Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BATHYMETRIC PATTERNS OF MORPHOLOGICAL DISPARITY IN DEEP‐SEA GASTROPODS FROM THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC BASIN

Abstract Understanding patterns of species richness requires knowledge of the individual roles species play in community structure. Here, I use gastropod shells as a source of information about both their ecological and their evolutionary functions in generating bathymetric gradients of diversity. Specifically, morphological disparity of shell architecture in deep‐sea gastropods is evaluated over a depth gradient in the western North Atlantic by constructing an empirical morphospace based on an eigenshape analysis. Morphological disparity is quantified by calculating the centroid, total range, and dispersion of the morphospace at each station along the depth gradient. The results indicate that local faunas are drawn from a regional pool with the same variance but that average dissimilarity in forms reflects the number of species in the sample. The range of the morphospace at local scales is also less than at regional scales, resulting from the variability of the morphospace centroid over depth. Although the position of the morphospace changes with depth, morphological disparity remains unaffected. Despite the lack of bathymetric patterns in variance, patterns in nearest neighbor distance persist. The findings suggest the importance of interacting ecological and evolutionary processes at varying spatiotemporal scales for both morphological disparity and species richness.
Consequences of Heat Hardening on a Field Fitness Component in Drosophila Depend on Environmental Temperature

Heat hardening increases thermal resistance to more extreme temperatures in the laboratory. However, heat hardening also has negative consequences, and the net benefit of hardening has not been evaluated in the field. We tested short‐term heat hardening effects on the likelihood of Drosophila melanogaster to be caught at different temperatures at baits in field sites without natural resources. We predicted that hardened flies should be more frequently caught at the baits at high but not low temperatures. Under cool conditions, flies hardened at 36°C, and to a lesser extent at 34°C, were less frequently caught at baits than nonhardened flies a few hours after release, indicating a negative effect of hardening. In later captures, negative effects tended to disappear, particularly in males. Under warm conditions, there was an overall balance of negative and positive effects, though with a different temporal resolution. Under very hot conditions, when capture rates were low, there was a large benefit of hardening at 36°C and 34°C but not 33°C. Finally, based on climatic records, the overall benefit of hardening in D. melanogaster is discussed as an evolved response to high temperatures occasionally experienced by organisms at some locations.
The effects of processing variables on the soda and soda-AQ pulping of kenaf bast fiber

Iran is facing a severe lack of fibrous raw materials for paper production. Kenaf (Hibiscus cannubinus L.) is a superior complement to wood as a source of fiber. Kenaf bast fibers are excellent for making pulp and paper of various grades due to the presence of high alpha cellulose (56.43), holocellulose (77.71), and ultimate fiber length (2.77 mm). Fiber length is an important factor in the development of tear and tensile properties. The aim of this work is to study the effect of charge alkali (20 and 25% oven dried, as NaOH) and cooking time (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min) of kenaf bast fiber on soda and soda-anthraquinone (AQ) pulp yield, kappa number, rejects, and strength properties of their handsheets. Results indicated that alkali charge and cooking time had significant influence on kappa number, yield, and rejects of pulps, whereas PFI revolution had only a minimal effect, especially at higher cooking times. The soda method was modified by adding 0.2% anthraquinone, and the resultant pulps displayed an increase in pulp yield and reduction in both kappa number (by 6 to 9 units) and screening rejects. The strength properties obtained with the two cooking processes used were compared, and those provided by soda-AQ process were found to be best. Regarding handsheet properties, a significant improvement in tensile index could be obtained by the soda-AQ process, compared to the soda process.
Efficacy of antidepressants and benzodiazepines in minor depression: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Depression is a common condition that has been frequently treated with psychotropics. Aims To review systematically the evidence of efficacy and acceptability of antidepressant and benzodiazepine treatments for patients with minor depression. Method A systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind randomised controlled trials comparing antidepressants or benzodiazepines v. placebo in adults with minor depression. Data were obtained from MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and pharmaceutical company websites. Risk of bias was assessed for the generation of the allocation sequence, allocation concealment, masking, incomplete outcome data, and sponsorship bias. Results Six studies met inclusion criteria. Three studies compared paroxetine with placebo; fluoxetine, amitriptyline and isocarboxazid were studied in one study each. No studies compared benzodiazepines with placebo. In terms of failures to respond to treatment (6 studies, 234 patients treated with antidepressants and 234 with placebo) no significant difference between antidepressants and placebo was found (relative risk (RR) 0.94, 95% CI 0.81–1.08). In terms of acceptability, data extracted from two studies (93 patients treated with antidepressants and 93 with placebo) showed no statistically significant difference between antidepressants and placebo (RR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.65–1.73). There was no statistically significant between-study heterogeneity for any of the reported analyses. Conclusions There is evidence showing there is unlikely to be a clinically important advantage for antidepressants over placebo in individuals with minor depression. For benzodiazepines, no evidence is available, and thus it is not possible to determine their potential therapeutic role in this condition.
On Big Data-Based Fraud Detection Method for Financial Statements of Business Groups

This study develops a big data-based fraud detection approach for financial statements of business groups to efficiently improve fraud detection efficiency accuracy, and thereby reducing investment losses and risks and enhancing investment decision-making benefits for investors and creditors. This objective is achieved by the following: (i) designing the big data-based fraud detection process for financial statements of business groups, (ii) developing big data-based fraud detection techniques for use with such statements, and (iii) demonstrating and evaluating use of the proposed approach.
Adapting a Pure Decentralized Peer-to-peer Protocol for Grid Services Invocation

Several aspects of today's Grids are based on centralized or hierarchical services. However, as Grids increase their size from tens to thousands of hosts, functionalities should be decentralized to avoid bottlenecks and guarantee scalability. A way to ensure Grid scalability is to adopt Peer-to-Peer (P2P) models and techniques to implement non-hierarchical decentralized Grid services and systems. Pure decentralized P2P protocols based on a pervasive exchange of messages, such as Gnutella, appear to be inadequate for OGSA Grids, where peers communicate among them through Grid Services mechanisms. On the other hand, this class of protocols offers useful properties in dealing with Grid resources heterogeneity and dynamicity. This paper proposes a modified Gnutella discovery protocol, named Gridnut, which makes it suitable for OGSA Grids. In particular, Gridnut uses appropriate message buffering and merging techniques to make Grid Services effective as a way to exchange messages in a P2P fashion. We present the design of Gridnut and compare Gnutella and Gridnut performances under different network and load conditions.
Particle size distribution and its relationship to black carbon in two urban and one rural site in Santiago de Chile

The size distribution of particles has been studied in three sites in the Metropolitan area of Santiago de Chile in the winter of 2009 and a comparison with black carbon was performed. Two sites are located near busy streets in Santiago and the other site is located in a rural area about 40 km west of Santiago with little influence from vehicles, but large influence from wood burning. The campaign lasted 1 or 2 weeks in each site. We have divided the particle size measurements into four groups (10–39 nm, 40–62 nm, 63–174 nm, and 175–700 nm) in order to compare with the carbon monitor. In the sites near the street, black carbon has a high correlation (R ͌ 0.85) with larger particles (175–700 nm). The correlation decreased when black carbon was compared with smaller particles, having very small correlation with the smallest sizes (10–39 nm). In the rural site, black carbon also has a high correlation (R = 0.86) with larger particles (175–700 nm), but the correlation between black carbon and the finest particles (10–39 nm) decreases to near 0. These measurements are an indication that wood burning does not generate particles smaller than ˜50 nm. In the urban sites, particle size distribution is peaked toward smaller particles (10–39 nm) only during rush hours, but at other times, particles size distribution is peaked toward larger sizes. When solar radiation was high, evidence of secondary particle formation was seen in the rural site, but not in the urban sites. The correlation between the number of secondary particles and solar radiation was R2 = 0.46, indicating that it there may be other variables that play a role in ultrafine particle formation. Implications: A study of the size distribution of particles and black carbon concentration in two street sites and one rural site shows that in the last site the number of particles ultrafine particles (d < 40 nm) is 10 times lower but the number of larger particles is about 2 times lower. Thus, the rural site has less of the particles that are more dangerous to health. The number of ultrafine particles is mostly associated with traffic, while the number of larger particles is associated with wood burning and other sources. Wood burning does not generate particles smaller than ˜50 nm.
Wednesday's child is full of woe : research into women's experience of neglect and abuse in childhood and adult depression

As many as one in four women have suffered severe neglect or abuse in childhood. This doubles the likelihood of their suffering clinical depression in adult life. Based on twenty years of systematic research,Wednesday's Child examines why neglect and abuse occur and demonstrates how such negative experience in childhood often results in abusive adult relationships, low self-esteem and depression. Drawing on interviews with over 200 women, the authors show vividly what can be learned from the experience of adult survivors of abuse. Most importantly, Wednesday's Child assesses the factors which can reduce the later impact of such experience on both the children of today and the parents of tomorrow.
[Comparison of exposure to stress and analysis of ways of coping with stress among freight transport and public transport drivers].

BACKGROUND Fast progress in a lot of economic sectors has greatly contributed to a growing role of road transportation systems, including freight transport and passenger transport. The job of professional drivers is regarded as extremely hard and dangerous, it is associated with high risk of health loss and even life loss. This profession is also associated with mental burden, the main cause of the absence at work and alarming number of road accidents. The aim of study was to compare exposure to stress, check the level of stress and ways to cope with stress in 2 groups of drivers (N = 187). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was carried out among public transport drivers and freight transport drivers. The authors' own questionnaire and 2 psychological tests: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and Inventory to Measure Coping Strategies with Stress (Mini-COPE) were used as the study tools. RESULTS The level of stress is high in both groups, mostly due to a similar type of work. Both groups practice similar ways to cope with stress, but active ways predominate. CONCLUSIONS The work of a professional driver is considered as extremely stressful. The level of stress among professional drivers should be under continuous control. Employers should introduce preventive programs and educate employees about some professional ways to cope with stress. Med Pr 2016;67(4):455-466.
Connexus: An Evocative Interface

Human communication and interaction is comprised of a wide range of verbal and non-verbal cues. Further adoption of novel tele-communication methods such as email, chat, instant messaging (IM), mobile phone SMS text messaging, and videoconferencing; have augmented our mediated interaction abilities. However, a significant (and important) amount of human expression and interaction information is never captured, transmitted, or expressed with current computer mediated communication (CMC) tools. We also lack ambient methods of maintaining contact when not co-located with family and friends. Evocative Interfaces is a new research effort aimed at the study of non-verbal human cues, their intent, motion, meaning, subtleties, and importance in communication. In this paper we address issues involved in the design, construction, and evaluation of Connexus, one such Evocative Interface.
Leukocyte telomere length is associated with noninvasively measured age-related disease: The Cardiovascular Health Study.

BACKGROUND Most studies of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) focus on diagnosed disease in one system. A more encompassing depiction of health is disease burden, defined here as the sum of noninvasively measured markers of structure or function in different organ systems. We determined if (a) shorter LTL is associated with greater age-related disease burden and (b) shorter LTL is less strongly associated with disease in individual systems or diagnosed chronic conditions (cardiovascular disease, stroke, pulmonary disease, diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis, or depression). METHODS LTL was measured by Southern blots of terminal restriction fragment length. Age-related disease was measured noninvasively and included carotid intima-media thickness, lung vital capacity, white matter grade, cystatin-C, and fasting glucose; each graded 0 (best tertile), 1 (middle tertile), or 2 (worst tertile) and summed (0 to 10) to estimate disease burden. Of 419 participants randomly selected for LTL measurement, 236 had disease burden assessed (mean [SD] age 74.2 [4.9] years, 42.4% male, 86.8% white, and 13.2% black). RESULTS Mean (SD) LTL was 6,312 (615) bp, and disease score was 4.7 (2.1) points. An SD higher disease score (β [SE] = -132 [47] bp, p < .01), age (β [SE] = -107 [46], p = .02) or carotid thickness (β [SE] = -95 [40] bp, p = .02) was associated with shorter LTL, but diagnosed conditions or number of conditions were not associated with LTL. Disease score attenuated the effect of age on LTL by 35%. CONCLUSION LTL was associated with a characterization of age-related disease burden across multiple physiologic systems, which was comparable to, but independent of, its association with age.
Double support phase analysis and ZMP calculation from restriction forces

Among all the articles of human robots there are very few dedicated to the double support phase. A lot of researches consider this phase as an instantaneous transition between the single support phases for one leg to another in the biped gait. So we decided to focus our work in this direction and study the overactuated system that arises from the sub-actuated free-flyer humanoid with restrictions on both feet. The other focus is the ZMP concept, which has been very controversial since it was presented. Specially some questions arise: What happens when the ZMP is outside the support polygon? What happens with the ZMP in the flying phase of a biped robot? How to use the ZMP in uneven terrains? There has been a notable effort in generalize this concept in the late decade, but we think no one had achieved it in a definite way.
Performance of a Wireless Sensor Network MAC Protocol with a Global Sleep Schedule

Medium access control protocols for wireless sensor networks are almost always designed to be energy efficient. One mechanism used to reduce energy expenditure is to periodically turn off the radio receivers of the sensor nodes in a coordinated manner. The nodes with radio receivers turned off are said to be in the sleep mode. Nodes form virtual clusters based on common sleep schedules. However, protocols like the widely used S-MAC may require some nodes to follow multiple sleep schedules causing them to wake up more often than the other nodes. This paper demonstrates in some wireless sensor networks using S-MAC, a significant proportion of the nodes may have to stay awake much longer than envisaged. A modification of the protocol is then proposed to eliminate the need for some nodes to stay awake longer than the other nodes. The modified version improves the energy efficiency and increases the life span of a wireless sensor network. The paper concludes with the result of simulation studies which indicate that the use of the proposed protocol is expected to increase the life time of wireless sensor networks significantly.
Fast non-negative orthogonal least squares

An important class of sparse signals is the non-negative sparse signals. While numerous greedy techniques have been introduced for low-complexity sparse approximations, there are few non-negative versions. Among such a large class of greedy techniques, one successful method, which is called the Orthogonal Least Squares (OLS) algorithm, is based on the maximum residual energy reduction at each iteration. However, the basic implementation of the OLS is computationally slow. The OLS algorithm has a fast implementation based on the QR matrix factorisation of the dictionary. The extension of such technique to the non-negative domain is possible. In this paper, we present a fast implementation of the non-negative OLS (NNOLS). The computational complexity of the algorithm is compared with the basic implementation, where the new method is faster with two orders of magnitude. We also show that, if the basic implementation of NNOLS is not computationally feasible for moderate size problems, the proposed method is tractable. We also show that the proposed algorithm is even faster than an approximate implementation of the non-negative OLS algorithm.
From Crowd Dynamics to Crowd Safety: a Video-Based Analysis

The study of crowd dynamics is interesting because of the various self-organization phenomena resulting from the interactions of many pedestrians, which may improve or obstruct their flow. Besides formation of lanes of uniform walking direction and oscillations at bottlenecks at moderate densities, it was recently discovered that stop-and-go waves [D. Helbing et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 97 (2006) 168001] and a phenomenon called "crowd turbulence" can occur at high pedestrian densities [D. Helbing et al., Phys. Rev. E 75 (2007) 046109]. Although the behavior of pedestrian crowds under extreme conditions is decisive for the safety of crowds during the access to or egress from mass events as well as for situations of emergency evacuation, there is still a lack of empirical studies of extreme crowding. Therefore, this paper discusses how one may study high-density conditions based on suitable video data. This is illustrated at the example of pilgrim flows entering the previous Jamarat Bridge in Mina, 5 kilometers from the Holy Mosque in Makkah, Saudi-Arabia. Our results reveal previously unexpected pattern formation phenomena and show that the average individual speed does not go to zero even at local densities of 10 persons per square meter. Since the maximum density and flow are different from measurements in other countries, this has implications for the capacity assessment and dimensioning of facilities for mass events. When conditions become congested, the flow drops significantly, which can cause stop-and-go waves and a further increase of the density until critical crowd conditions are reached. Then, "crowd turbulence" sets in, which may trigger crowd disasters. For this reason, it is important to operate pedestrian facilities sufficiently below their maximum capacity and to take measures to improve crowd safety, some of which are discussed in the end.
Digital Anatomical Measurement for Anterolateral Fixation of Middle and Lower Thoracic Vertebrae

Background The key to its successful application is to determine the best entry point for the vertebral screw(s). This study aimed to provide a reference for clinical anterolateral fixation through digital measurement of computed tomography (CT) data to identify relevant anatomical positions in the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae (T4–T12) of 30 adults. Material/Methods We performed digital measurement of anatomical positions in the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae (T4–T12) of 30 adults. Abbreviations: Left height of vertebral body, LHV; Right height of vertebral body, RHV; Anterior height of vertebral body, AHV; Middle height of vertebral body, MHV; Posterior height of vertebral body, PHV; Superior sagittal diameter of vertebral body, SSDV; Superior transverse diameter of vertebral body, STDV; inferior sagittal diameter of vertebral body, ISDV; Inferior transverse diameter of vertebral body, ITDV; (1) Left (right) height of vertebral body, [L(R)HV]; Anterior (middle, posterior) height of vertebral body [A(M,P)HV]; Superior (inferior) sagittal diameter of vertebral body, [S(I)SDV]; Superior (inferior) transverse diameter of vertebral body, [S(I)TDV]. Results The transverse diameters of vertebral bodies were always larger than the sagittal diameter for 3~4 mm. The distance between 2 vertebrae (interval of 1 vertebra) range were (52–56) mm for T4–T7 and (44–48) mm for T8–T12, and the surgeons could collate these data to choose a suitable stick length. Conclusions Bone graft should prune into laterigrade cuboid, it can recover A-P and bilateral physiological functions load, and the height of the vertebral body increased from T4 to T12.
Trust relationship prediction using online product review data

Trust between users is an important piece of knowledge that can be exploited in search and recommendation.Given that user-supplied trust relationships are usually very sparse, we study the prediction of trust relationships using user interaction features in an online user generated review application context. We show that trust relationship prediction can achieve better accuracy when one adopts personalized and cluster-based classification methods. The former trains one classifier for each user using user-specific training data. The cluster-based method first constructs user clusters before training one classifier for each user cluster. Our proposed methods have been evaluated in a series of experiments using two datasets from Epinions.com. It is shown that the personalized and cluster-based classification methods outperform the global classification method, particularly for the active users.