Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Persistent ecological shifts in marine molluscan assemblages across the end-Cretaceous mass extinction

Significance Global change and regime shifts of ecosystems are a major concern today. It has been suggested that the end-Cretaceous impact of an asteroid not only caused mass extinction but also involved the transgression of a global tipping point. We demonstrate that the ecological structure of pre- and postextinction assemblages of marine bivalves and gastropods differ far more than expected from usual background fluctuations. In-depth ecological analyses suggest site-specific rather than globally uniform shifts to different dynamic regimes. At more inclusive ecological levels, parallel increases emerge in mobility levels, in species burrowing into the sediment, and in deposit feeders and carnivores. Contemporary biodiversity loss and population declines threaten to push the biosphere toward a tipping point with irreversible effects on ecosystem composition and function. As a potential example of a global-scale regime shift in the geological past, we assessed ecological changes across the end-Cretaceous mass extinction based on molluscan assemblages at four well-studied sites. By contrasting preextinction and postextinction rank abundance and numerical abundance in 19 molluscan modes of life—each defined as a unique combination of mobility level, feeding mode, and position relative to the substrate—we find distinct shifts in ecospace utilization, which significantly exceed predictions from null models. The magnitude of change in functional traits relative to normal temporal fluctuations at far-flung sites indicates that molluscan assemblages shifted to differently structured systems and faunal response was global. The strengths of temporal ecological shifts, however, are mostly within the range of preextinction site-to-site variability, demonstrating that local ecological turnover was similar to geographic variation over a broad latitudinal range. In conjunction with varied site-specific temporal patterns of individual modes of life, these spatial and temporal heterogeneities argue against a concerted phase shift of molluscan assemblages from one well-defined regime to another. At a broader ecological level, by contrast, congruent tendencies emerge and suggest deterministic processes. These patterns comprise the well-known increase of deposit-feeding mollusks in postextinction assemblages and increases in predators and predator-resistant modes of life, i.e., those characterized by elevated mobility and infaunal life habits.
CD4 Down-Modulation by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Nef Correlates with the Efficiency of Viral Replication and with CD4+ T-Cell Depletion in Human Lymphoid Tissue Ex Vivo

ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef protein is an important virulence factor. Nef has several functions, including down-modulation of CD4 and class I major histocompatibility complex cell surface expression, enhancement of virion infectivity, and stimulation of viral replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Nef also increases HIV-1 replication in human lymphoid tissue (HLT) ex vivo. We analyzed recombinant and primarynef alleles with highly divergent activity in different in vitro assays to clarify which of these Nef activities are functionally linked. Our results demonstrate that Nef activity in CD4 down-regulation correlates significantly with the efficiency of HIV-1 replication and with the severity of CD4+ T-cell depletion in HLT. In conclusion, HIV-1 Nef variants with increased activity in CD4 down-modulation would cause severe depletion of CD4+ T cells in lymphoid tissues and accelerate AIDS progression.
Signal transduction in rat vascular smooth muscle cells: control of osmotically induced aldose reductase expression by cell kinases and phosphatases.

We have studied the osmotically induced gene expression (measured as chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene expression) in rat smooth muscle cell primary cultures (rSMC), under the control of osmotic response elements (ORE). It was found that osmotically induced gene expression is sensitive to signal transduction inhibitors and activators. In particular, protein kinase C inhibition by calphostin C prevented gene expression by osmotic response. On the other hand, receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition has been shown to produce an enhancement of gene expression. This suggests that tyrosine kinase receptor activation exerts an inhibitory action on ORE induced gene expression. Gene expression was also induced by treating cells with PD098059, a specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. Moreover, the same inhibitors and activators have been shown to affect the hyperosmosis induced expression of aldose reductase gene.
Impairment and deportment responses to different methylphenidate doses in children with ADHD: the MTA titration trial.

OBJECTIVE Results of the NIMH Collaborative Multisite Multimodal Treatment Study of Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (MTA) were analyzed to determine whether a double-blind, placebo-controlled methylphenidate (MPH) titration trial identified the best MPH dose for each child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD Children with ADHD assigned to MTA medication treatment groups (n = 289) underwent a controlled 28-day titration protocol that administered different MPH doses (placebo, low, middle, and high) on successive days. RESULTS A repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed main effects for MPH dose with greater effects on teacher ratings of impairment and deportment (F3 = 100.6, n = 223, p = .0001; effect sizes 0.8-1.3) than on parent ratings of similar endpoints (F3 = 55.61, n = 253, p = .00001; effect sizes 0.4-0.6). Dose did not interact with period, dose order, comorbid diagnosis, site, or treatment group. CONCLUSIONS The MTA titration protocol validated the efficacy of weekend MPH dosing and established a total daily dose limit of 35 mg of MPH for children weighing less than 25 kg. It replicated previously reported MPH response rates (77%), distribution of best doses (10-50 mg/day) across subjects, effect sizes on impairment and deportment, as well as dose-related adverse events.
Accuracy and variation in estimates of large numbers of birds by individual observers using an aerial survey simulator

Abstract The accuracy of aerial estimates of avian aggregation sizes is variable across studies, and the relative importance of techniques and inter-observer error to this variation are poorly understood. Using a scaled physical model of a wading bird colony, we examined accuracy and variation in observer counts of simulated large numbers (200–6000) of densely nesting birds in vegetated situations. Observer estimates averaged 29% less than true numbers (under- and overestimates averaged together), and the mean absolute value of observer errors was 49% of true values. We found no effects of the size of the aggregation, the experience of the observer, the size of the previous aggregations surveyed by observers, the use of corrective lenses, or fatigue on degree of individual error. Over- and underestimates by individuals did not tend to cancel out in estimates by individuals of a “population” of colonies. Photographic counts of the same trials were significantly more accurate than observer estimates. We suggest that many studies using estimates of large numbers of birds may be confounded by similar errors. We urge that researchers use caution in interpreting the results of past surveys and develop ways to minimize, measure, and correct for visual estimation error within individuals and among observers.
Bacterial Translocation in Small Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Efficacy of Anti-CINC Antibody Treatment

The involvement of bacterial translocation in small intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injuries and the efficacy of using anti-CINC antibodies for treatment were investigated. A model for ischemia-reperfusion injury of the small intestine was constructed by clamping the supramesenteric artery (for 90 min) in rats. Anti-CINC antibodies and saline were given just before the induction of ischemia in the treatment group and the control group, respectively. Six hours after reperfusion, bacteria were detected in the mesenteric lymph nodes, but the ‘bacteria-positive’ rate was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group. Bacterial cultures and endotoxins in the blood were negative in both groups up to 24 h later. The plasma cytokine levels showed similar variations, although the increases were significantly lower after reperfusion in the treatment group. In addition, the degrees of neutrophil infiltration and mucosal injury were attenuated in the small intestine, and the structure of the liver was maintained. Furthermore, the 1-week survival was improved. These results suggest that bacterial translocation occurred predominantly via the lymphatic system and that anti-CINC antibody treatment exerted a protective effect against small intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Image Information Distance Analysis and Applications

Image similarity or distortion assessment is fundamental to a broad range of applications throughout the field of image processing and machine vision. These include image restoration, denoising, coding, communication, interpolation, registration, fusion, classification and retrieval, as well as object detection, recognition, and tracking. Many existing image similarity measures have been proposed to work with specific types of image distortions (e.g., JPEG compression). There are also methods such as the structural similarity (SSIM) index that are applicable to a wider range of applications. However, even these “general-purpose” methods offer limited scopes in their applications. For example, SSIM does not apply or work properly when significant geometric changes exist between the two images being compared. The theory of Kolmogorov complexity provides solid groundwork for a generic information distance metric between any objects that minorizes all metrics in the class. The Normalized Information Distance (NID) metric provides a more useful framework. While appealing, the challenge lies in the implementation, mainly due to the non-computable nature of Kolmogorov complexity. To overcome this, a Normalized Compression Distance (NCD) measure was proposed, which is an effective approximation of NID and has found successful applications in the fields of bioinformatics, pattern recognition, and natural language processing. Nevertheless, the application of NID for image similarity and distortion analysis is still in its early stage. Several authors have applied the NID framework and the NCD algorithm to image clustering, image distinguishability, content-based image retrieval and video classification problems, but most reporting only moderate success. Moreover, due to their focuses on specific applications, the generic property of NID was not fully exploited. In this work, we aim for developing practical solutions for image distortion analysis based on the information distance framework. In particular, we propose two practical approaches to approximate NID for image similarity and distortion analysis. In the first approach, the shortest program that converts one image to another is found from a list of available transformations and a generic image similarity measure is built on computing the length of this shortest program as an approximation of the conditional Kolmogorov complexity in NID. In the second method, the complexity of the objects is approximated using Shannon entropy. Specifically, inspired by the Visual Information Fidelity (VIF) approach a wavelet domain Gaussian Scale Mixture (GSM) model is adopted for entropy computation. Moreover, we propose a tone mapping operator parameter selection scheme for High Dynamic Range (HDR) images. The scheme attempts to find tone mapping parameters that minimize the NID of the HDR image and the resulting Low Dynamic
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TOXOPLASMOSIS IN SMALL RUMINANTS AND EQUINE IN DAKAHLIA GOVERNORATE , EGYPT

Received at: 23/2/2015 Accepted: 15/3/2015 Prevalence of toxoplasmosis was investigated in small ruminants (292 sheep & 81 goats) and equine (54 horses and 79 donkeys) from Dakahlia governorate, Egypt in the period from October 2013 – October 2014. The annually incidences were estimated by using latex agglutination test (LAT); indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sheep were (41.7%), (66.1%) and (62.0%) respectively, in goat were (49.4%), (64.2%) and (50.6%) respectively, in horse (50.0%), (72.2%) and (72.2%) respectively and (44.3%), (67.1%) and (68.4%) in donkeys respectively. The results of bioassay in cats revealed that 8 out of 25 slaughtered sheep (32.0%) and 9 out of 25 slaughtered donkeys (36.0%) were positive. Histopathological examination on bioassay positive case detected Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) tissue cysts in 3 (37.5%) and 4 (44.4%) in diaphragm muscles of sheep and donkeys respectively. The sensitivity of both ELISA and IHAT in sheep and donkeys was 100%. Regarding to host risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis, the results revealed that the seroincidence was significantly higher in equine [horses (72.2%) and donkeys (68.4%)] than in small ruminants [sheep (62.0%) and goats (50.6%)] and in relation to the gender the females were higher than in males. There are high associations between the history of abortion and intensive rearing system with incidence of toxoplasmosis in sheep. It could be concluded that the equines and small ruminants play an important role in epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. ELISA test is the more suitable test in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in small ruminant and equine. There are strong association between serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis with intensive breeding, old ages and female in small ruminant and equine.
Is Carotid Artery Stenting in Octogenarians Really Dangerous?

Purpose: To evaluate (1) whether carotid artery stenting (CAS) performed in octogenarians increases the procedure-related risk and (2) the incidence of complex anatomy of the aortic arch and supra-aortic vessels in patients >80 years old, which can increase the technical difficulty of CAS. Methods: Between December 2000 and September 2005, 1053 patients (903 men; mean age 72±2.2 years, range 46–90) underwent 1222 CAS procedures in 2 centers for de novo (n=1192) and restenotic (n=30) lesions (139 staged bilateral procedures). Indications for treatment were the presence of a symptomatic carotid artery stenosis ≥70% (n=798, 65.3%) or an asymptomatic stenosis of at least 80%. The patients were separated into 2 age categories: under 80 (n=1078 procedures, 88.2%) and 80 or older (n=144 procedures, 11.8%) for this analysis. Data analysis included death and stroke rate at discharge and at 30 days. Anatomical characteristics evaluated were aortic arch elongation, arch and supra-aortic vessel calcification and tortuosity, anatomical tortuosity of the lesion, and carotid plaque composition. Results: Three lesions in octogenarians could not be treated because of failure to access the vessel in 1 case and extremely tortuous arteries in 2. The overall death and stroke rate at 30 days was 2.12% in the older group (2 fatal strokes, 1 minor stroke) and 1.11% in the younger group (3 deaths, 3 major strokes, 6 minor strokes); the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.40). Significantly higher frequencies of tortuosity and calcification of the arch and supra-aortic vessels and of type III aortic arch were observed in the older group (p<0.001). Conclusion: In our experience, CAS has proven to be safe and effective in elderly patients. Different age-related anatomical features can represent an adjunctive technical challenge, but these difficulties can be successfully managed without increased perioperative risk if CAS is performed in high-volume centers by highly skilled operators.
A Two-Sex Polygenic Model for the Evolution of Premating Isolation. II. Computer Simulation of Experimental Selection Procedures.

A Monte-Carlo simulation program is described for a polygenic mating model introduced in the first paper in this series (Sved 1981). The program is used to simulate the situation in laboratory experiments in which two strains are allowed to mass-mate, hybrids are artificially eliminated and the establishment of mating isolation is studied. It is shown that, if mating choice is sufficiently precise, a combination of chance fluctuation and selection can lead to divergence in mating behavior. However, for small population sizes, the variability would usually be considerably reduced by the time some divergence is established, leading to low eventual levels of isolation. For larger population sizes, on the other hand, it may take many generations for any divergence to be established. -A dissection of the selective forces involved in the divergence shows that the major force potentially responsible for initial selective response is the tendency for divergent females and males to reject mates from the wrong strain. However, this is nullified in mixed-strain matings by the tendency of such individuals equally to reject mates from the correct strain. To overcome this problem, it is suggested that the usual mixed-strain mating procedure be replaced by procedures specifically designed to select for rejection of interstrain matings. Two procedures are suggested for this, and computer simulation shows that one or other of the procedures will work under the assumptions of the mating model. Other possible outcomes of selection, including asymmetrical divergence, are discussed for cases in which the assumptions of the mating model are invalid.
AMMONIA VOLATILIZATION FROM CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS THAT TREAT SWINE WASTEWATER

Increasingly, large–scale animal production occurs in confinement where large per–unit–area quantities of waste are generated. With the increased scale of production, new environment–friendly technologies are needed to deal with the waste. Constructed wetlands are considered an alternative treatment, but it is not known if volatilization of free ammonia (NH3) governs nitrogen removal in these systems. The objective of this research was to quantify the NH3 volatilization from constructed wetlands that treat swine wastewater. In May and July of 2000, a specially designed enclosure was used to measure NH3 volatilization from constructed wetlands receiving swine wastewater. Laboratory and field calibration tests indicated that the enclosure was effective at measuring NH3 volatilization. Wetland tests indicated that NH3 volatilization was occurring. From average hourly rates, it was estimated that 7% to 16% of the nitrogen load to the wetlands was removed through NH3 volatilization. Although NH3 losses should not be ignored, results indicated that NH3 volatilization was not responsible for removing the majority of nitrogen from the swine wastewater.
Nonidealities in traveling wave and transversal FIR filters operating at microwave frequencies

We examine the effects of transmission-line nonidealities like series loss, terminal impedance mismatch, circuit noise, and transconductor input and output capacitances on the performance of traveling-wave (TWA) and transversal finite-impulse response (FIR) filters. A general framework is presented for the analysis and simulation of such filters in the context of a real communication channel. Simulation results for adaptive equalizers operating at a data rate of 10 Gbps are given. Intuition is derived for the vastly superior performance of TWA-FIR filters. We also show that the effects of series losses can be counteracted in some measure by deliberately misterminating the transmission lines with a resistance lower than their characteristic impedance.
Influencia de la metodología flipped en las emociones sentidas por estudiantes del Grado de Educación Primaria en clases de ciencias dependiendo del bachillerato cursado

Este trabajo evalua como influye la metodologia de ensenanza seguida sobre las emociones que experimentan un grupo de 126 estudiantes del Grado de Educacion Primaria en el aprendizaje de contenidos cientificos. El estudio se ha llevado a cabo durante el curso 2015/16 en la asignatura Didactica de la Materia y la Energia impartida en el segundo curso del Grado de Educacion Primaria de la Universidad de Extremadura. Se evalua la influencia de la metodologia seguida, en las emociones que tienen los estudiantes sobre el aprendizaje de contenidos de fisica y quimica, dependiendo de la modalidad de bachillerato cursada. Para este estudio se han comparado los resultados de una metodologia de ensenanza tradicional, basada en la clase presencial, y los obtenidos al aplicar una metodologia de ensenanza invertida o flipped-classroom. Esta ultima constituye un modo de aprendizaje en el cual se invierte el formato tradicional de una clase. Los resultados preliminares del estudio indican que el empleo de una metodologia flipped genera mas emociones positivas y reduce las negativas, siendo este efecto mas acentuado en los estudiantes que no habian cursado un bachillerato de ciencias en su etapa pre-universitaria.
Lessons Learned Crossing Boundaries in an ICT-Supported Distributed Team

Most so-called virtual teams are virtual by degree only. The dichotomy of face-to-face versus virtual teams is a research-led phenomenon. Many teams are using combinations of face-to-face communication and ICT, and can be considered transitional or semi-virtual teams. Many of these teams cross multiple boundaries, including those of time, distance, organization and culture. This paper takes an in-depth look at one such ICT-supported distributed team and investigates some of the key issues that arose as it operated across multiple boundaries, in particular ethnic cultural boundaries. This paper answers recent calls for more in-depth and creative cross-culturally framed information systems research, and the findings suggest that while traditional notions of culture are still valuable for lending insight into team member behavior, team culture may also be seen as emergent and negotiated based on a wide range of contextual elements. The paper concludes with an analysis of the important practical lessons learned in this case. The implications for cross-cultural IS research are briefly discussed.