Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and intensity of occurrence of vaterite inclusions in aragonite otoliths of American eels Anguilla rostrata

The presence of vaterite mosaic in the aragonite otoliths of anguillid eel otoliths is read- ily determined by reflected light microscopy after etching with EDTA. The prevalence and intensity of vaterite inclusions in sagittal otoliths of 165 American eels Anguilla rostrata were examined in relation to latitude and migratory history. Prevalence varied significantly (range: 21.3 to 58.8%) among 3 rivers in Atlantic Canada and increased non-linearly with latitude. Habitat differences among sites may confound the relation because most (48%) vateritic otoliths came from eels with a history of estuarine residence and inter-habitat migration. The limited number of sites, restricted geo- graphic range and modest otolith sample sizes makes premature any conclusion that the prevalence of vateritic otoliths in American eels increases with latitude. The frequency of vaterite inclusions in otoliths (n = 63) was low (1 to 6) and did not vary among sites. Vaterite intensity was low (<5%, median = 0.21%, over all sites after excluding 7 outliers (11.1% of vaterite group) ranging to 37% vaterite content). Mean intensity varied significantly among sites, but the means are trivially low and of no practical consequence. Mean Sr:Ca concentration ratios were much lower (10 to 17%) in vaterite than in aragonite, leading to possible misidentification of habitat residence and migratory history, particularly for eels resident in saline waters. The presence of vaterite in anguillid eel otoliths is not an impediment to the use of microchemical analysis methods provided that vaterite inclusions are identified and avoided so as to prevent potentially serious misidentification of habitat residence and inter-habitat migratory history.
Does the Length of the First Antidepressant Treatment Episode Influence Risk and Time to a Second Episode?

Antidepressant treatment in primary care is inconsistent with treatment recommendations, and many patients discontinue treatment within 6 months. How this affects treatment outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess how length of the first antidepressant episode influences risk and time to a second treatment episode within 5 years. The study population included 9423 adults (67% women; mean age, 47.3 years) who initiated selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use in 1998 or 1999. Based on the length of the first antidepressant treatment episode, patients were divided into early discontinuers (<6 months), continuing users (6-12 months), and persistent users (>12 months). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate risk ratios (RRs) for the association between the length of the first antidepressant treatment episode and time to reinitiating antidepressant treatment. Time to a second treatment episode did not differ significantly between continuing users and early discontinuers (RR, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-1.07). Persistent users showed a higher risk of experiencing a second treatment episode than early discontinuers (RR, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.32). In conclusion, the risk of experiencing a second antidepressant treatment episode did not differ for those who used antidepressants for 6 to 12 months and those who discontinued early. In general, there is limited information on how length of an antidepressant treatment episode influences the risk of reinitiating treatment of patients in primary care. More research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of antidepressant drug treatment patterns in preventing relapse or recurrence in primary care populations.
Efficacy of an oral nutraceutical for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled prospective clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES To assess the safety and efficacy of an orally administered nutraceutical (Glu/CS+; + for additional ingredient) for the treatment of clinical osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, client-owned dogs with clinical signs of OA in one or more joints were assigned to a Glu/CS+ (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) group. Dogs were administered Glu/CS+ or placebo orally and wore an activity monitor (AM) continuously throughout a 97 day study period. Prior to the initiation of the treatment, seven days of baseline activity was collected. On days -7, 30, 60 and 90 of the study, owners completed a patient assessment form (Canine Brief Pain Inventory). Data between groups were compared. RESULTS No serious adverse events were reported. No difference was found between groups when evaluating daily activity counts during the seven-day pre-treatment period and the 90-day treatment period. Owner assessment (pain interference and pain severity scores) improved over the 90-day treatment period for both groups, however no difference was found between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with oral Glu/CS+ for a 90 day treatment period when compared to placebo treatment did not result in a significant increase in activity counts in dogs with clinical OA. However, owner assessment scores similarly improved throughout the study period for dogs in both groups, suggesting a caregiver placebo effect in this outcome measure.
No . 228 A Model of Vertical Oligopolistic Competition

This paper develops a model of successive oligopolies with endogenous market entry, allowing for varying degrees of product differentiation and entry costs in both markets. Our analysis shows that the downstream conditions dominate the overall profitability of the two-tier structure while the upstream conditions mainly affect the distribution of profits. We compare the welfare effects of upstream versus downstream deregulation policies and show that the impact of deregulation may be overvalued when ignoring feedback effects from the other market. Furthermore, we analyze how different forms of vertical restraints influence the endogenous market structure and show when they are welfare enhancing. JEL classification: L13, D43, L40, L50
On the efficacy of a computer-based program to teach visual Braille reading.

Scheithauer and Tiger (2012) created an efficient computerized program that taught 4 sighted college students to select text letters when presented with visual depictions of Braille alphabetic characters and resulted in the emergence of some braille reading. The current study extended these results to a larger sample (n = 81) and compared the efficacy and efficiency of the instructional program using 2 different response modalities. One variation of the program required a response in a multiple-choice format, and the other variation required a keyed response. Both instructional programs resulted in increased braille letter identification and braille reading. These skills were maintained at a follow-up session 7 to 14 days later. The mean time needed to complete the program was 22.8 min across participants. Implications of these results for future research, as well as practical implications for teaching the braille alphabet, are discussed.
Treatment with indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine in adults with human immunodeficiency virus infection and prior antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND The new protease inhibitors are potent inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and in combination with other antiretroviral drugs they may be able to cause profound and sustained suppression of HIV replication. METHODS In this double-blind study, 97 HIV-infected patients who had received zidovudine treatment for at least 6 months and had 50 to 400 CD4 cells per cubic millimeter and at least 20,000 copies of HIV RNA per milliliter were randomly assigned to one of three treatments for up to 52 weeks: 800 mg of indinavir every eight hours; 200 mg of zidovudine every eight hours combined with 150 mg of lamivudine twice daily; or all three drugs. The patients were followed to monitor the occurrence of adverse events and changes in viral load and CD4 cell counts. RESULTS The decrease in HIV RNA over the first 24 weeks was greater in the three-drug group than in the other groups (P<0.001 for each comparison). RNA levels decreased to less than 500 copies per milliliter at week 24 in 28 of 31 patients in the three-drug group (90 percent), 12 of 28 patients in the indinavir group (43 percent), and none of 30 patients in the zidovudine-lamivudine group. The increase in CD4 cell counts over the first 24 weeks was greater in the two groups receiving indinavir than in the zidovudine-lamivudine group (P< or =0.01 for each comparison). The changes in the viral load and the CD4 cell count persisted for up to 52 weeks. All the regimens were generally well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS In most HIV-infected patients with prior antiretroviral therapy, the combination of indinavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine reduces levels of HIV RNA to less than 500 copies per milliliter for as long as one year.
Homoserine Toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans Homoserine Kinase (thr1Δ) Mutants

ABSTRACT In addition to threonine auxotrophy, mutation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae threonine biosynthetic genes THR1 (encoding homoserine kinase) and THR4 (encoding threonine synthase) results in a plethora of other phenotypes. We investigated the basis for these other phenotypes and found that they are dependent on the toxic biosynthetic intermediate homoserine. Moreover, homoserine is also toxic for Candida albicansthr1Δ mutants. Since increasing levels of threonine, but not other amino acids, overcome the homoserine toxicity of thr1Δ mutants, homoserine may act as a toxic threonine analog. Homoserine-mediated lethality of thr1Δ mutants is blocked by cycloheximide, consistent with a role for protein synthesis in this lethality. We identified various proteasome and ubiquitin pathway components that either when mutated or present in high copy numbers suppressed the thr1Δ mutant homoserine toxicity. Since the doa4Δ and proteasome mutants identified have reduced ubiquitin- and/or proteasome-mediated proteolysis, the degradation of a particular protein or subset of proteins likely contributes to homoserine toxicity.
HYPERTENSION AFTER ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE IN OLDER PATIENTS: EFFECT ON NEUROLOGICAL OUTCOME

each with a predilection for supplying particular groups of nuclei: the tuberothalamic, inferolateral, posterior choroidal, and paramedian vessels. The thalamic arteries vary between individuals. A nucleus can be vascularized by different vascular territories. In some cases (as in our first observation), a single paramedian artery supplies both sides, resulting in a bilateral paramedian thalamic infarct when occluded. Tuberothalamic and paramedian artery infarction produce neuropsychological disturbances: impairment of new learning, which is sometimes referred to as ‘‘diencephalic amnesia’’ (occasionally mimicking Korsakoff-like amnesia), disorientation, behavioral disorders (e.g., disinhibition, aggressiveness, apathy, loss of psychic self activation), language disturbances if left-sided (paraphasias, reduced verbal fluency, impaired comprehension), and frontal symptoms (perseverations). In the first observation, the computed tomography scan was normal, and MRI established the correct diagnosis by revealing limited vascular lesions in the thalamus. Accordingly, MRI should be considered whenever the clinical profile is atypical, especially when cognitive impairment is exclusively limited to memory disorders and frontal dysfunction (with preservation of language, praxis, or gnosis).
Electronic cigarettes and conventional cigarette use among U.S. adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE To examine e-cigarette use and conventional cigarette smoking. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cross-sectional analyses of survey data from a representative sample of US middle and high school students in 2011 (n = 17 353) and 2012 (n = 22 529) who completed the 2011 and 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey. EXPOSURES Ever and current e-cigarette use. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Experimentation with, ever, and current smoking, and smoking abstinence. RESULTS Among cigarette experimenters (1 puff), ever e-cigarette use was associated with higher odds of ever smoking cigarettes (100 cigarettes; odds ratio [OR] = 6.31; 95% CI, 5.39-7.39) and current cigarette smoking (OR = 5.96; 95% CI, 5.67-6.27). Current e-cigarette use was positively associated with ever smoking cigarettes (OR = 7.42; 95% CI, 5.63-9.79) and current cigarette smoking (OR = 7.88; 95% CI, 6.01-10.32). In 2011, current cigarette smokers who had ever used e-cigarettes were more likely to intend to quit smoking within the next year (OR = 1.53; 95% CI, 1.03-2.28). Among experimenters with conventional cigarettes, ever use of e-cigarettes was associated with lower 30-day (OR = 0.24; 95% CI, 0.21-0.28), 6-month (OR = 0.24; 95% CI, 0.21-0.28), and 1-year (OR = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.21-0.30) abstinence from cigarettes. Current e-cigarette use was also associated with lower 30-day (OR = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.08-0.15), 6-month (OR = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.08-0.15), and 1-year (OR = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.07-0.18) abstinence. Among ever smokers of cigarettes (100 cigarettes), ever e-cigarette use was negatively associated with 30-day (OR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.42-0.89), 6-month (OR = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.33-0.83), and 1-year (OR = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.18-0.56) abstinence from conventional cigarettes. Current e-cigarette use was also negatively associated with 30-day (OR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.18-0.69), 6-month (OR = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.13-0.68), and 1-year (OR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.13-0.87) abstinence. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Use of e-cigarettes was associated with higher odds of ever or current cigarette smoking, higher odds of established smoking, higher odds of planning to quit smoking among current smokers, and, among experimenters, lower odds of abstinence from conventional cigarettes. Use of e-cigarettes does not discourage, and may encourage, conventional cigarette use among U.S. adolescents.
Expansion of restricted sample for underwater acoustic signal based on generative adversarial networks

Recently, deep learning has developed rapidly, which has made significant progress in tasks such as target detection and classification. Compared with traditional methods, using deep learning techniques contribute to achieve higher detection accuracy, recognition rate, and other better performance with big data set. In the fields of radar and sonar especially like underwater acoustic signals, training samples are scarce due to the difficulty of the collection or security reason, which leads to poor performance of the classification models, as those need big training samples. In this paper, we present a novel framework based on Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) to resolve the problem of insufficient samples for the underwater acoustic signals. Our method preprocesses the audio samples to the gray-scale spectrum images, so that, those can fit the GAN to captures the features and reduce the complexity at the same time. Then our method utilizes an independent classification network outside the GAN to evaluate the generated samples by GAN. The experimental results show that the samples generated by our approach outperform existing methods with higher quality, which can significantly improve the prediction accuracy of the classification model.
Region-specific magnetic fields structure sea turtle populations

Philopatry and long distance migrations are common in the animal kingdom, of which sea turtles are flagship examples. Recent studies have suggested sea turtles use the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate across ocean basins to return to their natal area, yet the mechanisms underlying this process remain unknown. If true though, the genetic structure at nesting sites should positively correlate with differences in location-specific magnetic vectors within nesting regions. Here, we confirm this working hypothesis but only in certain regions of the world and for all sea turtle species nesting in those regions. Reversely, where no correlations were found between genetic differentiation and geomagnetic vectors, this was the case for all nesting sea turtle species. Our approach hence reveals parallel but not universal use of geomagnetic cues in sea turtles. We describe magneto-sensing regions as characterized by sharp clines of total and vertical field intensity vectors offering the navigation cues that increase philopatric accuracy and promote genetic structuring among sea turtle populations.
CT angiography of the renal arteries: comparison of lower-tube-voltage CTA with moderate-concentration iodinated contrast material and conventional CTA.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to investigate the feasibility of an 80-kVp protocol using a moderate-concentration contrast medium (CM) for CT angiography of the renal arteries by comparison with a conventional 120-kVp protocol using a high-concentration CM. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Attenuation values and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) were determined in a phantom for the 120-kVp protocol with a high-concentration CM and the 80-kVp protocol with a moderate-concentration CM. In addition, 50 patients were prospectively enrolled in the study: 25 were scanned with 120 kVp and 200 effective mAs (mAs(eff)) after the administration of 110 mL of high-concentration CM (370 mg I/mL), and the other 25 were scanned with 80 kVp and 585 mAs(eff) after the administration of 110 mL of moderate-concentration CM (300 mg I/mL). Images of the two groups were compared in terms of arterial attenuation, SNR, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and subjective degree of arterial enhancement and image quality. RESULTS The mean attenuation of the main renal artery was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the 80-kVp group who received moderate-concentration CM (mean ± SD, 370.0 ± 65.0 HU) than in the 120-kVp group who received high-concentration CM (269.9 ± 27.8 HU) without significant differences in SNR and CNR values. The 80-kVp protocol had significantly higher quality scores for arterial enhancement, sharpness of the artery, and overall diagnostic quality compared with the 120-kVp protocol. The effective dose of the 80-kVp protocol (4.5 mSv) was 8.2% lower than that of the 120-kVp protocol (4.9 mSv). CONCLUSION The use of 80 kVp with moderate-concentration CM could improve arterial enhancement and provide superior image quality with a smaller amount of iodine and a lower radiation dose.
Compact and wideband MMIC frequency converters

A V-band MMIC up-converter and a down-converter were designed and tested. The up-converter has novel balanced configuration using uniplanar structure. The down-converter includes RF and LO amplifiers and were integrated into a compact single chip. Measured performance of the down-converter includes conversion gain of 3.9 dB ±1.2 dB for 10 GHz bandwidth. The up-converter showed conversion loss of 14.7 dB ± 1.5 dB and LO was suppressed more than 12 dB lower than desired output.
Gesture is More Effective than Spatial Language in Encoding Spatial Information

The present research investigates whether producing gestures with and without speech facilitates route learning at different levels of route complexity and in learners with different levels of spatial skills. It also examines whether the facilitation effect of gesture is stronger than that of spatial language. Adults studied routes with 10, 13, and 16 steps and reconstructed them with sticks, either without rehearsal or after rehearsal by producing gestures with speech, gestures alone, or speech only. For all levels of route complexity and spatial skills, participants who were encouraged to gesture (with or without speech) during rehearsal had the best recall. Additionally, we found that number of steps rehearsed in gesture, but not that rehearsed in speech, predicted the recall accuracy. Thus, gesture is more effective than spatial language in encoding spatial information, and thereby enhancing spatial recall. These results further corroborate the beneficial nature of gesture in processing spatial information.
Consensus statements and recommended clinical procedures regarding loading protocols.

Treatment with dental implants has proven to be a predictable modality for replacing missing or failing teeth with various types of fixed or removable dental prostheses. A large body of scientific evidence of varying quality has demonstrated that successful outcomes can be achieved with different clinical treatment protocols for a wide range of indications. While it was traditionally thought that healing periods of 3 to 6 months combined with submersion of implants under the oral mucosa was critical for predictable osseointegration of dental implants, modified surgical and loading protocols have demonstrated similar outcomes over time. Loading protocols for dental implants have been a central focus of discussion in the field since the origin of osseointegration. Several consensus conferences have been held on the topic, and recommendations have been published based on the evidence available at the time. Multiple factors have been found to influence and/or alter the quality and predictability of various loading protocols for completely and partially edentulous arches. These factors include the health of the patient; oral conditions such as periodontal status, occlusion, and function/parafunction; characteristics of the proposed implant site; implant size and shape; implant material and surface properties; and timing and methodology of implant placement, including primary implant stability, loading procedures, and long-term maintenance. These factors remain relevant, and because implants as well as associated materials and procedures have evolved, continued evaluation remains important. The predictable optimization of treatment outcomes through more efficient treatment methods based on sound science remains a valid goal for both clinician and patient. This group was asked to critically discuss and evaluate the current evidence relating to loading protocols for dental implants. Four position papers had been prepared by group members to facilitate the deliberations. These individuals had been invited by the Consensus Conference Committee well ahead of the conference to prepare their reviews. The papers were distributed to all group members for individual study and preparation prior to the meeting. The reviewers were asked to present a summation of the quality and quantity of existing literature relating to loading protocols for dental implants in edentulous arches, the posterior maxilla, the posterior mandible, and the anterior maxilla (esthetic zone). Further, each reviewer presented conclusions, from which group discussion could be initiated. At the conference, each position paper was openly discussed and critically evaluated. At the outset of the first session, the group revisited the conclusions and consensus statements from the previous ITI Consensus Conference, held in Gstaad, Switzerland, in 2003, and published by Cochran and coworkers,1 as well as the various definitions for loading protocols from other organizations.2–4