Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of the Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale: A brief measure to identify acute cognitive impairment in mild traumatic brain injury

Objective: To validate the use of the Abbreviated Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale (A-WPTAS) in the assessment of acute cognitive impairment in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Methods: Data previously collected from 82 mTBI and 88 control participants using the Revised Westmead Post-traumatic Amnesia Scale (R-WPTAS) was converted to A-WPTAS scores and pass/fail classifications were calculated for both scales. Results: The proportion of failures on the R-WPTAS and the A-WPTAS did not differ and a similar number of mTBIs were classified on each. For mTBIs the relationship between the independent memory test and a pass/fail classification was the same for both scales. Bivariate logistic regressions revealed that mTBIs, relative to controls, were around 8 times more likely to fail the assessment (R-WPTAS: 95% CI: 3.70–18.87; A-WPTAS: 95% CI: 3.70–20.14). As verbal learning improved the likelihood of failure was reduced. Greater education was associated with a decreased likelihood of failure. The relationship between education and a fail performance was not sustained when education was adjusted for the effect of age, prior mTBI, blood alcohol level, injury status, verbal learning, and morphine administration. Conclusions: The A-WPTAS is a valid measure. The A-WPTAS may reduce the risk of failing to classify patients with mTBI by identifying and documenting acute cognitive impairment.
PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, MEAT QUALITY AND PLASMA CONSTITUENTS OF MEAT TYPE DRAKES FED DIETS CONTAINING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF LYSINE WITH OR WITHOUT A MICROBIAL PHYTASE

This experiment was conducted to study growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and plasma constituents of Campbell drakes fed diets containing different levels of lysine with or without a microbial phytase. Basal vegetable duck all-mash diets were fed during the growing (1- 35 d of age), and finishing period (36 - 56 d of age) and were formulated to contain 0.90% and 0.73% lysine (negative control), respectively. These diets were supplemented or not with L-lysine HCl, which resulted in a dietary lysine level of 0.90, 0.95, 1.01 and 1.06% and 0.73, 0.80, 0.87 and 0.94%, during the growing and finishing period, respectively. Furthermore, the diets were fed with or without 600 FTU phytase (Natuphos®) except for those containing 1.06 and 0.94% lysine during the growing and finishing period, respectively (positive control). A lysine level of 1.01/0.87% in the growing/finishing diet significantly increased BWG and improved FCR of drakes by 2.1 and 1.8%, respectively. Phytase significantly increased BWG by 2.1% and 3.5% after feeding the basal diet and 1.01/0.87% lysine, respectively. Also, FCR was significantly improved by 2.2 and 1.8% of groups fed 0.95/0.80, and 1.01/0.87% lysine, respectively. Phytase as an independent variable increased BWG by 1.8, and improved FCR by 1.0%. Lysine and/or phytase did not affect carcass yield, and meat quality treats as well as plasma constituents of drakes. However, lysine level at 0.95/0.80% and 1.01/0.87% significantly decreased abdominal fat deposition compared to either the negative or the positive control. In conclusion, a lysine level of 1.01/0.87% in the growing/finishing diets for drakes is adequate. After phytase supplementation of the basal diet the BWG at a lysine level of 0.90/0.73% were similar to the positive control (1.06/0.94% lysine). However, the best FCR was obtained after feeding diets containing 1.01/0.87% lysine supplemented with phytase.
Chimera States in Networks of Nonlocally Coupled Hindmarsh-Rose Neuron Models

We have identified the occurrence of chimera states for various coupling schemes in networks of two-dimensional and three-dimensional Hindmarsh–Rose oscillators, which represent realistic models of neuronal ensembles. This result, together with recent studies on multiple chimera states in nonlocally coupled FitzHugh–Nagumo oscillators, provide strong evidence that the phenomenon of chimeras may indeed be relevant in neuroscience applications. Moreover, our work verifies the existence of chimera states in coupled bistable elements, whereas to date chimeras were known to arise in models possessing a single stable limit cycle. Finally, we have identified an interesting class of mixed oscillatory states, in which desynchronized neurons are uniformly interspersed among the remaining ones that are either stationary or oscillate in synchronized motion.
An Uncertainty Relation of Space-Time

We propose an uncertainty relation of space-time. This relation is characterized by GhT \lesssim \delta V, where T and \delta V denote a characteristic time scale and a spatial volume, respectively. Using this uncertainty relation, we give qualitative estimations for the entropies of a black hole and our universe. We obtain qualitative agreements with the known results. The holographic principle of 't Hooft and Susskind is reproduced. We also discuss cosmology and give a relation to the cosmic holographic principle of Fischler and Susskind. However, as for the maximal entropy of a system with an energy E, we obtain the formula \sqrt{EV/Gh^2}, with V denoting the volume of the system, which is distinct from the Bekenstein entropy formula ER/h with R denoting the length scale of the system.
Effects of Bacteriophage Supplementation on Egg Performance, Egg Quality, Excreta Microflora, and Moisture Content in Laying Hens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of bacteriophage supplementation on egg performance, egg quality, excreta microflora, and moisture content in laying hens. A total of 288 Hy-line brown commercial laying hens (36-wk-old) were randomly allotted to 4 treatments in this 6-wk trial and dietary treatments included: i) CON, basal diet; ii) T1, CON+0.020% bacteriophage; iii) T2, CON+0.035% bacteriophage; iv) T3, CON+0.050% bacteriophage. There were 6 replicates for each treatment with 6 adjacent cages (2 hens/cage). Laying hens in T2 and T3 treatments had higher (p<0.05) egg production than those in CON and T1 treatments during wk 0 to 3. In addition, egg production in T1, T2, and T3 treatments was increased (p<0.05) compared with that in CON treatment during wk 4 to 6. At wk 4 and 5, birds in T2 group had higher (p<0.05) HU than those in CON. In addition, at wk 5 and 6, HU in birds fed T1 and T3 diets was greater (p<0.05) than those fed CON diet. E. coli and Salmonella spp. concentrations in excreta were decreased (p<0.05) by T1, T2, and T3 treatments. However, egg weight, egg shell color, yolk height, yolk color unit, egg shell strength, egg shell thickness, egg gravity, and excreta moisture content were not influenced by dietary treatments during the entire experimental period. In conclusion, bacteriophage supplementation has beneficial effects on egg production, egg albumen, and excreta microflora concentration in laying hens.
Canals d'innovació tecnològica a l'agricultura mediterrània occidental (1840-1930)

La innovacio tecnologica a I'agricultura dels paisos mediterranis va exigir la transferencia de coneixements, conreus i tecniques adaptats a les condicions peculiars de l'area. En alguns casos la procedencia d'aquests fluxos va ser l'Europa nord-occidental, pero mes sovint els fluxos van produir-se dins del propi mon rnediterrani. El coneixement del rec i la difusio dels conreus propis de la zona van ser ambits destacats d'aquests intercanvis. Aquest treball estudia alguns fluxos entre Italia, Franca, Espanya i el nord d'Africa i tracta d'explicar com, mitjancant aquests contactes, va anar definint-se l'espai geogranc en el qual podia operar la innovacio agraria adequada per a les arees del sud d'Europa,
A Climatology of the Structure, Evolution, and Propagation of Midlatitude Cyclones in the Southeast United States

AbstractThe seasonal and interannual variability of the structure, evolution, and propagation of midlatitude cyclones in the southeast United States are studied using a composite analysis. In the upper levels, the composites show that the axis of the wintertime upper-level trough remains north–south oriented and propagates eastward along 40°N, while the summertime upper-level trough has a much slower propagation at a farther north latitude and an axis that is tilted in the northeast–southwest direction. Upper-level circulation changes are consistent with a shift from wintertime “cyclonic behavior” to summertime “anticyclonic behavior” midlatitude cyclones. Significant changes in the low-level structure and precipitation patterns of midlatitude cyclones ensue from these upper-level changes. While the winter composite is characterized by eastward-propagating midlatitude cyclones that extend deep into the subtropics, the summer composite is characterized by semistationary midlatitude troughs that only briefl.
Dormancy-specific imprinting underlies maternal inheritance of seed dormancy in Arabidopsis thaliana

Mature seed dormancy is a vital plant trait that prevents germination out of season. In Arabidopsis, the trait can be maternally regulated but the underlying mechanisms sustaining this regulation, its general occurrence and its biological significance among accessions are poorly understood. Upon seed imbibition, the endosperm is essential to repress the germination of dormant seeds. Investigation of genomic imprinting in the mature seed endosperm led us to identify a novel set of imprinted genes that are expressed upon seed imbibition. Remarkably, programs of imprinted gene expression are adapted according to the dormancy status of the seed. We provide direct evidence that imprinted genes play a role in regulating germination processes and that preferential maternal allelic expression can implement maternal inheritance of seed dormancy levels. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.19573. 001
Alcohol consumption and breast cancer: estrogen receptor status and histology.

Data from a case-control study conducted in New York State during 1982-1984 were used to evaluate the relation between alcohol consumption and estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers and alcohol and various histologic subtypes. The cases were women between 20 and 79 years of age with a diagnosis of primary breast cancer. A total of 794 estrogen receptor-positive and 358 estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cases were available for study. Controls (n = 1,617) were selected from driver's license files of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Information on estrogen receptor status and histology was obtained from hospital records. The risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer was shown to increase with increasing amounts of alcohol consumption in grams per day (odds ratio (OR) = 1.18 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-1.57) for < 1.5 g/day, 1.28 (95% CI 0.91-1.80) for 1.5-4.9 g/day, 1.28 (95% CI 0.96-1.70) for 5.0-14.9 g/day, and 1.35 (95% CI 0.99-1.85) for > or = 15.0 g/day). There was no relation between alcohol consumption and estrogen receptor-negative tumors (OR = 0.92 (95% CI 0.62-1.36) for < 1.5 g/day, 1.19 (95% CI 0.77-1.83) for 1.5-4.9 g/day, 0.94 (95% CI 0.64-1.35) for 5.0-14.9 g/day, and 1.05 (95% CI 0.70-1.59) for > or = 15.0 g/day). The risk for each of the histologic subtypes studied increased with increasing daily alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that alcohol may only increase a woman's risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers.
Comparison of Two Urinary Antigen Tests for Establishment of Pneumococcal Etiology of Adult Community-Acquired Pneumonia

ABSTRACT The Binax NOW immunochromatographic test (ICT) detecting the pneumococcal C polysaccharide and a serotype-specific latex agglutination (LA) test detecting 23 pneumococcal capsular antigens were evaluated for establishing pneumococcal etiology in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) by use of nonconcentrated urine. ICT was considered to be strongly positive for result lines at least as intense as the control line and weakly positive for less intense result lines. When 215 adult CAP patients were tested, strong ICT, weak ICT, and LA positivity were found in 28, 24, and 16 patients, respectively; of these patients, 13 (46%), 6 (25%), and 13 (81%), respectively, had pneumococcal bacteremia and 27 (96%), 17 (71%), and 15 (94%), respectively, had Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood, sputum, and/or nasopharynx. Among 108 controls tested, 2 (1.9%) were weakly ICT positive. When weak positivity was considered negative, the sensitivity of ICT decreased from 79% (19 of 24) to 54% (13 of 24), while the specificity increased from 83% (158 of 191) to 92% (176 of 191); no controls were false positive. The sensitivity and specificity of LA were 54% (13 of 24) and 98% (188 of 191), respectively. Eight of nine LA serotypes corresponded to culture serotypes. In conclusion, using nonconcentrated urine and dividing ICT-positive results into strongly and weakly positive results is a suitable way of performing ICT. While weak ICT positivity should be interpreted with caution, strong ICT positivity and LA positivity should be considered supportive of pneumococcal etiology in adult CAP. As such, these assays might have implications for antibiotic use in CAP. LA has promising potential for pneumococcal serotyping, although further evaluation is required.
Endothelium‐derived relaxing factor and atriopeptin II elevate cyclic GMP levels in pig aortic endothelial cells

1 Two directly‐acting stimulants of soluble guanylate cyclase, glyceryl trinitrate (0.1 μm) and sodium azide (10 μm), and a receptor‐mediated stimulant of particulate guanylate cyclase, atriopeptin II (10 nm), each elevated the cyclic GMP content of primary cultures of pig aortic endothelial cells without affecting the cyclic AMP content. 2 Two receptor‐mediated stimulants of adenylate cyclase, glucagon (1 μm) and isoprenaline (10 μm), had no effect on the cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP content of these cells, but the directly acting stimulant, forskolin (30 μm), induced a small increase in cyclic AMP content. 3 Three agents that release endothelium‐derived relaxing factor (EDRF); bradykinin (0.1 μm), ATP (10 μm) and ionophore A23187 (0.1 μm), each markedly elevated the cyclic GMP content of pig aortic endothelial cells, but acetylcholine (1 μm) had no effect. None of these agents had any effect on cyclic AMP content. 4 Two agents that potentiate the actions of EDRF; M & B 22948 (100 μm) and superoxide dismutase (30 units ml−1), each elevated the cyclic GMP content of pig aortic endothelial cells without affecting the cyclic AMP content. Pretreating cells with catalase (100 units ml−1) did not affect the rise in cyclic GMP content induced by superoxide dismutase (30 units ml−1). 5 Pretreatment of pig aortic endothelial cells with haemoglobin (10 μm) reduced the resting content of cyclic GMP and blocked the increase in cyclic GMP content induced by glyceryl trinitrate (0.1 μm), sodium azide (10 μm), bradykinin (0.1 μm) ATP (10 μm), ionophore A23187 (0.1 μm), M & B 22948 (100 μm) and superoxide dismutase (30 units ml−1), but not that induced by atriopeptin II (10 nm). 6 Pretreatment of pig aortic endothelial cells with an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, methylene blue (20 μm), had no effect on the resting content of cyclic GMP. Methylene blue (20 μm) blocked the increase in cyclic GMP content induced by glyceryl trinitrate (0.1 μm), M & B 22948 (100 μm) and bradykinin (0.1 μm), but not that induced by atriopeptin II (10 nm). 7 The data show that soluble guanylate cyclase, particulate guanylate cyclase and adenylate cyclase are present in pig aortic endothelial cells. They further suggest that EDRF, produced spontaneously or in response to vasoactive agents, elevates endothelial cyclic GMP content by stimulating soluble guanylate cyclase. It is possible that this may serve as a feedback loop by which the endothelial cell modulates EDRF production.
Cost effective data center servers

The exploding growth of digitalized information has led to the rapid growth of data centers, both in numbers and in size. Cluster has been the dominating system architecture used in most data centers. However, the increasingly diversified data center applications have requirements beyond what the cluster architecture can deliver. For instance, clouding computing requires flexible sharing of all data center resources. Big data applications often need large memory capacity. A few applications can use GPGPU effectively. Existing system might be extended to a certain degree to meet those needs. Those extensions however would often be prohibitively expensive. The paper presents our attempt to design a system using commodity products that can meet the varying needs of many emerging data center applications in a cost-effective way. Our attempt is to create a system by connecting multiple nodes through a PCIe switch and then extend the software stack to support resource sharing among these nodes. In particular, a node can directly use the memory, NIC, and GPGPU of other nodes through the PCIe switch with no or little involvement from other nodes. We build a prototype as our evaluation platform. Our evaluation results indicate that those resources can be shared effectively in many cases. For using remote memory as block device, our prototype system has 5 times bandwidth, 11 times IOPS and 1/12 latency compared with the system connected by 10GigE in average for Orion benchmark; Using remote GPGPU via PCIe switch achieves average 60 times speedup than the case without GPGPU, and the performance loss is also acceptable (its average execution time is 1/3 of local GPGPU) for micro-benchmarks from GPU computing SDK; And using remote NIC via PCIe switch achieves average 95% bandwidth and 1.4 times latency of local NIC in httperf testing. While our prototype system offers multiple benefits, it is not perfect and has a lot room for further optimization and extension. We hope the outcome presented in this paper will encourage more researchers to join us in designing highly efficient and cost-effective servers.
De novo methylation in male germ cells of the common marmoset monkey occurs during postnatal development and is maintained in vitro

ABSTRACT The timing of de novo DNA methylation in male germ cells during human testicular development is yet unsolved. Apart from that, the stability of established imprinting patterns in vitro is controversially discussed. This study aimed at determining the timing of DNA de novo methylation and at assessing the stability of the methylation status in vitro. We employed the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) as it is considered the best non-human primate model for human testicular development. We selected neonatal, pre-pubertal, pubertal, and adult animals (n = 3, each) and assessed germ cell global DNA methylation levels by 5-methyl cytosine staining, and Alu elements and gene-specific methylation (H19, LIT1, SNRPN, MEST, OCT4, MAGE-A4, and DDX-4) by pyrosequencing. De novo methylation is progressively established during postnatal primate development and continues until adulthood, a process that is different in most other species. Importantly, once established, methylation patterns remained stable, as demonstrated using in vitro cultures. Thus, the marmoset monkey is a unique model for the study of postnatal DNA methylation mechanisms in germ cells and for the identification of epimutations and their causes.
Measured HDO/H2O ratios across the tropical tropopause

We present the first simultaneous measurements of HDO and H2O in the tropical upper troposphere (UT) and lower stratosphere (LS) as derived from infrared solar absorption spectra acquired by the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment. We find, surprisingly, that the observed HDO/H2O ratio does not decrease with altitude in this region despite a factor of 4–5 decrease in the water vapor mixing ratio. This observation is inconsistent with the view that dehydration in the tropical UT/LS is by gradual processes, and suggests a major role by convective processes.
Protection from Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy Using the Modified Anthracycline N-Benzyladriamycin-14-valerate (AD 198)

The anthracycline doxorubicin (Dox) is an effective antitumor agent. However, its use is limited because of its toxicity in the heart. N-Benzyladriamycin-14-valerate (AD 198) is a modified anthracycline with antitumor efficacy similar to that of Dox, but with significantly less cardiotoxicity and potentially cardioprotective elements. In the present study, we investigated the possibility of in vivo protective effects of low-dose AD 198 against Dox-induced cardiomyopathy. To do this, rats were divided into four groups: vehicle, Dox (20 mg/kg; single injection day 1), AD 198 (0.3 mg/kg per injection; injections on days 1, 2, and 3), or a combination treatment of Dox + AD 198. Seventy-two hours after beginning treatment, hearts from the Dox group had decreased phosphorylation of AMP kinase and troponin I and reduced poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, β-tubulin, and serum albumin expression. Dox also increased the phosphorylation of phospholamban and expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase in hearts. Each of these Dox-induced molecular changes was attenuated in the Dox + AD 198 group. In addition, excised hearts from rats treated with Dox had a 25% decrease in left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and a higher than normal increase in LVDP when perfused with a high extracellular Ca2+ solution. The Dox-induced decrease in baseline LVDP and hyper-responsiveness to [Ca2+] was not observed in hearts from the Dox + AD 198 group. Thus Dox, with well established and efficient antitumor protocols, in combination with low levels of AD 198, to counter anthracycline cardiotoxicity, may be a promising next step in chemotherapy.
Problem loans in the MENA countries: bank specific determinants and the role of the business and the institutional environment

The paper empirically analyses the determinants of problem loans and the potential impact of both business and institutional environment on credit risk exposure of banks in the MENA region. Looking at a sample of 46 banks in 12 countries over the period 2002-2006, we find that, among bank specific factors, high credit growth, loan loss provisions, and foreign participation coming from developed countries reduce the NPL level. However, highly capitalized banks experience high level of credit exposure. Credit quality of banks is also positively affected by the relevance of the information published by public and private bureaus. Finally, our findings highlight the importance of institutional environment in enhancing banks credit quality. Specifically, a more control of corruption, a sound regulatory quality, a better enforcement of rule of law, and a free voice and accountability play an important role in reducing nonperforming loans in the MENA countries.