Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Some reflex effects of nerve crossing and nerve regeneration

A wide variety of nerve crossing experiments have been performed since the first experiment was made by Fluorens in 1827 on the wing nerves of a rooster. Somatic nerves have been anastomosed with other somatic nerves, somatic nerves with visceral, visceral with somatic, and visceral with visceral. For an analysis of results, so-called “functional” tests have usually been applied, i.e., stimulation of the bared nerve trunks with electrodes above and below the neuromas. Reflexes are reported to have returned in many instances and often they are distinctly abnormal in character, as, for example, the excessive salivation during eating that was observed by Calugareanu and Henri (’01) when the central hypoglossal nerve was cross-sutured with the peripheral chorda tympani. When apparently normal reflexes were present the studies are open to question for lack of sufficient control. Osborne and Kilvington (’10) crossed the peroneal and popliteal nerves of a dog and reported that after a year the “reflex movements of the left (operated) limb were exactly the same as those of the unoperated”. Flexion, crossed extension, the extensor thrust reflex, the scratch reflex, etc., were claimed to be normal, even in the spinal condition. The chief criticism of their work is that the limb was inadequately
Oxygen extraction and jet propulsion in cephalopods

The ventilatory system of cephalopods has evolved so that the animals minimise the energetic cost of either oxygen extraction or jet propulsion. Optimal design for jet propulsion requires a large stroke volume moving water through the system with minimal acceleration, so the oxygen-carrying capacity of the ventilatory stream is always greatly in excess of requirements. Oxygen uptake in a jet-propelled animal must be independent of the volume of the jet to avoid locking locomotion to oxygen uptake. Any such link is incompatible with the repayment of an oxygen debt after exercise, with added oxygen demand during digestion, and with regulation of uptake under hypoxic conditions. Cephalopods evolved for efficient jet propulsion must be able to alter the rate of oxygen extraction from the ventilatory stream. Squids and Nautilus do this; oxygen extraction is normally low, in the range 5–10% during jet-propelled cruising at subcritical speeds, but can rise to as much as 25% in acute hypoxia or at rest after exha.
TREATMENT OF STAPHYLOCOCCIC INFECTIONS OF THE SKIN BY THE BACTERIOPHAGE

The Twort-d'Herelle phenomenon in which a lytic principle was demonstrated in connection with bacteria, was described by Twort1in 1915. Bacteriophage, the phenomenon of dissolution of bacteria by a filtrable principle, which is elaborated at the expense of lysed bacteria, was described by F. d'Herelle in 1917. Since then more than a thousand publications have appeared relative to the bacteriophage and its behavior. D'Herelle,2in his exhaustive book, referred to 647 original articles bearing on the phenomenon of the bacteriophage. Last year Alderson3presented before this society the first article to appear in dermatologic literature on the subject. The effectiveness of bacteriophage against organisms of the dysentery group and less so of the typhoid and colon group, and the recovery of a virulent bacteriophage for such organisms have led to the study of its behavior in diseases of the intestinal and urinary tracts to a greater extent
Scenarios of labour force participation and employment integration of immigrants in the EU: demographic perspective

This report presents the microsimulation model developed for multidimensional population projections. It contains a concise description of the model's specifications coupled with a detailed description of its labour force and employment module. The report also presents scenarios of economic integration of immigrants from the third countries and a summary of their assumptions. Demographic modelling is based on analysis of the existing gaps in labour force participation and employment using Labour Force Survey data. We look at two dimensions of economic integration of immigrants - labour force participation and employment. At fixed demographic trends and labour force and employment of EU-born, we can evaluate the impact of improved, continued or worsened economic integration of immigrants in the EU and in individual member states. Our results illustrate that integration policies should not focus only on addressing barriers to employment for the job seekers of migrant background. Activation policies are highly relevant in the contexts where labour force participation of immigrants is lower than among the native-born.
Larval food sources of Centris (Heterocentris) analis (Fabricius, 1804) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), an oil-collecting bee

Pollen analysis of larval food allows identification of plants used as nest provision sources. Considering the importance of Centris analis in pollination, we aimed to identify its plant sources, food niche width in Cerrado, and analyze the use of sources between cool/dry and warm/wet seasons. We sampled 22 nests collected in two areas from February 2008 to October 2009. Heteropterys spp. (Malpighiaceae) were the main pollen sources, but Byrsomia spp. (Malpighiaceae), Banisteriopsis malifolia (Malpighiaceae), Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae) and Machaerium spp. (Leguminosae) were also important food sources. There was no difference in the use of the sources between the seasons (F1,100 = 0.001; p = 0.979). Despite the high number of pollen types (n = 14) the food niche widths were low, H = 0.777 and H = 0.949, which can be explained by the dominance of some food items. Hence, C. analis use, profusely, a few plants as food sources that could be considered conservation targets.
Foraging ecology and organisation of a desert bat fauna

Airframe design parameters related to flight performance, stability and control had tight, functionally appropriate relationships with the foraging niches and echolocation parameters of nine species comprising the bat fauna of the Little Sandy Desert, Australia. The airframe parameters segregated into two near-independent groups, one related to microhabitat use, the other to foraging strategy. The structure of the desert's bat fauna is displayed in these terms, and its organisation is compared with the faunas of surrounding regions. A diversity–productivity model of faunal structure is revealed, with an organisation that conforms with the 'specialisation' hypothesis. Clear family-level relationships between phylogeny and foraging ecology imply that ecological specialisations occurred early in the evolution of bats.
Short-Term Cardiovascular Effects of E-Cigarettes in Adults Making a Stop-Smoking Attempt: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Simple Summary E-cigarettes are popular for smoking cessation but knowledge of their effect on cardiovascular health is limited. We compared the short-term cardiovascular effects in 248 smokers who quit smoking using e-cigarettes with or without nicotine or prescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). All participants received behavioural support. We assessed the cardiovascular effects of these stop smoking methods 3 days following quit date. Our work suggests that e-cigarettes offer similar vascular health benefits to that of NRT. This happens at a very early stage in the stop smoking process (3 days). Abstract Smoking increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk by leading to endothelial injury. E-cigarettes remain a popular way to stop smoking. Evidence on their effect on cardiovascular health is growing but remains limited, particularly in the short-term. The main objective of this study was to compare short-term cardiovascular effects in smokers who quit smoking using e-cigarettes with or without nicotine or prescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). This was a single-centre (Sheffield, UK) pragmatic three-arm randomised controlled trial which recruited adult smokers (≥10 cigarettes per day), who were willing to attempt to stop smoking with support (n = 248). Participants were randomised to receive either: (a) behavioral support and e-cigarettes with 18 mg/mL nicotine (n = 84); (b) behavioral support and e-cigarettes without nicotine (n = 82); (c) behavioral support and NRT (n = 82). Flow Mediated Dilation (%FMD), peak cutaneous vascular conductance responses to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded at baseline and three days after stopping smoking. General Linear Models were used to compare changes between groups and changes from follow-up. Adjusting for baseline, at follow-up, all outcomes (for the 208 participants that completed the 3-day assessments) with the exception of SNP had improved significantly over baseline and there were no differences between groups (%FMD F = 1.03, p = 0.360, df = 2,207; ACh F = 0.172, p = 0.84, df = 2,207; SNP F = 0.382, p = 0.68, df = 2,207; MAP F = 0.176, p = 0.84, df = 2,207). For smokers ≥20 cigarettes per day, benefits were also pronounced. Smoking cessation showed positive cardiovascular impact even after a 3-day period and the effects did not differ between nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, nicotine-free e-cigarettes and NRT.
A finely tuned symphony of factors modulates the microbial food web of a freshwater reservoir in spring

We employed high frequency sampling to determine the major factors modulating microbial food‐web composition and dynamics through the spring phytoplankton bloom and clear‐water phases in a freshwater reservoir. We examined effects of a changing trophic structure of the planktonic community cascading from the level of zooplankton, through phytoplankton composition and exudation rates to the level of growth responses and losses to grazers of phylogenetically narrow bacterial lineages. Specific probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed important short‐lived peaks of genus‐like (Fluviiciola sp. and Limnohabitans spp.) or even taxonomically narrower populations of Betaproteobacteria and Flavobacteria (such as FlavB and Flav2 lineages). Protozoan grazing on bacterioplankton was studied by using fluorescently labeled bacteria and by direct analyses of FISH‐probe—targeted bacterial phylotypes in flagellate food vacuoles. Evaluations of selective bacterivory, growth responses, and cell biovolumes of various bacterial groups during the spring bloom indicated that certain bacterial groups such as Limnohabitans can contribute to carbon flow to the grazer food chain up to 10‐fold more than similarly abundant small cells from the Ac1 lineage of Actinobacteria. During the clear‐water phase, filter‐feeding cladocera had dominant effects on bacterioplankton abundance and community dynamics, likely through direct grazing on larger bacteria along with altering major substrate pools (via e.g., the herbivores' sloppy feeding on algae). Fine‐temporal resolution data revealed several environmental scenarios, in which the interplay of distinct top‐down and bottom‐up factors resulted in a competitive advantage of particular bacterial lineages.
Effects of exotic plants on native ungulate use of habitat

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), Japanese brome (B. japonicus), and downy brome (B. tectorum) are exotic plant species that dominate and displace native forage species throughout much of central North America. However, information on how exotic plant infestations affect native ungulate use of habitat is limited. We used pellet-group densities to estimate use of habitat by bison (Bos bison), elk (Cervus elaphus), and deer (Odocoileus spp.) during 1992-93 growing seasons within 4 exotic plant-infested and 4 comparable noninfested grassland habitats in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota. We used twig count and twig measurement methods to estimate use of browse during summer (1992) and winter (1992-93), respectively, for both leafy spurge-infested and noninfested woodland habitats. Bison use of 2 leafy spurge-infested grassland habitats averaged 83% less than that for noninfested sites (P 0.05). Use of browse in green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)- chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) habitat during summer and winter was reduced an average of 32% by infestations of leafy spurge (P < 0.05). The reduction in native ungulate use of leafy spurge-infested sites may be attributed to lower forage production in infested sites as well as simple avoidance.
Asian Betylobraconinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), with description of a new genus and phylogenetic affinities of the tribe Facitorini

The taxonomy of the Asian genera of the subfamily Betylobraconinae, a small and understudied group within the hymenopteran family Braconidae, is revised. A new genus exclusively from the Asian region, Asiabregma gen. nov., containing three species ( A. ryukyuensis sp. nov. (type species, Japan and Malaya), A . makiharai sp. nov. (Japan) and A. sulaensis (van Achterberg), comb. nov. (Indonesia)) is described. One new species of Aulosaphobracon , A. striatus sp. nov. from Vietnam, and one of Facitorus , F. amamioshimus sp. nov. from Japan, are also described. Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses using COI mtDNA and 28S rRNA sequences, the three genera previously placed in the tribe Facitorini, Facitorus , Conobregma and Jannya , together with Asiabregma gen. nov., are transferred to the rogadine tribe Yeliconini.
ORGANIC ACID METABOLISM OF YEASTS DURING FERMENTATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES—A REVIEW

The acids of alcoholic beverages are largely those present in the raw materials but the concentrations of some may be changed by yeast action during fermentation. In addition a number of other acids are formed by the yeasts often as by-products of main metabolic pathways. The inter-relationships of organic acid and amino-acid metabolism, yeast growth and formation of fusel alcohols are discussed.
ANALYSIS OF THE TIME-FREQUENCY CONNECTEDNESS BETWEEN GOLD PRICES, OIL PRICES AND HUNGARIAN FINANCIAL MARKETS

We study the time-frequency connectedness between the global commodities markets (crude oil and gold) and Hungary’s equity markets (stock and exchange rate) by using the multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity dynamic conditional correlation DCC-GARCH model alongside with the wavelet coherence analysis. Results of this paper highlight the long-term time-varying intercorrelations between the global commodities markets and Hungarian financial markets. Additionally, the estimations of wavelet coherence indicate that the commodities markets have a significant impact on the Hungarian financial markets in the short term, but stock and exchange markets influence crude oil and gold markets in the long run. Our empirical results shed light on the commodity-finance sectors connectedness, which is able to help investors minimize risks to build discretionary portfolios.
UPAYA PENINGKATKAN HASIL BELAJAR MAHASISWA PGSD UNDARIS MELALUI PENERAPAN PEMBELAJARAN PROBLEM BASED LEARNING PADA MATA KULIAH KONSEP DASAR IPS

Penelitian Ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar konsep dasar IPS PGSD UNDARIS dengan menerapkan pembelajaran Problem Base Learning . Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tindakan kelas dengan model spiral Kemmis dan Mc Taggart dengan alur perencanaan, tindakan, observasi dan refleksi dilaksanakan dengan siklus I dan siklus II . Teknik pengumpulan data dalam penelitian melalui, observasi, dan tes. Hasil belajar kognitif mahasiswa dengan penerapan kegiatan pembelajaran Problem Based Learning pada siklus I mencapai nilai tuntas secara klasikal dengan presentase 75%, dengan jumlah nilai tuntas sebanyak 9 mahasiswa, nilai tidak tuntas sebanyak 3 mahasiswa dengan nilai rata- rata 78,4. Pada siklus II nilai tuntas mahasiswa secara klasikal dengan presentase 92% dengan nilai tuntas sebanyak 11 mahasiswa, tidak tuntas sebanyak 1 mahasiswa, dengan nilai rata- rata 78,4% dengan KKM (Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimum) Klasikal yang sudah di tetapkan sebesar 75%. Dari siklus I ke siklus II terjadi peningkatan sebesar 17%. Penerapan pembelajaran Problem Based Learning pada siklus I mencapai nilai 23 atau 82%, sedangkan pada siklus II mencapai nilai 26 atau 93% dengan peningkatan sebesar 11%. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan bahwa pembelajaran dengan penerapkan pembelajaran Problem Base Learning dapat digunakan untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar mahasiswa pada mata kuliah Konsep Dasar IPS.
Pre- and peroperative diagnosis of Cutibacterium acnes infections in shoulder surgery: A systematic review

Background Cutibacterium acnes is the most commonly detected pathogen during shoulder surgery. Lack of typical infection signs make Cutibacterium acnes infections difficult to diagnose. This systematic review aims to determine which pre- and peroperative diagnostic tools are most reliable to identify Cutibacterium acnes infections after shoulder surgery. Methods PubMed/Embase were searched for diagnostic studies. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using QUADAS-2. Forest plots summarized results (sensitivity and specificity) for each pre- and peroperative diagnostic tool. Results Twenty-two studies were included, of which 8 described preoperative, 10 peroperative, and 4 both pre- and peroperative diagnostic tools. Quality of the studies varied widely. For preoperative tools, synovial calprotectin, interleukin-6, and combined interleukin-6/interleukin-2/tumor necrosis factor-α had the best efficacy measures. Pre-revision biopsies and arthroscopic tissue cultures were the best peroperative tools. Conclusion Despite a lack of evidence and the use of different Cutibacterium acnes infection criteria and reference standards, the use of combined interleukin-6/interleukin-2/tumor necrosis factor-α as preoperative and arthroscopic tissue cultures as peroperative diagnostic tool is for now recommended based on results and validity. More research should be performed to provide valid evidence on these tools. In order to do so, an internationally accepted definition of Cutibacterium acnes infections is essential. Level of evidence Systematic review.
Fatty acid profiles in the gonads of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis on natural algal diets

We examined fatty acid (FA) compositions of gonads of the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis collected from a grazing aggregation (front) at the edge of a kelp bed and from barrens dominated by coralline algae, and those of urchins fed single algal diets in the laboratory. We compared these gonad FAs with those of the algal diets, which represented known urchin food sources in rocky subtidal habitats. Gonads of urchins collected from both wild habitats, and of urchins fed kelp Saccharina longicruris in the laboratory, contained more lipid than did urchins fed single diets of barrens macroalgae (Agarum clathratum, coralline red algae or Desmarestia viridis). Substantial biosynthesis of non-methylene interrupted dienes and other FAs by urchins markedly affected their overall FA signatures. Although the FA compositions of gonads of laboratory-fed urchins did not clearly correspond with those of their diets, 3 clusters of urchins were distinguished in multivariate space using multidimensional scaling (MDS): (1) urchins fed single diets of barrens macroalgae in the laboratory; (2) urchins fed S. longicruris in the laboratory or collected from the grazing front; and (3) urchins from the barrens. Characteristics of FA signatures found in urchins from the barrens suggested the occurrence of benthic diatoms in their diet. Our results indicate that, while the FA signatures of urchin gonads are affected by diet and can be used to differentiate feeding groups of urchins in the laboratory and field, significant de novo biosynthesis and/or modification of FAs precludes correspondence of urchin FAs to those of their algal diets.
Projected climate change impacts on mean and year-to-year variability of yield of key smallholder crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impacts of climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa on yields of maize and cereals (sorghum and millet) which are of particular importance to smallholding farmers. An ensemble of six climate scenarios are input to a crop model to compute changes in food availability (mean annual yield) and food stability (standard deviation and coefficient of variation) between the periods 1971–2000 and 2041-2070. Our results show a particular risk to food security in Central Africa where mean maize yield decreases over 89% of harvested maize areas, and its variability increases over 54% of these areas. A decline in mean maize yield is computed over 85% of harvested maize areas in West Africa, 29% in Southern Africa and 32% in East Africa. Within the limits of the analysis, we find that mean yields of tropical cereals will be more robust to climate change than maize, although yields still decrease over 23% of tropical cereal harvested areas. We find declining food stability over 37% of harvested maize areas and 46% of harvested tropical cereal areas. Our findings also indicate that a range of options including regional markets, strategic food reserves, and new cultivars could help farmers adapt to these changes.
Active Site Architecture of Polymorphic Forms of Human GlutathioneS-Transferase P1-1 Accounts for Their Enantioselectivity and Disparate Activity in the Glutathione Conjugation of 7β,8α-Dihydroxy-9α, 10α-oxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene

Abstract In this study, we demonstrate that the active site architecture of the human glutathione (GSH) S -transferase Pi (GSTP1-1) accounts for its enantioselectivity in the GSH conjugation of 7β,8α-dihydroxy-9α,10α-oxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo( a ) pyrene ( anti -BPDE), the ultimate carcinogen of benzo(a)pyrene. Furthermore, we report that the two polymorphic forms of human GSTP1-1, differing in their primary structure by a single amino acid in position 104, have disparate activity toward (+)- anti -BPDE, which can also be rationalized in terms of their active site structures. When concentration of (+)- anti -BPDE, which among four BPDE isomers is the most potent carcinogen, was varied and GSH concentration was kept constant at 2 mM (saturating concentration), both forms of hGSTP1-1 [hGSTP1-1(V104) and hGSTP1-1(I104)] obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The V max of GSH conjugation of (+)- anti -BPDE was approximately 3.4-fold higher for hGSTP1-1(V104) than for hGSTP1-1(I104). Adherence to Michaelis-Menten kinetics was also observed for both isoforms when (−)- anti -BPDE, which is a weak carcinogen, was used as the variable substrate. However, (−)- anti -BPDE was a relatively poor substrate for both isoforms as compared with (+)- anti -BPDE. Moreover, there were no significant differences between hGSTP1-1(V104) and hGSTP1-1(I104) in either V max or K m for (−)- anti -BPDE. The mechanism of differences in kinetic properties and enantioselectivity of hGSTP1-1 variants toward anti -BPDE was investigated by modeling of the two proteins with conjugation product molecules in their active sites. Molecular modeling studies revealed that the differences in catalytic properties of hGSTP1-1 variants as well as the enantioselectivity of hGSTP1-1 in the GSH conjugation of anti -BPDE can be rationalized in terms of the architecture of their active sites. Our results suggest that the population polymorphism of hGSTP1-1 variants with disparate enzyme activities may, at least in part, account for the differential susceptibility of individuals to carcinogens such as anti -BPDE and possibly other similar carcinogens.