Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Atlas-Based Approach to Study Morphological Differences in Human Femoral Cartilage Between Subjects from Incidence and Progression Cohorts: MRI Data from Osteoarthritis Initiative

Recent advances in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging have made it the modality of choice for assessment of cartilage status for osteoarthritis (OA) (Roemer et al., 2009; Eckstein, 2007). MRI allows assessment of morphological changes using high resolution 3D imaging as well as evaluation of changes at the biochemical/molecular level using MR relaxometry techniques (T2: spin-spin relaxation and T1: spin-lattice relaxation with spin locking) and delayed Gadolinium enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) (Blumenkrantz & Majumdar, 2007). Research on the potential application of MRI to detect and classify osteoarthritis and monitor progression is an area of intense research (Hunter et al., 2009). A number of review articles detail the technical limits, accuracy and precision of MRI including the choice of pulse sequences and image analysis methods for morphological assessment in osteoarthritis (Raynauld, 2003; Eckstein et al., 2009; Xing, 2011). Cartilage morphology metrics from MRI are now being actively explored as imaging biomarkers of disease status and progression. The sequences that provide the best contrast of cartilage to adjacent tissue as well as the best resolution are the fat-suppressed spoiled gradient echo and fast double echo and steady state (DESS) with water excitation (Blumenkrantz & Majumdar, 2007; Roemer et al., 2010). Segmentation of the cartilage is a challenging task and few completely automated segmentation algorithms have been proposed. A fully automated segmentation algorithm based on Active Shape Modeling (Fripp et al., 2007) has been implemented and evaluated for normal cartilage. A more recent automated algorithm that is extensible to osteoarthritic cartilage first segments the bone-cartilage interface and then classifies cartilage voxels based on texture analysis. However, the large-scale applicability of these algorithms to normal and diseased cartilage is not yet demonstrated. Semiautomated algorithms using region growing, edge detection, and spline fitting have been used successfully in large-scale projects (Raynauld, 2003; Duryea et al., 2007). Morphological indices used to classify disease status and progression, include global and regional measures of total cartilage volume (raw and normalized), cartilage surface area, cartilage thickness (global and regional), and denuded area (Pelletier et al., 2007; Eckstein et
Closing the gaps for animal seed dispersal: Separating the effects of habitat loss on dispersal distances and seed aggregation

Abstract Habitat loss can alter animal movements and disrupt animal seed dispersal mutualisms; however, its effects on spatial patterns of seed dispersal are not well understood. To explore the effects of habitat loss on seed dispersal distances and seed dispersion (aggregation), we created a spatially explicit, individual‐based model of an animal dispersing seeds (SEADS—Spatially Explicit Animal Dispersal of Seeds) in a theoretical landscape of 0%–90% habitat loss based on three animal traits: movement distance, gut retention time, and time between movements. Our model design had three objectives: to determine the effects of (1) animal traits and (2) habitat loss on seed dispersal distances and dispersion and (3) determine how animal traits could mitigate the negative effects of habitat loss on these variables. SEADS results revealed a complex interaction involving all animal traits and habitat loss on dispersal distances and dispersion, driven by a novel underlying mechanism of fragment entrapment. Unexpectedly, intermediate habitat loss could increase dispersal distances and dispersion relative to low and high habitat loss for some combinations of animal traits. At intermediate habitat loss, movement between patches was common, and increased dispersal distances and dispersion compared to continuous habitats because animals did not stop in spaces between fragments. However, movement between patches was reduced at higher habitat loss as animals became trapped in fragments, often near the parent plant, and dispersed seeds in aggregated patterns. As movement distance increased, low time between movements and high gut retention time combinations permitted more movement to adjacent patches than other combinations of animal traits. Because habitat loss affects movement in a nonlinear fashion under some conditions, future empirical tests would benefit from comparisons across landscapes with more than two levels of fragmentation.
A genome‐wide set of SNPs detects population substructure and long range linkage disequilibrium in wild sheep

The development of genomic resources for wild species is still in its infancy. However, cross‐species utilization of technologies developed for their domestic counterparts has the potential to unlock the genomes of organisms that currently lack genomic resources. Here, we apply the OvineSNP50 BeadChip, developed for domestic sheep, to two related wild ungulate species: the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and the thinhorn sheep (Ovis dalli). Over 95% of the domestic sheep markers were successfully genotyped in a sample of fifty‐two bighorn sheep while over 90% were genotyped in two thinhorn sheep. Pooling the results from both species identified 868 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 570 were detected in bighorn sheep, while 330 SNPs were identified in thinhorn sheep. The total panel of SNPs was able to discriminate between the two species, assign population of origin for bighorn sheep and detect known relationship classes within one population of bighorn sheep. Using an informative subset of these SNPs (n = 308), we examined the extent of genome‐wide linkage disequilibrium (LD) within one population of bighorn sheep and found that high levels of LD persist over 4 Mb.
Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Nonsmoking Hospitality Workers before and after a State Smoking Ban

Secondhand smoke exposure is estimated to account for 3,000 cancer deaths per year. Although several countries and states in the United States have passed comprehensive smoke-free laws to protect all employees, a significant number of workers are still not protected. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of passing a comprehensive smoking ban that included bars and restaurants on biomarkers of nicotine and carcinogen exposure. The urines of nonsmoking employees (n = 24) of bars and restaurants that allowed smoking before the smoke-free law were analyzed before and after the law was passed in Minnesota. The results showed significant reductions in both total cotinine and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (free plus glucuronidated) after the ban was instituted. These results provide further support for the importance of protecting employees working in all venues. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(4); 1016–21. ©2010 AACR.
THE POLLS—A ReportTHE IMPACT OF NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS ON ATTITUDES TOWARD NUCLEAR ENERGY

A nuclear power plant exploded in Chernobyl, Russia, on 26 April 1986. Cities and countries near the plant suffered from a high rate of radioactive fallout, but countries farther away like the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Great Britain also measured an increased level of radioactivity in the air, water, and soil. The incident was not the first accident in a nuclear plant: the accident at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, occurred on 28 March 1979, Great Britain also had trouble with a nuclear plant in Sellafield in 1985, and leaks have been found in nuclear plants in France and West Germany. This report concentrates on public reactions to these incidents and on longer-term changes that have occurred in public opinion on nuclear energy. Results of public opinion surveys from the United States, Canada, and European countries are presented. After the accident at Three Mile Island there was no remarkable change in the perception of the safety of nuclear power plants in the United States. In Great Britain, shortly after the accident in Chernobyl, there was an increase in the percentages considering nuclear power plants not very safe and even dangerous. However, a year after the Chernobyl accident the survey results of this question are again very similar to the very stable answering patterns which were found in the previous years. Similar to the results of the question on safety, British support for the construction of a nuclear power station in Britain was very stable in the period before Chernobyl. The percentage opposing construction then increased sharply, but tended to return to its "normal" level in 1987. In the United States opposition to the building of a nuclear power plant within five miles of one's home has increased steadily. In Great Britain the percentage of the public wishing to increase
Occupancy Models for Monitoring Marine Fish: A Bayesian Hierarchical Approach to Model Imperfect Detection with a Novel Gear Combination

Occupancy models using incidence data collected repeatedly at sites across the range of a population are increasingly employed to infer patterns and processes influencing population distribution and dynamics. While such work is common in terrestrial systems, fewer examples exist in marine applications. This disparity likely exists because the replicate samples required by these models to account for imperfect detection are often impractical to obtain when surveying aquatic organisms, particularly fishes. We employ simultaneous sampling using fish traps and novel underwater camera observations to generate the requisite replicate samples for occupancy models of red snapper, a reef fish species. Since the replicate samples are collected simultaneously by multiple sampling devices, many typical problems encountered when obtaining replicate observations are avoided. Our results suggest that augmenting traditional fish trap sampling with camera observations not only doubled the probability of detecting red snapper in reef habitats off the Southeast coast of the United States, but supplied the necessary observations to infer factors influencing population distribution and abundance while accounting for imperfect detection. We found that detection probabilities tended to be higher for camera traps than traditional fish traps. Furthermore, camera trap detections were influenced by the current direction and turbidity of the water, indicating that collecting data on these variables is important for future monitoring. These models indicate that the distribution and abundance of this species is more heavily influenced by latitude and depth than by micro-scale reef characteristics lending credence to previous characterizations of red snapper as a reef habitat generalist. This study demonstrates the utility of simultaneous sampling devices, including camera traps, in aquatic environments to inform occupancy models and account for imperfect detection when describing factors influencing fish population distribution and dynamics.
Molecular analysis of microbial community in arsenic-rich groundwater of Kolsor, West Bengal

ABSTRACT Bacterial community composition within the highly arsenic (As) contaminated groundwater from Kolsur, West Bengal was analyzed over a period of 3 years using 16S rRNA gene clone library and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE). Molecular phylogenetic study revealed abundance of α-Proteobacteria (56%) and Firmicutes (29%) along with members of β-Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Sphingobacteria as relatively minor groups. Along with consistent physicochemical environment, a stable microbial community structure comprising of bacterial genera Agrobacterium-Rhizobium, Ochrobactrum, Pseudomonas, Anoxybacillus and Penibacillus was recorded over the three years study period. Presence of cytosolic arsenate reductase (arsC) gene was observed within the microbial community. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that all the arsC sequences were closely related to the same gene from γ-proteobacterial members while the community was consisted of mainly α-proteobacterial groups. Such phylogenetic incongruence between 16S rRNA and arsC genes possibly indicated horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of the ars genes within the groundwater community. Overall, the study reported a nearly stable geomicrobial environment and genetic determinant related to As homeostasis gene, and provided a better insight on biogeochemistry of As contaminated aquifer of West Bengal.
The Incidence of Green Tobacco Sickness Among Latino Farmworkers

We estimated the prevalence and incidence density (ID) and the risk factors of green tobacco sickness among minority farmworkers in North Carolina. Using a prospective surveillance design, 182 farmworkers were interviewed up to 5 times at biweekly intervals in 1999. The green tobacco sickness prevalence was 24.2%, whereas the ID was 1.88 days per 100 days worked. Greater work experience (5+ years, ID = 0.87; first year ID = 2.41) and tobacco use (ID of 1.18 vs 2.39) were negatively associated with green tobacco sickness. Task (eg, priming ID, 4.04; topping ID, 1.86; barning ID, 0.62) and working in wet clothing (25% of workdays ID, 2.97; fewer than 25% of workdays ID, 1.29) had the largest effect. More effort must be directed toward preventing this occupational illness that affects workers who have little control over workplace safety.
Oxidative Pentose Phosphate Pathway-Dependent Sugar Sensing as a Mechanism for Regulation of Root Ion Transporters by Photosynthesis1[W]

Root ion transport systems are regulated by light and/or sugars, but the signaling mechanisms are unknown. We showed previously that induction of the NRT2.1 NO3− transporter gene by sugars was dependent on carbon metabolism downstream hexokinase (HXK) in glycolysis. To gain further insights on this signaling pathway and to explore more systematically the mechanisms coordinating root nutrient uptake with photosynthesis, we studied the regulation of 19 light-/sugar-induced ion transporter genes. A combination of sugar, sugar analogs, light, and CO2 treatments provided evidence that these genes are not regulated by a common mechanism and unraveled at least four different signaling pathways involved: regulation by light per se, by HXK-dependent sugar sensing, and by sugar sensing upstream or downstream HXK, respectively. More specific investigation of sugar-sensing downstream HXK, using NRT2.1 and NRT1.1 NO3− transporter genes as models, highlighted a correlation between expression of these genes and the concentration of glucose-6-P in the roots. Furthermore, the phosphogluconate dehydrogenase inhibitor 6-aminonicotinamide almost completely prevented induction of NRT2.1 and NRT1.1 by sucrose, indicating that glucose-6-P metabolization within the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway is required for generating the sugar signal. Out of the 19 genes investigated, most of those belonging to the NO3−, NH4+, and SO42− transporter families were regulated like NRT2.1 and NRT1.1. These data suggest that a yet-unidentified oxidative pentose phosphate pathway-dependent sugar-sensing pathway governs the regulation of root nitrogen and sulfur acquisition by the carbon status of the plant to coordinate the availability of these three elements for amino acid synthesis.
Does Intolerance Dampen Dissent? Macro-Tolerance and Protest in American Metropolitan Areas

Political tolerance has long been regarded as one of the most important democratic values because intolerant political cultures are believed to foster conformity and inhibit dissent. Although widely endorsed, this theory has rarely been investigated. Using multilevel regression with poststratification to measure levels of macro-tolerance in U.S. metropolitan areas, and event data to measure rates of protest, we test whether cultures of intolerance do indeed inhibit public expressions of dissent. We find that they do: levels of macro-tolerance are positively and strongly associated with higher rates of protest in American metropolitan areas. Our findings have implications for the study of political tolerance, for normative theories of free speech and other civil liberties, and for scholarship on protest and collective action.
A Novel RBF Training Algorithm for Short-Term Electric Load Forecasting and Comparative Studies

Because of their excellent scheduling capabilities, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are becoming popular in short-term electric power system forecasting, which is essential for ensuring both efficient and reliable operations and full exploitation of electrical energy trading as well. For such a reason, this paper investigates the effectiveness of some of the newest designed algorithms in machine learning to train typical radial basis function (RBF) networks for 24-h electric load forecasting: support vector regression (SVR), extreme learning machines (ELMs), decay RBF neural networks (DRNNs), improves second order, and error correction, drawing some conclusions useful for practical implementations.
Prevention of demineralization around orthodontic brackets using two different fluoride varnishes

Objective: This in-vitro study was done to evaluate the effects of two different seal materials, Duraflor™ and Enamel Pro® Varnish, on enamel demineralization adjacent to orthodontic fixed appliances. Methods: Seventy-two extracted solid premolars were allocated to three groups as one control and two study groups after brackets were placed and bonded with Transbond™ XT. The control group received no topical fluoride application after bonding, whereas in the study groups two fluoride varnishes, Enamel Pro® Varnish and Duraflor™ were applied on the teeth adjacent to brackets. All specimens were then immersed separately in demineralization solution for 96 hours at constant temperature. Demineralization of the enamel surface was evaluated quantitatively by cross-sectional microhardness testing: indentations were made at the edge of the bracket base (0 μm) and at 100 and 200 μm distant from it. In all of these positions, 5 indentations were made at 10, 20, 40, 70 and 90 μm of depths from the external surface of the enamel. Results: The results revealed that, Enamel Pro® Varnish and Duraflor™ group values are higher than the values of control group at every depth. The differences between the depths showed that the microhardness values decreased significantly when the depth increased. In the control group, more demineralization occurred in every indentation compared to the study group. Conclusion: Duraflor™ and Enamel Pro® Varnish can be considered for use in clinic as an effective method to prevent or reduce demineralization during orthodontic treatment, especially in patients with poor oral hygiene.
Phytophthora multivora sp. nov., a new species recovered from declining Eucalyptus, Banksia, Agonis and other plant species in Western Australia

A new Phytophthora species, isolated from rhizosphere soil of declining or dead trees of Eucalyptus gomphocephala, E. marginata, Agonis flexuosa, and another 13 plant species, and from fine roots of E. marginata and collar lesions of Banksia attenuata in Western Australia, is described as Phytophthora multivora sp. nov. It is homothallic and produces semipapillate sporangia, smooth-walled oogonia containing thick-walled oospores, and paragynous antheridia. Although morphologically similar to P. citricola, phylogenetic analyses of the ITS and cox1 gene regions demonstrate that P. multivora is unique. Phytophthora multivora is pathogenic to bark and cambium of E. gomphocephala and E. marginata and is believed to be involved in the decline syndrome of both eucalypt species within the tuart woodland in south-west Western Australia.
College Student Psychotherapy in Cultural and Institutional Context

Abstract This article is intended to show the value, limitations, and major concerns in providing psychotherapy and counseling for college and university students. The challenges of the college years, the evolution of campus services, cultural changes affecting postsecondary education, and types of services are noted. Critical issues affecting college mental-health care are discussed, with an emphasis on ethics, effectiveness, and legal issues with suicidal and homicidal threats to life, mandatory treatment, and illicit and prescribed psychotropic drug use.
Pediatric Chagas Disease in Europe: 45 Cases From Spain and Switzerland

Background: Chagas disease, a potentially fatal parasitic infection, is emerging in Europe in the context of international migration but there is little public health attention and frequent lack of clinicians’ awareness. To date, there is no published information about clinical characteristics in children. Methods: We reviewed the medical files of all children (<18 years) with Chagas disease managed in 2 hospitals in Barcelona, Spain and Geneva, Switzerland between January 2004 and July 2012. Results: Forty-five cases were identified. Two children (4.4%) were diagnosed during the acute phase and the remaining 43 (95.6%) were in the chronic phase of the infection. All but 1 were asymptomatic. Of the 41 treated children, 40 (97.6%) completed 60 days of treatment. Thirty-five (85.4%) received benznidazole, 5 (12.2%) nifurtimox and 1 (2.4%) both drugs consecutively. There were 2 (4.9%) treatment interruptions due to adverse events. The most frequent adverse events were rash (24.4%), anorexia or insufficient weight gain (14.6%) and anemia (2.4%). Twenty-nine (64.4%) children were followed up by serology after 2 years. Five (17.2%) were cured. Conclusions: Pediatric Chagas disease is an emerging health issue in Europe that requires enhanced attention. Greater emphasis should be put on screening pregnant women at risk and their newborns in case of infection along with older children and relatives. Pediatricians have a central role to play in providing families with information and offering testing in situations of risk.
Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol determines vascular responsiveness to angiotensin II in normocholesterolaemic humans.

OBJECTIVE Both LDL-cholesterol and angiotensin II have been shown to increase the risk for and severity of cardiovascular disease. In hypercholesterolaemia, experimental studies have demonstrated an increased angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor expression on vascular smooth muscle cells and an increased vascular responsiveness to vasopressors has been documented in humans. We investigated in a normocholesterolaemic young population whether vascular responsiveness to angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion depends on LDL-cholesterol serum levels in the systemic and renal circulation. DESIGN AND METHODS Changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (deltaBP) to Ang II infusion (0.5 and 3.0 ng/kg per min) were investigated in 103 normocholesterolaemic (LDL-cholesterol < 160 mg/dl) young white men (26+/-3 years; 24 h BP: 128+/-10/75+/-7 mmHg) without cardiovascular disease. According to their LDL-cholesterol levels, participants were classified into tertiles (lower tertile < 85 mg/dl, middle tertile 85-111 mg/dl, upper tertile > 111 mg/dl). RESULTS Blood pressure (BP) responses to Ang II infusion 3.0 ng/kg per min were enhanced in the group with the highest LDL-cholesterol levels (delta systolic BP: +12.8+/-6.7, +13.2+/-8.6, +17.9+/-9.6, P < 0.02; delta diastolic BP: +11.1+/-5.8, +11.5+/-6.5, +16.5+/-8.3, P < 0.01, for the lower, middle and upper tertiles, respectively). This holds true when baseline BP was taken into account as a confounding covariable (P < 0.015). BP responses to Ang II infusion were related to LDL-cholesterol serum levels (delta systolic BP: r = 0.26, P = 0.01; delta diastolic BP: r = 0.32, P = 0.001). In multiple stepwise regression analysis, LDL-cholesterol emerged as the strongest determinant of vascular responsiveness to Ang II (delta systolic BP: P < 0.01; delta diastolic BP: P < 0.001). CONCLUSION In young male subjects, responsiveness to Ang II is determined by the LDL-cholesterol serum level even in the normal range of LDL-cholesterol, thereby potentially contributing to the cardiovascular risk of LDL-cholesterol even within the so-called normal range.