Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TROPICS ACCELERATE THE EVOLUTION OF HYBRID MALE STERILITY IN DROSOPHILA

Understanding the evolutionary mechanisms that facilitate speciation and explain global patterns of species diversity has remained a challenge for decades. The most general pattern of species biodiversity is the latitudinal gradient, whereby species richness increases toward the tropics. Although such a global pattern probably has a multitude of causes, recent attention has focused on the hypothesis that speciation and the evolution of reproductive isolation occur faster in the tropics. Here, I tested this prediction using a dataset on premating and postzygotic isolation between recently diverged Drosophila species. Results showed that while the evolution of premating isolation was not greater between tropical Drosophila relative to nontropical species, postzygotic isolation evolved faster in the tropics. In particular, hybrid male sterility was much greater among tropical Drosophila compared to nontropical species pairs of similar genetic age. Several testable explanations for the novel pattern are discussed, including greater role for sterility‐inducing bacterial endosymbionts in the tropics and more intense sperm–sperm competition or sperm–egg sexual conflict in the tropics. The results imply that processes of speciation in the tropics may evolve at different rates or may even be somewhat different from those at higher latitudes.
Taiwan teacher preparation program evaluation: Some critical perspectives

This paper focuses on the influences and changes of recent Taiwan teacher preparation program evaluation (TTPPE) as one of the national evaluation projects conducted by the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan. The main concerns are what kind of ideology is transformed through the policy by means of evaluation, and what influence TTPPE has as well as its usage. The first section provides a brief introduction of the development of TTPPE. The second section illustrates how market ideology (mainly neo-liberalism) influences and transforms into policy agenda. The third section critiques original usage of TTPPE outcomes. The last section shows the visions and challenges for TTPPE. The research methods include policy analysis of official documents and interviewing four stakeholders and faculty members to understand their experience and reflection. The paper is expected to provide critical insights for future teacher preparation program evaluation projects as well as for other teacher programs evaluation.
Targeted Disruption of the kstD Gene Encoding a 3-Ketosteroid Δ1-Dehydrogenase Isoenzyme ofRhodococcus erythropolis Strain SQ1

ABSTRACT Microbial phytosterol degradation is accompanied by the formation of steroid pathway intermediates, which are potential precursors in the synthesis of bioactive steroids. Degradation of these steroid intermediates is initiated by Δ1-dehydrogenation of the steroid ring structure. Characterization of a 2.9-kb DNA fragment ofRhodococcus erythropolis SQ1 revealed an open reading frame (kstD) showing similarity with known 3-ketosteroid Δ1-dehydrogenase genes. Heterologous expression ofkstD yielded 3-ketosteroid Δ1-dehydrogenase (KSTD) activity under the control of the lac promoter inEscherichia coli. Targeted disruption of thekstD gene in R. erythropolis SQ1 was achieved, resulting in loss of more than 99% of the KSTD activity. However, growth on the steroid substrate 4-androstene-3,17-dione or 9α-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione was not abolished by thekstD gene disruption. Bioconversion of phytosterols was also not blocked at the level of Δ1-dehydrogenation in the kstD mutant strain, since no accumulation of steroid pathway intermediates was observed. Thus, inactivation ofkstD is not sufficient for inactivation of the Δ1-dehydrogenase activity. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cell extracts stained for KSTD activity showed thatR. erythropolis SQ1 in fact harbors two activity bands, one of which is absent in the kstD mutant strain.
THE ROLE OF EMOTION REGULATION, DISSOCIATIVE EXPERIENCES AND INTOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE PREDICTION OF CRAVING BELIEFS IN DRUG ABUSERS WITH TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE

The study aims to determine the role of emotion regulation, dissociative experiences and intolerance of uncertainty in predicting the craving beliefs in drug abusers with traumatic experience. This research is descriptive and correlation. The study sample consisted of all drug abusers with traumatic experience admitted at rehab centers in Ardabil during March to September, 2014. The sample size consisted of 120 addicts who were selected by convenience sampling method. Traumatic events screening inventory- self report form, cognitive emotion regulation, dissociative experiences, intolerance of uncertainty scale and craving beliefs were used. The data was analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that negative emotion regulation strategy has a positive significant relation with tempting ideas and positive emotion regulation strategy has a negative significant relation with craving beliefs. Also, the results indicated a positive significant relation between uncertainty and craving beliefs, but there were no significant relations between dissociative experiences and craving beliefs. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that negative emotion regulation strategy and intolerance of uncertainty can significantly explain the craving beliefs in addicts with traumatic experience. Thus, it can be expressed that as negative emotion regulation strategies and intolerance of intolerance of uncertainty have impact on craving beliefs on drug abusers with traumatic experience.
Nonlinear control for the vehicle by numerical inversion of its behavioral model

This paper deals with the nonlinear longitudinal and lateral combined control for the vehicle based on a simple, fast, nonlinear dicrete time control approach. An approximate numerical one-step time discretization of the nonlinear plant model behavior is used to find out the outputs of controller that minimize the distance between the plant output and a linear system as closed loop reference, leading the system to adopt its dynamical behavior. Since that approximation is obtained from offline simulations and the prediction horizon is limited to one time-step, the execution time of the algorithm can be completely bounded. Experimental results obtained from some simulations show the performance and robustness of the proposed controller.
Smart energy households' pilot projects in The Netherlands with a design-driven approach

Residential smart grid projects can be evaluated by a design-driven approach, which focuses on gaining insights for successful product and service development by taking the end-users as a starting point. Because only little experience exists with this design-driven approach, this paper addresses how four pilot projects with smart energy households in the Netherlands - namely (A) Power Matching City, (B) Smart Wash, (C) Your Energy Moment and (D) Nieuwveense landen - are being or will be evaluated. The pilot projects illustrate that by studying end-users' perception of and interaction with technology, insights are created that can be used for development of product and service development, not only from a technical point of view but also in terms of financial and non-financial value creation. A design-driven approach can therefore help to broaden the focus of product and service development from merely technical feasibility to a multidisciplinary exploration of how to create successful products and services for smart grid households.
A Configurable Synchronization Protocol for Real-Time Self-Suspending Processes ?

While a number of researchers have proposed excellent protocols on resource synchronization, little work is done for processes that might suspend themselves for I/O access, especially when they tend to be more tolerant to multiple priority inversions. This paper presents research results extended from the concept of priority ceilings with an objective to satisfy different priority-inversion requirements for different processes. We aim at practical considerations in which processes might voluntarily give up CPU and be willing to receive more blocking time than those in most traditional approaches. Extensions on the proposed scheduling protocols for deadlock prevention are also considered.
Selecting locking primitives for parallel programming

T HE only reason to parallelize a program is to gain performance. However, the synchronization primitives used by parallel programs can consume excessive memory bandwidth, can be subject to memory latencies, can consume excessive memory, and can result in unfair access or even starvation. These problems can outweigh the performance benefits of parallel execution. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the performance implications of synchronization primitives in addition to their correctness, liveness, and safety properties. This article presents a pattern language to assist you in selecting synchronization primitives for parallel programs. The pattern language assumes you have already chosen a locking design, perhaps by using a locking design pattern language [2].
Environmental sustainability change management in SMEs: learning from sustainability champions

This study identifies the change management processes involved in undertaking environmental sustainability (ES) initiatives within Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) and relate these to the main attributes of learning organisations. Using case study techniques, the study draws from the change management experiences of a sample of 12 ES champions in different industries. The findings suggest that the ES champions experience four distinct change management stages in undertaking ES initiatives; namely the design, internalise, implement and evaluate stages. Each stage is also found to relate strongly with a number of key characteristics of learning organisations. Overall, the findings suggest that SMEs with strong learning organisation attributes are more likely to be successful in implementing and managing ES change initiatives. The implications of the findings are also discussed.
Nearshore hardbottom fishes of southeast Florida and effects of habitat burial caused by dredging

Fish assemblages of near- shore hardbottom habitats of southeast Florida were quantified at three sites from April 1994 to June 1996. Random 2 × 15 m transects were visually censused within two replicate areas at each site. The hardbottom at one site was buried by a dredge project to widen a beach one year into the study. A total of 394 transects were sampled. Eighty-six taxa (77 identified to species) from 36 families were censused. Grunts (Hae- mulidae) were the most diverse family (11 species), followed by the wrasses (Labridae) and parrotfishes (Scaridae) with seven and six species, respectively. The most abundant species were sail- ors choice (Haemulon parra), silver porgy (Diplodus argenteus), and cocoa damself- ish (Stegastes variabilis) with mean abundances (individuals/transect) of 4.5, 3.8, and 3.7, respectively. Early life stages (newly settled, early juvenile, and juvenile) represented over 80% of the individuals at all sites. Newly settled stages of over 20 species were observed in association with hard- bottom reef structure. Outside of la- goons, nearshore hardbottom areas are the primary natural structures in shal- low waters of mainland Florida's east coast and were estimated to have nurs- ery value for 34 species of fishes. After one year, burial of approximately five ha of hardbottom habitat at one site lowered the numbers of individuals and species by over 30× and 10× , respec- tively. Due to their early ontogenetic stage, many of these species may not be adapted for high mobility in re- sponse to habitat burial. Dredging ef- fects may be amplified by burial prior to and during spring and summer peri-
Wireless wearable multi-sensory system for monitoring of sleep apnea and other cardiorespiratory disorders

This paper reports the development of a wireless, wearable, multi-sensor suite and its integration as part of a smart garment for point-of-care diagnosis of cardiorespiratory disorders with a particular focus on sleep apnea screening. The suite is designed to synchronously gather 3-lead vectorcardiogram signals sampled at 250 Hz from a custom-designed hardware, heart sound signals gathered at 250 Hz from a MEMs sound sensor (model MT-201 from ADinstrument), digitized oxygen saturation (SPO2) signals at 250 Hz (model PC-60B from St. Alban Medical), and respiratory signals. The signals are transmitted to a nearby processing and graphical visualization unit via a Bluetooth module (model RN-800S-CB from Roving Network). The system can serve as an out-of-center Type III sleep apnea screening device. Extensive tests suggest that the quality of the signals is comparable to that of commercial and standard recording systems. While this unit offers enhanced functionality in terms of simultaneous electro- and phonocardiorespiratory analysis, the power consumption rates and diagnostic performance are comparable to those of commercial point-of-care wireless medical devices for cardiorespiratory diagnosis.
Can Convict Cichlids (Amatitlania siquia) Socially Learn the Degree of Predation Risk Associated with Novel Visual Cues in Their Environment?

For many animals, the ability to distinguish cues indicative of predation risk from cues unrelated to predation risk is not entirely innate, but rather is learned and improved with experience. Two pathways to such learning are possible. First, an animal could initially express antipredator behaviour toward a wide range of cues and subsequently learn which of those cues are non-threatening. Alternatively, it could initially express no antipredator behaviour toward a wide range of cues and subsequently learn which of them are threatening. While the learned recognition of threatening cues may occur either through personal interaction with a cue (asocial learning) or through observation of the behaviour of social companions toward a cue (social learning), the learned recognition of non-threatening cues seems to occur exclusively through habituation, a form of asocial learning. Here, we tested whether convict cichlid fish ( Amatitlaniasiquia ) can socially learn to recognize visual cues in their environment as either threatening or non-threatening. We exposed juvenile convict cichlids simultaneously to a novel visual cue and one of three (visual) social cues: a social cue indicative of non-risk (the sight of conspecifics that had previously been habituated to the novel cue), a social cue indicative of predation risk (the sight of conspecifics trained to fear the novel cue), or a control treatment with no social cue. The subsequent response of focal fish, when presented with the novel cue alone, was not influenced by the social cue that they had previously witnessed. We therefore did not find evidence that convict cichlids in our study could use social learning to recognize novel visual cues as either threatening or non-threatening. We consider alternative explanations for our findings.
A Survey on Various Saliency Detection Methods

Visual saliency is an important characteristic of Human Visual System (HVS) that select the visually significant information from scenes. The salient objects stand out relative to their neighbourhood regions. Detecting and segmenting salient objects, also known as salient object detection is used to extract the most interesting object/objects in a scene and has resulted in many applications. There are many different methods to detect saliency known as visual attention models or saliency detection methods. In past few years many saliency detection methods have been proposed. One of the main objectives of the work is to perform a detail study in the field of Saliency detection by keeping focus on the different bottom-up computational models and the methods used to predict saliency. The work aims to analyze various solutions that aid the task of HVSs properties. This paper presents various saliency detection methods.
Supplemental Data S 1 DAF-16 / FOXO Regulates Transcription of cki-1 / Cip / Kip and Repression of lin-4 during C . elegans L 1 Arrest

Preparation of Arrested L1s For all experiments described here, young adult worms grown at 20oC (except for daf-2(e979), which were grown at 15oC) were dissolved and embryos were collected by sodium-hypochlorite treatment as described [S1]. Embryos were allowed to develop and hatch either on standard nematode growth medium (NGM) plus 1.7% agar in Petri plates seeded with E. coli OP50 or in 5 ml S basal buffer [S1] in a test tube on a carousel. We found that hatching larvae in aqueous buffer (S basal) on a carousel results in the most immediate, reproducible arrest possible. Initial experiments were done with larvae hatched on sterile NGM plates (no OP50), but variable amounts of L1 development occur before arrest under these conditions (equivalent to as much as 6–8 hr development at 20oC). It is unclear whether this variable, delayed L1 arrest on NGM plates is due to the smell of the medium, nutrition acquired from the medium, or the accessibility of carcasses, egg cases, etc. on the agar medium. Consistent with sterile medium providing nutrition, larvae that burrow in the NGM agar often develop beyond the L1 stage. We also observed rare, nonarresting worms hatched in S basal when the tube containing the S basal was allowed to sit still as opposed to being rotated on a carousel, presumably resulting from cannibalism at the bottom of the tube.
Psychologists in China: National Transformation and Humanistic Psychology

Psychology in the People’s Republic of China is experiencing rapid growth and redefinition in response to dramatic changes in economic, cultural, and political conditions. This article discusses the common points of agreement and opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between western humanistic psychology, Chinese psychology and the philosophical and religious traditions of Daoism and Mencian humanistic Confucianism. This article provides an historical and contemporary context for Chinese psychology. It discusses aspects of Chinese culture that interact with the development of a uniquely Chinese psychology. The emergent discipline of psychology in China and humanistic psychological approaches have much to offer each other in the understanding and solution of human and global dilemmas.
Transport congestion events detection (TCED): towards decorrelating congestion detection from TCP

TCP(Transmission Control Protocol) uses a loss-based algorithm to estimate whether the network is congested or not. The main difficulty for this algorithm is to distinguish spurious from real network congestion events. Other research studies have proposed to enhance the reliability of this congestion estimation by modifying the internal TCP algorithm. In this paper, we propose an original congestion event algorithm implemented independently of the TCP source code. Basically, we propose a modular architecture to implement a congestion event detection algorithm to cope with the increasing complexity of the TCP code and we use it to understand why some spurious congestion events might not be detected in some complex cases. We show that our proposal is able to increase the reliability of TCP NewReno congestion detection algorithm that might help to the design of detection criterion independent of the TCP code. We find out that solutions based only on RTT (Round-Trip Time) estimation are not accurate enough to cover all existing cases. Furthermore, we evaluate our algorithm with and without network reordering where other inaccuracies, not previously identified, occur.
3D Object Recognition using Multiclass Support Vector Machine-K-Nearest Neighbor Supported by Local and Global Feature

Problem statement: In this study, a new method has been proposed for the recognition of 3D objects based on the various views of the object. The proposed method is evolved from the two promising methods available for object recognition. Approach: The proposed method uses both the local and global features extracted from the images. For feature extraction, Hus Moment invariant is computed for global feature to represent the image and Hessian-Laplace detector and PCA-SIFT descriptor as local feature for the given image. The multi-classs SVM-KNN classifier is applied to the feature vector to recognize the object. The proposed method uses the COIL-100 and CALTECH image databases for its experimentation. Results and Conclusion: The proposed method is implemented in MATLAB and tested. The results of the proposed method are better when comparing with other methods like KNN, SVM and BPN.
Retention of Information Taught in Introductory Psychology Courses Across Different Accelerated Course Formats

The current study is a quasi-experimental examination of the effects of traditional and accelerated course formats on learning retention. The study analyzed data on an end-of-course exam collected from 132 students enrolled in introductory psychology courses across 3 course formats: a traditional 16-week format, a 5-week accelerated format, and an 8-week accelerated format. Results suggest that students in the 8-week format performed better than students in both the traditional 16-week and 5-week formats. No significant differences were found between students in the 5-week accelerated format and students in the traditional format. Overall, our study suggests that accelerated courses produce similar or superior rates of learning retention to those observed in traditional course formats and highlight the importance of assessing different accelerated course formats as they may not produce equivalent outcomes. The results of the current study are discussed in relation to both distributed learning and immersion in course material.
Controversies in the diagnosis and treatment of early cutaneous melanoma

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is a disease with an unpredictable evolution mainly due to its high metastatic ability. The steadily increasing incidence and the poor outcome in advanced stages made this cancer an interesting field for many research groups. Given that CM is a curable disease in early stages, efforts have been made to detect it as soon as possible, which led to the diversification and refining of diagnosis methods and therapies. But, as the data from trials have been published, doubts about the indications and efficacy of established treatments have arisen. In fact, there is probably no single aspect of early CM that has not given birth to controversy. This article intends to present the current disputes regarding the early detection, diagnosis, treatment and postoperative follow-up of patients with localized CM. After analyzing both pros and cons, several conclusions were drawn, that reflect our experience in managing patients with early CM.