Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Cultural Transmission of Great Basin Projectile-Point Technology I: An Experimental Simulation

A Darwinian evolutionary approach to archaeology naturally leads to a focus on cultural transmission. Theoretical models of cultural evolution indicate that individual-level details of cultural transmission can have specific and significant population-level effects, implying that differences in transmission may be detectable in the archaeological record. Here we present an experimental simulation of the cultural transmission of prehistoric projectile-point technology, simulating the two transmission modes-indirect bias and guided variation-that Bettinger and Eerkens (1999) suggested were responsible for differences in Nevada and California point-attribute correlations. Groups of participants designed “virtual projectile points” and tested them in “virtual hunting environments,” with different phases of learning simulating, alternately, indirectly biased cultural transmission and independent individual learning. As predicted, periods of cultural transmission were associated with significantly stronger attribute correlations than were periods of individual learning. We also found that participants who could engage in indirectly biased horizontal cultural transmission outperformed individual-learning controls, especially when individual learning was costly and the selective environment was multimodal. The study demonstrates that experimental simulations of cultural transmission, used alongside archaeological data, mathematical models and computer simulations, constitute a useful tool for studying cultural change.
Analysis and Interpretation of Results of Initial Test Conducted among 1st Year Students of the School of Economics as Part of the Business Croatian Language Course, 2011/2012

This paper analyzes the results of initial test intended for checking the ability to implement knowledge of standard Croatian language by 1st year students of the School of Economics in Zagreb. The test is conducted each year at the beginning of the studying process as a part of the Business Croatian Language Course. Such a test promptly settles any concerns about the ability of students to participate in the course and diminishes possible reluctance to learning while at the same time strengthening their persistence, motivation and cooperation. The goal was to identify the average literacy level in order to define students’ language competence and establish the starting linguistic platform of teaching. This paper represents the first part of a research that will include the analysis of final test results done with two groups of students: one group that attended the course taking into consideration results of initial tests and another one that attended the course without being submitted to checking of students’ initial knowledge and was not adapted accordingly. By doing so we wanted to justify the aim and effects of initial tests.
Sleep architecture of the melanin‐concentrating hormone receptor 1‐knockout mice

Growing amounts of data indicate involvement of the posterior hypothalamus in the regulation of sleep, especially paradoxical sleep (PS). Accordingly, we previously showed that the melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH)‐producing neurons of the rat hypothalamus are selectively activated during a PS rebound. In addition, intracerebroventricular infusion of MCH increases total sleep duration, suggesting a new role for MCH in sleep regulation. To determine whether activation of the MCH system promotes sleep, we studied spontaneous sleep and its homeostatic regulation in mice with deletion of the MCH‐receptor 1 gene (MCH‐R1–/– vs. MCH‐R1+/+) and their behavioural response to modafinil, a powerful antinarcoleptic drug. Here, we show that the lack of functional MCH‐R1 results in a hypersomniac‐like phenotype, both in basal conditions and after total sleep deprivation, compared to wild‐type mice. Further, we found that modafinil was less potent at inducing wakefulness in MCH‐R1–/– than in MCH‐R1+/+ mice. We report for the first time that animals with genetically inactivated MCH signaling exhibit altered vigilance state architecture and sleep homeostasis. This study also suggests that the MCH system may modulate central pathways involved in the wake‐promoting effect of modafinil.
Heavy Ion Damage in Ultra-Thin Gate Oxide SQl MOSFETs

We present the first experimental data about the response of partially (PD) and fully (FD) depleted MOSFETs manufactured in a O.l mum SOI CMOS technology to heavy ion irradiation. After exposure to just a few iodine ions, several different phenomena were present. Some effects were found in all the devices we tested with good reproducibility and depended on the ion fluence; others were present from time to time, likely depending on the exact location of the ion strike and/or on the presence of pre-existing defects. Among the first category were an increase in the gate leakage current for both PD and FD devices and a reduction in the linear kink effect which is featured only by PD samples. Concerning the sporadic effects, shifts in the threshold voltage of the main and lateral parasitic transistors and reductions in maximum transconductance were found in few devices after irradiation. We related all these phenomena to the creation of defects in the gate oxide and/or charge build-up in the lateral isolation/LDD spacers.
Alpha-Galactosides: Antinutritional Factors or Functional Ingredients?

This review focuses on updated information about α-galactosides, their chemical structure, biosynthesis, plant physiological functions, occurrence in foods, positive and negative physiological effects in animals, changes during food processing, and their potential application as prebiotics in the food industry. Although α-galactosides are considered as the main flatus-causing factors, they are also involved in several important functions during plant and seed development and beneficially stimulate the growth and activity of living bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the human colon. We focus here also on legumes as a source of this kind of prebiotics as potential health promoters.
Diagnosis and management of psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE To provide primary care clinicians with an up-to-date and practical overview of the diagnosis and management of psoriasis. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and observational studies about the diagnosis and management of psoriasis. MAIN MESSAGE Psoriasis is a chronic, multisystem inflammatory disease with predominantly skin and joint involvement. Beyond the physical dimensions of disease, psoriasis has an extensive emotional and psychosocial effect on patients, affecting social functioning and interpersonal relationships. As a disease of systemic inflammation, psoriasis is associated with multiple comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease and malignancy. The diagnosis is primarily clinical and a skin biopsy is seldom required. Depending on the severity of disease, appropriate treatment can be initiated. For mild to moderate disease, first-line treatment involves topical therapies including corticosteroids, vitamin D3 analogues, and combination products. These topical treatments are efficacious and can be safely initiated and prescribed by primary care physicians. Patients with more severe and refractory symptoms might require further evaluation by a dermatologist for systemic therapy. CONCLUSION Many patients with psoriasis seek initial evaluation and treatment from their primary care providers. Recognition of psoriasis, as well as its associated medical and psychiatric comorbidities, would facilitate timely diagnosis and appropriate management with effective and safe topical therapies and other medical and psychological interventions, as needed. More severe and refractory cases might warrant referral to a dermatologist for further evaluation and possible systemic therapy.
Mutational Analysis of the Medicago Glycosyltransferase UGT71G1 Reveals Residues That Control Regioselectivity for (Iso)flavonoid Glycosylation*

The plant glycosyltransferase UGT71G1 from the model legume barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) glycosylates flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and triterpenes. It can transfer glucose to each of the five hydroxyl groups of the flavonol quercetin, with the 3′-O-glucoside as the major product, and to the A-ring 7-hydroxyl of the isoflavone genistein. The sugar donor and acceptor binding pockets are located in the N and C termini, respectively, of the recently determined crystal structure of UGT71G1. The residues forming the binding pockets of UGT71G1 were systematically altered by site-directed mutagenesis. Mutation of Phe148 to Val, or Tyr202 to Ala, drastically changed the regioselectivity for quercetin glycosylation from predominantly the 3′-O-position of the B-ring to the 3-O-position of the C ring. The Y202A mutant exhibited comparable catalytic efficiency with quercetin to the wild-type enzyme, whereas efficiency was reduced 3-4-fold in the F148V mutant. The Y202A mutant gained the ability to glycosylate the 5-hydroxyl of genistein. Additional mutations affected the relative specificities for the sugar donors UDP-galactose and UDP-glucuronic acid, although UDP-glucose was always preferred. The results are discussed in relation to the design of novel biocatalysts for production of therapeutic flavonoids.
Uniqueness and Hölder stability of discontinuous diffusion coefficients in three related inverse problems for the heat equation

We consider the heat equation ∂ty − div(c∇y) = H with a discontinuous coefficient in three connected situations. We give the uniqueness and stability results for the diffusion coefficient c(⋅) in the main case from measurements of the solution on an arbitrary part of the boundary and at a fixed time in the whole spatial domain. The diffusion coefficient is assumed to be discontinuous across an unknown interface. The key ingredients are a Carleman-type estimate with non-smooth data near the interface and a stability result for the discontinuous coefficient c(⋅) in an inverse problem associated with the stationary equation − div(c∇u) = f.
The role of co‐transcriptional translation and protein translocation (transertion) in bacterial chromosome segregation

Many recent reviews in the field of bacterial chromosome segregation propose that newly replicated DNA is actively separated by the functioning of specific proteins. This view is primarily based on an interpretation of the position of fluorescently labelled DNA regions and proteins in analogy to the active segregation mechanism in eukaryotic cells, i.e. to mitosis. So far, physical aspects of DNA organization such as the diffusional movement of DNA supercoil segments and their interaction with soluble proteins, leading to a phase separation between cytoplasm and nucleoid, have received relatively little attention. Here, a quite different view is described taking into account DNA–protein interactions, the large variation in the cellular position of fluorescent foci and the compaction and fusion of segregated nucleoids upon inhibition of RNA or protein synthesis. It is proposed that the random diffusion of DNA supercoil segments is transiently constrained by the process of co‐ transcriptional translation and translocation (transertion) of membrane proteins. After initiation of DNA replication, a bias in the positioning of transertion areas creates a bidirectionality in chromosome segre‐gation that becomes self‐enhanced when neigh‐bouring genes on the same daughter chromosome are expressed. This transertion‐mediated segregation model is applicable to multifork replication during rapid growth and to multiple chromosomes and plasmids that occur in many bacteria.
Nerve changes in the human corneal graft.

SEVERAL investigators* have observed regressive nerve changes of the Wallerian type, followed by progressive changes, after experimental keratotomies and keratoplasties. It is true that one has more material for the histologic demonstration of what happens with the corneal nerves in experimental keratoplasty, but when one tests the rabbit for return of sensitivity, one can obtain little information of value. The experimental grafting can be suitably timed to study the condition of the nerves of the graft at different periods after the operation, an investigation which is of value. With human keratoplasty, on the other hand, morphologic studies are limited to those cases in which there is eventual need of repeating the operation, and this is done at a time, not when it is desirable for the study of the nerves, but when it is convenient and necessary for the patient. Most retransplants are made several months after the first operation,
Mobile Access to ClinicalConnect: A User Feedback Survey on Usability, Productivity, and Quality

Background ClinicalConnect, a federated clinical viewer for South West Ontario, Canada, launched a mobile interface in June 2012. Objective The aim of the study was to assess usability of the mobile interface and the perceived impact on productivity of health care providers and quality of healthcare delivery. Methods A survey was conducted using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and questionnaires designed to measure productivity and quality based on Canada Health Infoway's Benefits Evaluation framework. Results The mean SUS score was 67 based on 77 responses. The mean scores for productivity and quality were 3.37 (N=74) and 3.62 (N=71), respectively, on a 5-point Likert scale where 3 was neutral. Conclusions Users perceived the mobile interface of ClinicalConnect as useful but were neutral about the ease of use.
Enhancement of Perceived Visual Intensity by Auditory Stimuli: A Psychophysical Analysis

Judgments of the intensity of a stimulus are dependent on the level of central nervous system activity it generates. Generally, it is assumed that such judgments are based on activity along modality-specific pathways. Thus, visual intensity judgments would be based on unimodal visual activity. However, many neurons do not fit neatly within modality-specific categories, but can be influenced by more than one sensory modality. Often the multisensory effect is quite pronounced. If these multisensory neurons participate in such fundamental functions as perceived intensity, the presence of a nonvisual (i.e., auditory) cue may have a significant effect on the perceived intensity of a visual cue. The results of the present study were consistent with such a hypothesis. A brief, broad-band auditory stimulus was found to significantly enhance the perceived intensity of an LED. The effect was most pronounced at the lowest visual intensities, and was evident regardless of the location of the auditory cue. However, it was present only at the location of visual fixation. Yet, despite the significant influence of the auditory cue, and its differential effect at different visual intensities, a power function that maintains the proportionality among perceived visual intensities was retained.
Egomotion estimation using log-polar images

We address the problem of egomotion estimation of a monocular observer moving with arbitrary translation and rotation in an unknown environment, using log-polar images. The method we propose is uniquely based on the spatio-temporal image derivatives, or the normal flow. Thus, we avoid computing the complete optical flow field, which is an ill-posed problem due to the aperture problem. We use a search paradigm based on geometric properties of the normal flow field, and consider a family of search subspaces to estimate the egomotion parameters. These algorithms are particularly well-suited for the log-polar image geometry, as we use a selection of special normal flow, vectors with simple representation in log-polar coordinates. This approach highlights the close coupling between algorithmic aspects and the sensor geometry (retina physiology), often, found in nature. Finally, we present and discuss a set of experiments, for various kinds of camera motions, which show encouraging results.
Sexualization and Lifestyle Impulsivity: Clinically Valid Discriminators in Sexual Offenders

Following clinical observations in this study a comparison was undertaken between nonsexualized rapists, sexualized rapists, and pedophilic child molesters in terms of psychometric measures, criminological data, and DSM-IV diagnoses following the authors' hypotheses that nonsexualized and sexualized rapists differ in respect of psychiatric comorbidity and criminal history and sexualized rapists and pedophilic child molesters are more similar as regards to psychiatric comorbidity (anxiety, depression, and aggression) and criminal history variables than nonsexualized and sexualized rapists are. Preliminary findings confirmed the hypotheses: the authors found significant differences between paraphilic and sexualized sex offenders on one hand—regardless whether they had offended against minors or adults—and a group of sex offenders exhibiting a history of high lifestyle impulsivity on the other hand. From a psychiatric clinical point of view, paraphilic or sexualized rapists could be shown to resemble more the pedophilic child molesters. Therapeutic approaches should take these findings into account.
Sclerostin Inhibition Reverses Skeletal Fragility in an Lrp5-Deficient Mouse Model of OPPG Syndrome

Humans with osteoporosis pseudoglioma syndrome might benefit from sclerostin neutralization therapies. Building Stronger Bones Osteoporosis pseudoglioma syndrome (OPPG) is a rare genetic condition caused by an autosomal recessive mutation in LRP5, which contributes to regulation of bone mineral density. This mutation results in severely thinner, brittle bones—osteoporosis. Most therapies for osteoporosis aim at inhibiting bone loss; however, in OPPG patients, bone resorption is normal but bone formation is markedly reduced, which suggests that anabolic therapies that promote bone formation may be more beneficial. Now, Kedlaya et al. examine the effects of the anabolic therapy sclerostin neutralization in an OPPG animal model. Sclerostin inhibits bone formation by binding to LRP5/6. Thus, although neutralizing sclerostin seemed a promising anabolic track for general osteoporosis patients, it was predicted to be less effective for OPPG patients with mutated LRP5. The authors tested this hypothesis in an LRP5-deficient mouse model. They found through both genetic and therapeutic experiments that sclerostin neutralization can improve bone mineral density even in the absence of functional LRP5. These data support the advent of clinical trials for sclerostin neutralization in OPPG patients. Osteoporosis pseudoglioma syndrome (OPPG) is a rare genetic disease that produces debilitating effects in the skeleton. OPPG is caused by mutations in LRP5, a WNT co-receptor that mediates osteoblast activity. WNT signaling through LRP5, and also through the closely related receptor LRP6, is inhibited by the protein sclerostin (SOST). It is unclear whether OPPG patients might benefit from the anabolic action of sclerostin neutralization therapy (an approach currently being pursued in clinical trials for postmenopausal osteoporosis) in light of their LRP5 deficiency and consequent osteoblast impairment. To assess whether loss of sclerostin is anabolic in OPPG, we measured bone properties in a mouse model of OPPG (Lrp5−/−), a mouse model of sclerosteosis (Sost−/−), and in mice with both genes knocked out (Lrp5−/−;Sost−/−). Lrp5−/−;Sost−/− mice have larger, denser, and stronger bones than do Lrp5−/− mice, indicating that SOST deficiency can improve bone properties via pathways that do not require LRP5. Next, we determined whether the anabolic effects of sclerostin depletion in Lrp5−/− mice are retained in adult mice by treating 17-week-old Lrp5−/− mice with a sclerostin antibody for 3 weeks. Lrp5+/+ and Lrp5−/− mice each exhibited osteoanabolic responses to antibody therapy, as indicated by increased bone mineral density, content, and formation rates. Collectively, our data show that inhibiting sclerostin can improve bone mass whether LRP5 is present or not. In the absence of LRP5, the anabolic effects of SOST depletion can occur via other receptors (such as LRP4/6). Regardless of the mechanism, our results suggest that humans with OPPG might benefit from sclerostin neutralization therapies.
Classificação de Objetos de Aprendizagem Segundo o Grau de Multimodalidade

Este artigo apresenta o extrato de uma pesquisa que avalia os niveis de multimodalidade inerentes a objetos de aprendizagem e propoe um padrao para classificacao de softwares educacionais de acordo com os tipos e quantidades de midias presentes. Para o desenvolvimento do estudo, alguns conceitos como estilo individual, carga cognitiva e multimodalidade foram amplamente explorados. Tambem foram observados os recursos comumente disponiveis em aplicacoes educacionais, como: Audio Verbal e Nao Verbal, Visual Verbal e Nao Verbal e Interacao, os quais originaram, inicialmente, uma classificacao de 18 pontos, que foram reduzidos a 7 classes. Para validacao desta pesquisa, foi realizado um experimento com uma turma de graduacao, o qual serviu para corroborar com a efetividade da classificacao criada.
A Morphological and Cytochemical Study of the Interaction between Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis and Neutrophils

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic granulomatous disease caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. It is the most prevalent systemic mycosis of Latin America and 80% of the reported cases are from Brazil. Because of the great number of neutrophils found in the P. brasiliensis granuloma, studies have been done to evaluate the role of these cells during the development of the infection. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of thin sections showed that the neutrophils ingest yeast cells through a typical phagocytic process with the formation of pseudopodes. The pseudopodes even disrupt the connection established between the mother and the bud cells. Neutrophils also associate to each other, forming a kind of extracellular vacuole where large yeast cells are encapsulated. Cytochemical studies showed that once P. brasiliensis attaches to the neutrophil surface, it triggers a respiratory burst with release of oxygen-derived products. Attachment also triggers neutrophils' degranulation, with release of endogenous peroxidase localized in cytoplasmic granules. Together, these processes lead to killing of both ingested and extracellular P. brasiliensis.