Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dead Bugs Don’t Mutate: Susceptibility Issues in the Emergence of Bacterial Resistance

The global emergence of antibacterial resistance among common and atypical respiratory pathogens in the last decade necessitates the strategic application of antibacterial agents. The use of bactericidal rather than bacteriostatic agents as first-line therapy is recommended because the eradication of microorganisms serves to curtail, although not avoid, the development of bacterial resistance. Bactericidal activity is achieved with specific classes of antimicrobial agents as well as by combination therapy. Newer classes of antibacterial agents, such as the fluoroquinolones and certain members of the macrolide/lincosamine/streptogramin class have increased bactericidal activity compared with traditional agents. More recently, the ketolides (novel, semisynthetic, erythromycin-A derivatives) have demonstrated potent bactericidal activity against key respiratory pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Moreover, the ketolides are associated with a low potential for inducing resistance, making them promising first-line agents for respiratory tract infections.
Trophodynamic variations on microtidal North Mediterranean sandy beaches

Trophic models of the micro and meiobenthic community of six sandy beaches on the Ligurian coast (north-western Mediterranean Sea) have been performed to assess variations in structure and function of the ecosystem. A novel approach based on the determination of the feeding predisposition of the benthic community revealed that there is a significant shift in the trophodynamics of the system with respect to environmental constraints. Along an emerged-submerged gradient the benthic community displayed a clear trend from a fundamentally detritusdependent structure to an autotrophic, more balanced and diversified one. The trends analysed focus on the importance of the swash zone as a transitional area between the land and the sea that is characterised by a high diversity and activity of the trophic network.
The mid-Carboniferous rugose coral recovery

Abstract The taxonomic diversity of the rugose corals following the mid-Carboniferous ‘lesser mass extinction event’ (Alekseev 1989) may be subdivided into two intervals. The survival interval includes long-ranging survivors, short-ranging survivors (Dibunophyllum, Palaeosmilia, Diphyphyllum), survivors with post-crisis ontogenetic changes (Caninia, Bothrophyllum), newly-appeared taxa with hypothetical ancestors (Profischerina, Protodurhamina) and those of cryptogenic origin (Lytvophyllum). The lower limit of the survival interval coincides with the Eumorphoceras/Homoceras Zone and can be identified in the Donetz Basin, Gornaya Bashkiria, Novaya Zemlja, North Timan, Cantabrian Mountains (Rodriguez et al. 1986) and the Western Interior of the USA (Sando 1989). The recovery interval is established by the appearance of the immigrant genus Petalaxis and by increasing specific diversity in pre-existing lineages. Its lower limit corresponds to the Pseudostaffella praegorsky—Profusulinella staffelliformis boundary, the lower boundary of the Westphalian A in the Cantabrian Mountains and the lower boundary of the Atokan Series in the Western Interior of the USA. The radiation interval was marked by the appearance of astreoid colonies in the Petalaxis—Ivanovia lineage at the Fusulinella calaniae—F. vozhgalensis—F. kamensis lower boundary.
Analysis of River Meanders

The meander curvature and other geometric features for rivers are analyzed using an energy approach together with relations for flow continuity, sediment load, resistance to flow, bank stability, and transverse circulation in channel bends. The analysis establishes the maximum curvature for which a river does the least work in turning. This curvature, stated as the radius of curvature to channel width ratio, has an average value of 3; it shows only minor variation within the meandering range. Meandering development is explained by the river's tendency to seek minimum channel slope for the given conditions. The analysis demonstrates how uniform utilization of power and continuity of sediment load are maintained through river meanders.
Observing Lip and Vertical Larynx Movements During Smiled Speech ( and Laughter )

This paper reports on work in progress investigating lip and vertical larynx movements that occur in smiled speech and laughter. A controlled speech corpus in terms of vowels spoken at various degrees of retraction of lip corners is recorded as well as a corpus of induced naturally smiled speech. A combined motion capture and image processing technique is applied to track marked points on the lips and vertical larynx position synchronously while simultaneously recording the audio speech signal. Data will be analyzed to investigate correlations between lip shape and larynx position in smiled speech and to find effects of smiling on audio speech both differentiating between voluntarily spread lips and induced smiles each at various levels of intensity. Some data of spontaneous laughter is included, too.
Comparison of chloroquine, sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, mefloquine and mefloquine‐artesunate for the treatment of falciparum malaria in Kachin State, North Myanmar

Multi‐drug resistant falciparum malaria is widespread in Asia. In Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam the national protocols have changed largely to artesunate combined treatment regimens but elsewhere in East and South Asia chloroquine (CQ) and sulfadoxine‐pyrimethamine (SP) are still widely recommended by national malaria control programmes. In Kachin State, northern Myanmar, an area of low seasonal malaria transmission, the efficacy of CQ (25 mg base/kg) and SP (1.25/25 mg/kg), the nationally recommended treatments at the time, were compared with mefloquine alone (M; 15 mg base/kg) and mefloquine combined with artesunate (MA; 15:4 mg/kg). An open randomized controlled trial enrolled 316 patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, stratified prospectively into three age‐groups. Early treatment failures (ETF) occurred in 41% (32/78) of CQ treated patients and in 24% of patients treated with SP (18/75). In young children the ETF rates were 87% after CQ and 35% after SP. Four children (two CQ, two SP) developed symptoms of cerebral malaria within 3 days after treatment. By day 42, failure rates (uncorrected for reinfections) had increased to 79% for CQ and 81% for SP. ETF rates were 2.5% after treatment with M and 3.9% after treatment with MA (P > 0.2). Overall uncorrected treatment failure rates at day 42 following M and MA were 23% and 21%, respectively. Chloroquine and SP are completely ineffective for the treatment of falciparum malaria in northern Myanmar. Mefloquine treatment is much more effective, but three day combination regimens with artesunate will be needed for optimum efficacy and protection against resistance.
Evolution of the Territorial Coverage of the Railway Network and its Influence on Population Growth: The Case of England and Wales, 1871–1931

Abstract The introduction of the railway network brought with it an unprecedented improvement in accessibility. In this work, the authors analyze the evolution of the territorial coverage of the railway network and its influence on the uneven distribution of population. To carry out this research, they used comparable data on total population obtained from census records relating to civil parishes of England and Wales, taken at 10-year intervals from 1871. The hypothesis that they wished to test was that good access to a railway station was related to significant increases in population. This exercise provides a better understanding of regional variations in population growth and allows the authors to identify current differences between urban and rural areas that have resulted from their historical evolution.
Late Quaternary Diatom Assemblages from Prydz Bay, Eastern Antarctica

Abstract The paleo-depositional environment of inner Prydz Bay, East Antarctica, has been reconstructed for the past 21,320 14C yr B.P., using diatom assemblages and sediment facies from a short, 352-cm-long gravity core. Between 21,320 and 11,650 14C yr B.P., compact tillite and diamicton are present in the core, and diatom frustules are rare to absent. These data suggest that an ice sheet grounded over the site during the last glacial maximum. Following glacial retreat, siliceous muddy ooze was deposited, from 11,650 to 2600 14C yr B.P., in an open marine setting. During this stage, diatom frustules are abundant and well preserved, and Thalassiosira antarctica resting spores and Fragilariopsis curta dominate the assemblage. This assemblage suggests open marine deposition in an environment where the spatial and temporal distribution of sea ice is less than today. Since 2600 14C yr B.P., sea-ice and ice-edge diatom species have become more abundant, and neoglacial cooling is inferred. The assemblage is similar to that forming currently in Prydz Bay, where sea ice is absent (<10% cover) for 2–3 months of the year and permanent ice edge and/or multiyear sea ice remains in close proximity to the site.
Underreporting and Misclassification of Urinary Tract Cancer Cases on Death Certificates

&NA; We compared the diagnoses for deceased cases with urinary tract cancer reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program with their underlying cause of death reported on death certificates. Deaths for a substantial proportion of cases were ascribed to noncancer causes (bladder, 48%; kidney, 28%; renal pelvis, 37%; and other urinary tract, 38%), which decreased with advancing stage at diagnosis and increased with length of survival. In general, cancer deaths were more likely to be recorded to the predominant subsite within an organ. Only 5.5% of renal pelvis cancer patients were recorded to have died of their illness, whereas 33.7% of their deaths were reported as due to kidney cancer. On the other hand, over 85% of urinary tract cancer deaths reported on the death certificates were confirmed by SEER diagnosis, although the extent of agreement varied by stage at diagnosis and age at death for kidney and renal pelvis cancers.
HMGB1 in severe soft tissue infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes

Extracellular High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) has been associated with acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. However, little is known about HMGB1 in necrotizing bacterial infections. We hypothesized that the local HMGB1 response is excessive in severe soft tissue infections (STIs), which are characterized by necrosis and hyperinflammation. To explore this, tissue biopsies were collected from patients with varying severity of Streptococcus pyogenes skin and STIs, including erysipelas, cellulitis, and necrotizing fasciitis. Tissue sections were immunostained for HMGB1, S. pyogenes, and inflammatory cell infiltrates and results quantified by acquired computerized image analysis (ACIA). HMGB1 expression increased in parallel to disease severity and was significantly higher in necrotizing fasciitis than in erysipelas (p = 0.0023). Confocal microscopy of sections co-stained for HMGB1 and cell markers revealed both extracellular and cytoplasmic HMGB1, the latter of which was found predominantly in macrophages. To further verify macrophages as main source of activation triggered HMGB1 release, human macrophages were infected with clinical S. pyogenes isolates. The results demonstrated infection triggered release of HMGB1. Dual staining's visualized HMGB1 in areas close to, but not overlapping, with neutrophils, indicating a potential chemotactic role. In vitro transmigration experiments showed a chemotactic effect of HMGB1 on neutrophils. The data furthermore provided in vivo support that HGMB1 may form immunostimulatory complexes with IL-1β. Taken together, the findings provide the first in vivo evidence that HMGB1 is abundant at the local site of severe bacterial STIs and its levels correlated to severity of infections; hence, indicating its potential value as a biomarker for tissue pathology.
Serologic Evidence of Lyssavirus Infections among Bats, the Philippines

Active surveillance for lyssaviruses was conducted among populations of bats in the Philippines. The presence of past or current Lyssavirus infection was determined by use of direct fluorescent antibody assays on bat brains and virus neutralization assays on bat sera. Although no bats were found to have active infection with a Lyssavirus, 22 had evidence of neutralizing antibody against the Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV). Seropositivity was statistically associated with one species of bat, Miniopterus schreibersi. Results from the virus neutralization assays are consistent with the presence in the Philippines of a naturally occurring Lyssavirus related to ABLV.
Distribution and Source of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Nitropolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Tieling City, Liaoning Province, a Typical Local City in Northeast China

Airborne particulates were collected in three different size fractions (＞7 ㎛; 2.1-7 ㎛; ＜2.1 ㎛) by using Andersen low-volume air samplers at three sites in Tieling city, Liaoning Province, a typical local city in northeast China, in every season during the period from July 2003 to May 2004. Nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and seven nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) in the airborne particulates were determined by HPLC with fluorescence and chemiluminescence detection, respectively. The mean total concentrations of the nine PAHs and seven NPAHs were highest at The mixed residential and light industrial site, and lowest at the residential site near the suburbs. At all sites, more than 70% of the total PAHs and more than 60% of the total NPAHs were found in the finest particulate (＜2.1 ㎛) fraction. Both cluster analysis and several diagnostic ratios showed that the major contributors of PAHs and NPAHs in airborne particulates were coal combustion systems such as domestic stoves and coal boilers in all seasons in Tieling city.
Actin dynamics tune the integrated stress response by regulating eukaryotic initiation factor 2α dephosphorylation

Four stress-sensing kinases phosphorylate the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) to activate the integrated stress response (ISR). In animals, the ISR is antagonised by selective eIF2α phosphatases comprising a catalytic protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) subunit in complex with a PPP1R15-type regulatory subunit. An unbiased search for additional conserved components of the PPP1R15-PP1 phosphatase identified monomeric G-actin. Like PP1, G-actin associated with the functional core of PPP1R15 family members and G-actin depletion, by the marine toxin jasplakinolide, destabilised the endogenous PPP1R15A-PP1 complex. The abundance of the ternary PPP1R15-PP1-G-actin complex was responsive to global changes in the polymeric status of actin, as was its eIF2α-directed phosphatase activity, while localised G-actin depletion at sites enriched for PPP1R15 enhanced eIF2α phosphorylation and the downstream ISR. G-actin's role as a stabilizer of the PPP1R15-containing holophosphatase provides a mechanism for integrating signals regulating actin dynamics with stresses that trigger the ISR. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.04872. 001
Evolutionary and plastic responses of freshwater invertebrates to climate change: realized patterns and future potential

We integrated the evidence for evolutionary and plastic trait changes in situ in response to climate change in freshwater invertebrates (aquatic insects and zooplankton). The synthesis on the trait changes in response to the expected reductions in hydroperiod and increases in salinity indicated little evidence for adaptive, plastic, and genetic trait changes and for local adaptation. With respect to responses to temperature, there are many studies on temporal trait changes in phenology and body size in the wild that are believed to be driven by temperature increases, but there is a general lack of rigorous demonstration whether these trait changes are genetically based, adaptive, and causally driven by climate change. Current proof for genetic trait changes under climate change in freshwater invertebrates stems from a limited set of common garden experiments replicated in time. Experimental thermal evolution experiments and common garden warming experiments associated with space‐for‐time substitutions along latitudinal gradients indicate that besides genetic changes, also phenotypic plasticity and evolution of plasticity are likely to contribute to the observed phenotypic changes under climate change in aquatic invertebrates. Apart from plastic and genetic thermal adjustments, also genetic photoperiod adjustments are widespread and may even dominate the observed phenological shifts.
Impacts from Land Use Pattern on Spatial Distribution of Cultivated Soil Heavy Metal Pollution in Typical Rural-Urban Fringe of Northeast China

Under rapid urban sprawl in Northeast China, land conversions are not only encroaching on the quantity of cultivated lands, but also posing a great threat to black soil conservation and food security. This study’s aim is to explore the spatial relationship between comprehensive cultivated soil heavy metal pollution and peri-urban land use patterns in the black soil region. We applied spatial lag regression to analyze the relationship between PLI (pollution load index) and influencing factors of land use by taking suburban cultivated land of Changchun Kuancheng District as an empirical case. The results indicate the following: (1) Similar spatial distribution characteristics are detected between Pb, Cu, and Zn, between Cr and Ni, and between Hg and Cd. The Yitong River catchment in the central region, and the residential community of Lanjia County in the west, are the main hotspots for eight heavy metals and PLI. Beihu Wetland Park, with a larger-area distribution of ecological land in the southeast, has low level for both heavy metal concentrations and PLI values. Spatial distribution characteristics of cultivated heavy metals are related to types of surrounding land use and industry; (2) Spatial lag regression has a better fit for PLI than the ordinary least squares regression. The regression results indicate the inverse relationship between heavy metal pollution degree and distance from long-standing residential land and surface water. Following rapid urban land expansion and a longer accumulation period, residential land sprawl is going to threaten cultivated land with heavy metal pollution in the suburban black soil region, and cultivated land irrigated with urban river water in the suburbs will have a higher tendency for heavy metal pollution.
Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Particle Extracts (DEPe) Impairs Some Polarization Markers and Functions of Human Macrophages through Activation of AhR and Nrf2

Macrophages (MΦ), well-known to play an important role in immune response, also respond to environmental toxic chemicals such as diesel exhaust particles (DEP). Potential effects of DEPs towards MΦ polarization, a key hall-mark of MΦ physiology, remain however poorly documented. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the effects of a reference DEP extract (DEPe) on human MΦ polarization. Human blood monocytes-derived MΦ were incubated with IFNγ+LPS or IL-4 to obtain M1 and M2 subtypes, respectively; a 24 h exposure of polarizing MΦ to 10 μg/ml DEPe was found to impair expression of some macrophagic M1 and M2 markers, without however overall inhibition of M1 and M2 polarization processes. Notably, DEPe treatment increased the secretion of the M1 marker IL-8 and the M2 marker IL-10 in both MΦ subtypes, whereas it reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-6 and IL-12p40 secretion in M1 MΦ. In M2 MΦ, DEPe exposure led to a reduction of CD200R expression and of CCL17, CCL18 and CCL22 secretion, associated with a lower chemotaxis of CCR4-positive cells. DEPe activated the Nrf2 and AhR pathways and induced expression of their reference target genes such as Hmox-1 and cytochrome P-4501B1 in M1 and M2 MΦ. Nrf2 or AhR silencing through RNA interference prevented DEPe-related down-regulation of IL-6. AhR silencing also inhibited the down-secretion of IL-12p40 and CCL18 in M1- and M2-DEPe-exposed MΦ, respectively. DEPs are therefore likely to alter expression of some M1 and M2 markers in an AhR- and Nrf2-dependent manner; such regulations may contribute to deleterious immune effects of atmospheric DEP.
Spatial Variability of CO2 Emissions from Newly Exposed Paraglacial Soils at a Glacier Retreat Zone on King George Island, Maritime Antarctica

Thawed soils in Antarctica represent organic carbon (C) reservoirs with great potential to increase the net losses of CO2 to the atmosphere under climate change scenarios. This study spatially zones CO2 emissions from soil and vegetation along a transect in front of the retreating margin of Ecology Glacier in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetlands, near the Polish Antarctic station Henryk Arctowski. Two experiments were carried out to determine soil respiration: (1) a transect of 150 measuring points spaced 1 m apart, statistically analysed with split moving windows, identified three regions with different patterns of CO2 emissions; (2) a survey with three grids containing 60 sampling points, with a minimum distance between points of 0.30 m, totalling 2.7 × 1.5 m, in each of the identified locations. The survey showed that CO2 emission rates decreased (from 2.38 to 0.00 µmol m‐2s‐1) and soil temperature at 5 cm depth increased (from 1.9 to 7°C) near the glacier. The site farthest from the glacier provided an emission 3.5 times higher than the closest site. The spatial variability of CO2 emissions decreased with distance from the glacier. Soil development and vegetation are identified as key drivers of CO2 emissions. Soil formation and vegetation growth increased with longer exposure since deglaciation, leading to enhanced homogeneity of CO2 emissions, independent of permafrost occurrence and stability. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Non-Core Bank Liabilities and Financial Vulnerability

A lending boom is reflected in the composition of bank liabilities when traditional retail deposits (core liabilities) cannot keep pace with asset growth and banks turn to other funding sources (non-core liabilities) to finance their lending. We formulate a model of credit supply as the flip side of a credit risk model where a large stock of non-core liabilities serves as an indicator of the erosion of risk premiums and hence of vulnerability to a crisis. We find supporting empirical evidence in a panel probit study of emerging and developing economies.
Knowing what you're feeling and knowing what to do about it: Mapping the relation between emotion differentiation and emotion regulation

Individuals differ considerably in their emotion experience. Some experience emotions in a highly differentiated manner, clearly distinguishing among a variety of negative and positive discrete emotions. Others experience emotions in a relatively undifferentiated manner, treating a range of like-valence terms as interchangeable. Drawing on self-regulation theory, we hypothesised that individuals with highly differentiated emotion experience should be better able to regulate emotions than individuals with poorly differentiated emotion experience. In particular, we hypothesised that emotion differentiation and emotion regulation would be positively related in the context of intense negative emotions, where the press for emotion regulation is generally greatest. To test this hypothesis, participants' negative and positive emotion differentiation was assessed using a 14-day diary protocol. Participants' regulation of negative and positive emotions was assessed using laboratory measures. As predicted, negative emotion differentiation was positively related to the frequency of negative emotion regulation, particularly at higher levels of emotional intensity.