Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Observations on the Behavioral Responses of Bowhead Whales ( Balaena mysticetus ) to Active Geophysical Vessels in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea

The responses of bowhead whales to controlled approaches by geophysical vessels producing airgun blasts were observed during the course of four field experiments conducted in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea in September 1984. Behavioral responses included shorter surfacing and dive times, fewer blows per surfacing, longer blow intervals and subtle to overt changes in surface behaviors. Subtle behavioral responses occurred at 3.5 and 8.2 km with received airgun noise levels of 142 and 157 dB respectively (all levels in dB re 1 micro Pa). Partial avoidance (i.e., some whales leaving the observation area while others remained) occurred at ranges of 3.5 and 7.6 km, with sound levels of 142 and 158 dB respectively. Total avoidance (i.e., all whales leaving the observation area) occurred at 1.3, 7.2, 3.5 and 2.9 km, with corresponding sound levels of 152, 165, 178 and 165 dB. The similarities among experiments reported here support the conclusion that short-term behavioral changes occur when bowhead whales are exposed to airgum blasts from approaching geophysical vessels at ranges <10 km. These disturbance efforts wane within one hour after a disturbance; long-term effects on social, behavioral or physiologic parameters are not known at this time. Key words: bowhead whale, Balaena mysticerus , geophysical vessel, bioacoustics, airguns
Input-to-state stability for nonlinear systems with large delay period based on switching techniques

The paper is concerned with the problem of input-to-state stability (ISS) for a class of systems with large delay period (LDP). The concepts of the length rate of LDP and the frequency of LDP are introduced. First the considered system is converted into a switched delay system which may include an unstable subsystem. Then based on a piecewise Lyapunov functional, the ISS conditions of the systems are developed under the constriction of length rate and the frequency of LDP.
Age of Acquisition and Word Frequency in Written Picture Naming

This study investigates age of acquisition (AoA) and word frequency effects in both spoken and written picture naming. In the first two experiments, reliable AoA effects on object naming speed, with objective word frequency controlled for, were found in both spoken (Experiment 1) and written picture naming (Experiment 2). In contrast, no reliable objective word frequency effects were observed on naming speed, with AoA controlled for, in either spoken (Experiment 3) or written (Experiment 4) picture naming. The implications of the findings for written picture naming are briefly discussed.
Mouse Hepatitis Virus Replicase Proteins Associate with Two Distinct Populations of Intracellular Membranes

ABSTRACT The coronavirus replicase gene (gene 1) is translated into two co-amino-terminal polyproteins that are proteolytically processed to yield more than 15 mature proteins. Several gene 1 proteins have been shown to localize at sites of viral RNA synthesis in the infected cell cytoplasm, notably on late endosomes at early times of infection. However, both immunofluorescence and electron microscopic studies have also detected gene 1 proteins at sites distinct from the putative sites of viral RNA synthesis or virus assembly. In this study, mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)-infected cells were fractionated and analyzed to determine if gene 1 proteins segregated to more than one membrane population. Following differential centrifugation of lysates of MHV-infected DBT cells, gene 1 proteins as well as the structural N and M proteins were detected almost exclusively in a high-speed small membrane pellet. Following fractionation of the small membrane pellet on an iodixanol density gradient, the gene 1 proteins p28 and helicase cofractionated with dense membranes (1.12 to 1.13 g/ml) that also contained peak concentrations of N. In contrast, p65 and p1a-22 were detected in a distinct population of less dense membranes (1.05 to 1.09 g/ml). Viral RNA was detected in membrane fractions containing helicase, p28, and N but not in the fractions containing p65 and p1a-22. LAMP-1, a marker for late endosomes and lysosomes, was detected in both membrane populations. These results demonstrate that multiple gene 1 proteins segregate into two biochemically distinct but tightly associated membrane populations and that only one of these populations appears to be a site for viral RNA synthesis. The results further suggest that p28 is a component of the viral replication complex whereas the gene 1 proteins p1a-22 and p65 may serve roles during infection that are distinct from viral RNA transcription or replication.
Mechanically separated meat of broiler breeder and white layer spent hens

There are aproximately 90 millions of hens housed in Brazil, that concluding their production cycle, become available for slaughter. The poultry industry has economical interest in the use of spent hen meat through adequate processes. This review evaluates the quality of mechanically separated spent hen meat by chemical and functional characteristics, such as proximate composition, colagen, cholesterol, bones, calcium and iron contents, fatty acid profile, pH and emulsifying capacity, and as raw material for sausage production. The mechanical separation of meat migth be a good alternative use for spent hen carcasses.
Sit-to-stand as home exercise for mobility-limited adults over 80 years of age--GrandStand System may keep you standing?

PURPOSE To compare the effects of functional home exercise of repeated sit-to-stands with low-intensity progressive resistance training, on performance measures in mobility-limited adults over 80 years of age. SETTING Participants' homes. DESIGN Community-dwelling older adults > or =80 years of age were invited to participate in a randomised controlled clinical trial. Baseline and outcome measures were: comfortable gait velocity, 30-s chair-stand test, 15-s step test, Berg Balance Scale, Modified Falls Efficacy Scale and the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument-function component. Participants randomised to the intervention group performed repeated sit-to-stands using a GrandStand System; a biofeedback device that recorded and displayed the number of repetitions performed. Participants randomised to the control group performed knee extensions using ankle cuff weights. Both groups performed the exercises daily for 6 weeks. RESULTS Sixty-six older adults took part. The intervention group had a statistically significant improvement in Berg Balance Scale mean score, 1.67 +/- 2.64 points, P = 0.001 (control group 0.73 +/- 3.63 points, P = 0.258), indicating an improvement in balance over the 6-week exercise period. There was no statistically significant effect of either intervention on the other outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS In a highly variable population of older adults with mobility limitations, low-intensity functional home exercise of repeated sit-to-stands using the GrandStand System improved Berg Balance Scale score while low-intensity progressive resistance training did not. While statistically significant, the improvement in Berg Balance Scale score was modest raising the issue of what extent of change in score is clinically significant in this population.
Fusion of Electrocardiogram and Arterial Blood Pressure Signals for Authentication in Wearable Medical Systems

Wearable medical systems allow their users to be monitored continuously without being tethered. They are very useful for tracking patient health deterioration in hospital ER and in patient general wards. It is therefore essential to identify who the data is being collected from. In this paper we present an authentication approach that fuses characteristics of electrocardiogram (ECG) with arterial blood pressure (ABP) to authenticate users. The idea behind the use of multiple physiological signals is that it allows us to ensure that the authentication approach works effectively irrespective of the current state of the user’s health. This is an important requirement given that wearable medical systems might be worn by user who have ailments that causes their physiological signals used in authentication to be “non-standard”. An evaluation of our approach showed that it was over 97% accurate with a false positive rate (e.g., accepting illegitimate users) of 1.2% in identifying the user on whom the system is deployed. Further, it enabled authentication after just 3 seconds of signal measurement.
Pathology of a bovine viral necrotizing encephalitis in Argentina.

Summary The pathological findings in the central nervous system of 8 to 18 month-old cattle in Argentina with neurological symptoms are described. Microscopical examination showed a necrotizing encephalitis, accompanied by non-purulent leptomeningitis. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in neurons and glial cells. Electron microscopy showed viral particles with herpes morphology. The association morphological changes in the CNS and IBR infection are discussed. Zusammenfassung Histologische und elektronenmikroskopische Befunde von Rindern aus Argentinien im Alter von 8 bis 18 Monaten mit zentralnervosen Symptomen werden dargestellt. Histologisch wurde eine nekrotisierende Encephalitis sowie eine nicht-eitrige Leptomeningitis diagnostiziert. In Zellkernen von Nerven- als auch Gliazellen traten intranukleare Einschluskorperchen auf, die ultrastrukturelle Charakteristika von Herpesviren aufwiesen. Atiologisch kommt eine Infektion mit dem IBR-Virus in Betracht. Resume Pathologie d'une encephalite necrosante virale chez des bovins en Argentine Des recherches histologiques et en microscopie electronique sont decrites chez des bovins argentins âges de 8 a 18 mois, atteints de symptomes du systeme nerveux central. Une encephalite necrosante et une leptomeningite non purulente ont ete diagnostiquees histologiquement. Des corps a inclusions intranucleaires apparus dans les noyaux des cellules nerveuses et de la glia, presentaient les caracteristiques ultrastructurelles de virus Herpes. Une infection a virus IBR a ete prise en consideration dans l'etiologie. Resumen Patologia de una Encefalitis Viral Necrotizante en Bovinos de la Republica Argentina Se describen los hallazgos patologicos en el sistema nervioso central de bovinos de 8 a 18 meses de edad, afectados con sintomas neurologicos en la Republica Argentina. Al examen microscopico se caracterizo la lesion como encefalitis necrotizante acompanada de leptomeningitis no suprativa. Se observaron cuerpos de inclusion intranucleares en neuronas y celulas de la glia. El estudio con el microscopio electronico demostro particulas viricas con estructura de virus herpes. Se analizan y se comparan con trabajos previosi los cambios morfologicos observados en el sistema nervioso central y su origen virico.
Evaluation of Talent Management on Employees Performance in Beverage Industry: A Case of Delmonte Kenya Limited

Talent management practice within organization is an international human resource strategy that seeks to identify, develop, deploy and retain talented and high potential employees. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of talent retention on employees performance, assess how talent attraction impacts, effect of learning and development on employees performance in beverage industry in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design in which the target population of 2,500 employees of Del Monte Kenya. The study used stratified sampling method to select 83 employees according to their job cadres. Descriptive statistics such as the standard deviation, percentages and frequency distribution were used. The study established that the job retention motivated the employees of Del Monte leading to ultimate performance. The study recommended that the management should ensure the work environment was attractive to the employees so as to motivate, thus leading to better performance.
Did Takahashi Korekiyo Rescue Japan from the Great Depression?

Takahashi Korekiyo is remembered as a wise finance minister saving Japan from the Great Depression. The contribution of his policy measures however remains to be rigorously measured, with proper control of other forces also driving the recovery. Structural vector autoregression analysis of previously unexploited monthly data confirms the pivotal role of Takahashi's debt-financed fiscal expansion. Monetizing the public debts, the Bank of Japan maintained a neutral stance. The recovery was aided by exchange-rate shocks generated during the transition from the gold standard to the floating-exchange-rate regime and, to a smaller extent, by the world recovery.
Phasic respiratory pharyngeal mechanics by magnetic resonance imaging in lean and obese zucker rats.

RATIONALE Although obstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with obesity, we have little understanding of how obesity may alter the mechanical properties of the pharynx and the role of obesity in the pathogenesis of sleep apnea. OBJECTIVES The overall objective of this study was to determine the effect of obesity on pharyngeal airway size and pharyngeal wall tissue strain in lean and obese Zucker rats. METHODS Respiratory-gated magnetic resonance imaging with noninvasive tissue tagging was performed in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing lean (n = 9) and obese (n = 9) Zucker rats. Images acquired during expiration and inspiration of the rostral, mid-, and caudal pharynx were analyzed for airway size and pharyngeal wall tissue strain, using planimetry, optical flow, and finite element analyses. Differences in cross-sectional airway area, lateral and anteroposterior airway diameters, and tissue strain (stretch, compression, and direction of stretch) in the lateral and ventral pharyngeal walls were compared by analysis of variance (significance at p < 0.05). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Compared with their lean littermates, obese rats had the following significant findings: reduced pharyngeal airway cross-sectional area during inspiration and expiration, smaller increases in airway area during inspiration, and decreased lateral airway dilation during inspiration. Tissue strain in the pharyngeal walls showed no significant differences between obese and lean rats. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that obesity results in a mechanical abnormality that decreases pharyngeal airway size and prevents a normal airway response to a given change in pharyngeal wall tissue strain.
Walking speed on parquetry and carpet after stroke: effect of surface and retest reliability

Objective: At the transition stage from rehabilitation to home this study aimed to (1) investigate the effect of floor surface (carpet and parquetry) on walking speed; (2) investigate whether there was a difference between these surfaces as stroke patients voluntarily increased from comfortable to fast pace; (3) investigate whether walking speed on parquetry was a predictor of walking speed on carpet at the two paces; (4) investigate whether walking speed at a comfortable pace was a predictor of walking speed at a fast pace on the two surfaces; and (5) quantify systematic and random error in repeated measurements for fast-paced walking trials. Design: Subjects walked 10 metres at comfortable and fast paces on carpet and parquetry on two consecutive days. Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation centre. Subjects: Twenty-four stroke patients. Main outcome measure: Walking speed. Results: Two-way analysis of variance confirmed that patients walked more slowly on carpet than parquetry (F(1,23) = 5.3, p<0.05) at both paces; the interaction effect was not significant (p>0.05). Walking speed on parquetry was a strong predictor of walking speed on carpet at a comfortable (r= 0.92), and fast pace (r= 0.97). Walking speed at comfortable pace was a moderately strong predictor of walking speed at fast pace on parquetry (r= 0.84),and on carpet (r= 0.88). Random error in repeated measurements was higher when walking fast on carpet (7.21 m/min) and parquetry (8.32 m/min) than when walking at a comfortable pace on carpet (4.63 m/min) and parquetry (3.48 m/min). Systematic error was negligible (p<0.05). Conclusion: Carpet surface was more challenging than parquetry surface, as evidenced by the systematic decrease in walking speed. This may have been due to lack of familiarity. Relative to the wide range of scores in the group, stroke patients showed consistency of walking speed across both surfaces. Likewise, stroke patients retained their relative position in the group as they changed from a comfortable to a fast walking pace. The difference in random error between comfortable and fast-paced trials highlights the need to quantify error in the repeated measurement situation according to specific test conditions.
Effects of Intimate Partner Violence Versus Poverty on Women's Health

This article investigated whether women's physical health symptoms were due to abuse, poverty, or both. A community sample of 397 women, about half of whom had been assaulted by an intimate partner, were interviewed about their income, experience of physical abuse, and physical health. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that both income and physical abuse contributed to women's rates of physical health symptoms. Abuse contributed to the variance in physical health beyond that predicted by income level alone. Findings suggest that abuse by an intimate partner or ex-partner negatively affects women's health and is especially detrimental to the health of low-income women.
How scales influence user rating behaviour in recommender systems

ABSTRACT Many websites allow users to rate items and share their ratings with others, for social or personalisation purposes. In recommender systems in particular, personalised suggestions are generated by predicting ratings for items that users are unaware of, based on the ratings users provided for other items. Explicit user ratings are collected by means of graphical widgets referred to as ‘rating scales’. Each system or website normally uses a specific rating scale, in many cases differing from scales used by other systems in their granularity, visual metaphor, numbering or availability of a neutral position. While many works in the field of survey design reported on the effects of rating scales on user ratings, these, however, are normally regarded as neutral tools when it comes to recommender systems. In this paper, we challenge this view and provide new empirical information about the impact of rating scales on user ratings, presenting the results of three new studies carried out in different domains. Based on these results, we demonstrate that a static mathematical mapping is not the best method to compare ratings coming from scales with different features, and suggest when it is possible to use linear functions instead.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum AnkA is tyrosine‐phosphorylated at EPIYA motifs and recruits SHP‐1 during early infection

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an intracellular pathogen that infects and survives in neutrophilic granulocytes. The A. phagocytophilum genome encodes a type four secretion system (T4SS) that may facilitate intracellular survival by translocation of virulence factors, but to date, no such factors have been identified. Because T4SS‐translocated proteins of several intracellular organisms undergo tyrosine phosphorylation by host cell kinases, we investigated tyrosine phosphorylation of A. phagocytophilum proteins during infection. Within minutes after incubation of A. phagocytophilum with HL‐60 cells or PMN, a 190 kDa bacterial protein, AnkA, was increasingly tyrosine‐phosphorylated. A. phagocytophilum binding to host cells without entry was sufficient for AnkA tyrosine phosphorylation. An in vitro Src kinase assay demonstrated that purified AnkA expressed in Escherichia coli was phosphorylated at tyrosines located at the C‐terminal portion of AnkA. Similarly, AnkA expressed in COS‐7 cells underwent tyrosine phosphorylation by Src at the C‐terminus. The phosphorylated tyrosines were located in EPIYA motifs that display the consensus sequence for binding to SH2 domains. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated AnkA binding to the host cell phosphatase SHP‐1 during early infection. Phosphorylation of the EPIYA motifs and the presence of the SH2 domains were necessary for AnkA–SHP‐1 interaction. We conclude that AnkA is a translocated virulence factor that is tyrosine‐phosphorylated by host cell kinases upon translocation into the host cell early during infection. A. phagocytophilum may manipulate the host cell through SHP‐1 recruitment.
Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis Agents Derived from Quinoxaline-2-carbonitrile and Quinoxaline-2-carbonitrile 1,4-di-N-oxide

Summary In this paper new quinoxaline derivatives with different substituents in positions 3, 6, 7 and 8 are reported. Their biological activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been assessed and most of the 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives have been shown to strongly inhibit the bacteria growth in the first in vitro screening.
Sibling popularity: A moderator of sibling influence for adolescent substance use

Abstract Sibling substance use is a known correlate of adolescent substance use. Yet, not all siblings are equally influential. Sibling influence has been found to vary by age gap, sex and birth order. Little research, however, has investigated whether siblings' peer context is also a source of variation. The present study tested whether more popular siblings were more influential for adolescent use of cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. Data were obtained from sibling pairs in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Findings indicate that older siblings have more influence on younger sibling marijuana use when they have more friends. These findings contribute to prior work examining which siblings are more influential and highlight the need to consider siblings as part of a greater peer context.