Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distinct seasonal infectious agent profiles in life-history variants of juvenile Fraser River Chinook salmon: An application of high-throughput genomic screening

Disease-causing infectious agents are natural components of ecosystems and considered a major selective force driving the evolution of host species. However, knowledge of the presence and abundance of suites of infectious agents in wild populations has been constrained by our ability to easily screen for them. Using salmon as a model, we contrasted seasonal pathogenic infectious agents in life history variants of juvenile Chinook salmon from the Fraser River system (N = 655), British Columbia (BC), through the application of a novel high-throughput quantitative PCR monitoring platform. This included freshwater hatchery origin fish and samples taken at sea between ocean entry in spring and over-winter residence in coastal waters. These variants currently display opposite trends in productivity, with yearling stocks generally in decline and sub-yearling stocks doing comparatively well. We detected the presence of 32 agents, 21 of which were at >1% prevalence. Variants carried a different infectious agent profile in terms of (1) diversity, (2) origin or transmission environment of infectious agents, and (3) prevalence and abundance of individual agents. Differences in profiles tended to reflect differential timing and residence patterns through freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats. Over all seasons, individual salmon carried an average of 3.7 agents. Diversity changed significantly, increasing upon saltwater entrance, increasing through the fall and decreasing slightly in winter. Diversity varied between life history types with yearling individuals carrying 1.3-times more agents on average. Shifts in prevalence and load over time were examined to identify agents with the greatest potential for impact at the stock level; those displaying concurrent decrease in prevalence and load truncation with time. Of those six that had similar patterns in both variants, five reached higher prevalence in yearling fish while only one reached higher prevalence in sub-yearling fish; this pattern was present for an additional five agents in yearling fish only.
Baseline Is the feeding type related with the content of microplastics in intertidal fi sh gut ?

a Departamento de Ecología & Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ecología & Recursos Naturales, Universidad Andres Bello, 8370371 Santiago, Chile b Programa de Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Facultad de Ecología & Recursos Naturales, Universidad Andres Bello, 8370371 Santiago, Chile c Centro de Investigación e Innovación para el Cambio Climático(CiiCC), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Ejército146, 8370003 Santiago, Chile d Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica, 8331150 Santiago, Chile e Center for the Study of Multiple-drivers on Marine Socio-ecological Systems (MUSELS), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile f Fundación MERI, Santiago 7650720, Chile
Formation of Migrant Networks

This paper provides the first direct evidence on the determinants of link formation among immigrants in the host society. We use a purposely-designed survey on a representative sample of Sri Lankan immigrants living in Milan to study how migrants form social links among them and the extent to which this network provides them with material support along three different dimensions: accommodation, credit, job-finding. Our results show that both weak and strong ties are more likely to exist between immigrants who are born in close-by localities at origin. The time of arrival has a U-shaped effect: links are more frequent between immigrants arrived at the same time, and between long-established immigrants and newcomers. Once the link is formed, material support is provided mainly to relatives while early migrant fellows are helpful for job finding.
Homozygous and double heterozygous Factor V Leiden and Factor II G20210A genotypes predispose infants to thromboembolism but are not associated with an increase of foetal loss

Summary Prospective and controlled data about the individual risk profile in asymptomatic children with homozygous or double heterozygous risk genotypes for Factor V Leiden (FVL) and factor II (FII) G20210A are currently unavailable. The systematic and prospective observational study presented here was designed to determine the impact of the homozygous and double heterozygous FVL and FII G20210A genotypes on the prenatal and postnatal risk profiles of affected children. Risk infants and heterozygous controls were identified by screening of 85,304 neonates. Follow-up included the comparison of prenatal and postnatal development, ultrasonography of brain and kidneys, and a panel of independent determinants of thrombophilia. The numbers of identified or expected FVL homozygotes and double heterozygotes did not differ significantly (FVL: 116 ver-sus 91, p=0.08; FVL/FII: 94 versus 76, p=0.17), indicating the absence of a prenatal disadvantage. A prenatal advantage was suggested in FII homozygotes, whose identified number far exceeded the expected (19 versus 4, p=0.002). Clinical and/or imaging abnormalities indicated spontaneous thromboembolic events in 4 of 129 risk infants (3%) but in none of the 178 controls (p=0.02). Physical and neurological development was normal in both groups during the first 2 years of life. The risk genotypes appear to confer a significant predisposition for spontaneous thromboembolic events in infancy without impeding development within the first two years of life. Foetal risk genotypes do not cause an increased foetal loss rate. Moreover, homozygous FII G20210A appears to be associated with a prenatal advantage.
Isolation of oxidase-negative Aeromonas salmonicida from diseased turbot Scophthalmus maximus.

: The first outbreak of dlsease due to an atyplcal Aeromonas salmonicida among turbot Scophthalmus maxi-mus (L.) in Denmark is reported. The causal organism was oxidase-negative, non-pigmented, and slow-growing. Additionally it differed from the typical strains in a number of bio-chemical characters. The mortality among turbot in the farm was high but was responsive to antlmlcrobial therapy.
Cost effectiveness of adult intensive care in the UK

We wished to investigate whether intensive care represents good value for money to the National Health Service in the UK using cost‐effectiveness analysis. We developed a cost‐effectiveness model using secondary data sources to estimate the incremental cost per quality adjusted life year gained of treatment in intensive care vs non‐intensive care treatment in adults. Estimates of hospital mortality with and without intensive care were obtained from seven published studies and from data published by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre. Quality of life estimates were obtained from a literature review and NHS reference costs were used. Relative to non‐intensive care treatment, the incremental cost per quality adjusted life year gained of treatment in intensive care is £7010. This figure is sensitive to the mortality risk reduction associated with intensive care. Despite the high daily cost of intensive care, its cost‐effectiveness is excellent and compares favourably with other commonly used health interventions. Our findings suggest that adult intensive care represents good value for money.
An Analysis of The American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th Edition T Staging System for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Background The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) removed microscopic extrathyroidal extension (ETE) from the 8th edition T staging for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) based on increasing evidence that it is not an independent prognostic factor. Objectives We compared the prognostic performance of AJCC 7th (pT7) and 8th (pT8) edition T stage systems, particularly in patients ≥55 years old without macroscopic ETE or distant metastases in whom T classification affects AJCC Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage. Method A retrospective analysis of disease-free survival (DFS) in 577 patients with PTC comparing pT8 vs pT7 using the Akaike information criterion (AIC), Harrell's C-index, and Proportion of Variation Explained (PVE). Results Of 105 patients with AJCC7 T3 disease, 74 were down-staged. Overall, the prognostic performance of pT7 and pT8 was similar. However, in patients ≥55 years old without macroscopic ETE or distant metastases, pT8 was inferior to pT7 on the basis of higher AIC, lower C-index (0.67 vs 0.76), and lower PVE (30% vs 45%). In this subset, microscopic ETE was associated with multiple other adverse prognostic features and reduced DFS (hazard ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 5.2; P = 0.002), irrespective of tumor size. Discussion In our cohort, pT8 was inferior to pT7 in patients ≥55 years old without macroscopic ETE or distant metastases in whom T classification affects TNM stage. Microscopic ETE was strongly associated with other adverse prognostic factors and reduced DFS in this patient subgroup and may be an effective surrogate for disease biology in PTC, irrespective of whether it is an independent prognostic factor.
Mild TBI and risk of Parkinson disease

Objective Our aim was to assess risk of Parkinson disease (PD) following traumatic brain injury (TBI), including specifically mild TBI (mTBI), among care recipients in the Veterans Health Administration. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we identified all patients with a TBI diagnosis in Veterans Health Administration databases from October 2002 to September 2014 and age-matched 1:1 to a random sample of patients without TBI. All patients were aged 18 years and older without PD or dementia at baseline. TBI exposure and severity were determined via detailed clinical assessments or ICD-9 codes using Department of Defense and Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center criteria. Baseline comorbidities and incident PD more than 1 year post-TBI were identified using ICD-9 codes. Risk of PD after TBI was assessed using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for demographics and medical/psychiatric comorbidities. Results Among 325,870 patients (half with TBI; average age 47.9 ± 17.4 years; average follow-up 4.6 years), 1,462 were diagnosed with PD during follow-up. Compared to no TBI, those with TBI had higher incidence of PD (no TBI 0.31%, all-severity TBI 0.58%, mTBI 0.47%, moderate-severe TBI 0.75%). In adjusted models, all-severity TBI, mTBI, and moderate-severe TBI were associated with increased risk of PD (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: all-severity TBI 1.71 [1.53–1.92]; mTBI 1.56 [1.35–1.80]; moderate-severe TBI 1.83 [1.61–2.07]). Conclusions Among military veterans, mTBI is associated with 56% increased risk of PD, even after adjusting for demographics and medical/psychiatric comorbidities. This study highlights the importance of TBI prevention, long-term follow-up of TBI-exposed veterans, and the need to determine mechanisms and modifiable risk factors for post-TBI PD.
Biomarkers of Sepsis and Bloodstream Infections: The Role of Procalcitonin and Proadrenomedullin With Emphasis in Patients With Cancer

Sepsis and bloodstream infections remain a leading cause of death in immunocompromised patients with cancer. The management of these serious infections consist of empiric use of antimicrobial agents which are often overused. Procalcitonin and proadrenomedullin are biomarkers that have been extensively evaluated in the general populations but with little emphasis in the population immunocompromised patients with cancer, where they may have promising roles in the management of febrile patients. In this review, we summarize the available evidence of the potential role of these available biomarkers in guiding antimicrobial therapy to optimize the use of resources in the general patient population. Special emphasis is given to the role of these 2 biomarkers in the immunocompromised and critically ill patients with cancer, highlighting the distinctive utility of each.
Chloroplast haplotype variation among monoecious and dioecious populations of Sagittaria latifolia (Alismataceae) in eastern North America

Aquatic plants commonly have extensive geographical distributions, implying few restrictions to dispersal. Here we investigate the postglacial history of an aquatic plant with contrasting sexual systems (monoecy and dioecy), which are predicted to affect dispersal ability. We examined the distribution of cpDNA haplotypes using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) among 76 populations (32 monoecious, 38 dioecious, two mixed and four undetermined populations) of Sagittaria latifolia sampled throughout eastern North America. We also use these data to investigate the polarity of the evolutionary transition between monoecy and dioecy. Using PCR–RFLP, we identified eight cpDNA haplotypes. All haplotypes were found in unglaciated areas of the species’ range, clustered primarily in the southeastern United States, providing evidence that glacial refugia probably occurred in this area. Genetic diversity (hT) was more than six times greater among monoecious compared to dioecious populations. All seven of the haplotypes for which the sexual system could be determined were represented among monoecious populations. In contrast, only four haplotypes were detected in dioecious populations and 94% of individuals from dioecious populations possessed a single haplotype. Monoecious populations possessing this widespread haplotype were restricted to the southern portion of the range, indicating that dioecy probably originated in this region and then spread northwards. The distribution of cpDNA haplotypes in dioecious populations represents a subset of the variation found in monoecious populations, a pattern expected if dioecy has evolved from monoecy in S. latifolia.
Identifying Undirected Network Structure via Semidefinite Relaxation

We address the problem of inferring an undirected graph from nodal observations, which are modeled as non-stationary graph signals generated by local diffusion dynamics on the unknown network. We propose a two-step approach where we first estimate the unknown diffusion (graph) filter, from which we recover the eigenvectors of the so-called graph-shift operator (a matrix representation of the graph). We then estimate the eigenvalues by imposing desirable properties on the graph to be recovered. To carry out the initial system identification step, we assume that second-order statistics of the inputs are available. While such quadratic filter identification problem boils down to a non-convex fourth order polynomial minimization, we propose a semidefinite relaxation with provable performance guarantees. Finally, numerical tests illustrate the use of the proposed algorithm to unveil urban mobility patterns.
Lead: An Environmental Neurotoxic Agent

Citation: Lang JH, Condello III AV (2017) Lead: An Environmental Neurotoxic Agent. J Headache Pain Manag Vol. 2 No.3:13 The metal lead (Pb) has been well established as a toxic agent to man, other organisms and the environment [1,2]. There is no essential biochemical or physiological function for this metal. Hazards of lead have been recognized for thousands of years with physiological ailments being reported since antiquity. Most risks have been associated with high levels of exposure and the industrial environment. This concept of hazards from lead has, in part, continued today where the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration permissible exposure level has remained the same for decades; although, current research has shown dramatic health effects from low exposure levels [1]. From a public health prospective, lead is a legacy pollutant that arose from leaded gasoline, lead-based paint, lead pipes/solder and industrial activities. Lead can impact a large number of organ systems including the renal, blood, nervous, reproductive, and has been identified as an ototoxic substance [3,4]. Occupational exposure levels have dramatically declined over the last 20 years [5], which has in some circles reduced concern for this metal. Current events, such as observed in Flint, Michigan and other locations, have resulted in the re-emergence of environmental concerns for lead [6]. Lead can substitute for other metals that are considered to be essential including bivalent cations (Zn2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+) and monovalent cations (Na+) [7,8]. It has been suggested that the site of action for lead appears to be associated with locations of zinc and calcium on proteins [9]. Thus, cation interaction is an important mechanism for many of the molecular pathways involving this metal [10]. Most discuss calcium in association with lead, which appears to not be predominant as a physiological mechanism (e.g. bone) related to toxicity at low levels.
Epidemiological trends in skin cancer

Skin cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), represents the most common type of malignancy in the white population. The incidence rate of melanoma is increasing worldwide, while the associated mortality remains stable, or is slightly decreasing. On the other hand, the incidence for NMSC varies widely, with the highest rates reported in Australia. In the current review, we highlight recent global trends in epidemiology of skin cancer. We discuss controversial issues raised in current epidemiological data, we analyze the most important risk factors associated with the development of melanoma and NMSC and the impact of skin cancer on health care services. Furthermore, we underline the pressing need for improved registration policies, especially for NMSC, and lastly, we refer to the ongoing primary and secondary prevention strategies and their outcomes so far.
Demersal assemblages of the continental shelf and slope edge between the Gulf of Tehuantepec (Mexico) and the Gulf of Papagayo (Costa Rica)

The structure of demersal assemblages (fish, crustaceans and cephalopods) of the continental shelf and upper slope between the Gulf of Tehuantepec and the Gulf of Papagayo was studied from data obtained in the course of surveys carried out by the RV 'Dr. F. Nansen' in 1987, by means of an ordination techmque, Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) implemented by the program DECORANA, and a classification technique, Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (nVIA) implemented by the program TWINSPAN. Three major groups of species were identified: those distributed above the thermocline, those within the range of the thermocline and a thud group below the thermocline, where oxygen content is extremely low. Highest biomass densities were found below the thermochne, consisting mainly of the galatheid crustacean Pleuroncodes monodon (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) Correlation of DCA Axis 1 with depth, temperature, salinity and oxygen showed that depth is the main gradient along which fauna1 changes occur.
New evidence for infant colour categories

Bornstein, Kessen, and Weiskopf (1976) reported that pre-linguistic infants perceive colour categorically for primary boundaries: Following habituation, dishabituation only occurred if the test stimulus was from a different adult category to the original. Here, we replicated this important study and extended it to include secondary boundaries, with a crucial modification: The separations between habituated and novel stimuli were equated in a perceptually uniform metric (Munsell), rather than in wavelength. Experiment 1 found Categorical Perception and no within-category novelty preference for primary boundary blue-green and secondary boundary blue-purple. Experiment 2 replicated the categorical effect for blue-purple and found no within-category novelty preference with increased stimulus separation. Experiment 3 showed category effects for a lightness/saturation boundary, pink-red. Novelty preference requires a categorical difference between the habituated and novel stimulus. The implications for the origin of linguistic colour categories are discussed.
Multiple Inference and Gender Differences in the Effects of Early Intervention: A Reevaluation of the Abecedarian, Perry Preschool, and Early Training Projects

The view that the returns to educational investments are highest for early childhood interventions is widely held and stems primarily from several influential randomized trials—Abecedarian, Perry, and the Early Training Project—that point to super-normal returns to early interventions. This article presents a de novo analysis of these experiments, focusing on two core issues that have received limited attention in previous analyses: treatment effect heterogeneity by gender and overrejection of the null hypothesis due to multiple inference. To address the latter issue, a statistical framework that combines summary index tests with familywise error rate and false discovery rate corrections is implemented. The first technique reduces the number of tests conducted; the latter two techniques adjust the p values for multiple inference. The primary finding of the reanalysis is that girls garnered substantial short- and long-term benefits from the interventions, but there were no significant long-term benefits for boys. These conclusions, which have appeared ambiguous when using “naive” estimators that fail to adjust for multiple testing, contribute to a growing literature on the emerging female–male academic achievement gap. They also demonstrate that in complex studies where multiple questions are asked of the same data set, it can be important to declare the family of tests under consideration and to either consolidate measures or report adjusted and unadjusted p values.
Universal Effectiveness of Inducing Magnetic Moments in Graphene by Amino-Type sp3-Defects

Inducing magnetic moments in graphene is very important for its potential application in spintronics. Introducing sp3-defects on the graphene basal plane is deemed as the most promising approach to produce magnetic graphene. However, its universal validity has not been very well verified experimentally. By functionalization of approximately pure amino groups on graphene basal plane, a spin-generalization efficiency of ~1 μB/100 NH2 was obtained for the first time, thus providing substantial evidence for the validity of inducing magnetic moments by sp3-defects. As well, amino groups provide another potential sp3-type candidate to prepare magnetic graphene.