Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphology of the franciscana ( Pontoporia blainvillei ) off southeastern Brazil: sexual dimorphism, growth and geographic variation

Variations in body and skull morphology may exhibit geographic differences evidencing distinct population stocks. The objectives of the present study were to analyze such variation to test the hypothesis of a disjunct distribution of the franciscana ( Pontoporia blainvillei ) off the southeastern coast of Brazil. Body length and 39 cranial variables were measured from bycaught animals to considere sexual, ontogenetic and geographic variations. The areas studied were Espirito Santo (ES) (18°30'S-19°40'S), northern Rio de Janeiro (NRJ) (21°35'S-22°25'S) and Sao Paulo (SP) (23°30'S-25°30'S). Franciscanas from NRJ and SP presented significant sexual dimorphism, with the means for the metric characters larger for females than for males. Sexual dimorphism for franciscanas from ES was not examined due to limited sample size. The growth pattern for body and skull did not indicate clinal variation. The asymptotic values obtained for franciscanas from SP were smaller than the values obtained for franciscanas from NRJ and ES. Canonical discriminant analysis of the cranial metric characters indicated significant differences among the three geographic areas. Differences between areas ES and NRJ accounted for 85%; of the variation (axis 1). The remaining 15%; (axis 2) was due to difference between the area SP from the others. The geographic variation supports the hypothesis stock division in southeast Brazil; allopatry might be present. Therefore, three franciscana stocks from the southeastern coast of Brazil should be considered distinct for conservation and management actions.
ulpal Inflammation and Incidence of Coronary Heart isease aumudi

F t v ( a bstract ulpal inflammation is primarily caused by coronal cares, and leads to root canal therapy (RCT). Chronic nflammation has been associated with various cardioascular diseases. This study evaluates the association etween pulpal inflammation (using RCT as a surroate) and incident coronary heart disease (CHD). We eport results among males from the Health Professionls Follow-Up Study (HPFS), excluding participants with rior cardiovascular disease or diabetes. We obtained CT data from the HPFS cohort (n 34,683). Comared to men without RCT, those with 1 RCT had a ultivariate RR of 1.21 (95% CI 1.05-1.40) for CHD. he association was limited to dentists (RR 1.38; 5% CI 1.14-1.67). There was no association among ondentists (RR 1.03). Dental caries was not assoiated with CHD. The results suggest a possible modest ssociation between pulpal inflammation and CHD. (J ndod 2006;32:99–103)
The Biology of Trust: Integrating Evidence From Genetics, Endocrinology, and Functional Brain Imaging

Trust is among the most important factors in human life, as it pervades almost all domains of society. Although behavioral research has revealed a number of insights into the nature of trust, as well as its antecedents and consequences, an increasing number of scholars have begun to investigate the topic from a biological perspective to gain a deeper understanding. These biological investigations into trust have been carried out on three levels of analysis: genes, endocrinology, and the brain. Based on these three levels, we present a review of the literature on the biology of trust. Moreover, we integrate our findings into a conceptual framework which unifies the three levels of analysis, and we also link the biological levels to trust behavior. The results show that trust behavior is at least moderately genetically predetermined. Moreover, trust behavior is associated with specific hormones, in particular oxytocin, as well as specific brain structures, which are located in the basal ganglia, limbic system, and the frontal cortex. Based on these results, we discuss both methodological and thematic implications.
Progress and Promise of Nitric Oxide‐Releasing Platforms

Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly potent radical with a wide spectrum of physiological activities. Depending on the concentration, it can enhance endothelial cell proliferation in a growth factor‐free medium, mediate angiogenesis, accelerate wound healing, but may also lead to tumor progression or induce inflammation. Due to its multifaceted role, NO must be administered at a right dose and at the specific site. Many efforts have focused on developing NO‐releasing biomaterials; however, NO short half‐life in human tissues only allows this molecule to diffuse over short distances, and significant challenges remain before the full potential of NO can be realized. Here, an overview of platforms that are engineered to release NO via catalytic or noncatalytic approaches is presented, with a specific emphasis on progress reported in the past five years. A number of NO donors, natural enzymes, and enzyme mimics are highlighted, and recent promising developments of NO‐releasing scaffolds, particles, and films are presented. In particular, key parameters of NO delivery are discussed: 1) NO payload, 2) maximum NO flux, 3) NO release half‐life, 4) time required to reach maximum flux, and 5) duration of NO release. Advantages and drawbacks are reviewed, and possible further developments are suggested.
Review of the stability of biochar in soils: predictability of O:C molar ratios

Biochar is not a structured homogeneous material; rather it possesses a range of chemical structures and a heterogeneous elemental composition. This variability is based on the conditions of pyrolysis and the biomass parent material, with biochar spanning the range of various forms of black carbon. Thereby, this variability induces a broad spectrum in the observed rates of reactivity and, correspondingly, the overall chemical and microbial stability. From evaluating the current biochar and black carbon degradation studies, there is the suggestion of an overall relationship in biochar stability as a function of the molar ratio of oxygen to carbon (O:C) in the resulting black carbon. In general, a molar ratio of O:C lower than 0.2 appears to provide, at minimum, a 1000-year biochar half-life. The O:C ratio is a function of production temperature, but also accounts for other impacts (e.g., parent material and post-production conditioning/oxidation) that are not captured solely with production temperature. Therefore, the O:C ratio could provide a more robust indicator of biochar stability than production parameters (e.g., pyrolysis temperature and biomass type) or volatile matter determinations.
“ ... BECAUSE ‘ OF ’ IS ALWAYS MINUS ... ”-STUDENTS EXPLAINING THEIR CHOICE OF OPERATIONS IN MULTIPLICATIVE WORD PROBLEMS WITH FRACTIONS

The correct choice of operations is well known to be an obstacle for students when solving word problems. The presented study contributes to the discussion on possible explanations by investigating explicitly given reasons for choices in a written test with 269 German grammar school students. It shows that no uni-dimensional account can be given for the multi-faceted phenomenon of choice of operation.
Community structure of hermatypic corals at Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands: unique conservation challenges within the Hawaiian archipelago

The distribution and abundance of scleractinian corals at Pearl and Hermes Atoll (PHA), Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, were determined by georeferenced towed-diver surveys that covered more than 85,000 m of benthic habitat and site-specific surveys at 34 sites during 000 – 00 . Three complementary methods (towed-diver surveys, videotransects, and photoquadrats) were used to quantify percent cover of corals by genus or species in the fore reef, back reef, lagoon, and channel habitats. Three genera —Porites, Montipora, and Pocillopora— account for 97% of the coral cover throughout the atoll, though their relative abundances vary considerably according to habitat and geographic sector within habitats. Fore-reef communities are dominated by massive and encrusting Porites, while the back reef is dominated by Montipora and the lagoon by Porites compressa. All taxa show habitat-specific differences in colony density and size-class distributions as assessed through colony counts within belt transects at fixed sites. These demographic data, which provide the most thorough quantitative description of the coral communities at PHA to date, are used to focus a discussion on risks of reef degradation from salient contemporary hazards, including bleaching, disease, marine debris, and Acanthaster predation. Coral communities at PHA may be the most vulnerable in the Hawaiian Archipelago to bleaching and accumulation of marine debris, thus warranting special management attention. These data also provide a detailed baseline to which population parameters determined from long-term monitoring surveys can be compared to assess the direction, pace, and drivers of change. 1 Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research and NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 11 5B Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 USA, Email: Jean.Kenyon@noaa.gov Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, 1151 Punchbowl, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 USA Manuscript received 8 December 2006; revised 5 February 2007.
Diamonds and the Geology of Mantle Carbon

### Introduction Earth’s carbon, derived from planetesimals in the 1 AU region during accretion of the Solar System, still retains similarities to carbon found in meteorites (Marty et al. 2013) even after 4.57 billion years of geological processing. The range in isotopic composition of carbon on Earth versus meteorites is nearly identical and, for both, diamond is a common, if volumetrically minor, carbon mineral (Haggerty 1999). Diamond is one of the three native carbon minerals on Earth (the other two being graphite and lonsdaleite). It can crystallize throughout the mantle below about 150 km and can occur metastably in the crust. Diamond is a rare mineral, occurring at the part-per-billion level even within the most diamondiferous volcanic host rock although some rare eclogites have been known to contain 10–15% diamond. As a trace mineral it is unevenly distributed and, except for occurrences in metamorphosed crustal rocks, it is a xenocrystic phase within the series of volcanic rocks (kimberlites, lamproites, ultramafic lamprohyres), which bring it to the surface and host it. The occurrence of diamond on Earth’s surface results from its unique resistance to alteration/dissolution and the sometimes accidental circumstances of its sampling by the volcanic host rock. Diamonds are usually the chief minerals left from their depth of formation, because intact diamondiferous mantle xenoliths are rare. Diamond has been intensively studied over the last 40 years to provide extraordinary information on our planet’s interior. For example, from the study of its inclusions, diamond is recognized as the only material sampling the “very deep” mantle to depths exceeding 800 km (Harte et al. 1999; McCammon 2001; Stachel and Harris 2009; Harte 2010) although most crystals (~95%) derive from shallower depths (150 to 250 km). Diamonds are less useful in determining carbon fluxes on Earth because they provide only a small, …
Integration of Point-of-care Ultrasound during Rapid Sequence Intubation in Trauma Resuscitation

Introduction: Airway and breathing management play critical role in trauma resuscitation. Early identification of esophageal intubation and detection of fatal events is critical. Authors studied the utility of integration of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) during different phases of rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in trauma resuscitation. Methods: It was prospective, randomized single-centered study conducted at the Emergency Department of a level one trauma center. Patients were divided into ultrasonography (USG) and clinical examination (CE) arm. The objectives were to study the utility of POCUS in endotracheal tube placement and confirmations and identification of potentially fatal conditions as tracheal injury, midline vessels, paratracheal hematoma, vocal cord pathology, pneumothorax, and others during RSI. Patient >1 year of age were included. Time taken for procedure, number of incorrect intubations, and pathologies detected were noted. The data were collected in Microsoft Excel spread sheets and analyzed using Stata (version 11.2, Stata Corp, Texas, U. S. A) software. Results: One hundred and six patients were recruited. The mean time for primary survey USG versus CE arm was (20 ± 10.01 vs. 18 ± 11.03) seconds. USG detected four pneumothorax, one tracheal injury, and one paratracheal hematoma. The mean procedure time USG versus CE arm was (37.3 ± 21.92 vs. 58 ± 32.04) seconds. Eight esophageal intubations were identified in USG arm by POCUS and two in CE arm by EtCO2 values. Conclusion: Integration of POCUS was useful in all three phases of RSI. It identified paratracheal hematoma, tracheal injury, and pneumothorax. It also identified esophageal intubation and confirmed main stem tracheal intubation in less time compared to five-point auscultation and capnography.
Isotope meteorology of cold front passages: A case study combining observations and modeling

This study investigates the role of below‐cloud evaporation and evapotranspiration for the short‐term variability of stable isotopes in near‐surface water vapor and precipitation associated with central European cold fronts. To this end, a combination of observations with high temporal resolution and numerical sensitivity experiments with the isotope‐enabled regional weather prediction model COSMOiso is used. The representation of the interaction between rain droplets and ambient vapor below the cloud is fundamental for adequately simulating precipitation isotopes (δp) and total rainfall amount. Neglecting these effects leads to depletion biases of 20–40‰ in δp2H and 5–10‰ in δp18O and to an increase of 74% in rainfall amount. Isotope fractionation during soil evaporation is of primary importance for correctly simulating the variability of continental low‐level vapor δv2 H and δv18 O and particularly of the secondary isotope parameter deuterium excess (dv).
Astragalus polysaccharide inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive-like behaviors and inflammatory response through regulating NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in rats

Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a natural compound extracted from astragalus membranaceus which has an antidepressant activity. Initially APS was studied for its immunomodulatory potential, and later was found to exhibit multiple pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory activity. More recently APS was shown to attenuate the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced neuroinflammation and improve the learning and memory ability of rats. The major objectives of this study were to investigate whether APS would exhibit antidepressant effects in an animal model of depression induced by LPS, and whether this effect might be associated with regulating nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Three groups of Wistar rats were injected LPS (i.p.), two groups of which were pretreated with APS (200 mg or 400 mg, i.p.). Behaviors were evaluated by forced swim test, saccharin preference test and open field test. Levels of NF-κB p65, phosphoNF-κB p65, phospho-IκBα, ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK, phospho-ERK1/2, phospho-JNK and phospho-p38 MAPK in hippocampus and hypothalamus were measured to assess the activities of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. In addition, levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 (both protein and mRNA levels) in hippocampus and hypothalamus were determined. Results showed LPS induced depressive behaviors, as well as activated the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in rats. APS treatment dose-dependently alleviated depressive-like symptoms and inhibited the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways induced by LPS. The data indicate an antidepressant-like activity of APS in a LPS-induced animal model of depression possibly via inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.
Review of "Real-World Personal Conversations Using a Hands-Free Embedded Wireless Device While Driving: Effect On Airbag Deployment

A compact, low-cost laminar disposable package and manufacture therefor, for use in surgical procedures. Such packages are used by medical personnel as convenient magnetic receptacles and use stations to receive medical sharps at point of use and, upon closure, the packages guard against chance loss of needles and other sharps while also guarding against injuries incidental to the disposal of surgical-medical sharps.
Relationship between Academic Self-Concept and Students’ Performance among School Age Children

Students’ academic performance plays an important role in producing the best quality graduates who will become great leader and manpower for the country thus responsible for the country economic and social development. This article sought to study the relationship between academic self-concept and students’ performance among school age children. A descriptive correlational design was utilized in this study. This article was carried out in freedom school for basic education boys and girls at Cairo governorate. A purposive sample was composed of 182 school age children and their teachers. Tools of data collection consisted of three parts: 1-Structured Questionnaire: it consisted of students’ socio-demographic characteristics including personal data; such as gender, age, and family history, family size. 2- Academic Self-Concept Scale, 3-Academic Performance Rating Scale. Results indicated that there was a significant statistical relationship between academic self-concept and students’ performance among school age children. This finding implies that there was a wide gap in how males develop their self-concept as compared with female students. The relationship between gender and academic performance was investigated. It was concluded that students’ academic self-concept can affect their performance. The students with high academic achievement receive reward and have more opportunities in future. The researchers recommended implementing psycho-educational program in formal and informal curriculum for parents, teachers to provide a chance for students express themselves and developing their self-esteem and self-confidence.
Biochar as a tool to reduce the agricultural greenhouse-gas burden – knowns, unknowns and future research needs

Agriculture and land use change has significantly increased atmospheric emissions of the non-CO2 green-house gases (GHG) nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4). Since human nutritional and bioenergy needs continue to increase, at a shrinking global land area for production, novel land management strategies are required that reduce the GHG footprint per unit of yield. Here we review the potential of biochar to reduce N2O and CH4 emissions from agricultural practices including potential mechanisms behind observed effects. Furthermore, we investigate alternative uses of biochar in agricultural land management that may significantly reduce the GHG-emissions-per-unit-of-product footprint, such as (i) pyrolysis of manures as hygienic alternative to direct soil application, (ii) using biochar as fertilizer carrier matrix for underfoot fertilization, biochar use (iii) as composting additive or (iv) as feed additive in animal husbandry or for manure treatment. We conclude that the largest future research needs lay in conducting life-cycle GHG assessments when using biochar as an on-farm management tool for nutrient-rich biomass waste streams.
Pharmacokinetic comparison of gossypol isomers in cattle: transfer from diet to plasma and degradation by rumen microbes

A pharmacokinetic comparison of gossypol isomers in cattle was made by investigating their transfer from ingested food to plasma and their degradation by rumen microbes. The gossypol isomers in whole cottonseed, plasma, and rumen fluid were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The intakes of (+)- and (−)- gossypol by cows on three farms were about 5.6–8.5 and 3.8–5.9 g/(d·herd), respectively. The plasma gossypol concentrations increased as ingestion increased and ranged from 0.31 to 0.48 μg/ml for the (+) form and from 0.39 to 0.59 μg/ml for the (−) form. The (+) form was slightly predominant (58.8%–59.8%) in the gossypol ingested by the cows, whereas the (−) form predominated (54.6%–55.9%) in the plasma. An in vitro study showed that at 6 h, 67.4% and 85.7% of the (−)-gossypol were degraded in 500 and 1000 μg/g treatment groups, respectively, and these increased to 83.6% and 92.5%, respectively, at 12 h. The regularity of the degradation of (+)-gossypol was similar to that of (−)-gossypol. These results showed that (−)-gossypol may be more persistent than (+)-gossypol in plasma, and that the degradation of the gossypol isomers in the rumen is rapid and not enantioselective in cattle. 摘要目的比较研究棉酚旋光异构体从日粮向血浆中转移以及瘤胃微生物的降解作用。 创新点从饲粮向血浆中吸收代谢以及瘤胃微生物降解角度揭示了棉酚旋光异构体在牛体内代谢差异,为棉酚毒理学评价、棉籽类产品在畜牧生产中合理 应用提供科学依据。 方法利用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定全棉籽、血浆及瘤胃发酵液中棉酚旋光异构体含量。 结论三个调研牛场奶牛日粮右旋、左旋棉酚摄入量分 别在5.6~8.5 和3.8~5.9 g/(d·herd) 之间。 血浆棉 酚含量与日粮棉酚摄入量呈正相关,右旋、左旋 棉酚浓度分别在0.31~0.48 和0.39~0.59 μg/ml 之 间。 奶牛摄入棉酚中右旋棉酚比率 (58.8%~59.8%)高于左旋棉酚,血浆中左旋棉 酚比率(54.6%~55.9%)高于右旋棉酚。 体外静 态培养试验发现:500 和1000 μg/g 组左旋棉酚的 降解率在6 小时后分别为67.4%和85.7%,12 小 时后降解率分别升高到83.6%和92.5%;同时, 棉酚旋光异构体之间降解规律相似。 结果表明: 相比于右旋棉酚,左旋棉酚在奶牛体内吸收率更 高,瘤胃微生物对棉酚旋光异构体的降解没有选 择性。
Effect of Single or Double Exposures to Hydrogen Peroxide or Iodine on Salmonid Egg Survival and Bacterial Growth

Abstract Four disinfection tests were conducted on the eggs of cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii, rainbow trout O. mykiss, and brown trout Salmo trutta. In each egg test, the effects of treating twice were determined, which simulated treatment at both the brood source and the receiving hatchery. Cutthroat trout eggs were treated at 1 h and again at 3 or 6 h after fertilization. Survival to the eyed stage was greater for eggs treated with 100 mg/L iodine for 10 min (86.9%) than with 1.5% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 2 min (82.4%); the timing of the second disinfection had no effect on egg survival. Bacterial growth was significantly greater among H2O2-treated eggs. For eyed rainbow trout eggs, 2,000 mg/L iodine for 10 min was toxic (<11% hatch), but eggs treated either once or twice with hydrogen peroxide (1% H2O2 for 2 min) survived to hatch, as did the controls. Bacterial growth was significantly greater on eggs treated with H2O2 than control eggs treated with 100 mg/L iodine for 10 min. In a subseque.
Technologically Mediated Political Discourse During a Nationally Televised GOP Primary Debate

ABSTRACT Social media creates a geographically independent commons that transforms citizen participation in political discourse. In our study, we examine 185,420 publicly available Twitter messages during a Republican primary debate in November 2011, hosted by CNN and viewed by over 3.5 million individuals in the United States. We identify how activity differs at various phases of a televised debate and who the subjects of this discourse are through analysis of how individuals use the syntactical features of Twitter such as at-mentions, at-replies, and URLs. Understanding how individuals engage with each other in an open forum has broad implications for understanding social media’s effect on civic engagement and information diffusion among elected officials, candidates, and citizens. Our findings suggest that a significant number of the syntactical features specific to Twitter are used to relay information, engage in discourse, and create new threads of discourse related to issues that are brought up during the debate. Although syntactical features signaling conversation are used, actual engagement is limited.