Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A test of alternative hypotheses for kin recognition in cannibalistic tiger salamanders

The function of kin recognition is controversial. We investigated the adaptive significance of kin discrimination in cannibalistic tiger salamander larvae, Ambystoma tigrinum. Previous laboratory experiments show that cannibals preferentially consume less related individuals. We hypothesized that this example of kin recognition (1) is a laboratory artifact, (2) is a by-product of sibship-specific variation in escape responses, because cannibals from families with rapid responses may be more likely to cannibalize slowly escaping non-kin, (3) is an epiphenomenon of species recognition, (4) functions in disease avoidance, because kin may be more infectious than non-kin, or (5) is favored by kin selection. We evaluated these five hypotheses by using laboratory and field experiments to test specific predictions made by each hypothesis. We rejected hypotheses 1–4 above because (1) kin recognition was expressed in the wild, (2) escape responses did not reliably predict whether a cannibal would ingest kin or non-kin, (3) kin recognition was not most pronounced in populations where tiger salamanders co-occur with other species of salamanders, and (4) non-kin prey were more likely than kin to transmit pathogens to cannibals. However, we established that the necessary condition for kin selection, Hamilton’s rule, was met. Thus, our results implicate kin selection as the overriding reason that cannibalistic tiger salamanders discriminate kin.
Recurrence of primary biliary cirrhosis after liver transplantation: Histologic estimate of incidence and natural history

The goals of this study were to determine the rate of recurrent primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) based on strict morphologic criteria and to evaluate histologic progression of recurrent PBC over time. Strict criteria for PBC recurrence were established as the presence of a florid duct lesion or destructive lymphocytic cholangitis within a dense portal infiltrate. Of the 784 OLTs performed at the Mayo Clinic during the first 12 years of the program, 100 met criteria for the PBC study group, and 35 met criteria for the control group. Strict histologic criteria for recurrent PBC were observed in 17 of 100 (17%) study patients (14 with florid duct lesion, 3 with destructive lymphocytic cholangitis within dense portal infiltrate). Mean follow‐up for the PBC group was 4.7 years (range, 1.0 to 13.8). Mean time to recurrence was 3.7 years (median, 3.1; range, 0.3 to 7.9). In those who met strict criteria for recurrent PBC, 2 of 17 progressed to septal fibrosis (stage 3). No florid duct lesions, destructive lymphocytic cholangitis, or septal fibrosis were observed in the control group. Other less specific morphologic features of PBC (portal infiltrates, plasma cells, dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, and lymphocytic cholangitis) were also evaluated in the course of this study. Based on strict criteria, a conservative histologic estimate of the rate of recurrent PBC is 17% with a mean of 4.7 years of follow‐up. When criteria for histologic recurrence are expanded to include moderate lymphocytic cholangitis with lymphoplasmacytic portal infiltrate, the recurrence rate of PBC is estimated as 26%.
Enhanced LSTM for Natural Language Inference

Reasoning and inference are central to human and artificial intelligence. Modeling inference in human language is very challenging. With the availability of large annotated data (Bowman et al., 2015), it has recently become feasible to train neural network based inference models, which have shown to be very effective. In this paper, we present a new state-of-the-art result, achieving the accuracy of 88.6% on the Stanford Natural Language Inference Dataset. Unlike the previous top models that use very complicated network architectures, we first demonstrate that carefully designing sequential inference models based on chain LSTMs can outperform all previous models. Based on this, we further show that by explicitly considering recursive architectures in both local inference modeling and inference composition, we achieve additional improvement. Particularly, incorporating syntactic parsing information contributes to our best result—it further improves the performance even when added to the already very strong model.
Relationship of rumen gram-negative bacteria and free endotoxin to lactic acidosis in cattle.

Feeding grain to animals not adapted to grain resulted in a marked increase in the . / . concentration of free endotoxln m the rumen. Endotoxin concentration increased 15 to 18 times within 12 hr after lactic acidosis was induced through grain engorgement. The increase was accompanied by a shift from predominantly gram-negative to gram-positive bacteria. Data from in vitro fermentations showed that the increase in free endotoxin concentration was not accompanied by a decrease in the number of gram-negative bacteria. The absorption of endotoxin from the rumen was not apparent by the actinomycin D assay procedure because no difference was observed in mice lethality of plasma from control and post-engorgement samples. However, the significant granulocytosis that accompanied acidosis was suggestive of systemic action of rumen bacterial endotoxin. (
Histologic Patterns of Polyethylene Glycol-liposomal Doxorubicin-related Cutaneous Eruptions

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-liposomal doxorubicin (Stealth R, Doxil) is a formulation of doxorubicin, which is encapsulated in liposomes formulated with PEG. It is favored in the palliative setting over doxorubicin because of its generally favorable side effect profile. Adverse reactions are predominantly skin eruptions. We report 3 cases of women with breast cancer undergoing treatment with liposomal doxorubicin who developed palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia and diffuse morbilliform eruptions. Biopsies in the 2 cases demonstrated vacuolar interface dermatitis with epidermal dysmaturation and the third case suggested a drug eruption. Additionally, we report a woman with metastatic breast cancer who developed a similar morbilliform eruption soon after completing a regimen of liposomal doxorubicin. The biopsy revealed an atypical squamous proliferation showing epidermal dysmaturation with focal evidence of interface damage. Both clinician and pathologist alike should be cognizant of this cutaneous eruption, as well as the histologic patterns.
Role of Interferon in Murine Lactic Dehydrogenase Virus Infection, In Vivo and In Vitro

The induction of interferon (IF) by lactic dehydrogenase virus (LDV) and the action of exogenous IF on LDV multiplication have been studied in vivo and in vitro. In vivo the induction of serum IF by LDV was shown to correspond with the virus challenge dose. In vitro LDV-infected macrophages did not produce detectable IF. As to the action of IF in vivo, the prophylactic or therapeutic administration of IF to mice reduced the LDV serum titers only temporarily. In vitro, (i) the sensitivity of LDV to IF in macrophage culture was 30 times less than that of vesicular stomatitis virus, and 5 times less than that of Sendai virus, and (ii) prolonged exposure of LDV-infected macrophages to high IF concentrations did not cure the chronic infection, but only decreased the virus titer. The probable role of IF in the establishment of the early phase of a persistent but reduced viremia in mice is discussed.
Crosslinking the EcoRV restriction endonuclease across the DNA‐binding site reveals transient intermediates and conformational changes of the enzyme during DNA binding and catalytic turnover

EcoRV completely encircles bound DNA with two loops, forming the entry and exit gate for the DNA substrate. These loops were crosslinked generating CL‐EcoRV which binds and releases linear DNA only slowly, because threading linear DNA into and out of the DNA‐binding ‘tunnel’ of CL‐EcoRV is not very effective. If the crosslinking reaction is carried out with a circular bound DNA, CL‐EcoRV is hyperactive towards the trapped substrate which is cleaved very quickly but not very accurately. CL‐EcoRV also binds to, but does not cleave, circular DNA when added from the outside, because it cannot enter the active site. Based on these results a two‐step binding model is proposed for EcoRV: initial DNA binding occurs at the outer side of the loops before the gate opens and then the DNA is transferred to the catalytic center.
Longitudinal study of bronchial hyperreactivity in preschool children with bronchial asthma.

Forty asthmatic children aged 4 to 6 years performed histamine inhalation tests over 2 to 3 years. We used a previously reported method for examining bronchial hyperreactivity; measuring the transcutaneous oxygen pressure to evaluate whether bronchial hyperreactivity in younger children with bronchial asthma changed, and which potential factors affected changes in bronchial hyperreactivity. Although there was no significant relationship between the severity of asthma and respiratory threshold to histamine (RT-Hist) at the initial test, RT-Hist results in the severely asthmatic group were significantly lower than those of the remission and mild groups at the final test (P less than .01), respectively. RT-Hist significantly decreased in only the group whose asthma worsened (P less than .05). In the remission and improvement groups, RT-Hist did not improve despite their favorable clinical courses. When divided into two subgroups according to the extent of their RT-Hist, a high responder group had significantly more subjects who family histories of asthma than the low-responder group (P less than .05). There was no difference, however, in family history of allergic diseases between the two groups. We conclude that bronchial hyperreactivity in younger asthmatic children is influenced by multiple factors that may be congenital or acquired.
Increased Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Gastric Cancer Correlate with Cancer Stage and Plasma S100A8/A9 Proinflammatory Proteins

Immune dysfunction may contribute to tumor progression in gastric cancer (GC) patients. One mechanism of immune dysfunction is the suppression of T cell activation and impairment of the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy by myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). We assessed the phenotype and immunosuppressive function of MDSCs in GC patients. We further investigated the role of S100A8/A9 in GC and the relationship between S100A8/A9 and MDSC function. Lastly, the effect of MDSCs on survival rates and its potential as a prognostic factor in GC patients were investigated. MDSCs from PBMCs of GC patients were identified by comparing the expression of specific surface markers with PBMCs from healthy individuals. The ability of MDSCs to suppress T lymphocyte response and the effect of S100A8/A9 and RAGE blocking were tested in vitro by (autologous) MLR. GC patients had significantly more MDSCs than healthy individuals. These MDSCs suppressed both T lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-γ production and had high arginase-I expression. Levels of S100A8/A9 in plasma were higher in GC patients compared with healthy individuals, and they correlated with MDSC levels in the blood. Blocking of S100A8/A9 itself and the S100A8/A9 receptor RAGE on MDSCs from GC patients abrogated T cell effector function. We found that high levels of MDSCs correlated with more advanced cancer stage and with reduced survival (p = 0.006). S100A8/A9 has been identified as a potential target to modulate antitumor immunity by reversing MDSC-mediated immunosuppression.
Development of machine learning software for high frequency trading in financial markets

Foreign exchange trading has emerged in recent times as a significant activity in many countries. As with most forms of trading, the activity is influenced by many random parameters, so that the creation of a system that effectively emulates the trading process will be very helpful. This chapter presents a novel trading system using Machine Learning methods of Genetic Algorithms and Reinforcement Learning. The system emulates trader behavior on the Foreign Exchange market and finds the most profitable trading strategy.
Representative taxa in field trials for environmental risk assessment of genetically modified maize

Abstract When assessing the benefits and risks of transgenic crops, one consideration is their relative effects on non-target arthropod (NTA) abundance and functions within agroecosystems. Several laboratory and field trials have been conducted in Spain since the late 1990s to assess this issue. A consideration in the design of field trials is whether it is necessary to sample most NTAs living in the crop or only representative taxa that perform main ecological functions and have a good capacity to detect small changes in their abundance. Small changes in the field abundance of an effective representative taxon should be detectable using standard experimental protocols. The ability of a species to reveal differences across treatments may be analysed by examining the detectable treatment effects for surveyed non-target organisms. Analysis of data from several NTAs recorded in 14 field trials conducted over 10 years using complete block designs allowed us to select a number of representative taxa capable of detecting changes in the density or activity of arthropod herbivores, predators, parasitoids and decomposers in transgenic and non-transgenic maize varieties. The most suitable NTA as representative taxa (with detectable treatment effects below 50%) included leafhoppers among arthropod herbivores, Orius spp. , Araneae, and Carabidae among predators, chalcidids, particularly the family Mymaridae, among parasitoids and Chloropidae as decomposer. Details of sampling techniques for each sampled taxa and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. It is concluded that abundance of taxa is the most influential factor determining their capacity to detect changes caused by genetically modified varieties.
Neurogenic flare responses following topical application of capsaicin in humans

The flare response to noxious stimulation of the skin is mediated by polymodal nociceptors of C fiber primary afferent nerves. Topical application of capsaicin initiates a flare response and burning pain. In this study, the variability of capsaicin‐induced flare and pain was assessed in 220 subjects. The major factors in flare response are body site and age; more severe reactions occur in more proximal sites and in younger subjects. Larger flares were shown to be associated with greater pain. Variability is probably due to differences in the structure and reactivity of the neurovascular unit as proposed in the Lewis model of the axon reflex. It may prove possible to assess polymodal nociceptor function using topical capsaicin in disease states that affect the peripheral terminals of primary afferent nerves.
A preliminary study of ecommerce adoption in developing countries

What factors underlie the adoption dynamics of ecommerce technologies among users in developing countries? Even though the internet promised to be the great equalizer, the nuanced variety of conditions and contingencies that shape user adoption of ecommerce technologies has received little scrutiny. Building on previous research on technology adoption, the paper proposes a global information technology (IT) adoption model. The model includes antecedents of performance expectancy, social influence, and technology opportunism and investigates the crucial influence of facilitating conditions. The proposed model is tested using data from 172 technology users from 37 countries, collected over a 1‐year period. The findings suggest that in developing countries, facilitating conditions play a critical moderating role in understanding actual ecommerce adoption, especially when in tandem with technological opportunism. Altogether, the paper offers a preliminary scrutiny of the mechanics of ecommerce adoption in developing countries.
Are they having fun yet? Leisure management within amenity migration

ABSTRACT For decades urbanites have flocked to rural, mountain and beach communities as full- or part-time residents in pursuit of a leisure lifestyle they could not find in the city. This phenomenon is known as amenity migration and it is understood to transform pastoral communities into amenity migration or lifestyle destinations. Among the many unique natural and cultural amenities that draw lifestyle residents to these destinations lies public recreation. Public recreation plays an important role in shaping the character and direction of such communities. This paper explores the role of leisure management within amenity migration in Canmore Alberta Canada. Canmore is a typical mountain resort community catering to lifestyle residents more so than tourists. The paper chronicles the role and impact of leisure management over a 12-year period from 2004 to 2016. Drawing upon the Towns’ 2004 Recreation Master Plan, a 2008–2010 leisure negotiation study and the 2016 Recreation Master Plan, the paper presents a key role for leisure management in the unique setting of amenity migration. Public recreation is revealed as an important driver of change in the community toward a normalizing or urbanizing direction. The paper offers implications and insights for leisure planning within amenity migration throughout North America.
Protective capacity of the Pasteurella haemolytica transferrin-binding proteins TbpA and TbpB in cattle.

The transferrin-binding proteins TbpA and TbpB from Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A serotype 1 were tested for their ability to confer protection against experimental P. haemolytica infection when administered to calves in vaccine formulations containing one or both antigens. Vaccine groups included TbpB (single immunization), TbpB (two immunizations), TbpA, TbpA+TbpB and a placebo. All animals that received TbpB had measurable antibody titres against the antigen at the time of challenge, while those that received TbpA did not show an antibody response. The TbpA+TbpB group showed the best protection against experimental challenge. Protection correlated with anti-TbpB antibody levels. The enhanced protection in the TbpA+TbpB group suggests TbpA contributed to protection through the induction of a non-antibody-mediated immune response. Sera from the TbpB-immunized animals was cross-reactive with TbpBs from other P. haemolytica serotypes.
Khat Use is Associated with Tobacco, Alcohol, and Illicit Drug Use: A Cross-Sectional Examination in the United States

ABSTRACT No study has systematically examined khat (Catha edulis) use and its linkages with other substance use in the United States. This study provides novel findings related to the associations of khat with other substance use among immigrants in metropolitan areas of Minnesota where large East African communities reside. Using a convenience sampling, a total of 261 individuals completed a brief face-to-face interview during which demographic information and substance use were assessed. The proportion of lifetime and current use were 30% and 6.6% for khat, 35% and 18% for tobacco, 35% and 21% for alcohol, and 13% and 10% for other illicit drugs. Self-report history of khat use was associated with tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use. Tobacco use was related to alcohol and use of other drugs. The results suggest that a history of khat use is useful in identifying individuals who are vulnerable to substance-use-related problems. The findings indicate the need for more research on khat in the U.S.
Do Representation of Women Directors and Their Demographic Characteristics Affect CSR Disclosure? Evidence from Malaysia

This study examines the effects of having women directors on corporate board on companyâ€™s corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure. We also examine if women directorsâ€™ demographic characteristics would influence CSR disclosure. From an initial sample of 300 non-financial companies listed in Bursa Malaysia, 139 companies have women on corporate boards. Using data for the year 2013, we found that tenure negatively influences CSR disclosure. As the number of years of serving the corporate board increases, the women directors were found to have less influence on CSR disclosure. Â Other predictive variables, however, were found to be insignificant in influencing companiesâ€™ CSR disclosure. Findings from this study add to the literature on the impacts of having women directors on companyâ€™s corporate board and their demographic characteristics on CSR disclosure from the point of view of a developing country. The results may be useful for policy makers to improve the representation of women directors as preliminary analyses provide some evidence that companies with women directors provide a better quality of CSR disclosure.
LQR_based consensus algorithms of muti-agent systems with a prescribed convergence speed

This paper studies the consensus problem of muti-agent systems with identical linear invariant dynamics. Both with and without a leader situation are considered. The controllers are designed with static relative output feedback. The communication topology is assumed to be fixed and contain a directed spanning tree. An optimal design method is introduced to design feedback gain so that the system can converge to the consensus value with a prescribed convergence speed.
ACUTE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT WEIGHT TRAINING METHODS ON ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN TRAINED MEN

INTRODUCTION: The weight training has been widely used as strategy of reduction and weight control, so the energy expenditure (EE) contributes significantly to this process. OBJECTIVE: Compare the acute effects of the circuit method (CM) with the traditional method (TM) on the EE. METHODS: This is a research with randomized crossover design; the sample consisted of ten adult men recreationally trained aged between 18 to 29 years. There were two experimental sessions with seven-day wash out: in CM the exercises were performed by alternating segment in form of stations, during TM the exercises were performed in consecutive sets. Both training methods followed the same sequence of eight exercises with the same total work: 60% of 1RM, 24 sets/stations and ten repetitions. The collection of blood lactate was performed at rest and the every three sets/stations. The expired air was collected per 30 minutes before and ~31 minutes during all the training sessions. The aerobic exercise (AEEE, kj) and of rest interval (RIEE, kj) EEs were estimated by indirect calorimetry by measuring oxygen consumption and the anaerobic EE (AEE, kj) by blood lactate concentration ([La]). The total EE (TEE, kj) was recorded by the sum of AEE, RIEE and AEE. RESULTS: Data showed that the AEE was greater in TM than the CM; however, the AEEE, RIEE and the TEE were not significantly different between the methods. The TM presented higher [La] than the CM. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the CM and TM produces similar EE during and post-workout, however, one realizes that the TM uses more anaerobic system than the MC.
Do Poison Centers Diagnose Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome?

In 1994, NIOSH issued a report to increase the recognition of Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS), a flu-like illness following respiratory exposure to organic dusts (1). It was noted that ODTS was a poorly recognized problem possibly affecting up to 40% of heavily exposed US workers (2). A review of the medical literature failed to locate any papers regarding poison center recognition of this syndrome. We undertook a study to determine whether poison control centers are properly diagnosing ODTS and other, related pulmonary exposures.