Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BIASES IN DIETS DETERMINED FROM PELLETS AND REMAINS : CORRECTION FACTORS FOR A MAMMAL AND BIRD-EATING RAPTOR

ABSTR•1⁄2T. --Numerous tudies of predatory birds worldwide report dietary proportions based on analyses of large numbers of pellets or prey remains. Such analyses are often severely biased, hence strictly unquantifiable, because some prey remains are more conspicuous or persistent han others. We investigated this bias for the birdand micromammal-eating African Marsh Harrier (Circus ranivorus), using an essentially independent measure of diet, observed prey deliveries to the nest. Comparisons of the frequency of occurrence showed that bird prey, particularly large wetland species, were over-represented almost threefold among remains. Micromammals were under-represented about 1.5-fold, while fish, frogs and eggs were marginally over-represented. Analyses using pellets were also biased but in the opposite direction to that of remains. We show that by combining pellets and prey remains (collected with equal effort), accurate estimates of overall diet can be achieved. This was verified using month by month comparisons of micromammals, in which proportions derived from pellets and remains never differed by more than 10% from those established from direct observations.
n‐3 fatty acids and blood glucose control in diabetes mellitus

Abstract. Our knowledge of the effects of n‐3 fatty acids on the glucose homeostasis in diabetes mellitus is at present incomplete. The results are in certain respects conflicting. Several studies have shown that addition of n‐3 fatty acids, especially in type‐2 diabetes, may increase blood glucose concentrations without a concomitant increase of insulin or C‐peptide concentrations. The glucose/insulin ratio is increased in fasting as well as after meals. On the other hand, some data indicate that, in spite of increased or unchanged glucose concentrations, there may be an improved peripheral insulin sensitivity. The stimulated insulin response may be reduced after mixed meals, although there are no indications of significant impairments of the response to intravenous glucose. The reasons for the observed changes are still obscure. More controlled studies, during prolonged periods of time, are needed. At present it would seem important to closely follow diabetic patients with respect to glucose and lipid metabolism if treated with n‐3 fatty acids. As for now, diabetic patients are recommended to increase their intake of fish in the diet. The use of pharmacological doses of n‐3 fatty acids remains investigational.
Emerging roles of protein disulfide isomerase in cancer

The protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family is a group of multifunctional endoplasmic reticulum (ER) enzymes that mediate the formation of disulfide bonds, catalyze the cysteine-based redox reactions and assist the quality control of client proteins. Recent structural and functional studies have demonstrated that PDI members not only play an essential role in the proteostasis in the ER but also exert diverse effects in numerous human disorders including cancer and neurodege-nerative diseases. Increasing evidence suggests that PDI is actively involved in the proliferation, survival, and metastasis of several types of cancer cells. Although the molecular mechanism by which PDI contributes to tumorigenesis and metastasis remains to be understood, PDI is now emerging as a new therapeutic target for cancer treatment. In fact, several attempts have been made to develop PDI inhibitors as anti-cancer drugs. In this review, we discuss the properties and diverse functions of human PDI proteins and focus on recent findings regarding their roles in the state of diseases including cancer and neurodegeneration.
A Review of the Emotional Intelligence Literature and Implications for Corrections

Ce rapport est egalement disponible en francais. This report is also available in French. Pour obtenir des exemplaires supplementaires, veuillez vous adresser a la Direction de la recherche, Service correctionnel du Canada, 340, avenue Laurier ouest, Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0P9. Should additional copies be required, they can be obtained from the Research Branch, Correctional Service of Canada, 340 Laurier Ave., West, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0P9.
Seroprevalence of human cystic echinococcosis and risk factors in animal breeders in rural communities in Denizli, Turkey.

INTRODUCTION Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a serious public health problem in sheep-raising regions of Turkey. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of echinococcosis in rural regions of Denizli in Turkey. METHODOLOGY This study was undertaken in four townships in Denizli County between May 2009 and July 2009. Family members were interviewed to assess possible risk factors for infection and tested for anti-E. granulosus antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Of the 1,133 individuals included in the study, 78 (6.9%) were found to be anti-EG seropositive. Multivariate analysis showed that the 30-39 year age group (odds ratio [OR]: 3.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30 ± 8.33; p = 0.01), the ≥ 60 year group (OR: 4.08; 95% CI: 1.57 ± 10.61; p = 0.004), and the group that reported sometimes or never getting veterinary care for their animals (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.05 ± 2.93; p = 0.032) had higher rates of seropositivity. Multivariate analysis showed that education was not significantly associated with seropositivity. Furthermore, no significant correlation with location, occupation, dog ownership or contact with dogs, or with cattle and/or sheep/goat ownership was found. Regular veterinary care and education had significant effects on lowering the prevalence of CE. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that preventive measures, such as regular veterinary care for animals and educative and supportive activities oriented to the people working in farming and animal husbandry should be taken to decrease the prevalence of human CE in Turkey.
Unchanged plasma levels of dimethylarginines and nitric oxide in chronic hepatitis C

Objective. Previous studies have shown that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and nitric oxide (NO) play a prominent role in liver dysfunction. The objective of this study was to determine whether plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO are altered in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Material and methods. Plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO (nitrite plus nitrate) were measured in 22 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 24 patients with sustained virologic response after treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin. Seven healthy volunteers served as controls. Results. Plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO were not significantly different between groups: chronic hepatitis C, ADMA 0.55±0.06, SDMA 0.22±0.03, NO 36.3±5.9 µmol/l; treated patients, ADMA 0.60±0.15, SDMA 0.31±0.05, NO 36.1±5.5 µmol/l; controls, ADMA 0.65±0.08, SDMA 0.28±0.05, NO 40.7±8.9 µmol/l). Conclusions. Our results show that plasma NO, ADMA and SDMA concentrations are not changed in patients with chronic hepatitis C without superimposed signs of acute inflammatory activity. Furthermore, no significant differences in plasma values of NO and dimethylarginines were observed between the group of untreated patients and the group of patients treated with interferon plus ribavirin
Latanoprost versus timolol gel-forming solution once daily in primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

BACKGROUND To compare the efficacy and safety of latanoprost and timolol gel-forming solution (GFS). METHODS This was a randomized, crossover, investigator-masked, active-control study of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Patients received either once-daily 0.5% timolol GFS (n=40) or once-daily 0.005% latanoprost (n=35) for 8 weeks (period 1). Patients were then crossed over to the other medication and treated for another 8 weeks (period 2). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was determined every 2 hours from 8:00 to 20:00 at baseline and weeks 8 and 16. Safety was assessed by visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and adverse event reports. RESULTS During period 1, reduction in mean (SD) diurnal IOP was significantly greater in latanoprost-treated patients (-6.9 [3.0] mm Hg) than in timolol GFS-treated patients (-5.5 [2.4] mm Hg), p=0.034. There was also a significant reduction in IOP from baseline after switching from timolol GFS to latanoprost (p<0.001), not observed when patients were switched from latanoprost to timolol GFS. After results from each drug's treatment periods were combined between treatment arms, latanoprost reduced IOP more (-6.9 [2.9] mm Hg) than did timolol GFS (-6.2 [2.7] mm Hg), p=0.018. Hyperemia was the most common adverse event in both treatment groups, with 5 incidences in timolol GFS-treated patients, and 10 in latanoprost. INTERPRETATION Latanoprost is more effective than timolol GFS in reducing IOP, and patients switched from timolol GFS to latanoprost have a further significant reduction in IOP.
Determinants of further training – evidence for Germany

We explore the relevance and development of further training in private sector firms using the German Socio-Economic Panel, which is a representative sample of German residents. We focus on formal training and explore possible individual and job-based determinants of its incidence. We also show changes over time during a 20-year observation period from 1989 to 2008. Most hypotheses are supported by the empirical evidence. Job status and firm size are the most relevant characteristics for training participation. Furthermore, our analyses reveal a general trend of rising training rates from 1989 to 2008, indicating an increased importance in the German labor market.
24 CONFERENCE ON SEVERE LOCAL STORMS, 27-31 OCTOBER 2008, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA P9.13 SUPER-RESOLUTION POLARIMETRIC OBSERVATIONS OF A CYCLIC TORNADIC SUPERCELL MATTHEW R. KUMJIAN*, ALEXANDER V. RYZHKOV, AND VALERY M. MELNIKOV

Recent developments have shown that WSR-88D radars are capable of collecting data with higher resolution than is currently employed by the National Weather Service. Conventional data are sampled every one degree in azimuth with 250-meter gate spacing. In contrast, the so-called “super-resolution” data are sampled every half degree in azimuth. For the first time, super-resolution dual-polarization radar data have been collected for a cyclic tornadic supercell storm in north-central Oklahoma. The data were obtained by the NSSL research prototype dual-polarization WSR-88D in Norman (KOUN). The next section provides an overview of the storm and its environment. The data are presented in section 3, which discusses the various polarimetric signatures observed in the storm, their evolution, and their relation to the storm behavior and morphology. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of the availability of super-resolution polarimetric data following the forthcoming nationwide polarimetric upgrade of the WSR-88D network, focusing on the benefits and operational applications of super-resolution data.
Performance and Predictive Power of Risk-Neutral Densities and Subjective Probability Density Functions

The main goal of this work is to extract the Risk Neutral Densities (RNDs) and Subjective Probability Density Functions (SPDFs) of the exchange rate USD/BRL (price of US Dollar in terms of Brazilian Real) for the period between June 2006 and September 2014. We have deepened previous studies, evaluating not only the market expectations provided by these densities, but also the performance of these densities in predicting the future realizations of this exchange rate. The RNDs were estimated using two structural models and two non-structural models. In the first category, we included the Variance Gamma-OU (VG GammaOU) model and the CGMY Gamma-OU model. In the second category, we used the Density Functional Based on Confluent Hypergeometric function (DFCH) model and the Mixture of Lognormal Distributions (MLN) model. In this study, the DFCH, the CGMY Gamma-OU and the VG Gamma-OU produced densities (RND and SPDF) with 1 month to maturity that exhibited a very good performance in forecasting the observed USD/BRL. The MLN, despite having and acceptable predictive power for 1 month term, underperformed substantially the other 3 models. JEL Classification: G13; C13; C15; F31
T-cell recognition of acetylcholine receptor provides a reliable means for monitoring autoimmunity to acetylcholine receptor in antibody-negative myasthenia gravis patients

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease usually associated with autoantibodies (auto-Abs) against nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Some MG patients appear negative for anti-AChR Abs (seronegative), and a fraction of these have auto-Abs against muscle-specific kinase. The remaining patients, although displaying MG symptoms, show no detectable auto-Abs. We describe here a possible association of a rare human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ type and AChR Ab-negative MG. We also found that the majority of seronegative patients exhibit an anti-AChR autoimmune T lymphocyte response. We investigated the existence of AChR-reactive T cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes from seronegative patients by their proliferative responses against a mixture of 18 overlapping synthetic peptides encompassing the extracellular part of human AChR α-chain. Of the 10 samples, eight exhibited positive T-cell proliferative responses against the peptide mixtures. The proliferative assay was equally efficient using a mixture of eight peptides frequently recognized by MG T cells. This T-cell proliferative assay should provide a reliable method for monitoring seronegative MG patients.
Time Course of Clinical and Electrophysiological Recovery After Sport-Related Concussion

Background and Purpose:Recent neuroimaging studies suggest that abnormalities in brain function after concussion exist beyond the point of observed clinical recovery. This study investigated the relationship between an index of brain dysfunction (traumatic brain injury [TBI] Index), concussion severity, and outcome. Methods:EEG was collected from forehead locations in 65 male athletes with concussion within 24 hours of concussion, with follow-up at 8 and 45 days postinjury. Neurocognitive and symptom assessments were also performed and used to classify subjects in mild or moderate concussion categories. Time to return to play was recorded. Results:The TBI Index was higher in the moderate than mild concussion group at injury, day 8, and day 45. The moderate group had increased symptoms and decreased cognitive performance only at the time of injury. At the time of injury, only the TBI Index was significantly associated with the length of time to return to play. Conclusions:Recovery of brain function after sport-related concussion may extend well beyond the time course of clinical recovery and be related to clinical severity. An index of brain dysfunction may be an objective indicator of injury, recovery, and readiness to return to play. The relatively small sample indicates the need for further study on the time course of physiological recovery.
A preliminary study on the peripheral retinal refractive status and the development of myopia in RP patients with myopia

Purpose: To study the relationship between peripheral retinal refraction and the development of myopia in retinitis pigmentosa patients with myopia. Methods: A total of 47 subjects (89 eyes) of RP patients with different degrees of myopia underwent peripheral refraction and visual field measurement. The visual field test results were grouped according to the AGIS scoring system, and classified into mild visual field defect group (24 eyes), moderate visual field defect group (41 eyes), and severe group (24 eyes). According to shadow moving, neutralization in the open view field condition, relative peripheral refractive errors (RPREs) were measured in the center and at the stare angles of 10°, 20° and 30° in the nasal and temporal fields, respectively. A complete set of data for each eye included one central diopter and six peripheral diopters. The RPREs of the nasal and temporal fields at 10°, 20° and 30° were determined by subtracting each peripheral diopter from central diopter, RPRE = Ma-M0, a is central diopter, o is peripheral diopter. Results: The relative refractive errors of temporal fields between mild and moderate group were significantly different at temporal field eccentricities of 20° and 30° (Independent-samples t-tests, P = 0.01, 0.004). The peripheral hyperopia state was positively correlated with the degree of visual field damage. In mild to moderate group, there was also a positive correlation between peripheral hyperopia state and visual field damage degree (P = 0.012, <0.05). Conclusion: For RP patients with myopia, there was a positive correlation between peripheral hyperopia state and retinal damage when the damage was mild. For the severe retinal damaged group, the central diopter did not correlate with the peripheral retinal damage.
Body Temperature Null Distributions in Reptiles with Nonzero Heat Capacity: Seasonal Thermoregulation in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Regulation of body temperature may increase fitness of animals by ensuring that biochemical and physiological processes proceed at an optimal rate. The validity of current methods of testing whether or not thermoregulation in reptiles occurs is often limited to very small species that have near zero heat capacity. The aim of this study was to develop a method that allows estimation of body temperature null distributions of large reptiles and to investigate seasonal thermoregulation in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Continuous body temperature records of wild alligators were obtained from implanted dataloggers in winter (n = 7, mass range: 1.6–53.6 kg) and summer (n = 7, mass range: 1.9–54.5 kg). Body temperature null distributions were calculated by randomising behavioural postures, thereby randomly altering relative animal surface areas exposed to different avenues of heat transfer. Core body temperatures were predicted by calculations of transient heat transfer by conduction and blood flow. Alligator body temperatures follow regular oscillations during the day. Occasionally, body temperature steadied during the day to fall within a relatively narrow range. Rather than indicating shuttling thermoregulation, however, this pattern could be predicted from random movements. Average daily body temperature increases with body mass in winter but not in summer. Daily amplitudes of body temperature decrease with increasing body mass in summer but not in winter. These patterns result from differential exposure to heat transfer mechanisms at different seasons. In summer, alligators are significantly cooler than predictions for a randomly moving animal, and the reverse is the case in winter. Theoretical predictions show, however, that alligators can be warmer in winter if they maximised their sun exposure. We concluded that alligators may not rely exclusively on regulation of body temperature but that they may also acclimatise biochemically to seasonally changing environmental conditions.
Modulation of IL‐33/ST2 system in postinfarction heart failure: correlation with cardiac remodelling markers

Interleukin (IL)‐33 and sST2 are molecules with an opposite pathophysiologic implications in the myocardial response after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Both may be a target for therapeutic interventions. The kinetics of IL‐33 and sST2 expression in infarcted myocardium and their correlation with the ongoing processes of fibrosis, inflammation and apoptosis remains poorly defined.
What does your wine label mean to consumers ? A semiotic approach

Purpose: A large body of research has shown that the packaging’s graphic design influences consumers’ perception of a product. Many marketing scholars and researchers acknowledged that a package graphic design is a critical tool for managers to communicate about the brands they manage. In the meantime, very little is known about how the visual component of a packaging does produce the desired meanings among consumers. Using a semiotic approach, this study aims to investigate this link using wine labels as a field of investigation. Design/methodology/approach: In this study, a content and semiotic analysis of Bordeaux wines visual codes is conducted. Four labels, representative of the Bordeaux wine category, are tested on a sample of 932 French respondents using a free word association task. A correspondences factorial analysis is also conducted to identify the themes’ association with the different labels. Findings: We confirm that using a semiotic perspective can anticipate most of the ideas' associations that a package graphic design is likely to produce in consumers' mind. More importantly, semiotics allow to understand which visual attribute is likely to produce which idea association and why. Practical implications: Conducting a semiotic study seems to be a reliable tool for managers to help them to design their packaging according to the positioning and brand's meanings they seek to communicate to their clients.
Stimulus and transducer effects on threshold

Abstract Objective: This study examined differences in thresholds obtained under Sennheiser HDA200 circumaural earphones using pure tone, equivalent rectangular noise bands, and 1/3 octave noise bands relative to thresholds obtained using Telephonics TDH-39P supra-aural earphones. Design: Thresholds were obtained via each transducer and stimulus condition six times within a 10-day period. Study sample: Forty-nine adults were selected from a prior study to represent low, moderate, and high threshold reliability. Results: The results suggested that (1) only small adjustments were needed to reach equivalent TDH-39P thresholds, (2) pure-tone thresholds obtained with HDA200 circumaural earphones had reliability equal to or better than those obtained using TDH-39P earphones, (3) the reliability of noise-band thresholds improved with broader stimulus bandwidth and was either equal to or better than pure-tone thresholds, and (4) frequency-specificity declined with stimulus bandwidths greater than one equivalent rectangular band, which could complicate early detection of hearing changes that occur within a narrow frequency range. Conclusions: These data suggest that circumaural earphones such as the HDA200 headphones provide better reliability for audiometric testing as compared to the TDH-39P earphones. These data support the use of noise bands, preferably ERB noises, as stimuli for audiometric monitoring.
Posterior Variance Analysis of Gaussian Processes with Application to Average Learning Curves

The posterior variance of Gaussian processes is a valuable measure of the learning error which is exploited in various applications such as safe reinforcement learning and control design. However, suitable analysis of the posterior variance which captures its behavior for finite and infinite number of training data is missing. This paper derives a novel bound for the posterior variance function which requires only local information because it depends only on the number of training samples in the proximity of a considered test point. Furthermore, we prove sufficient conditions which ensure the convergence of the posterior variance to zero. Finally, we demonstrate that the extension of our bound to an average learning bound outperforms existing approaches.