Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reproductive Harmony via Mutual Policing by Workers in Eusocial Hymenoptera

When queens of eusocial Hymenoptera mate two or more times (assuming equal sperm contributions from males and random sperm use), the workers are more closely related to the queen's sons than to the sons of a randomly chosen worker. This suggests that workers should try to prevent other workers from reproducing, and hence producing sons, in species with queens that mate two or more times. It also provides a possible reason for the absence of reproductive workers in many hymenopteran societies. Reproductive harmony may, therefore, and counterintuitively, result from lowered relatedness among workers. Evidence from the biological literature indicates that eusocial Hymenoptera have the necessary behaviors and discriminatory ability to favor queen-produced over worker-produced males, and any such behavior is referred to as "worker policing. " Population-genetics simulations of the fate of a "police allele," which confers any marginal increase in policing behavior to the workers carrying it, indicate that such an allele will invade and spread to fixation provided that queens mate two or more times. This conclusion is supported empirically by what is known about queen mating frequency and worker reproduction in the highly eusocial bees and wasps. Societies typically headed by monandrous queens, such as those of the bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and stingless bees (Meliponinae), have reproductive workers in queenright colonies; those with polyandrous queens, as in honey bees (Apis) and some yellowjacket wasps (Vespula), do not. Bumblebees and yellowjackets are suggested as critical groups for further investigating worker policing, since species with singly and multiply mated queens occur in both. Examination of the cause-effect relationship between queen mating frequency and worker policing indicates that worker policing is caused by queen polyandry but that worker policing is unlikely to cause polyandry, although it may help stabilize it if police workers show behavioral dominance. Thus, mating many times in order to increase worker policing is not envisaged as a potential strategy by which queens win reproductive conflicts with workers. Nepotistically modulated policing (i.e., reduced policing within patrilines) and increased colony-level efficiency (when worker policing increases the colony's integration and harmony) both relax the conditions for the invasion of a police allele. If worker policing increases colony-level efficiency by about 20%, a police allele can always invade even when queens mate only once. Under less stringent but still reasonable conditions, a police allele will invade if worker policing increases colony-level efficiency by only 4.4%. Effective worker policing in colonies in turn relaxes the conditions for selection for self-policing (i.e., selection at the level of the individual workers for forgoing personal reproduction).
α-Synuclein and Parkinson disease susceptibility

Background: Mutations in the α-synuclein (SNCA) gene have been shown to be responsible for a rare familial form of Parkinson disease (PD). Furthermore, polymorphic variants in multiple regions of the gene have been associated with susceptibility to idiopathic PD in different populations. Objective: To evaluate and to confirm the role of SNCA variants in PD pathogenesis. Methods: We included 667 subjects (397 cases with idiopathic PD and 270 healthy, ethnically matched controls) of Northern Central and Southeastern European origin. We analyzed genotypes at 14 markers spanning the SNCA locus and its major haplotype blocks and conducted a haplotype analysis for four promoter markers including the microsatellite marker Rep1. Results: The three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the promoter region (rs2583988, rs2619364, rs2619363) and a SNP in the 3′UTR (rs356165) of the SNCA gene showed the greatest evidence for an association with PD (p ≤ 0.003), with significant pairwise values for linkage disequilibrium (D′ ≥ 0.74, r 2 ≥ 0.29). The promoter haplotype “261-T-G-T” (Rep1-rs2583988-rs2619364-rs2619363) was associated with disease (p = 0.032). The most significant association with PD was generated by excluding Rep1 (p = 0.008). This association remained significant when analyzing the Serbian patients separately and was of borderline significance for the German patients. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that genetic variability within the SNCA locus is associated with susceptibility to idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD). We found evidence for disease association with single nucleotide polymorphisms at both the 5′ and the 3′ end of the gene with pairwise linkage disequilibrium between them. The association was independent of the Rep1 status, and one major SNCA promoter haplotype class seems to be associated with PD susceptibility. GLOSSARY: SNCA = α-synuclein; CI = confidence interval; HT = haplotype-tagging; LD = linkage disequilibrium; OR = odds ratio; PD = Parkinson disease; SNP = single nucleotide polymorphism.
Efficient dynamic programming in economical cruise control under real-time traffic situations

In this paper, dynamic programming (DP) economical cruise control algorithms under discrete distance and discrete time strategies are designed to improve battery electric vehicle (BEV) energy consumption and riding comfort. In our experiment, energy consumption of constant-speed driving is reduced by up to 21.6% using the optimum velocity profiles from discrete distance DP. ‘Variable step length and boundary conditions’ are utilized to reduce discrete distance DP processing time by 90.8% with no effect on accuracy. Under discrete time DP, position is introduced as an additional variable, so discrete time DP allows more inputs including real-time preceding vehicle position and traffic information. The experiment results indicate that under traffic situation, discrete time DP further improves energy consumption and riding comfort by avoiding unnecessary stop at intersections compared with discrete distance DP. Further analysis indicates that under properly controlled velocity, the transfer between potential energy and kinetic energy is more efficient than that between potential energy and electric energy. These DP economical cruise control algorithms are effective for BEVs, hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. ‘Variable step length and boundary conditions’ method in DP can also be applied in other domains where DP processing time is crucial.
Spatializing Emotions Besides Magnitudes: Is There a Left-to-Right Valence or Intensity Mapping?

The Spatial–Numerical Association of Response Codes (SNARC), namely the automatic association between smaller numbers and left space and between larger numbers and right space, is often attributed to a Mental Number Line (MNL), in which magnitudes would be placed left-to-right. Previous studies have suggested that the MNL could be extended to emotional processing. In this study, participants were asked to carry out a parity judgment task (categorizing one to five digits as even or odd) and an emotional judgment task, in which emotional smilies were presented with four emotional expressions (very sad, sad, happy, very happy). Half of the sample was asked to categorize the emotional valence (positive or negative valence), the other half was asked to categorize the emotional intensity (lower or higher intensity). The results of the parity judgment task confirmed the expected SNARC effect. In the emotional judgment task, the performance of both subgroups was better for happy than for sad expressions. Importantly, a better performance was found only in the valence task for lower intensity stimuli categorized with the left hand and for higher intensity stimuli categorized with the right hand, but only for happy smilies. The present results show that neither emotional valence nor emotional intensity alone are spatialized left-to-right, suggesting that magnitudes and emotions are processed independently from one another, and that the mental representation of emotions could be more complex than the bi-dimentional left-to-right spatialization found for numbers.
Anti-biofilm property of essential oils from Cymbopogon sp. against pathogenic bacteria in single-culture and co-culture

In this study, we evaluated whether the essential oils (EOs) from Cymbopogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon martinii can prevent production of biofilms either in single or combined culture of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biofilm formation was assessed by microtiter-plate test with further quantification of viable cells and biofilm biomass. The evaluated EOs at 0.78 % significantly (P 0.05) decreased the amount of biofilm biomass. Biofilm reductions between 52-83% and 60-93% were achieved for the treatments with EOs from C. flexuosus and C. martinii, respectively. Although the biomass reductions of simgle and co-cultivated biofilms were significant, the same was not true for viable cells, except for S. aureus. Considering that the remaining colony forming units can reconstitute the EPS matrix, studies with higher concentrations than those used in this research are suggested in order to obtain greater logarithmic reductions of viable bacterial cells.
Dynamic User Association for Resilient Backhauling in Satellite–Terrestrial Integrated Networks

The satellite–terrestrial integrated networks (STINs) have gradually become a new class of effective ways to satisfy the requirements of a higher capacity and stronger connection in the future communications. In contrast with terrestrial networks, the fast periodic motion of satellites results in the dynamic time-varying features of STIN, which further leads to frequent changes in the connectivity of satellite–terrestrial links and the backhaul capacities of satellite networks. To balance the accessible capacity of STIN under the intermittent connectivity and dynamic backhaul capacity, an effective user association mechanism is needed. In this article, a dynamic user association (DUA) mechanism with task classification is proposed to meet the requirements of load balancing and the user task processing. First, a STIN model is constructed with low earth orbit satellites and the three types of base station, which are a macro base station, small cell base station, and low earth orbit based base station. After that, the optimization problem is formulated via jointly considering the task classification, the load condition of base stations, and the backhaul capacity of low earth orbit based base stations. Then, the DUA mechanism is proposed to find the most suitable base station serving each user. In DUA, a dynamic cell range extension algorithm is developed to adjust the load of STIN in terms of the resilient backhaul capacity, and a greedy-based user-centric user association with task classification algorithm is proposed to find the base station, which has the maximum rate and minimum load for each user and to meet the requirements of user task processing. The simulation results show that the proposed DUA can enhance the load balance and guarantee the task processing demand of STIN compared with the reference signal receiving power association and the max-sum rate association algorithms.
Automatic Nonverbal Mimicry Detection and Analysis in Medical Video Consultations

ABSTRACT Effective medical consultation requires good nonverbal communication between patients and doctors. Nonverbal behavior (NVB) mimicry, when a person imitates the NVB of the conversation partner, has been associated with building rapport between people. We study how NVB mimicry influences the quality of a medical consultation in a video conference. Computer vision algorithms were used to analyze 2027.75 minutes of recorded medical video consultations between medical students (N = 130) and volunteers who acted as Simulated Patients (SP, N = 29). We automatically detected students’ NVB mimicry to the SP and investigated the relationship between the NVB mimicry and students’ overall communication skills performance. The results highlighted the positive correlation between head nodding mimicry and assessed communication skills. In addition, we also identified NVB mimicry styles by cluster analysis and found that certain NVB mimicry styles have associated with better communication performance. These findings provide insights into the future design of systems that offer automatic feedback in communication skills training.
Computer Aided Design of Artistic Chinese Characters

The development of economic integration process has prompted Chinese companies to compete to integrate into the entire world. Currently, companies need to present their Chinese characteristics to the world. Artistic Chinese characters is a way to visualize the beautify designs. This paper develops a computer-aided design system for the design of artistic Chinese characters based on numerical differential analyzer algorithm. It presents a multilevel mathematical model and uses computer software functions to automatically reprocess, reshape, optimize, and artistic glyphs. Based on the above model, computer-aided design software for Chinese characters of arts and crafts was developed. The interface design and typical procedures of the software were briefly introduced, and the designed shadow and style fonts were displayed. Fonts designed in the system can be used in TV subtitles, advertising, typography, computer animation, large screen display, software packaging and other fields.
Non-random distribution of the alleles for good grain filling at OsAGPS2 and OsSUT1 among a wide range of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) genes AS2-2 and SUT1-2, which are alleles at OsAGPS2 (AS2) on chromosome 8 and OsSUT1 (SUT1) on chromosome 3, respectively, were suggested to improve grain filling in extra-heavy panicle rice cultivars. This study examined the distribution of these alleles among 315 rice cultivars. A discriminant function based on phenol reaction of hulls, apiculus hair length and KClO3 sensitivity in seedlings was used to classify cultivars into japonica (192 cultivars) and indica (123 cultivars). Genotyping for the AS2 and SUT1 alleles were performed with In/Del and SSR markers, respectively. In japonica cultivars, the frequencies of AS2-2 and SUT1-2 were very low (3.6% and 6.3%, respectively), whereas they were more common in indica cultivars (56.1% and 74.0%, respectively). In addition, in indica cultivars the genotypes of AS2-2 SUT1-2, as well as AS2-1 SUT1-1, were more frequent than expected from independent segregation of these alleles. It was suggested that artificial and/or natural selection contributed to this non-random distribution of alleles at AS2 and SUT1. The alleles for good grain filling should, thus, be explored in indica cultivars to improve the grain filling of extra-heavy panicle types of rice in future breeding programs.
Detection of plum pox potyvirus and analysis of its molecular variability using immunocapture-PCR.

We have developed an immunocapture-PCR (IC-PCR) detection technique for plum pox potyvirus (PPV) which is both simple and highly sensitive. This single-day assay can detect about 2000 virus particles (200 fg of virus) diluted in 100 μl of crude plant sap, which is equivalent to a sensitivity about 2000 times better than that of a standard ELISA assay. RFLP analysis and sequencing of the amplified cDNA fragment indicate that three groups of strains with limited intra-group variability can be discriminated. Two of these groups correspond to the previously described D and M serotypes of PPV. The third group contains, so far, only the El Amar Egyptian isolate. Strains belonging to the D or M serotypes can easily be discriminated by Rsal polymorphism in the amplified cDNA fragment. Synthetic oligonucleotides allowing specific amplification of PPV strains belonging either to the D or to the M serotypes have also be designed.
Habitat Use and Fishery Dynamics of a Heavily Exploited Coastal Migrant, Spanish Mackerel

AbstractSpanish Mackerel Scomberomorus maculatus support important commercial and recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Although federally managed because of interstate migrations, harvest, essential fish habitat consideration, and management are largely state issues. Contrary to the accepted paradigm of a well-mixed stock from the GOM to the Atlantic, Spanish Mackerel have been suggested to exhibit reduced movement, and hence mixing, which could lead to areas of localized depletion within the larger stock. We addressed how local abundance patterns responded to changes in harvest pressure, evaluated migration patterns via examining temporal trends in abundance, and determined whether the spatial abundance patterns resembled habitat specialization or generalization. Abundance trends of Spanish Mackerel in Alabama have remained relatively constant from 2001 to 2011 despite a significant increase in commercial harvesting. Seasonal patterns of catch rates coincided with the proposed annual migra.
The Ecological Significance of the Locomotor Activity Rhythms of Sesarma Cinereum (Bosc) and Sesarma Reticula Tum (Say) (Decapoda, Grapsidae)

[Die Rhythmik der Bewegungsaktivitat von Sesarma cinereum und S. reticulatum wurde bei unterschiedlichen Photoperioden und Gezeiteneinflussen beobachtet. Die okologische Bedeutung und die ethologischen Konsequenzen dieser Rhythmen wurden ebenfalls untersucht. Sesarma cinereum zeigt bei allen getesteten Photoperioden durchgehend nachtaktives Verhalten und last keinen tidalen Rhythmus erkennen. Sesarma reticulatum ist auch durchgehend nachtaktiv, jedoch weisen frisch gefangene Tiere etwa zur Flutzeit zusatzlich Hohepunkte in ihrer Bewegungsaktivitat auf. Der Bewegungsrhythmus beider Arten ist mit Habitatpraferenzen und temporarer Verfugbarkeit von Nahrung korreliert. , Die Rhythmik der Bewegungsaktivitat von Sesarma cinereum und S. reticulatum wurde bei unterschiedlichen Photoperioden und Gezeiteneinflussen beobachtet. Die okologische Bedeutung und die ethologischen Konsequenzen dieser Rhythmen wurden ebenfalls untersucht. Sesarma cinereum zeigt bei allen getesteten Photoperioden durchgehend nachtaktives Verhalten und last keinen tidalen Rhythmus erkennen. Sesarma reticulatum ist auch durchgehend nachtaktiv, jedoch weisen frisch gefangene Tiere etwa zur Flutzeit zusatzlich Hohepunkte in ihrer Bewegungsaktivitat auf. Der Bewegungsrhythmus beider Arten ist mit Habitatpraferenzen und temporarer Verfugbarkeit von Nahrung korreliert. ]
Elements in otoliths may elucidate the contribution of estuarine recruitment to sustaining coastal reef populations of a temperate reef fish

Estuaries and associated seagrass habitats are thought to be important nursery areas for many fishes. There is, however, no direct evidence for movement of fish from estuaries to reefs. The alm of this study was to determine if populations of Achoerodus viridis (Labridae) on rocky reefs were sustained by (1) recruitment to estuarine seagrass habitat followed by m o \ i e ~ ~ ~ c n t to rocky reefs, (2) direct recruitment to rocky reefs, or (3) a combination of the two. Recruits were collected from estuarine seagrass and rocky reef habitats and elements in their otoliths analysed by inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine if d~fferent 'elemental fingerprints' could be found. Higher concentrations of Zn, AI, Pb, Mn, Ba and CO were found in otoliths of recruits from estuar~ne seagrass habitat than In otoliths of recruits from coastal reefs, the latter 3 elements showing sign~ficant differences. Strontium occurred in significantly h ~ g h e r concentrations in otoliths of recruits from coastal reefs. Differences in concentrations of some elements In the otoliths of recruits allo\ved fish from the 2 env~ronments to be dlstinyuished 1~1 th a high degree of dccuracy, enabling the contribution of estuarine recruitment to sustaining reef populations to be determined. Elemental composition of the juvenile core of otoliths from adults on reefs was related to the composition of otoliths of recruits from each environment to identify historical recruitment environments. Discriminant function analysis showed that 41 % of adults had recruited to estuaries and 59%) had recruited to reefs, but these figures may be overestimated because adults must be assigned to 1 of the 2 groups. There was evidence to suggest that some adults may form a third intermediate group. Further validation (e .g . comparison w ~ t h laser or probe based methods and tagging techniques) of our a p p r o ~ ~ c h is warranted. Elemental techniques may have great potential for resolving fisheries problems and identifying broader scale effects of environmental degradation.
Modulatory Role for Retinoid-related Orphan Receptor α in Allergen-induced Lung Inflammation

Rationale: Nuclear receptors play a critical role in the regulation of inflammation, thus representing attractive targets for the treatment of asthma. Objective: In this study, we assess the potential regulatory function of retinoid-related orphan receptor α (RORα) in the adaptive immune response using ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation as a model. Methods: Allergen-induced inflammation was compared between wild-type (WT) and staggerer (RORαsg/sg) mice, a natural mutant strain that is deficient in RORα expression. Measurements and Main Results: Despite robust increases in OVA-specific IgE, RORαsg/sg mice developed significantly less pulmonary inflammation, mucous cell hyperplasia, and eosinophilia compared with similarly treated WT animals. Induction of Th2 cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13, was also significantly less in RORαsg/sg mice. Microarray analysis using lung RNA showed increased expression of many genes, previously implicated in inflammation, in OVA-treated WT mice. These include mucin Muc5b, the chloride channel calcium-activated 3 (Clca3), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) 1α and 1β, eotaxin-2, serum amyloid A3 (Saa3), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1). These genes were induced to a greater extent in OVA-treated WT mice relative to RORαsg/sg mice. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that mice deficient in RORα exhibit an attenuated allergic inflammatory response, indicating that RORα plays a critical role in the development of Th2-driven allergic lung inflammation in mice, and suggests that this nuclear receptor should be further evaluated as a potential asthma target.