Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
It’s all in your head: the role of quantity estimation in sperm competition

The study of animal cognition has provided valuable data throughout the years, yet its reliance on laboratory work leaves some open questions. The main question is whether animals employ cognition in daily decision-making. The following discussion uses sperm competition (SC) as a test case for demonstrating the effect of cognition on routine choices, in this case, sexual selection. Cognition is manifested here by males' ability to represent the number of rivals competing with them. I claim that response to SC is driven by quantity estimation and the ability to assess competition magnitude cognitively. Hence, cognition can determine males' response to SC, and consequentially it can be selected within this context. This supports the argument that cognition constitutes an integral part of an individual's toolbox in solving real-life problems, and shows that physical and behavioural phenomena can expose cognition to selection and facilitate its evolution.
Genetic divergence and molecular phylogenetics of Puntius spp. based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene

Puntius is an important genus of freshwater food and ornamental fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. A total of 60 samples from twelve species of the genus Puntius were collected from eight sampling sites of eight Indian Rivers. Twelve species of Puntius (P. chola, P. sophore, P. filamentosus, P. fasciatus, P. vittatus, P. chelynoides, P. gonionotus, P. denisonii, P. ticto, P. gelius, P. conchonius and P. sarana) were investigated using 60 partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b, 1096 bp) gene to estimate genetic divergence and to establish the phylogenetic relationship. The average intraspecies diversity was estimated as 0.002, whereas the average interspecies diversity was estimated as 0.177. The sequence analysis of the Cyt b gene revealed four distinct groups, which are genetically distinct species and exhibited identical phylogenetic relationship. The present study validated the utility of the Cyt b gene in genetic diversity and phylogenetic studies.
Estrogen receptor alpha and beta expression in the vaginal walls and uterosacral ligaments of premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE To assess the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for estrogen receptors alpha and beta in the vaginal walls and uterosacral ligaments of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. DESIGN In vitro experiment. SETTING Academic research environment. PATIENT(S) Sixteen consecutively seen women who underwent hysterectomy. INTERVENTION(S) Samples of anterior vaginal walls and uterosacral ligaments were obtained during hysterectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis for estrogen receptor mRNA. RESULT(S) Messenger RNA transcripts for estrogen receptor alpha were present in all samples of vaginal walls (16/16) and uterosacral ligaments (16/16). Estrogen receptor beta mRNA was detected in all samples of vaginal walls from premenopausal women (12/12) but in none of those from postmenopausal women (0/4). Estrogen receptor beta mRNA was found in most samples of uterosacral ligaments from premenopausal women (10/12) and in some of those from postmenopausal women (2/4). CONCLUSION(S) Estrogen receptors alpha and beta were expressed in the vaginal walls and uterosacral ligaments of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Estrogen receptor beta was absent from the vaginal walls of postmenopausal women.
Replication of insect iridescent virus 6 in a whitefly cell line.

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, B biotype (syn. B. arentifolii Bellows and Perring) (Homoptera:Aleyrodiae), is a major problem in agroecosystems throughout ropical and subtropical regions of the world. Large opulations of whiteflies reduce crop yields, cause conamination of plant parts with excreted honeydew, and ct as vectors of Begomoviruses and other plant viuses that cause serious economic losses in vegetable nd fiber crops (Brown et al., 1995). According to the Ecological Database of the World’s Insect Pathogens (http://insectweb.inhs.uiuc.edu/ Pathogens/EDWIP/), a pathogenic virus of whiteflies has not been reported to date. Although virus-like particles have been observed in B. tabaci male germ and cyst cells (Báo et al., 1996) and in mycetomes and ovarian tissue (Costa et al., 1996), whether the partiles are of viral origin is not known. One candidate iral pathogen of whiteflies is the Insect iridescent vius 6 (IIV-6), also known as the Chilo iridescent virus. This virus was originally isolated from the rice stem borer (Chilo suppressalis) (Lepidoptera) (Fukaya and Nasu, 1966), but it was previously demonstrated that the virus can replicate in leafhoppers, leafhopper cells, and planthopper tissue explants (Jensen et al., 1972; itsuhashi, 1967). The ability to replicate in leafhoper cells raised the possibility that a whitefly cell line ould also support IIV-6 replication. This report decribes the productive infection of a whitefly cell line ith IIV-6 using light and electron microscopy, fluoresent antibody staining, and Western blot analysis. A recently established whitefly embryo cell line, desgnated BtB-2.97-Hunter & Polston (manuscript in reparation), was cultured in modified Liu and Black nsect medium (Kimura, 1984). The BtB-2.97 cells ere incubated at room temperature (20–22°C) and assed at a 1:3 ratio once per week. An IIV-6 isolate obtained from J. Kalmakoff) was amplified in thirdnstar Tricoplusia ni larvae and purified using differential centrifugation (Marina et al., 1999). The identity of the amplified virus isolate was confirmed by sequencing a portion of the major capsid protein gene (not shown). The virus solution was passed through a sterile 0.45-mm filter before infection of cells. Initial attempts at infecting whitefly cells were made by adding a filtered IIV-6 suspension (0.2 mg protein > 3 10 PFU) to 1.8 3 10 BtB-2.97 cells and by passing nfected cell media (1:67 dilution) to additional whitefly
Nautilus

Natural images often exhibit symmetries that should be taken into account when editing them. In this paper we present Nautilus --- a method for automatically identifying symmetric regions in an image along with their corresponding symmetry transformations. We compute dense local similarity symmetry transformations using a novel variant of the Generalised PatchMatch algorithm that uses Metropolis-Hastings sampling. We combine and refine these local symmetries using an extended Lucas-Kanade algorithm to compute regional transformations and their spatial extents. Our approach produces dense estimates of complex symmetries that are combinations of translation, rotation, scale, and reflection under perspective distortion. This enables a number of automatic symmetry-aware image editing applications including inpainting, rectification, beautification, and segmentation, and we demonstrate state-of-the-art applications for each of them.
Preepiglottic Space Invasion in “Early” Epiglottic Cancer

The tendency of epiglottic cancer to invade the preepiglottic space and the significance of this invasion was evaluated in 36 surgical specimens of epiglottic carcinoma originally staged T1 or T2. None of the 9 lesions originating above the hyoepiglottic ligament invaded the preepiglottic space. Twenty-four of the 27 (89%) lesions originating below the hyoepiglottic ligament showed invasion of the preepiglottic space and were clinically understaged. Of the 3 infrahyoid lesions showing no invasion of the preepiglottic space, 1 was a verrucous carcinoma and another was a mucoepidermoid carcinoma arising on the petiole. All other lesions were squamous cell carcinoma. In 12 of the 24 patients (50%) with preepiglottic space invasion, cervical node metastasis was present despite the preoperative staging of T1 or T2.
Bipolar plasma vaporization versus standard transurethral resection in secondary bladder neck sclerosis: a prospective, medium-term, randomized comparison

Objectives: This prospective, randomized, medium-term trial aimed to assess the efficiency, safety and postoperative results of bipolar plasma vaporization (BPV) in comparison with monopolar transurethral resection (TUR) in cases of secondary bladder neck sclerosis (BNS). Methods: A total of 70 patients with BNS secondary to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP; 46 cases), open prostatectomy for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH; 18 cases) and radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer (6 cases) were enrolled in the trial. The inclusion criteria consisted of maximum flow rate (Qmax) <10 ml/s and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) >19. All patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after surgery by IPSS, quality of life score (QoL), Qmax and postvoiding residual urinary volume (PVR). Results: The mean operation time (10.3 versus 14.9 minutes), catheterization period (0.75 versus 2.1 days) and hospital stay (1.1 versus 3.2 days) were significantly reduced in the BPV series. During the immediate postoperative follow up, recatheterization for acute urinary retention only occurred in the TUR series (5.7%). The medium-term retreatment requirements due to BNS recurrence were lower in the BPV study arm (2.8% versus 8.5%). At the 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months assessments, statistically similar parameters were found concerning the IPSS and QoL symptom scores, Qmax and PVR values specific for the two therapeutic alternatives. Conclusions: BPV constitutes a valuable endoscopic treatment approach for secondary BNS. The method emphasized superior efficacy, a satisfactory safety profile and similar medium-term follow-up features when compared with standard TUR.
Effects of enervation on the ultrastructure of insect muscle.

The structure of normal and denervated muscle fibres in the metathoracic retractor unguis muscle of the locust ( Schistocerca gregaria ) has been examined. Section of the 2 motor neurons which innervate this muscle results initially in muscle hypertrophy but this is followed about 4 days post neurotomy by progressive atrophy. Atrophy of the retractor unguis muscle is characterized by a decrease in muscle volume and degeneration of muscle organelles, e.g. mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, transverse tubular system, protein filaments, etc. During its later stages the degeneration of the denervated muscle is possibly assisted by the phagocytic action of haemocytes which invade the muscle.
Can SOCS make arthritis better?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by autoimmunity and infiltration of joint synovium by activated inflammatory cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and osteoclasts (reviewed in ref. 1). Morbidity in RA occurs secondary to the destruction of cartilage and bone by an inflammatory mass termed the pannus, which consists predominantly of activated macrophages and proliferating synovial fibroblasts. Synovial inflammation is regulated by cytokines (1). Pro-inflammatory cytokines implicated in RA pathogenesis include TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF. A key role for TNF-α and IL-1 in RA pathogenesis has been confirmed by the success of TNF and IL-1 neutralization in the treatment of RA. RA synovium is also characterized by the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and cytokine antagonists, including TGF-β, IL-10, the IL-1 receptor antagonist, and soluble TNF receptors. Production of these factors reflects an attempt to control inflammation and achieve homeostasis. The idea that the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory factors is important in regulating the rate of progression, and thus the eventual severity and morbidity, of RA has gained broad acceptance among RA researchers (1).
Individual Augmentee Deployment and Newly Reported Mental Health Morbidity

Objective: To investigate the association between US Navy individual augmentee (IA) deployers, who may lack the protective effects of unit cohesion and social support, and newly reported mental health. Methods: Responses from the Millennium Cohort Study questionnaires were examined for 2086 Navy deployers in this prospective exploratory study. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate IA deployment and newly reported mental health symptoms. Results: After adjusting for covariates, IA deployment was not significantly associated with newly reported posttraumatic stress disorder (odds ratio = 1.02; 95% confidence interval: 0.53–1.95) or mental health symptoms (odds ratio = 1.03; 95% confidence interval: 0.66–1.60) compared with non-IA deployment. Conclusion: IA deployment was not associated with increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder or mental health symptoms following deployment. It is likely that social isolation was not highly influential among Navy IAs in this study.
REMOTE SENSING OF TROPOSPHERIC POLLUTION FROM SPACE

We review the progress of tropospheric trace gas observations and address the need for additional measurement capabilities as recommended by the National Research Council. Tropospheric measurements show pollution in the Northern Hemisphere as a result of fossil fuel burning and a strong seasonal dependence with the largest amounts of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide in the winter and spring. In the summer, when photochemistry is most intense, photochemically generated ozone is found in large concentrations over and downwind from where anthropogenic sources are largest, such as the eastern United States and eastern China. In the tropics and the subtropics, where photon flux is strong throughout the year, trace gas concentrations are driven by the abundance of the emissions. The largest single tropical source of pollution is biomass burning, as can be seen readily in carbon monoxide measurements, but lightning and biogenic trace gases may also contribute to trace gas variability. Although substantive pr.
Twitter analysis for real-time malware discovery

In recent years, the increasing number of cyberattacks has gained the development of innovative tools to quickly detect new threats. A recent approach to this problem is to analyze the content of Social Networks to discover the rising of new malicious software. Twitter is a popular social network which allows millions of users to share their opinions on what happens all over the world. The subscribers can insert messages, called tweet, that are usually related to international news. In this work, we present a system for real-time malware alerting using a set of tweets captured through the Twitter API's, and analyzed by means of a Bayes Naïve classifier. Then, groups of tweets discussing the same topic, e.g, a new malware infection, are summarized in order to produce an alert. Tests have been performed to evaluate the performance of the system and results show the effectiveness of our implementation.
Lys 199 mutation of the human angiotensin type 1 receptor differentially affects the binding of surmountable and insurmountable non-peptide antagonists

Many slow dissociating (insurmountable) non-peptide angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1) antagonists contain, besides the acidic biphenyltetrazole substructure of losartan, a second acidic group to stabilise antagonist-receptor complexes. To investigate the involved basic amino-acids of the human AT1-receptor, wild-type and mutant receptors were transiently transfected in CHO-K1 cells and characterised by [3H]candesartan binding. Lys199 → Gln substitution decreased the affinity 45-fold for candesartan (95% insurmountable), 18-fold for EXP3174 (70% insurmountable), 10-fold for irbesartan (40% insurmountable) and 5-fold for losartan (surmountable). His256 → Ala substitution had only minor effects. This suggests that Lys199 is important for the tight binding of non-peptide antagonists.
An estimate of the city population in China using DMSP night-time satellite imagery

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS) has a unique capability to detect the nocturnal observation of artificial lighting which reflect the spatial distribution of human population. However, most previous studies have focused on the developed countries. The objective of this article is to explore if the models of population derived from DMSP OLS data have the potential to map the size and spatial distribution of the human population in China. After the correlation analysis between the population density and light intensity in county scale, we proposed an empirical algorithm based on night-light images. The estimated population density in each county mainly agreed with the census data. This result showed that there was signification linear relationship between the two indexes we have analyzed. It has proven the DMSP night-time images were a valuable data source for regional studies, modeling, and planning activities, especially for regions where current data were lacking.
Maxillary Canine Impaction; a Final Twist in the Tale?

A case is presented with a displaced maxillary canine, where one year subsequent to the radiographic diagnosis, a bend in the apical one third of the adjacent premolar root had developed. This finding lends further support to a recent hypothesis, that in such circumstances, the canine impaction results in the deviation of the developing premolar root, rather than the obverse.
First clinical experience with alpha-emitting radium-223 in the treatment of skeletal metastases.

PURPOSE The main goals were to study the safety and tolerability of the alpha-emitter radium-223 (223Ra) in breast and prostate cancer patients with skeletal metastases. In addition, pain palliation was evaluated. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Fifteen prostate and 10 breast cancer patients enrolled in a phase I trial received a single i.v. injection of 223Ra. Five patients were included at each of the dosages: 46, 93, 163, 213, or 250 kBq/kg and followed for 8 weeks. Palliative response was evaluated according to the pain scale of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ C30 questionnaire at baseline and at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after injection. RESULTS Weekly blood sampling during follow-up revealed mild and reversible myelosuppression with nadir 2 to 4 weeks after the injection. Importantly, for thrombocytes only grade 1 toxicity was reported. Grade 3 neutropenia and leucopenia occurred in two and three patients, respectively. Mild, transient diarrhea was observed in 10 of the 25 patients. Nausea and vomiting was more frequently observed in the highest dosage group. Serum alkaline phosphatase decreased with nadir averages of 29.5% in females and 52.1% in males. Pain relief was reported by 52%, 60%, and 56% of the patients after 7 days, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. 223Ra cleared rapidly from blood and was below 1% of initial level at 24 hours. Gamma camera images indicated, in accordance with pretreatment (99m)Tc-MDP scans, accumulation of 223Ra in skeletal lesions. Elimination was mainly intestinal. Median survival exceeded 20 months. CONCLUSIONS 223Ra was well tolerated at therapeutically relevant dosages. Phase II studies have therefore been initiated.
Potential impacts of climate change on stable flies, investigated along an altitudinal gradient

Abstract Adult populations of stable flies were sampled along an altitudinal transect in Reunion Island to determine whether higher temperatures were associated with: (a) higher numbers of flies; (b) a longer season of infestation, and/or (c) different responses to warming in the cosmopolitan Stomoxys calcitrans (L) and the tropical Stomoxys niger niger Macquart (Diptera: Muscidae). Flies of both species were trapped at seven farms situated at four altitudes (100−1600 m a.s.l.) over a 90‐week period. For both species, there were no relationships between the maximum or mean fly abundance and altitude. Only minimum abundance in winter was significantly higher at lower altitudes. Maximum and mean abundances differed significantly between nearby farms under similar climatic conditions. Seasonal fluctuations in fly abundance changed along the gradient. At lower altitudes, population growth started earlier after the winter but abundance declined earlier in summer, which resulted in a shift of the season of infestation. Seasonal fluctuations of both species were strongly related to climate variables at high altitude, mainly temperature. However, climate variables explained a decreasing proportion of the variations in abundance at lower altitudes. Stomoxys calcitrans was the most abundant species overall, but the proportion of S. n. niger increased significantly at lower altitudes and this species became predominant at 100 m a.s. l. It is concluded that stable fly infestations are unlikely to worsen in response to global warming. Maximum abundance is limited by local factors, possibly larval resources, which suggests that adequate husbandry practices could override the impact of climate change. Because S. n. niger tends to be the predominant pest at elevated temperatures, it is recommended that this species should not be introduced in areas where climate is changing.
Stimulation of human whole-body energy expenditure by salsalate is fueled by higher lipid oxidation under fasting conditions and by higher oxidative glucose disposal under insulin-stimulated conditions.

OBJECTIVE Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs appear to improve insulin sensitivity and are currently tested in clinical trials. Salsalate, however, may blunt mitochondrial function, an unwarranted side effect for type 2 diabetics. We examined the effect of salsalate on ex vivo mitochondrial function and lipid-induced insulin resistance. DESIGN In a crossover design, nine volunteers underwent a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with simultaneous infusion of glycerol (control), Intralipid, or Intralipid preceded by 4 d of salsalate (4000 mg Disalsid). Oxidative glucose disposal and nonoxidative glucose disposal (NOGD), metabolic flexibility, energy expenditure (EE), and ex vivo muscle mitochondrial function were measured. RESULTS Lipid infusion reduced insulin-stimulated glucose disposal by approximately 40%, glucose oxidation (CHOox) by approximately 50%, and NOGD by approximately 35%. Lipid-induced whole-body insulin resistance and decreased NOGD were not ameliorated by salsalate. However, salsalate repressed lipid-induced reduction in CHOox and reduced insulin clearance, resulting in higher insulin levels under basal as well as under clamp conditions (∼25 and ∼39%, respectively). Intriguingly, EE was higher after administration of salsalate (∼18 and ∼16% under basal and clamp conditions, respectively) and was fueled by increased fat oxidation in the basal state and increased CHOox upon insulin stimulation. Salsalate did not affect mitochondrial function and coupling. CONCLUSION We conclude that salsalate failed to improve whole-body insulin sensitivity but increased basal fat oxidation and insulin-stimulated CHOox, indicating improved metabolic flexibility. The beneficial effects of salsalate on CHOox can be attributed to elevated insulin levels. Mitochondrial respirometry revealed no indications that the changes in substrate selection and EE could be attributed to changes in skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity or mitochondrial coupling.