses to ascertain whether diabetes mellitus was an independent determinant of SF-36 physical functioning (PCS) and mental health (MCS) component score QOL outcomes after AMI. Results: Both patient groups had similar baseline clinical characteristics, but diabetic patients had slightly higher rates of cardiac risk factors compared to non-diabetics. Overall, QOL measures were similar between both patient groups at baseline, but diabetic patients reported poorer functional status than non-diabetic patients. Over the study period, there were significant differences between the QOL and functional status of diabetic and non-diabetic populations. By one year, diabetic patients reported poorer QOL outcomes than non-diabetic patients. However, diabetic patients showed greater improvements in their functional status, but were less likely to return to work compared to non-diabetic patients. In contrast with these findings, our multivariate analyses showed that diabetes mellitus was not an independent determinant of QOL and functional status. Conclusion: Our study findings suggest that diabetes mellitus is not an independent determinant of QOL after AMI. Background Several clinical studies have shown that acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes a decline in the social, physical and psychological functionality of affected patients [112]. These changes in quality of life (QOL) can impair the patient's ability to perform even basic daily tasks. Similarly, various studies have found that diabetes mellitus is also associated with poorer QOL. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus have been associated with negative socioeconomic changes, increased morbidity, worsened physPublished: 05 December 2005 Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2005, 3:80 doi:10.1186/1477-7525-3-80 Received: 28 April 2005 Accepted: 05 December 2005 This article is available from: http://www.hqlo. com/content/3/1/80 © 2005 Simpson and Pilote; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Wearable control valves driven by small sliding force

The purpose of our study is to develop a small-sized, lightweight, lower energy consumption and flexible control valve that can be safe enough to mount on the human body at a lower cost. In this study, two types of the wearable control valves driven by smaller sliding force were proposed and tested. One is a control valve that can open using a vibration motor. Another is the fluid control valve with a self-holding function that can hold the valve to open or close with no electrical power. The valve uses permanent magnets to apply the sliding force to open it. In this paper, the construction and operating principle of these valves such as a self-holding function were described. The statics and dynamics of these valves were also introduced. In addition, the pressure control system and position control system of McKibben artificial muscle using these valves were described.
Describing Web Topics Meticulously through Word Graph Analysis

Topic description is as important as topic detection. Inthis paper, we propose a novel method to describe Web topicswith topic words. Under the assumption that representativewords exist in important sentences and have high probabilityof occurrence with other representative words, twographs are built, one of which represents the relationshipfor sentences, the other for words. Considering a topic clustercontains a set of different Web pages, sentence clustersare also introduced. Experimental results on a real dataset show that our method achieves excellent performance inboth high precision and efficiency, especially when realWebdata contain mass of noises.
Device Simulation of P-InAlN-Gate AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor

Enhancement mode AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor with p-InAlN gate is designed and successfully studied its electrical properties. Threshold voltage of the device is 1.9 V, which is required magnitude of threshold voltage for real device. Similarly, the maximum drain current is 520 mA/mm and trasconductance is 183 mS/mm, which is the record estimation for enhancement-mode (e-mode) device with recorded threshold voltage. P-InAlN layer injects hole to the barrier at higher gate voltage and results in comparatively larger drain current. Selective area etching and re-grow AlInN causes thin barrier layer beneath the gate. This recess like p-InAlN structure can reduce the concentration of 2DEG; and thus results the high magnitude of threshold voltage.