Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental Factors Driving the Recovery of Bay Laurels from Phytophthora ramorum Infections: An Application of Numerical Ecology to Citizen Science

Phytophthora ramorum is an alien and invasive plant pathogen threatening forest ecosystems in Western North America, where it can cause both lethal and non-lethal diseases. While the mechanisms underlying the establishment and spread of P. ramorum have been elucidated, this is the first attempt to investigate the environmental factors driving the recovery of bay laurel, the main transmissive host of the pathogen. Based on a large dataset gathered from a citizen science program, an algorithm was designed, tested, and run to detect and geolocate recovered trees. Approximately 32% of infected bay laurels recovered in the time period between 2005 and 2015. Monte Carlo simulations pointed out the robustness of such estimates, and the algorithm achieved an 85% average rate of correct classification. The association between recovery and climatic, topographic, and ecological factors was assessed through a numerical ecology approach mostly based on binary logistic regressions. Significant (p < 0.05) coefficients and the information criteria of the models showed that the probability of bay laurel recovery increases in association with high temperatures and low precipitation levels, mostly in flat areas. Results suggest that aridity might be a key driver boosting the recovery of bay laurels from P. ramorum infections.
Aortocoronary Bypass Graft: Initial Blood Flow through the Graft, and Early Postoperative Patency

Intraoperative measurements of blood flow were made in 70 patients in whom a total of 103 venous bypass grafts had been inserted from the aorta to the right, the left anterior descending, or the circumflex coronary artery. Cineangiographic evaluation of graft patency was performed in all patients. Overall patency rate was 90.3%. Flow in all bypass grafts averaged 68 ml/min. All grafts with flow of 20 ml or less or which failed to respond to the injection of 20 mg of papaverine became occluded. All grafts with flow greater than 45 ml/min remained open.
Update in management of male urinary incontinence: injectables, balloons, minimally invasive approaches

Purpose of review The surgical armamentarium for stress urinary incontinence in men ranges from minimally invasive endoscopic procedures to artificial urinary sphincter implantation. In this rapidly moving field, respective indications of surgical options are also evolving, as evidence for the use of innovative devices is growing. This review is focused on recent data about injectables, stem cells and periurethral balloons implantation. Recent findings Periurethral injections are probably the most minimally invasive options, but are considered of low efficacy, with a high recurrence rate in the short term. Reinjections are often needed. However, the market share of periurethral bulking is decreasing relatively slowly. Innovative, so-called regenerative therapies, including injection of biological material, stem cells, myoblasts and muscle strings implantation have shown promising results but did not yet reach maturity for daily use in the clinic. Periurethral balloons implantation shows an acceptable success rate at mid-term follow-up, but are associated with a high rate of complications and reoperations. Summary Indications of periurethral bulking are decreasing. Regenerative therapies are still under investigation in men, and long-term studies are still required. Comparative studies against male slings and other compression devices are still awaited to accurately determine the role of periurethral balloons implantation.
Comparison of 3-dimensional SLAM systems: RTAB-Map vs. Kintinuous

The fact that 6-DoF (Degree of Freedom) mobile robots become widespread, makes 2 dimensional Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) systems insufficient in order to provide autonomous abilities like exploration and navigation. Thus, 3 dimensional SLAM has become a research subject, and various systems have been developed for the last decade. This paper compares performances of two state-of-the-art 3D SLAM systems: RTAB-Map (Real-Time Appearance-Based Mapping) and Kintinuous. Although both system uses RGB-D sensor for input data and similar aspects in gathering information from the input, their different approaches in implementation details affects performance results. Both systems were tested on several datasets. Experimental results show that RTAB-Map has more success on handling 3-Dimensional SLAM problems so that trajectory of RGB-D sensor can be estimated with remarkably less error than Kintinuous. The reason can stem from the fact that Kintinuous is more dependent to depth data which is less reliable than RGB data while RTAB-Map uses RGB data more effectively.
Laboratory Evaluation of Rubidium as a Long-Lasting Marker for Bloodfeeding Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae)

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the trace element rubidium (Rb) as a long-lasting systemic biomarker for bloodfeeding females of the sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli Baits containing Rb chloride were found to be palatable to hamsters in this study. We were able to detect Rb using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer in all sand flies that fed on Rb-treated hamsters for at least 14 d postbloodmeal. We also detected Rb in sand flies that took a bloodmeal from hamsters up to 10 d after the hamsters were withdrawn from a Rb-treated diet. Results of this study constitute proof of concept for the incorporation of Rb chloride into rodent baits for marking bloodfeeding sand flies, and suggest that Rb marking could be used as a technique for evaluating rodent-targeted sand fly control methods and in ecological studies on sand flies.
Multiple routes to reduced interspecific territorial fighting in Hetaerina damselflies

Interspecific territoriality may be adaptive if territories contain depletable resources that are valuable to both species, but it can also arise as a maladaptive by-product of intraspecific territoriality. In the latter scenario, sympatric species ought to diverge in ways that reduce interspecific fighting. We studied 4 Hetaerina damselfly species that can be found in sympatry in North America. Prior work showed that sympatric populations have diverged from each other in wing coloration and competitor recognition in 2 of the 4 sympatric species pairs (H. titia/H. occisa, H. titia/H. americana). Here, we show that sympatric populations of these 2 species pairs overlap completely in habitat use, and yet, interspecific territorial fights occur much less frequently than intraspecific fights. Experimentally manipulating the wing coloration of male H. occisa and H. americana to more closely resemble H. titia increased the rate of interspecific fights, which provides direct evidence that divergence in wing coloration is partly responsible for the low rate of interspecific fights. We found that interspecific fighting is also reduced in the other 2 species pairs (H. occisa/H. cruentata, H. americana/H. cruentata), even though prior work showed that heterospecific territory intruders are attacked just as aggressively as conspecific territory intruders. In these cases, however, the sympatric species differ sufficiently in habitat use to reduce the interspecific encounter rate and thereby account for the reduced rate of interspecific fighting. Thus, interspecific fighting is reduced relative to intraspecific fighting in all 4 species pairs, albeit through different mechanisms. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.
Neck and Scapula-Focused Exercise Training on Patients With Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of additional 6-week scapular stabilization training in patients with nonspecific neck pain (NNP). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 30 patients with NNP were randomly allocated to the study. Fifteen participants in the intervention group received neck-focused exercise and scapular stabilization training, whereas 15 participants in the control group received neck-focused exercise training. All groups were evaluated at baseline and after 6 weeks of rehabilitation. The pain intensity on the neck was measured with the visual analog scale (VAS). The self-reported disability status was measured with the neck disability index (NDI). Three-dimensional scapular kinematics were recorded during dynamic shoulder elevation trials using an electromagnetic tracking device, and data were further analyzed at 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120° of humerothoracic elevations. RESULTS Comparisons revealed that, regardless of the received treatment, after 6 weeks of training both groups showed significant improvements in VAS (P < .001) and NDI (P < .001) scores. Both VAS and NDI outcomes have a large effect size (r = .618 and r = .619, respectively). For scapular kinematics, there were no group differences, especially for scapular upward-downward rotation and anterior-posterior tilt (P > .05). However, in the intervention group, the scapula was more externally rotated at 120° humerothoracic elevation (P = .04). CONCLUSION Findings of this study showed that both manual therapy and active interventions, including neck-focused exercise and scapular stabilization training, are effective in decreasing pain and disability level in patients with NNP. More comprehensive studies with longer follow-up durations are needed to better understand the potential effects of scapular stabilization training in patients with NNP.
Title : Development of a method for determination of pesticide residues in honey using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Honey is a product that may contain pesticide residues due to contamination from bees pollinating various plants as well as elimination of vermin inside the hive. Different methods are needed for analysis of pesticides, since the term includes a wide range of different substances. National Food Administration lacks a validated method for determination and quantification of pesticides in honey using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS. The technique is especially important in analysis of polar and non-volatile pesticides, where gas chromatography is not functioning optimally. After investigating what pesticides could be found in honey produced in Sweden, a number of four pesticides suitable for analysis with LC-MS/MS was compiled; boscalid, impidacloprid, tau-fluvalinate and thiacloprid. A validated multi method for pesticide analysis in fruit and vegetables using LC-MS/MS was utilized as reference method, as a new method was developed. Some of the alterations in the new method included addition of water, changed order of addition of salts, centrifuge settings and shakings of samples. Performing validation experiments at three levels; 0.01 μg/g, 0.02 μg/g and 0.1 μg/g, yielded recovery in the range from 69.4% to 91.8% with relative standard deviation <19%. These figures met, with one exception, the requirements for validation of new methods at National Food Administration and also held linear correlation coefficients higher than 0.97. Three labels of honey, with different origins, were used in the experiments. One of the honey labels formed emulsion during extraction. Absence of a separate ethyl acetate phase caused difficulties when creating a suitable extract for determination and quantification by LC-MS/MS. A special extraction procedure was developed for that specific honey label enabling extraction. As successful extraction procedures were developed and recovery tests yielded satisfying results, the aim to develop an analysis method for determination of pesticide residues in honey using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was fulfilled.
Moxifloxacin and Gatifloxacin in an Acid Model of Persistent Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract Studies in the mouse and in humans suggest that use of moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin may shorten the duration of treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. We describe here the in vitro findings with gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin in regimens similar to those that might be used in the treatment of tuberculosis. The bactericidal activities of moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin were measured alone and in different combinations with isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide against a 30-day, stationary phase culture, at a pH of 5.9. There was a rapid, irregular fall in colony counts during the first 4 days followed by a slower consistent kill during days 4-21 with a mean kill of −0.36 (SD=2.74) and −0.106 (SD=0.011) log10 CFU/ml/day, respectively. The 4-21-day kill is considered the best assessment of bactericidal activity against persisting bacilli that prolong treatment. The substitution of either of the quinolones for isoniazid in the control regimen of rifampicin, pyrazinamide and isoniazid did not increase bactericidal activity with log CFU of 5.00 and 4.88, but did result in increased bactericidal action with the log CFU of 4.11 and 4.10 for moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin respectively. Moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin had closely similar activities in all drug combinations. Adding moxifloxacin or gatifloxacin to the control regimen resulted in a significant increase in bactericidal action, considered sufficient to reduce the treatment duration.
ABUNDANCE RATIOS AND GALACTIC CHEMICAL EVOLUTION

▪ Abstract The metallicity of stars in the Galaxy ranges from [Fe/H] = −4 to +0.5 dex, and the solar iron abundance is e(Fe) = 7.51 ± 0.01 dex. The average values of [Fe/H] in the solar neighborhood, the halo, and Galactic bulge are −0.2, −1.6, and −0.2 dex respectively. Detailed abundance analysis reveals that the Galactic disk, halo, and bulge exhibit unique abundance patterns of O, Mg, Si, Ca, and Ti and neutron-capture elements. These signatures show that environment plays an important role in chemical evolution and that supernovae come in many flavors with a range of element yields. The 300-fold dispersion in heavy element abundances of the most metal-poor stars suggests incomplete mixing of ejecta from individual supernova, with vastly different yields, in clouds of ∼106 M. The composition of Orion association stars indicates that star-forming regions are significantly self-enriched on time scales of 80 million years. The rapid self-enrichment and inhomogeneous chemical evolution models are required.
Variance of SUVs for FDG-PET/CT is Greater in Clinical Practice Than Under Ideal Study Settings

Purpose Measurement variance affects the clinical effectiveness of PET-based measurement as a semiquantitative imaging biomarker for cancer response in individual patients and for planning clinical trials. In this study, we measured test-retest reproducibility of SUV measurements under clinical practice conditions and recorded recognized deviations from protocol compliance. Methods Instrument performance calibration, display, and analyses conformed to manufacture recommendations. Baseline clinical 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations were performed and then repeated at 1 to 7 days. Intended scan initiation uptake period was to repeat the examinations at the same time for each study after injection of 12 mCi FDG tracer. Avidity of uptake was measured in 62 tumors in 21 patients as SUV for maximum voxel (SUVmax) and for a mean of sampled tumor voxels (SUVmean). Results The range of SUVmax and SUVmean was 1.07 to 21.47 and 0.91 to 14.69, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient between log of SUVmax and log of SUVmean was 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88–0.95) and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.87–0.95), respectively. Correlation analysis failed to show an effect on uptake period variation on SUV measurements between the 2 examinations, suggesting additional sources of noise. The threshold criteria for relative difference from baseline for the 95% CI were ±49% or ±44% for SUVmax or SUVmean, respectively. Conclusions Variance of SUV for FDG-PET/CT in current clinical practice in a single institution was greater than expected when compared with benchmarks reported under stringent efficacy study settings. Under comparable clinical practice conditions, interpretation of changes in tumor avidity in individuals and assumptions in planning clinical trials may be affected.
Reduced Inspiratory Muscle Strength in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Background Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is related to type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and it may be associated with reduced inspiratory muscle strength (IMS). The aim of this study was to investigate the IMS in patients with T2DM, with or without OSA. Methods Patients with T2DM with OSA (n = 33) and without OSA (n = 28) were included. The maximum IMS was tested using the POWERbreathe KH2 device. Reference IMS values were data calculated using an algorithm based on general populations and adjusted for age and gender. Results There was no difference in IMS between the OSA group (median (range) 77 (35–124) cmH2O) and the non-OSA group (84 (33–122) cmH2O) (p = 0.97). The IMS values were reduced in the OSA group compared with the reference values (92.9 (62.3–100.0) cmH2O) (p = 0.030), whereas the non-OSA group did not have reduced IMS. When the IMS values of all T2DM patients were compared with reference values, the IMS values were 79 (33–124) cmH2O and 93.8 (62.3–102.4) cmH2O, respectively (p = 0.017). Conclusion No difference in IMS between patients with T2DM with or without OSA was found. However, patients with T2DM and OSA had reduced IMS compared with age- and gender-matched references whereas the non-OSA group did not have reduced IMS.
Transcriptional Analysis of the groES-groEL1, groEL2, and dnaK genes in Corynebacterium glutamicum: Characterization of Heat Shock-Induced Promoters

ABSTRACT The appropriate conditions to switch on the heat shock promoters in Corynebacterium glutamicum were defined by Northern blot analysis. Transcriptional patterns were characterized for the groEL2 gene and the groES-groEL1 and dnaK operons. Transcriptional start points of these genes were determined by primer extension analysis, allowing the identification of CIRCE and HAIR boxes close to the −10 and −35 regions of the promoters. The presence of both CIRCE and HAIR sequences within a single promoter (P-groEL2) in bacteria is described for the first time. In addition, the dnaK promoter showed −10 and −35 sequences similar to those recognized by SigH of Mycobacterium and SigR of Streptomyces close to a second transcription start region with −10 and −35 boxes typical of promoters for housekeeping genes.
Laminar-Dependent Dendritic Spine Alterations in the Motor Cortex of Adult Rats Following Callosal Transection and Forced Forelimb Use

Previously, the authors found that partial denervation of the motor cortex in adult animals can enhance this region's neuronal growth response to relevant behavioral change. Rats with partial corpus callosum transections that were forced to rely on one forelimb for 18 days had increased dendritic arborization of layer V pyramidal neurons in the opposite motor cortex compared to controls. This was not found as a result of denervation alone or of forced forelimb use alone. However, it seemed possible that each independent manipulation (i.e., forced forelimb use alone and callosal transections alone) resulted in neural structural alterations that were simply not revealed in measurements of dendritic branch number and/or not inclusive of layer V dendrites. This possibility was assessed in the current study with a reexamination of the Golgi-Cox impregnated tissue generated in the previous study. Tissue was quantified from rats that received either partial transections of the rostral two-thirds of the corpus callosum (CCX) or sham operations (Sham) followed either by 18 days of forced use of one forelimb (Use) or unrestricted use of both forelimbs (Cont). Measurements of apical and basilar dendrites from pyramidal neurons of layer II/III and layer V were performed to detect spine addition resulting from either increased spine density or the addition of dendritic material. As hypothesized, significant spine addition was found following forced forelimb use alone (Sham+Use) and callosal transections alone (CCX+Cont). However, forced use primarily increased spines on layer II/III pyramidal neurons, whereas callosal transections primarily increased dendritic spines on layer V pyramidal neurons in comparison to Sham+Cont. A much more robust increase in layer V dendritic spines was found in animals with the combination of forced forelimb use and denervation (CCX+Use). In contrast to the effects of forced use alone, however, CCX+Use rats failed to show major net increases in spines on layer II/III neurons. These results indicate that while callosal denervation may greatly enhance the neuronal growth and synaptogenic response to behavioral change in layer V, it may also limit spine addition associated with forced forelimb use in layer II/III of the motor cortex.
A survey of genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms through genome resequencing in the Périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.)

The Périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.), considered a gastronomic delicacy worldwide, is an ectomycorrhizal filamentous fungus that is ecologically important in Mediterranean French, Italian and Spanish woodlands. In this study, we developed a novel resource of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for T. melanosporum using Illumina high‐throughput resequencing. The genome from six T. melanosporum geographical accessions was sequenced to a depth of approximately 20×. These geographical accessions were selected from different populations within the northern and southern regions of the geographical species distribution. Approximately 80% of the reads for each of the six resequenced geographical accessions mapped against the reference T. melanosporum genome assembly, estimating the core genome size of this organism to be approximately 110 Mbp. A total of 442 326 SNPs corresponding to 3540 SNPs/Mbps were identified as being included in all seven genomes. The SNPs occurred more frequently in repeated sequences (85%), although 4501 SNPs were also identified in the coding regions of 2587 genes. Using the ratio of nonsynonymous mutations per nonsynonymous site (pN) to synonymous mutations per synonymous site (pS) and Tajima's D index scanning the whole genome, we were able to identify genomic regions and genes potentially subjected to positive or purifying selection. The SNPs identified represent a valuable resource for future population genetics and genomics studies.