Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of scale on food web structure.

Karl Havens (1) infers that 50 highly and evenly resolved food webs confirm the convention (2) that seven food web properties are "scale-invariant" or roughly constant among food webs with widely varying numbers of species. Also in line with the convention, an eighth food web property, connectance, is inferred to be scale-dependent and to decrease as the number of species increases (2). I have reanalyzed the 50 food webs and found that the conventional patterns should be rejected in favor of the competing hypotheses (3-5) that six of the seven properties are scaledependent and that the eighth, connectance, is scale-invariant (4). Havens (1) analyzes 50 lake food webs with from 10 to 74 (mean = 38) species. The fractions of top (T), intermediate (I), and basal (B) species as well as the fractions of all trophic links (L) between top and intermediate species (TI), top and basal species (TB), intermediate and intermediate species (II), and intermediate and basal species (IB) are analyzed as a function of the total number of species (S) in the webs. [Top species have prey but no predators; intermediate species have both prey and predators; and basal species have predators but no prey (6). ] Havens asserts that none of these fractions varies in a statistically significant manner with S and that the variation ofL with S matches the previously suggested (2) function L = S1-4. This forces directed connectance [L/S2, (4)] to decrease with S. Alternative hypotheses assert that fractions of species and links are scale-dependent (3, 5). Significant fractions of T, TI, and TB may occur only in webs with small S, in which predators of top species are often missed or excluded. Food webs with large S contain mostly I and II and relatively small B. The theoretical and empirical support (3, 5) for these alternative hypotheses suggests that T, B, TI, and TB decrease with S while I and II increase. The scale-dependence hypotheses and the scale-invariance convention lead to different predictions that can be tested with one-tailed P tests, using the data in the report by Havens. If one assumes that simple linear regressions are valid, significant decreases in T and B, and the significant increase in I with S (P < 0.05), corroborate the scale-dependence hypothesis (Fig. 1). (We assume that the simple linear regressions in the report by Havens are valid.) The results of decreases in TI and TB and an increase in II corrobate the scale-dependence hypothesis (7). At P = 0.064, the decrease in TB is only slightly above the conventionally accepted level of statistical significance of P = 0.05. Because no specific alternatives to the scale-invariance
Performances zootechniques des caprins au Niger : étude comparative de la chèvre rousse de Maradi et de la chèvre à robe noire dans la zone de Maradi

The main objective of this study was not only to contribute to the knowledge of the Maradi russet goat, but also to compare some of its parameters (reproduction, adult weight, measurements, growth) with those of the black goat. Retrospective oral surveys were carried out on three groups of black, and russet goats, in which 106 goats gave birth 3 or 4 times, 97 of them twice and 87 were primiparous. Seven measurements as well as adult weights were recorded in 125 russet, and black females of 4 years ± 3 months of age. Weight changes in 38 black, and russet kids were monitored from birth to three months of age in village conditions. Data statistical analysis on both coat-type groups showed, overall, similar results in village conditions. Nevertheless, prolificacy in russet goats was systematically higher than that in black goats regardless of parity.
Haemochromatosis Gene Mutations in Finns, Swedes and Swedish Saamis

Frequencies of three different mutant haemochromatosis (HFE) alleles (282Tyr, 63Asp and 65Cys) were studied in three northern European populations, i.e. Finns, Swedes and Swedish Saamis. In Finns and Swedes the allele frequencies were within the range found in other populations from northern and western Europe. The Saamis differed from the Swedes with respect to all mutant alleles. Lower frequencies compared to Swedes were found for the 282Tyr (p = 0.0046) and 63Asp (p = 0.034) alleles, whereas the frequency of the 65Cys allele was higher (p = 0.046) in the Saamis. The total distribution of HFE alleles in Saamis showed a highly significant difference from that in Swedes (χ2 = 16.7, 3 d.f., p = 0.0008). These results further underline the genetic uniqueness of the Saamis.
Application of Entropy Generation to Improve Heat Transfer of Heat Sinks in Electric Machines

To intensify heat transfer within the complex three-dimensional flow field found in technical devices, all relevant transport phenomena have to be taken into account. In this work, a generic procedure based on a detailed analysis of entropy generation is developed to improve heat sinks found in electric machines. It enables a simultaneous consideration of temperature and velocity distributions, lumped into a single, scalar value, which can be used to directly identify regions with a high potential for heat transfer improvement. By analyzing the resulting entropy fields, it is demonstrated that the improved design obtained by this procedure is noticeably better, compared to those obtained with a classical analysis considering separately temperature and velocity distributions. This opens the door for an efficient, computer-based optimization of heat transfer in real applications.
Dinámica da paisagem e alterações dos atributos do solo em uma bacia hidrográfica na região sul do Brasil (dinámica del paisaje y alteraciones en las propiedades del suelo en una cuenca hidrográfica de la región sur de brasil)

El objetivo de esta tesis doctoral fue analizar la dinamica de cambios en el paisaje, a traves de la evaluacion de los cambios de uso y la cobertura de la tierra en la Cuenca del Rio Camboriu, Santa Catarina, Brasil, comparando los datos disponibles durante los anos 1957, 1978 y 2008; ademas se estudiraon los efectos del cambio de uso de la tierra y sus efectos tanto sobre los atributos y la perdida suelo como sobre calidad del agua. Para ello se analizaron diversos tratamientos que consideraban la dedicacion a pradera (P) o a floresta (F) durante cada uno de los anos estudiados. Por ejemplo la dedicacion a pradera en 1957, 1978 y 2008 se designaba como PPP, mientras que el uso forestal en estas tres fechas se dseignaba como FFF. En la cuenca estudiada tambien se oberva presencia del cultivo de arroz y un fuerte aumento de la superficie dedicada a usos urbanos durante el periodo estudiado. Los resultados mostraron que no hubo cambios significativos en el uso y cobertura de la superficie forestal entre los anos 1957, 1978 y 2008, de modo que en los tres anos se aprecio un predominio de las areas cubiertas de "Mato Atlantico" (bosque atlantico subtropical), pero se observo un aumento de la superficie de arroz en regadio y del area urbana, asi como una reduccion de las areas de pastoreo. Se analizaron numerosas propiedades fisicas y quimicas del suelo, inluyendo textura, densidad aparente, porosidad, pH, materia organica y propiedades del complejo de cambio. La conversion de bosques en pastizales disminuye la calidad fisica y promueve el aumento de la calidad quimica del suelo. La evaluacion de la abundancia isotopica del C13 (? 13C) permitio observar una mayor contribucion de las plantas C4 al carbono organico del suelo en la sucesion PPP (pradera-pradera-pradera) y FPP (floresta-pradera-pradera). Para zonas dedicadas a pasto durante 50 anos se encontro que, por termino medio, el 66% del carbono organico tambien se deriva del bosque original (Mato Atlantico). Las perdidas de suelo, estimadas a traves de la Ecuacion Universal de Perdidas de Suelo (USLE), supusieron valores bajos para las 3 fechas evaluadas. El analisis de los datos cualitativos y cuantitativos sobre calidad del agua, (incluyendo pH, turbidez, temperatura, oxigeno disuelto, nitrato y amomio) puso de manifiesto que puede ser considerado como un metodo muy eficiente para la evaluacion de las acciones humanas.
Gene structures and properties of enzymes of the plasmid-encoded nicotine catabolism of Arthrobacter nicotinovorans.

Arthrobacter nicotinovorans is a Gram-positive aerobic soil bacterium able to grow on nicotine as its sole source of carbon and nitrogen. The initial steps of nicotine catabolism are catalyzed by nicotine dehydrogenase, the l- and d-specific 6-hydroxynicotine oxidases, and ketone dehydrogenase. The genes encoding these enzymes reside on a 160 kb plasmid, pAO1. The cccDNA of this plasmid was isolated in high purity and reasonable yield. It served as template material for the construction of a lambda-phage DNA library of the plasmid. The genes coding for 6-hydroxy-l-nicotine oxidase and for the subunits of the heterotrimeric ketone dehydrogenase were identified, subcloned and sequenced. The 6-hlno gene was identified as a 1278 bp open reading frame; its regulatory elements were also recognized. The derived primary structure of the monomer of apo-6-hydroxy-l-nicotine oxidase (46,264.5 Da) agrees with the data obtained by partial amino acid sequencing. 6-Hydroxy-l-nicotine oxidase and 6-hydroxy-d-nicotine oxidase were expressed in Escherichia coli and obtained in a state of high purity and crystallized. Ketone dehydrogenase (KDH) was found to be a heterotrimer with subunits of molecular mass 89,021.71, 26,778.65 and 17,638.88. The genes of KDH-A and KDH-B are juxtaposed; the A of the stop codon of KDH-A is used in the start codon of KDH-B, eliciting a frame shift. KDH-C is separated from KDH-A by 281 bp.
Composition properties in the river claims problem

In a river claims problem, agents are ordered linearly, and they have both an initial water endowment as well as a claim to the total water resource. We provide characterizations of two solutions to this problem, using Composition properties which have particularly relevant interpretations for the river claims problem. Specifically, these properties relate to situations where river flow is uncertain or highly variable, possibly due to climate change impacts. The only solution that satisfies all Composition properties is the ‘Harmon rule’ induced by the Harmon Doctrine, which says that agents are free to use any water available on their territory, without concern for downstream impacts. The other solution that we assess is the ‘No-harm rule’, an extreme interpretation of the “no-harm” principle from international water law, which implies that water is allocated with priority to downstream needs. In addition to characterizing both solutions, we show their relation to priority rules and to sequential sharing rules, and we extend our analysis to general river systems.
Design of new acid-activated cell-penetrating peptides for tumor drug delivery

TH(AGYLLGHINLHHLAHL(Aib)HHIL-NH2), a histidine-rich, cell-penetrating peptide with acid-activated pH response, designed and synthesized by our group, can effectively target tumor tissues with an acidic extracellular environment. Since the protonating effect of histidine plays a critical role in the acid-activated, cell-penetrating ability of TH, we designed a series of new histidine substituents by introducing electron donating groups (Ethyl, Isopropyl, Butyl) to the C-2 position of histidine. This resulted in an enhanced pH-response and improved the application of TH in tumor-targeted delivery systems. The substituents were further utilized to form the corresponding TH analogs (Ethyl-TH, Isopropyl-TH and Butyl-TH), making them easier to protonate for positive charge in acidic tumor microenvironments. The pH-dependent cellular uptake efficiencies of new TH analogs were further evaluated using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy, demonstrating that ethyl-TH and butyl-TH had an optimal pH-response in an acidic environment. Importantly, the new TH analogs exhibited relatively lower toxicity than TH. In addition, these new TH analogs were linked to the antitumor drug camptothecin (CPT), while butyl-TH modified conjugate presented a remarkably stronger pH-dependent cytotoxicity to cancer cells than TH and the other conjugates. In short, our work opens a new avenue for the development of improved acid-activated, cell-penetrating peptides as efficient anticancer drug delivery vectors.
Ophthalmological side‐effects of 13‐cis‐retinoid therapy

SIR, Recent findings by Milson et al. (British Journal of Dermatology 1982, 107, 491) suggest that 13-cis-retinoid does not cause marked changes in tear secretion (Schirmer test) and tearfilm break-up time (BUT), although the authors recognise that these tests are crude and difficult to reproduce. We have evidence however suggesting that 13-cis-retinoid does cause a decrease in tearfilm BUT. Seven patients were examined ophthalmologically about 3 months after starting 13-cis-retinoid (3 patients i mg/kg/day; 4 patients 05 mg/kg/day) for acne conglobata and again about 3 months after stopping the drug. No abnormalities were found. The basal tear secretion was assessed by the Schirmer test without use of an anaesthetic and appeared unchanged during and after therapy. Two patients had a very low level of basal tear secretion (i & 2, see Table 1). Patient i complained of dry eyes and slight visual blurring during therapy. Patient 2 remained symptom free. Patient 7, the only one to wear contact lenses, was unable to continue to do so until about 3 months after discontinuation of the drug. The BUT was also measured three times in one session on each eye (Table i). The difference between BUT during and after therapy with 13-cis-retinoid was highly significant (P < 001, using a t test for paired data on the mean for both eyes). These data could very well explain why patients cannot continue to wear contact lenses during 13-cis-retinoid therapy.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Science

The Committee would like to bring to the attention of department chairs of the following requirements for submission of appointment/promotion recommendations to the CAPT. Please use the attached "checklist" to ensure that all items are included. This checklist will greatly assist the Chairs, the Department, and the Committee. In particular, note that the cover memorandum should document that review by the department level committee has occurred. A copy of the committee's letter indicating the members, their academic rank, and the exact vote count should be attached.
Oil Palm Leaf: A New Functional Food Ingredient for Health and Disease Prevention

The Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) leaves has 8% higher total polyphenols content than green tea extract and contains epigallocatechin, catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate amongst their various flavonoids glucosides. The health benefits of OPLE on breast cancer, diabetes, hypertension, inflammation, oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, cognitive functions, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular, liver, kidney and neuroprotective properties and hypercholesterol are reviewed. The OPLE have good vasodilative, phytoestrogenic and bone mass enhancing properties, valuable for postmenopausal women. The OPLE helped modulate the antioxidative defence enzymes and reduce blood Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) by up-regulating the LDL receptors ex vivo. The safety and acute toxicity of OPLE showed a no adverse effect dose at 2 g/kg. Sub-chronic daily supplement of 500 mg/kg body weight (bw) for 3 months in rodents showed no significant adverse effects. The catechin-rich OPLE on its own at 500 mg/kg body weight/day was not toxic to normal rodents under subchronic continuous consumption for 3 months and was shown to be safe for humans at 1 g/day for prolonged periods.
The Role of Helper T Cell Products in Mouse B Cell Differentiation and Isotype Regulation

The process that immunologists rather casually refer to as "T cell help" is a complex series of interactions in which helper T cells (Tu) regulate virtually every aspect of the antigen-dependent response of B cells. Despite many years of cumulative evidence that TH cells are required for the activation, clonal expansion, differentiation and isotype regulation of B cells which respond to most antigens, many basic questions remain as to the specific regulatory signals involved. The development of clonal TH cell lines and the recent rapid progress in cloning the genes encoding many lymphokines have made it possible to begin to answer these questions. In this review, we summarize our efforts to define the specific TH products or lymphokines which transmit regulatory signals to B cells, and to clarify the individual events influenced by these signals. The particular focus of this work is on lymphokines that regulate the expression of dilTerent immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes produced by a stimulated B cell population. What has emerged from this effort is the realization that isotype expression is regulated by many of the same molecules that control the activation, growth and differentiation of B cells.
Clinical Profile of the Overweight Child in the New Millennium

Background In conjunction with the rising prevalence of obesity during the past several decades, the clinical profile of the obese child has changed. Hypothesis. Environmental influences and eating practices have had an impact on the presence of medical morbidities among obese children. Design Retrospective chart review of data collected from 90 children entering into a pediatric weight management program was performed. Fisher's exact tests and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare outcomes between subpopulations. Results There was greater elevation in systolic blood pressure among children who ate in front of the television (P = .03) and a greater degree of fast-food consumption among children with more than 3 medical morbidities (P = .02). Breast-feeding did not have a protective effect on the degree of obesity (P = .02). Conclusion Aggressive assessment for symptoms should be an important part of evaluating the overweight child. Environmental influences and social feeding practices can counteract the protective effects of breast-feeding in infancy.
The absorption of radioactive vitamin B12 and the secretion of hydrochloric acid in patients with atrophic gastritis

This paper correlates the absorption of vitamin B12 with the gastric acidity and with the histological changes in the stomach of patients with simple atrophic gastritis who have no family history of pernicious anaemia. It demonstrates marked impairment of absorption of vitamin B12 in some of them. There is a good but by no means complete correlation between the severity of the gastric atrophy and the depression of gastric function. The bearing of this work on the pathogenesis of Addisonian pernicious anaemia is discussed.
ATP and potassium efflux from intercalated cells

Holtzclaw JD, Cornelius RJ, Hatcher LI, Sansom SC. Coupled ATP and potassium efflux from intercalated cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 300: F1319–F1326, 2011. First published March 30, 2011; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00112. 2011. —Increased flow in the distal nephron induces K secretion through the large-conductance, calciumactivated K channel (BK), which is primarily expressed in intercalated cells (IC). Since flow also increases ATP release from IC, we hypothesized that purinergic signaling has a role in shear stress ( ; 10 dynes/cm) -induced, BK-dependent, K efflux. We found that 10 M ATP led to increased IC Ca concentration, which was significantly reduced in the presence of the P2 receptor blocker suramin or calciumfree buffer. ATP also produced BK-dependent K efflux, and IC volume decrease. Suramin inhibited -induced K efflux, suggesting that K efflux is at least partially dependent on purinergic signaling. BK4 small interfering (si) RNA, but not nontarget siRNA, decreased ATP secretion and both ATP-dependent and -induced K efflux. Similarly, carbenoxolone (25 M), which blocks connexins, putative ATP pathways, blocked -induced K efflux and ATP secretion. Compared with BK4 / mice, wild-type mice with high distal flows exhibited significantly more urinary ATP excretion. These data demonstrate coupled electrochemical efflux between K and ATP as part of the mechanism for -induced ATP release in IC.
Combined Therapy with Deferoxamine and Deferiprone

Abstract: Therapy with either deferiprone (DFP) or deferoxamine (DFO) is inadequate in achieving negative iron balance in many patients with thalassemia. There are mounting theoretical, experimental, and clinical evidences of increased efficacy when therapy includes both chelating agents. DFP and DFO chelate excess iron in different ways without affecting each other's metabolism. When both chelators are administered simultaneously, they interact either in an additive or synergistic manner, probably through “shuttling” iron from DFP to DFO. Iron‐balance studies have shown that the use of both agents on the same day can induce negative iron balance in all patients. Long‐term combined therapy with DFO with DFP results in considerable reduction of both ferritin levels and liver iron concentration as well as significant improvement in cardiac siderosis and function. This therapeutic regimen is well tolerated and safe, even though it may be related to a small increase in the incidence of agranulocytosis compared with DFP monotherapy. Apart from using both agents simultaneously, sequential administration of DFP and DFO has also shown promising results. Combining the available iron chelators offers many therapeutic options that can be tailored to each patient individually. It is an exciting advance in treating hemosiderosis in thalassemic patients.
Psychological symptoms of family members of high-risk intensive care unit patients.

BACKGROUND Family members of patients in intensive care are at increased risk for psychological symptoms. OBJECTIVES To compare levels of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression during and 3 months after the intensive care experience in family members of patients at high risk for dying and to determine if differences were related to the patient's final disposition. METHODS Longitudinal descriptive study of 41 family members in 3 tertiary care intensive care units. RESULTS By repeated-measures analysis of variance, family members' levels of posttraumatic stress disorder were significantly lower (P = .01) at 3 months after (mean score, 1.27; SD, 0.86) than during (mean, 1.61; SD, 0.81) the experience. Mean anxiety and depression scores were significantly lower (P < .001) after (anxiety: 7.35; SD, 3.91; depression: 5.63; SD, 4.58) than during (anxiety: 11.5; SD, 4.88; depression: 9.51; SD, 4.31) the experience. Scores for posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression did not differ significantly between family members of patients who died and family members of patients who survived. Yet, all 13 family members of deceased patients and 42% of the total sample of 41 had traumatic stress scores of 1.5 or greater. Among the total sample, 44% had significant anxiety, and 27% were depressed. CONCLUSION Family members' symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression significantly decreased 3 months after the intensive care experience and did not differ according to the patients' final disposition. However, many family members still had significant risk for posttraumatic stress disorder and borderline anxiety and depression at 3 months.