Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is the Wireless Monitoring a Technological Innovation Suitable in Internal Medicine Units?

In recent years, the Internal Medicine (IM) Ward has been receiving an increasingly heterogeneous group of patients, many affected by acute or chronic diseases of varying severity, who are often elderly, frail, with co-morbidities, requiring intensive care due to epidemiological transition. Hospitalization of medical patients in large wards without prior stratification of severity, complexity, level of dependence, co-morbidities and without a proper assessment of the risk of rapid clinical deterioration, can lead to suboptimal treatment, resulting in prolonged hospital stay and increased care costs. Continuous monitoring of Emergency Room (ER) activity data has shown an increasing trend, regardless of the season, in ER presentation and subsequent hospitalization of patients over 65 years with exacerbation of chronic diseases such as a 1% increase in ER presentations could result in a 10% increase in Internal Medicine admissions, causing overcrowding both of the ER and IM ward [1].
More suggestions on raising the bar for conservation—a response to Anderson et al

I applaud Anderson et al. (2003) for a well-reasoned article advocating increased scientific rigor in our profession. We must always look for ways to improve our contributions to wildlife conservation, and their article offered a myriad of good ideas. I found that the article covered the science part of our applied science quite well, but more discussion of some applied aspects of our profession is warranted. I submit the following as a continuing contribution to this much-needed discussion.
The Oak Bark Beetle, Pseudopityophthorus minutissimus (Zimm.) (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) and its Biology in Wisconsin

Among the many insects under investigation as potential vectors of the oak wilt fungus in Wisconsin and elsewhere, the species of Pseudopityophthorus have attracted considerable attention. Although recent developments appear to indicate that the long-distance spread of this serious disease occurs primarily with the aid of other insects, our knowledge at present does not warrant the assumption that bark beetles play no part whatever. In the study of P. minutissimus from August, 1952, to the fall of 1953, considerable information concerning its biology in Wisconsin has been brought to light; and regardless of its relationship to the oak wilt problem it seems desirable at this time to make better known this member of the Wisconsin bark beetle fauna.
A retrospective analysis of intraoperative blood transfusion practices in patients undergoing thoracotomy and major lung surgery in an Indian tertiary care hospital and formulation of a maximum surgic

Background and Aims: The risk of blood loss in lung surgeries is significant and depends on the nature of surgery. The literature on the pattern of intraoperative requirement of blood transfusion in various types of lung surgeries is scarce. In the absence of clear evidence, often inappropriate amount of blood is cross matched, ordered and transfused. Excessive cross matching of blood can increase the burden on the blood bank. The aim of the study was to analyze the blood transfusion practice in patients undergoing major lung surgery at our center and propose a maximum blood ordering schedule (MSBOS) for optimizing blood ordering. Methods: Retrospective review of electronic database of medical records and anesthesia charts was done for patients who underwent thoracotomy and major lung surgery between July 2014 and June 2016. All the patients were studied under 5 surgical categories. Upper lobectomy, lower lobectomy, pneumonectomy, decortication and others (Hydatid cyst excision/lung abscess drainage/ Bullectomy/wedge resection). Under each category amount of blood cross matched and transfused intraoperatively were noted. Cross match to transfusion ratio(C: T ratio), Transfusion probability (T%), and Transfusion Index(TI) were calculated and Maximum surgical blood ordering schedule (MSBOS) was proposed in each surgical category. Results: A total of 229 patients with mean age of 40 years were studied. Four hundred seventy eight units of blood were cross matched and 162 units were transfused in 90 patients. C:T ratio, TI and T% were 2.95, 0.7 and 39% respectively in the total cohort. All the three indices showed significant usage of blood in upper lobectomy and pneumonectomy group whereas all the indices showed low requirement of blood in patients undergoing decortication, Bullectomy, hydatid cyst excision, lung abscess drainage and wedge resection. MSBOS suggested crossmatch and reserve of 2 blood units for upper lobectomy and pneumonectomy, and 1unit for lower lobe
Deoxyribonucleic acid relatedness among strains of Haemophilus parasuis and other Haemophilus spp. of swine origin

The levels of cross-hybridization between deoxyribonucleic acids from Haemophilus parasuis, Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae, and unnamed Haemophilus taxon C were less than 15%. The levels of deoxyribonucleic acid complementarity between H. parasuis strains belonging to serovars 1 to 4 and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis type I and II strains were very high (86 ± 7%), but the levels of complementarity between strain Nagasaki (serovar 5, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis type II) and the remaining strains of H. parasuis were rather low (64 ± 5%). Our results indicate that, with the exception of serovar 5, the species H. parasuis comprises a rather homogeneous, genetically closely related group of bacteria. A further division of H. parasuis strains into subspecies according to their polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis peptide profiles is not justified on the basis of deoxyribonucleic acid sequence homologies. However, the taxonomic position of serovar 5 needs further investigation.
SIZE-DEPENDENT PROCESSES UNDERLYING REGULARITIES IN ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE'

The structure of animal communities and the energy flux through them may be characterized by biomass ratios, ecological efficiencies, and production efficiencies of the component organisms. Here, we interpret these ratios in terms of the elementary processes of food intake, specific production rate, and gross growth efficiency that underlie them. Recent information confirms that the magnitude of all these processes is related to the average body mass of the organisms involved. However, our analysis shows that this well-known dependence reflects the influence of two different basic biological properties. One of these is the metabolism-body-size relation of individuals that is familiar from physiology. The other less well-recognized property appears as an ecological population factor reflected in the distribution of particle sizes within animal groups in the community and is probably related to the relative sizes and distributions of predators and their prey. It appears that both the physiological and ecological size relationships have to be recognized as scaling factors in order to transform measures of biological production of various parts of communities into common terms for comparison. Current data on the generality and stability of community structure and production suggest that by using this twofold size scaling, trophic energy flow within the community can be determined from the distribution of body sizes without the necessity of specifying trophic levels of the organisms involved. The ecological size scaling can be seen as an index of the system nature of ecosystems.
Microsatellite markers of genetic diversity and population structure of Carica papaya

We assessed the genetic diversity of 96 papaya accessions by molecular characterisation using microsatellite markers. Fifteen polymorphic primers were selected. Accessions, which were classified as Common, Formosa and Solo according to fruit types, were evaluated for allele frequency, heterozygosity, polymorphism information content (PIC), inbreeding coefficient (f) and the genetic diversity structure. Fifteen primers amplified 68 alleles with an average of 4.53 per locus. PIC values ranged from 0.19 to 0.69. The observed heterozygosity (HO) was low for all selected microsatellites. High f estimates (0.58) and excess of homozygotes indicated inbreeding, mainly caused by the tendency to select hermaphrodite plants for succeeding generations. Analysis of molecular variance showed that most of the variation (98%) resides within subpopulation. The genetic analysis based on Bayesian statistics proved to be sensitive enough to detect relationships among the papaya accessions, grouping them into six clusters, irrespective of their classification types.
Effekt einer Zulage an mikrobieller Phytase zu einer Mais‐Soja‐Diät auf die scheinbare Absorption von Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn und Zn sowie auf Parameter des Zinkstatus beim Ferkel

Zusammenfassung An 4 times 8 einzeln gehaltenen, mannlichen kastrierten Ferkeln wurde in einem 5wochigen Versuch im LM-Bereich von 9–25 kg die Wirkung der Zulage einer mikrobiellen Phytase zu einer Mais-Soja-Diat auf die scheinbare Absorption von Mg und den Spurenelementen Fe, Cu, Mn und Zn untersucht. Die Zn-Versorgung der Ferkel erfolgte mit 60 mg/kg Diat marginal, wahrend die anderen untersuchten Elemente mindestens bedarfsdeckend in der Diat vorlagen. In den Gruppen III und IV wurde mikrobielle Phytase in einer Konzentration von 500 bzw. 1000 U/kg Diat zugesetzt. Die Mg-Absorption wurde durch die Phytasezulage in der ersten Periode (12 kg LM) signifikant und in der zweiten Periode (18 kg LM) tendenziell verbessert. Die scheinbare Absorption von Fe und Cu wurde durch die Phytasezulage in der Tendenz erhoht. Die Mn- Absorption blieb unbeeinflust. Die Zn-Absorption der Gruppe IV (1000 U Phytase/kg) war in der ersten Periode signifikant verbessert. Der besonders in der ersten Versuchshalfte durch Phytasezulage verbesserte Zn-Status zeigte sich auch anhand der Zn-Statusparamter Plasma-Zn-Gehalt und freie Zn-Bindungskapazitat, wahrend die Aktivitat der Alkalischen Phosphatase unbeeinflust blieb. Wie in der Literatur fur die P- und Ca-Absorption berichtet, erbrachte die Erhohung der Phytasezulage von 500 auf 1000 U/kg Diat auch bei der Zn-Verfugbarkeit eine weitere Verbesserung.
Diabetes is Associated with Slow Walking Speed in People with Knee Osteoarthritis

91 Board #7 May 29 9:30 AM 11:30 AM Diabetes is Associated with Slow Walking Speed in People with Knee Osteoarthritis Aqeel M. Alenazi, Mohammed M. Alshehri, Shaima Alothman, Corey Gray, Abdalghani A. Yahya, Jason Rucker, Bader A. Alqahtani, Saad M. Bindawas, Patricia M. Kluding. University of Kansas Medical Center and Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Kansas City, KS. University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS. Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia. King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Email: aalenazi@kumc.edu
A survey of Techniques for Face Liveness Recognition

-Automatic face recognition is now widely used in applications ranging from de duplication of identity to authentication of mobile payment. This popularity of face recognition has raised concerns about face spoof attacks (also known as biometric sensor presentation attacks), where a photo or video of an authorized person’s face could be used to gain access to facilities or services. While a number of face spoof detection techniques have been proposed, their generalization ability has not been adequately addressed. We propose an efﬁcient and rather robust face spoof detection algorithm based on image distortion analysis (IDA). Four different features (specular reﬂection, blurriness, chromatic moment, and color diversity) are extracted to form the IDA feature vector. An ensemble classiﬁer, consisting of multiple SVM classiﬁers trained for different face spoof attacks is used to distinguish between genuine (live) and spoof faces. The proposed approach is extended to multiframe face spoof detection in videos using a voting-based scheme. We also collect a face spoof database, MSU mobile face spooﬁng database (MSU MFSD).
CHEMICAL AND TACTILE INPUTS TO THE LYMNAEA FEEDING SYSTEM: EFFECTS ON BEHAVIOUR AND NEURAL CIRCUITRY

Transfer of snails from distilled water to solutions of sucrose or maltose stimulated feeding behaviour. As the concentrations were increased from 10 −5 mol l −1 to 10 −1 mol l −1 the proportions of snails showing feeding movements and the median rate of feeding both increased until at 10 −3 mol 1 −1 they reached a plateau. At higher concentrations (10 −1 mol l −1 ), maltose, but not sucrose, reduced the proportion of feeding snails and median feeding rate to values occurring at 10 −5 mol 1 −1 . Increases in median feeding rate were due to an increase in the regularity of the feeding rhythm rather than increases in the maximum rates of feeding. Sugars and tactile stimuli were applied to putative sensory structures (interior of the buccal mass, lips and tentacles) in two types of semi-intact preparation whilst intracellular recordings were made from feeding motoneurones (1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 cells) and higher-order interneurones (Cerebral Giant Cells, CGCs, and the Slow Oscillator, SO). Both types of sensory stimuli applied to the lip-tentacle preparation produced strong activation of the CGCs but only long latency weak excitation of motoneurones with no clear initiation of synaptic inputs from central pattern generating (CPG) interneurones. In a more complex lip-tentacle-buccal mass preparation the evoked responses to sugars were comparable to those in the intact snail. Initiation of motoneuronal activity or increased frequency of activity was observed. This was due to increased CPG synaptic inputs as well as activation of a modulatory interneurone, the SO. Multiple sensory pathways from the periphery, present only in the lip-tentacle-buccal mass preparation, were necessary for sensory initiation of the feeding rhythm. The results support the hypothesis that multimodal sensory inputs are likely to be involved in the initiation or modulation of feeding in Lymnaea and act at several levels in the system. Note:
Comparison of stability statistics for yield in barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.)

Analysis of multienvironment trials (METs) of crops for cultivar evaluation and recommendation is an important issue in plant breeding research. Evaluating both stability of performance and high yield is essential in MET analyses. The objectives of this study were to assess interrelationship among these measures and to identify high-yield and stable barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars in 11 environments during 2001 - 2003 in the central Black Sea region of Turkey. Significant differences were observed among barley cultivars for grain yield, thousand-grain weight, hectoliter weight, plant height and heading date. In this study, high values of TOP (proportion of environments in which a genotype ranked in the top third) was associated with high mean yield, but the other methods were not positively correlated with mean yield and instead characterized a static concept of stability. The results of principal component (PC) analysis and correlation analysis of parametric and nonparametric stability statistics and yield indicated that only TOP method would be useful for simultaneously selecting for high yield and stability. This method recommended Fahrettinbey and Sladoran as stable and Balkan 96 and Erginel as unstable genotypes. A biplot of the first two PCs also revealed that the stability statistic methods grouped as three distinct classes that corresponded to different dynamic (agronomic) and static (biological) concepts of stability.
The egg capsules of certain Neritidae

The little capsules in which snails of this family deposit eggs are so durable as sometimes to be found adherent to museum specimens; hitherto, however, detailed descriptions of such capsules have been restricted to the capsules long known as made by Neritina fluviatilis in fresh waters of Europe. The present paper adds descriptions, with measurements and sketches, of Neritina reclivata from Florida, Neritina virginea, Neritina punctulata, Theodoxus mneleagris, Nerita peloronta, Nerita alticola, Nerita tesselata and Neritilia succinea from Jamaica, British West Indies.
EFFECTS OF HEAT STRESS AND AGE ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND ENDOCRINE STATUS OF MALE RABBIT

The effect of environmental temperature and age on plasma hormonal concentrations of testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT}, cortisol (C), triiodothyronine (T3} and thyroxine (T4) were evaluated in 40 male Grimaud rabbits. Twenty animals were reared at 20oC (TNT o = Thermic Neutrality Temperature) and the other 20 at 27 C (HST = Heat Stress Temperature). Far both treatments relative humidity levels averaged 77 % and the photoperiod was 8D:16L with a light intensity of about 40 lux. The animals were fed ad libitum with a commercial pelleted feed. Blood samples were collected from each ammal by intracardiac puncture at 71 and 85 days of age. No interaction effect between temperature and age was found. With regard to effect of temperature, the HST animals had a lower (P<0.01) final body weight (2325 vs 2555 g), daily gain (32. 7 vs 38.1 g) and feed intake (106 vs 126 g/d). The HST treatment significantly (P< 0.05) decreased plasma levels of T (1.01 vs 1.96 ng/ml, DHT (0.42 vs 0.73 ng/ml) and T + DHT (1.43 vs 2.66 ng/ml, but not the T/DHT ratio (2.69). TNT animals had higher (P<0.01) plasma levels of T3 (1.30 vs 1.01 ng/ml) and a lower (P<0.01) T 4/T3 ratio (32. 7 vs 41.3). The concentrations of C (18.9 ng/ml} and r 4 (41.0 ng/ml) resulted unchanged. The etfect of age in the older rabbits was a significantly higher (P<0.01) final body weight (2698 vs 2181 g) daily intake (123 vs 109 g) and feed/gain ratio (3.44 vs 3.12 g/g). No significant difference was observed in plasma concentrations of T (1.48 ng/ml), DHT (0.58 ng/ml), T/DHT (2.69) and T + DHi (2.05 ng/ml} in 71 and 85 days old rabbits. Age had no effect on C levels, which averaged 19.0 ng/ml. In blood samples of younger and older rabb1ts there was no difference in T3 (1.16 ng/ml}, T4 (41.0 ng/ml} values and T4/T3 ratio (37.0). Correlations and linear regression equations were also calculated far daily gain (DG}, digestible energy intake per unit of metabolic body weight (DET/MBW) and each hormone plasma level. Only the thyroid hormones showed significant correlations: T3 was positively (P<0.01) correlated with DG (r = 0.624) and DEI/MBW
Distribution of long-toed salamanders and introduced trout in high- and low-elevation wetlands in southwestern Alberta, Canada

Abstract Several species of trout have been introduced into most wetlands within the mountain and foothill regions of southwestern Alberta, Canada. In this study, we used standard survey methods to evaluate the distribution of long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) larvae relative to introduced trout within 27 low-elevation wetlands and 30 high-elevation wetlands in Waterton Lakes National Park and the adjacent Castle Special Management Area. Results provided indirect evidence of salamander displacement by trout. At high elevations, salamander larvae were not detected in any of the sites that contained trout. The complete allotopy between trout and long-toed salamanders within high-elevation sites supports previous studies completed within the core of this species' range, further documenting the widespread negative impacts of introduced trout on native amphibians in upper basins. Similarly, salamander larvae were present in each of the low-elevation wetlands that lacked trout; they co-occurred in only 4 of 27 low-elevation wetlands. Allotopy within lower elevation sites is particularly important from a conservation perspective because, relative to populations in high-elevation wetlands, these populations tend to contain individuals with rapid growth and high dispersal rates. Nomenclature: Nelson & Paetz, 1992; Corkran & Thoms, 2006.
Perception of a fragmented landscape by neotropical marsupials: effects of body mass and environmental variables

Abstract: Perceptual range is used as a measure of the ability of animals to perceive the landscape, and can be used to infer functional connectivity between habitat patches such as forest remnants. A relationship of perceptual range with body mass was proposed by Mech and Zollner, but effects of life-history traits and environmental conditions were also acknowledged. We evaluated perceptual ranges and the influence of body mass, wind speed and direction, and grass height in four marsupial species of the Atlantic Forest of south-eastern Brazil. Release experiments were conducted and orientation towards the forest was determined using the spool-and-line technique. In 111 animals released, Didelphis aurita had the highest perceptual range (200 m), followed by Philander frenatus and Micoureus paraguayanus (100 m), and by Marmosops incanus (< 100 m). None of the species presented homing behaviour, and there was no difference in orientation abilities between sexes. Perceptual range was overestimated based on the equations of Mech and Zollner, but species were ordered in perceptual range according to their body size. Distance to the forest was a common determinant of the orientation in P. frenatus and M. paraguayanus, but grass height and wind direction were also important. Orientation of Didelphis aurita was determined by wind direction, showing anemotactic behaviour. Body mass is likely to affect perceptual ranges in didelphid marsupials, but only in interspecific comparisons. Within a species perception depends on the environmental context. Variables other than distance must be considered to estimate functional connectivity of the landscape based on perceptual range.
Predation on pelagic coelenterates: a review

Coelenterates (cnidaria and ctenophores) are well recognized as predators in food webs of marine ecosystems but are less often considered as prey. This is partly because they are digested very rapidly. In studies based on predator stomach contents the measured masses of different prey organisms are rarely scaled by their relative rates of digestion. Predators that are frozen and thawed, or for which whole stomachs are placed in preservatives, may have already lost much of their coelenterate content when they are examined. There is also a tendency to assume that gelatinous organisms, with their high water and salt content relative to organic content, are poor food. However, given the high rates of digestion (and presumably of assimilation) coelenterates may provide sources of energy comparable to better recognized prey such as arthropods. It is already becoming well documented that a number of cnidaria and ctenophores as well as fish utilize gelatinous organisms as prey. Data is accumulating more slowly on predation by a wide range of other carnivores such as molluscs, arthropods, reptiles and birds.