Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Specialization, evolution and coexistence in a community context

Ecologie en evolutie zijn lang als twee gescheiden velden van onderzoek beschouwd, vanwege de algemene opvatting dat deze twee processen op verschillende tijdschalen plaatsvinden en elkaar niet kunnen beinvloeden. In recente jaren is steeds meer bewijs voor snelle evolutie gevonden, waardoor een hernieuwde interesse is ontstaan in de interactie tussen ecologie en evolutie, ook bekend als eco-evolutionaire dynamica; en het is duidelijk geworden dat feedbacks tussen ecologie en evolutie resultaten kan opleveren die niet voorspeld zouden worden door elk proces apart in beschouwing te nemen. In dit proefschrift bestudeerde ik eco-evolutionaire dynamica in de context van trofische interacties in twee systemen: plant-herbivoor interacties en multiparasitoid-gastheer interacties. Mijn voornaamste doel was het effect van eco-evolutionaire dynamica te bestuderen op de evolutie en coexistentie van verschillende strategieen binnen het trofische niveau dat bestudeerd werd (verschillende specialisatie-strategieen in herbivoren; verdedigingsstrategieen in planten; en parasitisme-strategieen in parasitoiden). Ik ontdekte dat eco-evolutionaire dynamica vaak evolutionaire splitsing tot twee verschillende strategieen bevorderde, maar meestal stabiele coexistentie (langdurig naast elkaar bestaan van soorten) verslechterde. Coexistentie wordt vooral gedestabiliseerd wanneer er een sterke feedback is tussen evolutie en ecologische dynamica op beide trofische niveaus, wat voor sterke veranderingen in ecologische dynamica zorgt (bijvoorbeeld fluctuaties in populatiegroottes) die op hun beurt de selectiedruk beinvloeden. Stabiele coexistentie, aan de andere kant, lijkt vooral bevorderd te worden wanneer evolutie vooral competitie (en daarmee ecologische dynamica) binnen hetzelfde trofische niveau beinvloedt.
Mathematical modeling of the West Africa Ebola epidemic

As of November 2015, the Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic that began in West Africa in late 2013 is waning. The human toll includes more than 28,000 EVD cases and 11,000 deaths in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, the most heavily-affected countries. We reviewed 66 mathematical modeling studies of the EVD epidemic published in the peer-reviewed literature to assess the key uncertainties models addressed, data used for modeling, public sharing of data and results, and model performance. Based on the review, we suggest steps to improve the use of modeling in future public health emergencies. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.09186. 001
Percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilation of portal venous stenosis in patients with living donor liver transplantation.

PURPOSE To retrospectively evaluate the long-term effectiveness of percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilation of portal venous stenosis in patients who have undergone living donor liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board approval and informed consent were not required. From June 1996 to August 2003, obstructed portal venous blood flow was diagnosed in 45 patients (21 male, 24 female) with a history of living donor liver transplantation; patients ranged in age from 9 months to 61 years (mean, 9.2 years). All stenoses occurred in the extrahepatic portal vein near the anastomosis of the portal vein. All dilation procedures were performed with percutaneous transhepatic puncture of the intrahepatic portal vein and subsequent balloon dilation of the stenosis. Patients who experienced recurrent stenosis underwent another balloon dilation session. Intravascular metallic stents were not deployed because of the possible need for repeated transplantation. The authors used paired t tests to compare patients successfully treated with one venoplasty procedure and those requiring repeated venoplasty, with regard to age and stenosis diameter percentages before and after the initial procedure. RESULTS Percutaneous balloon dilation was technically successful in 35 of 45 patients. In the remaining 10 patients, portal venous thrombotic occlusion precluded access to the mesenteric side of the portal vein. Twenty-five patients were successfully treated with a single session of balloon dilation (group 1). Results at follow-up ultrasonography revealed restenosis in 10 of 35 patients. Recurrent stenosis was resolved by means of repeated balloon dilation in nine patients (group 2). There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2 in age (P = .87) or in stenosis diameter percentages before (P = .053) or after (P = .95) the initial procedure. CONCLUSION Percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilation seems to be an effective method for treatment of portal venous stenosis after living donor liver transplantation.
Outcome of 132 Operations in 97 Patients With Chordomas of the Craniocervical Junction and Upper Cervical Spine

OBJECTIVETo study the outcomes of surgery for chordomas of the craniocervical junction and upper cervical spine as well as complication rates, survival, and associated adverse factors. METHODSRetrospective review of patients (1982–2007) at 2 European centers who underwent transoral, transfacial, transmandibular, and anterior cervical approaches for excision of chordomas of the craniocervical junction and cervical spine. The χ2 test and Fisher exact test were used to determine significant adverse factors (P < .05), and log-rank survival analysis was used to compare outcome in different groups. RESULTSOne hundred thirty-two operations were performed in 97 patients. The most common operations were transoral surgeries and maxillotomies. After surgery, neck pain was the same or better in 98.1% of patients. Of the 18.6% of patients who presented with myelopathy, 27.8% improved, 44.4% remained unchanged, and 27.8% deteriorated. Major complication rates were velopharyngeal incompetence, 3.1%; vertebral artery stroke, 1%; wound infection, 3.1%; dysphagia, 3.1%; failure of fixation, 2.1%; sepsis, 3.1%; meningitis, 3.1%; and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 6.2%. Five- and 10-year overall survivals were 55% and 36%, respectively. Patients who presented to our units for revision surgery, after prior attempts at resection elsewhere, were associated with a worse survival than patients who underwent de novo surgery. CONCLUSIONWe present, to our knowledge, the largest published series of chordomas at the craniocervical junction. Complication rates for these major operations can be minimized at specialist centers, with careful patient selection and counseling. As complete or as radical an operation as possible should be performed at first presentation; the best chance for the patient is the first chance.
[Detection of genes associated with drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in Chile].

BACKGROUND The incidence of acquired resistance to antituberculous drugs of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Chile is approximately 23%. AIM To analyze the mutations associated with drug resistance in drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 28 drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in Chile, genes leading to drug resistance were studied. DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing was carried out using the ABI PRISM big dye terminator cycle sequencing ready reaction kit. RESULTS In rifampicin-resistant strains, the mutations in rpoβ gene were in the codons S531W/L (56%), D516Y (16%) and D516V (16%). The predominant mutation in katG gene was in the codon S315L (73%) in isoniazid-resistant strains. The mutation S95T was found in the 71% of ciprofloxacin resistant strains. Only one ethambutol resistant strain had the M306I mutation. Three unreported mutations in katG were identified. CONCLUSIONS Drug resistance associated mutations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated in Chile were similar to those reported abroad.
Identity, Homophily and In-Group Bias

Many instances of social interaction display either or both of the following well-documented phenomena. People tend to interact with similar others (homophily). They also tend to treat others of shared social identity more favorably (in-group bias). While both phenomena involve some degree of discrimination towards others, a systematic study of their relations and interplay is yet missing. In this paper we report the findings of an experiment designed to address this issue. Participants are exogenously and randomly assigned to one of two groups. Subsequently they play a sequence of eight games with either an in-group or an out-group member. In treatment EXO in- and out-group matches are formed exogenously, while in ENDO participants can choose between in- and out-group matches. We find strong evidence of in-group bias in EXO, and strong evidence of homophily in ENDO. In-group biases, however, either decrease or disappear altogether under endogenous matching. We show that self-selection of homophilous agents into in-group matches cannot explain this fact. We also find that homophily is strongly correlated with risk aversion, and we build on this evidence to derive a rationale for both the existence of homophily and the disappearance of in-group biases under endogenous matching.
The Merits of Testing Hardy‐Weinberg Equilibrium in the Analysis of Unmatched Case‐Control Data: A Cautionary Note

Testing for departures from the assumption of Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) has been widely recommended as a preliminary step in the analysis of genetic case‐control studies. Some authors suggest using a two‐stage procedure in which gene/disease associations are ultimately evaluated using either the Pearson chi‐square procedure or the Cochran‐Armitage test for trend. Other authors go further and encourage investigators to discard data that are in violation of HWE, essentially using the test as a tool for identifying genotyping errors. In this paper we show that 1) testing for HWE should not be used as a tool to identify genotyping errors; and 2) it is not necessary, and possibly even harmful, to test the HWE assumption before testing for association between alleles and disease. Instead one should inherently account for deviations from HWE with an adjusted chi‐square test statistic, a procedure which in the present context is identical to the trend test. Examples from previous reports are used to illustrate the methodology.
Intron Removal Requires Proofreading of U2AF/3' Splice Site Recognition by DEK

Discrimination between splice sites and similar, nonsplice sequences is essential for correct intron removal and messenger RNA formation in eukaryotes. The 65- and 35-kD subunits of the splicing factor U2AF, U2AF65 and U2AF35, recognize, respectively, the pyrimidine-rich tract and the conserved terminal AG present at metazoan 3′ splice sites. We report that DEK, a chromatin- and RNA-associated protein mutated or overexpressed in certain cancers, enforces 3′ splice site discrimination by U2AF. DEK phosphorylated at serines 19 and 32 associates with U2AF35, facilitates the U2AF35-AG interaction and prevents binding of U2AF65 to pyrimidine tracts not followed by AG. DEK and its phosphorylation are required for intron removal, but not for splicing complex assembly, which indicates that proofreading of early 3′ splice site recognition influences catalytic activation of the spliceosome.
Childhood Psychosocial Cumulative Risks and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Objective Adverse experiences in childhood may influence cardiovascular risk in adulthood. We examined the prospective associations between types of psychosocial adversity and having multiple adversities (e.g., cumulative risk) with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and its progression among young adults. Higher cumulative risk score in childhood was expected to be associated with higher IMT and its progression. Methods Participants were 2265 men and women (age range, 24–39 years in 2001) from the ongoing Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study whose carotid IMTs were measured in 2001 and 2007. A cumulative psychosocial risk score, assessed at the study baseline in 1980, was derived from four separate aspects of the childhood environment that may impose risk (childhood stressful life events, parental health behavior family, socioeconomic status, and childhood emotional environment). Results The cumulative risk score was associated with higher IMT in 2007 (b = 0.004, standard error [SE] = 0.001, p < .001) and increased IMT progression from 2001 to 2007 (b = 0.003, SE = 0.001, p = .001). The associations were robust to adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors in childhood and adulthood, including adulthood health behavior, adulthood socioeconomic status, and depressive symptoms. Among the individual childhood psychosocial risk categories, having more stressful life events was associated with higher IMT in 2001 (b = 0.007, SE = 0.003, p = .016) and poorer parental health behavior predicted higher IMT in 2007 (b = 0.004, SE = 0.002, p = .031) after adjustment for age, sex, and childhood cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions Early life psychosocial environment influences cardiovascular risk later in life, and considering cumulative childhood risk factors may be more informative than individual factors in predicting progression of preclinical atherosclerosis in adulthood.
Collaborative product development and peer production as an innovative integrated approach to deliver sustainable marketable products: a case study

The purpose of this research is to provide empirical support for the adoption of an integrated approach, based on collaborative product development and peer production combined with 3D printing, to deliver more sustainable, cheaper but competitive marketable products. In particular, the experimental study is conducted in the context of mobile forensics, an emerging market where few expensive incumbents’ products are present and alternatives solutions are needed. The technical viability and economic feasibility of the prototype developed in this research validate the proposed integrated approach, which could be a game changer in the mobile forensics as well as in other sectors, offering start-upping opportunities and promoting an innovative and sustainable methodology to develop and deliver marketable products, towards the paradigm of Open Sustainable Innovation. While the device developed and tested in this research has similar features to existing products, the methodology, implementation and motivation are original.
Basil plants growth and essential oil yield in a production system with successive cuts

This work studied the growth of basil plants and the effect of successive cuts on the total yield and quality of the essential oil, throughout the crop cycle. Steady increases were observed in the dry weight of the aerial part and in the essential oil yield, during the cultivation cycle. Intensive cultivation and successive cuts could improve the agronomical and industrial yield in each harvest.
The Effect of Coenzyme Q 10 in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

For author affiliations, current addresses, and contributions, see end of text. T are numerous reasons to believe that deficiency of coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) may exacerbate the poor contractility of myocardial cells in patients with heart failure. Not only does coenzyme Q10 play a central role in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (1), but it may also act as an antioxidant scavenger (2). Because the myocardium of patients with congestive heart failure demonstrates oxidative stress (3) and coenzyme Q10 prevents lipid peroxidation (4), this substance conceivably could prevent myocardial destruction. Furthermore, the concentration of coenzyme Q10 is decreased in myocardial cells of patients with advanced heart failure (5), and the extent of myocardial coenzyme Q10 deficiency correlates with the clinical severity of heart failure (5, 6). It is thus not surprising that nutritional supplementation with coenzyme Q10 has been proposed as a treatment for congestive heart failure, that it is extensively advertised, and that it is commonly used by patients with this condition. Many small studies have been published, but most were uncontrolled and unblinded. Approximately 31 Japanese clinical reports describe favorable effects with intravenous or oral coenzyme Q10 (7). The studies involved only a small number of patients with heart failure and tended to include patients with cardiac disease of various causes. Nevertheless, in 1974 the Japanese government approved marketing of coenzyme Q10 for the treatment of heart failure. The few U.S. and European studies have had conflicting results. Some controlled studies showed no effect (8, 9), but their limitations make the results inconclusive. Other trials noted improvement (10–13), but concerns about end points, small numbers of patients, and the lack of blinding have limited the acceptance of these studies. With such conflicting data, randomized, controlled, and blinded studies are needed to test the hypothesis that patients with advanced heart failure are deficient in coenzyme Q10 and that oral supplementation with coenzyme Q10 results in clinical improvement. We therefore evaluated the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on left ventricular ejection fraction and exercise tolerance in patients with symptomatic heart failure despite standard medical therapy.
An Epidemiological and Risk Analysis of Virginia Workers' Compensation Burn Claims 1999 to 2002: Identifying and Prioritizing Preventive Workplace Interventions

Objective: This study examines workers' compensation burn claims from Virginia to assess risk factors and costs associated with occupational burn injuries. Methods: Virginia workers' compensation burn claims for the period of 1999 to 2002 were analyzed. Claim rates were determined by using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Population Survey for the working population of Virginia. Results: There were 5810 burn claims reported for the 4-year period examined, with the average burn rate estimated to be 4.3 per 10,000 workers. The total cost of claims was found to average $11,705,939 per year and $8059 per claim. There was over a sixfold increase for burn rates on weekends relative to weekdays. Conclusion: Burns are a common injury experienced by workers and are often severe. Assessing personnel issues affecting weekend employees may lead to valuable preventive interventions to reduce burn risk.
Hypo‐osmotic potentiation of acetylcholine‐stimulated ciliary beat frequency through ATP release in rat tracheal ciliary cells

The ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of rat tracheal ciliary cells in a slice preparation was measured using video‐enhanced contrast (VEC) microscopy. Acetylcholine (ACh) increased CBF mediated via intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in a dose‐dependent manner. An adequate hypo‐osmotic stress (−40 mosm) potentiated ACh‐stimulated CBF increase in tracheal ciliary cells and shifted the ACh dose–response curve to the left (lower concentration side). This potentiation was independent of hypo‐osmotic stresses applied ranging from −20 mosM to −90 mosM. A hypo‐osmotic stress induces ATP release in many cell types. The present study demonstrated that suramin (an inhibitor of purinergic receptors) and apyrase (an ATPase/ADPase) eliminate the hypo‐osmotic potentiation of ACh‐stimulated CBF increase and that ATP increased [Ca2+]i and CBF, as well as potentiating ACh‐stimulated rises in [Ca2+]i and CBF increase. Moreover, the apical surface of tracheal ciliary cells were stained immunopositive for the P2X4 purinergic receptor. A hypo‐osmotic stress (−40 mosM) transiently increased [Ca2+]i and potentiated the ACh‐stimulated [Ca2+]i increase. The hypo‐osmotic potentiation of ACh‐stimulated CBF increase was not detected under Ca2+‐free conditions. These observations suggest that a hypo‐osmotic stress stimulates ATP release from the trachea. The released ATP may induce further increases in [Ca2+]i and CBF in ACh‐stimulated tracheal ciliary cells, which may be mediated by purinergic receptors, such as P2X4.
Relationship Between Staff Nurse Involvement in Organizational Structures and Perception of Empowerment

Work structures that empower nurses contribute to a healthy work environment yet there are few studies that have looked at the relationship between nurse participation in formal work structures and their perception of empowerment. Nurses involved in power-sharing activities demonstrate a greater commitment to the organization and have improved job satisfaction. To measure the perception of structural empowerment by nurses and examine the relationship between staff registered nurse participation in organizational structures and perceived structural empowerment. A descriptive correlational survey design was used to measure staff nurses' perception of structural empowerment, using the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire-II (CWEQ-II). A purposive sample of staff registered nurses (N = 122) at a large Veterans Affairs urban teaching hospital was recruited to complete an online survey. The response rate was 33%. Nurses perceived a moderate amount of structural empowerment and a greater sense of empowerment in the areas of opportunity, support, and collaboration on the CWEQ-II. The total mean score for the CWEQ-II (M = 18.50, SD = 3.63) indicated a moderate amount of perceived structural empowerment. Of the 4 CWEQ-II subscales, opportunity (M = 3.78, SD = 0.87) was moderately high. Resources (M = 3.04, SD = 0.72) and support (M = 2.92, SD = 0.94) were rated as moderate, and participants rated information moderately low (M = 2.75, SD = 0.88). On 2 scales that measured sources of organizational power, informal power was moderately high (M = 3.37, SD = 0.79) compared with formal power (M = 2.64, SD = 0.81), which scored moderately low. In comparing nurses who participated in councils with those who did not, there were no significant differences in their total or subscale scores on the CWEQ-II. Of those who did participate in councils (n = 48, 39.3%), the number of council meetings nurses attended correlated significantly with support (r = 0.37, P = .009). The percentage of time council members communicated information to their peers at the unit level correlated positively with informal power (r = 0.30, P = .04). Organizational structures that provide opportunities for nurses to participate in professional matters that are important to them support empowerment that is essential for a healthy work environment.