Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AVIAN INFLUENZA IN MIGRATORY BIRDS IN THE UNITED STATES, 2007–2009, AND EFFECTS OF SEPTEMBER HUNTING SEASONS ON SURVIVAL, HARVEST, AND RECOVERY RATES OF CANADA GEESE BANDED IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA

Highly-pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV H5N1) poses risks to wild birds, poultry, and humans. The US Department of Agriculture-Animal Plant Health Inspection Service-Wildlife Services (USDA-APHIS-WS), state, and tribal wildlife agencies collected 168,940 samples from migratory birds in the US from 2007 to 2009 as part of an interagency early detection system for HPAI. No HPAIV was detected, but combinations of the 16 hemagglutinin (H) and 9 neuraminidase (N) subtypes of lowpathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIV) were discovered, including H5 and H7 subtypes. We estimated apparent prevalence of AIV by North American flyway and found it was lowest each year in the Atlantic Flyway (range = 6.7%–8.3%), highest in the Pacific Flyway in 2007 (13.3%) and 2008 (13.4%), and highest in the Mississippi Flyway in 2009 (15.9%). We also plotted apparent prevalence of AIV monthly and determined fall peaks in AIV infection occurred in September in the Atlantic Flyway, August and September in the Mississippi Flyway, August in the Central Flyway, and August and
Seasonal changes in seed reduction in lodgepole pine cones caused by feeding of Leptoglossus occidentalis (Hemiptera: Coreidae)

Abstract Management of Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm.) seed orchards of British Columbia, Canada, would be improved with knowledge of its damage potential at different times of the growing season. Mesh insect-exclusion bags were placed over cones, and adults or nymphs of L. occidentalis were enclosed in different bags for 9 periods of 10 to 38 days between 6 May and 17 September 2004. Feeding by adult females between 6 May and 28 May reduced total extractable seeds, a result of ovule damage before fertilization. Reduction in the number of filled seeds per cone was highest between 6 May and 29 June, with each adult female reducing yield by approximately 1.7 seeds per day. Between 29 June and 10 August, each adult female reduced the number of filled seeds per cone (seed set) by 1.0 to 1.25 per day. Seed set reduction declined to approximately 0.25 filled seeds per adult female per day after 10 August. Third to fifth instars caused seed set reduction between 0.6 and 1.2 filled seeds per cone per nymph feeding day from 29 June to 10 August. Utilizing these findings would improve management of L. occidentalis in a commercial seed orchard setting. Résumé La gestion des Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann dans les pépinières à graines du pin vrillé (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm.) en Colombie-Britannique serait améliorée si on connaissait leur potentiel de dommage à différents moments dans la saison de croissance. Des sacs d'exclusion en filet ont été placés sur les cônes; des adultes ou des larves de L. occidentalis ont été introduits dans des sacs différents durant 9 périodes de 10 à 38 jours entre le 6 mai et le 17 septembre 2004. L'alimentation par les femelles adultes entre le 6 mai et le 28 mai a réduit le nombre total de graines récupérables, à cause du dommage fait aux ovules avant la fécondation. La réduction du nombre de graines pleines par cône est maximale entre le 6 mai et le 29 juin, alors que chaque femelle adulte réduit le rendement par environ 1,7 graine par jour. Entre le 29 juin et le 10 août, chaque femelle adulte réduit les graines pleines de 1,0 à 1,25 graine par jour. La réduction des ensembles de graines diminue à 0,25 graine pleine par adulte femelle par jour après de 10 août. Les larves de troisième à cinquième stades causent une réduction des ensembles de graines de 0,6 à 1,2 graines pleines par jour d'alimentation de larve entre le 29 juin et le 10 août. L'utilisation de ces résultats dans le contexte d'une pépinière à graines commerciale pourrait améliorer la gestion de L. occidentalis. [Traduit par la Rédaction]
Mapping the distribution, biomass and tissue nutrient levels of a marine benthic cyanobacteria bloom (Lyngbya majuscula)

Benthic cyanobacteria blooms, including those of the nitrogen-fixing species Lyngbya majuscula, appear to be becoming more numerous and widespread in marine habitats worldwide, and have negative impacts on the environment and human health. The progression of a L. majuscula bloom in south-east Queensland, Australia was mapped along with intensive biomass and tissue nutrient sampling every 10–14 days over the bloom’s 3.5-month duration in summer 2005–2006. Data-integrated GIS maps illustrated the changes in biomass and tissue nutrient pool of the L. majuscula through different growth phases (incipient, rapid expansion, plateau or peak and decline) of the bloom. At the peak, L. majuscula covered 509 ha and had a mean density of 115 gdw m–2, with the maximum density recorded 503 gdw m–2. The highest mean total carbon (29.4% C), nitrogen (3.5% N) and phosphorus (0.143% P) contents in L. majuscula tissue corresponded with the peak in biomass. Three-dimensional modelling calculated that at the peak, the bloom contained 5057 tww (510 tdw) of L. majuscula; 150 000 kg C; 18 000 kg N; 720 kg P; and 5200 kg Fe. This information gives an insight into L. majuscula bloom dynamics and ecophysiology and provides quantitative data for models.
Characterization of acid invertase from the snow mould Monographella nivalis: a mesophilic enzyme from a psychrophilic fungus

summary A soluble acid invertase was extracted by mechanical disruption of mycelium of the psychrophile Monographella nivalis grown on sucrose in submerged culture. The crude preparation was stable to incubation at pH 6.2 for 1 h at temperatures up to 47 °C and was stable to handling at room temperature. Half of the initial activity was lost after 1 h at 52 °C and all activity was lost after 1 h at 57 °C. A single isoform with activity against sucrose was detected on both native PAGE and IEF activity gels, exhibiting an isoelectric point of pH 3.6. The activity bound tightly to Concanavalin A-sepharose and was not displaced by 500 mM α-methyl mannopyranosidase indicating the enzyme to be a mannose-containing glycoprotein. By gel filtration, the apparent Mr was determined at 195 kDa. The invertase was purified 106–fold by salt precipitation. The partially purified enzyme exhibited maximal activity at pH 4.2 and apparent Michaelis constants for sucrose of 1.2, 2.0 and 2.6 mM at 3, 9 and 15 °C. The activity increased exponentially with temperature in the range 7–55 °C. Q10 fell with increased temperature giving values of 1.96 between 5 and 15 °C and 1.60 between 40 and 50 °C. Maximal activity was recorded at 55 °C. Arrhenius analysis of temperature data in the range 7–52 °C produced a continuous linear relationship. The activation energy for sucrose hydrolysis was 38.8 kJ mol−1. The thermal stability and thermal kinetic properties of the invertase were similar to those of invertases from mesophilic organisms. The invertase catalysed fructosyl transfer at 13% of the molar activity against sucrose when assayed under conditions analogous to those in culture. The major fructan products were neokestose, isokestose, kestose and an unidentified tetrasaccharide. Traces of larger fructans were also detected. The transient accumulation of fructan in cultures of M. nivalis can he explained as a side reaction of invertase activity. The enzymological and physiological data do not suggest a cryoprotective function for fructan during the growth of the fungus.
Regional differences in hamstring muscle damage after a marathon

Previous studies suggest that marathon running induces lower extremity muscle damage. This study aimed to examine inter- and intramuscular differences in hamstring muscle damage after a marathon using transverse relaxation time (T2)–weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI). 20 healthy collegiate marathon runners (15 males) were recruited for this study. T2-MRI was performed before (PRE) and at 1 (D1), 3 (D3), and 8 days (D8) after marathon, and the T2 values of each hamstring muscle at the distal, middle, and proximal sites were calculated. Results indicated that no significant intermuscular differences in T2 changes were observed and that, regardless of muscle, the T2 values of the distal and middle sites increased significantly at D1 and D3 and recovered at D8, although those values of the proximal site remained constant. T2 significantly increased at distal and middle sites of the biceps femoris long head on D1 (p = 0.030 and p = 0.004, respectively) and D3 (p = 0.007 and p = 0.041, respectively), distal biceps femoris short head on D1 (p = 0.036), distal semitendinosus on D1 (p = 0.047) and D3 (p = 0.010), middle semitendinosus on D1 (p = 0.005), and distal and middle sites of the semimembranosus on D1 (p = 0.008 and p = 0.040, respectively) and D3 (p = 0.002 and p = 0.018, respectively). These results suggest that the distal and middle sites of the hamstring muscles are more susceptible to damage induced by running a full marathon. Conditioning that focuses on the distal and middle sites of the hamstring muscles may be more useful in improving recovery strategies after prolonged running.
Factors Influencing Paddlefish Spawning in the Tombigbee Watershed

Abstract The early life-history requirements of Polyodon spathula (paddlefish) are not well understood, in part due to the difficulty of sampling early life stages. Passive sampling with benthic, mat-style devices effectively collected paddlefish eggs in the Tombigbee watershed (Mobile River basin) during spring 2005, facilitating identification and characterization of egg-incubation microhabitats. Eggs were collected over gravel, sand-impacted gravel, and bedrock substrates at corrected depths ranging from 1.2 to 7.7 m. Sampling occurred continuously (489 sampler-days) in the lotic bendway of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway from late February through April, when water temperatures ranged from 11.5 to 20.8 °C. Of 106 paddlefish eggs collected from this unique macrohabitat, 95% were taken on either April 6 or April 16. Nine paddlefish eggs were collected in a tributary (Noxubee River) on April 13 after four sampler-days of effort. Water temperatures associated with peak spawning activity ranged from 16.9 to 19.4 °C, slightly higher than temperatures recorded for Mississippi River basin populations. A substantial (> 2.74-m) rise in water level triggered spawning activity, similar to that observed in other systems. Benthic mats proved useful for delineating paddlefish egg-incubation habitat in areas not subject to shifting substrate, and could be used in the future to address hypotheses regarding micro- and macrohabitat suitability.
Evaluation of diagnostic criteria of actinic keratosis through reflectance confocal microscopy

The diagnosis of actinic keratosis (AK) is based on clinical evaluation and confirmed by histopathological analysis (HA). The challenge is to establish the correct diagnosis with a minimally invasive assessment. The aim of this study is to validate the analysis of AK by reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), a cellular resolution, noninvasive imaging method and to determine the relevant parameters for diagnosis, compared to HA, by calculating the sensitivity (S), specificity (E), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of each criterion.
Synthesis and Evaluation of a New Macrocyclic Actinium-225 Chelator, Quality Control and in Vivo Evaluation of 225Ac-crown-αMSH Peptide.

Targeted alpha-therapy (TAT) has great potential for treating a broad range of late stage cancers by delivering a focused and lethal radiation dose to tumors. Actinium-225 ( 225 Ac) is an emerging alpha emitter suitable for TAT, however the availability of chelators for Ac remains limited to a small number of examples (DOTA and macropa). Herein we report a new Ac macrocyclic chelator named 'crown ', which binds quantitatively and rapidly (< 15 min) to Ac at ambient temperature. We synthesized 225 Ac-crown-αMSH, a peptide targeting the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), specifically expressed in primary and metastatic melanoma. Biodistribution of 225 Ac-crown-αMSH showed favorable tumor-to-background ratios at 2 hours post injection in a preclinical model. In addition, we demonstrated dramatically different biodistrubution patterns of 225 Ac- crown-αMSH when subjected to different latency times before injection. A combined quality control methodology involving HPLC, gamma spectroscopy and radioTLC is recommended.
Characteristic Analysis of Trigonelline Contained in Raphanus sativus Cv. Sakurajima Daikon and Results from the First Trial Examining Its Vasodilator Properties in Humans

Vascular disease poses a major public health problem worldwide. Trigonelline isolated from Raphanus sativus cv. Sakurajima Daikon (Sakurajima radish) induces nitric oxide production from vascular endothelial cells and enhances vascular function. Here, we investigated the characteristics of trigonelline and its effects on endothelial function after consumption of Sakurajima radish by humans. Our results show that Sakurajima radish contains approximately 60 times more trigonelline than other radishes and squashes. Additionally, no significant differences were observed between varieties of Sakurajima radish, suggesting that any type of Sakurajima radish can be ingested for trigonelline supplementation. The effects of cooking and processing Sakurajima radish were also evaluated, as were the effects of freezing, and changes in osmotic pressure and pH. A first-in-human trial using Sakurajima radish showed that ingestion of 170 g/day of Sakurajima radish for ten days increased blood trigonelline concentrations and significantly improved flow-mediated dilation, which is a measure of vascular endothelial function. Overall, our findings suggest that the trigonelline contained in Sakurajima radish may contribute to improved human vascular endothelial function. Hence, Sakurajima radish may enhance vascular endothelial function as a functional food.
Efeitos dos níveis de extrato etéreo no sucedâneo do leite sobre o desenvolvimento corporal de bezerros Jersey

Twenty Jersey calves were used to investigate the effects of different ether extract levels of a commercial milk replacer on body weight, average daily weight gain, height at withers, heart girth, and starter intake from the 8th to the 90th day after birth. It was of particular interest to determine the optimum milk replacer ether extract level. This trial was conducted at EMBRAPA Clima Temperado, CPACT, from October 2000 to May 2001. Animals were assigned, according to their birth date, to one of four liquid diets as follows: whole milk (T1) or milk replacer plus different proportions of lard to yield 10 (T2), 15 (T3) or 20% (T4) ether extract on dry matter basis. Statistical analysis was performed as a randomized complete block design with an unbalanced factorial arrangement and diets (n=4) and sex (n=2) as factors. Data from body development and starter intake were both submitted to analysis of variance. Body weight at 56 days of age and average daily weight gain from eight to 56 days post-calving were significantly higher for animals receiving T1 and T2 than for those fed T3 and T4 liquid diets. In addition, heart girth at 56 days of age was greater on calves fed whole milk than on those fed milk replacer with different proportions of lard. After weaning, calves on T1 diet had increased body weight, average daily weight gain (57-89 days), heart girth, and height at withers compared to calves on milk replacer diets. In the weaning phase, feeding T2 to calves resulted in higher body weight gain than those fed T3 and T4 diets while no difference was observed comparing T2 andT1.
Personal Task Design Preferences of Crowdworkers

Today's software offers diverse functionalities that need to be made accessible to humans in an easy to understand and quick to learn way. This is not a new challenge and already well addressed in usability research. Yet, similar challenges arise in crowdsourcing tasks. While task interfaces are often less complicated than complete software products, crowdsourcing workers have only a minimal amount of time to familiarize them with the task interface. Additionally, due to the repetitiveness of the tasks, workers are required to work with this interface to solve a few hundred tasks. Unfortunately, often little attention is paid to optimize the task interfaces. Even if recent studies have shown evidence of the negative effects of poorly designed interfaces on the work performance, there is less knowledge about the importance of the usability from the worker's point of view and their personal preferences. This work aims to fill this gap in two steps. First, we analyze the relevance of good usability and interface design in relation to other task properties like payment or joyfulness by conducting a survey on two popular crowdsourcing platforms. Second, we identify interface properties that are of importance for the crowdsourcing workers and discuss both consenting and dissenting opinions of different worker groups. The results show that all workers place an essential role in the usability of a task interface when selecting tasks, but do not agree on coherent design preferences within and between the platforms.
SEASONAL VARIATION IN BRYOPHYTES COVER IN THE CALCAREOUS MIRE BELIANSKE LUKY, SLOVAKIA

While making investigations of glacial relic bryophytes in Belianske luky mire, we recorded seasonal change in cover of selected bryophytes. It was decided to perform repeated monitoring between 2008-2010, in three replicates each year. In particular, the main observation was the decreasing cover of Campylium stellatum and Drepanocladus cossonii in the course of the year. In order to explain the seasonal change, we have sampled physico-chemical features of the examined sites: pH, redox potential (ORP), conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand (COD), CaCO3, NO3 , SO4 2, NH4 + and Cl . Results show that within investigated sites the distribution of Campylium stellatum and Drepanocladus cossonii was mostly limited by decreasing concentration of NH4 + and increasing concentration of NO3 in the course of the year. The phylogenetic diversity of the bacterial community in the water sample from Belianske luky meadows was investigated using a PCR of the 16S rRNA gene. After screening by Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) method, we made in silico analysis, confirming the presence of nitrifying bacteria.The seasonal variation in bryophytes cover is induced by the synergic influence of decomposition of organic substances in soils, by nitrifying bacteria activity and by unstable the water table.
Threat of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Pakistan: The Need for Measures to Neutralize Misleading Narratives

Abstract. Immediately after declaring COVID-19 as a pandemic, numerous wild conspiracy theories sprouted through social media. Pakistan is quite vulnerable to such conspiracy narratives and has experienced failures of polio vaccination programs because of such claims. Recently, two well-known political figures raised conspiracy theories against COVID-19 vaccines in Pakistan, stating that COVID-19 is a grand illusion and a conspiracy against Muslim countries. This theory is much discussed in the local community, supporting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. We urge healthcare authorities in Pakistan to take necessary measures against such claims before they penetrate to the general community. Anti-vaccine movements could undermine efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that ethical and responsible behavior of mass media, a careful advisory from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, stern measures from healthcare authorities, effective maneuvers to increase public awareness on COVID-19, vigorous analysis of information by data or communications scientists, and publication of counter opinions from health professionals against such theories will go a long way in neutralizing such misleading claims. Because Pakistan is experiencing a large burden of disease, with a sharp rise in confirmed cases, immediate action is of paramount importance to eradicate any potential barriers to a future COVID-19 vaccination program.
Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide–Mediated Hepatic Uptake of Glucuronide Metabolites of Androgens

We previously established that androgen glucuronides are effluxed by multidrug resistance–associated proteins 2 and 3. However, no data exist on the mechanism of hepatic uptake of these metabolites. The first goal of this study was to explore the role of hepatic uptake transporters and characterize transport kinetics of glucuronides of testosterone (TG), dihydrotestosterone (DHTG), androsterone (AG), and etiocholanolone (EtioG) using cell lines overexpressing organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP1B1, OATP1B3, and OATP2B1). Using a quantitative proteomics-guided approach, we then estimated the fractional contribution of individual OATPs in hepatic uptake of these glucuronides. The transport screening assays revealed that the glucuronides were primarily taken up by OATP1B1 and OATP1B3. The Km values for OATP1B1-mediated uptake were low for EtioG (6.2 µM) as compared with AG, TG, and DHTG (46.2, 56.7, and 71.3 µM, respectively), whereas the Km value for OATP1B3-mediated uptake for EtioG, AG, DHTG, and TG were 19.8, 29.3, 69.6, and 110.4 µM, respectively. Both OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 exhibited the highest transport rate toward AG as compared with other glucuronides. When adjusted for the transporter abundance in human livers, EtioG and DHTG were predicted to be transported by both OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, whereas TG and AG were preferentially (>68%) transported by OATP1B3. Collectively, this report elucidates the mechanisms of hepatic uptake of androgen glucuronides. Perturbation of these processes by genetic polymorphisms, disease conditions, or drug interactions can lead to changes in enterohepatic recycling of androgens. TG and AG can be further investigated as potential biomarkers of OATP1B3 inhibition. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This is the first study to elucidate the mechanism of hepatic uptake of androgen glucuronides and estimate the fractional contribution of individual OATPs using quantitative proteomics. Our results show that both OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 are responsible for the hepatic uptake of major circulating testosterone glucuronides. The apparent higher selectivity of OATP1B3 toward testosterone glucuronide and androsterone glucuronide can be leveraged for establishing these metabolites as clinical biomarkers of OATP1B3 activity.