Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Importance of Photoperiodic Signal Quality to Entrainment of the Circannual Reproductive Rhythm of the Ewe1

Abstract An endogenous circannual rhythm drives the seasonal reproductive cycle of a broad spectrum of species. This rhythm is synchronized to the seasons (i.e., entrained) by photoperiod, which acts by regulating the circadian pattern of melatonin secretion from the pineal gland. Prior work has revealed that melatonin patterns secreted in spring/summer entrain the circannual rhythm of reproductive neuroendocrine activity in sheep, whereas secretions in winter do not. The goal of this study was to determine if inability of the winter-melatonin pattern to entrain the rhythm is due to the specific melatonin pattern secreted in winter or to the stage of the circannual rhythm at that time of year. Either a summer- or a winter-melatonin pattern was infused for 70 days into pinealectomized ewes, centered around the summer solstice, when an effective stimulus readily entrains the rhythm. The ewes were ovariectomized and treated with constant-release estradiol implants, and circannual cycles of reproductive neuroendocrine activity were monitored by serum LH concentrations. Only the summer-melatonin pattern entrained the circannual reproductive rhythm. The inability of the winter pattern to do so indicates that the mere presence of a circadian melatonin pattern, in itself, is insufficient for entrainment. Rather, the characteristics of the melatonin pattern, in particular a pattern that mimics the photoperiodic signals of summer, determines entrainment of the circannual rhythm of reproductive neuroendocrine activity in the ewe.
CA19-9 Levels in Saliva and Urine of Patients with Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas Correlates with Serum CA19-9 Levels - A Prospective Preliminary Study

Context Ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is the fifth leading cause of cancer related deaths in the European Union. Tumor markers CA19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen are important components in decision making and follow-up of patients diagnosed with this disease. These tumor markers were found to be elevated not only in the serum but also in other body fluids in patients with malignant lesions of the parotid gland and the urinary tract. Objectives The current preliminary study evaluates the correlation between serum CA19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen levels with those obtained in saliva and urine of patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Methods We have prospectively collected blood, urine and saliva of patients with biopsy proven ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and documented elevated serum CA19-9 and/or carcinoembryonic antigen levels. In addition we have collected body fluids of healthy controls for normal values levels definition. Levels of tumor markers were measured using an immunochemistry analyzer based on an electrochemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay. Results CA19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen were both detected in the saliva and urine of patients and controls. CA19-9 levels of the healthy controls were normal with a significant increase in serum CA19-9 (p-0.008) of the patient's group. Pearson product moment correlation test demonstrated a linear and consistent correlation between serum CA19-9 and saliva and urine levels. Conclusions The current pilot study demonstrated linear correlation of serum levels of CA19-9 with those measured in the saliva and urine of patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. These results encourage us to undertake a larger cohort study to confirm our results and standardize the detected levels in these body fluids.
Effect of heavy-ion irradiation on transport properties of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ films

We have investigated the effect of heavy-ion irradiation on the transport properties of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub x/ thin films. Parallel columnar defects to the c axis and crossed columnar defects were introduced into films by heavy-ion irradiation with dose equivalent to 1 or 2 T vortex density. The electrical transport properties including resistivity, critical current density, and the Hall resistivity were measured as a function of temperature, applied magnetic field, and fluence. The irreversibility line defined as an onset of dissipation progressively shifted to higher temperature with increasing dosage and showed its dependence on inclination angle. Critical current also showed a clear enhancement compared to the unirradiated samples. The Hall scaling behavior and the Hall conductivity were modified after heavy-ion irradiation.
A New Picture of Swedish Earnings Inequality: Persistent and Transitory Components, 1960-1990

Using a large individual longitudinal database, I decompose the cross-sectional variance of male annual earnings in Sweden between 1960 and 1990 into persistent and transitory components. The persistent variance displays a downward trend during the whole sample period, but with the rate of decline more rapid up until the early 1980s than afterwards. The transitory variance has increased from 1960 until the early 1970s, decreased slightly until the late 1970s, and then risen again during the second half of the 1980s. An important lesson from these results concern the interpretation of the rise in cross-sectional inequality observed after the 1983 breakdown of centralized bargaining in Sweden. While it has often been presumed that this growth reflected increased returns to skills, this study shows that it was in fact due to increased transitory earnings fluctuations.
Modeling Tumorigenesis in Drosophila: Current Advances and Future Perspectives

Cancer is essentially considered to be a genetic disease caused by the accumulation of multiple genetic or epigenetic lesions in tumor-suppressor genes and oncogenes [1]. Although the notion that retinoblastoma could be an inherited disease was already formulated at the end of the 19th Century, a solid genetic basis was established with the discovery of both protooncogenes, whose gain-of function mutations or altered expression is associated with the cancerous state, and tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), whose inactivation releases the “brakes” inhibiting cell proliferation. Analysis of both proto-oncogenes and TSGs revealed also that cancer results from an alteration of the normal pathway of cell fate and differentiation. The hallmarks of cancer, as laid down by Hanahan and Weinberg to explain the complex biology of cancer, comprise of six major developmental changes taking successively place in human tumors. These cancer “characteristics” include sustained proliferative signaling, evasion of growth suppressors, resistance to cell death, replicative immortality, angiogenesis as well as cell invasion and metastasis. Underlying these hallmarks are genome instability, inflamma‐ tion, reprogramming of energy metabolism and evading immune destruction [2].
Isolation and characterization of pullulan-degrading Anoxybacillus species isolated from Malaysian hot springs

Two thermophilic bacteria (SK3-4 and DT3-1) were isolated from the Sungai Klah (SK) and Dusun Tua (DT) hot springs in Malaysia. The cells from both strains were rod-shaped, stained Gram positive and formed endospores. The optimal growth of both strains was observed at 55°C and pH 7. Strain DT3-1 exhibited a higher tolerance to chloramphenicol (100 μ g ml−1) but showed a lower tolerance to sodium chloride (2%, w/v) compared to strain SK3-4. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that both strains belong to the genus Anoxybacillus. High concentrations of 15:0 iso in the fatty acid profiles support the conclusion that both strains belong to the genus Anoxybacillus and exhibit unique fatty acid compositions and percentages compared to other Anoxybacillus species. The DNA G+C contents were 42.0 mol% and 41.8 mol% for strains SK3-4 and DT3-1, respectively. Strains SK3-4 and DT3-1 were able to degrade pullulan and to produce maltotriose and glucose, respectively, as their main end products. Based on phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequences, and the DNA G+C content, we propose that strains SK3-4 and DT3-1 are new pullulan-degrading Anoxybacillus strains.
Mechanism of chemical activation of expression of the endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia provirus Emv-3

DBA/2 mice carry a single endogenous ecotropic murine leukemia provirus, Emv-3. This provirus is defective; it is very poorly expressed in young DBA/2 mice. The defect in Emv-3 is caused by a single base substitution in codon 3 of p15gag. The resulting amino acid substitution inhibits myristylation of the gag precursor and subsequent virus assembly. Despite this defect, percutaneous treatment of DBA/2 mice with the carcinogen and mutagen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induces ecotropic murine leukemia virus replication in virtually all treated mice. We hypothesized that this induction is the result of a DMBA-induced reverse mutation in codon 3 of p15gag which allows for efficient myristylation. We tested this hypothesis by isolating ecotropic viruses from DMBA-treated mice and determining the DNA sequences of selected regions of p15gag, including codon 3. In support of the above-described model, all of the viruses examined contained single nucleotide substitutions in codon 3. In addition, most of the replication-competent viruses that were sequenced appeared to result from simple mutation of Emv-3 rather than recombination with other endogenous murine leukemia viruses. These studies may provide a basis for development of a sensitive assay for the mutagenic activity of a variety of chemical carcinogens in vivo.
Why and How Investors Use ESG Information: Evidence from a Global Survey

Using survey data from mainstream investment organizations, we provide insights into why and how investors use reported environmental, social, and governance (ESG) information. Relevance to investment performance is the most frequent motivation, followed by client demand, product strategy, and then, ethical considerations. An important impediment to the use of ESG information is the lack of reporting standards. Among the various ESG investment styles, negative screening is perceived to be the least beneficial to investments and is driven by product and ethical considerations. Full integration and engagement are considered more beneficial and are driven by relevance to investment performance. A practitioner's perspective on this article is provided in the In Practice piece "ESG Investing Moves to the Mainstream" by Keyur Patel, online 18 June 2018. Disclosure: Professor Serafeim serves on the advisory board of investment organizations that practice various environmental, social, and governance styles. Professor Amel-Zadeh received a research grant from Bank of New York Mellon supporting this research. He also received speaker honoraria from the same organization. Editor’s Note Submitted 19 October 2017 Accepted 23 February 2018 by Stephen J. Brown This article was externally reviewed using our double-blind peer-review process. When the article was accepted for publication, the authors thanked the reviewers in the acknowledgments. John Christopher Hughen, CFA, CIPM, was one of the reviewers for this article.
In vitro synergistic activity of ethambutol, isoniazid, kanamycin, rifampin, and streptomycin against Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex

Strains of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex often exhibit in vitro resistance to common antimycobacterial agents. Combinations of etambutol, isoniazid, kanamycin, rifampin, and streptomycin were tested to determine if synergism occurred. Ninety-six percent of the strains were susceptible to a combination of ethambutol and rifampin at concentrations attainable clinically. Other combinations of antimycobacterial agents inhibited 4 to 82% of the isolates tested.
ETWORK FOR EFFICIENT IMAGE CLASSIFICATION

Deep residual networks (ResNets) made a recent breakthrough in deep learning. The core idea of ResNets is to have shortcut connections between layers that allow the network to be much deeper while still being easy to optimize avoiding vanishing gradients. These shortcut connections have interesting properties that make ResNets behave differently from other typical network architectures. In this work we use these properties to design a network based on a ResNet but with parameter sharing and adaptive computation time. The resulting network is much smaller than the original network and can adapt the computational cost to the complexity of the input image.
A Possible Dual Site of Action for Carbon Monoxide‐Mediated Chemoexcitation in the Rat Carotid Body

High tensions of carbon monoxide (CO), relative to oxygen, were used as a tool to investigate the mechanism of chemotransduction. In an in vitro whole organ, rat carotid body preparation, CO increased sinus nerve chemoafferent discharge in the dark, an effect that was significantly reduced (by ca 70 %) by bright white light and by the removal of extracellular Ca2+ from the superfusate or by the addition of either Ni2+ (2 mM) or methoxyverapamil (100 μM). Addition of the P2 purinoceptor antagonist pyridoxalphosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,4′‐disulphonic acid (50 μM) also significantly reduced the neural response to CO. In perforated patch, whole‐cell recordings of isolated rat type I cells, CO induced a depolarisation of ca 11 mV and a decrease in the amplitude of an outward current around and above the resting membrane potential. Membrane conductance between ‐50 and ‐60 mV was significantly reduced by ca 40 % by CO. These effects were not photolabile and were present also when a ‘blocking solution’ containing TEA, 4‐AP, Ni2+ and zero extracellular Ca2+ was used. In conventional whole‐cell recordings, CO only decreased current amplitudes above +10 mV and was without effect around the resting membrane potential. These data demonstrate a direct effect of CO upon type I cell K+ conductances and strongly suggest an effect upon a background, leak conductance that requires an intracellular mediator. The photolabile effect of CO only upon afferent neural discharge adds further evidence to a dual site of action of CO with a separate action at the afferent nerve terminal that, additionally, requires the permissive action of the neurotransmitter ATP.
Association of shock, coagulopathy, and initial vital signs with massive transfusion in combat casualties.

BACKGROUND Timely initiation of a massive transfusion (MT) protocol is associated with improved survival and reduced transfusion for patients requiring MT; however, a priori identification of this population is difficult. The objective of this study was to compare the results of an MT prediction model and actual MT incidence in combat casualties. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of the Joint Theater Trauma Registry transfusion database for all US service personnel injured in combat during overseas contingency operations who received at least 1 unit of blood. Systolic blood pressure at the time of admission, heart rate, hemoglobin, international normalized ratio, and base deficit were used in a previously developed prediction model for MT. RESULTS Casualties (n = 1124) were identified who had received at least 1 unit of blood and had all data points. Of these patients, 420 patients (37%) received an MT. Subjects presenting with any two of four possible variables (heart rate >110, systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg, base deficit < or = -6, and hemoglobin <11) had a 54% incidence of MT with a model sensitivity of 69%. Patients predicted but not observed to receive an MT had earlier time of death and an increased incidence of head injuries compared with those predicted and observed to receive an MT. Patients not predicted but observed to receive an MT had increased chest, abdominal, and extremity injuries than those neither predicted nor observed to receive an MT. CONCLUSION The decision to implement an MT seems to rely heavily on clinical evaluation of severity of abdominal and extremity injury rather than physiologic derangement. Using a model based on the physiologic parameters--a more objective measure--may decrease mortality in combat casualties.
Trap Capture of Three Economically Important Fruit Fly Species (Diptera: Tephritidae): Evaluation of a Solid Formulation Containing Multiple Male Lures in a Hawaiian Coffee Field

ABSTRACT Invasive fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) pose a global threat to agriculture through direct damage to food crops and the accompanying trade restrictions that often result. Early detection is vital to controlling fruit flies, because it increases the probability of limiting the growth and spread of the invasive population and thus may greatly reduce the monetary costs required for eradication or suppression. Male-specific lures are an important component of fruit fly detection, and three such lures are used widely: trimedlure (TML), cue lure (CL), and methyl eugenol (ME), attractive to Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann); melon fly, Bactrocera Cucurbitae (Coquillett); and oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), respectively. In California, Florida, and Texas, the two Bactrocera lures are applied to separate species-specific traps as liquids (with a small amount of the insecticide naled added), whereas TML is delivered as a solid plug in another set of traps. Thus, the detection protocol involves considerable handling time as well as potential contact with a pesticide. The purpose of this study was to compare trap capture between liquid male lures and “trilure” wafers that contain TML, ME, raspberry ketone (RK, the hydroxy equivalent of CL), and the toxicant DDVP embedded within a solid matrix. Field studies were conducted in a Hawaiian coffee (Coffea arabica L.) field where the three aforementioned species co-occur, showed that the wafer captured at least as many flies as the liquid baits for all three species. This same result was obtained in comparisons using both fresh and aged (6-wk) baits. Moreover, the wafers performed as well as the single-lure traps in an ancillary experiment in which TML plugs were substituted for liquid TML. Additional experiments demonstrated explicitly that the presence of ME and RK had no effect on captures of C. capitata males and similarly that the presence of TML had no effect on the capture of B. Cucurbitae or B. dorsalis males.
Effects of urban air pollutants on elemental accumulation and identification of oxidative stress biomarkers in the transplanted lichen Pseudovernia furfuracea

Determining the origins of heavy metals, their accumulation, and their detoxification mechanisms constitutes a major problem in understanding environmental pollution in urban areas. The objective of this study was to detect the relative air quality in Eskisehir city center (Turkey) through the transplanted epiphytic lichen Pseudovernia furfuracea as a biomonitor of the concentrations of some heavy metals accumulated and to describe their toxic effects on lichen physiology during the study period of one year. The influence of heavy metal accumulations on macroelement levels were also examined. In addition to analysis of B, K, Ca, P, S, Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu, total soluble proteins and oxidative stress parameters through glutathione (GSH) contents and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activities were also determined. Results indicate that, although the heavy metal concentrations were found to be gradually increased from the unpolluted control zone to the city center, the concentrations of macroelements S and Ca were higher in the polluted area. However, B, K, Mg, and P elements were found to be higher in the unpolluted area than in the polluted zones. It seems that heavy metals induce oxidative stress in lichens; we found enhancement of GSH concentrations and GST activity. Most probably, the expected destruction in this organism was reduced by the intervention of antioxidant capacity. Therefore, this report confirms the fact that the epiphytic lichen P. furfuracea is a good model for biomonitoring atmospheric quality for a long‐term transplantation study, and oxidative stress parameters stand out as a tool for an early environment assessment of other physiological parameters. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:1629–1636. © 2011 SETAC
Ruptured extrauterine gestation in heterotopic pregnancy

The co-existance of an intrauterine conception with an extrauterine pregnancy is called heterotopic pregnancy. This condition was first described by Duverney in 1708 as an autopsy finding.1 It was later reported to occur in less than 1:30 000 pregnancies.2 The incidence of heterotopic pregnancy showed an increase with the introduction of assisted pregnancy. It is estimated to be about 400 times greater after the latter than natural conception.3 Rupture of an ectopic pregnancy in this setting imposes a diagnostic enigma to emergency physicians.4 Delay in recognizing the condition may lead to a fatal outcome. In this report we present our first encounter with a pregnant woman who presented with shock and intra-abdominal bleeding that was found to be due to a ruptured tubal pregnancy in the presence of a viable intrauterine fetus. After an extensive literature search, we found only one recent report of this condition from our geographic area.5
Different Multimedia Presentation Types and Students' Interpretation Achievement

— The main purpose of the study was to determine whether students’ interpretation achievement differed with the use of various multimedia presentation types. Four groups of students, text only (T), audio only (A), text and audio (TA), text and image (TI), were arranged and they were presented the same story via different types of multimedia presentations. Inference achievement was measured by a critical thinking inference test. Higher mean scores for the TA group compared to the other three groups were found. Also when compared pairwise, interpretation achievement of the TA group differed significantly from scores of the T and TI groups. These differences were interpreted with the increased cognitive load. Increased cognitive load for the TA group may have invited students to put more effort into comprehending the text, thus resulting in better test scores. Findings of the study can be seen as a sign of the importance of learning situations and learning outcomes in multimedia-supported learning environments and may have practical benefits for instructional designers.
UWB MIMO measurements in reverberation chamber and indoor environment

This paper presents reference measurements of 2 × 2 UWB antenna arrays consisting of discone antennas with a frequency range from 2 - 6 GHz performed in a reverberation chamber. The measurements are used to evaluate the diversity gain of arrays with different topologies as well as MIMO capacity. Results of comparing the diversity gain results with line of sight (LOS) and non-LOS indoor measurements are also presented. The reverberation measurements at three frequencies in the band were found to follow a Rayleigh distribution, whereas the indoor LOS measurements presented Rician distribution.