Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multimode Coherent Pattern in Bistatic Scattering From Randomly Corrugated Surfaces With Irregular Grooves at L-Band

This paper investigates the bistatic scattering from randomly corrugated surfaces with irregular grooves. For a given incident wave, the surface fields and the scattered field were computed by the method of moments in which the rooftop basis function was used to account for fast phase changes due to steep surface slopes. The total scattered field is decomposed into coherent and incoherent components to analyze their respective contributions. We found that, for randomly corrugated surfaces with irregular ridges or grooves, the coherent scattering is profound at several scattering angles with strong main lobes, whose beamwidths are strongly correlated with the ridge density. The numerical simulation has shown that the lobe angular shift away from the specular direction is quasi-linearly dependent on the ridge density, suggesting that the coherent scattering pattern substantially contains the surface geometric information. We expect this paper to offer deeper understanding of coherent imaging of rough surface and to help in designing a novel imaging system.
Composition and energy harvesting capacity of the gut microbiota: relationship to diet, obesity and time in mouse models

Background and Aims Increased efficiency of energy harvest, due to alterations in the gut microbiota (increased Firmicutes and decreased Bacteroidetes), has been implicated in obesity in mice and humans. However, a causal relationship is unproven and contributory variables include diet, genetics and age. Therefore, we explored the effect of a high-fat (HF) diet and genetically determined obesity (ob/ob) for changes in microbiota and energy harvesting capacity over time. Methods Seven-week-old male ob/ob mice were fed a low-fat diet and wild-type mice were fed either a low-fat diet or a HF-diet for 8 weeks (n=8/group). They were assessed at 7, 11 and 15 weeks of age for: fat and lean body mass (by NMR); faecal and caecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA, by gas chromatography); faecal energy content (by bomb calorimetry) and microbial composition (by metagenomic pyrosequencing). Results A progressive increase in Firmicutes was confirmed in both HF-fed and ob/ob mice reaching statistical significance in the former, but this phylum was unchanged over time in the lean controls. Reductions in Bacteroidetes were also found in ob/ob mice. However, changes in the microbiota were dissociated from markers of energy harvest. Thus, although the faecal energy in the ob/ob mice was significantly decreased at 7 weeks, and caecal SCFA increased, these did not persist and faecal acetate diminished over time in both ob/ob and HF-fed mice, but not in lean controls. Furthermore, the proportion of the major phyla did not correlate with energy harvest markers. Conclusion The relationship between the microbial composition and energy harvesting capacity is more complex than previously considered. While compositional changes in the faecal microbiota were confirmed, this was primarily a feature of high-fat feeding rather than genetically induced obesity. In addition, changes in the proportions of the major phyla were unrelated to markers of energy harvest which changed over time. The possibility of microbial adaptation to diet and time should be considered in future studies.
Supplementation of Foals with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fermentation Product Alters the Early Response to Vaccination

Simple Summary Many foals suffer from foal heat diarrhea in the first weeks of life. The objective of this study was to determine whether feeding a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product affects the occurrence of early foal diarrhea, and whether this feeding during the first four weeks of life has a long-term influence on the immediate response to a parenteral vaccination at the age of 6 to 9 months. Newborn foals were fed a supplement or a placebo for 29 days and were vaccinated against influenza and tetanus in the age of 6–9 months. Blood leukocyte subset numbers were determined before and 24 h after vaccination. Leukocyte numbers and blood cell composition did not differ significantly between the supplemented group and the placebo group on the day of vaccination, whereas only supplemented foals showed significant changes in the number of circulating leukocyte populations after vaccination. Thus, the pre- and postbiotic supplementation had far-reaching consequences for innate immune mechanisms later in life. Abstract Feed supplements supporting animal welfare and performance are becoming increasingly important. Immunomodulatory effects of such products have been observed in many species. The aim of this study was to analyze whether food supplementation with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) affects the occurrence of foal diarrhea in early life, and whether the SCFP feeding has an impact on the immediate response to a parenteral vaccination at the age of 6–9 months. Eleven foals received the SCFP (OLI) and eleven foals were fed a placebo (PLA) for 29 days. Growth, diarrhea, and diarrhea severity were observed until day 30. After weaning, at the age of 6–9 months, foals were vaccinated parenterally against influenza and tetanus. The supplementation had no statistically significant effect on diarrhea duration and severity. On the day of vaccination, PLA and OLI foals did not differ significantly regarding numbers of circulating blood leukocyte subsets. However, the response to vaccination differed significantly between OLI and PLA foals. In OLI foals, the numbers of the major leukocyte fractions (granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD21+ B cells, and MHC-II+/CD21− cells) increased significantly 24 h after vaccination but remained unchanged in PLA foals. The observed results suggest that early life supplementation with an SCFP may affect the early immune response to an initial vaccination.
Genetic diversity of the Pneumococcal CbpA: Implications for next-generation vaccine development

Pneumococci are capable of vaccine escape by genetic recombination at the targeted capsular locus, significantly reducing long-term vaccine effectiveness. Recently, efforts have been redirected to understanding pneumococcal biology related to potential next-generation vaccine candidates. A variety of serotype-independent protein antigens capable of inducing protective immune responses in tissue culture and animal models of infection have been identified. However, ideal vaccine candidates that are conserved across all genotypes, provide broad population coverage, and induce T-cell dependent immune responses are still under investigation. We examined whether immune responses due to the highly polymorphic CbpA antigen are due to a conserved domain capable of evoking specific immune “memory” across all genotypes of pneumococci. We defined the genotypes in a global dataset of 213 pneumococcal isolates. This isolate collection was genotypically diverse and ideal for establishing the presence of conserved CbpA epitopes as potential protein vaccine candidates. Examination of the CbpA locus sequence was highly polymorphic at both the nucleic acid and amino acid level. Despite this high polymorphism some domains are broadly conserved and consist of different amino acid residues with the same physicochemical properties, and therefore have similar tertiary structures. The two most common domains identified in the CbpA gene are modular teichoic acid phosphorylcholine esterase Pce (2bib:A), and R2 domain (1w9r:A). These conserved domains are immunogenic, therefore capable of inducing long-term host immune responses; moreover they are extracellularly located and thus accessible. We proposed their evaluation as suitable next-generation CbpA-fusion protein vaccine candidates.
Stress hormones and sociality: integrating social and environmental stressors

In cooperatively breeding species, reproductive decisions and breeding roles may be influenced by environmental (food resources) or social factors (reproductive suppression of subordinates by dominants). Studies of glucocorticoid stress hormones in cooperatively breeding species suggest that breeding roles and hormone levels are related to the relative costs of dominance and subordination, which are driven primarily by social interactions. Few studies, however, have considered how environmental factors affect glucocorticoid levels and breeding roles in cooperative breeders, even though environmental stressors modulate seasonal glucocorticoid release and often influence breeding roles. I examined baseline and stress-induced levels of the glucocorticoid corticosterone (CORT) across 4 years in the plural breeding superb starling, Lamprotornis superbus, to determine whether (i) environmental factors (namely rainfall) directly influence breeding roles or (ii) environmental factors influence social interactions, which in turn drive breeding roles. Chronic baseline and maximal stress-induced CORT changed significantly across years as a function of pre-breeding rainfall, but dominant and subordinate individuals responded differently. Pre-breeding rainfall was also correlated directly with breeding roles. The results are most consistent with the hypothesis that environmental conditions influenced the relative costs of dominance and subordination, which in turn affected the degree and intensity of social interactions and ultimately reproductive decisions and breeding roles.
Interactions among social monitoring, anti-predator vigilance and group size in eastern grey kangaroos

Group size is known to affect both the amount of time that prey animals spend in vigilance and the degree to which the vigilance of group members is synchronized. However, the variation in group-size effects reported in the literature is not yet understood. Prey animals exhibit vigilance both to protect themselves against predators and to monitor other group members, and both forms of vigilance presumably influence group-size effects on vigilance. However, our understanding of the patterns of individual investment underlying the time sharing between anti-predator and social vigilance is still limited. We studied patterns of variation in individual vigilance and the synchronization of vigilance with group size in a wild population of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) subject to predation, in particular focusing on peripheral females because we expected that they would exhibit both social and anti-predator vigilance. There was no global effect of group size on individual vigilance. The lack of group-size effect was the result of two compensating effects. The proportion of time individuals spent looking at other group members increased, whereas the proportion of time they spent scanning the environment decreased with group size; as a result, overall vigilance levels did not change with group size. Moreover, a degree of synchrony of vigilance occurred within groups and that degree increased with the proportion of vigilance time peripheral females spent in anti-predator vigilance. Our results highlight the crucial roles of both social and anti-predator components of vigilance in the understanding of the relationship between group size and vigilance, as well as in the synchronization of vigilance among group members.
FE-SViT

As a promising bio-cryptographic technique, the fuzzy extractor seamlessly binds biometrics and cryptography for template protection and key generation. However, most existing methods hardly solve the following issues simultaneously: (1) Fingerprint registration, (2) Verification accuracy, (3) Security strength, and (4) Computational efficiency. In this article, we introduce a bio-crypto-oriented fingerprint verification scheme - Selective Vertex-indexed Triangulation (SViT) which maps minutia global topology to local triangulation with minimum information loss. Then, a SViT-based fuzzy extractor framework (FE-SViT) is proposed and high verification accuracy is achieved. The FE-SViT is highly parallelizable and efficient which makes it suitable for embedded devices.
Comparison of Diagnostics Techniques in an Outbreak of Infectious Laryngotracheitis from Meat Chickens

Abstract Various diagnostics techniques were compared for their ability to detect infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) during an outbreak in chickens aged between 4 and 21 wk. Gross lesions ranged from excess mucus to accumulation of fibrinonecrotic exudate in the larynx and trachea. Syncytial cells with intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in sinus, conjunctiva, larynx, trachea, lung, and air sac. Virus isolation in chicken embryos was attempted in every case. Negative-stain electron microscopy detected herpesvirus in only 6% of the cases. Yet, isolation of ILT virus in the chorioallantoic membrane was presumed by histology in >20% of the samples and confirmed by fluorescent antibody (FA) in 35% of the embryos inoculated with conjunctivas or tracheas from affected birds. Overall, results from histology and FA tests were highly correlated. FA test has the advantage over histology of being diagnostically specific for ILT virus. Polymerase chain reaction was the most sensitive test and detected the viral DNA even in cases where histology and FA were negative. ILT virus DNA was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Re-Ti ILTV). Histologic and FA results from larynx and trachea were negative if the concentration of the viral DNA was ≤4 of log10. A viral DNA concentration higher than log10 4, as determined by Re-Ti ILTV, was required for clinical ILT to be manifested.
Effects of intravenous and intracoronary adenosine 5'-triphosphate as compared with adenosine on coronary flow and pressure dynamics.

BACKGROUND Measurements of Doppler derived coronary flow reserve (CFR) and pressure derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) for coronary stenosis assessment depend on the induction of maximal hyperemia. Adenosine is the most widely used pharmacological agent but is expensive and poorly tolerated by some patients. METHODS AND RESULTS The objective of this study was to test the equivalency of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) to adenosine in their ability to cause maximal hyperemia as compared with the hyperemic response of complete coronary occlusion in 6 canines. Intracoronary administration of either ATP or adenosine resulted in a significant increase in CFR (2.79+/-0.64 and 2.22+/-0.7 for 10 microgram versus 4. 65+/-1.22 and 4.25+/-0.78 for 100 microgram for ATP and adenosine, respectively, P for trend <0.001) but not reaching the level of coronary occlusion (6.35+/-2.26). Additionally, FFR and CFR were measured in 35 different stenoses using ATP, adenosine, and coronary occlusion. There was an excellent linear correlation between ATP and adenosine for both CFR (R=0.934, P<0.001) and FFR (R=0.985, P<0.001). However, hyperemia with either ATP or adenosine was less than postocclusion hyperemia, resulting in significantly different reserve measurements (CFR: 1.93+/-0.66 and 2.08+/-0.81 versus 2.35+/-0.97, P<0.001; FFR: 0.62+/-0.24 and 0.63+/-0.23 versus 0.58+/-0.2, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS 1) Step up in dosage of ATP and adenosine beyond currently recommended clinical doses resulted in a significant increase in coronary hyperemia; 2) ATP was equivalent to adenosine for both CFR and FFR; and 3) complete coronary occlusion yielded a better hyperemic response than either drug, indicating that maximal hyperemia was not achieved by either pharmacological stimulus.
Variation of the Polymorphic Region X of the Protein A Gene during Persistent Airway Infection of Cystic Fibrosis Patients Reflects Two Independent Mechanisms of Genetic Change in Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT Variation of the polymorphic region of the protein A gene (spa) was observed during long-term persistence of Staphylococcus aureus in the airways of 10 cystic fibrosis patients and occurred at a rate of one genetic change every 70 months. Independent mutational events were observed eight times in 142 isolates: four deletions, two duplications of repeats, and two point mutations.
Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Dill Seed (Anethum graveolens L.) Essential Oil from Plants Grown under Shading

This study determined the content and composition of dill seed (Anethum graveolens L.) essential oil under varying light conditions: non-shaded plants in open fields and plants covered with pearl shade nets (40% shade index). Essential oil was extracted using Clevenger hydrodistillation. The essential oil content was 4.63% for non-shaded plants and 4.81% for shaded plants. GC/MS analysis revealed twenty-one and twenty-two components in dill seed from non-shaded and shaded plants, respectively. The terpenic fraction of essential oil from non-shaded plants consisted mainly of oxygen-containing monoterpene derivatives (53.6%), with carvone (46.1%) as the primary component, followed by monoterpene hydrocarbons (46.4%), predominantly limonene (43.8%). Essential oil from shaded plants contained a higher content of carvone (49.8%) and a lower content of limonene (37.8%) compared to essential oil from non-shaded plants. Non-shaded plant essential oil exhibited stronger antioxidant activity (EC50 value: 26.04 mg mL−1) than shaded plant essential oil (54.23 mg mL−1). Dill seed essential oil showed the most potent antimicrobial activity (disc diffusion method) against Escherichia coli (inhibition zone: 15–18 mm). Shaded plants demonstrated a positive influence of essential oil against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Carvone and its derivatives, as the main components, hold significant potential in the food industry and alternative medicines. A practical implication of this study could be higher plant densities or intercropping of dill, as it thrives with minimal light.
Human Epicardial Adipose Tissue Is a Source of Inflammatory Mediators

Background—Inflammatory mediators that originate in vascular and extravascular tissues promote coronary lesion formation. Adipose tissue may function as an endocrine organ that contributes to an inflammatory burden in patients at risk of cardiovascular complications. In this study, we sought to compare expression of inflammatory mediators in epicardial and subcutaneous adipose stores in patients with critical CAD. Methods and Results—Paired samples of epicardial and subcutaneous adipose tissues were harvested at the outset of elective CABG surgery (n=42; age 65±10 years). Local expression of chemokine (monocyte chemotactic protein [MCP]-1) and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1&bgr;, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-&agr;) was analyzed by TaqMan real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (mRNA) and by ELISA (protein release over 3 hours). Significantly higher levels of IL-1&bgr;, IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-&agr; mRNA and protein were observed in epicardial adipose stores. Proinflammatory properties of epicardial adipose tissue were noted irrespective of clinical variables (diabetes, body mass index, and chronic use of statins or ACE inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers) or plasma concentrations of circulating biomarkers. In a subset of samples (n=11), global gene expression was explored by DNA microarray hybridization and confirmed the presence of a broad inflammatory reaction in epicardial adipose tissue in patients with coronary artery disease. The above findings were paralleled by the presence of inflammatory cell infiltrates in epicardial adipose stores. Conclusions—Epicardial adipose tissue is a source of several inflammatory mediators in high-risk cardiac patients. Plasma inflammatory biomarkers may not adequately reflect local tissue inflammation. Current therapies do not appear to eliminate local inflammatory signals in epicardial adipose tissue.
Loss of Modifier of Cell Adhesion Reveals a Pathway Leading to Axonal Degeneration

Axonal dysfunction is the major phenotypic change in many neurodegenerative diseases, but the processes underlying this impairment are not clear. Modifier of cell adhesion (MOCA) is a presenilin binding protein that functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac1. The loss of MOCA in mice leads to axonal degeneration and causes sensorimotor impairments by decreasing cofilin phosphorylation and altering its upstream signaling partners LIM kinase and p21-activated kinase, an enzyme directly downstream of Rac1. The dystrophic axons found in MOCA-deficient mice are associated with abnormal aggregates of neurofilament protein, the disorganization of the axonal cytoskeleton, and the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles and polyubiquitinated proteins. Furthermore, MOCA deficiency causes an alteration in the actin cytoskeleton and the formation of cofilin-containing rod-like structures. The dystrophic axons show functional abnormalities, including impaired axonal transport. These findings demonstrate that MOCA is required for maintaining the functional integrity of axons and define a model for the steps leading to axonal degeneration.
A General Approach for the Computation of a Liveness Enforcing Supervisor for the Petri Net Model of an FMS

In this paper, a general approach is proposed for the computation of a liveness enforcing supervisor for the Petri net model of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) prone to deadlocks. The proposed method is applicable to a lot of PN classes. A global sink/source place (GP) is used temporarily in the design steps and is finally removed when the liveness of the system is achieved. The aim is to obtain an easy to design deadlock prevention policy for PN models of FMSs that ensures liveness with optimal or near optimal permissiveness while maintaining the necessary computations simple.
Current Knowledge on the Use of Neuromonitoring in Thyroid Surgery

Thyroid surgery rates have tripled over the past three decades, making it one of the most frequently performed procedures within general surgery. Thyroid surgery is associated with the possibility of serious postoperative complications which have a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life. Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy and external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) palsy are, next to hypoparathyroidism and postoperative bleeding, some of the most common complications. The introduction of neuromonitoring into thyroid surgery, which enabled both the confirmation of anatomical integrity and the assessment of laryngeal nerve function, was a milestone that began a new era in thyroid surgery. The International Neural Monitoring Study Group has produced a standardization of the technique of RLN and EBSLN monitoring during thyroid and parathyroid surgery, which in turn increased the prevalence of neural monitoring during thyroidectomy. The current status of IONM and the benefits of its use have been presented in this publication.