Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A review of environmental determinants and risk factors for avian-associated mosquito arboviruses in Canada

Abstract A number of mosquito-transmitted arboviruses which cause disease in humans have been isolated in Canada. Four in particular, West Nile, western equine encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis viruses have avian hosts and have caused epidemics and/or epizootics in parts of the United States and Canada over recent decades. However, with the exception of recently emerged West Nile virus, relatively little is known about the environmental drivers and risk factors which promote epidemic occurrence of mosquito-transmitted arboviruses in North America. This paper reviews environmental drivers and risk factors of those mosquito arboviruses with avian reservoirs which have had epidemic outbreaks in parts of the U.S.A. and Canada as a preliminary step towards future research on the effects of climate change and mosquito-borne arboviruses in Canada. The review highlights how the outcome of interactions between changing environmental conditions, with endemic or introduced invasive arboviruses, is likely to be strongly mediated by local abiotic and biotic conditions. It concludes that the processes linking abiotic and biotic determinants to virus transmission may not be generalizable. Continued research into the regional idiosyncrasies of the ecology of arboviruses will, therefore, be necessary in order to assess the effects of a changing climate on arboviruses in Canada.
Spatial , temporal and ontogenetic patterns of habitat use by coral reef fishes ( Family Labridae )

The continuous reef tract on the semi-exposed side of Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef, can be divided into 6 habitat zones, which are distinctly different in terms of their physical (depth, slope and wave exposure) and biological characteristics (percentage of living cover, percentage cover of each substratum type, substratum diversity and complexity). Sixty-four labrid species were found to use these habitat zones In 5 surveys conducted over 3 yr. Thirty-eight species (1804 individuals) were recorded in a single survey (area, 13500 m2), of which 8 were abundant (n > 5% of total number of individuals), 6 were common (1 % < n < 5 % of total) and 24 were rare (n < 1 % of total) Seven of the abundant species showed strong patterns of habitat use, such that the assemblages of these species differed significantly among habitat zones (p < 0.0001). Only 1 abundant species, Labroides dimidiatus, occurred in sinular densities in all habitat zones. Depth appeared to be of overriding importance in determining habitat use, with most species occurring either in shallow or deep zones. Within depth ranges, the labrid assemblages differed among habitat zones in terms of the relative abundance of species. In contrast, no clear relationship was detected between labrid density or diversity and other habitat features such as percentage livlng substratum, substratum diversity or complexity. These patterns were consistent at each of 3 sites separated by > l km and over 3 yr and 2 seasons (summer and winter). Only 2 of the 8 abundant species showed different patterns of habitat use by adults and recruits, suggestlng ontogenetic shifts in habltat use by these species. In contrast, the others showed no evidence of ontogenetic shifts in habitat use, ~nfer r~ng that recruitment patterns may be important in structuring patterns of habitat use by these species. Further studies are now required to test this hypothesis.
Reduced Expression of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter G1 Increases Cholesterol Accumulation in Macrophages of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background— Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at increased risk for the development of atherosclerosis. A pivotal event in the development of atherosclerosis is macrophage foam cell formation. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 regulate macrophage cholesterol efflux and hence play a vital role in macrophage foam cell formation. We have previously found that chronic elevated glucose reduces ABCG1 expression. In the present study, we examined whether patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had decreased ABCG1 and/or ABCA1, impaired cholesterol efflux, and increased macrophage foam cell formation. Methods and Results— Blood was collected from patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Peripheral blood monocytes were differentiated into macrophages, and cholesterol efflux assays, immunoblots, histological analysis, and intracellular cholesteryl ester measurements were performed. Macrophages from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had a 30% reduction in cholesterol efflux with a corresponding 60% increase in cholesterol accumulation relative to control subjects. ABCG1 was present in macrophages from control subjects but was undetectable in macrophages from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In contrast, ABCA1 expression in macrophages was similar in both control subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Macrophage expression of ABCG1 in both patients and control subjects was induced by treatment with the liver X receptor agonist TO-901317. Upregulation of liver X receptor dramatically reduced foam cell formation in macrophages from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Conclusions— ABCG1 expression and cholesterol efflux are reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This impaired ABCG1-mediated cholesterol efflux significantly correlates with increased intracellular cholesterol accumulation. Strategies to upregulate ABCG1 expression and function in type 2 diabetes mellitus could have therapeutic potential for limiting the accelerated vascular disease observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Fibrous Umbilical Polyp: A Distinct Fasciitis-Like Proliferation of Early Childhood With a Marked Male Predominance

Benign fibrous lesions of the umbilicus have not been previously studied in a formal series. Clinical and pathologic findings were reviewed in all patients under age 19 with lesions resected from the umbilical region at Children's Hospital (Boston, MA, USA) during an 8-year period. Fourteen lesions were characterized by a well-circumscribed dome-shaped or pedunculated dermal proliferation of moderately cellular fibrous tissue without significant inflammation. Fibroblastic cells were plump to elongate with abundant pale pink cytoplasm. In a subset of lesions, some cells showed atypia or ganglion cell-like morphology. Collagen ranged from sparse to long narrow bundles. Vascularity was sparse and the lesions were nonencapsulated. Loss of rete ridges and basket-weave hyperkeratosis was common in the overlying epidermis. Immunostaining showed focal staining for muscle-specific actin and desmin in a subset of cases and no staining for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, CD34, or S-100. Age ranged from 3 to 18 months (mean 9 months, median 8 months). Thirteen (93%) patients were boys. Recurrence was not observed. In conclusion, the “fibrous umbilical polyp” is a distinctive lesion of early childhood with an uncertain pathogenesis. It shows a marked predilection for boys, is not rare, and appears to represent a clinicopathologic entity. Perhaps the umbilicus, a midline defect that is normally filled by dense scar tissue after birth, contains unique fibrogenic factors responsible for the development of this distinct lesion.
The Joint Impact of Supply Chain Integration and Quality Management on the Performance of Pork Processing Firms in China

A microprocessor/based telephone/facsimile controller which automatically gives priority to incoming messages. The ring voltage of an incoming message causes the microprocessor to close and latch the line between the telephone and the facsimile. When transmission is completed, the line is dropped and this condition is sensed causing the latch relay to open to prevent the facsimile from transmitting, no data being logged for incoming facsimile transmissions. Only a valid input code permits the coupling of the facsimile to the telephone line also initiating a timer. A broadcast mode latches the telephone line to permit delayed calls and multiple facsimile transmissions, each allocated to the user code which established the broadcast mode. A default time is utilized to accommodate the redial and use of the line for non-facsimile telephone transmission.
Probing the Interstellar Medium near Star-forming Regions with Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglow Spectroscopy: Gas, Metals, and Dust

We study the chemical abundances of the interstellar medium surrounding high-z gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) through analysis of the damped Lyα systems (DLAs) identified in afterglow spectra. These GRB DLAs are characterized by large H I column densities NH i and metallicities [M/H] spanning 1/100 to nearly solar, with median [M/H] > -1 dex. The majority of GRB DLAs have [M/H] values exceeding the cosmic mean metallicity of atomic gas at z > 2; i.e., if anything, the GRB DLAs are biased to larger metallicity. We also observe (1) large [Zn/Fe] values (>+0.6 dex) and subsolar Ti/Fe ratios, which imply substantial differential depletion; (2) large α/Fe ratios, suggesting nucleosynthetic enrichment by massive stars; and (3) low C0/C+ ratios (<10-4). Quantitatively, the observed depletion levels and C0/C+ ratios of the gas are not characteristic of cold, dense H I clouds in the Galactic interstellar medium (ISM). We argue that the GRB DLA represents the ISM near the GRB but not gas directly local to the GRB (e.g., its molecular cloud or circumstellar material). We compare these observations with DLAs intervening in background quasars (QSO DLAs). The GRB DLAs exhibit larger N values, higher α/Fe and Zn/Fe ratios, and higher metallicity than the QSO DLAs. Although these differences are statistically significant, the offsets are relatively modest (N excepted). We argue that the differences result primarily from galactocentric radius-dependent differences in the ISM: GRB DLAs preferentially probe denser, more depleted, higher metallicity gas located in the inner few kiloparsecs, whereas QSO DLAs are more likely to intersect the less dense, less enriched, outer regions of the galaxy. Finally, we investigate whether dust obscuration may exclude GRB DLA sight lines from QSO DLA samples; we find that the majority of GRB DLAs would be recovered, which implies little observational bias against large N systems.
MIC Versus MBEC to Determine the Antibiotic Sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus in Peritoneal Dialysis Peritonitis

♦ Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis is a common and morbid complication of PD. Bacteria are able to create a biofilm on the PD catheter, which can be a source of recurrent infection. Biofilms undergo a phenotypic change resulting in increased antibiotic resistance. ♦ Methods: 21 clinical isolates of different patients with PD peritonitis secondary to Staphylococcus aureus were collected. They were analyzed for their antibiotic susceptibility in the planktonic form using the standard minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and in a biofilm using minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC). Chi-square was used to compare the sensitivity results. ♦ Results: The isolates were susceptible to all the antibiotics tested using MIC. Every antibiotic except gentamicin lost its efficacy when the bacteria were grown in a biofilm (p > 0.05). The change in susceptibility was statistically significant to a level of p < 0.001 for all antibiotics tested. ♦ Discussion: In PD peritonitis that is long standing, recurrent, or not responsive to therapy, MBEC testing should be considered as a biofilm may be present. Gentamicin should be strongly considered over other agents for empiric gram-negative coverage as it may be providing synergy in the setting of Staphylococcus aureus. Also, the newer anti-staphylococcal drugs should be tested for their performance in a biofilm using the MBEC method.
The Gangdese retroarc thrust belt revealed

The Cretaceous–early Tertiary Gangdese arc in southern Tibet is generally attributed to the northward subduction of Neotethyan oceanic lithosphere prior to Indo-Asian collision. However, the history and tectonic significance of deformation and sedimentation in Tibet during this time interval have remained enigmatic. We show that contractional structures and clastic rocks near the city of Lhasa can be attributed to the development of a northward-propagating retroarc thrust belt that was active between 105 and 53 Ma. A kinematic model shows that the thrust belt could have accommodated >230 km (>55%) of N-S shortening. An episode of large magnitude (>160 km) and rapid (>8 mm/yr) shortening predated the onset of a magmatic flare-up ca. 69 Ma, which is linked to removal of overthickened mantle lithosphere. This tectonic history implies that southern Tibet underwent substantial crustal thickening and elevation gain prior to the Indo-Asian collision.
Observer Bias in Anuran Call Surveys

Abstract Amphibian monitoring programs rarely question the quality of data obtained by observers and often ignore observer bias. In order to test for bias in amphibian call surveys, we sampled 29 clusters of wetlands from the Rainwater Basin, Nebraska, USA, totaling 228 functionally connected wetlands. Sampling consisted of 3-minute stops where volunteers recorded species heard and made digital recordings. Based on 627 samples, we examined 3 types of observer bias: omission, false inclusion (commission), and incorrect identification. Misidentification rates ranged from 4.2% to 18.3%. Relatively high and unquantified error rates can negatively affect the ability of monitoring programs to accurately detect the population or abundance trends for which most were designed.
Land use characterization and change detection of a small mangrove area in Banacon Island, Bohol, Philippines using a maximum likelihood classification method

Geospatial information of small mangrove islands in the Philippines is usually lacking. Such information is vital to monitor mangrove cover change and craft plans for their sustainable management. This study was conducted to provide some land use information about Banacon Island in Bohol province. The island is renowned for its vast mangrove plantations, community-initiated reforestation, and double reef system. To determine the different forest land uses therein, the study employed a maximum likelihood classification method using two Landsat images of different periods. Results revealed three distinct forest land uses, namely: dense mature stand; dense intermediate stand; and sparse mangrove area. Land use change detection analysis was also conducted. Findings suggest that mangrove cover has generally improved from 1993 to 2004, as seen in the expansion of dense plantations over sparsely vegetated areas. Such change is attributable to continuous reforestation activities by the local community. Minor deforestation was also recorded due to various natural and anthropogenic causes. Comparing the area of deforestation with the increase in plantations, the results suggest that reforestation has compensated or exceeded the rate of cover loss. In order to further improve the geospatial results, the study recommends the use of high resolution images covering other years for better analysis of land use change.
An Eocene larval insect fossil (Diptera:Bibionidae) from North Otago, New Zealand

Abstract A siltstone lens within Papakaio Formation of Eocene age, near Livingstone, North Otago, has yielded a single specimen of an insect that is interpreted to be a final instar march fly larva, Dilophus campbelli n. sp. , close to a common extant species, Dilophus nigrostigma (Walker) (Diptera: Bibionidae). It is the first entire prePleistocene insect fossil definitely known to have been found in New Zealand. It is also the first record of a fossil bibinoid larva. Details of geological setting are given in an appendix by J. C. Aitchison, H. J. Campbell, J. D. Campbell and J. I. Raine.
Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations and Epilepsy: Factors in the Development of Epilepsy

Summary: Sixty‐one patients of a population of 343 with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) were diagnosed with seizures. Their AVMs were larger (p < 0.02) and more frequently superficial (p < 0.05) as compared with the AVMs of patients who were diagnosed with haemorrhage. The factors influencing the development of de novo seizures in patients with diagnosed AVMs were surgical treatment, a presentation with haemorrhage, and age at diagnosis.
The effect of Phyllanthus niruri on urinary inhibitors of calcium oxalate crystallization and other factors associated with renal stone formation

Objective To evaluate the effect of an aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri (Pn), a plant used in folk medicine to treat lithiasis, on the urinary excretion of endogenous inhibitors of lithogenesis, citrate, magnesium and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).
Detection of BRAFV600E Mutations in Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas by Peptide Nucleic Acid Clamp Real-Time PCR: A Comparison with Direct Sequencing

Background Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) of the thyroid is the most common endocrine malignancy. High prevalence of an activating point mutation of BRAF gene, BRAFV600E, has been reported in PTC. We assessed the efficiency of peptide nucleic acid clamp real-time polymerase chain reaction (PNAcqPCR) for the detection of BRAFV600E mutation in PTC in comparison with direct sequencing (DS). Methods A total of 265 thyroid lesions including 200 PTCs, 5 follicular carcinomas, 60 benign lesions and 10 normal thyroid tissues were tested for BRAFV600E mutation by PNAcqPCR and DS. Results The sensitivity and accuracy of the PNAcqPCR method were both higher than those of DS for the detection of the BRAFV600E mutation. In clinical samples, 89% of PTCs harbored the BRAFV600E mutation, whereas 5 follicular carcinomas, 50 benign lesions and 10 normal thyroid tissues lacked the mutation. The mutation was associated with aggressive clinical behaviors as extrathyroid invasion (p=0.015), lymph node metastasis (p=0.002) and multiple tumor numbers (p=0.016) with statistical significance. Conclusions The PNAcqPCR method is efficiently applicable for the detection of the BRAFV600E mutation in PTCs in a clinical setting.
Impact of the Atmospheric Mean State on Tropical Instability Wave Activity

AbstractThe features of simulated tropical instability waves (TIWs) in the Pacific Ocean are compared between atmospheric models of two different resolutions coupled with a uniform oceanic model. Results show that TIWs are more active in the high-resolution model, even though it includes atmospheric negative feedback. Such negative feedback is not identified in the low-resolution atmospheric model because of the absence of atmospheric responses. Comparison of the energetics between the two models shows that the large TIW activity in the higher-resolution model is due to the difference in barotropic energy sources near the surface. A high-resolution atmosphere results in a tighter intertropical convergence zone and associated stronger wind curl and shear. This causes a stronger surface current shear between the South Equatorial Current (SEC) and North Equatorial Counter Current (NECC), which is one of the main sources of TIW kinetic energy. These results indicate the important role of the atmospheric mean .
Remote-sensing observation of ocean responses to Typhoon Lupit in the northwest Pacific

Tropical cyclones, also known as typhoons, in the northwest Pacific are an important air–sea interaction process that transports massive amounts of heat and moisture. In this article, we present detailed observations of the ocean responses to Typhoon Lupit, formed on 14 October 2009. The maximum sea surface temperature (SST) drop of 7°C appeared on 25 October 2009, and the area of the negative sea-level anomaly expanded under the influence of Typhoon Lupit. After passage of the typhoon, the chlorophyll-a concentration increased by 0.3 mg m−3, showing the primary production blooming. A further analysis indicates that Typhoon Lupit caused a rightward bias on the SST change due to the resonance of rotation of the wind vector with wind-driven inertial currents. By a regression analysis, it is found that the increase of the chlorophyll-a concentration and the SST decrease follow a linear relationship with different slopes for the different typhoon stages.
Roles of Conserved Amino Acid Sequence Motifs in the SpoU (TrmH) RNA Methyltransferase Family*

Transfer RNA (Gm18) methyltransferase (TrmH (SpoU)) catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) to the 2′-OH of guanosine 18 in tRNA. This enzyme is a member of the SpoU family of RNA methyltransferases. Recent computational researches have shown that three amino acid sequence motifs are conserved among the SpoU members. Recently, we determined the crystal structures of the apoand AdoMet bound forms of TrmH (Nureki, O., Watanabe, K., Fukai, S., Ishii, R., Endo, Y., Hori, H., and Yokoyama, S. (2004) Structure 12, 593–602). Furthermore, we clarified the AdoMet binding site and proposed the catalytic mechanism. Since the functions of the conserved amino acid residues in the motifs remain unknown, here we have prepared 17 mutants of TrmH and carried out various biochemical studies, including determination of the kinetic parameters for both AdoMet and tRNA, S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine affinity chromatography, gel mobility shift assay, CD spectroscopy, and analytical gel filtration. Our results show that Asn35, Arg41, Glu124, and Asn152 are involved in binding tRNA and that the Asn35 residue is involved in the release of S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine. Several residues of TrmH are important for stability of the enzyme. Taken together, our biochemical studies reinforce the previously proposed catalytic mechanism. We also discuss amino acid substitutions in general within the SPOUT superfamily of methyltransferases.
What is this thing called EBM?

You have probably heard of “EBM”. It stands for “Evidence-Based Medicine” and is a convenient abbreviation for a phenomenon that has swept through the practice of medicine in the past ten years or so. Nowadays, one cannot open a general medical journal without finding something or other that is described as being evidence-based, or not evidencebased, as the case may be. There is evidence-based practice, evidence-based healthcare, evidence-based prescribing, and so on. “Evidence” is a buzzword and is the “in” thing to be evidence-based. But what is this thing called EBM anyway? Is it old wine in a new skin? Or just common sense?
Dopamine modulation of learning and memory in the prefrontal cortex: insights from studies in primates, rodents, and birds

In this review, we provide a brief overview over the current knowledge about the role of dopamine transmission in the prefrontal cortex during learning and memory. We discuss work in humans, monkeys, rats, and birds in order to provide a basis for comparison across species that might help identify crucial features and constraints of the dopaminergic system in executive function. Computational models of dopamine function are introduced to provide a framework for such a comparison. We also provide a brief evolutionary perspective showing that the dopaminergic system is highly preserved across mammals. Even birds, following a largely independent evolution of higher cognitive abilities, have evolved a comparable dopaminergic system. Finally, we discuss the unique advantages and challenges of using different animal models for advancing our understanding of dopamine function in the healthy and diseased brain.