Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Population Biology and Secondary Production of Excirolana braziliensis (Isopoda: Cirolanidae) in Two Sandy Beaches of Southeastern Brazil

Abstract The population dynamics and secondary production of the cirolanid isopod Excirolana braziliensis are compared between two distinct sandy beaches. Monthly sampling from June 1998 through July 2000 was carried out at Grumari (a reflective beach with coarse sand and steeper slope) and Restinga da Marambaia (an intermediate beach with fine sand and moderate slope), both located in Rio de Janeiro State (23° S), southeastern Brazil. Sampling was conducted according to a systematic design in which two transects (fixed 500 meters apart) were established, each with 10 equally spaced sampling strata. From each stratum, five replicates (0.04 square meters) were taken. Highest population abundances were observed in spring and summer on both beaches. The beaches differed significantly in physical parameters and the characteristics of their inhabitant populations: (1) Grumari Beach had a steeper slope, coarse sands, and a short swash period; (2) the abundance of total population, fecundity at length, and egg production potential were higher at Restinga da Marambaia; and (3) individual growth of males was higher at Grumari. Mean length at sexual maturity (L50%), mortality, growth of females, secondary production, and mean annual biomass did not show significant differences between beaches. Variations in population parameters of E. braziliensis might be regulated by phenotypic adjustment to local conditions, optimizing fitness, and especially enabling species to adapt to different physical conditions.
An Investigation of Boron Toxicity in Barley Using Metabolomics1[W]

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient that affects plant growth at either deficient or toxic concentrations in soil. The aim of this work was to investigate the adaptation of barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants to toxic B levels and to increase our understanding of B toxicity tolerance mechanisms. We used a metabolomics approach to compare metabolite profiles in root and leaf tissues of an intolerant, commercial cultivar (cv Clipper) and a B-tolerant Algerian landrace (cv Sahara). After exposure to elevated B (200 and 1,000 μm), the number and amplitude of metabolite changes in roots was greater in Clipper than in Sahara. In contrast, leaf metabolites of both cultivars only responded following 1,000 μm treatment, at which B toxicity symptoms (necrosis) were visible. In addition, metabolite levels were dramatically altered in the tips of leaves of the sensitive cultivar Clipper after growth in 1,000 μm B compared to those of Sahara. This correlates with a gradual accumulation of B from leaf base to tip in B-intolerant cultivars. Overall, there were always greater differences between tissue types (roots and leaves) than between the two cultivars. This work has provided insights into metabolic differences of two genetically distinct barley cultivars and information about how they respond metabolically to increasing B levels.
Cottonwood Creek Project Shasta and Tehama Counties, California: Dutch Gulch Lake Intersive Cultural Resources Survey.

Abstract : Archeological, ethnographic and historical research undertaken in 1981-1982 in the Dutch Gulch Lake portion of the proposed Cottonwood Creek Project, Shasta and Tehama counties, California. An intensive archeological survey of approximately 24,000 acres in the project area was completed. Two hundred and eighty-three cultural resources were recorded (117 prehistoric sites and 166 historic sites). Ethnographic and historic research added considerable detail concerning the cultural resources. The Dutch Gulch Lake portion of the Cottonwood Creek Project contains a higher percentage of sites in relatively good condition and volume of deposit suitable for excavation than any other project of a comparable size in north central California. The large number of hearths associated with placer mining and housepits of Native derivation and numerous exotic items such as opium tins, Chinese crockery, and obsidian suggests the importance of regional trade networks. The presence of manos and metates in the project area are known to be indicators of an earlier Native American population which lived in the region prior to the movement of the Wintu to Cottonwood Creek. Artifacts such as bow smoothers and projectile points, have also proved useful in helping to distinguish cultural boundaries between the Wintu and the Yana Indians. The wide variety of sites, artifacts, and features recorded during the inventory have helped provide considerable insight into the history and prehistory of northern California.
On revenue in the generalized second price auction

The Generalized Second Price (GSP) auction is the primary auction used for selling sponsored search advertisements. In this paper we consider the revenue of this auction at equilibrium. We prove that if agent values are drawn from identical regular distributions, then the GSP auction paired with an appropriate reserve price generates a constant fraction (1/6th) of the optimal revenue. In the full-information game, we show that at any Nash equilibrium of the GSP auction obtains at least half of the revenue of the VCG mechanism excluding the payment of a single participant. This bound holds also with any reserve price, and is tight. Finally, we consider the tradeoff between maximizing revenue and social welfare. We introduce a natural convexity assumption on the click-through rates and show that it implies that the revenue-maximizing equilibrium of GSP in the full information model will necessarily be envy-free. In particular, it is always possible to maximize revenue and social welfare simultaneously when click-through rates are convex. Without this convexity assumption, however, we demonstrate that revenue may be maximized at a non-envy-free equilibrium that generates a socially inefficient allocation.
Laryngeal Mask Airway Is Associated with an Increased Incidence of Adverse Respiratory Events in Children with Recent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Background:The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been advocated as an alternative technique to tracheal intubation for airway management of children with recent upper respiratory tract infections (URIs). The authors determined the occurrence of adverse respiratory events and identified the associated risk factors to assess the safety of LMA in children. Methods:During a period of 5 months, parents of children scheduled to undergo general anesthesia with an LMA were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their child’s medical history and potential symptoms of URI. In addition, all episodes of adverse respiratory events in the perioperative period (laryngospasm, bronchospasm, coughing, airway obstruction, and oxygen desaturation) as well as details of anesthesia management were recorded. Results:Among the 831 children included in the study, 27% presented with a history of a recent URI within the last 2 weeks before anesthesia. The presence of a recent URI doubled the incidence of laryngospasm (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–5.0), coughing (odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.7–4.3), and oxygen desaturation (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–2.8). This incidence was even higher in young children; in those undergoing ear, nose, and throat surgery; and when there were multiple attempts to insert the LMA. Conclusion:An LMA used in children with recent URIs was associated with a higher incidence of laryngospasm, cough, and oxygen desaturation compared with healthy children. However, the overall incidence of adverse respiratory events was low, suggesting that if anesthesiologists allow at least a 2-week interval after a URI, they can safely proceed with anesthesia using an LMA.
A Virtual Iraq System for the Treatment of Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is reported to be caused by traumatic events that are outside the range of usual human experience including (but not limited to) military combat, violent personal assault, being kidnapped or taken hostage and terrorist attacks. Initial data suggests that at least 1 out of 5 Iraq War veterans are exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD. Virtual Reality (VR) delivered exposure therapy for PTSD has been previously used with reports of positive outcomes. The current paper is a follow-up to a paper presented at IEEE VR2006 and will present the rationale and description of a VR PTSD therapy application (Virtual Iraq) and present the findings from its use with active duty service members since the VR2006 presentation. Virtual Iraq consists of a series of customizable virtual scenarios designed to represent relevant Middle Eastern VR contexts for exposure therapy, including a city and desert road convoy environment. User-centered design feedback needed to iteratively evolve the system was gathered from returning Iraq War veterans in the USA and from a system deployed in Iraq and tested by an Army Combat Stress Control Team. Results from an open clinical trial using Virtual Iraq at the Naval Medical Center-San Diego with 20 treatment completers indicate that 16 no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria at post-treatment, with only one not maintaining treatment gains at 3 month follow-up.
Wake and Sleep EEG in Patients With Huntington Disease

The aim of the study was to evaluate the EEG modifications in patients with Huntington disease (HD) compared with controls, by means of the exact LOw REsolution Tomography (eLORETA) software. We evaluated EEG changes during wake, non–rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Moreover, we reviewed the literature concerning EEG modifications in HD. Twenty-three consecutive adult patients affected by HD were enrolled, 14 women and 9 men, mean age was 57.0 ± 12.4 years. Control subjects were healthy volunteers (mean age 58.2 ± 14.6 years). EEG and polygraphic recordings were performed during wake (before sleep) and during sleep. Sources of EEG activities were determined using the eLORETA software. In wake EEG, significant differences between patients and controls were detected in the delta frequency band (threshold T = ±4.606; P < .01) in the Brodmann areas (BAs) 3, 4, and 6 bilaterally. In NREM sleep, HD patients showed increased alpha power (T = ±4.516; P < .01) in BAs 4 and 6 bilaterally; decreased theta power (T = ±4.516; P < .01) in the BAs 23, 29, and 30; and decreased beta power (T = ±4.516; P < .01) in the left BA 30. During REM, HD patients presented decreased theta and alpha power (threshold T = ±4.640; P < .01) in the BAs 23, 29, 30, and 31 bilaterally. In conclusion, EEG data suggest a motor cortex dysfunction during wake and sleep in HD patients, which correlates with the clinical and polysomnographic evidence of increased motor activity during wake and NREM, and nearly absent motor abnormalities in REM.
Eating disorders.

Eating disorders are common among adolescent girls and young women and are associated with potentially serious medical complications, yet they often go undetected and untreated. All patients with eating disorders should be evaluated and treated for medical complications of the disease at the same time that psychotherapy and nutritional counseling are undertaken. Pharmacologic agents are often useful as adjuncts to psychotherapy for bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder; in the case of anorexia nervosa, psychotropic medication is generally reserved for patients with a concurrent psychiatric illness or those who have recovered some weight.
Multidimensional Proteomics Analysis of Amniotic Fluid to Provide Insight into the Mechanisms of Idiopathic Preterm Birth

Background Though recent advancement in proteomics has provided a novel perspective on several distinct pathogenetic mechanisms leading to preterm birth (inflammation, bleeding), the etiology of most preterm births still remains elusive. We conducted a multidimensional proteomic analysis of the amniotic fluid to identify pathways related to preterm birth in the absence of inflammation or bleeding. Methodology/Principal Findings A proteomic fingerprint was generated from fresh amniotic fluid using surface-enhanced laser desorbtion ionization time of flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry in a total of 286 consecutive samples retrieved from women who presented with signs or symptoms of preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of the membranes. Inflammation and/or bleeding proteomic patterns were detected in 32% (92/286) of the SELDI tracings. In the remaining tracings, a hierarchical algorithm was applied based on descriptors quantifying similarity/dissimilarity among proteomic fingerprints. This allowed identification of a novel profile (Q-profile) based on the presence of 5 SELDI peaks in the 10–12.5 kDa mass area. Women displaying the Q-profile (mean±SD, gestational age: 25±4 weeks, n = 40) were more likely to deliver preterm despite expectant management in the context of intact membranes and normal amniotic fluid clinical results. Utilizing identification-centered proteomics techniques (fluorescence two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis, robotic tryptic digestion and mass spectrometry) coupled with Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships (PANTHER) ontological classifications, we determined that in amniotic fluids with Q-profile the differentially expressed proteins are primarily involved in non-inflammatory biological processes such as protein metabolism, signal transduction and transport. Conclusion/Significance Proteomic profiling of amniotic fluid coupled with non-hierarchical bioinformatics algorithms identified a subgroup of patients at risk for preterm birth in the absence of intra-amniotic inflammation or bleeding, suggesting a novel pathogenetic pathway leading to preterm birth. The altered proteins may offer opportunities for therapeutical intervention and future drug development to prevent prematurity.
A Revolution : Belief Propagation inGraphs With

Until recently, artiicial intelligence researchers have frowned upon the application of probability propagation in Bayesian belief networks that have cycles. The probability propagation algorithm is only exact in networks that are cycle-free. However, it has recently been discovered that the two best error-correcting decoding algorithms are actually performing probability propagation in belief networks with cycles. 1 Communicating over a noisy channel Our increasingly wired world demands eecient methods for communicating bits of information over physical channels that introduce errors. Examples of real-world channels include twisted-pair telephone wires, shielded cable-TV wire, ber-optic cable, deep-space radio, terrestrial radio, and indoor radio. Engineers attempt to correct the errors introduced by the noise in these channels through the use of channel coding which adds protection to the information source, so that some channel errors can be corrected. A popular model of a physical channel is shown in Fig. 1. A vector of K information bits u = (u 1 ; : : : ; u K), u k 2 f0; 1g is encoded, and a vector of N codeword bits x = (x 1 ; : : : ; x N) is transmitted into the channel.
Leader-to-formation stability

The paper investigates the stability properties of mobile agent formations which are based on leader following. We derive nonlinear gain estimates that capture how leader behavior affects the interconnection errors observed in the formation. Leader-to-formation stability (LFS) gains quantify error amplification, relate interconnection topology to stability and performance, and offer safety bounds for different formation topologies. Analysis based on the LFS gains provides insight to error propagation and suggests ways to improve the safety, robustness, and performance characteristics of a formation.
The Validity of the DSM-IV Subtypes of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective: To examine the validity of the three subtypes of ADHD defined by DSM-IV. Method: Studies published in English were identified through searches of literature databases. Results: Estimates of the prevalence of ADHD have increased as a result of the introduction of DSM-IV criteria. Factor analytical and genetic studies provide some support for the validity of the distinction between the three subtypes. However, diagnosis of the combined subtype seems more reliable than the other two subtypes, although reliability is largely unknown for the latter. The hyperactive-impulsive subtype, the least common, differs from the other two subtypes in age distribution, association with other factors and neuropsychological parameters. Almost all treatment trials are based on participants with the combined type. Conclusion: Data supporting the validity of the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive subtypes of ADHD a decade after the publication of DSM-IV are still scarce. Given that inattention is the hypothesized core ADHD symptom, it remains to be demonstrated that hyperactive-impulsive children who are not inattentive have the same condition. One of the main research deficits refers to data on treatment of the inattentive and hyperactive impulsive subtypes.
Pregabalin can decrease acute pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting in hysterectomy

Background: Whether the preoperative administration of pregabalin plays a beneficial role in controlling acute pain after hysterectomy is unknown. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the efficacy and safety of the preoperative use of pregabalin to treat acute postoperative pain following hysterectomy. Methods: In April 2017, a systematic computer-based search was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google databases. RCTs comparing pregabalin with placebo in patients undergoing hysterectomy were retrieved. The primary endpoint was the visual analog scale (VAS) score with rest or mobilization at 2 h, 4 and 24 hours and cumulative morphine consumption at 2, 4, 24, and 48 hours. The secondary outcomes were complications of nausea, vomiting, sedation, and dizziness. After tests for publication bias and heterogeneity among studies were performed, the data were aggregated for random-effects models when necessary. Results: Ten clinical studies with 1207 patients (pregabalin = 760, control = 447) were finally included in this meta-analysis. Preoperative administration of pregabalin was associated with a significant reduction of VAS with rest or mobilization at 2, 4, and 24 hours after hysterectomy. Further, the preoperative administration of pregabalin was associated with a reduction in total morphine consumption at 2, 4, 24, and 48 hours after hysterectomy. The occurrence of morphine-related complications (nausea and vomiting) was also reduced in the pregabalin group. However, the preoperative administration of pregabalin was associated with an increase in the occurrence of dizziness. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of sedation. Conclusions: The preoperative use of pregabalin reduced postoperative pain, total morphine consumption, and morphine-related complications following hysterectomy. The doses of pregabalin were different, and large heterogeneity was the limitation of the current meta-analysis. Further studies should determine the optimal dose for controlling acute pain after hysterectomy.
Mobility prediction model-based service migration procedure for follow me cloud to support QoS and QoE

Follow me cloud (FMC) is one of the solutions to the limitations of the service quality and type of functionality due to the inherent constraints of mobility management. In this paper, we address the tradeoff between the overhead and Quality of Experience (QoE) by proposing a mobility-based services migration prediction (MSMP). The aim of MSMP is to plan, for a given service, the sequence of data to transfer from distinct micro data centers (MDC) to the user according to his mobility pattern and the estimated load of data centers. MSMP consists of (1) a data transfer throughput estimation scheme, called DTT, that aims to estimate, in advance, the throughput that the user could receive; (2) MDC service area handoff time estimation scheme, called AHT, that aims to estimate the time windows when the user will perform MDC service area handoffs; and (3) service migration management scheme, called SMM, that aims to select optimal MDCs in terms of offered throughput and to split user requested service into several portions to be processed by these MDCs. We evaluate MSMP and compare it against the most recent related approaches; the simulation results show that MSMP outperforms existing approaches in terms of data latency.
The Determinants of Voluntary CSR Disclosure of Thai Listed Firms

This study investigates factors that determine the corporate social responsibility disclosure information for a large sample of Thai listed firms. The evidence in this paper suggests that corporate governance and corporate social responsibility are complementary. Companies that have a well-established corporate governance program in place would also take good care of most corporate social responsibility disclosure issues. This suggests that corporate governance is a rudimentary component for transparent disclosures.
Effect of Whole Cassava Meal on Performance and Egg Quality Characteristics of Layers

This study investigated the inclusion of whole cassava meal (WCM) as a replacement to maize at graded levels on the performance and egg quality characteristics of layers fed. The cassava root, leaves and tender stems were harvested chopped separately and dried, ground and mixed at ratio 3:6:1 to get WCM. Five diets were formulated, diets I contained 50% maize 0% WCM and served as the control, diets II –V had WCM at graded levels of 25, 50, 75 and100% as a replacement to maize. 40 weeks old laying chickens were used for this feeding trial which lasted for twelve weeks. Results revealed that beyond 25% inclusion level feed intake, feed efficiency and the hen day production significantly decreased. From the feed: gain ratio efficiency of utilization declined as the inclusion of WCM increased hence performance characteristics and egg laying ability of the layers were adversely affected. The shell thickness and albumen were however not significantly affected (P>0.05) by the dietary treatment while yolk colour and haugh unit had no particular statistical trend. Conclusively 25% of the maize content of the layers diet could be replaced with whole cassava meal without adverse effect on the performance characteristics and egg quality parameters rather it brought down the cost of production which is desirable.