Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecotypic variation in phosphorus-acquisition mechanisms within marine picocyanobacteria

Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus are major prokaryotic primary producers in the oligotrophic oceans that may be affected by the climate-related increases in nitrogen fixation and subsequent phosphorus (P) limitation in some parts of the oceans. Evidence that Prochlorococcus populations in the North Pacific subtropical gyre (NPSG) have increased over the past decades, possibly due to having a competitive advantage under conditions of P limitation, suggests aspects of their P physiology that are important for dictating their in situ success. Here, we compared the physiology of P acquisition and response to P stress (indicated by alkaline phosphatase activity, APA) among isolates of Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus representing different genotypic clades within the marine picophytoplankton lineage (sensu Urbach et al. 1998: J Mol Evol 46:188-201). The 2 Synechococcus isolates examined (WH 8102 and WH 7803) can utilize a wide variety of organic P sources. Of the 3 Prochlorococcus isolates examined, only the HLI genotype, MED4, is capable of growth on a variety of organic P sources. Under conditions of P starvation the 2 Synechococcus strains and Prochlorococcus MED4 exhibit significant increases in APA, above their measurable constitutive activities. The genomes of the Synechococcus strains and Prochlorococcus MED4 indicate the presence of many P-uptake and -regulatory genes required under conditions of P stress, including the phoA gene that encodes for an alkaline phosphatase enzyme. The other isolates of Prochloro- coccus, HLII MIT 9312 and LLIV MIT 9313, have distinctly different P-stress responses. MIT 9312, which contains the same P-uptake and -regulatory genes as MED4, except for psip1 and ptrA, has no constitutive APA, but does exhibit measurable, albeit very low, activity when P starved. MIT 9313, which lacks phoA and a functional phosphate-sensing histidine kinase gene, phoR, exhibits low constitutive activity that decreases when the cells become P-starved. These results show variability in P utilization and in P-stress response between the 2 genera of marine unicellular cyanobacteria, and marked differences among Prochlorococcus genotypes, implying that only certain eco/genotypes of these marine cyanobacteria will have an ecological advantage under conditions of P limitation in the oceans. This further points to the critical need to continue developing genotypic- or cell-specific tools to assess the response of the picophytoplankton community to large-scale changes in nutrient conditions in the oceans.
The revised group risk assessment model (GRAM 2): assessing risk of reoffending among adults given non-custodial sanctions

Of 81,199 adult offenders, 26% reoffended within two years of the index appearance. Aim To re-examine the Group Risk Assessment Model (GRAM) for predicting reoffending in adults given non-custodial sentences and to assess the accuracy of the model. Method Adult offenders given non-custodial sentences in 2011 were the cohort of interest. Reoffending within 24 months of the index appearance was measured using court data. Models predicting reoffending using personal, index offence and criminal history characteristics were undertaken using multivariate logistic regression and model fits were assessed. Model validity and reliability was also measured by applying the model estimates to sub-group data and to separate smaller cohorts. Results Of the 81,199 adult offenders, 26% reoffended within two years of the index appearance. The best model fit for GRAM 2 comprised age, gender, Indigenous status, number of concurrent offences, prior custodial sentence, prior proven offences and the index offence type. The internal and external validity of the model was strong, however application of the model to offenders from smaller geographical areas or to those with a prior history of prison or property offending should be undertaken with care. Application of the model for screening purposes should also be carefully considered. Conclusion The GRAM 2 has been shown to be a robust tool for predicting reoffending. Although reliable, model estimates and their applicability should be re-examined periodically.
Is There a Role for Funding in Explaining Recent U.S. Banks’ Failures?

This paper tests the role of different banks' liquidity funding structures in explaining the banks' failures, which occurred in the United States between 2007 and 2009. The results highlight that funding is indeed a significant factor in explaining banks' probability of default. By confirming the role of funding as the driver of banking crisis, the paper also recognizes that the new liquidity framework proposed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision appears to have the features to strenghten banks' liquidity conditions and improve financial stability. Its correct implementation together with closer supervision of banks' liquidity and funding conditions appear, however, the determinant for such improvements to be achieved.
Deep spectroscopy in nearby galaxy clusters – III. Orbital structure of galaxies in Abell 85

Galaxies in clusters are strongly affected by their environment. They evolve according to several physical mechanisms that are active in clusters. Their efficiency can strongly depend on the orbital configuration of the galaxies. Our aim is to analyse the orbits of the galaxies in the cluster Abell 85, based on the study of the galaxy velocity anisotropy parameter. We have solved the Jeans equation under the assumption that the galaxies in A85 are collisionless objects, within the spherically symmetric gravitational potential of the virialized cluster. The mass of the cluster was estimated with X-ray and caustic analyses. We find that the anisotropy profile of the full galaxy population in A85 is an increasing monotonic function of the distance from the cluster centre: on average, galaxies in the central region (r/r200 < 0.3) are on isotropic orbits, while galaxies in the outer regions are on radial orbits. We also find that the orbital properties of the galaxies strongly depend on their stellar colour. In particular, blue galaxies are on less radial orbits than red galaxies. The different families of cluster galaxies considered here have the pseudo phase-space density profiles Q(r) and Qr(r) consistent with the profiles expected in virialized dark matter halos in $N$-body simulations. This result suggests that the galaxies in A85 have reached dynamical equilibrium within the cluster potential. Our results indicate that the origin of the blue and red colour of the different galaxy populations is the different orbital shape rather than the accretion time.
The role of rotating hinge implants in revision total knee arthroplasty

Hinged implants are the most constrained knee replacement prostheses. They are very useful in complex cases of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) revision. Hinged implants have evolved with rotating bearings and modularity that allows local joint reconstruction or segmental bone replacement. They are required when significant instability persists in cases with inadequate collateral ligaments and significant flexion laxity. They are now used when a large bone defect is reconstructed, or when bone fixation of the implant is questionable especially in the metaphyseal zone. The use of hinged implants in TKA revision is associated with high complication rates. Published outcomes differ based on the patients’ aetiology. The outcomes of rotating-hinged implants used in septic revisions or salvage situations are poorer than other types of revision and have a higher complication rate. The poor general health of these patients is often a limitation. Despite these relatively poor results, hinged implants continue to have a place in revision surgery to solve major instability or to obtain stable bone fixation of an implant when the metaphysis is filled with bone grafts or porous devices. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2019;4 DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.4. 180070
Free radical scavenging and antibacterial activity of essential oil and solvent extracts of Iris planifolia (Mill) from Algeria

Free radical scavenging and antibacterial activity of essential oil and solvent extracts of Iris planifolia (Mill) was investigated. The essential oil was analyzed by Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC- MS) and a total of 38 types of volatile organics were identified. The essential oil consists chiefly of alkanes (36.5%), acids (19.1%), ketones (11.7%), alcohols (9.0%), arylpropanoids (6.8%) and aldehydes (4.1%) accompanied by relatively much smaller amounts of monoterpenes (1.0%). The antimicrobial activity of essential oil and ethanolic extract shows an important activity against Salmonella typhimurium and Klebsiella pneumoniae with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.12 mg/ml. Furthermore, the free radical scavenging assay of the essential oil and extracts were determined using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test system. The dichloromethane and water extract possessed strong radical scavenging activity with the lowest IC50 value of 0.1 mg/ml followed by the aqueous extract with an IC50 value of 0.12 mg/ml. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, alkalois and tannins which may be responsible for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.
Perceptual Transparency From Cast Shadow

This study examined how a shadow contributes to the perception of a transparent surface. As stimuli, we used computer graphics images in which a transparent surface with a color-mosaic pattern casts a shadow onto a background surface. We manipulated two parameters: (a) the spatial heterogeneity of the transmittance of the transparent surface and (b) the size of the light source shining on the transparent surface and its background. The latter parameter determined the blurriness of shadows. Observers judged whether the stimulus image contained a transparent surface or not. We found that the proportion of reports identifying a transparent surface was dependent on both parameters we tested. Specifically, a high spatial heterogeneity of transmittance decreased the proportion of reports of a transparent surface; this was possibly because globally defined X-junctions, which were one of the cues to perceptual transparency, perceptually broke down. On the other hand, blurred shadows were effective even when the global X-junctions were not effective. Locally defined X-junctions only moderately contributed to perceptual transparency. The results indicate that in addition to global and local X-junctions, blurred shadows are image features that elicit the perception of transparency from a cast shadow. A large individual difference as to which information each participant used as a cue to perceptual transparency was also discussed.
Temperature and substrates as interactive limiting factors for marine heterotrophic bacteria

Active heterotrophic bacterial communities exist in all marine environments, and although their growth rates or respiratory rates may be limited by the interaction of low substrate concentrations with temperatures near their lower limit for growth, temperature and substrate con- centrations are rarely considered together as limiting factors. Moreover, attempts to evaluate meta- bolic limits by both temperature and substrate concentration have sometimes led to confusing con- clusions, because, while we can measure dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in natural waters, much of it is not readily available to heterotrophic bacteria. In spite of this procedural limita- tion, it can be helpful to regard temperature and substrate concentration as potential limiting factors that interact. In temperate ocean surface waters and estuarine waters, where bacterial growth is often reduced in winter, growth and respiration may be increased experimentally either by raising the tem- perature or by increasing organic substrate concentrations, providing indirect evidence that the lim- itation is an effect of temperature on substrate uptake or assimilation. Experimental work with bac- terial isolates also has shown a temperature-substrate interaction. In permanently cold polar waters, most heterotrophic bacteria appear to be living at temperatures well below their optima for growth. Nevertheless, bacteria in permanently cold surface waters can achieve activity rates in summer that are as high as those in temperate waters. In sea ice, rates of bacterial production are most often low, even though concentrations of substrates, including free amino acids, are sometimes much higher than they are in seawater. This suggests that at sea ice temperatures heterotrophic bacteria have low- ered ability to take up or utilize organic substrates.
Sprint interval exercise versus continuous moderate intensity exercise: acute effects on tissue oxygenation, blood pressure and enjoyment in 18–30 year old inactive men

Background Sprint interval training (SIT) can be as effective, or more effective, than continuous moderate intensity exercise (CMIE) for improving a primary risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). However, there has been no direct comparison in inactive individuals, of the acute effects of a session of SIT with a work-matched session of CMIE on local oxygen utilisation, which is a primary stimulus for increasing CRF. Furthermore, post-exercise blood pressure (BP) and enjoyment, if symptomatic and low, respectively, have implications for safety and adherence to exercise and have not been compared between these specific conditions. It was hypothesised that in young inactive men, local oxygen utilisation would be higher, while post-exercise BP and enjoyment would be lower for SIT, when compared to CMIE. Methods A total of 11 inactive men (mean ± SD; age 23 ± 4 years) completed a maximal ramp-incremental exercise test followed by two experiment conditions: (1) SIT and (2) work-matched CMIE on a cycle ergometer on separate days. Deoxygenated haemoglobin (∆HHb) in the pre-frontal cortex (FH), gastrocnemius (GN), left vastus lateralis (LVL) and the right vastus lateralis (RVL) muscles, systemic oxygen utilisation (VO2), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure and physical activity enjoyment scale (PACES) were measured during the experiment conditions. Results During SIT, compared to CMIE, ∆HHb in FH (p = 0.016) and GN (p = 0.001) was higher, while PACES (p = 0.032) and DBP (p = 0.043) were lower. No differences in SBP and ∆HHb in LVL and RVL were found between conditions. Conclusions In young inactive men, higher levels of physiological stress occurred during SIT, which potentially contributed to lower levels of post-exercise DBP and enjoyment, when compared to CMIE.
Behaviour of Soft Clay Foundation Beneath an Embankment

As a material, soft clay poses many challenges to geotechnical engineers. The material responds in a spectacular manner to stress changes. The paper describes the behaviour of five embankments constructed on lightly over consolidated soft Malaysian marine clays. The main finding is that the clay response to construction is not truly undrained. Significant consolidation develops initially in the over consolidated clay, which becomes normally consolidated during construction. Undrained behaviour develops only in the normally consolidated clay during the initial stages of construction.
Analysis of operation of new construction of the frictional joint with the resistance wedge / Analiza pracy nowej konstrukcji złącza ciernego z klinem oporowym

Frictional joint is the basic part of the friction props and yielding steel frames of dog headings. It constitutes a constructional connection and have decisive influence on the basic operational parameters of the steel frames and props, i.e. their loading capacity and yielding capacity. Currently applied constructions of frictional joints characterize with low loading capacity and unstable operation. In order to improve their operational parameters a new constructional solution of frictional joint, consisting on the application of resistance wedge assembled between the cooperating sections, was developed. Application of the resistance wedge caused an increase of resistances to motion in the frictional joint, what influenced on the increase of its loading capacity and on the increase of values of axial forces in the bolts of stirrups. In the paper results of stand tests of frictional joints with the resistance wedge, subjected to the static axial compression and impact of freely falling mass, were presented. In order to determine the influence of the resistance wedge on the operational parameters of the frictional joint, obtained results were compared with the results of studies of the frictional joints without the resistance wedge. On the basis of stand tests a physical and mathematical models of the frictional joint with the resistance wedge, were developed, and utilized to simulation analysis of its operation at impulse loading. On the basis of conducted tests and analysis one can state, that application of the resistance wedge influences on the enhancement of loading capacity, improves the state of loading the bolts in stirrups, and creates possibility of regulation of operational characteristics of the frictional joints
MoM total hip replacements in Europe: a NORE report

The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip replacement (THR) in European registries, to assess the incidence of revision surgery and to describe the national follow-up guidelines for patients with MoM THR including resurfacings. Eleven registries of the Network of Orthopaedic Registries of Europe (NORE) participated totalling 54 434 resurfacings and 58 498 large stemmed MoM THRs. The resurfacings and stemmed large head MoM had higher pooled revision rates at five years than the standard total hip arthroplasties (THA): 6.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.3 to 6.8 for resurfacings; 6.9%, 95% CI 4.4 to 9.4 for stemmed large head MoM; and 3.0%, 95% CI 2.5 to 3.6 for conventional THA. The resurfacings and stemmed large head MoM had higher pooled revision rates at ten years than the standard THAs: 12.1%, 95% CI 11.0 to 13.3 for resurfacings; 15.5%, 95% CI 9.0 to 22 for stemmed large head MoM; and 5.1%, 95% CI 3.8 to 6.4 for conventional THA. Although every national registry reports slightly different protocols for follow-up, these mostly consist of annual assessments of cobalt and chromium levels in blood and MRI (MARS) imaging. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2019;4 DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.4. 180078
A list of data for the broadening of metallic lines by neutral hydrogen collisions

A list of data for the broadening by neutral hydrogen collisions of many astrophysically important spectral lines, which has been incorporated into the Vienna Atomic Line Database (VALD), is presented. Data for lines of neutral atoms are interpolated from the tabulated data of Anstee & O'Mara (1995), Barklem & O'Mara (1997), and Barklem et al. (1998). Data for lines of singly ionised atoms are compiled from the calculations by Barklem & O'Mara (1998, 2000). The list at present contains data for 4891 lines between 2300 and 13000 A of elements from Li to Ni. We examine the statistical impact of the new theory by comparison with the previously available data. We also demonstrate the direct eect on spectral synthesis calculations.
Obesity and Academic Performance in Adolescents

Abstract The present sample of adolescents (n: 160; 13 to 16 years in age) was drawn from ten schools located in the city of Ludhiana, Punjab. Height (cm) and weight (kg) of each selected subject were measured and Body Mass Index was calculated for each one. On the basis of BMI for age and sex, the subjects were classified into normal-weight and obese categories. The obese and the normal-weight samples were equally distributed over the two sexes. It was ascertained that all selected adolescents belonged to middle and upper-middle socio-economic strata. A significant negative correlation was found between BMI and academic performance of girls and boys. Normal-weight status adolescent boys and girls showed better academic performance than their obese counterparts. Normal-weight boys’ academic performance was significantly lower than normal-weight girls. On the other hand, obese girls’ and boys’ performance was at par with each other and significantly lower than their normal-weight counterparts. The gap between obese and normal-weight girls’ academic performance was much wider than what was found between obese and normal-weight boys, thus girls’ weight status had a stronger association with academic performance as compared to boys. It may be that there is no causal link between body weight and academic performance, but rather an association that is explained by unobserved individual-level characteristics. It calls for targeting obesity-reduction measures to adolescents that may not only improve their health outcomes, but may also have a positive impact on human capital accumulation.
Reliability of Semiautomated Kinetic Perimetry (SKP) and Goldmann Kinetic Perimetry in Children and Adults With Retinal Dystrophies

Purpose To investigate the precision of visual fields (VFs) from semiautomated kinetic perimetry (SKP) on Octopus 900 perimeters, for children and adults with inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs). Goldmann manual kinetic perimetry has long been used in the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients, but SKP is becoming increasingly common. Octopus VFs (OVFs) and Goldmann VFs (GVFs) were both mapped on two occasions. Methods Nineteen females and 10 males with IRDs were tested on OVFs and GVFs, with two targets per test (V4e and one smaller target). Tests were performed in the same (randomized) order at two visits about 1 week apart. The VFs were digitized to derive isopter solid angles. Comparisons, within and between visits, were performed with paired t-tests and Bland-Altman plots. Results Median age was 20 years (range, 7–70; 10 participants aged ≤17 years old). There were no significant differences in solid angles between OVFs and GVFs (P ≥ 0.06) or between the two visits' solid angles on either perimeter (P ≥ 0.30). Between-visit test–retest variability for GVFs and OVFs was similar (P ≥ 0.73), with median values of approximately 9% to 13%. Overall variability was lower for children than adults (medians of 7.5% and 12.8%, respectively). Conclusions Octopus SKP and Goldmann perimetry produced VFs of similar size and variability. Translational Relevance Our study indicates that SKP provides a viable alternative to traditional Goldmann perimetry in clinical trials or care involving both children and adults with IRDs.