Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of artificial water flows by the lateral line system of a benthic feeding cichlid fish

ABSTRACT The mechanosensory lateral line system of fishes detects water motions within a few body lengths of the source. Several types of artificial stimuli have been used to probe lateral line function in the laboratory, but few studies have investigated the role of flow sensing in benthic feeding teleosts. In this study, we used artificial flows emerging from a sandy substrate to assess the contribution of flow sensing to prey detection in the peacock cichlid, Aulonocara stuartgranti, which feeds on benthic invertebrates in Lake Malawi. Using a positive reinforcement protocol, we trained fish to respond to flows lacking the visual and chemical cues generated by tethered prey in prior studies with A. stuartgranti. Fish successfully responded to artificial flows at all five rates presented (characterized using digital particle image velocimetry), and showed a range of flow-sensing behaviors, including an unconditioned bite response. Immediately after lateral line inactivation, fish rarely responded to flows and the loss of vital fluorescent staining of hair cells (with 4-di-2-ASP) verified lateral line inactivation. Within 2 days post-treatment, some aspects of flow-sensing behavior returned and after 7 days, flow-sensing behavior and hair cell fluorescence both returned to pre-treatment levels, which is consistent with the reported timing of hair cell regeneration in other vertebrates. The presentation of ecologically relevant water flows to assess flow-sensing behaviors and the use of a positive reinforcement protocol are methods that present new opportunities to study the role of flow sensing in the feeding ecology of benthic feeding fishes. Summary: The role of the lateral line system in prey detection was investigated in a benthic feeding cichlid by training fish to identify artificial water flows emerging from a sandy substrate.
Candidates' Perception of Training and Self-Efficacy in Traditional and Alternative Teacher Preparation Programs.

This research was encouraged by the tremendous demand for teachers. Two million new teachers will be needed in the United States over the next decade. The teacher shortage has school administration, school boards, education agencies, and institutions of higher education investigating how to train and retain more teachers. Alternative certification programs have been developed to address the teacher shortage. This study examined the effectiveness of traditionally and alternatively certified teachers in two separate programs with regard to their self-efficacy, perception of their training, and their ExCET scores. Traditional candidates (10) and alternative candidates (74) were examined using survey research. According to this data on self-efficacy, perception of training, and ExCET passing rates, there is no significant difference between those teachers who receive traditional training and those who are trained in alternative certification programs.
EFFECTS OF TWO DIFFERING HALOTHANE CONCENTRATIONS ON THE METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE RESPONSES TO SURGERY

The effects of two differing concentrations of halothane, 2.1 MAC or 1.2 MAC, on the metabolic and endocrine responses to abdominal hysterectomy were investigated. The changes in blood glucose and lactate values, and plasma glycerol, cortisol, insulin and catecholamine concentrations were similar in both groups. We conclude that high concentrations of halothane do not suppress the responses to pelvic surgery, and that accurate quantification of the dose of halothane, within the concentration range of 1.2 to 2.1 MAC, is not essential in studies of metabolic changes associated with surgery.
Comparative Efficacy of Different Mastitis Markers for Diagnosis of Sub-Clinical Mastitis in Cows

Seven hundred ninety six milk samples from 266 quarters of 69 lactating cows were subjected to microbiological investigations for identification of pathogens. One hundred ninety bacterial isolates were recovered from 89 infected quarters, among these monomicrobial infection was found in 50 (56.2%) quarters, whereas, mixed infection was observed in 39 (43.8%) quarters. Bacterial isolates identified were Staph. chromogenes (49.47%), Staph. hyicus (21.1%), Staph. epidermidis (11.05%), Str. agalactiae (5.8%), Staph. aureus (4.2%), Staph. intermedius (3.1%), Enterobacter sp. (1.5%), Klebsiella sp. , E. coli (1.05%), Micrococcus sp. (1.05%) and Serratia marcescens (0.52%). Milk samples from every quarter of each cow were also subjected to 6 mastitis marker tests named Somatic cell count (SCC), California mastitis test (CMT), electrical conductivity (EC) by EC-meter as well as by Hand-held mastitis detector, pH detection by impregnated paper strip and also by pH meter. Efficacy of mastitis markers for diagnosis of sub-clinical mastitis was determined by comparing results of mastitis marker tests with microbiological findings. Mean value of SSC in milk from healthy quarters was significantly lower (p than that in milk from infected quarters. Significantly higher (p value of SSC was observed in milk samples having coagulase positive staphylococci as compared to that in milk from quarter with coagulase negative pathogens. The mean electrical conductivity (EC) in milk samples from infected quarters was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that from healthy quarters. Numbers and percentages of samples showing true positive, true negative, false positive and false negative results with SSC, CMT, EC by EC-meter, EC by hand-held meter, pH by impregnated strips, pH by digital pH-meter tests were evaluated and compared. The sensitivity and specificity of impregnated pH paper strip, CMT, pH-meter test, SCC, electrical conductivity by EC-meter and the same by Hand-held mastitis detector were evaluated The compatibility between the results of SCC, impregnated pH paper strip, CMT, EC-meter, pH-meter, Hand-held mastitis detector and bacteriological culture examination (reference test) was found to be 64.4, 63.4, 61.5, 59, 59 and 53 respectively. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i2. 10191 Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(2): 121-125
Examination of the Effect of Sodium Nitrite on Gap Junction Function During Ischaemia and Reperfusion in Anaesthetized Dogs

It has previously been proved that sodium nitrite, infused prior to coronary artery occlusion or before reperfusion, results in marked antiarrhythmic effect in anaesthetized dogs. We have now examined whether this protection involves the modulation of gap junction (GJ) function by nitric oxide (NO), derived from nitrite administration under ischaemic conditions. Two groups of chloralose and urethane anaesthetized dogs, each containing 13 animals, were subjected to a 25 min period occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, followed by reperfusion. One group was infused with sodium nitrite (0.2 μmol/kg/min, i.v.), the other group with saline 10 min prior to reperfusion. The severities of arrhythmias and of ischaemia (epicardial ST-segment, total activation time), parallel with changes in myocardial tissue impedance, a measure of electrical coupling of gap junctions, were assessed during the experiments. Compared to the controls, nitrite infusion administered prior to reperfusion significantly attenuated the severity of ischaemia, the ischaemia-induced impedance changes and, consequently, the severity of arrhythmias, occurring during the 1B phase of the occlusion, and increase survival following reperfusion (0% vs. 85%). It is concluded that the marked antiarrhythmic effect of sodium nitrite is partly due, to the preservation of the electrical coupling of GJs by NO.
Generation NeXt Comes to College: 2006 Updates and Emerging Issues

Generation NeXt, our current cohort of younger college students (and graduates) up to around twenty-six years old, continues to challenge and confound many in higher education as we strive to help them move them toward personal and institutional learning and social goals. From issues of high school grade inflation in entering students, through academic disengagement and consumer expectations while they are in college, to difficulties entering the workforce and taking on adult roles when they graduate (if they graduate at all), evidence and publicity from 2005 and early 2006 indicate that we continue to struggle to effectively serve students. Real and looming social pressures and criticisms from both within and outside the academy suggest that the status quo is under especially significant attack. College administration, faculty, and staff are well advised to become more cognizant of these pointed critiques, which offer feedback, insight, and indications for reform. Changes in instruction and other services are certainly indicated.
Muscles innervated by a single motor neuron exhibit divergent synaptic properties on multiple time scales

ABSTRACT Adaptive changes in the output of neural circuits underlying rhythmic behaviors are relayed to muscles via motor neuron activity. Presynaptic and postsynaptic properties of neuromuscular junctions can impact the transformation from motor neuron activity to muscle response. Further, synaptic plasticity occurring on the time scale of inter-spike intervals can differ between multiple muscles innervated by the same motor neuron. In rhythmic behaviors, motor neuron bursts can elicit additional synaptic plasticity. However, it is unknown whether plasticity regulated by the longer time scale of inter-burst intervals also differs between synapses from the same neuron, and whether any such distinctions occur across a physiological activity range. To address these issues, we measured electrical responses in muscles innervated by a chewing circuit neuron, the lateral gastric (LG) motor neuron, in a well-characterized small motor system, the stomatogastric nervous system (STNS) of the Jonah crab, Cancer borealis. In vitro and in vivo, sensory, hormonal and modulatory inputs elicit LG bursting consisting of inter-spike intervals of 50–250 ms and inter-burst intervals of 2–24 s. Muscles expressed similar facilitation measured with paired stimuli except at the shortest inter-spike interval. However, distinct decay time constants resulted in differences in temporal summation. In response to bursting activity, augmentation occurred to different extents and saturated at different inter-burst intervals. Further, augmentation interacted with facilitation, resulting in distinct intra-burst facilitation between muscles. Thus, responses of multiple target muscles diverge across a physiological activity range as a result of distinct synaptic properties sensitive to multiple time scales. Summary: Distinct properties of synapses between the same motor neuron and multiple target muscles result in divergent responses to bursting activity across a physiological activity range.
On the complexity of differentially private data release: efficient algorithms and hardness results

We consider private data analysis in the setting in which a trusted and trustworthy curator, having obtained a large data set containing private information, releases to the public a "sanitization" of the data set that simultaneously protects the privacy of the individual contributors of data and offers utility to the data analyst. The sanitization may be in the form of an arbitrary data structure, accompanied by a computational procedure for determining approximate answers to queries on the original data set, or it may be a "synthetic data set" consisting of data items drawn from the same universe as items in the original data set; queries are carried out as if the synthetic data set were the actual input. In either case the process is non-interactive; once the sanitization has been released the original data and the curator play no further role. For the task of sanitizing with a synthetic dataset output, we map the boundary between computational feasibility and infeasibility with respect to a variety of utility measures. For the (potentially easier) task of sanitizing with unrestricted output format, we show a tight qualitative and quantitative connection between hardness of sanitizing and the existence of traitor tracing schemes.
Dynamic changes in cardiac mitochondrial metabolism during warm acclimation in rainbow trout

ABSTRACT Although the mitochondrial metabolism responses to warm acclimation have been widely studied in fish, the time course of this process is less understood. Here, we characterized the changes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cardiac mitochondrial metabolism during acute warming from 10 to 16°C, and during the subsequent warm acclimation for 39 days. We repeatedly measured mitochondrial oxygen consumption in cardiac permeabilized fibers and the functional integrity of mitochondria (i.e. mitochondrial coupling and cytochrome c effect) at two assay temperatures (10 and 16°C), as well as the activities of citrate synthase (CS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) at room temperature. LDH and CS activities significantly increased between day 0 (10°C acclimated fish) and day 1 (acute warming to 16°C) while mitochondrial oxygen consumption measured at respective in vivo temperatures did not change. Enzymatic activities and mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates significantly decreased by day 2, and remained stable during warm acclimation (days 2–39). The decrease in rates of oxygen between day 0 and day 1 coincided with an increased cytochrome c effect and a decreased mitochondrial coupling, suggesting a structural/functional impairment of mitochondria during acute warming. We suggest that after 2 days of warm acclimation, a new homeostasis is reached, which may involve the removal of dysfunctional mitochondria. Interestingly, from day 2 onwards, there was a lack of differences in mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates between the assay temperatures, suggesting that warm acclimation reduces the acute thermal sensitivity of mitochondria. This study provides significant knowledge on the thermal sensitivity of cardiac mitochondria that is essential to delineate the contribution of cellular processes to warm acclimation. Summary: Mitochondrial oxygen consumption of cardiac permeabilized fibers decreases rapidly after acute warming and then remains stable during the subsequent warm acclimation process in rainbow trout.
Factors Associated with Child Health Card Holding among Mothers of Western Rural Nepal: A Cross Sectional Community Based Study

The use of Child Health Card (CHC) has been found effective to assess overall health status of children worldwide. The tool is simple, cost-effective and easy to use yet standard enough to interpret. Nepal recently made contextual modifications in 2006 and has incorporated it into the Health Management Information System. The card is issued to all children during their first visit for immunization. In Nepal, CHC is considered a valid and authentic report for immunization but little has been studied about its holding. The objective of our study was to find its retention rate along with the factors associated. A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in 10 village development committees of Kapilvastu district between November 15 and December 15, 2010. A total of 190 households were selected using lot quality assurance sampling technique. Higher retention rate (88.9%) of CHC was found while status of complete immunization was significantly associated with its retention (adjusted OR: 41.92, (95%CI; 2.66-658), p=0.008) after adjusting for growth monitoring, ethnicity, place of delivery, antenatal visit, breastfeeding and mother's age. This study can guide the health system and the family members the measures to sustain higher coverage and retention of CHC which can further guide to the best possible health outcomes for the child.
Prophylactic surgery for gastrointestinal malignancies

As our understanding of gastrointestinal cancers evolves, so do definitive treatment regimens. The objective of prophylactic surgery is to eliminate or greatly reduce the risk of developing cancer. Many of these conditions are genetic in nature; some are congenital without a known heritable susceptibility. This review discusses methods and guidelines for various surgical approaches for prophylactic treatment of the stomach, colon, and rectum. The primary identified syndromes with increased risk of developing cancer are familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and the spectrum of its associated conditions, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), and hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). Many guidelines and recommendations are still being developed for these conditions and this review of the literature intends to consolidate evidence for future direction of these growing patient populations.
Effects of sublethal doses of thiacloprid and its formulation Calypso® on the learning and memory performance of honey bees

ABSTRACT Learning and memory play a central role in the behavior and communication of foraging bees. We have previously shown that chronic uptake of the neonicotinoid thiacloprid affects the behavior of honey bees in the field. Foraging behavior, homing success, navigation performance and social communication were impaired. Thiacloprid collected at a feeding site at low doses accumulates in foragers over time. Here, we applied a laboratory standard procedure (the proboscis-extension response conditioning) in order to assess which processes, acquisition, memory consolidation and/or memory retrieval were compromised after bees were fed either with thiacloprid or the formulation of thiacloprid named Calypso® at different sublethal doses. Extinction and generalization tests allowed us to investigate whether bees respond to a learned stimulus, and how selectively. We showed that thiacloprid, as active substance and as formulation, poses a substantial risk to honey bees by disrupting learning and memory functions. These data support and specify the data collected in the field. Summary: The neonicotinoid thiacloprid as an active substance and as a formulation (Calypso®) negatively affects honey bees by reducing their learning and memory performance, which endangers their survival in natural conditions.
The Diet Study in Lactating Women: A Mediterranean-Style Diet Intervention and its Effects on Postpartum Weight Loss, Body Composition and Select Biomarkers of Inflammation

Obesity-related diseases account for the majority of morbidity and mortality in U.S. adults. An estimated 4 million women in the United States deliver an infant annually, of which approximately 34% are overweight/obese prior to pregnancy. More than 30% of these women gain weight that exceeds the IOM’s recommendations; increasing their risk of postpartum weight retention and possibly increasing their risk of greater weight gain and retention over time. This research sought to test the efficacy of a traditional MED diet for 4-months on weight loss/control and biomarkers of inflammation in breastfeeding women compared to women randomized to the USDA’s MyPyramid diet for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding (control diet). At baseline, the women (N=129) were 29.7±4.6 years, overweight (BMI: 27.2±4.9 kg/m2), and primarily non-Hispanic white (75.2%). The majority of women were exclusively breastfeeding (73.6%) and a mean 17.5 weeks postpartum. Adherence to the MED diet was evaluated via calculation of the MED diet score from validated FFQs administered preand postthe diet intervention. Anthropometric measurements (body weight, body fat, and waist and hip circumference) and biosamples (blood, urine, and breast milk) were collected at baseline and 4-months (diet completion). Biomarkers of inflammation (IL-6 and TNF-α) were assessed via standard ELISA kits. The MED diet score was increased by 0.68±2.74 and 0.27±1.57 for the MED and control group, respectively. Increases in fish and dairy intake and a decrease in meat/poultry intake were significantly different between diet groups
Methodologies for data quality assessment and improvement

The literature provides a wide range of techniques to assess and improve the quality of data. Due to the diversity and complexity of these techniques, research has recently focused on defining methodologies that help the selection, customization, and application of data quality assessment and improvement techniques. The goal of this article is to provide a systematic and comparative description of such methodologies. Methodologies are compared along several dimensions, including the methodological phases and steps, the strategies and techniques, the data quality dimensions, the types of data, and, finally, the types of information systems addressed by each methodology. The article concludes with a summary description of each methodology.
Pregnancy outcome of 149 pregnancies in women with epilepsy: Experience from a tertiary care hospital.

INTRODUCTION Epilepsy has a prevalence of 1.65% in adults, and every 1 in 200 pregnancies encounters its complications. We aimed to present the existing condition of and our experience with epileptic pregnant women for whom the prepregnancy counseling is inadequate in Turkey. METHODS We evaluated 149 epileptic pregnant women between March 2009 and January 2015. Demographic features of the patients, along with type and duration of epileptic seizure, time of diagnosis, date of last seizure prior to pregnancy, number and duration of seizures during pregnancy, type of AEDs, result and week of termination of pregnancy, and birth weight were registered, and also, we evaluated perinatal complications and fetal malformations. RESULTS Mean age of the patients was 27.12 ± 5.4 years, and mean duration from the diagnosis of epilepsy to pregnancy was 9.68 ± 5.91 years. Twenty-seven (18.12%) and 101 (67.78%) patients had polytherapy and monotherapy, respectively. We observed epileptic seizures in 103 (69.12%) patients during pregnancy, and seizures mostly occurred in the first and third trimesters. Forty-one (39.80%) patients had seizures in all three trimesters. Forty-two (28.18%) patients among all patients who had seizures during pregnancy had 5 or more seizures. Major malformations, namely, cleft lip and palate, ventriculoseptal defect, and spina bifida were observed in the patients. Mean birth week was 38.43 ± 1.68 weeks, and mean birth weight was 2965.31 ± 453.94 grams. Twenty-two patients had normal spontaneous vaginal delivery whereas 118 patients had cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS Pregnant women with epilepsy have their own risks. These women should be followed by experienced obstetricians and neurologists during their pregnancies. Appropriate management and follow-up lead to good results almost the same as general population.
Antioedema and analgesic actions of Diodia scandens extract in rats and mice

An extract of Diodia scandens obtained by petroleum ether extraction of the leaves was screened for pharmacological actions. The extract evinced a marked antiinflammatory effect in rats, causing a dose‐related and sustained inhibition of the increase in rat paw circumference caused by subplantar injection of a phlogistic agent. In addition, the extract increased the threshold of pain stimulus in mice. The extract significantly protected rats from aspirin, indomethacin and reserpine induced ulcers. These results revealed that the plant, Diodia scandens has potential medicinal value.