Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ensemble forecasting of potential habitat for three invasive fishes

Aquatic invasive species pose major ecological and economic threats to aquatic ecosystems worldwide via displacement, predation, or hybridization with native species and the alteration of aquatic habitats and hydrologic cycles. Modeling the habitat suitability of alien aquatic species through spatially explicit mapping is an increasingly important risk assessment tool. Habitat modeling also facilitates identification of key environmental variables influencing invasive species distributions. We compared four modeling methods to predict the potential continental United States distributions of northern snakehead Channa argus (Cantor, 1842), round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814), and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844) using maximum entropy (Maxent), the genetic algorithm for rule set production (GARP), DOMAIN, and support vector machines (SVM). We used inventory records from the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database and a geographic information system of 20 climatic and environmental variables to generate individual and ensemble distribution maps for each species. The ensemble maps from our study performed as well as or better than all of the individual models except Maxent. The ensemble and Maxent models produced significantly higher accuracy individual maps than GARP, one-class SVMs, or DOMAIN. The key environmental predictor variables in the individual models were consistent with the tolerances of each species. Results from this study provide insights into which locations and environmental conditions may promote the future spread of invasive fish in the US.
Genetic diversity in Slerotium (Athelia) rolfsii and related species

Pairings among 119 isolates of Sclerotium rolfsii, 11 of S. delphinii, and two of S. coffeicola on potato-dextrose agar to establish mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs) revealed 49, 3, and 2 MCGs, respectively, in a worldwide collection. Within an MCG, isolates were often from the same host and geographical area ; however, widely diverse isolates also were grouped within the same MCG. The host of origin of the isolate was not correlated with the MCG except in S. delphinii. Many MCGs were comprised of only one isolate. Variation in nuclear rDNA [internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions] was examined following restriction enzyme digests. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were obtained with AluI, HpaII, RsaI, and MboI and could distinguish amongst the three Sclerotium spp. and three Athelia spp. (an outgroup). Combined banding patterns for the four enzymes were used to characterize intraspecific variation in the three Sclerotium spp. There were 12 subspecific groupings in S. rolfsii, one in S. delphinii, and two in S. coffeicola; some of these groupings correlated with their MCG. However, isolates within an MCG could show different ITS-RFLP patterns and certain patterns were also dispersed among different MCGs. The total sum of digested fragment sizes exceeded the undigested polymerase chain reaction product in several S. rolfsii isolates. This length discrepancy was not due to artifacts or incomplete digestion and, therefore, must have resulted from variation among rDNA copies in the presence of restriction sites. Furthermore, segregation of two MboI restriction patterns in the ITS region among 29 single-basidiospore strains, derived from four parental field isolates of S. rolfsii with one pattern, suggested the presence of two distinct rDNA types in the field isolates. The rDNA types may reflect a heterokaryotic nuclear condition in field isolates of S. rolfsii. Restriction maps and phylogenetic analyses supported a close affinity of the three Sclerotium spp. , which may be more appropriately designated as subspecific varieties of S. rolfsii.
Iranian Study on Social Determinants of Self-management in Patients with Hypertension Referring to Tabriz Health Care Centers in 2017-2018

Aim: The present study aims to evaluate self-management status in Iranian patients with hypertension and its relationship with social determinants. Setting and Design: This study was carried out in 2017-2018 in health care centers affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Methods: A total of 240 patients with hypertension, who referred to health care centers of Tabriz, were invited to fill out the self-management (researcher made) and social determinants of health questionnaires. Statistical Analysis: Spearman correlation was used to determine the relationship between self-management score and its items with items of social determinants of health questionnaire. Also, Pearson correlation Student t-test was used. Results: In this research 197 patients were studied. Mean age of the participants was 56.6 ± 10.1 years. The mean ± SD (standard deviation) of self-management score was 81.51 ± 13.16. The correlation coefficient of self -management with financial ability of securing the education expenses, nutrition and fruits, and health care expenses were 0.228 (P = 0.001), 0.149 (P value <0.05), and 0.28 (P < 0.001) respectively. Also, the correlation coefficient of age with self-management was − 0.206 (P value = 0.004). Item level analysis showed strong significant associations between social determinants and three items related to lifestyle and two items related to monitoring of blood pressure (BP) at home. Conclusion: Overall self -management status of the patients was very good. Health centers that plan self -management support programs for patients should consider the social determinants of life style modification and monitoring of BP at home by hypertensive patients.
Analyzing Information Leakage of Updates to Natural Language Models

To continuously improve quality and reflect changes in data, machine learning applications have to regularly retrain and update their core models. We show that a differential analysis of language model snapshots before and after an update can reveal a surprising amount of detailed information about changes in the training data. We propose two new metrics---differential score and differential rank---for analyzing the leakage due to updates of natural language models. We perform leakage analysis using these metrics across models trained on several different datasets using different methods and configurations. We discuss the privacy implications of our findings, propose mitigation strategies and evaluate their effect.
Asset Variance Risk Premium and Capital Structure

Abstract This article investigates how the asset-return variance risk premium changes leverage. I find that the premium reduces leverage by increasing risk-neutral bankruptcy probability and costs in a model where asset returns have stochastic variance with the risk premium. Empirically, the model calibrations verify a significant reduction in optimal leverage, closer to observed leverage than the model without the premium. In model-free regressions, I document that leverage correlates negatively with the variance premium. The highest negative correlation is among investment-grade firms with low asset beta and historical variance but high variance premiums because their assets have high exposure to the market’s variance premium.
Effect of Salinity and Temperature on the Growth of Diatoms and Green Algae

Salinity and temperature are two of the major factors controlling the growth rate of microalgae. In this study, the effect of salinity and temperature on the growth of marine microalgae; an unidentified Chlorella sp. and Chaetoceros calcitrans were investigated to optimize the microalgal biomass production. These species were cultured at different salinities (20, 25 and 30‰) and temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C). C. calcitrans and Chlorella sp. had significantly higher (p<0.05) growth rate when cultured at salinities of 30 and 25‰, respectively. In terms of temperature, the highest (p<0.05) growth rate was observed in C. calcitrans and Chlorella sp. cultivated at temperatures of 30 and 25°C, respectively. This study indicated that C. calcitrans was suitable to marine condition, whereas Chlorella sp. showed optimum growth at lower salinity and temperature.
Differences in some morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses to drought stress in two contrasting populations of Populus przewalskii

The cuttings of Populus przewalskii Maximowicz were exposed to three different watering regimes (100, 50, and 25% of the field capacity) in a greenhouse to characterize the morphological, physiological, and biochemical basis of drought tolerance in woody plants. Two contrasting populations of P. przewalskii were used in our study, which were from the wet and dry climate regions in western China, respectively. The results showed that there were significant differences in responses to three different watering regimes in both populations tested; drought not only significantly affected dry mass accumulation and partitioning but also significantly decreased chlorophyll pigment contents and accumulated free proline and total amino acids. On the other hand, drought also significantly increased the levels of abscisic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide radical as secondary messengers to induce the entire set of antioxidative systems including the increase of reduced ascorbic acid (ASA) content and the activities of superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase (GR). Moreover, there were different responses to drought stress between the two contrasting populations of P. przewalskii. Compared to the wet climate population, the dry climate population showed lower dry matter accumulation and partitioned more biomass to root systems, and accumulated more free proline and total amino acids for osmotic adjustment. The dry climate population also showed more efficient antioxidant systems with higher content of ASA and higher activities of ascorbate peroxidase and GR than the wet climate population.
Distance between mates affects seedling characters in a population of Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae)

We tested for the presence of an optimal outcrossing distance in a population of Impatiens capensis, an annual herb that possesses a mixed mating system, by measuring fitness components for offspring of parents that were separated by distances of 2, 10, or 50 m. Heavier seed weights and later seed maturation enhanced probabilities of emergence and subsequent survival, but emergence and survival were unaffected by outcrossing distance. Path analysis showed that most characteristics of seeds and seedlings were positively correlated. Effects of maternal family were strong through the first month of growth. Analyses of covariance reveal that, as anticipated, the effects of maternal family, seed weight, and seed maturation date declined over time. Seeds that were produced late in the season were heavier than early seeds, and late seeds germinated at later dates than early seeds. Surprisingly, although late germination dates were associated with taller plants after 1 and 3 months of growth, late germination resulted in lighter dry weights at maturity. The distance between parents had a negative direct effect on seed weight but a positive effect on height after 1 month. Height at 1 month responded positively to outcrossing distance and negatively to the square of distance when seed weight, collection date, and maternal family were held constant. This implies an optimal outcrossing distance for height at 1 month, which we estimate as 29 m using a quadratic procedure. However, path analysis suggests that the apparent optimum is due to a negative correlation between the interparent distance and seed weight.
Physiological investigations of a neurotoxin‐producing phytoflagellate, Chattonella marina (Raphidophyceae)

The effects of temperature, salinity, light intensity and pH on the growth and morphology of Chattonella marina (Subrahmanyan) Hara & Chihara were examined. Optimal growth was observed at temperatures of 20-25°C, salinities of 20-30%o, light intensities of 60-140 μE m−2 s_1 and pH 7.5-8.5. Growth did not occur at temperatures below 15°C or above 30°C, and at salinities below 10%o. The morphology (shape) of the cells was strongly affected by temperature. At 20°C and 25°C, the population occurred mostly in a spindle-like form, whereas at 10°C, 90% of the cells became spherical within 10 days of inoculation and stationary phase cultures consisted entirely of spherical cells. Morphology was also markedly affected at 30°C. The number of spindle-like cells was highest at 20-30%o and was less at lower salinities. Light intensity and pH did not influence morphology markedly under the range of light intensities (20-180 μE m −2 s-−1) and pH (6.5-8.5) tested.
Long-term variability in North Sea zooplankton off the Northumberland coast: productivity of small copepods and analysis of trophic interactions

All groups of meso- and macro-zooplankton in the North Sea off Northumberland, at a depth of 53 m, were studied during a 15-year period (1969–83); copepod productivity was estimated from biomass and growth rates. Phytoplankton were seasonally bi-modal with peaks in April and August–October; copepods were uni-modal peaking in June–July. The predatory zooplankters: larval fish, decapods, ctenophores, medusae (the summer-autumn predators) peaked between May and September, while chaetognaths and euphausiids (the winter predators) peaked in December–January. Copepods and the summer-autumn predators were seasonally and inter-annually positively correlated, and declined in abundance from 1974 to 1980. Euphausiids and chaetognaths on the contrary increased in abundance during these years, and were seasonally and inter-annually negatively correlated to the copepods. The mean annual abundance of copepods was positively related to the previous winter's minimum, and inversely related to the abundance of chaetognaths and euphausiids. Annual copepod productivity averaged 1260 kJ m-2 year-1, and showed no relationship to other groups of plankton.
αvβ3 Integrin Mediates the Cell-adhesive Capacity and Biological Activity of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF-2) in Cultured Endothelial Cells

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) immobilized on non-tissue culture plastic promotes adhesion and spreading of bovine and human endothelial cells that are inhibited by anti-FGF-2 antibody. Heat-inactivated FGF-2 retains its cell-adhesive activity despite its incapacity to bind to tyrosine-kinase FGF receptors or to cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Recombinant glutathione-S-transferase-FGF-2 chimeras and synthetic FGF-2 fragments identify two cell-adhesive domains in FGF-2 corresponding to amino acid sequences 38-61 and 82-101. Both regions are distinct from the FGF-receptor-binding domain of FGF-2 and contain a DGR sequence that is the inverse of the RGD cell-recognition sequence. Calcium deprivation, RGD-containing eptapeptides, soluble vitronectin (VN), but not fibronectin (FN), inhibit cell adhesion to FGF-2. Conversely, soluble FGF-2 prevents cell adhesion to VN but not FN, thus implicating VN receptor in the cell-adhesive activity of FGF-2. Accordingly, monoclonal and polyclonal anti-alphavbeta3 antibodies prevent cell adhesion to FGF-2. Also, purified human alphavbeta3 binds to immobilized FGF-2 in a cation-dependent manner, and this interaction is competed by soluble VN but not by soluble FN. Finally, anti-alphavbeta3 monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specifically inhibit mitogenesis and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) up-regulation induced by free FGF-2 in endothelial cells adherent to tissue culture plastic. These data demonstrate that FGF-2 interacts with alphavbeta3 integrin and that this interaction mediates the capacity of the angiogenic growth factor to induce cell adhesion, mitogenesis, and uPA up-regulation in endothelial cells.
Evaluation of detoxifying activity of ORGCHP against acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague Dawley rats

Background: Accumulation of toxins in the body over a period of time interferes with the normal body functioning. The removal of toxins from the body is called ‘detoxification’. The liver is the main organ involved in detoxification and damage to the liver may impede the removal of toxins. The present study assessed the hepatoprotective activity of an organic Chlorella vulgaris in acetaminophen-induced liver damage model. Methods: A total of 35 animals were randomized to five groups with seven animals in each group. The test drug, organic Chlorella vulgaris (ORGCHP; 350 mg/kg and 700 mg/kg) was compared with a reference standard (200 mg/kg). The positive control group and the vehicle control group were administered 0.5% w/v carboxy methyl cellulose. All groups received dose volume of 10 ml/kg for 10 days. Acetaminophen was given on day 8 and day 9. Blood collections were done at baseline day 1, day 8 and day 10. Outcome measures were the change in body weight, oxidation biomarkers, histopathological evaluation, gross pathological evaluation and relative body weight. Results: Test drug ORGCHP Chlorella vulgaris showed dose dependent reduction in hepatoxicity with high reduction in aspartate transaminase (AST) and modest lowering of alanine transaminase (ALT) (350 mg/kg; p.o.); while at high dose (700 mg/kg; p.o.) there was significant reduction in alkaline phosphatase (p<0.05), ALT (p<0.001) and AST (p<0.001) levels. No pathological or histopathological abnormality was seen in control group. In drug group, one animal showed minimal necrosis, while mild and moderate necrosis was seen in three animals each respectively. Conclusions: The test drug exhibits detoxifying and hepatoprotective activity against acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity.
Responses of Juvenile Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) to Episodic Increases in Acidity of Nova Scotia Rivers

Toxicity of different pH levels to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr held in floating pens for 54 d was assessed in four acidic streams of Atlantic Canada during the autumnal episode of increasing acidity. All parr died in the two streams where pH levels decreased below pH 4.7. Mortality was related to the rate of pH change and to parr size. Plasma sodium and chloride concentrations decreased by about 50–70 mmol∙L−1 in parr of these two streams, and the rate of electrolyte loss was related to the rate and severity of pH change. In the other two streams, pH levels were never lower than pH 4.8 and no fish died. Plasma sodium and chloride concentrations in these parr decreased by 20–30 mmol∙L−1, but only after 30 d of exposure. Increased hematocrit, increased respiratory–cough response, and decreased feeding response, especially for parr in the most acidic streams, were also the result of stress apparently related to decreasing pH levels. Concentrations of labile aluminum were usually less than 10% of total.
Damage of Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) in different maize genotypes cultivated in soil under three levels of aluminium saturation

This study was conducted to assess the damage caused by artificial infestation by the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) larvae in Al-tolerant and Al-susceptible maize cultivars at different levels of Al saturation (low, medium and high) in an acid soil. The experiments were conducted in the field, in Sete Lagoas, MG, Brazil, during four consecutive years in plots corrected with lime, according to the soil analysis to provide three levels of aluminum saturation: toxic (m > 50%), intermediate (m < 20%), and without aluminum (m < 5%). Three maize cultivars were used, BR 201 tolerant (hybrid with yellow endosperm), BR 400 (yellow sweet maize) and BR 451 (High Quality Protein Maize, white endosperm) sensitive to toxic levels of Al saturation, respectively. The treated plots were artificially infested with young larvae. The non-infested plots were maintained free from natural infestation of the fall armyworm using granular insecticide applied directly to the whorl. Yield reductions due to fall a.
Flavescence dorée phytoplasma titre in field‐infected Barbera and Nebbiolo grapevines

Flavescence doree phytoplasma (FDP) titre in two red grapevine cultivars, Barbera and Nebbiolo, was measured over the vegetative seasons of two consecutive years in two vineyards of the Piemonte Region (northwestern Italy), with a double absolute quantification of FDP cells and grapevine DNA in real-time PCR. The relationships of pathogen concentration to cultivar susceptibility and symptom severity were investigated. FDP titre was always higher in cv. Barbera than in cv. Nebbiolo infected vines, and this difference was significant at early and late summer samplings of 2008 and at early summer sampling of 2009. A seasonal trend in FDP concentration (low in spring, high in early summer and intermediate in late summer) was conserved for cvs Barbera and Nebbiolo in both years and vineyards. Considering both cultivars and years from both vineyards, a significant positive correlation between FDP concentration and symptom severity was found in the spring samples. Regarding the FDP strains (-C or -D), no differences in pathogen titres were detected for either cultivar. Similarly, the presence of another grapevine yellows phytoplasma, bois noir, a subgroup 16SrXII-A phytoplasma, in mixed infection with FDP strains had no effect on FDP concentration. These results demonstrate for the first time that grapevine cultivars with different susceptibility to FDP support different pathogen titres.
Utilização do filme de quitosana na reparação de tendão em coelhos

This work aimed to evaluate the process of tendon healing in rabbits, using the treatment group in chitosan film through a clinical, surgical and histological analysis. In the experiment, 12 adult rabbits were used, divided into control group (CG) and treatment group (TG), which were held in the partial section of the gastrocnemius tendon of both limbs. Clinical assessment was based on the presence of inflammation, infection, pain and suture dehiscence. For histological evaluation a comparative study of the healing process through the cell type, amount of connective tissue and collagen fiber organization was performed between groups and times. In surgical wounds no secretion, pain or dehiscence were observed. In the comparative histology between groups, the CG showed better healing compared to TG, at 60 days. On day 90 the TG already outlines tendon recovery with reorganization of cellularity and collagen fibers in the dense connective tissue modeled. It was concluded that chitosan stimulates faster cell growth, but it is haphazardly, and that complete healing occurs after 90 days of their implantation in tissue.
Digestibility and nitrogen balance in rats given dried or toasted peas (Pisum sativum) of different years of harvest

Experiments with Wistar rats were performed to study the digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen (N) utilization of dried and toasted (130°C, 3-4 min) peas (Pisum sativum spp hortense) cultivar Solara, harvested in two different years. Diets were formulated containing 111-128 g kg -1 dietary fibre and ∼170 g kg -1 crude protein with peas as the sole source of polysaccharides and N, and unsupplemented or supplemented with antibiotics (Nebacitin) to reduce the gastrointestinal microflora. In one of the harvests, the digestibility of starch was almost complete and unaffected by addition of Nebacitin. In the other harvest of peas, starch digestibility was very high (98.6-99.3%) in the rats with normal microflora, and reduced to 96% by addition of the antibiotics. The digestibility of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) was 71.2-72.8% in one harvest and 73.6-76.4% in the other. The digestibilities decreased by addition of Nebacitin (25.7-38.5%). Toasting affected the digestibility of some NSP monomers, but with different tendencies in the two harvests. The N metabolism was affected by toasting in one harvest, while there was no effect in the other. The effect of toasting on BV of peas and the availability of lysine were studied in one of the pea harvests. No effect was observed.