Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Female Incitation of Male Competition: A Mechanism in Sexual Selection

Females that mate with the most fit male available leave more viable offspring than females that mate with males of lesser fitness. We describe a mechanism by which females facilitate mating with a superior genotype, as reflected by age, social rank, and sexual experience, without exerting choice. Female elephant seals increase the probability of mating with a mature, high-ranking male by simply rejecting all copulatory attempts during early estrus. Females protest loudly when mounted; this signals all nearby males and activates the dominance hierarchy. The probability that the mounting male will be interrupted by another male is a function of the mounter's social rank. The lower his rank, the higher the probability of interruption. The result is that mature males of high social rank have more time and freedom to attempt copulation, and they succeed in doing most of the mating. The behavior of the female intensifies this monopoly by making it more difficult for young, subordinate males to copulate. A similar female strategy seems to operate in several species where the female is courted by several males. Influencing the genotype of her offspring is an important means by which a female can increase her inclusive fitness. This aspect of sexual selection has been neglected.
Moderating Avoidance Performance Goal Orientation Withdrawal Through Individuated Assessments and Common Affiliation

Scholars have long assumed that members of small groups are more likely to help each other. We argue that, even in a small group with collective rewards, those with an avoidance performance goal orientation, a dispositional fear of inadequate performance, would view social interaction as more disadvantageous and, as a result, help their group less. Using random coefficient modeling, we also demonstrate that the strength of the individual-specific assessment of reliance on and a category-specific common affiliation with group members reduce this negative association. We discuss theoretical and practical implications and conclude by identifying limitations of our study and offer directions for future investigation.
DRAGON: A Dynamic Distributed Resource Allocation Algorithm for Wireless Networks

We propose a dynamic distributed resource allocation algorithm for wireless networks, where the resources allocated to adjacent nodes (vertices) must be different and the topology of the network (graph) may change. Time is divided into rounds. In each round, a maximal independent set (MIS) is found, and the vertices in the MIS will use the resource in the next round. Therefore, the resource reuse equals the expected value of sizes of MISs, and we present two lower bounds for it. The number of messages transmitted by each vertex included/excluded in the MIS is one/zero, and messages are 1-bit. Therefore, the independence number of the graph is an upper bound for the number of bits transmitted in a round.
Managing Training for Civil Servants with Planning Roles in Indonesia: Lessons from Singapore

Indonesia is a developing country that is vigorously seeking to boost its economic growth. One of the nine programs to encourage national development is to improve the quality of civil servants, to strengthen the capacity for policy design and implementation in ministries and institutions, and hence to improve public service delivery. Some researchers argue that many developing countries have attempted to improve civil service training but only a few have succeeded to make significant contributions to strengthening their institutions. A group of researchers has identified ten factors that they regard as critical for training management effectiveness which have been applied in the Singapore civil service training institutions. The researchers suggest that the same factors may be important for developing countries. This study attempts to evaluate the potential application of the ten critical factors affecting training management effectiveness for Indonesian civil service training institutions. To do this, the thesis presents a comparative analysis of training management in Indonesia and Singapore. In this ‘lens’ of comparison, the Singapore model is used as a framework to understand the training management model in Indonesia. Based on the findings, nine out of ten factors could be implemented in the Indonesian model. However, factors related to the political context are likely to be challenging, as the political environment in the developed and developing countries are somewhat different.
Optical and luminescent properties of ceria nanoparticles produced by gas phase method

The study on luminescent and optical properties of ceria nanoparticles allow one to indirectly assess the defectiveness of the material crystal lattice. The decomposition of the luminescence spectrum in the Gaussian bands shows the presence of Ce3+ ions in the CeO2 crystal lattice, as well as optical active centers, probably associated with oxygen vacancies. These characteristics permit us to estimate the relative amount of Ce3+ ions in the crystal lattice and could be considered as an important prerequisite for the use of nanoparticles as redox agents in industry and medicine.
Content Delivery Networks

Recently, Content Delivery Networks (CDN) have become more and more popular. The technology itself is ahead of academic research in this area. Several dimensions of the technology have not been adequately investigated by academia. These dimensions include outline management, security, and standardization. Discovering and highlighting aspects of this technology that may have or have not been covered by academic research is the first step toward helping academia bridge the gap with industry or even go one step further to lead industry in the right direction. This suggests a comprehensive survey on research works in this regard. The literature in this area has already come up with some surveys and taxonomies, but some of them are outdated or do not cover every aspect of CDN while others fail to detect existing trends or to develop a holistic roadmap for research on the technology. Furthermore, none of the existing surveys aim at enlightening the dark aspects of the technology that have not been subject to academic research. In this survey, we first extract the lifecycle of a CDN as suggested by the existing research. Then, we investigate previous relevant works on each phase of the lifecycle to clarify where the research is currently located and headed. We show how CDN technology tends to converge with emerging paradigms such as cloud computing, edge computing, and machine learning, which are more mature in terms of academic research. This helps us determine the right direction for further research by revealing the deficiencies in existing works.
Assessment of pest insects of Capsicum annuum L.1753 (Solanaceae) in a cultivation cycle in Yaoundé

Pepper, Capsicum annuum is appreciated in tropical regions for its taste and its ability to increase the appetite level of food. This study aimed at investigating pest insects’ diversity of pepper right from pricking out to harvest. It also examined how aphids and whiteflies populations vary in the plant’s life cycle and specific fruit pests’ effects on the yield. During five months, individual plant organs were examined weekly. Insects encountered were captured, counted and identified. Immature stages were bred for identification purposes. Regular sampling allowed us to identify 28 species from 7 orders. During the pre-flowering phase, 5 orders were obtained: Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera . The same orders were found at Flowering-fruiting phase, with appearance of one new order, the Thysanoptera . At this stage, exponential growth of Hemiptera and Hymenoptera was also observed. During maturation, Diptera and Lepidoptera were the most abundant pests. Ceratitis capitata and Cryptophlebia leucotreta were responsible for yield losses (20.46%). Aphids and whiteflies affected plant’s fitness, either directly through sap sucking or indirectly through viral transmissions. Ants’transport, disseminate and protect Hemipterans. Since plants phenology influences pest diversity, it should be taken into account in the efforts of developing IPM strategies. Keywords : Spice, phenology, yield, IPM.
Evolution of SOMs' Structure and Learning Algorithm: From Visualization of High-Dimensional Data to Clustering of Complex Data

In this paper, we briefly present several modifications and generalizations of the concept of self-organizing neural networks—usually referred to as self-organizing maps (SOMs)—to illustrate their advantages in applications that range from high-dimensional data visualization to complex data clustering. Starting from conventional SOMs, Growing SOMs (GSOMs), Growing Grid Networks (GGNs), Incremental Grid Growing (IGG) approach, Growing Neural Gas (GNG) method as well as our two original solutions, i.e., Generalized SOMs with 1-Dimensional Neighborhood (GeSOMs with 1DN also referred to as Dynamic SOMs (DSOMs)) and Generalized SOMs with Tree-Like Structures (GeSOMs with T-LSs) are discussed. They are characterized in terms of (i) the modification mechanisms used, (ii) the range of network modifications introduced, (iii) the structure regularity, and (iv) the data-visualization/data-clustering effectiveness. The performance of particular solutions is illustrated and compared by means of selected data sets. We also show that the proposed original solutions, i.e., GeSOMs with 1DN (DSOMs) and GeSOMS with T-LSs outperform alternative approaches in various complex clustering tasks by providing up to 20 % increase in the clustering accuracy. The contribution of this work is threefold. First, algorithm-oriented original computer-implementations of particular SOM’s generalizations are developed. Second, their detailed simulation results are presented and discussed. Third, the advantages of our earlier-mentioned original solutions are demonstrated.
Who Takes a MOOC? Profile of Students in the Framework of a European Project

This research analyzes the profile of students on MOOC (massive open online courses) courses within the framework of the ECO project (E-learning, Communication and Open-Data: Massive Mobile, Ubiquitous and Open Learning) promoted by the European Union. An analysis of the profile of students enrolled in the five editions of the course entitled “Educational innovation and professional development. Possibilities and limits of technology” has been conducted based on the following objectives: (a) gain knowledge about the profile of students; (b) identify the students’ perception of their level of digital competence for participating in the course; (c) find out what their real expectations were when they enrolled on the course; and (d) suggest proposals for improving the design of the course based on the study carried out on the student profile. This research shows the tendencies of students enrolled on these types of training processes and suggests improvements in the design of the course in order to satisfy the participants’ motivations and expectations. In this regard, the results suggest that the design of MOOCs should be based on a sustainable, social and communicative curricular approach while at the same time greatly enhancing interaction and collaborative work.
A Compact 24 × 24 Channel MIMO FMCW Radar System Using a Substrate Integrated Waveguide-Based Reference Distribution Backplane

In this article a compact 120-GHz multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) imaging radar is presented. With a module size of only 25 cm, an angular resolution of less than 0.9° is obtained in elevation and azimuth direction using 24 transmitters and 24 receivers. The hardware is based on a SiGe:C MMIC technology and integrated into a modular frontend and backend structure. This article presents the overall hardware architecture of the RF-frontend, including a novel reference oscillator distribution concept and a connectorless board-to-board transition based on substrate integrated waveguides. A fully integrated backend is shown, and the entire radar system is evaluated experimentally and the imaging results are presented, demonstrating the large potential of the presented millimeter-wave 3-D imaging radar.
The effect of Southwestern Atlantic burrowing crabs on habitat use and foraging activity of migratory shorebirds

Southwestern Atlantic estuaries (Southern Brazil to Northern Patagonia, Argentina) are characterized by the presence of an intertidal burrowing crab Chasmagnathus granulata. This crab species is an important bioturbator which lives in large assemblages and excavates semi-permanent burrows that affect sediment characteristics. Our observations showed that distribution of the crabs in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Argentina (37°45′S, 57°26′W) affected habitat use and feeding success of migratory shorebirds. During the migratory season the two-banded plover (Charadrius falklandicus) foraged more frequently inside crab beds, and yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes and T. melanoleuca) fed more freqeuntly outside crab beds. Focal observations on the feeding behavior of the white-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) and the two-banded plover inside and outside crab beds showed that the plover was a visual searcher and captured more prey inside crab beds, and the white-rumped sandpiper was a tactile feeder. Although consumption rates (prey min−1) did not differ between sites, their efficiency (prey probe−1) inside crab beds was less. These differences were probably related to changes in sediment characteristics and prey behavior, which vary with crab activity. Burrowing crabs alter the suitability of intertidal habitats used by shorebirds in southwestern Atlantic estuaries. We believe that the same process could be occurring with other burrowing curstaceans such as thalassinidean shrimps in other estuaries of the world and could have important implications for management of flats for shorebirds. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY090 00007
Aging mechanisms—A perspective mostly from Drosophila

A mechanistic understanding of the natural aging process, which is distinct from aging‐related disease mechanisms, is essential for developing interventions to extend lifespan or healthspan. Here, we discuss current trends in aging research and address conceptual and experimental challenges in the field. We examine various molecular markers implicated in aging with an emphasis on the role of heterochromatin and epigenetic changes. Studies in model organisms have been advantageous in elucidating conserved genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and assessing interventions that affect aging. We highlight the use of Drosophila, which allows controlled studies for evaluating genetic and environmental contributors to aging conveniently. Finally, we propose the use of novel methodologies and future strategies using Drosophila in aging research.
Reduction of Internal Phosphorus Load in New Lakes by Pretreatment of the Former Agricultural Soil—Methods, Ecological Results and Costs

New lakes are established or reestablished to provide ecosystem services such as limiting floods and nutrient discharge and to improve biodiversity. New lakes are often established on fertilized land formerly used for agricultural purposes, thereby posing a risk of issues such as phosphorus (P) release when inundated. Release of P from agricultural soil affects both the developing ecosystem of the new lake and may increase downstream eutrophication. To decrease P release following inundation, three simple and cost-effective soil pretreatments were tested through laboratory soil–water fluxes from the test sites in the new Lake Roennebaek and the fluxes of P, nitrogen (N), and iron (Fe) were compared. The pretreatments compared were sand-capping, depth-plowing, and addition of the commercial iron product CFH-12® (Kemira). Untreated agricultural soil incubated under laboratory conditions released 687 ± 88 mg P·m−2 over 207 days and 85% was released within 60 days from inundation followed by low soil–water P exchange during the remaining incubation period. However, P was still released from the untreated soil 180 days after inundation within the lake. The cumulated P flux of the three pretreatment methods was in comparison negative, between −12 ± 3 and −17 ± 4 mg P·m−2 over 207 days incubation and showed negative P fluxes from cores collected within the lake 180 days after inundation. This study showed that the release of P when establishing new lakes on former agricultural land could be minimized using these simple and cost-effective methods, which may improve the ecological status of future lakes and enable the establishment of new lakes without threatening vulnerable downstream ecosystems.
Driven by the West Wind Drift? A synthesis of southern temperate marine biogeography, with new directions for dispersalism

Aim Twentieth century biogeographers developed intriguing hypotheses involving West Wind Drift dispersal of Southern Hemisphere biota, but such models were largely abandoned in favour of vicariance following the development of plate tectonic theory. Here I present a synthesis of southern temperate marine biogeography, and suggest some new directions for phylogeographic research.
Pollen Removal, Paternity, and the Male Function of Flowers

Much recent research suggests that floral characteristics of hermaphroditic plants are often selected primarily because of their effects on male reproduction. Two recent challenges to this view have been based on the fate of pollen after it is removed by pollinators, something that is rarely measured in field studies. One objection is theoretical, holding that the large variance in the success of pollen after it is removed weakens selection through the male side (Wilson et al. 1994). The other objection is empirical. In a species in which pollen removal studies had suggested that flowers are primarily male, new paternity data have been used to argue that they are not (Broyles and Wyatt 1990a, 1990b, 1995). Here I argue that both objections are invalid, the theoretical argument because it uses the wrong measure of selection, and the empirical study because a confounding variable was not controlled. Bateman (1948) provided a foundation for understanding why males often act as if they take a greater interest in having many mates than females do. This difference arises because of an asymmetry in reproductive costs. Males commonly invest little or nothing in offspring, whereas female investment may be large. Therefore, reproductive success of females is limited by resources, and mating frequently has comparatively little effect on their fitness, whereas male success is limited by access to females and may increase linearly with the number of mates. Bateman's principle helped fuel an explosion of interest in sexual selection in animals, recently summarized by Andersson (1994). Bateman believed his principle to be nearly universal and explicitly included plants among the relevant organisms. However, sexual selection research on plants lagged behind that on animals, partly for historical reasons and perhaps partly because it was unclear how to apply the ideas to hermaphroditic organisms that were both male and female (reviewed in Willson 1994). It was eventually recognized how Bateman's principle might apply to these organisms (e.g., Charnov 1979; Wilson 1979; Willson and Burley 1983). For example, consider an animal-pollinated hermaphroditic plant. It needs to attract pollinators for two reasons: to receive pollen for its own seed (female function) and to have its pollen
Fabrication of Bendable Microneedle-Array Electrode by Magnetorheological Drawing Lithography for Electroencephalogram Recording

Continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) recording is vital for brain science research, monitoring pathological and physiological conditions, and the diagnosis of brain disease. Conventional wet electrodes require skin preparation and a gel electrolyte to reduce electrode–skin interface impedance (EII), which limits its further application in long-term EEG signal recording. Microneedle-array electrodes (MAEs) have been employed in EEG recording, as they can be used directly without skin preparation or the gel electrolyte. However, most microneedles used in MAE are rigid and have a high aspect ratio; thus, they can break easily. Hence, we developed a novel bendable MAE for EEG recording. It is made of a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) pillar array with rigid microneedle tips. The PDMS pillar array could help the MAE pass through hair and enable the microneedle tips to penetrate a stratum corneum layer into a scalp, thus reducing the EII. Moreover, the PDMS pillar array is bendable, which prevents the microneedles tips from breaking. The MAE can record EEG signals well in a BIOPAC system and an Emotiv EPOC+ device. The bendable MAE may be an alternative electrode for long-term EEG recording.
Fear in Akkadian Texts: New Digital Perspectives on Lexical Semantics

The study of emotions in ancientMesopotamia is still verymuch in its infancy. There has been some scholarly interest regardingMesopotamian emotions, but before this volume much of it has been conducted from a medical or psychological perspective.1 Understanding emotional practices across such a great geographical, cultural and temporal range is fraught with complications. An important topic that has been hardly touched in Mesopotamian studies yet is the concept of “emotion” itself. The concept of “emotion” is not universal, and in Akkadian there is no term that could serve as a translation of it or other such categories (e.g., “affect,” “feeling”). From a comparative perspective, it has been demonstrated that in the Hebrew Bible, lexemes expressing explicit emotions are scarce and other linguistic expressions, such as literary devices, bodily sensations, certain actions or clusters of actions, are used to indicate emotions. Additionally, emotional responses often refer to social situations, suggesting that the social dimension of emotions was more important than the internal feelings of an individual.2 All these observations should be examined in Akka-
Comparative economics of biorefineries based on the biochemical and thermochemical platforms

A variety of biochemical and thermochemical technologies have been proposed for the production of biofuels. Meaningful economic comparisons require that they be evaluated on the same bases in terms of technology maturity, plant capacity, the energy content of the fuel, feedstock costs, method of calculating capital charges, and year in which the analysis is assumed. Such an analysis for first‐generation biomass‐to‐biofuels plants reveals that capital costs will be comparable for advanced biochemical and thermochemical biorefineries, costing four to five times as much as comparably sized grain ethanol plants. The cost of advanced biofuels, however, will be similar to that of grain ethanol as corn prices exceed $3.00 per bushel. © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd