Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution and abundance of the forest birds of Guam: results of a 1981 survey

A cooperative survey of the forest birds of Guam was conducted in 1981 by the Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resource, Territory of Guam, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. This survey represents the first systematic and comprehensive effort to obtain baseline data on the distribution and abundance of Guam's avifauna. The results of the 1981 survey and historical records document the advanced state of decline in avian distribution, densities, and population sizes, and are used to identify the key habitats for Guam's native birds. Possible causes of the decline such as disease, introduced predators, pesticides, and habitat loss, are discussed and recommendations for future studies are made. 37 references, 4 figures, 25 tables.
Evolution of precopulatory and post‐copulatory strategies of inbreeding avoidance and associated polyandry

Inbreeding depression is widely hypothesised to drive adaptive evolution of pre-copulatory and post-copulatory mechanisms of inbreeding avoidance, which in turn are hypothesised to affect evolution of polyandry (i.e., female multiple mating). However, surprisingly little theory or modelling critically examines selection for pre-copulatory or post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, or both strategies, given evolutionary constraints and direct costs, or examines how evolution of inbreeding avoidance strategies might feed back to affect evolution of polyandry. Selection for post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, but not for pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, requires polyandry, while interactions between pre-copulatory and post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance might cause functional redundancy (i.e., ‘degeneracy’) potentially generating complex evolutionary dynamics among inbreeding strategies and polyandry. We used individual-based modelling to quantify evolution of interacting pre-copulatory and post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance and associated polyandry given strong inbreeding depression and different evolutionary constraints and direct costs. We found that evolution of post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance increased selection for initially rare polyandry, and that evolution of a costly inbreeding avoidance strategy became negligible over time given a lower cost alternative strategy. Further, fixed pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance often completely precluded evolution of polyandry and hence post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance, but fixed post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance did not preclude evolution of pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance. Evolution of inbreeding avoidance phenotypes and associated polyandry are therefore affected by evolutionary feedbacks and degeneracy. All else being equal, evolution of pre-copulatory inbreeding avoidance and resulting low polyandry is more likely when post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance is precluded or costly, and evolution of post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance greatly facilitates evolution of costly polyandry.
Comparación entre el metamorfismo de la Cuenca de Cameros yel de la Cuenca Aurifera de Witwatersrand (Suráfrica). Implicaciones Metalogenéticas

The Witwatersrand Coldfield (WCF) and the Cameros Basin (CB) were subjected to widespread fluid flow during metamorphism. Physical conditions reached at the thermal peaks have been estimated at 1 kb and 340°C in the case of the CB and 1-2kb and 350 ± 50°C in the WCF (i.e. subgreenschist and greenschist facies conditions). In both cases the infiltrating fluids were predominantly of deep intra-basinal and metamorphic origin and the fluid flow was focused along zones of enhanced permeability (pervasive cleavage, shear zones, fractures and bedding). Phyrophillite and chloritoid are common minerals in the internal parts of the metamorphic areas. Cold and U, accompanied by organic matter, were introduced late in the WCF; In the CB no evidence still exist of this economically important evento In the two basins, metamorphism is post-depositional, 300 to 600 Ma younger in the Archean WCF, and inmediatly subsequent in the case of the Mesozoic CB . In this case a relationship with a first stage of basin inversion seems probable. The many similarities between metamorphism in the two basins and the new model of hot migrating fluid-driven metamorphism invoked in both cases, open room for new prospecting strategies of metals of echonomic interest in the CB.
Parallelism speeds data mining

Increasingly, scientists and business people are mining mountains of stored data for valuable nuggets of insight using computerized data mining (also called knowledge discovery in databases, or KDD) techniques to learn more about customer behavior, discover new quasars, and catch crooks. Data mining recognizes patterns in data and predicts patterns from the data. Today's data-mining techniques, sometimes called 'siftware', range from OLAP (online application processing) tools that query multidimensional databases, to various statistical techniques, to advanced artificial intelligence techniques like machine learning, neural networks, rule-based systems and genetic algorithms. To efficiently mine gigabytes and terabytes of data in a timely fashion, a growing number of organizations are turning to parallelism to speed up the processing. The US Department of Treasury, for example, has fielded a data-mining application that sifts through all large cash transactions reported by banks and casinos to detect potential money laundering. The application runs on a 6-processor Sun server. >
Controllable Shock and Vibration Dampers Based on Magnetorheological Fluids

Innovative magnetorheological dampers (MR dampers) for shock and vibration damping, based on magnetorheological fluids (MRFs), are described. Important fields of their application are loading processes, impact dampers in security systems as well as vibration dampers for machines and cars. Various models for describing the MR dampers are discussed. The characteristic feature of the MR dampers is their electromagnetic controllability in a fast and energy-efficient way. Selected types of controllers for intelligent damping of motions and their behaviour in connection with MR dampers are presented. Key-Words: magnetorheological fluids, controllable dampers, vibration damping
Combinatorial Disambiguation

The disambiguation of sentences is a combinatorial problem. This paper describes a method for treating it as such, directly, by adapting standard combinatorial search optimizations. Traditional disambiguation heuristics are applied but, instead of being embedded in individual decision procedures for specific types of ambiguities, they contribute to numerical weights that are considered by a single global optimizer. The result is increased power and simpler code. The method is being implemented for a machine translation project, but could be adapted to any natural language system.
General Dynamic Equivalent Modeling of Microgrid Based on Physical Background

Microgrid is a new power system concept consisting of small-scale distributed energy resources; storage devices and loads. It is necessary to employ a simplified model of microgrid in the simulation of a distribution network integrating large-scale microgrids. Based on the detailed model of the components, an equivalent model of microgrid is proposed in this paper. The equivalent model comprises two parts: namely, equivalent machine component and equivalent static component. Equivalent machine component describes the dynamics of synchronous generator, asynchronous wind turbine and induction motor, equivalent static component describes the dynamics of photovoltaic, storage and static load. The trajectory sensitivities of the equivalent model parameters with respect to the output variables are analyzed. The key parameters that play important roles in the dynamics of the output variables of the equivalent model are identified and included in further parameter estimation. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is improved for the parameter estimation of the equivalent model. Simulations are performed in different microgrid operation conditions to evaluate the effectiveness of the equivalent model of microgrid.
Climate sensitivity to continental ice sheet size and configuration

Abstract A version of the NCAR Community Climate Model (CCM) has been used to carry out a study of climate sensitivity to the size and distribution of continental ice sheets by comparing two perpetual season, fixed sea surface temperature (SST), winter simulations of the climate at a glacial maximum. The two simulations differ only in the size and configuration of the continental ice sheet boundary conditions. These conditions represent minimum and maximum ice sheet extent for a glacial maximum as presently constrained by the geologic evidence. All other boundary conditions are as specified by CLIMAP (1981) for winter surface conditions during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The ice sheets specified by CLIMAP (1981), used by many previous researchers to simulate ice age climate conditions, are intermediate in size between the minimum and maximum ice sheets used for the simulations described here. The maximum case simulation resulted in unexpected positive temperature anomalies over the Northern Hemisphere.
How do gyral orientation and white matter anisotropy affect the electric field induced by TMS

Goal: Investigation of the underlying biophysical effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). ØThe biophysics of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is not yet well understood. We characterize in detail the electric field induced in gray (GM) and white matter (WM), using a geometrically accurate model of an individual head combined with high-resolution diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Use of finite element methods (FEM) allows determination of the impact of gyrus orientation and WM anisotropy on the field induced by a figure-8 coil. Questions: How does the modelling of white matter anisotropy influence the electric field distribution induced by TMS? Where does stimulation occur? A three-dimensional finite element method for computing magnetically induced currents in tissues, Influence of tissue conductivity anisotropy on eeg/meg field and return current computation in a realistic head model: a simulation and visualization study using high-resolution finite element modeling.
Middle- to late-Holocene environmental changes in Bajo de la Quinta, NE Patagonia, inferred by palynological records and their relation to human occupation

The north Patagonian region between 38° and 42°S extends along the proximity of two major atmospheric circulation features in South America: the northern border of the southern westerly circulation belt, and the northeast trade wind circulation associated with the subtropical South Atlantic Anticyclone. The influence of this westerly wind system determines the annual and seasonal precipitation regimen in north Patagonia, while the influence of the South Atlantic Anticyclone is more pronounced towards the east. The changing strength of either of these circulation systems has had a strong influence on Holocene environmental change in the region. Palaeoenvironmental changes are inferred from a 500 cm long core from Bajo de la Quinta, (40°55'42"S, 64°20'19"W) by means of pollen, sediment and geomorphological analyses. A dry phase with westerly winds during the middle Holocene, at around 7000–6600 cal. yr BP, is indicated by xerophytic/psammophytic vegetation and Patagonian steppe components. Between 6600 and 5200 cal. yr BP the pollen record reflects shrub steppe vegetation and low values of long distance transported pollen indicates little influence of the westerly winds. Between 5200 and 2900 cal. yr BP very arid conditions are indicated by high pollen values of Ephedra sp. and Nassauvia sp. and westerlies influenced by long distance pollen types such as Nothofagus sp. In the late Holocene (2900 cal. yr BP) the pollen record shows an increase in typical shrub taxa of the Monte and Espinal vegetation and low influence of long distance taxa. This may suggest a change to semi-arid conditions that persisted until the present, where the shrub steppe is the dominant vegetation. The environmental and geomorphological changes that occurred during the middle and late Holocene had influenced the space and resources used by hunter-gatherers of the area.
Crustal extension in the Basin and Range Province, southwestern United States

Summary Cenozoic extension of areally varying ages and amounts has on average doubled the width of the Basin and Range Province. Extensional structures that formed at all depths down to 20 km, and which range in age from Oligocene to Holocene, are widely exposed and are here interpreted in terms of a model of depth-varying deformation. The middle crust is extended by discontinuous ductile shear as internally underformed lenses slide apart along gently dipping zones of mylonite. The tops of these lenses are undulating detachment faults, the composite area of which increases with time as deep lenses slide out from underneath shallower ones. Brittle blocks of upper-crust bedrock above the detachments respond first by rotating between range-front faults, the same direction of rotation being maintained across a series of lenses, and then by pulling completely apart, while basinal strata fill the gaps and are dragged directly on detachment faults. Some faults rise gently from the main detachment zones and surface as range-front faults. Most tilted-block ranges are isolated atop detachments. Detachment faults cut out crust. Beneath them are mid-crustal rocks of any age and type and above them are mostly upper-crustal rocks, including extensive syndeformational basin sediments rotated to steep or moderate dips. As attenuation proceeds and components rise, detachment faults evolve from ductile to brittle, develop splays, and are themselves broken by steep brittle structures related to new, deeper detachments. Parts of detachment faults remain active even after exposure at the surface, but slip on them is then limited to the down-dip direction. It is inferred from seismic reflection profiles and rock-mechanic considerations that the unexposed lower crust is extended by more pervasive ductile flattening.
Rocks of the early lunar crust

Data are summarized which suggest a model for the early evolution of the lunar crust. According to the model, during the final stages of accretion, the outer part of the moon melted to form a magma ocean approximately 300 km deep. This ocean fractionated to form mafic and ultramafic cumulates at depth and an overlying anorthositic crust made up of ferroan anorthosites. Subsequent partial melting in the primitive mantle underlying the crystallized magma ocean produced melts which segregated, moved upward, intruded the primordial crust, and crystallized to form layered plutons consisting of Mg-rich plutonic rocks. Intense impact bombardment at the lunar surface mixed and melted the rocks of the two suites to form a thick layer of granulated debris, granulitic breccias, and impact-melt rocks.
Towards risk adjusted controlling of strategic IS projects in banks in the light of Basel II

Large-scale information systems (IS) investments of banks have direct impact on operational risk. After the New Basel Accord comes into effect 2006 operational risk may change the regulatory capital of banks. Considering long-term IS investments, one must take into account these effects even now. However, the possibility of integrating these effects in an investment decision depends on both applied investment measurement and Basel II risk quantification approach. The authors introduce a methodology for integrating these aspects into the decision process. Although there are several possible solutions, this paper emphasizes net present value as a controlling method and the loss distribution approach as a possible risk quantification instrument.
eHealthPortal: A Social Support Hub for the Active Living of the Elderly

The absolute and relative increases in the number of elderly are evident worldwide, from the most developed countries to the lowest-income regions. The fast demographic transition poses great challenges to the healthcare system and introduces a significant burden to the elderly and their family. To meet the unprecedented challenges of global aging, various aging-in-place (AIP) solutions have been proposed to enable the elderly to live in their own home and community safely, independently and comfortably. Elderly need support in various aspects, such as physical, cognitive, emotional, and social, in their daily life. However, most existing AIP solutions provide support in one or two aspects only and many focus on anomaly detection rather than deliver care or companionship. To better facilitate eldercare at home, we propose eHealthPortal, which is a social support hub for the active living of the elderly. By crowdsourcing help and support from the users' family and friends, caregivers, and doctors, eHealthPortal cares for the wellness of the elderly in all the four aforementioned key aspects. As a novel feature of the system, eHealthPortal is supported by a group of virtual and robotic agents for providing reliable sensing in unobtrusive ways seamlessly, tender caring in a holistic manner proactively, and actual companionship in natural forms constantly.
New developments in sentinel node staging in melanoma: controversies and alternatives

Purpose of review Melanoma incidence is increasing worldwide. Elective lymph node dissections (ELNDs) could not improve survival. The sentinel node is a targeted approach to occult lymph node metastases. There are controversies regarding the sentinel node procedure for melanoma, with regard to false-negative rates, therapeutic benefit and alternatives, such as ultrasound. The clinical relevance of minimal sentinel node tumor burden is unclear. This review analyzes these issues. Recent findings Through the pathological work-up of the sentinel node, the sentinel node has become an independent prognostic factor for survival in melanoma. False-negative rates of the sentinel node procedure are generally an underestimation, due to incorrect calculations. A subgroup analysis of the Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT)-1 seemed to demonstrate a survival benefit, but is criticized for a number of reasons. Potentially, a subgroup of sentinel node-positive patients is prognostically false-positive, with dormant metastases, which might not become viable disease. Summary Sentinel node tumor burden is an extra dimension to predict prognosis, although we have not yet identified the correct group to undergo a completion lymph node dissection. The MSLT-2 and MINITUB studies are analyzing this issue. The EORTC recommends the Rotterdam criteria as the most reproducible and accurate measure of sentinel node tumor burden. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology is emerging as a potential cost-effective alternative.
Association of TP53 polymorphisms with primary open-angle glaucoma: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE To offer a comprehensive evaluation of the potential associations of TP53 polymorphisms with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) through a systematic review and meta-analysis of candidate genetic association study. METHODS Medline, Embase, Science Citation Index, the Cochrane Library, and other databases (up to January 20, 2012) were searched by two investigators independently. Pooled odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the strength of the associations between two TP53 polymorphisms (codon 72 in exon 4 and 16 base-pair [bp] insertion in intron 3) and POAG. Statistical analysis was performed with a commercial statistical and data analysis software package. RESULTS Nine independent studies on TP codon 72 (1930 cases and 1463 controls) and four articles on TP intron 3 16-bp insertion (858 cases and 683 controls) were identified. The overall results showed that there was significant association between TP53 codon 72 genotype and POAG risk in the recessive model (OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.05-1.64, P = 0.017). Also, our analysis suggested that TP53 intron 3 16-bp insertion polymorphism was associated with decreased POAG risk in overall population when examining the contrast of Ins versus Del (OR 0.75, 95% CI = 0.57-0.97, P = 0.031). In subgroup analyses for ethnicity (Caucasian, Asian), we detected the association between codon 72 polymorphism and risk for POAG in Asian populations (recessive model: OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.03-1.80, P = 0.026) but not in Caucasian populations. However, no significant finding was noted between P53Arg72Pro and risk for open-angle glaucoma either in high tension glaucoma or in normal tension glaucoma. Because of insufficient studies on TP53 16-bp insertion polymorphism, no subgroup analyses were conducted according to ethnicity and glaucoma subtype to detect the effect of this polymorphism on the susceptibility to POAG. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis showed the evidence that TP53 codon 72 (CC versus CG+GG) and intron 3 16-bp insertion (Ins versus Del) polymorphisms may affect individual susceptibility to POAG. Moreover, stratified analyses that detected the effect of TP53 codon 72 polymorphism seemed to be varied by ethnicity. Given the limited sample size, further investigations are needed to validate the association.
Identification of an Antigenic Determinant on the S2 Domain of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Spike Glycoprotein Capable of Inducing Neutralizing Antibodies

ABSTRACT Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a life-threatening disease caused by a newly identified coronavirus (CoV), SARS-CoV. The spike (S) glycoprotein of CoV is the major structural protein responsible for induction of host immune response and virus neutralization by antibodies. Hence, knowledge of neutralization determinants on the S protein is helpful for designing protective vaccines. To analyze the antigenic structure of the SARS-CoV S2 domain, the carboxyl-terminal half of the S protein, we first used sera from convalescent SARS patients to test the antigenicity of 12 overlapping fragments spanning the entire S2 and identified two antigenic determinants (Leu 803 to Ala 828 and Pro 1061 to Ser 1093). To determine whether neutralizing antibodies can be elicited by these two determinants, we immunized animals and found that both of them could induce the S2-specific antisera. In some animals, however, only one determinant (Leu 803 to Ala 828) was able to induce the antisera with the binding ability to the native S protein and the neutralizing activity to the SARS-CoV pseudovirus. This determinant is highly conserved across different SARS-CoV isolates. Identification of a conserved antigenic determinant on the S2 domain of the SARS-CoV S protein, which has the potential for inducing neutralizing antibodies, has implications in the development of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV.