Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gestation length and occurrence of daytime foaling of Standardbred mares on two stud farms in New Zealand

Abstract AIMS: To examine the gestation lengths and occurrence of daytime foaling of Standardbred mares foaling outdoors at stud farms in Southland, New Zealand (latitude 45˚S). METHODS: Data were collected prospectively at two commercial Standardbred stud farms (Farms A and B), during the 2008/9 and 2009/10 breeding seasons (October to February). For each foaling, the identity of the mare, date and time of foaling, gender of foal, time the mare passed the fetal membranes, time the foal stood, and foaling problems including dystocias, were recorded. The effect of farm, season, gender of foal, month of artificial insemination (AI) or foaling, age and parity of mare on gestation length, percentage of mares foaling during daylight hours, and percentage of foalings recorded as dystocia, were examined. RESULTS: A total of 614 foaling records were obtained from 507 mares. For 594 foalings with complete records, mean gestation length was 349 (SE 0.5) days. Mean gestation length was shorter for fillies (347.8 (SE 0.6) days) than colts (350.3 (SE 0.6) days) p = 0.021) and decreased with month of AI, from October to February (p = 0.001). The time of foaling was bimodally distributed with the primary peak around 0200 hours and a secondary smaller peak around 1300 hours. The percentage of mares foaling in daylight was lower on Farm A (69/285 (24%)) than Farm B (128/313 (41%)) (p = 0.001). Colt foals were less likely to be born during the day than fillies (OR = 0.63; (95% CI = 0.44–0.88); p = 0.008), but there was no effect of age or parity of mare or month of foaling (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mean gestation length of mares in this study was longer than that previously reported from other countries. Longer gestation length decreases the time available for these mares to get back into foal in the same season. It is important that managers take this into account and ensure optimum conditions for conception; breeding at the first postpartum oestrus may be essential. There were more mares foaling in daylight hours on one stud than has previously been reported. Under these conditions mares should be monitored for foaling during daytime as well as at night.
Development and evaluation of a suite of isotope reference gases for methane in air

Abstract. Measurements from multiple laboratories have to be related to unifying and traceable reference material in order to be comparable. However, such fundamental reference materials are not available for isotope ratios in atmospheric methane, which led to misinterpretations of combined data sets in the past. We developed a method to produce a suite of synthetic CH4-in-air standard gases that can be used to unify methane isotope ratio measurements of laboratories in the atmospheric monitoring community. Therefore, we calibrated a suite of pure methane gases of different methanogenic origin against international referencing materials that define the VSMOW (Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water) and VPDB (Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite) isotope scales. The isotope ratios of our pure methane gases range between −320 and +40 ‰ for δ2H–CH4 and between −70 and −40 ‰ for δ13C–CH4 , enveloping the isotope ratios of tropospheric methane (about −85 and −47 ‰ for δ2H–CH4 and δ13C–CH4 respectively). Estimated uncertainties, including the full traceability chain, are JRAS-M16 (Jena Reference Air Set – Methane 2016) and will be available to the atmospheric monitoring community. JRAS-M16 may be used as unifying isotope scale anchor for isotope ratio measurements in atmospheric methane, so that data sets can be merged into a consistent global data frame.
Disruption of the quorum sensing regulated pathogenic traits of the biofilm-forming fish pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila by tannic acid, a potent quorum quencher

Abstract The quorum sensing (QS) phenomenon regulates a myriad of pathogenic traits in the biofilm forming fish pathogen, Aeromonas hydrophila. Blocking the QS mechanism of A. hydrophila is a novel strategy to prevent disease in fish. This study evaluated the effect of tannic acid, a QS inhibitor, on A. hydrophila-associated QS regulated phenomena. A streaking assay with Chromobacterium violaceum (CVO26) reported the presence of N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) in A. hydrophila, which was confirmed by HPLC and GC-MS analysis. Tannic acid-treated A. hydrophila showed a considerable reduction in violacein production, blood haemolysis activity and the pattern of swarming motility. Biofilm formation was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) (up to 95%), after tannic acid treatment for 48 h. Analysis by qRT-PCR revealed significant downregulation (p < 0.001) of AhyI and AhyR transcripts in A. hydrophila after tannic acid treatment. Co-stimulation of Catla catla with A. hydrophila and tannic acid attenuated pathogen-induced skin haemorrhages and increased the relative survival rate up to 86.6%. The study provides a mechanistic basis of tannic acid as a QS blocker and indicates its therapeutic potential against A. hydrophila-induced pathogenesis.
Diazotrophs: Overlooked Key Players within the Coral Symbiosis and Tropical Reef Ecosystems?

Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems thriving in nutrient-poor waters. Their productivity depends largely on the availability of nitrogen, the proximate limiting nutrient for primary production. In reefs, the major nitrogen pathways include regeneration, nitrification, ammonification and dinitrogen (N2) fixation. N2 fixation is performed by prokaryotes called ‘diazotrophs’ that abound in coral rubbles, sandy bottoms, microbial mats or seagrass meadows. Corals, which are the main reef builders, have developed a partnership with dinoflagellates which transform dissolved inorganic nitrogen into amino acids and protein, and with diazotrophs to gain diazotrophically-derived nitrogen (DDN). Pioneering studies found active diazotrophic cyanobacteria in the corals’ mucus and/or tissue, and later high throughput sequencing efforts have described diverse communities of non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs associated with scleractinian corals. Yet, the metabolic processes behind these associations and how they benefit corals is currently not well understood. While genomic studies describe the diversity of diazotrophs and isotopic tracer experiments quantify N2 fixation rates, combined advanced methods are needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind the transfer of DDN to the coral holobiont and whether these mechanisms change according to the identity of the diazotrophs or coral species. Here we review our current knowledge on N2 fixation in corals: the diversity and localization of diazotrophs in the coral holobiont, the environmental factors controlling N2 fixation, the fate of DDN within the coral symbiosis as well as its potential role in coral resilience. We finally summarize the unknowns: are the diversity, abundance and localization of diazotrophs within the holobiont species- and/or site-specific? Do they have an impact on DDN production? What are the metabolic mechanisms implicated? Do they change spatially, temporally or according to environmental factors? We encourage scientists to undertake research efforts to tackle these questions in order to shed light on nitrogen cycling in reef ecosystems and to understand if coral-associated N2 fixation can improve coral’s resilience in the face of climate change.
Telehealth Measures Screening for Developmental Language Disorders in Spanish-Speaking Toddlers.

BACKGROUND This is the second of two studies that described the use of telehealth language screening measures for use with young Spanish-speaking children. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to describe the classification accuracy of individual telehealth language screening measures as well as the accuracy of combinations of measures used with Spanish-speaking toddler-age children from rural and underserved areas of the country. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study applied an asynchronous hybrid telehealth approach that implemented parent-structured play activities with a standard set of stimuli, and interaction with a My First Words e-book. These interactions were recorded with a mini camcorder. In addition, a traditional pen and paper parent questionnaire measure was collected. Sixty-two mostly Spanish-speaking preschool-age children and their parents participated. Twenty-two children had developmental language disorders (DLDs) and 40 had typical language development. RESULTS Although several of the individual measures were significantly and strongly associated with standardized language scores, only reported vocabulary had classification accuracy values that were desirable for screening for DLDs. An improvement was observed when reported vocabulary was combined with a number of different words children produced during interactions with parents. CONCLUSIONS This research provides additional evidence showing the effectiveness of a hybrid telehealth model in screening the language development of Spanish-speaking children. More specifically, reported vocabulary combined with number of different words produced by a child can provide informative and accurate diagnostic information when screening Spanish-speaking toddler-age children for DLDs. These findings replicate the first study in showing that hybrid telehealth approaches that combine the use of video technology and traditional pen and paper surveys yield strong results, and may be a viable screening alternative when face-to-face access to a bilingual provider is not possible.
Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of granulosa cells during different stages of folliculogenesis in bovine ovaries

Bovine granulosa cells (GC) vary in their morphological aspect during different stages of folliculogenesis. In this study, 10 morphologically normal bovine ovaries were collected to study the structural aspects of different stages of GC using intermediate filament protein antibodies including cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (AE1/AE3), vimentin, nectin-4 and desmin. Hormonal immunolocalization was assessed using the immunomarkers anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin alpha. In addition, tumour markers and proliferation markers using c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, respectively, were investigated. The immunolabelling of AE1/AE3 in GC was strongest in the early follicle stage and gradually decreased when reaching the Graafian follicle stage. Its immunolabelling increased again as the stage progressed from stage I to stage III. The immunolabelling of inhibin alpha was inversely proportional to that of AE1/AE3 in the developing ovarian follicles as their immunolabelling is opposite to each other during folliculogenesis. AMH was immunopositive in almost all GC stages in different intensities and percentages, except for some negative staining in the atretic IV follicles. The atretic IV follicle is a unique type of atretic follicle that shows Call-Exner body formation, which was mainly found in older cows in this study. The distinct patterns of immunoreactivity for various types of immunomarkers in the different GC stages will play an important role in diagnostic assistance of various follicle conditions, including cystic ovaries and GC tumours.
Stochastic analyses for online combinatorial optimization problems

In this paper, we study online algorithms when the input is not chosen adversarially, but consists of draws from some given probability distribution. While this model has been studied for online problems like paging and <i>k</i>-server, it is not known how to beat the Φ(log <i>n</i>) bound for online Steiner tree if at each time instant, the demand vertex is a uniformly random vertex from the graph. For the online Steiner tree problem, we show that if each demand vertex is an independent draw from some probability distribution π: <i>V</i> → [0, 1], a variant of the natural greedy algorithm achieves <b>E</b><sub>ω</sub>[<b><i>A</i></b>(ω)]/<b>E</b><sub>ω</sub>[OPT (ω)] = <i>O</i>(1); moreover, this result can be extended to some other subadditive problems. Both assumptions that the input sequence consists of <i>independent</i> draws from π, and that π is known to the algorithm are both essential; we show (almost) logarithmic lower bounds if either assumption is violated. Moreover, we give preliminary results on extending the Steiner tree results above to the related "expected ratio" measure <b>E</b><sub>ω</sub>[ω(ω)/OPT (ω)]. Finally, we use these ideas to give an average-case analysis of the Universal TSP problem.
Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inactivation confers enhanced sensitivity to nicotine‐induced dopamine release in the mouse nucleus accumbens

Nicotine exerts its rewarding effects by promoting an increase in dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and this process is influenced by the endocannabinoid system. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is the main enzyme responsible for the degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide and other non‐cannabinoid N‐acylethanolamines. Previous research has reported that both genetic deletion and pharmacological inhibition of FAAH enhance nicotine‐induced conditioned place preference at low doses. We conducted a microdialysis study to characterize nicotine‐induced changes in DA and serotonin (5‐HT) levels in the NAc of FAAH knockout (KO) mice using a conditioned place preference‐like paradigm with three nicotine doses (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg, s.c.). Additionally, the effects of the selective FAAH inhibitor PF‐3845 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) were also examined. Our data indicated that compared with wild‐type mice, genetic deletion of FAAH selectively enhanced the effect of low‐dose nicotine on DA release (p < 0.001) and resulted in a strong post‐nicotine elevation in DA levels (p < 0.01). However, there were no differences between the genotypes at higher doses. Furthermore, FAAH KO mice displayed a moderate enhancement of the effect of low‐dose nicotine on NAc 5‐HT release (p < 0.05), with no differences between the genotypes at higher doses. Compared with vehicle‐pretreated mice, mice pretreated with PF‐3845 displayed an enhancement of the effect of low‐dose nicotine on NAc DA release (p < 0.001), which resulted in a sustained increase in DA levels (p < 0.05). Similar to FAAH KO mice, PF‐3845‐pretreated mice displayed a moderate enhancement of the effect of low‐dose nicotine on NAc 5‐HT release (p < 0.01). These observations in mice suggest that enhanced nicotine‐induced NAc DA release might contribute to increased sensitivity to the conditioned rewarding effects of low‐dose nicotine following FAAH inhibition, which has been previously reported. Future studies combining behavioral and neurochemical approaches are needed to elucidate the precise mechanism of these effects.
Improved Retention of Chest Compression Psychomotor Skills With Brief “Rolling Refresher” Training

Introduction High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is critical to improve survival from cardiac arrest. However, cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge and psychomotor skill proficiency are transient. We hypothesized that brief, in situ refresher training will improve chest compression (CC) psychomotor skill retention for bedside providers. Methods Nurses completed a baseline skill evaluation of CC quality 6 months after traditional basic life support recertification. Data collected using ResusciAnne with SkillReporter included the following: CC depth, rate, complete release, and correct hand position. Total compliance was defined as 100% CC with depth of 50 mm or greater, rate of 100/min or greater, and more than 90% complete release. After the baseline evaluation, the subjects completed “Rolling Refresher” (RR) CC psychomotor training using audiovisual feedback every 2 to 3 months for 12 months until 30 seconds of CCs fulfilling total compliance criteria was achieved. Chest compression quality evaluations were repeated twice (“RR 6 month” and “RR 12 month” evaluation) after implementation of RR program. Results Thirty-seven providers enrolled and completed the baseline evaluation. Mean depth was 36.3 (9.7) mm, and 8% met criteria for depth, 35% for rate, and 5% for total compliance. After RRs were implemented, CC quality improved significantly at RR 6-month evaluation: odds ratio for meeting criteria were the following: depth of 35.1 (95% confidence interval = 2.5496, P = 0.009) and total compliance of 22.3 (95% confidence interval = 2.1239, P = 0.010). There was no difference in CC quality at RR 12-month versus RR 6-month evaluation. Conclusions Retention of CC psychomotor skill quality is limited to 6 months after traditional basic life support recertification. Rolling Refresher CC training can significantly improve retention of CC psychomotor skills. Whether CC skills are improved, maintained, or deteriorate after 12 months of Refresher training and optimal frequency of Refreshers is unknown.
Obesity is still a risk factor in coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVE Even with the improvements in surgical techniques and perioperative care, obesity is still a risk factor for occurrence of adverse events following cardiac surgery. In this observational, retrospective study, we aimed to document the effects of obesity on surgical outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery and find out the effects of improvements in cardiac surgery. METHODS Between January 2011 and March 2013, isolated coronary artery bypass surgery was performed on 790 patients. The body mass index values of the patients were calculated and patients were divided into two groups; below 30 were classified as non-obese group whereas above 30 were classified as obese group. The odds ratio was obtained by using univariate analysis in order to document the effects of obesity on outcomes. RESULTS There were 548 (69.3%) patients in non-obese group, whereas 242 (30.7%) patients in obese group. The cardiopulmonary bypass (80.47±23.58 vs. 80.89±28.46, p=0.449) and aortic clamp times (54.13±16.60 vs. 54.19±19.85, p=0.511) and number of bypass grafts (3.09±1.02 vs. 2.96±1.00, p=0.11) were comparable between the groups. The mean number of fresh frozen plasma used was higher in obese patients (1.37±1.75 vs. 1.48±4.63, p=0.02). Intubation time was higher in obese patients (10.57±6.87 vs. 12.71±35.31, p=0.014). Total amount of postoperative drainage was higher in non-obese patients (766.77±472.27 vs. 648.72±371.39, p<0.001). The superficial infection/mediastenitis (0.4% vs. 2.5%, p=0.012), dehiscence (0.2% vs. 3.7%, p<0.001) and postoperative renal failure rates (4.7% vs. 8.7%, p=0.031) were higher in obese patients. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was lower in obese patients (19.7% vs. 12.8%, p=0.019). The mortality (0.5% vs. 1.7%, p=0.210) and postoperative stroke rates (1.1% vs. 0.8%, p=1.000) were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION We documented that obesity is still a risk factor for occurrence of postoperative adverse events. We believe that improved perioperative care together with meticulous regimens can improve postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.
Lost at Sea: Where Is All the Plastic?

Millions of metric tons of plastic are produced annually. Countless large items of plastic debris are accumulating in marine habitats worldwide and may persist for centuries ([ 1 ][1]–[ 4 ][2]). Here we show that microscopic plastic fragments and fibers ([Fig. 1A][3]) are also widespread in the
Idiopathic membranous nephropathy in an Australian population: the incidence of thromboembolism and its impact on the natural history.

Dr. Rinaldo Bellomo, MD, FRACP, Monash Medical Centre, Locked Bag No. 29, Clayton, Vic. 3168 (Australia) Dear Sir, The administration of disease-modifying therapy in idiopathic membranous nephropathy is a matter of controversy [1-5]. It also remains unclear, given its association with renal vein thrombosis [6, 7], which (if any) of these patients should receive prophylactic anticoagulation [8]. To establish whether some patients are at particular risk of thromboembolic complications, we reviewed the records of 71 consecutive biopsy-proven cases of primary membranous nephropathy. The following information was obtained at diagnosis and most recent review: sex, age, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, 24-hour total urinary protein excretion, trigly-cerides, cholesterol serum albumin, ESR, C3, C4, blood pressure, biopsy staging. Ne-phrotic syndrome was deemed to be present when 24-hour protein excretion was 3 g or greater, serum albumin concentration was below 30 g/l and the patient had edema. Of the 71 patients, 16 were female and 55 male. The mean age was 50 ± 15.3 years and the mean duration of follow-up 4.1 ± 3.5 years. 47 patients (66.1%) had the nephrotic syndrome at presentation. Mean albumin at presentation was 26.8 ± 8.6 g/l. Clinically manifest venous thromboembolism was common (8 episodes of pulmonary embolism, 2 episodes of renal vein thrombosis with flank pain and hematuria, 3 episodes of deep venous thrombosis and 2 episodes of inferior cava thrombosis with associated renal vein thrombosis). Its overall incidence was 21.1%, it affected 12 patients (16.9%) and its presence was associated with a more unfavourable prognosis (table 1). The presence of the nephrotic syndrome and of a low serum albumin ( < 25 g/l) at presentation was associated with a significantly greater risk of thromboembolism, whereas the severity of proteinuria and the use of steroids were not. These findings strongly suggest that those patients
Standardization of measurements of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 and D2

Abstract The vitamin D status is increasingly assessed/monitored in different populations, research cohorts and individual patients. This is done by measuring the liver metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and D2 as biomarkers. Recommendations for using specific serum concentrations of these biomarkers to assess a person's vitamin D status were done. This requires current vitamin D assays to be sufficiently accurate over time, location and laboratory procedures. In view of the fact that several studies demonstrated that current 25(OH)D measurement methods do not meet this prerequisite, standardization is needed. This paper rehearses the basic concept of standardization, in particular applied to measurements of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Progress has been made by establishing a reference measurement system consisting of reference methods and reference materials. Coordinated efforts to improve the accuracy and standardize measurements are being performed by organizations such as the U.S. NIH, the CDC and Prevention, the NIST together with their national and international partners. Beyond describing the available reference measurement system and its use as calibration hierarchy to establish traceability of measurements with routine laboratory methods to the SI-unit, this report will also focus on other aspects considered essential for a successful and sustainable standardization, such as analytical issues related to the definition of the measurand and analytical performance goals.
The mechanism of the β-relaxation in high-purity bcc metals

The thermally activated and stress-assisted generation of kink pairs on {110} slip planes of a 0 d 111 ¢ /2 screw dislocations in bcc metals is identified as the origin of the g -relaxation (Chambers-Schultz nomenclature). This identifaction accounts very well for the available data on high-purity transition metals (notably Mo and f -Fe). It explains why foreign interstitial atoms or defects generated by irradiation are necessary for the g -relaxation to occur but do not significantly affect the relaxation process per se .
The effects of moxaverine on ocular blood flow in patients with age‐related macular degeneration or primary open angle glaucoma and in healthy control subjects

Purpose: The phosphodiesterase inhibitor moxaverine has been shown to increase choroidal blood flow (BF) in young healthy subjects. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of intravenously administered moxaverine on ocular BF in patients with age‐related macular degeneration (AMD), primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and in age‐matched control subjects.