Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Collembolan communities as bioindicators of land use intensification

Springtail communities (Hexapoda: Collembola) were sampled in the Morvan Nature Regional Park (Burgundy, France) in six land use units (LUUs) 1 km each, which had been selected in order to cover a range of increasing intensity of land use. Human influence increased from LUU 1 (old deciduous forest) to LUU 6 (agricultural land mainly devoted to cereal crops), passing by planted coniferous forests (LUU 2) and variegated landscapes made of cereal crops, pastures, hay meadows, conifer plantations and small relict deciduous groves in varying proportion (LUUs 3–5). Sixteen core samples were taken inside each LUU, at intersections of a regular grid. Species composition, species richness and total abundance of collembolan communities varied according to land use and landscape properties. Land use types affected these communities through changes in the degree of opening of woody landscape (woodland opposed to grassland) and changes in humus forms (measured by the Humus Index). A decrease in species richness and total abundance was observed from old deciduous forests to cereal crops. Although the regional species richness was not affected by the intensification gradient (40–50 species were recorded in every LUU), a marked decrease in local biodiversity was observed when the variety of land use types increased. In variegated landscapes the observed collapse in local species richness was not due to a different distribution of land use types, since it affected mainly woodland areas. Results indicated the detrimental influence of the rapid afforestation of previous agricultural land, which did not afford time for the development of better adapted soil animal communities. q 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Sliding mode state observers for discrete-time linear systems

In discrete-time systems, instead of having a hyperplane as in the continuous case, there is a countable set of points comprising a so-called lattice; and the surface on which these sliding points lie is named the latticewise hyperplane. In this paper an asymptotically stable observer for discrete-time systems is designed by using the properties of the sliding mode such that the stability of the error system in the sliding mode is maintained. Various techniques for finding the feedforward injection map are proposed. The stability of the reconstruction error system with a bounded perturbation signal is studied.
REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY OF FEMALE GERMAN ANGORA RABBITS UNDER INDIAN SUB-TEMPERATE CLIMATIC

The influence of season, parity, age and weight of doe at service on the reproductive efficiency of female German Angora rabbits has been studied. Nulliparous German Angora rabbits of 4 5 months of age were imported from Germany in August, 1997 and reared under standard management practices. They subjected to an extensive breeding system (re-mating after weaning). The kits were weaned 42 days after kindling. The data from the reproduction records of 149 does, consisting of 398 matings and 238 kindlings during a period of five years, (1998 to 2002) were analyzed. The parameters considered were fertility rate, litter size at birth (LSB), litter weight at birth (LWB), litter size at weaning (LSW), gestation length and sex ratio. The overall fertility percentage, LSB, LWB (g), LSW (g), gestation length (d) and sex ratio percentage were 61.18, 4.89, 253.88, 4.44, 31.95 and 53.94, respectively. The season of the year had a significant (P#0.05) effect on LSB, LWB, LSW and gestation length, with higher values of LSB, LWB and LSW in spring. The fertility rate was significantly higher (P#0.05) for the females of 1 to 2 years of age. Spring appears to be the most favorable season for efficient reproduction of German Angora rabbits under the sub-temperate climatic conditions found in India.
The Use of Alloplastic Materials in Rhinoplasty Surgery: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Conventional wisdom regarding the use of alloplastic materials in rhinoplastic surgery would advise against their use because of safety and aesthetic concerns. However, autogenous tissue harvest is not without associated morbidity and may be inadequate or insufficient in some clinical situations. Prior studies examining this issue have not provided definitive recommendations regarding implant selection, ideal locations in which to use specific implants, and necessary follow-up. Methods: First, the authors systematically reviewed the available literature on alloplastic implant use in rhinoplastic surgery by searching the MEDLINE database (from 1966 through September of 2005). Bibliographies from retrieved articles were searched for additional references. All data were independently extracted by two coauthors. Second, the authors performed a meta-analysis of the three most commonly used implant types. Results: Although a wide variety of alloplastic materials have been used historically and are still currently available, the most commonly used materials are silicone, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex), and porous high-density polyethylene (Medpor). In our meta-analysis, the removal rate for both Gore-Tex and Medpor implants was 3.1 percent, whereas the removal rate for silicone implants was significantly higher at 6.5 percent. Conclusions: Alloplastic implants in rhinoplastic surgery have acceptable complication rates and can be used when autogenous materials are unavailable or insufficient. Outcomes with Medpor or Gore-Tex implants may be slightly better than those with silicone. Improved reporting of implant failures and follow-up times in future studies are needed to better define specific guidelines for the use of these materials.
Vasopressin for cerebral perfusion pressure management in patients with severe traumatic brain injury: Preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND After traumatic brain injury (TBI), catecholamines (CAs) may be needed to maintain adequate cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), but there are no recommended alternative vasopressor therapies. This is an interim report of the first study to test the hypothesis that arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a safe and effective alternative to CAs for the management of CPP in patients with severe TBI. METHODS Since 2008, all TBI patients requiring intracranial pressure monitoring at this Level 1 trauma center have been eligible for a randomized trial to receive either CA or AVP if vasopressors were required to maintain CPP greater than 60 mm Hg. RESULTS To date, 96 patients have been consented and randomized. Demographics, vital signs, and laboratory values were similar. As treated, 60 required no vasopressors and were the least severely injured group with the best outcomes. Twenty-three patients received CA (70% levophed, 22% dopamine, 9% phenylephrine) and 12 patients received AVP. The two vasopressor groups had similar demographics, but Injury Severity Score (ISS) and fluid requirements on intensive care unit Day 1 were worse in the AVP versus the CA groups (all p < 0.05) before treatment. These differences indicate more severe injury with accompanying hemodynamic instability. Nevertheless, adverse events were not increased with AVP versus CA. Trends favored AVP versus CA, but no apparent differences were statistically significant at this interim point. There was no difference in mortality rates between CA and AVP. CONCLUSION These preliminary results suggest that AVP is a safe and effective alternative to CA for the management of CPP after TBI and support the continued investigation and use of AVP when vasopressors are required for CPP management in TBI patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level II.
Pathology of the appendix.

THE DISEASED vermiform appendix is a common but deadly acute surgical entity. Meyer, Requarth, and Kozoll1found an over-all mortality which had been reduced from 7.6 to only 4.3% in 5,543 cases reviewed. Collins,2in his review of 12,813 consecutive appendectomies, reports a similar mortality. The mortality and morbidity of appendicitis persists in spite of better diagnostic acumen and therapeutic measures, including intragastric suction, intravenous fluids, and whole blood and plasma transfusions; and chemoantibiotic therapy, which have been vigorously applied in the treatment of this disease. Justifiably, this "microcosm in which all the various diseases to which its component anatomical elements are liable in other parts of the body may occur,"3is the subject of recent intensified study and research.4Appendiceal disease is not to be held lightly, nor in contempt. Collins stresses that only the uninitiated views an appendectomy as mere "routine"; "the experienced surgeon
The Role of Habit and Perceived Control on Health Behavior among Pregnant Women.

OBJECTIVE Many pregnant women do not adhere to physical activity and dietary recommendations. Research investigating what psychological processes might predict physical activity and healthy eating (fruit and vegetable consumption) during pregnancy is scant. We explored the role of intention, habit, and perceived behavioral control as predictors of physical activity and healthy eating. METHODS Pregnant women (N = 195, Mage = 30.17, SDage = 4.46) completed questionnaires at 2 time points. At Time 1, participants completed measures of intention, habit, and perceived behavioral control. At Time 2, participants reported on their behavior (physical activity and healthy eating) within the intervening week. Regression analysis determined whether Time 1 variables predicted behavior at Time 2. Interaction terms also were tested. RESULTS Final regression models indicated that only intention and habit explained significant variance in physical activity, whereas habit and the interaction between intention and habit explained significant variance in healthy eating. Simple slopes analysis indicated that the relationship between intention and healthy eating behavior was only significant at high levels of habit. CONCLUSIONS Findings highlight the influence of habit on behavior and suggest that automaticity interventions may be useful in changing health behaviors during pregnancy.
The use of the Internet by gay and bisexual male escorts: sex workers as sex educators

While prior studies have targeted street-based male sex workers as potential vectors of disease transmission, the number of men who work independently through Internet chat-rooms and other online endeavors has steadily increased. It is likely that these men differ substantially from their street-based counterparts in terms of sexual risk behaviors with their clients. The purpose of this study was to explore the ways in which the Internet has impacted the work of male escorts and their sexual practices with clients. Semi-structured qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys were administered to 46 such men. Less than half the men reported unprotected anal sex with clients. The qualitative data lend support to this finding, in that the majority talked about refusing any unsafe sex with clients, and many reported taking the extra step of educating their clients about the dangers of risky sex. Some of the escorts described the methods used to incorporate safer sex practices into sessions with their clients. Internet-based male escorts can play an important role as potential sex educators on the front lines of the fight against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Tunable Decoupling and Matching Network for Diversity Enhancement of Closely Spaced Antennas

A tunable decoupling and matching network (DMN) for a two-element closely spaced antenna array is presented. The DMN achieves perfect matching for the eigenmodes of the array and thus simultaneously isolates and matches the system ports while keeping the circuit small. Arrays of closely spaced wire and microstrip monopole pairs are used to demonstrate the proposed DMN. It is found that monopoles with different lengths can be used for the design frequency by using this DMN, which increases the design flexibility. This property also enables frequency tuning using the DMN only without having to change the length of the antennas. The proposed DMN uses only one varactor to achieve a tuning range of 18.8% with both return loss and isolation better than 10 dB when the spacing between the antennas is 0.05 λ. When the spacing increases to 0.1 λ, and the antennas are properly matched, the simulated tuning range is more than 60%.
Association of plasma amyloid β with risk of dementia

Objective: Several lines of evidence indicate that a decrease in the CSF concentration of amyloid β42 (Aβ42) is a potential biomarker for incident Alzheimer disease. In contrast, studies on plasma Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 peptide levels have yielded contradictory results. Here, we explored the links between incident dementia and plasma Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 peptide concentrations in the prospective, population-based Three-City (3C) Study. We also assessed the association between plasma concentrations of truncated Aβ (Aβn-40 and Aβn-42) and the risk of dementia. Methods: During a subsequent 4-year follow-up period, 257 individuals presented incident dementia from 8,414 participants, and a subcohort of 1,185 individuals without dementia was drawn as a control cohort. Plasma levels of Aβ1–40, Aβ1–42, Aβn-40, and Aβn-42 were measured using an xMAP-based assay technology. The association between plasma Aβ peptide levels and the risk of dementia was assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Of the various Aβ variables analyzed, the Aβ1–42/Aβ1–40 and Aβn-42/Aβn-40 ratios presented the strongest association with the risk of dementia: people with a high Aβ1–42/Aβ1–40 or Aβn-42/Aβn-40 ratio had a lower risk of developing dementia. These associations were restricted to individuals diagnosed at 2 years of follow-up and the Aβn-42/Aβn-40 ratio was mainly associated with the risk of mixed/vascular dementia. Conclusion: Plasma Aβ peptide concentrations and Aβ1–42/Aβ1–40 and Aβn-42/Aβn-40 ratios may be useful markers to indicate individuals susceptible to short-term risk of dementia.
Delivery of Physical Therapy in the Acute Care Setting: A Population-Based Study

Background Population-based studies on physical therapy use in acute care are lacking. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine population-based, hospital discharge data from North Carolina to describe the demographic and diagnostic characteristics of individuals who receive physical therapy and, for common diagnostic subgroups, to identify factors associated with the receipt of and intensity of physical therapy use. Design This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Methods Hospital discharge data for 2006–2007 from the 128 acute care hospitals in the state were examined to identify the most common diagnoses that receive physical therapy and to describe the characteristics of physical therapy users. For 2 of the most common diagnoses, logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with the receipt and intensity of physical therapy. Results Of the more than 2 million people treated in acute care hospitals, 22.5% received physical therapy (mean age=66 years; 58% female). Individuals with osteoarthritis (admitted for joint replacement) and stroke were 2 of the most common patient types to receive physical therapy. Almost all individuals admitted for a joint replacement received physical therapy, with little between-hospital variation. Between-hospital variation in physical therapy use for stroke was greater. Demographic and hospital-related factors were associated with physical therapy use and physical therapy intensity for both diagnoses, after controlling for illness severity and comorbidities. Limitations Data from only one state were examined, and the studied variables were limited. Conclusions The use and intensity of physical therapy for stroke and joint replacement in acute care hospitals in North Carolina vary by clinical and nonclinical factors. Reasons behind the association of hospital characteristics and physical therapy use need further investigation.
Body mass index and risk of lung cancer among never, former, and current smokers.

BACKGROUND Although obesity has been directly linked to the development of many cancers, many epidemiological studies have found that body mass index (BMI)--a surrogate marker of obesity--is inversely associated with the risk of lung cancer. These studies are difficult to interpret because of potential confounding by cigarette smoking, a major risk factor for lung cancer that is associated with lower BMI. METHODS We prospectively examined the association between BMI and the risk of lung cancer among 448 732 men and women aged 50-71 years who were recruited during 1995-1996 for the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. BMI was calculated based on the participant's self-reported height and weight on the baseline questionnaire. We identified 9437 incident lung carcinomas (including 415 in never smokers) during a mean follow-up of 9.7 years through 2006. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with adjustment for lung cancer risk factors, including smoking status. To address potential bias due to preexisting undiagnosed disease, we excluded potentially unhealthy participants in sensitivity analyses. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS The crude incidence rate of lung cancer over the study follow-up period was 233 per 100 000 person-years among men and 192 per 100 000 person-years among women. BMI was inversely associated with the risk of lung cancer among both men and women (BMI ≥35 vs 22.5-24.99 kg/m(2): HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.70 to 0.94 and HR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.61 to 0.87, respectively). The inverse association was restricted to current and former smokers and was stronger after adjustment for smoking. Among smokers, the inverse association persisted even after finely stratifying on smoking status, time since quitting smoking, and number of cigarettes smoked per day. Sensitivity analyses did not support the possibility that the inverse association was due to prevalent undiagnosed disease. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that a higher BMI is associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer in current and former smokers. Our inability to attribute the inverse association between BMI and the risk of lung cancer to residual confounding by smoking or to bias suggests the need for considering other explanations.
Biological monitoring of genotoxicity to organophosphate pesticide exposure among rice farmers: Exposure-effect continuum study

Background: This study has used biomarker of exposure-effect continuum to examine the biological characteristics of organophosphate (OP) toxicity and its genotoxic effect among rice farmers. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 pesticide exposed rice farmers and 160 adults from the fishing village as the unexposed group. They share the common socio-economical background for inter-individual comparison in human toxicology assessment. In this study depression of blood cholinesterase is used as a biomarker of exposure to OP toxicity. Two genotoxic assays (micronuclei and comet assay) were conducted as a biomarker of genotoxic effect among the adult population. In this context, m icronuclei assay is used to indicate the chromosome breakage and comet assay to estimate the possible DNA damage. Results: The study showed a significant difference of blood cholinesterase level (p=0.001) between the exposed- unexposed groups. Besides, the results showed that farmers had at least 2-2.5 folds of significant increase (p=0.001) in MN frequency (in 1000 cells) and comet tail length (µm) compared to the unexposed group . In addition, regression analysis among farmers showed that blood cholinesterase level decreased with the genotoxic effects. A small variation (R2=0.148) of MN frequency could be explained by the depression of blood cholinesterase level; however, a significant reduction (p=0. 001), with strong changes (R2=0.712) in comet tail length was attributed to the depression of blood cholinesterase levels. Risk factors like age, body mass index, smoking status and year s of working showed the different strength of the relationship with these genotoxic effects. Conclusions: This study suggests that chronic exposure to OP shows an inhibition to blood cholinesterase level, which is associated with the potential DNA breakage as indicated by comet assay. Aqe, smoking and years of working are the contributing factors influencing the biomarker of effects.
The Oxa 2 Protein of Neurospora crassa Plays a Critical Role in the Biogenesis of Cytochrome Oxidase and Defines a Ubiquitous Subbranch of the Oxa 1 / YidC / Alb 3 Protein Family

Proteins of the Oxa1/YidC/Alb3 family mediate the insertion of proteins into membranes of mitochondria, bacteria, and chloroplasts. Here we report the identification of a second gene of the Oxa1/YidC/Alb3 family in the genome of Neurospora crassa, which we have named oxa2. Its gene product, Oxa2, is located in the inner membrane of mitochondria. Deletion of the oxa2 gene caused a specific defect in the biogenesis of cytochrome oxidase and resulted in induction of the alternative oxidase (AOD), which bypasses the need for complex IV of the respiratory chain. The Oxa2 protein of N. crassa complements Cox18-deficient yeast mutants suggesting a common function for both proteins. The oxa2 sequence allowed the identification of a new subfamily of Oxa1/YidC/Alb3 proteins whose members appear to be ubiquitously present in mitochondria of fungi, plants, and animals including humans.
Penicillium solitum produces a polygalacturonase isozyme in decayed Anjou pear fruit capable of macerating host tissue in vitro

A polygalacturonase (PG) isozyme was isolated from Penicillium solitum-decayed Anjou pear fruit and purified to homogeneity with a multistep process. Both gel filtration and cation exchange chromatography revealed a single PG activity peak, and analysis of the purified protein showed a single band with a molecular mass of 43 kDa, which is of fungal origin. The purified enzyme was active from pH 3.5–6, with an optimum at pH 4.5. PG activity was detectable 0–70 C with 50 C maximum. The purified isozyme was inhibited by the divalent cations Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+ and Fe2+ and analysis of enzymatic hydrolysis products revealed polygalacturonic acid monomers and oligomers. The purified enzyme has an isoelectric point of 5.3 and is not associated with a glycosylated protein. The PG isozyme macerated fruit tissue plugs in vitro and produced ~1.2-fold more soluble polyuronides from pear than from apple tissue, which further substantiates the role of PG in postharvest decay. Data from this study show for the first time that the purified PG produced in decayed Anjou pear by P. solitum, a weakly virulent fungus, is different from that PG produced by the same fungus in decayed apple.