Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sea turtle symbiosis facilitates social monogamy in oceanic crabs via refuge size

The capacity for resource monopolization by individuals often dictates the size and composition of animal groups, and ultimately, the adoption of mating strategies. For refuge-dwelling animals, the ability (or inability) of individuals to monopolize refuges should depend on the relative size of the refuge. In theory, groups should be larger and more inclusive when refuges are large, and smaller and more exclusive when refuges are small, regardless of refuge type. We test this prediction by comparing the size and composition of groups of oceanic crabs (Planes minutus) living on plastic flotsam and loggerhead sea turtles. We found that (i) surface area of refuges (barnacle colonies on flotsam and supracaudal space on turtles) is a better predictor of crab number than total surface area and (ii) flotsam and turtles with similar refuge surface area host a similar number (1–2) and composition (adult male–female pairs) of crabs. These results indicate that group size and composition of refuge-dwelling animals are modulated by refuge size and the capacity for refuge monopolization. Moreover, these results suggest that sea turtle symbiosis facilitates social monogamy in oceanic crabs, providing insights into how symbiosis can promote specific mating strategies.
Self-efficacy in new product development teams

In the constantly globalizing world of complex problems, there is a growing demand for educational methods for preparing students to face real life challenges. This thesis focuses on discovering perceived self-efficacy in new product development teams. The study was conducted among students who were taking part in a Master’s-level course that involves intensive teamwork in interdisciplinary and international product development teams. The research presents selfefficacy as key factor for self-development through practical learning. In addition, self-efficacy beliefs are considered having an influence on development of entrepreneurial behavior and intentions since the process of product development and new venture creation can be seen very similar. Classic and current research trends in related fields of study are used to provide understanding about the role of perceived self-efficacy and entrepreneurial mindset in product development process. The studied course is open-ended, lasts for whole academic year and is part of the product development major at Aalto University. The educational methods used in the course base on project oriented problem-based learning and the course exploits a design-thinking innovation process. The data used in this study was gathered during academic year of 2014-2015, from nine students in three teams based on interest. Semi-structured interviews were used as a method in data gathering. Three interviewees were project managers and six were team members. First, the data was analyzed by thematic analysis approach. This thesis first introduces the product development models used during the course work. Then, Albert Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy is presented as well as its relation to entrepreneurial behavior and intention theories. This theoretical background is used to reflect findings of this particular study. More precisely this study aims to discover: (1.) What kinds of situations affect the self-efficacy of team members during a product development process? and (2.) How interaction and emotions affect team member’s perceived self-efficacy during a product development process? The findings suggest that the students face various interaction points and go through emotional processes influencing perceived self-efficacy. In addition, this work-in-progress analysis presents that soft and interactions skills are in fact in the core of confidence in product development project work whereas product development is traditionally seen as a mix of professional as well as practical skills.
FDTD near field data reduction using principal component analysis

A time domain spherical multipole near-to-far-field algorithm running together with a principal component analysis (PCA) signal processing technique is introduced in this paper. Such approach is employed to reduce the near fields obtained by a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) code that will be used as input to a spherical multipole near-to-far-field transformation algorithm. The technique is applied to obtain the radiation pattern of a half-wavelength dipole, thus validating the code, and also for a configuration of two array dipole. Preliminary results show that when we compare the original signal with the reconstructed using a threshold value of 0.1 the required near-field data is reduced by an average value of 83% for the half-wavelength dipole and also shown that even if the technique is more sensitive in the presence of lobes it can significantly reduce the near-field components.
Detection of Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Sections with Digoxigenin-Labeled cRNA Probes

Although recent studies have analyzed Hepatitis C (HCV) infections in liver tissue by in situ hybridization (ISH), many of these studies have been of limited diagnostic utility because of the low copy numbers of HCV in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue and failure to correlate the ISH analysis with other methods of detecting HCV.Thirty six cases of liver biopsies from patients with known HCV antibody status including 20 cases of serum HCV positive and 16 cases of serum HCV negative were analyzed. All cases showed histologic features suggestion of HCV infection. Analyses of all 36 cases were done by RT-PCR combined with Southern hybridization (RT-PCR-SH) and in situ hybridization (ISH). A prolactin riboprobe was used as a negative control. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) with an antibody against HCV (Rb 246) was also used to analyze HCV viral protein in the tissues. Of the 20 serum antibody-positive cases, RT-PCR-SH detected 18 positive cases, while ISH and IHC detected 19 and 16 positive cases, respectively. Of the 16 serum antibody-negative cases, RT-PCR-SH detected 8 positive cases while ISH and IHC detected 8 and 11 positive cases, respectively. A positive ISH signal for HCV was also detected in some lymphocytes and bile ducts in the liver. These results show that ISH with a highly specific riboprobe is comparable to RT-PCR-SH for detection of HCV infection in liver tissue.
Da mobilidade metropolitana vinculada à economia : análise a partir de um modelo baseado em agentes

A proposta desenvolvida fundamenta-se na modelagem baseada em agentes (ABMs, do ingles agent-based model). Introduzidas na literatura economica por Arthur (1994), as ABMs simulam elementos individuais do fenomeno objeto de estudo, tais como cidadaos, firmas, instituicoes ou governos, com especial enfase na sua interacao, no seu desenvolvimento no tempo e nos seus reflexos espaciais. O algoritmo que descreve o modelo e executado em ambiente computacional de acordo com as regras previstas. A alteracao de mecanismos e de parâmetros permite analises integradas do fenomeno, isto e, correlacionando as alteracoes e seus resultados.
Approximation of Physical Properties of Steam and Other Arc Plasmas for Anisotropic Model Concerning Gasification Processes

In this paper, the anisotropic model for the dc electric arc was expanded, which allows the obtaining of power function generalized expressions for calculating the characteristics of the electric discharge into the dc plasma torch channel without using a large number of experimental studies. The model is based on the power law approximation of temperature dependence of the plasma electrical conductivity σ with different exponents along the longitudinal and transversal coordinates. The approximation of the dependence for σ of steam plasma was obtained in simple linear forms σ = 0.221 ΔS and as the power approximation σ = 44.51 ΔS0. 484 [where ΔS is increment of thermal conductivity function (TCF)]. The comparison of the obtained dependences with referenced data shows such moderate difference between the calculated approximations for σ of steam and the data of recent publications for this plasma as 15%-25% throughout the vast ranges of the plasma parameters T (temperature) and S (TCF).
Interactive Small-Group Asthma Education in the Community Pharmacy Setting: A Pilot Study

Background. This study aimed to compare the effects of two small-group asthma education interventions (one delivered by specially trained pharmacists (group A) and one delivered by a pharmacist researcher trained as an asthma educator (group B)) with usual care provided by community pharmacists (group C) on clinical and humanistic outcomes for people with asthma. Methods. Pharmacies were randomly selected to provide either group A, B, or C interventions. Data were collected at baseline, post intervention (groups A and B) and at 6 and 12 weeks (final visit). Results. Forty-eight people with asthma were recruited into groups A (n = 16), B (n = 16), and C (n = 16) and there were no significant differences between the groups at baseline. At 12 weeks there was a significant decrease in the proportion of patients with severe asthma/poor control in groups A and B compared with group C (56%, 44% and 50% to 25%, 13% and 50% [n = 48, p < 0.05], respectively). In Groups A and B, the proportion of patients with optimal metered dose inhaler (MDI) technique improved from 9% and 14%, respectively, at baseline to 82% and 93% (n = 11, p = 0.02, n = 14, p < 0.001), respectively, at 12 weeks. The proportion of patients with optimal dry powder inhaler (DPI) technique improved in Groups A and B from 0% and 8%, respectively, at baseline to 86% and 92% (n = 7, p < 0.001; n = 13, p = 0.002), respectively, at 12 weeks. No change in inhaler technique was observed for Group C. There were significant improvements in asthma knowledge scores in Groups A and B compared to Group C over time. Conclusions. Small-group asthma education delivered by pharmacists appears to be more effective than usual care in improving clinical and humanistic asthma outcomes.
Platelet-Rich Plasma in Surgical Oncology

We read with great interest the article titled “Breast Reconstruction With Autologous Fat Graft Mixed With Platelet-Rich Plasma” by Gentile et al. This welldesigned clinical protocol evaluated the effects related to the use of fat grafting with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the improvement of fat volume in breast reconstruction. Study included patients with unilateral breast hypoplasia, patients affected by breast soft tissue defects after prosthesis removal, and others affected by outcomes of breast cancer reconstruction. After a thorough search of the literature, we found no reported evidence of PRP application on tumor excision sites. Is there any established contraindication? Much research is now devoted to determining the impact of growth factors on tumor development and progression, and the reciprocal influences of tumor products on the stromal microenvironment. A more detailed understanding of the complex parameters that govern the interactions between the tumor and vascular compartments has already helped improve anti-angiogenic strategies, not only for cancer treatment but also for preventing recurrence. The secretory proteins contained in the α-granules of platelets include platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-AA, BB, and AB isomers), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived endothelial growth factor (PDEGF), and many others. It is a fact that the release of these growth factors stimulates angiogenesis. PDGF and VEGF induce tumor lymphangiogenesis, leading to enhanced rate of nodal metastasis. Patients with breast tumors positive for PDGF have a significantly lower response rate to chemotherapy as well as significantly shorter duration of survival. In addition, patients with breast cancer who had elevated plasma PDGF levels have a significantly shorter survival. EGFR (HER) and other members of the ErbB receptor family regulate several cell biology processes, including proliferation, survival, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. TGF-β ligand is a multifunctional growth factor that regulates various cell behavior, such as cell differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. For all these reasons mentioned above, we consider the use of PRP not yet indicated in patients undergoing resection for cancer, because of the presence of growth factors that could promote tumor proliferation. Even after a tumor is excised and in order to achieve optimal survival, we must implement every single evidence-based guideline while, at the same time, exclude any maneuver, the indication of which has not been established yet. Therefore, we strongly believe that the authors should have considered this important point and analyzed it in their article; otherwise, inclusion of patients affected by outcomes of breast cancer reconstruction should have been avoided. The role of PRP in surgical oncology deserves further experimental investigation and largescale prospective randomized clinical trials.
Polyploid megakaryocytes can complete cytokinesis

Megakaryocytes (MK) undergo polyploidization through endomitosis, a mitotic process that ends prematurely due to aborted cytokinesis. To better understand this and other events associated with MK differentiation, we performed long-term and large-field live cell imaging of human MKs derived in cord blood (CB) and bone marrow (BM) CD34+ cell cultures. Polyploid level of imaged cells was evaluated using three complementary approaches; cell history, cell size and ploidy correlation and nuclei staining. This system and strategy enabled the direct observation of the development of a large number of MKs (n=4865) and to quantify their fates. The most significant finding of this study is that a considerable proportion of polyploid MKs could complete cytokinesis. This unexpected process gave rise to polyploid daughter cell(s) with normal fates and contributed significantly to the expansion of polyploid MKs. Further analyses revealed that the proliferation rate amongst polyploid MKs was inversely correlated to their ploidy level, and that this phenomenon was much more frequent in CB- than BM-derived MKs. Accordingly, endomitosis was identified as the dominant fate of polyploid BM-MKs, while this was less accentuated for polyploid CB-MKs. These findings explain partially why CB-derived MKs remain in lower ploidy class. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the development of polyploid MK results from the failure and/or success of cytokinesis and brings a new paradigm to the field of megakaryopoiesis.
Some lessons learned about risk reduction after ten years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

This article reviews some of the key facts concerning HIV risk behavior change the prevention lessons of the first decade of the AIDS epidemic. One of the most important developments over the past 10 years has been the marked increase in knowledge about the AIDS. More people are now aware of the measures for reducing the risk of contracting the disease -- using condoms and avoiding unprotected sex and needle-sharing. Risk reduction however is not determined by knowledge of risk alone. Researchers have identified a number of psychological behavioral and social factors that affect risk reduction. Studies also show that with gay male communities in large cities high-risk behavior has been reduced considerably. Recently however many gay men have relapsed back to unsafe sex. Additionally the studies have focused primarily on gay communities in large cities and have oversampled men who are white older better educated and of higher socioeconomic status than the rest of the gay community. Young non-white socially disadvantaged gay men as well as homosexuals who do not identify with the gay lifestyle stand in need of prevention efforts. While health promotion efforts have succeeded in curbing needle-sharing among intravenous drug users it has been difficult to change this groups sexual risk behavior. But the groups that remain the most impenetrable concerning changes in risk behavior are women and adolescents. Specific intervention approaches for women are not known. Additionally AIDS prevention programs for women often run up against cultural and social issues relating to family power structure. And for adolescents risk-reduction programs remain at an early stage of development.
New and Emerging Interventional Neuroradiologic Techniques for Neuro-Opthalmologic Disorders

Background: A number of cerebrovascular disorders produce manifestations of neuro-ophthalmologic significance. In many cases, these disorders can be treated using endovascular techniques. Methods: The material in this article was obtained from a combination of personal experience and review of the literature using PubMed. Results: A variety of new equipment, materials, and techniques are available to the interventional neuro-radiologist dealing with intracranial vascular lesions such as aneurysms, arteriovenous fistulas, and arteriovenous malformations. Conclusion: Physicians whose patients have intracranial vascular lesions should be aware of the endovascular options available for their patients.
Multi-access interface selection based on data mining algorithm

Multi-access networks are envisioned to guarantee a continuous service while addressing different application requirements in terms of data rate, coverage and power consumption. Different access technologies can be effectively combined in a multi-access scenario where the overall system is able to achieve a better performance leveraging on the different characteristics of the access technologies. One of the main challenges in realizing a multi-access system is the process of properly selecting a network interface. This paper proposes a network selection algorithm based on the k-nearest neighbor data mining classification technique. This work considers Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and 3GPP technologies; however, the proposed approach could be easily adapted to take into account other access technologies.
New Noncontacting Inductive Analog Proximity and Inductive Linear Displacement Sensors for Industrial Automation

Noncontacting inductive sensors are applicable on a large scale for position detection or travel measurement in industrial applications. Reasons for such broad acceptance in many sectors of industry are noncontact and wear-free sensing of the target (any metal object), reliability and robustness, resistance to fouling, water tightness and compact size. The present work is intended to be a systematic, complete, and consistent presentation of the technological innovations, recent implementations and current trends regarding the analog distance and travel sensing offered by noncontacting inductive sensors for industrial applications. It starts with the fundamentals of inductive sensing and presents the physical basics gained by modern analytic and simulation methods, as well as high-level integrated circuits for inductive sensors. The following sections deal with present-day inductive analog proximity sensors and with the distinctive technological innovation offered by the new inductive linear displacement sensors and with miniaturization results achieved through consistent integration.
Cardiac and aortic arch anomalies in the offspring of vitamin A deficient rats correlated with similar human anomalies.

Fetal and newborn rats from mothers fed vitamin A deficient diets prior to and during pregnancy exhibited some degree of malformation in 75% of the cases. Twenty-eight of 64 severely abnormal young studied after serial sectioning showed congenital cardiovascular malformations. These consisted of defects in the interventricular septum and in the aortico-pulmonary septum; and of various aortic arch anomalies, such as retroesophageal subclavian artery, right aortic arch, double aortic arch, absence and other variations of the ductus arteriosus and absence of a pulmonary artery. There were also several cases in which the fourth aortic arch was absent and the heart communicated with the descending aorta through the pulmonary trunk and an enlarged ductus arteriosus; in other instances the communication was affected through a persisting third arch which rose high into the neck. Many of the cardiovascular anomalies observed in the rats closely simulated malformations observed in man ; others have not been reported to occur in man but they are considered theoretic possibilities. If they are encountered in children, their interpretation may be facilitated by the description of these experimental results in the rat. It is emphasized that present clinical and experimental observations indicate that environmental as well as genetic factors may alter the development of the cardiovascular system.
Cochlear‐nucleus branches of thick (medial) olivocochlear fibers in the mouse: A cochaleotopic projection

Olivocochlear neurons have somata in the superior olivary complex and provide an efferent innervation to the cochlea. One subgroup of olivocochlear neurons, medial olivocochlear neurons, sends fibers to innervate the cochlear outer hair cells. En route to the cochlea, medial olivocochlear fibers give off branches to the ventral cochlear nucleus, the first auditory center of the brain. This study examines the cochlear‐nucleus branches of medial olivocochlear fibers, comparing those from fibers that innervate the cochlear base with those from fibers that innervate the cochlear apex. Basal fibers give off dorsal branches to the granule cell lamina and ventral branches to the auditory nerve root. Apical fibers give off few dorsal branches but many ventral branches that terminate rostrally to the nerve root. This cochleotopic mapping of medial olivocochlear branches corresponds in a general way to that of afferent fibers. Unlike afferent fibers, however, the branches terminate primarily along the edges of the cochlear nucleus. In the mouse, the particular edges of termination are (1) the medial border of the ventral cochlear nucleus where it meets the underlying vestibular nerve root, and (2) the border between the ventral cochlear nucleus and the granule cell lamina. Neurons and dendrites of these border regions may thus integrate efferent and afferent information in a frequency‐specific manner.