Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Portable Microcomputer-Based Weighing System: Applications in Poultry Sciences

Abstract A portable microcomputer-based data collection and analysis system was configured utilizing commercial software and hardware. The system consists of a portable microcomputer, an optional minicomputer, an electronic digital balance, a line printer, a communications software package, or scientific data management software package. In the application described, chick and feed weights were electronically collected and subsequently analyzed with programs on the microcomputer or electronically transmitted via a modem to a minicomputer for analysis. The microcomputer could be interfaced with a variety of instruments via its RS-232C serial input/output port for data acquisition. The portability and adaptability of this data acquisition and analysis system makes it a very useful laboratory computer system. This system contributed to a 60 to 65% savings in the time necessary for data collection and analysis compared to manual methods.
The sound sensation of a pure tone in cochlear implant recipients with single-sided deafness

Ten cochlear implant (CI) users with single-sided deafness were asked to vary the parameters of an acoustic sound played to their contralateral ear to characterize the perception evoked by a pure tone played through the direct audio input of their CI. Two frequencies, centered on an apical and a medial electrode, were tested. In six subjects, the electrode positions were estimated on CT scans. The study was divided in 3 experiments in which the parameters of the acoustic sound varied. The listeners had to vary the frequency of a pure tone (Exp.1), the center frequency and the bandwidth of a filter applied to a harmonic complex sound (Exp.2), and the frequency of the components and the inharmonicity factor of a complex sound (Exp.3). Two testing sessions were performed at 3 and 12 months after activation. The mean results of Exp. 1 showed that the frequency of the matched tone was significantly lower for the apical than for the medial stimulus. In Exp.2, the mean center frequencies of the filters were also significantly lower for the apical than for the medial stimulus. As this parameter modifies the energy ratio between the high and low-frequency components, this result suggests that the medial stimulus was perceived with a brighter timbre than the apical stimulus. In Exp.3, the mean frequencies of the components were not significantly different between the sounds resulting from the stimulation of the two electrodes, but were significantly lower at the12-month session compared to the 3-month visit. These results suggest that a change in place of excitation may be perceived as a change in timbre rather than a change in pitch, and that an effect of adaptation can be observed.
MANAKINS (PIPRIDAE) IN SECOND-GROWTH AND OLD-GROWTH FORESTS: PATTERNS OF HABITAT USE, MOVEMENT, AND SURVIVAL

Abstract We used capture and recapture data (1985 to 1994) to examine seasonal variation in habitat use, movements within and among habitats, and survival rates of manakins (Manacus candei, Corapipo altera, Pipra mentalis, P. pipra) in northeastern Costa Rica. Manakins were captured in young and old second-growth woodlands in the lowlands and in old-growth forest at approximately 50, 500, and 1,000 m. Manakin species differed in their use of habitats, with old-growth forest species showing large and predictable seasonal variation in capture rates. Corapipo capture rates in lowland (nonbreeding) habitats were greater during the wet season than during the dry season and were greater in old-growth forest than in second growth. Capture rates at 500 m were higher in the dry season. Pipra mentalis capture rates were high in second growth and old growth. Capture rates were higher in the wet season and were correlated with capture rates of Corapipo, indicating that at least some individual P. mentalis migrate along the elevational gradient. P. pipra capture rates were highest at 1,000 m; few individuals descended to lowlands in the wet season. Manacus capture rates were highest in young second growth and did not vary between wet and dry seasons. Use of second-growth habitats by species typically associated with old-growth forests illustrates the value of maintaining a mosaic of habitats to accommodate seasonal changes in use of habitats. Contrary to expectations based on lek mating systems, there was little evidence that movements within habitats (i.e. recapture distances) varied between sexes. Yet, recapture percentages were higher in all species for adult females than males. Adult survival rates were ∼0.75 for Manacus in young second growth, 0.62 for Corapipo in old-growth forest at 50 m and 0.66 at 500 m, and 0.70 for Pipra mentalis in lowland old-growth forest. Results support the suggestion that geographic variation in survival rates may be common in the tropics and illustrate the need for examining survival rates separately by age and sex.
Association between nutritional level, menstrual-related symptoms, and mental health in female medical students

Objective Research suggests that medical students as well as women are at greater risk of depression compared to the general population and men. This suggests that female medical students are crucial targets requiring specific monitoring for mental health disorder prevention and intervention. However, little is known regarding the risk factors for poor mental health among this population. Therefore, we investigated whether menstrual symptoms and nutritional status are associated with psychological distress in Japanese female medical students. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed 326 female medical students who attended a school medical check-up, which included blood sampling in 2018. The levels of psychological distress were evaluated using the Japanese General Health Questionnaire (J-GHQ)-30. We defined high GHQ scores as GHQ-30 ≥7. We checked dysmenorrhea levels and assessed menstrual symptoms according to the presence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Dysmenorrhea was evaluated according to quartiles of the sum of the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ). PMS was assessed using the Premenstrual Symptoms Questionnaire (PSQ). We evaluated levels of serum albumin, hemoglobin, ferritin, and lipid metabolite as nutritional factors. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between menstrual-related symptoms or nutritional factors and the levels of psychological distress. Results A total of 45 female medical students (15%) experienced psychological distress. Serum albumin levels were associated with psychological distress, while lipid metabolite levels were not. The intensity of dysmenorrhea and the presence of PMS were associated with psychological distress, independent of nutritional status. Conclusion Both menstrual symptoms and nutrition markers were associated with the levels of psychological distress in Japanese female medical students. School doctors and nurses can help improve the mental health of young female medical students by encouraging a healthy diet and checking for the presence of menstrual symptoms.
Psychological Determinants of Continued Obesity One-Year Postbariatric Surgery

Objective Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity; however, an estimated 20% of patients do not experience significant weight loss postsurgery. This study examined the interaction of potential psychological factors and their mediating effects on the emotional eating of individuals one-year postbariatric surgery. Method Three-hundred and sixty-six obese individuals (348 females; 95.1%) with a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2 (M = 39.14; SD = 7.67) completed the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Brief Cope, the Big-Five Mini-Marker of Personality, and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire R-18. Results The variance accounted for in emotional eating by age and 12 psychological factors were assessed via a four-step hierarchical multiple regression. Avoidant coping and the personality traits of extraversion, agreeableness, and in contrast to that hypothesized, emotional stability were significant predictors of emotional eating. Avoidant coping partially mediated the relationships of extraversion and emotional stability with emotional eating and fully mediated the relationship of agreeableness. Conclusion Certain personality traits may influence the preferred coping style chosen by individuals who experience continued obesity after bariatric surgery. Additional supports and tailored interventions that are matched with the needs of this population may subsequently be necessary to overcome emotional eating and improve weight loss.
Research design considerations to ensure detection of all species in an avian community

Recent advances in the estimation of species richness from count data have allowed avian ecologists to incorporate incomplete detectability of species when comparing richness across space or time. Raw counts from single or repeated visits to sample point(s) are nonetheless still used for assessing community composition, and the failure to account for detectability when making these evaluations may lead to incorrect inferences about the community. We estimated detection probabilities (P) for a suite of bird species and used these detection probabilities to determine the minimum number of visits at a single point and the minimum number of points in a grid required to confidently (≥90%) detect the full community of birds for rare, moderately rare, and common species. We used occupancy modelling to estimate the detection probabilities for species from two study sites in Nebraska and Saskatchewan. Some common or highly detectable species were confidently detected in a single visit to a point, whereas others with low detection probabilities (P < 0·20) required more than ten visits to be confidently detected at a point. The grid size required to detect a species in an area varied from a single point for a common highly detectable species to over 30 points for a rare species with low detectability. Detection probabilities of the least detectable species in a study area can be used to determine the number of visits to a single point or the number of points in a grid to be confident that the full community is detected. Biologists can conclude that a species is most likely absent from the community if it remains undetected using the appropriate sampling effort.
Distribution, population dynamics and growth rates of Thysanopoda acutifrons, Thysanoessa inermis and Nematobrachion boöpis in the Irminger Sea, North Atlantic

Euphausiids are an important component of the northern North Atlantic ecosystem and several species are found in the Irminger Sea. However, data on euphausiids in this region are few, particularly for Thysanopoda acutifrons, Thysanoessa inermis and Nematobranchion boöpis. In this paper, we present the first data since the 1930s on the seasonal distribution and population dynamics of these species from net haul data collected in the Irminger Sea during winter, spring and summer 2001–2002. Thysanoessa inermis was the most numerically abundant (0.63–26.62 ind. 1000 m−3) of the three species in the region and comprised a biomass of 3.92–41.74 mg 1000 m−3. The species was largely found in the upper regions of the water column (0–400 m) and was distributed in the more on-shelf/shelf-break regions around East Greenland and Iceland. Growth rates were around 0.03 mm d−1for T. inermis and there was some evidence that either the timing of spawning was delayed, or larval development was prolonged in the region. Thysanopoda acutifrons was predominantly distributed below 400 m in more oceanic regions and had a low abundance (1.23–1.64 ind. 1000 m−3) throughout the Irminger Sea. However, the species comprised a relatively high proportion of biomass (19.39–31.33 mg 1000 m−3) due to its large body size. Our data showed that the species had low rates of growth (0.04 mm d−1) and development throughout the year, and that the reproductive season occurred during the overwintering period (November/December) once individuals had reached two years of age. Nematobranchion boöpis mainly occurred below 400 m at low abundance (0.06–0.18 ind.1000 m−3) levels throughout the region. The species was largely found where Atlantic waters prevailed in the Irminger Current and its growth rates were variable (0.02–0.06 mm d−1). Nematobranchion boöpis was a year-round spawner and the species had fairly rapid rates of post-larval development, with the newly spawned 0-group reaching sexual maturity within the first 6 months. Data presented in this paper provide useful baselines for understanding the possible impacts of long-term, broad-scale environmental change on the ecology of euphausiid communities in the Irminger Sea.
Adaptive significance of temperature-induced egg size plasticity in a planktonic rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus

Larger egg size and body size at lower temperature are widely observed in zooplankton and other groups. Theoretically, considering the increased cost of producing larger eggs, females would produce larger and fewer eggs only if the newborn from such eggs perform better under certain environmental constraints, such as low temperature. In temperate lakes, low water temperature is a fairly reliable cue of future declining dietary conditions for herbivorous zooplankters. Under these conditions, females that produce more resistant offspring are likely to be selected. Nevertheless, it is not efficient for them to do this at high temperature, when the dietary conditions are usually more abundant. In this study, the adaptive significance of temperature-induced plasticity in a planktonic rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus, was investigated. We found that: first, the egg size and body size were negatively related to temperature; second, neonates from larger eggs induced by low a temperature of 138C were more resistant to starvation at three different experimental temperatures; third, life table experiments showed that offspring from larger eggs had a higher population growth rate and shorter juvenile period than those from smaller ones at low temperature, and vice versa, which suggests that this may be attributed to some form of anticipatory maternal effect. These differences in population growth rates were mainly due to higher fertility during the first 1 or 2 days after maturation. All of these findings support the view that temperature-induced egg size plasticity has adaptive significance in rotifers.
Hyperpolarized Xe NMR signal advancement by metal-organic framework entrapment in aqueous solution

Significance Hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR/MRI is a useful method for diagnosis of diseases of the respiratory system. However, the sensitive detection of specific compounds in blood remains a challenge because of the weak 129Xe signal in aqueous solution. We developed a way, Hyper-SAME, to promote the 129Xe signal in aqueous solution. The 129Xe signal intensity is four times beyond that of free 129Xe in water and 200 times better than the benchmark molecular cage, cryptophane-A, in its saturated aqueous solution. Additionally, the hyperpolarized 129Xe signal can be amplified further by combining Hyper-SAME with hyperpolarized 129Xe chemical exchange saturation transfer. We report hyperpolarized Xe signal advancement by metal-organic framework (MOF) entrapment (Hyper-SAME) in aqueous solution. The 129Xe NMR signal is drastically promoted by entrapping the Xe into the pores of MOFs. The chemical shift of entrapped 129Xe is clearly distinguishable from that of free 129Xe in water, due to the surface and pore environment of MOFs. The influences from the crystal size of MOFs and their concentration in water are studied. A zinc imidazole MOF, zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8), with particle size of 110 nm at a concentration of 100 mg/mL, was used to give an NMR signal with intensity four times that of free 129Xe in water. Additionally, Hyper-SAME is compatible with hyperpolarized 129Xe chemical exchange saturation transfer. The 129Xe NMR signal can be amplified further by combining the two techniques. More importantly, Hyper-SAME provides a way to make detection of hyperpolarized 129Xe in aqueous solution convenient and broadens the application area of MOFs.
Anti-Candida Activity of Essential Oils from Lamiaceae Plants from the Mediterranean Area and the Middle East

Extensive documentation is available on plant essential oils as a potential source of antimicrobials, including natural drugs against Candida spp. Yeasts of the genus Candida are responsible for various clinical manifestations, from mucocutaneous overgrowth to bloodstream infections, whose incidence and mortality rates are increasing because of the expanding population of immunocompromised patients. In the last decade, although C. albicans is still regarded as the most common species, epidemiological data reveal that the global distribution of Candida spp. has changed, and non-albicans species of Candida are being increasingly isolated worldwide. The present study aimed to review the anti-Candida activity of essential oils collected from 100 species of the Lamiaceae family growing in the Mediterranean area and the Middle East. An overview is given on the most promising essential oils and constituents inhibiting Candida spp. growth, with a particular focus for those natural products able to reduce the expression of virulence factors, such as yeast-hyphal transition and biofilm formation. Based on current knowledge on members of the Lamiaceae family, future recommendations to strengthen the value of these essential oils as antimicrobial agents include pathogen selection, with an extension towards the new emerging Candida spp. and toxicological screening, as it cannot be taken for granted that plant-derived products are void of potential toxic and/or carcinogenic properties.
An optimized procedure for robust volitional cocaine intake in mice.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a behavioral disorder characterized by volitional drug consumption. Mouse models of SUD allow for the use of molecular, genetic, and circuit-level tools, providing enormous potential for defining the underlying mechanisms of this disorder. However, the relevance of results depends on the validity of the mouse models used. Self-administration models have long been the preferred preclinical model for SUD as they allow for volitional drug consumption, thus providing strong face validity. While previous work has defined the parameters that influence intravenous cocaine self-administration in other species-such as rats and primates-many of these parameters have not been explicitly assessed in mice. In a series of experiments, we showed that commonly used mouse models of self-administration, where behavior is maintained on a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement, show similar levels of responding in the presence and absence of drug delivery-demonstrating that it is impossible to determine when drug consumption is and is not volitional. To address these issues, we have developed a novel mouse self-administration procedure where animals do not need to be pretrained on sucrose and behavior is maintained on a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement. This procedure increases rates of reinforcement behavior, increases levels of drug intake, and results in clearer delineation between drug-reinforced and saline conditions. Together, these data highlight a major issue with fixed-ratio models in mice that complicates subsequent analysis and provide a simple approach to minimize these confounds with variable-ratio schedules of reinforcement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Comparison of Photoscreening to Chart Methodology for Vision Screening

The goal of this study is to assess the referral rate accuracy of photoscreening versus the chart methodology in identifying preschool children at risk of amblyopia and amblyogenic refractive error. Vision screenings using the plusoptiX S12 and the LEA chart were performed on 127 children, aged 3–5 years old. Comprehensive eye exams were performed after screenings. The sensitivity and specificity of the plusoptiX S12 were 80.3% and 92.1% and the LEA chart were 43.6% and 94.8%, respectively. The sensitivity of the plusoptiX S12 is significantly higher than the LEA (p value: <.001). After eye exams, 82.9% were correctly passed by the plusoptiX S12 and 64% were correctly passed by the LEA chart (p value: .009). Objective photoscreening is significantly more accurate in identifying preschool children at risk of developing amblyopia and should be considered best practice. The chart methodology provides an inaccurate report on a preschool child’s amblyopic risk.
Moranopteris: A new Neotropical genus of grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae) segregated from Asian Micropolypodium

Moranopteris, a new genus of grammitid ferns here described, is segregated from Micropolypodium on the basis of molecular phylogenetic analyses (plastid sequences including atpB, rbcL, and trnL-trnF) and morphological characters. Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses support Moranopteris as sister clade to a group that includes Micropolypodium s.str. and 11 or 12 other genera, mostly from the Old World. A morphological synapomorphy for the species of Moranopteris is the presence of minute and slightly catenate branched hairs (with or without a setiform branch) and sometimes unbranched hairs occurring together on the stipes, costae, and laminar tissues abaxially. In contrast, Micropolypodium s.str. has only minute, catenate, and unbranched hairs borne on the same parts of the leaves. The new genus Moranopteris comprises 28 spe- cies—including two new species here described, M. rupicola and M. simplex—and one hybrid, occurring in the Neotropics. The 27 necessary new combinations are here proposed. Our results suggest that Micropolypodium is confined to eastern Asia.
Faecal Contamination of Drinking Water From Deep Aquifers in Multan, Pakistan

A bacteriological analysis of hand pump water was undertaken for determining the quality and extent of contamination in water from different localities of Multan. A total of 100 hand pump water samples were studied for total streptococci (TS) and faecal streptococci (FS). Eighty percent of the samples were positive for total streptococci, 40% of which was in the range of 3-10, 46% in the range of 10-100, 10% were in the range of 100-1000, and 4% were between 1000-1500 streptococci/ml. FS were found in 67% of the samples of which 51% were in the range of 1-10, 4% in the range of 10-100, 7.5 in the range of 100-1000 and 1.5% in the range of 1000-1500MPN/ml. The minimum most probable number (MPN) was 3 and maximum was >2400 with a mean value of 81% for total streptococci and 57% for FS. The ratio of FS to TS was 10:14. Of 67% FS positive samples 63% formed red or pink colonies on KF-streptococcal agar, while 37% failed to grow. Of the 54 FS strains 39 (72.2%) were identified as enterococci, 32% of which were identified as Ent. faecium and 11% as Ent. faecalis. Enterococci were found to be resistant to most of the antibiotics used in this survey, though ampiclox and augmentin were effective against enterococci in 87% and 80%, respectively.