Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecology of extreme faunal turnover of tropical American scallops

Abstract The marine faunas of tropical America underwent substantial evolutionary turnover in the past 3 to 4 million years in response to changing environmental conditions associated with the rise of the Isthmus of Panama, but the ecological signature of changes within major clades is still poorly understood. Here we analyze the paleoecology of faunal turnover within the family Pectinidae (scallops) over the past 12 Myr. The fossil record for the southwest Caribbean (SWC) is remarkably complete over this interval. Diversity increased from a low of 12 species ca. 10–9 Ma to a maximum of 38 species between 4 and3 Ma and then declined to 22 species today. In contrast, there are large gaps in the record from the tropical eastern Pacific (TEP) and diversity remained low throughout the past 10 Myr. Both origination and extinction rates in the SWC peaked between 4 and 3 Ma, and remained high until 2–1 Ma, resulting in a 95% species level turnover between 3.5 and 2 Ma. The TEP record was too incomplete for meaningful estimates of origination and extinction rates. All living species within the SWC originated within the last 4 Myr, as evidenced by a sudden jump in Lyellian percentages per faunule from nearly zero up to 100% during this same interval. However, faunules with Lyellian percentages near zero occurred until 1.8 Ma, so that geographic distributions were extraordinarily heterogeneous until final extinction occurred. There were also striking differences in comparative diversity and abundance among major ecological groups of scallops. Free-swimming scallops constituted the most diverse guild throughout most of the last 10 Myr in the SWC, and were always moderately to very abundant. Leptopecten and Argopecten were also highly diverse throughout the late Miocene and early Pliocene, but declined to very few species thereafter. In contrast, byssally attaching scallops gradually increased in both diversity and abundance since their first appearance in our samples from 8–9 Ma and are the most diverse group today. Evolutionary turnover of scallops in the SWC was correlated with strong ecological reorganization of benthic communities that occurred in response to declining productivity and increased development of corals reefs.
Language-specific Knowledge and Short-term Memory in Bilingual and Non-bilingual Children

The sensitivity of children's phonological short-term memory performance to language specific knowledge was investigated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, monolingual English children, English-French bilingual children, and English children who were learning French as a second language were compared on measures of phonological short-term memory and vocabulary in the two languages. The children's short-term memory performance in each language mirrored their familiarity with English and French, with greater vocabulary knowledge being associated with higher levels of recall of both words and nonwords in that language. This finding was replicated in Experiment 2, in which two groups of children with good knowledge of English and French were examined: native bilingual children who had comparable knowledge of the two languages and non-native bilingual children who had a greater knowledge of their native than second language. The findings indicate that phonological short-term memory is not a language-independent system but, rather, functions in a highly language-specific way.
Identification of Wheat Stripe Rust Resistance Genes in Iranian Wheat Cultivars Using Molecular Markers

Yellow or stripe rust is one of the most important and destructive wheat diseases all over the world. The best strategy to control this disease is genetic resistance through combining several resistance genes which results in achieving long lasti ng resistance. Marker assisted selection has provided a suitable means towards this strategy. The aim of this study was to identify the race specific seedling genes Yr5 and Yr10 and the race non- specific APR geneYr29 in a selection of 40 Iranian genotypes using STS and SSR markers. Therefore, genomic DNA was extracted from these genotypes, the susceptible cultivar AvocetSas negative control, and the genotypes with corresponding resistance gene (positive controls). PCR was performed using YrSTS7/8, Xpsp 3000 and Xwmc44 markers forYr5,Yr10 and Yr29, respectively. The results indicated the presence of Yr5in only 6 genotypes. The presence of a 260 bps band also showed that Yr10 was present in 12 genotypes whileYr29 was present in 13 cultivars. As all the
Possession of human leucocyte antigen DQ6 alleles and the rate of CD4 T‐cell decline in human immunodeficiency virus‐1 infection

Polymorphism amongst the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes could influence antigen presentation and the ability to control human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐1 by modulating the virus specific CD4 immune response. To examine the effect of such polymorphisms on disease progression, we studied a cohort of 46 HIV‐1 infected long‐term non‐progressors (LTNPs), 87 intermediate progressors (IPs) and 26 rapid progressors. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis of all patients in the cohort on time to a CD4 count less than 350 cells/µl, showed a trend for a slower rate of CD4 decline in patients with, compared to those without, the DRB1*15‐DQB1*06 haplotype (hazard ratio (HR) 0·69, 95% CI 0·46–1·01, P = 0·06). A similar effect was not observed with the DRB1*13‐DQB1*06 haplotype (HR 1·18, 95% CI 0·75–1·88, P = 0·46), but was observed when DQB1*06 alleles were considered irrespective of their DR association (HR 0·74, 95% CI 0·52–1·05, P = 0·06). Major HLA‐DQ6 alleles encode aspartate (Asp) at position 57 on the DQβ chain, a phenotype associated with protection from other immune disorders. We therefore examined the frequency of all DQβ57 Asp+ alleles, but could not detect a significant effect on the rate of CD4 decline. To examine whether the genotype associated with slower CD4 decline was over‐represented in patients with a slow rate of disease progression, we conducted a categorical analysis of a subset of patients with an extended follow‐up of 14+years. We found a higher proportion of LTNPs at 14+ years possessed the DRB1*15‐DQB1*06 haplotype compared to IPs at 14+ years (38·46 versus 18·18%), though this difference did not reach statistical significance. When DQB1*06 alleles irrespective of their DR association were considered, the protective effect was greater (76·9% LTNPs versus 18·18% IPs, P = 0·04). Our results highlight the potential protective effect of HLA DQB1*06 alleles on the course of HIV disease.
Concept-based IEC for Multi-objective Search with Robustness to Human Preference Uncertainty

The recently introduced concept-based IEC approach is extended to include robustness to uncertainties of the preferences, of the decision makers, towards sub-concepts and concepts. A novel measure is presented, which allows the decision makers to assess the relative robustness of concepts in a multi-objective evolutionary search process. Examples of interactive scenarios are given to demonstrate the proposed approach.
Conceptual similarity effects on working memory in sentence contexts: Testing a theory of anaphora

The degree of semantic similarity between an anaphoric noun phrase (e.g., the bird) and its antecedent (e.g., a robin) is known to affect the anaphor resolution process, but the mechanisms that underlie this effect are not known. One proposal (Almor, 1999) is that semantic similarity triggers interference effects in working memory and makes two crucial assumptions: First, semantic similarity impairs working memory just as phonological similarity does (e.g., Baddeley, 1992), and, second, this impairment interferes with processes of sentence comprehension. We tested these assumptions in two experiments that compared recall accuracy between phonologically similar, semantically similar, and control words in sentence contexts. Our results do not provide support for Almor's claims: Phonological overlap decreased recall accuracy in sentence contexts, but semantic similarity did not. These results shed doubt on the idea that semantic interference in working memory is an underlying mechanism in anaphor resolution.
Reduction of Sacral Pressure Ulcers in the Intensive Care Unit Using a Silicone Border Foam Dressing

PURPOSE: We sought to determine if a silicone border foam dressing could decrease the incidence of sacral pressure ulcers in an intensive care unit. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The study setting was an intensive care unit located in a 303-bed hospital with a designation of level 2 trauma. The unit specializes in the care of critically ill medical and postoperative adults. Two hundred seventy-three patients participated in the study; their mean age was 65 years (range, 18–105 years). METHODS: Baseline sacral hospital-acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU) incidence was determined during a period of 35 months; skin care representatives examined all patients in our critical care unit for HAPUs on a monthly basis. Based on this baseline incidence, we studied the effect of application of a silicone-bordered foam dressing applied to the sacrum. The observation period for our study intervention was 6 months; the sacral area was examined twice daily during this period. RESULTS: The average baseline sacral HAPU prevalence during the 35-month observation was 13.6% as compared to an incidence of 1.8% during a 6-month prospective study. Three of the 5 patients developed suspected deep tissue injuries and subsequently expired. The remaining 2 subjects developed stage 2 pressure ulcers, one of whom also expired. CONCLUSION: Following application of a silicone-bordered foam dressing, we were able to achieve a HAPU of 1.8%.
Testing Uncovered Interest Parity: A Continuous‐Time Approach

Nowadays researchers can choose the sampling frequency of exchange rates and interest rates. If the number of observations per contract period is large relative to the sample size, standard GMM asymptotic theory provides unreliable inferences in UIP regression tests. We specify a bivariate continuous-time model for exchange rates and forward premia robust to temporal aggregation, unlike the discrete time models in the literature. We obtain the UIP restrictions on the continuous-time model parameters, which we estimate efficiently, and propose a novel specification test that compares estimators at different frequencies. Our empirical results based on correctly specified models reject UIP.
New Family of Microgrid Control and Management Strategies in Smart Distribution Grids—Analysis, Comparison and Testing

This paper presents a new family of universal control and management strategies for microgrids in smart distribution grids. The paper also provides a general and computationally-efficient framework for modeling and analysis of power management strategies in a microgrid with multiple-distributed generation (DG) units which eases microgrid dynamic studies and controller parameters selection in large microgrids with multiple DG units. Three different approaches for real and reactive power management are proposed. The controllers offer the following advantages: 1) the proposed topologies can be applied to both voltage-controlled (VC) and current controlled (CC) voltage source converters (VSCs). 2) The controllers are universal and realize requirements of both grid-connected and islanded modes, i.e., they share real and reactive power during islanding with constant frequency operation and act as grid supporting VSCs in the grid connected mode. 3) The drooping variables can be either power or current, thus VC-power drooping, VC-current drooping and CC-power drooping are different available variants. 4) The concept of hybrid polar-vector control is developed in this paper. Thus, it can combine the benefits of both types of controllers in one augmented strategy. 5) The controller emulates the behavior of conventional synchronous generators (SGs) which in turn results in better integration of electronically-interfaced DG units into the power system and prevents instabilities due to interaction of fast response DGs and SGs. 6) The controllers realize seamless and robust transition to the islanding mode. The controllers are developed under new concept of synchronous converters. A theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed controllers yield the aforementioned requirements in one compact structure.
Lucifer Yellow Uptake in Cells and Protoplasts of Daucas carota Visualized by Laser Scanning Microscopy

The uptake of lucifer yellow CH by suspension-cultured carrot cells and protoplasts has been studied by laser scanning microscopy. This fluorochrome, which does not diffuse across membranes, gradually accumulates in the cell vacuole over a period of hours. In contrast, the central vacuole of protoplasts did not show lucifer yellow fluorescence. The latter was restricted, in protoplasts, to punctate sources in the peripheral cytoplasm. Confocal optics allowed the complexity of the vacuolar system to be dramatically depicted with the laser scanning microscope. Control experiments support the contention that lucifer yellow uptake, as in other eukaryotic systems, occurs via endocytosis.
Outbreak of Brucellosis in Domestic Elk in Korea

Seven of 18 elk on a deer farm were found by the official Rose‐Bengal agglutination test (RBT) and tube agglutination test to be brucellosis reactors/suspects. Evaluation with the competitive ELISA (C‐ELISA) and the fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) tests revealed that six and five sera were positive respectively. The seven reactors/ suspects were slaughtered and their blood and tissues were collected. Brucella species could be isolated from three of the slaughtered animals, with nine isolates being obtained from the popliteal, supramammary and submandibular lymph nodes, vaginal discharge, mammary tissue and spleen. Brucella genus‐specific PCR based on 16S rRNA and AMOS‐PCR, which is specific for differential Brucella species, revealed that all nine isolates were Brucella abortus. These nine were further confirmed to be B. abortus biovar 1 by classical biotyping scheme assays. This is the first report of an outbreak of brucellosis in domestic elk in Korea. Our observations suggest that deer should be included in the routine Brucella surveillance programme for the effective control and prevention of brucellosis in Korea.
KINETIC SEPARATION OF PHOTOTROPISM FROM BLUE‐LIGHT INHIBITION OF STEM ELONGATION *

Abstract— These experiments tested the hypothesis that phototropic bending arises when a light gradient across the stem differentially inhibits cell elongation because of direct inhibition of cell elongation by light (the Blaauw hypothesis). Continuous irradiation of dark‐grown cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L.) with unilateral blue light inhibited hypocotyl elongation within 30 s, but did not induce phototropic curvature until 4.5 h after the start of irradiation. Marking experiments showed that curvature began simultaneously at the top and bottom of the growing region. In situ measurements of the light gradient across the stem with a glass fiber optic indicated that a 5‐ to 6‐fold difference in fluence rate was established on the two sides of the stem. The light gradient established at the start of irradiation was the same as that after 6 h of irradiation. Changes in gravitropic responsiveness during this period were also ruled out. Calculations show that the light gradient should have caused curvature which would be detectable within 30 to 60 min and which would extrapolate to the start of irradiation–if the Blaauw hypothesis were correct. The long lag for phototropism in this case indicates that rapid inhibition of cell elongation by blue light does not cause the asymmetrical growth of phototropism. Rather, phototropism is superimposed upon this separate light growth response.
A robust PN code tracking algorithm for frequency selective Rayleigh-fading channels

In this letter, we propose a new tracking scheme that is robust against multipath fading for pseudonoise (PN) code tracking in direct-sequence-spread spectrum systems. The proposed scheme employs an adaptive filter whose taps are adapted using a block least-mean square algorithm and it results in minimizing the effect of multipath interference on the tracking performance. We show that the mean-squared tracking error performance of the proposed scheme is not affected by the presence of closely spaced paths (e.g., one to three chips), unlike that of conventional delay locked loops. We also show that the tap-weight distribution of the filter provides accurate estimates of the multipath delays. For example, at E/sub b//N/sub 0/=5 dB, 98% of the time the path estimates lie within one sample (1/5 of a chip) from the actual delays. Furthermore, simulation results suggest that multipath delays over a wide range of terminal speeds can be tracked successfully. The proposed scheme is well suited for wideband code-division multiple-access systems where a large number of closely-spaced multipath components need to be tracked and used in RAKE combining.
Two-hundred-fifty years of reconstructed and modeled tropical temperatures

[1] Recent large-scale palaeoclimate reconstructions of past temperature have been essentially biased to the extratropics owing to a paucity of proxy data in tropical regions. Herein we describe the first coral-based reconstruction of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) for the whole of the tropics (30°N–30°S). It was developed from 14 disparate coral records located in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Over the most replicated period, the reconstruction explains 57% of the tropical SST variance. However, the strength of this signal weakens markedly as the number of coral records decreases. The reconstruction is robust between 1850 and 1993, but some fidelity is indicated back as far as the mid 18th century. These results suggest that ambiguities in the low frequency domain of δ18O measurements can be partially overcome by pooling together multiple time series from different locations around the tropics. Agreement with simulations from two general circulation models indicates that the late 20th century is likely the warmest period in the tropics for the last 250 years, and that this recent warming can only be explained by anthropogenic forcing. The high frequency variability is dominated by the El Nino–Southern Oscillation. The reconstruction, owing to the small number of coral records, is unfortunately restricted both in time and space. Therefore we hope that this study will spur the palaeoclimate community to develop new and longer proxy series to improve the current meager data-base of temperature sensitive series in the tropics.
Three -Agent Preemptive Analgesia, Pregabalin-Acetaminophen-Naproxen, in Laparotomy for Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background Pain management after abdominal surgery is a critical issue in cancer patients undergoing laparotomy. Opioid analgesics commonly used postoperatively have significant side effects and can postpone restoring normal life. Administration of analgesics before the surgery by inhibiting pain cascades may be an effective method for more efficient pain control. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of the preemptive use of oral pregabalin-acetaminophen-naproxen on pain control and morphine consumptions in cancer patients undergoing laparotomy. Patients and Methods A total of 40 cancer patients scheduled for open abdominal surgery were randomized into the two groups. one group received combination of pregabalin 150 mg, acetaminophen 1 g and naproxen 250 mg (the PAN group) an hour before laparotomy. Following the surgery, morphine was administered on a protocolized schedule based on patients’ demand for pain control. Postoperative pain level was assessed using universal pain assessment tool (UPAT) at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the operation. The postoperative morphine dose and complications were noted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results Patients in the PAN group had significantly lower UPAT scores at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the surgery than those in the control group (P = 0.008, 0.021, 0.008, 0.047, 0.004, 0.001, and 0.001). The mean dose of postoperative morphine consumption in the PAN group was 37% less than the control group (P = 0.001). The complications were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Preemptive use of pregabalin-acetaminophen-naproxen decreases intensity of pain and morphine consumption in the cancer patients after laparotomy without significant complications.
Effect of cellulase supplementation in low-crude protein diets on performance, nitrogen excretion, fat deposition, hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzyme activity in broilers

1. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary enzyme supplementation of a low-protein diet on performance, nitrogen excretion, fat deposition, hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzyme activity in 7–21- (Experiment 1) and 21–42-d-old (Experiment 2) male broiler chicks. 2. Chicks were given diets containing 210 g (Experiment 1) or 170 g (Experiment 2) crude protein (CP)/kg (Control), amino acid-fortified diets 190 g (Experiment 1) and 150 g (Experiment 2) CP/kg (Low-protein), and a low-protein diet supplemented with 1000 U/kg of cellulase. 3. In Experiment 1, growth performance and abdominal fat deposition were not affected by dietary treatments, and birds given low-protein diets excreted less nitrogen. The activities of hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzymes were not different among the three dietary groups. 4. In Experiment 2, the dietary treatment did not affect growth performance or abdominal fat weight. Nitrogen excretion was significantly lower in chicks given the 150 g/kg CP diet than those on the 170 g/kg CP diet; however, nitrogen retention was no different among the treatments. Dietary CP and enzyme supplementation did not significantly affect hepatic enzyme activities. 5. These results suggest that CP content in the broiler diet can be reduced by 20 g/kg without lowering performance by the supplementation of crystalline amino acids, and can reduce nitrogen excretion by about 25%. Cellulase supplementation of a low-CP diet slightly lowered abdominal fat deposition; however, it did not significantly affect hepatic lipogenic and lipolytic enzyme activity.
The development and feasibility of an online aphasia group intervention and networking program – TeleGAIN

Abstract Purpose: Aphasia group therapy offers many benefits, however people with aphasia report difficulty accessing groups and speech–language pathologists are faced with many challenges in providing aphasia group therapy. Telerehabilitation may offer an alternative service delivery option. An online aphasia group therapy program – Telerehabilitation Group Aphasia Intervention and Networking (TeleGAIN) – has been developed according to the guidelines of the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for complex interventions. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of TeleGAIN and the results of a pilot trial to determine feasibility and acceptability. Method: The development of TeleGAIN was informed through literature reviews in relevant topic areas, consideration of expert opinion and application of the social cognitive theory. TeleGAIN was then modelled through a feasibility pilot trial with four people with aphasia. Result: TeleGAIN appeared to be feasible and acceptable to participants and able to be implemented as planned. Participant satisfaction with treatment was high and results suggested some potential for improvements in language functioning and communication-related quality of life. Conclusion: TeleGAIN appeared to be feasible and acceptable, however the study highlighted issues related to technology, clinical implementation and participant-specific factors that should be addressed prior to a larger trial.