Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stability and Persistence of Fish Faunas and Assemblages in Three Midwestern Streams

Long term stability of summer fish assemblages was examined in three distinct systems: Piney Creek, a medium-sized Ozark upland tributary of the White River, Arkansas; Brier Creek, a small prairie-margin stream, tributary to the Red River, Oklahoma; and the Kiamichi River, a medium-sized river in the Ouachita Uplands draining into the Red River, Oklahoma. Sampling periods and numbers of surveys of the three stream systems were 14 yr and six collections for Piney Creek, 17 yr and five surveys for Brier Creek, and 5 yr and three surveys for the Kiamichi River. The fish faunas of all three streams were persistent (regarding presence-absence of species). In all three streams overall faunal structure was stable, as indicated by similarity indices and by concordance of rank abundance of the common species in each stream across all collection years. The results corroborated a conclusion from earlier work that the total fish fauna is more stable in a more environmentally benign stream (Piney Creek) than in a stream subject to greater environmental extremes (Brier Creek). The fish fauna of the Kiamichi River was also stable across three survey periods with respect to rank order of species abundance. Stability of the fish assemblages at individual locations on all three streams was variable, but four of five locations on Brier Creek, and all five locations on Piney Creek exhibited significant concordance overall in ranks of species abundance. Of 59 possible cases, assemblages at 27 individual locations (=46%) on the three streams showed assemblage stability >0.60 between survey periods. We conclude that at the level of whole-stream faunas, all three of these midwestern streams were stable across the survey years, and that many, but not all, individual locations had relatively stable fish assemblages.
Genetic Variation in the Extended Major Histocompatibility Complex and Susceptibility to Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Review of the Evidence

The enduring suspicion that infections and immunologic response may play a role in the etiology of childhood leukemia, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), is now supported, albeit still indirectly, by numerous epidemiological studies. The cumulative evidence includes, for example, descriptive observations of a peculiar peak incidence at age 2–5 years for ALL in economically developed countries, clustering of cases in situations of population mixing associated with unusual patterns of personal contacts, associations with various proxy measures for immune modulatory exposures early in life, and genetic susceptibility conferred by variation in genes involved in the immune system. In this review, our focus is the extended major histocompatibility complex (MHC), an approximately 7.6 Mb region that is well-known for its high-density of expressed genes, extensive polymorphisms exhibiting complex linkage disequilibrium patterns, and its disproportionately large number of immune-related genes, including human leukocyte antigen (HLA). First discovered through the role they play in transplant rejection, the classical HLA class I (HLA-A, -B, and -C) and class II (HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DP) molecules reside at the epicenter of the immune response pathways and are now the targets of many disease susceptibility studies, including those for childhood leukemia. The genes encoding the HLA molecules are only a minority of the over 250 expressed genes in the xMHC, and a growing number of studies are beginning to evaluate other loci through targeted investigations or utilizing a mapping approach with a comprehensive screen of the entire region. Here, we review the current epidemiologic evidence available to date regarding genetic variation contained within this highly unique region of the genome and its relationship with childhood ALL risk.
Preparation of Cotton Materials Using Corona Discharge

Abstract The present work concerns the study of preparation processes when this operation is preceded by a CORONA discharge made on dry raw fabrics. The influence in the whiteness degree, hydrophility, starch removal and uniformity of properties of the cellulosic material after preparation is studied. Combined preparation processes are widely used in order to replace solutions where desizing, alkaline boiling and bleaching are individual operations, being a main interest to find the optimal conditions to achieve alkaline oxidative treatments with an uniform and more intense cleaning action. CORONA discharge is able to strongly modify hydrophility of cotton fabrics in raw stage, which is determinant to increase liquids absorption and uniformity of processed fabrics. Results of long-bath, pad-roll, pad-batch and pad-steam bleaching processes in laboratory conditions are compared using or not wetting agent in the recipes and including CORONA discharge as a preparation operation. The transfer of this technology to industry regarding the implementation in textile plant in a very near future is being worked, supported by results as the present ones.
On a Discrete-Time GIX/Geo/1/N Queue with Single Working Vacation and Partial Batch Rejection

This paper treats a discrete-time finite buffer batch arrival queue with a single working vacation and partial batch rejection in which the inter-arrival and service times are, respectively, arbitrary and geometrically distributed. The queue is analyzed by using the supplementary variable and the imbedded Markov-chain techniques. We obtain steady-state system length distributions at prearrival, arbitrary and outside observer’s observation epochs. We also present probability generation function (p.g.f.) of actual waiting-time distribution in the system and some performance measures. Keywords—Discrete-time; Finite buffer; Single working vacation; Batch arrival; Partial rejection
Effects of osmotic‐release methylphenidate in attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder as measured by event‐related potentials

Aim: Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a relatively common central nervous system disorder in school‐age children, which may involve a specific disorder in cognition and/or information processing. Event‐related potentials (ERP) are commonly used as physiological measures of cognitive function as they are easily measured and non‐invasive. Thus, in the present study, we examined the effects of osmotic‐release methylphenidate (MPH) (Concerta), a common treatment for childhood attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in ADHD children as measured by ERP.
Novel single-sided ferrite-less magnetic coupler for roadway EV charging

This paper introduces a new ferrite-less magnetic structure for roadway charging of Electric Vehicles (EVs). Most of the existing magnetic pads for roadside EV charging rely on ferrimagnetic materials to produce single-sided flux and boost power levels while minimizing undesired field emissions and losses. But the properties that roadway pads must have are mechanical robustness coupled with the ability to throw single-sided, high arching flux while being subjected to stringent conditions under asphalt, bitumen, or concrete. Ferrite is very brittle and expensive and its performance under transient forces when buried under a roadway is questionable. This new ferrite-less magnetic coupler is proposed as a primary pad for roadway EV charging. Simulated and experimental results are shown, followed by a discussion on its capabilities, limitations, and possible updates.
Role of Nitric Oxide in Ca2+ Sensitivity of the Slowly Activating Delayed Rectifier K+ Current in Cardiac Myocytes

Sarcolemmal Ca2+ entry is a vital step for contraction of cardiomyocytes, but Ca2+ overload is harmful and may trigger arrhythmias and/or apoptosis. To maintain the amount of Ca2+ entry within an appropriate range, cardiomyocytes have feedback systems that tightly regulate ion channel activities in response to the changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), thereby regulating Ca2+ entry. In guinea pig ventricular myocytes, Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, induced suppression of the L-type Ca2+ currents (ICa,L) and enhancement of the slowly activating delayed rectifier K+ currents (IKs). At a low stimulation rate, ICa,L suppression and IKs enhancement contributed to the A23187-induced APD shortening with a similar magnitude, whereas at a high stimulation rate, IKs enhancement dominantly contributed to APD shortening. IKs enhancement induced by A23187 was attributable to actions of nitric oxide (NO), because they were inhibited by an inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS) and by a NO scavenger. A23187-induced alterations of APD and IKs were strongly suppressed by a NOS3 inhibitor, but barely affected by a NOS1 inhibitor, suggesting that NOS3 was responsible for NO release in this phenomenon. Inhibition of calmodulin (CaM), but not Akt, blocked the enhancement of IKs by A23187. Thus, CaM-dependent NOS3 activation confers the selective Ca2+-sensitivity on IKs. Ca2+-induced IKs enhancement and resultant APD shortening potentially act as a physiological regulatory mechanism of Ca2+ recycling, because they were observed at a physiological range of [Ca2+]i in cardiac myocytes and are induced by physiologically relevant Ca2+ loading, such as digitalis application and rise in extracellular Ca2+ concentration.
Cross-reactivity of selected benzofurans with commercial amphetamine and ecstasy immunoassays in urine.

AIM The aim of this study was to perform a cross-reactivity investigation of six benzofurans with immunoassays (IAs) screening tests for amphetamines and ecstasy in urine samples. METHODS The following benzofuranes were investigated: 5-(2-Methylaminopropyl)Benzofuran (5-MAPB), 5-(2-methylaminopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (5-MAPDB), 5-(2-Aminopropyl)-Benzofuran (5-APB), 5-(2-Aminopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (5-APDB), 5-(2-Ethylaminopropyl)Benzofuran (5-EAPB) and 5-(2-Aminoethyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (5-AEDB). The study was performed with urine-free spiked samples and authentic urine samples using eight different IAs for amphetamines and ecstasy. Results: All evaluated benzofurans showed cross-reactivity in some of the IAs tested, except for 5-AEDB. Urine samples of an intoxication case involving 5-MAPB, 5-APB and 5-EAPB were also positives in the IAs tested. CONCLUSION There is an important variability in the cross-reactivity of the IAs for amphetamine and ecstasy caused by benzofurans depending on the immunoassay employed and the tested compounds.
Use of the tapered double-cantilever beam geometry for fracture toughness measurements and its application to the quantification of self-healing

The successful invention of self-healing polymer composites a decade ago necessitated a methodology to quantify the ability of the material to heal and recover structural properties following damage. Healing efficiency was defined as the ratio of healed to virgin fracture toughness, η = KIChealed/KICvirgin. Early work took advantage of the crack length independence offered by a tapered double-cantilever beam (TDCB) fracture geometry to simplify calculation of healing efficiency to the ratio of healed to virgin critical loads, η = PChealed/PCvirgin. The current work investigates the application of the TDCB geometry and three common geometries utilized in the broader fracture literature (the compact tension (CT), single-edge notch bend (SENB), and single-edge notch tension (SENT) geometries) to the measurement of healing efficiency. While the TDCB geometry simplifies the calculation of healing efficiency because the crack lengths do not need to be accounted for, it is shown that if the virgin and healed crack lengths are not accurately accounted when using the CT, SENB, and SENT geometries, errors in calculated healing efficiency can be several hundred per cent. The TDCB geometry is reviewed at length, including the underlying theory and experimental calibration and validation of TDCB geometry.
Analysis of gene expression in two human‐derived cell lines exposed in vitro to a 1.9 GHz pulse‐modulated radiofrequency field

There is considerable controversy surrounding the biological effects of radiofrequency (RF) fields, as emitted by mobile phones. Previous work from our laboratory has shown no effect related to the exposure of 1.9 GHz pulse‐modulated RF fields on the expression of 22 000 genes in a human glioblastoma‐derived cell‐line (U87MG) at 6 h following a 4 h RF field exposure period. As a follow‐up to this study, we have now examined the effect of RF field exposure on the possible expression of late onset genes in U87MG cells after a 24 h RF exposure period. In addition, a human monocyte‐derived cell‐line (Mono‐Mac‐6, MM6) was exposed to intermittent (5 min ON, 10 min OFF) RF fields for 6 h and then gene expression was assessed immediately after exposure and at 18 h postexposure. Both cell lines were exposed to 1.9 GHz pulse‐modulated RF fields for 6 or 24 h at specific absorption rates (SARs) of 0.1–10.0 W/kg. In support of our previous results, we found no evidence that nonthermal RF field exposure could alter gene expression in either cultured U87MG or MM6 cells, relative to nonirradiated control groups. However, exposure of both cell‐lines to heat‐shock conditions (43°C for 1 h) caused an alteration in the expression of a number of well‐characterized heat‐shock proteins.
Haemoperitoneum in horses: a retrospective review of 54 cases

This retrospective study was conducted in the UK and identifies the most frequent causes, diagnoses, treatment and prognoses for short- and long-term survival in 54 cases of horses with haemoperitoneum. Clinical signs of haemorrhagic shock and colic were common, and abdominal ultrasound was very useful for the identification of haemoperitoneum. Causes of haemoperitoneum included uterine injury (22 per cent), involvement of specific blood vessels (20 per cent), splenic injury (19 per cent), neoplasia (13 per cent) and other (4 per cent). No source was identified in 22 per cent of cases. Fifty-seven per cent of cases underwent exploratory laparotomy. Of the surgical cases, a diagnosis was made in 65 per cent, with 42 per cent surviving to discharge. It was felt that exploratory laparotomy had both diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Twenty-eight per cent of cases died, and 33 per cent were euthanased, whereas 39 per cent survived to be discharged from the hospital, with 35 per cent of these surviving in the long term. Idiopathic haemoperitoneum was associated with the best outcome for long-term survival.
PPARγ Upregulation Induced by Vagus Nerve Stimulation Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effect in Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Rats

Background It is well known that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a ligand-activated transcription factor, plays a protective role in anti-inflammatory responses in both acute and chronic central nerve system (CNS) insults. Emerging evidence in rats suggests that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), while restraining inflammatory cytokine production in the peripheral nervous system, also exerts a significant CNS neuroprotective function against ischemic stroke injury. The aim of this study was to explore the role of PPARγ in VNS-mediated anti-inflammatory protection against ischemic stroke damage. Material/Methods Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (total n=160) preconditioned through transfection with either PPARγ small interfering RNA (siRNA) or lentiviral vector without siRNA and surgically subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion subsequently received VNS treatment at 30 min post-occlusion. The expression of PPARγ after VNS treatment was measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting, also supported by immunofluorescence staining. Subsequently, the neurological deficits scores, the infarct volume, and the brain histopathology were all evaluated. Additionally, the influence on the pro-inflammatory cytokines expression and neuro-immune cells activation was determined by ELISA and immunofluorescence staining. Results We found that VNS upregulated expression of PPARγ in ischemia penumbra, diminished the extent of ischemic infarct, alleviated neuronal injury, and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and immune cell activation (P<0.05). However, rats with PPARγ silencing failed to manifest significant neuroprotection and anti-inflammatory effect induced by VNS treatment (p>0.05). Conclusions PPARγ may participate in the process by which VNS modulates the neuro-inflammatory response following ischemia/reperfusion in rats.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Feasibility Study

Background and Purpose— Sleep-related breathing disorders occur frequently after stroke. We assessed the feasibility of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment initiated in the first night after stroke. Methods— In this open-label, parallel-group trial, 50 patients were randomly assigned to the CPAP therapy or to the control group. All patients underwent polysomnography in the fourth night. Intervention patients received CPAP therapy for 3 nights starting the first night after stroke onset and for an additional 4 nights when polysomnography revealed an apnea–hypopnea index >10/hour. The primary end point was feasibility defined as apnea–hypopnea index reduction under CPAP treatment, nursing workload, and CPAP adherence. Results— The apnea–hypopnea index under CPAP treatment was significantly reduced (32.2±25.3–9.8±6.6, P=0.0001). Nursing workload did not significantly differ between the CPAP (n=25) and the control group (n=25; P=0.741). Ten patients (40.0%) had excellent CPAP use, 14 patients (56.0%) had some use, and 1 patient (4.0%) had no use. There was a trend toward greater National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score improvement until Day 8 in patients on CPAP (2.00 versus 1.40, P=0.092) and a significantly greater National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score improvement in patients with excellent CPAP use when compared with control patients (2.30 versus 1.40, P=0.022). Conclusions— CPAP therapy initiated in the first night after stroke seems to be feasible and was not associated with neurological deterioration. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00151177.
Single‐queen introductions characterize regional and local invasions by the facultatively clonal little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata

Clonal reproduction may facilitate the spread of invasive species by reducing the minimum population size necessary for successful establishment. We used microsatellite markers to reconstruct the composition of founding populations in two regional (Central Africa and Hawaii) and 23 local (near a Gabonese oilfield) invasions of the facultatively parthenogenetic little fire ant. Central Africa had a single dominant queen clone, which appears to have initiated the regional infestation, and then produced numerous other clones by rare sexual reproduction. This interpretation of the data was also supported by the genotype of a worker from the first collection in Africa (Gabon 1913). We found only a single queen clone in Hawaii, likewise indicating a single‐clone introduction, most likely from an earlier infestation in Florida. Single‐clone introductions also gave rise to the vast majority (92%) of local infestations at our oilfield study site. These results suggest the unusual, largely clonal, reproductive strategy of the little fire ant may enhance its success as an invasive species. However, the occasional sexual production of novel genotypes after the initial introduction may provide genetic flexibility that overcomes shortcomings of pure clonality.
Shear velocity structure of the Northland Peninsula, New Zealand, inferred from ambient noise correlations

Ambient noise correlation has been successfully applied in several cases to regions with dense seismic networks whose geometries are well suited to tomographic imaging. The utility of ambient noise correlation-based methods of seismic imaging where either network or noise field characteristics are less ideal has yet to be fully demonstrated. In this study, we focus on the Northland Peninsula of New Zealand using data from five seismographs deployed in a linear pattern parallel to the direction from which most of the ambient noise arrives. Shear wave velocity profiles computed from Rayleigh and Love wave dispersion curves using the Neighborhood Algorithm are in good agreement with the results of a previous active source refraction experiment and a teleseismic receiver function and surface wave analysis. In particular, we compute a path-averaged Moho depth of ̃28 km along a ̃250 km profile. The use of both Rayleigh and Love wave measurements enables us to estimate the degree of radial anisotropy in the crust, yielding values of 2-15%. These results demonstrate that ambient noise correlation methods provide useful geophysical constraints on lithospheric structure even for nonoptimal network geometries and noise field characteristics. © 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.
Lack of Synapsin I Reduces the Readily Releasable Pool of Synaptic Vesicles at Central Inhibitory Synapses

Synapsins (Syns) are synaptic vesicle (SV) phosphoproteins that play a role in neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity by acting at multiple steps of exocytosis. Mutation of SYN genes results in an epileptic phenotype in mouse and man suggesting a role of Syns in the control of network excitability. We have studied the effects of the genetic ablation of the SYN1 gene on inhibitory synaptic transmission in primary hippocampal neurons. Inhibitory neurons lacking SynI showed reduced amplitude of IPSCs evoked by isolated action potentials. The impairment in inhibitory transmission was caused by a decrease in the size of the SV readily releasable pool, rather than by changes in release probability or quantal size. The reduction of the readily releasable pool was caused by a decrease in the number of SVs released by single synaptic boutons in response to the action potential, in the absence of variations in the number of synaptic contacts between couples of monosynaptically connected neurons. The deletion of SYN1 did not affect paired-pulse depression or post-tetanic potentation, but was associated with a moderate increase of synaptic depression evoked by trains of action potentials, which became apparent at high stimulation frequencies and was accompanied by a slow down of recovery from depression. The decreased size of the SV readily releasable pool, coupled with a decreased SV recycling rate and refilling by the SV reserve pool, may contribute to the epileptic phenotype of SynI knock-out mice.
The Intergenerational Transmission of Health in Early Childhood

The prevalence and importance of children's physical health problems have been increasingly recognized in recent years. Physical health problems of children such as obesity, motor impairment and chronic diseases cause social costs. Further, they can lead directly to adult physical health problems, which cause additional social costs. This paper examines the intergenerational link and transmission of both maternal and paternal health on children's health in Germany. We investigate this issue using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), making particular use of the mother and child questionnaires. These data allow us to capture a broad set of health measures: anthropometric, self-rated health and "more objective" health measures. The results indicate significant relationships between parental and child health in the first and third year of life. In order to take into account the endogeneity of parental health, we estimate fixed effect models. Overall, we find, controlling for parental income, education and family composition, that parents who experience poor health have children with significantly poorer health. For example, the father's body mass index (BMI) is a predictor for their children's BMI. Mothers who consider their health as good, have also healthier children.