Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Demographic and growth analysis of broad snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) in a disturbed environment in southeastern Brazil

Crocodilian life history traits exhibit strong size and age dependence, which is determined, ultimately, by how fast individuals grow. Crocodilian population dynamics are dependent on environmental conditions such as local temperatures and hydrology. From February 2010 to October 2011 we conducted monthly spotlight surveys to study a broad-snouted caiman population at the Tres Marias Hydro-electric Reservoir, southeast Brazil. A total of 12 spotlight surveys were conducted (17.3 to 48.0 km in length), and animals were captured, measured and marked whenever possible. Data were obtained on population size, sex structure, survival, distribution and growth. The number of caimans counted, including hatchlings, varied from 6 to 78 per survey. Marked individuals showed a growth rate that varied between 0.0 and 0.3 cm*day-1 SVL, and between -6.0 and 8.0 g*day-1 body mass. Polyphasic growth was associated with rainfall and water level, which in turn were associated with changes in temperature and diet. The species seems to be resistant to the ecological impacts of damming, an important conservation conclusion considering the large number of hydroelectric dams within the species’ range in Brazil.
Sustainable Portfolio Optimization with Higher-Order Moments of Risk

Sustainable economic growth and development of stock market plays an important role in diversifying the investment opportunities that can be assessed accordingly. However, a true diversification in portfolio is impossible without inclusion of higher-order moments, skewness and kurtosis. However, the risk-taking behavior of investors is modelled with the help of higher-order moments of risk. Therefore, this study is intended to construct optimal portfolios and efficient frontiers with the inclusion of higher-order moments of risk. The findings show that optimized portfolios with inclusion of skewness and kurtosis are sustainable and significantly different than those from mean-variance optimized portfolios which show asymmetric and fat-tail risk. Results further confirm its significance in balancing the additional risk dimensions and returns in Asian emerging stock markets for sustainable returns. The results also endorse that induction of skewness and kurtosis affects portfolio allocation weights and expected returns. Therefore, this study strongly recommends the inclusion of higher moments of risk for optimization to curtail their effect and sub-optimal decisions.
Effect of Dietary Gossypol on Gonadal and Extragonadal Sperm Reserves of Yankasa Rams

Cottonseed and its by-products are used extensively for supplementing ruminant rations to increase productivity. However, they contain gossypol which is a reproductive toxicant in males of both ruminant and non-ruminants. This study evaluated the effect of dietary gossypol from whole cottonseed (WCS) and cottonseed cake (CSC) on the gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves of Yankasa rams. Fifteen (15) Yankasa rams weighing an average of 20 2 Kg were randomly distributed into three groups (A, B and C) of five rams each and were fed diets containing 48 % WCS, 48 % CSC and control diet (gossypol-free), respectively for 14 weeks. The gonadal and epididymal sperm of the rams (3 from each group) were conducted. The data obtained were statistically analysed using GraphPad Prism version 5.0. Significance of differences between treatments means were determined at P ≤ 0.05 with Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test of repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA). Testicular and epididymal weight, length and sperm reserves were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by gossypol. Gossypol-treated rams in groups A and B however, had numerically lower mean values of testicular and epididymal weight, length and sperm reserves than those of the control group. We concluded that gossypol present in whole cottonseed cake which causes reduction in testicular and epididymal sperm reserves and these feeds should be used with caution in breeding rams.
Assessing Capacity and Cost/Capacity of 4-Core Multicore Fibers Against Single Core Fibers in Submarine Cable Systems

We assess the potential applicability and performance of multicore fibers (MCFs) against conventional single-core fibers (SCFs) in submarine transmission systems. In particular, we assume 4-core MCFs with nominally uncoupled cores and separate amplification of each MCF core with conventional erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) using fan-in/fan-out (FI/FO) devices in the repeaters. We examine the effects of the number of physical fibers accommodated in the cable design, MCF and FI/FO crosstalk, FI/FO loss, span length, transceiver implementation penalty, and minimum required signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The relative cable capacities offered by the MCF and SCF systems are evaluated under the different conditions. Then the relative cost/capacity for systems built with the two types of fiber are calculated using a system cost model for two conditions: 1) with maximum cable capacity and 2) for minimum overall cost/capacity. The potential role of multicore fibers (MCFs) in submarine cable systems is investigated in the context of electrical power limitations and physical fiber count limitations. Cable capacities are estimated based on ideal Shannon-limited capacity unless a transceiver implementation penalty, or gap-to-Shannon capacity, is applied. The systems are modeled assuming constant output power amplifiers as are commonly deployed in submarine systems. We find that MCFs offer the greatest cable capacity increase for low fiber count cables, but that the cost/capacity can be significantly higher. When minimization of cost/capacity is the design goal, MCF systems remain higher in this metric than SCF systems, while enabling only a small capacity increase at best.
Quality of life improves after palliative placement of percutaneous tunneled drainage catheter for refractory ascites in prospective study of patients with end-stage cancer

Abstract Objective Percutaneous tunneled drainage catheter (PTDC) placement is a palliative alternative to serial paracenteses in patients with end-stage cancer and refractory ascites. The impact of PTDC on quality of life (QoL) and long-term outcomes has not been prospectively described. The objective was to evaluate changes in QoL after PTDC. Method Eligible adult patients with end-stage cancer undergoing PTDC placement for refractory ascites completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire and McGill Quality of Life instruments before PTDC placement and at 2 to 7 days and 2 to 4 weeks after PTDC. Catheter function, complications, and laboratory values were assessed. Analysis of QoL data was evaluated with a stratified Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Result Fifty patients enrolled. Survey completion ranged from 65% to 100% (median 88%) across timepoints. All patients had a Tenckhoff catheter, with 98% technical success. Median survival after PTDC was 38 days (95% confidence interval = 32, 57 days). European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer scores showed improvement in global QoL (p = 0.03) at 1 week postprocedure (PP). Significant symptom improvement was reported for fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, and appetite at 1 week PP and was sustained at 3 weeks PP for dyspnea (p < 0.01), insomnia (p < 0.01), and appetite loss (p = 0.03). McGill Quality of Life demonstrated overall QoL improvement at 1 (p = 0.03) and 3 weeks (p = 0.04) PP. Decline in sodium and albumin values pre- and post-PTDC slowed significantly (albumin slope –0.43 to –0.26, p = 0.055; sodium slope –2.50 to 1.31, p = 0.04). Creatinine values increased at an accelerated pace post-PTDC (0.040 to 0.21, p < 0.01). Thirty-eight catheter-related complications occurred in 24 of 45 patients (53%). Significance of results QoL and symptoms improved after PTDC placement for refractory ascites in patients with end-stage malignancy. Decline in sodium and albumin values slowed postplacement. This study supports the use of a PTDC for palliation of refractory ascites in cancer patients.
Specifying Location-Scale Models for Heterogeneous Variances as Multilevel SEMs

Standard multilevel models focus on variables that predict the mean while the within-group variability is largely treated as a nuisance. Recent work has shown the advantage of including predictors for both the mean (the location submodel) and the variability (the scale submodel) within a single model. Constrained versions of the model can be fit in standard mixed effect model software, but the most general version with random effects in each of the location and scale submodels has been noted for being difficult to fit and estimate in software. However, the latest release of Mplus includes new capabilities that facilitate fitting the general version of the model as a multilevel structural equation model (SEM). This article introduces the general form of the model that includes location and scale random effects (called the location-scale model) and notes how it can be envisioned as a multilevel SEM. We provide a tutorial with example analyses and Mplus code for the model with two-level cross-sectional data and three-level repeated measures data and discuss how such a model has potential to extend recent developments in organizational science.
Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) perfusion and neuropsychological performance in mild cognitive impairment

ABSTRACT Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is an affordable neuroimaging technique that measures cerebral perfusion and has been utilized repeatedly in aging populations. However, we are aware of no studies to date examining relationships between SPECT imaging and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations in a clinical sample of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Participants were 124 older adults with MCI (age, M = 75.07 years, SD = 7.65; years of education, M = 14.03, SD = 3.09; 60.2% female) who underwent neuropsychological evaluations and brain SPECT scans as part of their routine clinical care. Based on SPECT interpretations, participants were grouped by suspected etiology (i.e., the neuroradiologists noted that hypoperfusion patterns were most consistent with Alzheimer’s disease, AD; frontotemporal lobar degeneration, FTLD; or other disease processes) and regional hypoperfusion (e.g., frontal, temporal, right/left hemisphere). Neuropsychological tests were grouped into domain scores (i.e., attention/processing speed, language, visuospatial, memory, executive; verbal/nonverbal). Consistent with a priori predictions, patients with an AD pattern of hypoperfusion scored lower than comparison groups on the attention/processing speed (partial χ2 = 0.10) and memory (partial χ2 = 0.07) composites. More patients with the AD-hypoperfusion signal met criteria for amnestic MCI (82%) than did those with a non-AD pattern (70%); this result approached statistical significance (p = .07). Contrary to hypotheses, patients whose SPECT scans were most consistent with FTLD did not underperform on the executive composite, and most regional analyses were nonsignificant. When integrating SPECT data into their clinical conceptualizations of MCI, neuropsychologists should place more weight on AD patterns of hypoperfusion, while de-emphasizing data suggestive of FTLD or regional pathology. Alternative neurodiagnostic markers may be more informative in these instances.
Redifferentiation of a BRAFK601E-Mutated Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patient with Dabrafenib and Trametinib Treatment.

A 59-year-old woman with locally invasive poorly differentiated thyroid cancer with synchronous lung, mediastinal, and bone metastases and a somatic BRAFK601E mutation with contraindication for antiangiogenic drugs was treated with dabrafenib and trametinib. During treatment, serum levels of thyroglobulin increased as early as day 7 up to 10-fold over baseline at week 4. Concurrently, clinical hyperthyroidism occurred, with free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels increasing to 6.6 and 4.4 times their upper reference limit. Fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography at one and two months after treatment initiation showed a PERCIST metabolic response with a 82% decrease in fludeoxyglucose uptake, whereas disease remained morphologically stable according to RECIST criteria. A diagnostic radioactive iodine whole-body scan performed when the patient was thyrotoxic with an undetectable serum thyrotropin level, in the absence of any exogenous thyrotropin stimulation, showed high radioactive iodine uptake in the lung, mediastinum, and skull metastases. A biopsy performed two months after treatment initiation showed a more differentiated growth pattern and a decrease in the mitotic activity compared to baseline. An increase of thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase was observed at both the protein and mRNA levels. Sodium-iodide symporter mRNA expression increased by >750 times over its initial level, and sodium-iodide symporter protein expression became detectable under treatment. A decrease in general status due to thyrotoxicosis led to treatment discontinuation. Thyrotoxicosis resolved rapidly and radioactive iodine uptake decreased by >90%. This clinical case shows that redifferentiation itself is not necessarily associated with an antitumor effect.
Multidimensional Ground Reaction Forces and Moments From Wearable Sensor Accelerations via Deep Learning

<italic>Objective:</italic> Monitoring athlete internal workload exposure, including prevention of catastrophic non-contact knee injuries, relies on the existence of a custom early-warning detection system. This system must be able to estimate accurate, reliable, and valid musculoskeletal joint loads, for sporting maneuvers in near real-time and during match play. However, current methods are constrained to laboratory instrumentation, are labor and cost intensive, and require highly trained specialist knowledge, thereby limiting their ecological validity and wider deployment. An informative next step towards this goal would be a new method to obtain ground kinetics in the field. <italic>Methods:</italic> Here we show that kinematic data obtained from wearable sensor accelerometers, in lieu of embedded force platforms, can leverage recent supervised learning techniques to predict near real-time multidimensional ground reaction forces and moments (GRF/M). Competing convolutional neural network (CNN) deep learning models were trained using laboratory-derived stance phase GRF/M data and simulated sensor accelerations for running and sidestepping maneuvers derived from nearly half a million legacy motion trials. Then, predictions were made from each model driven by five sensor accelerations recorded during independent inter-laboratory data capture sessions. <italic>Results:</italic> The proposed deep learning workbench achieved correlations to ground truth, by maximum discrete GRF component, of vertical <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$F_z$</tex-math></inline-formula> 0.97, anterior <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$F_y$</tex-math></inline-formula> 0.96 (both running), and lateral <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$F_x$</tex-math></inline-formula> 0.87 (sidestepping), with the strongest mean recorded across GRF components 0.89, and for GRM 0.65 (both sidestepping). <italic>Conclusion:</italic> These best-case correlations indicate the plausibility of the approach although the range of results was disappointing. The goal to accurately estimate near real-time on-field GRF/M will be improved by the lessons learned in this study. <italic>Significance:</italic> Coaching, medical, and allied health staff could ultimately use this technology to monitor a range of joint loading indicators during game play, with the aim to minimize the occurrence of non-contact injuries in elite and community-level sports.
Genetic polymorphisms in CDH1 and Exo1 genes elevate the prostate cancer risk in Bangladeshi population

The polymorphisms of invasion suppressor gene CDH1 and DNA mismatch repair gene Exo1 have been reported to play critical role in the development, tumorigenesis, and progression of several kinds of cancers including prostate cancer. This study was designed to analyze the contribution of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the CDH1 (-160C/A) and Exo1 (K589E) to prostate cancer susceptibility in Bangladeshi population. The study included 100 prostate cancer cases and age-matched 100 healthy controls. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to determine the genetic polymorphisms. A significant association was found between CDH1 -160C/A (rs16260) and Exo1 (rs1047840, K589E) polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk. In case of CDH1 -160C/A polymorphism, the frequencies of the three genotypes C/C,C/A, and A/A were 45%, 48%, and 7% in cases and 63%, 32%, and 5% in controls, respectively. The heterozygote C/A genotype and combined C/A + A/A genotypes showed 2.10-fold (odds ratio = 2.1000, 95% confidence interval = 1.2956–4.0905, p = 0.013) and 2.08-fold (odds ratio = 2.0811, 95% confidence interval = 1.1820–3.6641, p = 0.011) increased risk of prostate cancer, respectively, when compared with homozygous C/C genotypes. The variant A allele also was associated with increased risk of prostate cancer (odds ratio = 1.6901, 95% confidence interval = 1.0740–2.6597, p = 0.0233). In case of Exo1 (K589E) polymorphism, G/A heterozygote, A/A homozygote, and combined G/A + A/A genotypes were found to be associated with 2.30-, 4.85-, and 3.04-fold higher risk of prostate cancer, respectively (odds ratio = 2.3021, 95% confidence interval = 2.956–4.0905, p = 0.0031; odds ratio = 4.8462, 95% confidence interval = 1.0198–23.0284, p = 0.0291; OR = 3.0362, 95% confidence interval = 1.7054–5.4053, p = 0.0001, respectively). The “A” allele showed significant association with increased susceptibility (2.29-fold) to prostate cancer (odds ratio = 2.2955, 95% confidence interval = 1.4529–3.6270, p = 0.0004). Our results suggest that CDH1 -160C/A and Exo1 K589E polymorphisms are associated with increased susceptibility to prostate cancer in Bangladeshi population.
Identification of Austwickia chelonae as cause of cutaneous granuloma in endangered crocodile lizards using metataxonomics

The crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus Ahl, 1930) is an endangered reptile species, and in recent years many have died from diseases, especially the rescued and breeding individuals. However, pathogens underlying these diseases are unclear. In this study, we report our effort in rapidly identifying and isolating the pathogen that causes high mortality in crocodile lizards from Guangdong Luokeng Shinisaurus crocodilurus National Nature Reserve. The typical symptom is cutaneous granuloma in the infected crocodile lizards. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a comprehensive approach for sequence-based identification of pathogenic microbes. In this study, 16S rDNA based mNGS was used for rapid identification of pathogens, and microscopy and microbe isolation were used to confirm the results. Austwickia chelonae was identified to be the dominant pathogen in the granuloma using 16S rDNA based mNGS. Chinese skinks were used as an animal model to verify the pathogenicity of A. chelonae to fulfill Koch’s postulates. As expected, subcutaneous inoculation of A. chelonae induced granulomas in the healthy Chinese skinks and the A. chelonae was re-isolated from the induced granulomas. Therefore, A. chelonae was the primary pathogen that caused this high mortality disease, cutaneous granuloma, in crocodile lizards from Guangdong Luokeng Shinisaurus crocodilurus National Nature Reserve. Antibiotics analysis demonstrated that A. chelonae was sensitive to cephalothin, minocycline and ampicillin, but not to kanamycin, gentamicin, streptomycin and clarithromycin, suggesting a possible treatment for the infected crocodile lizards. However, surgical resection of the nodules as early as possible was recommended. This study is the first report of pathogenic analysis in crocodile lizards and provides a reference for disease control and conservations of the endangered crocodile lizards and other reptiles. In addition, this study indicated that mNGS of lesions could be used to detect the pathogens in animals with benefits in speed and convenient.
PHASE FORMATION MECHANISM AND KINETICS IN SOLID-STATE SYNTHESIS OF Ba-DOPED YE′ELIMITE: THE EFFECT OF Ba-DOPING CONCENTRATION ON C4-xBxA₃$ SYSTEMS

Calcium barium sulfoaluminate (abbr.C4-xBxA3$), one of the special cementitious minerals originated from ye’elimite (abbr.C4A3$), has superior hydration and hardening performance. In this paper, a series of C4-xBxA3$ with different Ba-doping concentrations (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2) were prepared, and the effect of the Ba-doping concentration on the formation was systematically investigated by the Rietveld/XRD quantitative phase analysis. The results show that BaSO4 is the essential intermediate phase for the formation of the Ba-doped ye'elimite. The solid-state reaction process of C4-xBxA3$ is separately expressed as two main forms, corresponding to the cases in which the Ba-doping concentration (x) is larger than and less than "1", respectively. The Jander diffusion model shows the optimal fitting for C4-xBxA3$ and it clearly proves that the C4-xBxA3$ formation becomes increasingly difficult as the Ba-doping concentration increases. The correlation between the apparent activation energy (Ea) and the Ba-doping concentration is positively well related, which can be expressed as 'Ea = 71.9x + 304' (kJ∙mol).
Accounting for missing data in statistical analyses: multiple imputation is not always the answer

Abstract Background Missing data are unavoidable in epidemiological research, potentially leading to bias and loss of precision. Multiple imputation (MI) is widely advocated as an improvement over complete case analysis (CCA). However, contrary to widespread belief, CCA is preferable to MI in some situations. Methods We provide guidance on choice of analysis when data are incomplete. Using causal diagrams to depict missingness mechanisms, we describe when CCA will not be biased by missing data and compare MI and CCA, with respect to bias and efficiency, in a range of missing data situations. We illustrate selection of an appropriate method in practice. Results For most regression models, CCA gives unbiased results when the chance of being a complete case does not depend on the outcome after taking the covariates into consideration, which includes situations where data are missing not at random. Consequently, there are situations in which CCA analyses are unbiased while MI analyses, assuming missing at random (MAR), are biased. By contrast MI, unlike CCA, is valid for all MAR situations and has the potential to use information contained in the incomplete cases and auxiliary variables to reduce bias and/or improve precision. For this reason, MI was preferred over CCA in our real data example. Conclusions Choice of method for dealing with missing data is crucial for validity of conclusions, and should be based on careful consideration of the reasons for the missing data, missing data patterns and the availability of auxiliary information.