Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction of a cross-reactive idiotype dextran-positive antibody response in two IgH-Cb mouse strains treated with anti-J558 cross- reactive idiotype antibodies

The effect of IdX-specific rabbit and allogeneic antiidiotype antibodies (Ab2) was investigated in vivo in Igh-Cb mouse strains with respect to the induction of a cross-reactive idiotype (IdX)-positive anti-alpha (1-3) Dextran (Dex) response. These C.B20 and C57Bl/6 mice have an allotype-linked incapacity to respond with IdX-positive anti- alpha (1-3) Dex antibodies upon conventional immunization with Dex B1355. 7 d after the rabbit Ab2 injections, IdX-positive Ig (Ab3) and IdX-positive anti-alpha (1-3) Dex antibodies (Ab1') were detected in the sera of each tested mouse. The affinity-purified Ab1' were idiotypically indistinguishable from reference BALB/c IdX-positive myeloma proteins and BALB/c anti-alpha (1-3) Dex antibodies (Ab1) in a competitive inhibition radioimmunoassay, while Ab3 Ig appeared idiotypically deficient and did not bind to Dex. The response to the alpha (1-6) linkage of Dex was not affected in these mice. A large fraction of the Ab1' and Ab3 responses of both mouse strains were of the IgG1 class. The Ab1' antibodies differed from BALB/c Ab1 by lower relative binding to five of eight tested Dex, and by expressing the Igh4b allotype determinants on the IgG1 antibodies. This study identifies the products of a VHDex gene that appears to be under regulatory control in the Ighb mice. Its association with the b haplotype suggests that this gene may differ structurally from the BALB/c VHDex gene.
Integrating stochastic age-structured population dynamics into complex fisheries economic models for management evaluations: the North Sea saithe fishery as a case study

There is growing interest in bioeconomic models as tools for understanding pathways of fishery behaviour in order to assess the impact of alternative policies on natural resources. A model system is presented that combines stochastic age-structured population dynamics with complex fisheries economics. Explicitly, the economic response of fleet segments to changes in stock development is analysed by applying observed values and stochastic recruitment. The optimization of net profits determines the fishing effort and the investment and disinvestment behaviour of fleet segments, which, in turn, affect the level of catch rates and discards. This tool was applied to the North Sea saithe fishery, where ICES re-evaluated the existing EU–Norway management plan, focusing on biological reference points only. Two scenarios were tested with alternative harvest control rules and then contrasted with one unregulated scenario with no quotas and driven by optimizing the net profit of the whole fleet. The model showed the success of both harvest control rules in rebuilding the stock and the associated costs to the fleets in terms of maximal 21% reduction in net profits, 21% reduction in crew wages and 11% reduction in fleet size in the midterm (2007–2015). In the long term (2022), successful stock recovery coincided with net profits almost equalling that of the unrestricted fishery. The model is highly sensitive to the parameter values but can be used strategically, providing a qualitative understanding of the anticipated relative changes.
Carbon dynamics within agricultural and native sites in the loess region of western Iowa

In order to quantify the historical changes in carbon storage that result from agricultural conversion, this study compared the carbon dynamics of two sites in the loess region of Iowa: a native prairie and a cropland. Field data were obtained to determine present‐day carbon storage and its variability within a landscape (a stable ridgetop vs. eroding upper‐midslope vs. depositional lower slope). Models were used to recreate the historical carbon budget of these sites and determine the cropland's potential to be a net CO2 source or sink, relative to the atmosphere.
Early Detection of Pregnancy and Embryonic Loss in Dairy Cattle by ELISA Tests

Contents Over a 25-month period 8118 blood samples were assayed for the presence of the serum pregnancy specific-protein B (PSPB) and progesteron (P4) concentrations on three Hungarian large-scale dairy farms. Pregnancy (n = 4085) was checked by BioPRYN assay at 30–36 days post-insemination (PI). Samples from all cows that tested not pregnant and from cows with an optical density (OD) reading in the BioPRYN test that was between 0% and 30% above the cutoff OD value were tested for serum P4 concentration. According to serum P4 concentration, cows were assigned to three categories: high (>4 ng/ml), medium (2–4 ng/ml) and low (<2 ng/ml) serum progesterone. The authors predicted a presumed (low) or possible (medium) late embryonic loss (LEL) or maintenance of the pregnancy (high). A total of 710 LELs were detected (17.4%) and 31.8% of them were predicted because of a low OD value at 30–36 days after insemination. Lower PSPB serum level significantly refers for LEL (p < 0.0001). The prediction rate for the true embryonic loss was 31.8% when OD cutoff from 0% to + 30% of cutoff was examined while it was 62.5% when the threshold was OD cutoff of 0% to 10% of cutoff. The authors conclude that BioPRYN was useful for prediction of a part of LEL in dairy cows and serum P4 concentration in these cows related to the rate of LEL.
Biological and environmental characterization of marine macroalgal assemblages in Potter Cove, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Abstract We describe the macroalgal assemblages in Potter Cove and their distribution by depth, substratum, irradiation, nutrients, salinity, water temperature and light period. We determined groups by using K-means, the Hellinger index and the maximum Calinski-Harabasz pseudo-F-statistic as stopping rule. Indicator species were assessed with the IndVal index. Relationships between groups and environmental factors were determined by correspondence analysis, and results were validated by a canonical correspondence analysis of species and environment. To compare the group biodiversities we used species richness and diversity indices and abundance biomass comparisons curves. Analysis with incidence data discriminated one shallow Iridaea assemblage and one deep Himantothallus assemblage. Analysis using biomass discriminated three facies, the first in the upper zone (Iridaea cordata, Monostroma hariotii, Adenocystis utricularis, Enteromorpha bulbosa), the second (Desmarestia menziesii, D. antarctica, Ascoseira mirabilis, Curdiea racovitzae, Gigartina skottsbergii, Kallymenia antarctica, Neuroglossum delesseriae, Phaeurus antarcticus, Gymnogongrus turquetii) at intermediate depth and the third (H. grandifolius, D. anceps, Georgiella confluens, Ballia callitricha, Plocamium cartilagineum), coincident with the deep qualitative assemblage, was found in a less disturbed environment. The difference in species composition between the groups was mainly related to depth as an environmental variable. The high specific diversity at intermediate depths can be explained by the presence of patches in different successional stages caused by iceberg scouring.
Cutaneous Metastasis from an Asymptomatic Breast Cancer Masquerading as an Infected Sebaceous Cyst

Skin is not a preferred target organ for cancer metastasis, nevertheless involvement of skin by metastatic deposits is a poor prognostic sign. It usually results from lymphatic embolization, hematogenous or contiguous spread and also by iatrogenic implantation of malignant cells following surgical procedures. Breast carcinoma is the second most common cancer in women and the most common tumor leading to the appearance of skin metastasis. Cutaneous metastasis from breast carcinoma has variety of clinicopathological features which usually create a dilemma for primary care clinicians as well as dermatologists. Therefore, a high index of suspicion along with detailed history, proper clinical examination and cytological or histopathological confirmation is required to make its definite diagnosis and to improve the outcome of such patients. We describe a case of a 50-year-old Indian woman, who presented with a solitary nodular lesion on the anterior chest wall which was initially clinically diagnosed as an infected sebaceous cyst but later on turned out to be a case of cutaneous metastasis from an asymptomatic and neglected left breast carcinoma.
Investment Decision Making of Institutional Investor: What is Behind It?

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between financial behavior and investment decisions of institutional investors in Batam City. The importance of financial behavior and uncertainty of capital market information enables investors to use the obtained information for more significant result investment, but there are different situations to achieve the result. The study collected feedback from 80 investors from Insurance, Banking, Finance, and Securities companies using targeted sampling techniques. Data analysis used partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) by testing the inner and outer model. The result showed that financial tools and firm-level corporate governance have a significant positive effect on investment decisions. It allows financial instruments to make investment decisions through fundamental analysis, and firms with corporate governance levels can provide value to shareholders. Capital markets always reflect information and may have a positive or negative impact. The result also found that heuristic and risk a version do not affect investment decisions. It concluded that respondents tended to take rational actions when evaluating information and were not risk-averse investors.
Milnesium lagniappe, a New Species of Water Bear (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada, Apochela, Milnesiidae) from the Southern United States

ABSTRACT. Over 200 species of freshwater and terrestrial water bears (phylum Tardigrada) are known to occur in North America. Of these, 20 species have been recorded in Louisiana. Foliose and fruticose lichen and moss samples collected in 2011 in the city of Lake Charles and in Sam Houston Jones State Park, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, USA, were stored in paper envelopes and later soaked in tap water overnight. Tardigrade specimens and eggs were extracted and mounted in polyvinyl lactophenol. The samples contained a new species of tardigrade. Milnesium lagniappe sp. n. has claw formula [2–3]-[3–2] and 9 sculptured bands in the dorsal and lateral cuticle. The new species most closely resembles Milnesium reticulatum, a species known only from the Seychelles Islands, in its cuticular pattern. However, M. lagniappe sp. n. is almost twice as large as M. reticulatum, lacks gibbosities, has proportionally wider buccal tube and longer claws, and has a more posterior point of stylet insertion. Reexamination of tardigrades from central Florida, USA, previously reported as M. tardigradum shows that they are in fact M. lagniappe sp. n.
Comparative analysis of clinical, radiological and operative findings in acute abdomen

Background: The term acute abdomen refers to signs and symptoms of abdominal pain and tenderness that often requires emergency surgical therapy. The objective of the present study is to compare pre-operative diagnosis based on clinical examination with the operative diagnosis in acute abdomen.Methods: Total 60 cases of acute abdomen who underwent laparotomy in a tertiary care hospital were analysed prospectively regarding clinical features and also assessed the diagnostic utility of radiological investigations like plain abdominal radiographs, ultrasonography and computed tomography.Results: Acute abdomen was most common in males and 2nd to 5th decade of life. Appendicitis was most common cause of acute abdomen followed by hollow viscus perforation and intestinal obstruction. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom. Tenderness was the most common sign. Diagnostic utility of x-ray is more in hollow viscus perforation and intestinal obstruction, whereas ultrasonography is diagnostic in 64.3%. Ultrasonography accurately diagnosed acute appendicitis in 74.2%, hollow viscus perforation in 50%, and intestinal obstruction in 60% of patients. 95% clinical accuracy was found when compared to intra operative diagnosis. Kappa is 0.912 (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Clinical judgement is key to diagnosis of acute abdomen and investigations are only supplementary and cannot replace the clinical decision.
Influence of trapidil and trapidil derivatives on the content of cyclic nucleotides in human intima cells cultured from atherosclerotic plaques

Trapidil and some other 5,7‐disubstituted s‐triazolo(1,5‐a) pyrimidine derivatives (TD's: AR 12455, AR 12456, AR 12463, AR 12465), which have been shown to possess inhibitory effects on proliferative activity in cultured cells, influenced the cyclic nucleotide level in human intima cells cultured from atherosclerotic plaques. The intracellular cAMP content was increased by all tested substances in concentrations of 10−4M and 10−5M, respectively. The effects of these substances were similar to those of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor methylisobutylxanthine. A significant decrease of intracellular cGMP level was provoked by trapidil and the TD's AR 12456 and AR 12463. It is discussed that trapidil and TD's have antiatherosclerotic properties mediated by changes of the intracellular cyclic nucleotide content.
Burrow morphologies of the ghost crabs Ocypode ceratophthalma and O. sinensis in foreshore, backshore, and dune subenvironments of a sandy beach in Japan

Burrow morphologies of the ghost crabs Ocypode ceratophthalma and O. sinensis were observed in foreshore, backshore, and dune subenvironments on the Irino Coast, southwestern Japan, with the aim of clarifying their paleoenvironmental significance. The observed diameter of the main shaft, burrow depth, and total burrow length varied from 14 to 40 mm, 12 to 89 cm, and 8 to 143 cm, respectively. Although the burrow diameters are largely similar among the three subenvironments, the burrows increased in length and complexity from the foreshore to dune subenvironments. These findings indicate that burrow morphology can be used as an indicator of ancient sandy beach subenvironments.
How well can public service motivation connect with occupational intention?

Researchers have hypothesized that a person’s public service motivation (PSM) has a positive connection with occupational intention: the greater an individual’s PSM, the more likely he or she is to seek membership in a public organization. However, few empirical studies have tested this proposition. Based on a survey of 584 students from two prestigious universities in eastern China, this study explores how well PSM relates to students’ occupational intention. This study found that not all dimensions of PSM were consistently connected with occupational intention. The self-sacrifice dimension of PSM has a positive relationship with occupational intention, but the commitment to the public interests dimension does not. Moreover, the study found that female students who majored in social sciences and had relatives or parents in the public sector were more likely to choose employment in the public sector. The implications of this study and areas of future research are discussed. Points for practitioners Results of the study demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between PSM and occupational intention, but not all dimensions of PSM were consistently connected with occupational intention. The results identified several key implications: (1) For professionals in charge of recruiting and selecting public servants, PSM of a job seeker is a key criteria. (2) For job seekers, when they decide to enter public sector, the levels of their PSM should be considered. (3) Additionally, the background information on job seekers does matter to some extent when recruiting and selecting in public sector.
Traditional Tongan treatments for infections: Bioassays and ethnobotanical leads for activity

An ethnobotanical survey of Tongan pharmacopoeia, conducted through semi-structured interviews with healers, informed the selection of twenty-six plants for antimicrobial bioassays. The parts of the plants recommended by the healers were collected and extractions were made with methanol and hexane in various concentrations, and screened against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans using microbial inhibition assay. Further, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Syzygium corynocarpum (A.Gray) Mull. Stuttg. were determined against S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) using extractions from both the healer-recommended plant part—young leaves—and two other plant parts—mature leaves and bark—to test the hypothesis of greater antimicrobial activity in the traditionally used part. Cytotoxicity of the extractions was determined by trypan blue assay on human lymphocytes. The microbial inhibition assays yielded six species that inhibited the growth of S. aureus, E. coli and/or C. albicans at rates of 40% or above compared to the controls. The only species that inhibited all three microbes at above 40% was S. corynocarpum. Subsequent testing on S. corynocarpum revealed that both the methanol and hexane extractions of young leaves inhibited S. aureus (MIC 125 and 500 μg/ml respectively) and MRSA (MIC 250 and 500 μg/ml respectively), while only the methanol extract of the bark showed inhibition against both microbes (MIC = 250 μg/ml), and the extractions from the mature leaves showed no activity at the concentrations tested. An additional assay with extractions of S. corynocarpum on human lymphocytes suggests no cytotoxicity compared to control cells. These results support the traditional use of several of the tested plants. In particular S. corynocarpum, which has not previously been studied for antimicrobial activity, showed greater activity by the traditionally used part, emphasizing the importance of documenting specific plant parts used during ethnobotanical interviews. Key words: Ethnobotany, antimicrobial, Tonga, Syzygium corynocarpum, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).
Seasonal changes in distribution of Hector's dolphin at Banks Peninsula, New Zealand: implications for protected area design

1. The efficacy of protected areas for wildlife management is largely dependent on appropriate design. It is therefore crucial that the distribution of target species is well understood. 2. The Banks Peninsula Marine Mammal Sanctuary (BPMMS) was designed to protect Hector's dolphins from bycatch in gillnets. However, the Banks Peninsula dolphin population is likely to be still declining, partly due to continued bycatch outside the boundaries of the BPMMS. 3. A three year series of aerial line-transect surveys around Banks Peninsula was carried out to investigate seasonal changes in distribution of Hector's dolphins out to 20 nautical miles (37 km) from the coast. 4. Dolphin sightings were concentrated close to shore in shallow water in summer, but were more evenly distributed throughout the study area in winter. A greater proportion of dolphins were sighted outside the 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) offshore boundary of the BPMMS in winter (mean=56%) than in summer (mean=19%) (G=88.25, df=1, P<0.001). 5. Partial Mantel tests revealed the effects of distance offshore and depth on dolphin occurrence while controlling for spatial autocorrelation and multicollinearity within the data. Distance offshore had the strongest and most consistent effect on dolphin presence, while depth had a strong effect in summer only. 6. It is proposed that restrictions on gillnetting around Banks Peninsula must be extended in order to reduce bycatch of Hector's dolphins to a sustainable level, and that a new offshore boundary of the BPMMS would be best defined by distance from the coast. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Associations between frequencies of a susceptible TNF‐α promoter allele and protective α‐thalassaemias and malaria parasite incidence in Vanuatu

Tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) is one of the key cytokines that influence the pathology of microbial infections. The genetic susceptibility to severe forms of falciparum malaria is differentially associated with TNF‐α promoter gene polymorphisms (TNFP alleles). In a previous study, we identified a TNFP‐allele characterized by a C to T transition at position −857 (TNFP‐D allele) as a marker for susceptibility to cerebral malaria in Myanmar. The frequencies of TNFP alleles on six islands of Vanuatu, Melanesia (South‐west Pacific) were estimated to investigate whether malaria selection pressure on this susceptibility marker has influenced its prevalence. Within the archipelago of Vanuatu there is a decreasing cline of parasite incidence from North to South. Of the four alleles of the TNFP gene detected in Vanuatu, the TNFP‐D allele frequencies were inversely correlated with the parasite incidence of islands; TNFP‐D varied from 0.55 on the island with the lowest parasite incidence to 0.26 on the island with the highest parasite incidence (r = −0.855, P = 0.03). We also observed a significant correlation between the frequencies of α‐thalassaemia alleles, thought to protect against malaria and parasite incidence in the same populations. These data are consistent with a previously reported correspondence between the frequencies of glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and parasite incidences on the islands of Vanuatu ( Kaneko et al. 1998 ) and indicate that the degree of malaria endemicity has influenced the allele frequencies of at least three loci that confer both susceptibility (TNFP‐D) and protection (α‐thalassaemias and G6PD deficiency).
The effect of short fire cycles on the cover and density of understorey sprouting species in South African mountain fynbos

Abstract. Two South African mountain fynbos sites were studied to determine the effect of short fire cycles on the cover and density of understorey sprouting species and their subsequent effect on plant‐species richness. Frequent fires (4–6 years between burns) increased the cover of sprouting species by 32% when compared to an adjacent site where the penultimate fire was 28 years previously. There was little or no effect of fire frequency on the densities of understorey sprouters; however, individuals were larger at sites with short fire cycles. The response of individual species of sprouters was variable with one species, Hypodiscus striatus, showing no response to fire frequency. The impact of sprouting species on the species richness of the plant community was great. The mean number of species recorded in quadrats with a high cover of sprouters was 60% lower in comparison to quadrats with low covers or under the burned skeletons of overstorey proteas. The effect of sprouters was consistent for all functional groups of species (i.e. sprouters, non‐sprouters, short‐lived and long‐lived species), in each case reducing the number of species present.