Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FROM MICRO‐ TO MACROEVOLUTION THROUGH QUANTITATIVE GENETIC VARIATION: POSITIVE EVIDENCE FROM FIELD CRICKETS

Abstract . ‐Quantitative genetics has been introduced to evolutionary biologists with the suggestion that microevolution could be directly linked to macroevolutionary patterns using, among other parameters, the additive genetic variance/ covariance matrix (G) which is a statistical representation of genetic constraints to evolution. However, little is known concerning the rate and pattern of evolution of G in nature, and it is uncertain whether the constraining effect of G is important over evolutionary time scales. To address these issues, seven species of field crickets from the genera Gryllus and Teleogryllus were reared in the laboratory, and quantitative genetic parameters for morphological traits were estimated from each of them using a nested full‐sibling family design. We used three statistical approaches (T method, Flury hierarchy, and Mantel test) to compare G matrices or genetic correlation matrices in a phylogenetic framework. Results showed that G matrices were generally similar across species, with occasional differences between some species. We suggest that G has evolved at a low rate, a conclusion strengthened by the consideration that part of the observed across‐species variation in G can be explained by the effect of a genotype by environment interaction. The observed pattern of G matrix variation between species could not be predicted by either morphological trait values or phylogeny. The constraint hypothesis was tested by comparing the multivariate orientation of the reconstructed ancestral G matrix to the orientation of the across‐species divergence matrix (D matrix, based on mean trait values). The D matrix mainly revealed divergence in size and, to a much smaller extent, in a shape component related to the ovipositor length. This pattern of species divergence was found to be predictable from the ancestral G matrix in agreement with the expectation of the constraint hypothesis. Overall, these results suggest that the G matrix seems to have an influence on species divergence, and that macroevolution can be predicted, at least qualitatively, from quantitative genetic theory. Alternative explanations are discussed.
The clinical significance of upper gastrointestinal bleeding etiology score in determining variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common, and potentially life threatening condition, which can be divided into variceal and non-variceal sources of bleeding. OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of the upper gastrointestinal bleeding etiology score compared to the current gold standard, the emergency Esophagogastroduodenos-copy (EGD), for determining the etiology of UGIB. METHODOLOGY: 101 patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding presented in the emergency department of Capital Hospital, Islamabad between February 2010 and March 2012 were in- cluded in this cross-sectional study. The upper gastrointestinal bleeding score was computed for each case by accounting for the clinical parameters of previous diagnosis of cirrhosis or signs of chronic liver disease × 3.1, presence of red vomitus × 1.5, and red N/G aspirate × 1.2. Each parameter was given a score of 1 if present, and 0 if absent, with a total score ≥3.1 favoring variceal bleed, and a score of
Increased iron level in phytase-supplemented diets reduces performance and nutrient utilisation in broiler chickens

ABSTRACT 1. The effect of different levels of dietary iron on phytase activity and its subsequent effect on broiler performance were investigated in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. A total of 360 day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were distributed to 6 experimental diets, formulated with three levels of Fe (60, 80 and 100 mg/kg) and two levels of phytase (0 and 500 FTU/kg). 2. Phytase supplemented to mid-Fe diets increased feed consumption more than the non-supplemented diet at d 24. From hatch to d 35, Fe × phytase interaction significantly influenced the feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The high-Fe diet supplemented with phytase significantly reduced FI and BWG of broilers than those supplemented with low- or mid-Fe diets. The overall FCR was significantly better in birds fed on the mid-Fe diets with phytase supplementation. 3. A significant improvement in ileal digestibility of N, P, Mg and Fe was observed in birds feed diets containing 60 mg Fe/kg, with significant interaction between Fe and phytase. 4. Phytase improved the bone breaking strength when supplemented to low- or mid-Fe diets, compared to the non-supplemented diets. There was a significant Fe × phytase interaction effect. Tibia Fe content was higher in birds fed on phytase-free diets with high Fe but the reverse was the case when phytase was added and their interaction was significant. High dietary Fe significantly increased the accumulation of Fe in liver. 5. Phytase improved Ca-Mg-ATPase, Ca-ATPase and Mg-ATPase activities in jejunum when supplemented to the diet containing 80 mg Fe/kg. 6. This study indicates that high (100 mg/kg) dietary Fe inhibited phytase efficacy and subsequently reduced the overall performance and nutrient utilisation of broilers.
Iron deficiency anemia and its treatment

isopportune and educational. The authorspresent an informative review on the causesof anemia and how to make the differentialdiagnosis. Regarding the aspect of "treatmentof iron deficiency anemia", they discussed notonly supplementation, but nutritional guidanceand when the medication should be taken; veryimportant points often overlooked whenwriting about the treatment of anemia.However, we noted, in regards totreatment, that nothing was said about thepossibility of intermittent treatment to optimizeresponse and minimize the side effects of ironcompounds as has been suggested by someauthors.
Reducing Status Effects with Computer-Mediated Communication: Evidence from Two Distinct National Cultures

Matching laboratory experiments were conducted in two distinct national cultures to investigate whether computer-mediated communication (CMC) can reduce status effects during group communication in both national cultures. Three independent variables were studied: national culture (Singapore versus U.S.), task type (intellective versus preference), and communication medium (unsupported versus CMC). Three different facets of status effects were measured as dependent variables: status influence, sustained influence, and perceived influence. Singapore groups reported higher sustained influence than U.S. groups. Preference task groups experienced higher status influence and sustained influence than intellective task groups. Unsupported groups also had higher status influence and sustained influence compared to CMC groups. In addition, Singapore groups that completed the preference task in the unsupported setting reported higher perceived influence than groups under other treatments. These results demonstrate that CMC appears to be able to reduce status effects during group communication, both in Singapore and in the United States. This is especially true when groups are working on a preference task. Moreover, status influence appears to be more sustainable in Singapore groups, where group members appear to be more conscious of its presence, than in U.S. groups.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms after acute lung injury: a 2-year prospective longitudinal study

Background Survivors of critical illnesses often have clinically significant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study describes the 2-year prevalence and duration of PTSD symptoms after acute lung injury (ALI), and examines patient baseline and critical illness/intensive care-related risk factors. Method This prospective, longitudinal cohort study recruited patients from 13 intensive care units (ICUs) in four hospitals, with follow-up 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after ALI onset. The outcome of interest was an Impact of Events Scale – Revised (IES-R) mean score ⩾1.6 (‘PTSD symptoms’). Results During the 2-year follow-up, 66/186 patients (35%) had PTSD symptoms, with the greatest prevalence by the 3-month follow-up. Fifty-six patients with post-ALI PTSD symptoms survived to the 24-month follow-up, and 35 (62%) of these had PTSD symptoms at the 24-month follow-up; 50% had taken psychiatric medications and 40% had seen a psychiatrist since hospital discharge. Risk/protective factors for PTSD symptoms were pre-ALI depression [hazard odds ratio (OR) 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–3.64], ICU length of stay (for a doubling of days, OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.06–1.83), proportion of ICU days with sepsis (per decile, OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00–1.16), high ICU opiate doses (mean morphine equivalent ⩾100 mg/day, OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.02–4.42) and proportion of ICU days on opiates (per decile, OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74–0.94) or corticosteroids (per decile, OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.99). Conclusions PTSD symptoms are common, long-lasting and associated with psychiatric treatment during the first 2 years after ALI. Risk factors include pre-ALI depression, durations of stay and sepsis in the ICU, and administration of high-dose opiates in the ICU. Protective factors include durations of opiate and corticosteroid administration in the ICU.
A rectangle-type linear ultrasonic motor using longitudinal vibration transducers with four driving feet

To make full use of the vibrational energy of a longitudinal transducer, a rectangle-type linear ultrasonic motor with four driving feet is proposed in this paper. This new motor consists of four longitudinal vibration transducers which are arranged in a rectangle and form an enclosed construction. Lead zirconate titanate ceramics are embedded into the middle of the transducer and fastened by a wedge-caulking mechanism. Each transducer includes an exponentially shaped horn located on each end. The horns of the vertical transducers intersect at the base of the horizontal transducers' horns; the tip ends of the horizontal transducers' horns are used as the driving feet. Longitudinal vibrations are superimposed in the motor and generate elliptical movements at the tip ends of the horns. The working principle of the proposed motor is analyzed. The resonance frequencies of two working modes are tuned to be close to each other by adjusting the structural parameters. Transient analysis is developed to gain the vibration characteristics of the motor. A prototype motor is fabricated and measured. The vibration test results verify the feasibility of the proposed design. Typical output of the prototype is a no-load speed of 928 mm/s and maximum thrust force of 60 N at a voltage of 200 Vrms.
Consumption and Real Exchange Rates : A Correlation Puzzle

This paper links real exchange rate movements to fundamental variables. Standard international business cycle models predict a perfect correlation between ratios of domestic to foreign aggregate consumption and bilateral real exchange rates. However, this prediction is inconsistent with the empirical evidence. I use a dynamic exchange economy to show that allowing for default in securities markets in conjunction with trade frictions can account for this phenomenon. I would like to thank David Backus, Gian Luca Clementi, Nouriel Roubini, Kate Kisselev, Fabrizio Perri, Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, Frederic Lambert, Cristian Dezso, Paul Wachtel and Lawrence White for helpful comments. All errors are my own. yDepartment of Economics, Stern School of Business, New York University, 44 West 4th Street, Suite 7-176, New York, NY 10012. Tel: (212) 998-0879, Fax: (212) 995-4218, E-mail: dvolberg@stern.nyu. edu
Experimental determination of the overall perturbation factor for the NACP chamber in electron beams for dmax < d ⩽ d80

In electron beam dosimetry with an ionization chamber, a factor that corrects for the cavity perturbation of the medium, Prepl, and one to account for the disturbance due to the chamber wall material differing from the medium, Pwall, are required. The overall perturbation correction factor, pq = PreplPwall, has been introduced because of the difficulty in separately measuring these two components. An advantage of parallel-plate ionization chambers is that pq has been shown to be close to unity at dmax. However, many dosimetry applications require knowledge of the overall perturbation factor at depths greater than dmax. We determined pq for the NACP chamber at depths beyond dmax by intercomparing percentage depth dose measurements made with it with those obtained with a PTW/diamond detector for which pq was taken as unity at all the measurement depths. Data were obtained at depths corresponding to approximately the 90 and 80 per cent of the dose maxima for 20, 16, 12 and 6 MeV incident electrons. The beam energy at depth, Ed, and the percentage depth-dose gradient varied from 1.4 to 14.3 MeV and 0 to 5.8% mm-1 respectively. Our results show that within the estimated uncertainty of 1.3%, pq,NACP is unity over the range of energies and dose gradients studied.
Depletion of functionally active CD20+ T cells by rituximab treatment.

OBJECTIVE Rituximab is a therapeutic anti-CD20 antibody used for in vivo depletion of B cells in proliferative and autoimmune diseases. However, the mechanisms of action are not fully understood, since not all of the therapy-mediated effects can be explained by the depletion of antibody-secreting cells. In addition to B cells, there is also a small population of T cells coexpressing CD20 in all individuals. This study was conducted to examine the phenotype and function of CD3+CD20+ T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls. METHODS The phenotype and apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors and RA patients were examined by 4-color fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses. Cytokine production was determined by intracellular staining and measurement of cytokines in the supernatants. Proliferation of sorted T cell populations was analyzed using 3H-thymidine uptake assays. RESULTS In healthy individuals, 0.1-6.8% of peripheral blood T cells (mean 1.6%; n=142) coexpressed CD20, which was not significantly different from that in the peripheral blood of RA patients, in whom 0.4-2.6% of T cells (mean 1.2%; n=27) were CD20+. During rituximab therapy, the CD20+ T cells along with the B cells were eliminated from the RA peripheral blood. Among the CD20+ T cells, 45% coexpressed CD8 and 55% coexpressed CD4. Polyclonal CD3+CD20+ cells were functionally characterized by constitutive cytokine production (i.e., interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha), a low proliferative capacity, a high activation state, and enhanced susceptibility to apoptosis. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that CD20+ T cells represent a terminally differentiated cell type with immune-regulatory and proinflammatory capacities. Depletion of CD20+ T cells may be an additional mechanism by which anti-CD20 therapy functions in patients with RA.
Ebola Virus VP40 Late Domains Are Not Essential for Viral Replication in Cell Culture

ABSTRACT Ebola virus particle formation and budding are mediated by the VP40 protein, which possesses overlapping PTAP and PPXY late domain motifs (7-PTAPPXY-13). These late domain motifs have also been found in the Gag proteins of retroviruses and the matrix proteins of rhabdo- and arenaviruses. While in vitro studies suggest a critical role for late domain motifs in the budding of these viruses, including Ebola virus, it remains unclear as to whether the VP40 late domains play a role in Ebola virus replication. Alteration of both late domain motifs drastically reduced VP40 particle formation in vitro. However, using reverse genetics, we were able to generate recombinant Ebola virus containing mutations in either or both of the late domains. Viruses containing mutations in one or both of their late domain motifs were attenuated by one log unit. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy did not reveal appreciable differences between the mutant and wild-type viruses released from infected cells. These findings indicate that the Ebola VP40 late domain motifs enhance virus replication but are not absolutely required for virus replication in cell culture.
The Ventilatory Response to Incremental Exercise: Is it One or Two Breakpoints?

Carey, DG, Pliego, GJ, and Rohwer, JL. The ventilatory response to incremental exercise: Is it one or two breakpoints? J Strength Cond Res 24(10): 2840-2845, 2010-The primary objective of this study was to determine if the ventilatory (&OV0312;E) breakpoint during incremental exercise to fatigue is best represented by a single breakpoint (BP1), double breakpoint (BP2), or an exponential function (EXP) exhibiting no BP. A secondary objective was to determine if visual assessment of the BP was valid and reliable. Subjects (n = 49) were both men (n = 12) and women (n = 37) who identified either running (n = 31) or triathlon (n = 18) as their primary sport. Subjects completed a maximal oxygen test on a motor-driven treadmill according to a modified Bruce protocol. The difference in mean square error (MSE) for BP1 (4.91 ± 3.35 L) was slightly but significantly (p < 0.05) greater than in MSE for BP2 (2.75 ± 1.7 L) for &OV0312;E. Mean square error for EXP (7.85 ± 5.1 L) was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than BP1 and BP2. Visual assessment of &OV0312;E on scatterplots produced poor validity, with a mean of 71.7% being misclassified compared to the computer model. Both interevaluator reliability (30.6% agreement) and intraevaluator reliability (59.7% agreement) were low. From the results of this study, it is concluded that (a) &OV0312;E exhibits a BP2 model rather than BP1 or EXP and (b) visual assessment of BP is both invalid and unreliable.
The construction and stimulation of artificial stock market

Using computer simulation technique, this paper constructs an artificial stock market with China-specific investor structure and market environment, then conducts researches on tick size and price limit. The outputs show that stock return time series has obvious characteristic of steep-peak and heavy tails, in accordance with real stock market. At the same time, increasing tick size properly and relaxing price limit will help provide liquidity of the market, but aggravate stock market fluctuations some extent.
Moderating Perceptions of Bother Reports by Individuals Experiencing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

We compared reports of symptom bother for the same urinary symptoms to understand why symptom severity and bother do not correspond in a straightforward manner. We used a grounded theory approach to analyze qualitative data from 123 individual interviews and developed a conceptual framework, identifying three symptom perceptions that might moderate symptom bother: causal, relative, and uncertainty. Symptom bother was lower for respondents who viewed symptoms causally (symptoms seemed explainable or “normal”) or relatively (urinary symptoms were compared to other symptoms or conditions). Bother tended to be higher for respondents who viewed symptoms with uncertainty (when symptom etiology and course were unknown). A greater portion of respondents in the causal perception group had not sought health care for their symptoms. This conceptual framework is useful for understanding the relationship between reactions to and health care seeking for other symptoms.
Aging and respiratory muscle metabolic plasticity: effects of endurance training.

We examined the oxidative and antioxidant enzyme activities in respiratory and locomotor muscles in response to endurance training in young and aging rats. Young adult (4-mo-old) and old (24-mo-old) female Fischer 344 rats were divided into four groups: 1) young trained (n = 12), 2) young untrained (n = 12), 3) old trained (n = 10), and 4) old untrained (n = 6). Both young and old endurance-trained animals performed the same training protocol during 10 wk of continuous treadmill exercise (60 min/day, 5 days/wk). Compared with young untrained animals, the young trained group had significantly elevated (P less than 0.05) activities of 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and citrate synthase (CS) in both the costal diaphragm and the plantaris muscle. In contrast, training had no influence (P greater than 0.05) on the activity of lactate dehydrogenase within the costal diaphragm in young animals. In the aging animals, training did not alter (P greater than 0.05) activities of CS, HADH, GPX, or lactate dehydrogenase in the costal diaphragm but significantly (P less than 0.05) increased CS, HADH, and GPX activities in the plantaris muscle. Furthermore, training resulted in higher activities of CS and HADH in the intercostal muscles in the old trained than in the old untrained animals. Finally, activities of CS, HADH, and GPX were significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in the plantaris in the old untrained than in the young untrained animals; however, CS, HADH, and GPX activities were greater (P less than 0.05) in the costal diaphragm in the old sedentary than in the young untrained animals. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
GROWTH FACTOR INDUCTION OF CYTOSOLIC PROTEIN TYROSINE KINASE ACTIVITY IN HUMAN HAEMOPOIETIC PROGENITOR CELLS ISOLATED BY FLOW CYTOMETRY

We employed a highly sensitive method to assay protein tyrosine kinase activity in extracts of subpopulations of CD34+ bone marrow progenitor cells isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting in an attempt to better define how growth‐factor induction of enzymatic activity relates to progenitor cell maturation. FACS analysis confirmed that, under the conditions employed, essentially all of the CD34+ cells in adult human marrow that lacked the CD38 antigen were devoid of the myeloid maturation marker CD33 as well as the lineage antigens: CD10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 71 and glycophorin A. A variable portion (50–90%) of these CD34+, CD38− progenitor cells expressed HLA‐DR. CD34+, CD38− cells that did not express HLA‐DR were found to lack detectable levels of either membrane or cytosolic tyrosine kinase activity. HLA‐DR+ progenitor cells that lacked CD38 possessed elevated levels of cytosolic tyrosine kinase activity but only low levels of plasma membrane activity. In contrast, CD34+ cells that expressed CD38 (and HLA‐DR) possessed high levels of membrane‐associated tyrosine kinase activity. A cocktail of haemopoietic growth factors that included IL‐3, IL‐6 and stem cell factor effectively induced tyrosine kinase activity in CD34+, CD38−, HLA‐DR− progenitor cells. Growth factor induction of tyrosine kinase activity in these cells was not inhibited by actinomycin D or cyclohexamide. Most of the tyrosine kinase activity induced by these growth factors was recovered from the cytosolic fraction of disrupted cells. Thus, induction of cytosolic tyrosine kinase activity is an early event in the response of uncommitted haemopoietic cells to haemopoietic growth factors. Subsequent activation of membrane tyrosine kinases may initiate key transduction processes as these cells begin to differentiate.