Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic susceptibility for type 2 diabetes mellitus among North American Aboriginals

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex human disease which has become extremely prevalent among indigenous populations of Canada and the United States in recent decades. T2D is etiologically complex and refers to a group of disparate metabolic diseases, having major genetic and environmental risk factors. It is believed that a combination of genetic susceptibility and lifestyle changes among indigenous people are to blame for the recent diabetes epidemic. Hypotheses for possible thrifty genotypes and phenotypes have been proposed to explain the causes of the high incidence of T2D in North American Aboriginal populations. Non-genetic factors such as income, living conditions and crime rates also show evidence of affecting T2D risk among Aboriginal people through physiological stress mechanisms. Recent advances in genetic technology have facilitated the identification of a number of gene variants that show positive predictive and diagnostic value for T2D. One of these genes is specific to a group of Aboriginal people in Canada and its occurrence is consistent with the thrifty genotype hypothesis. Identification of susceptibility genes can provide researchers with a starting point for understanding the specific metabolic processes responsible for causing T2D in different populations. This information can be used for producing methods of therapeutic intervention in the future. In the meantime, reducing environmental risk factors for T2D through lifestyle changes remain an important means of preventing the expression of the disease phenotype in Native American and Canadian Aboriginal people. Key words: Type 2 diabetes, Aboriginals, North America, genetic and non-genetic factors
Azimuth Cutoff Compensation Method for SAR Wave Observation Based on Multiview Wave Spectrum Data Fusion

Azimuth cutoff is an inherent disadvantage of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) waves observation. The waves shorter than some certain wavelength (azimuth cutoff) cannot be imaged in original form (structures) by SAR. For a single SAR observation, the problem of the azimuth cutoff for ocean waves can be resolved to some extent by cooperative observations of SAR satellites. Multiple SAR satellites are required to achieve simultaneous observation of an ocean area to obtain multiview SAR ocean wave synchronization data. Currently, these data cannot be acquired from in-orbit SARs. In this study, imaging simulations of multiview SAR ocean wave synchronization data based on small SAR satellites were carried out for the first time with X-band, 4-m resolution, stripmap mode and Single Look Complex (SLC) product. The Max Planck Institute (MPI) method was used to obtain the optimum wave spectrum of the synchronous data. The influencing factors of the azimuth cutoff wavelength were analyzed by using measured and simulated SAR data. The analysis results were used to develop a novel multiview wave spectrum data fusion method for azimuth cutoff compensation. The azimuth cutoff compensation effect was evaluated by comparing the inversion results before and after data fusion: the azimuth cutoff decreased by 9.76% on average, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the significant wave height is 0.06m, and RMSE of the mean wave period is 0.58s. The azimuth cutoff compensation method can be applied to SAR data for medium and low sea states (that is, wind speeds of 5–15 m/s). These results show that the proposed method of multiview wave spectrum data fusion effectively compensates for azimuth cutoff.
Comparison of IEEE 802.11p and LTE-V2X: An Evaluation With Periodic and Aperiodic Messages of Constant and Variable Size

V2X (Vehicle to everything) communications can be currently supported by standards based on IEEE 802.11p (e.g. DSRC or ITS-G5) or LTE-V2X (also known as Cellular V2X or C-V2X) technologies. There has been an intense debate in the community on which technology achieves best performance. However, existing studies do not take into account the variability present in the generation and size of V2X messages. This variability can significantly impact the operation and performance of the Medium Access Control (MAC). This study progresses the state of the art by conducting an in-depth evaluation of both technologies under different message traffic patterns. In particular, we consider aperiodic and periodic messages of constant or variable size based on the standardized ETSI Cooperative Awareness Messages (CAMs). This study considers different scenarios and possible configurations of IEEE 802.11p and LTE-V2X. We demonstrate that IEEE 802.11p can better cope with variations in the size and time interval between messages. We also demonstrate (and characterize) that the LTE-V2X sensing-based semi-persistent scheduling faces certain inefficiencies when transmitting aperiodic messages of variable size. These inefficiencies result in that IEEE 802.11p generally outperforms LTE-V2X when transmitting aperiodic messages of variable size except when the channel load is very low.
Identification of cell cycle-regulated genes in fission yeast.

Cell cycle progression is both regulated and accompanied by periodic changes in the expression levels of a large number of genes. To investigate cell cycle-regulated transcriptional programs in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, we developed a whole-genome oligonucleotide-based DNA microarray. Microarray analysis of both wild-type and cdc25 mutant cell cultures was performed to identify transcripts whose levels oscillated during the cell cycle. Using an unsupervised algorithm, we identified 747 genes that met the criteria for cell cycle-regulated expression. Peaks of gene expression were found to be distributed throughout the entire cell cycle. Furthermore, we found that four promoter motifs exhibited strong association with cell cycle phase-specific expression. Examination of the regulation of MCB motif-containing genes through the perturbation of DNA synthesis control/MCB-binding factor (DSC/MBF)-mediated transcription in arrested synchronous cdc10 mutant cell cultures revealed a subset of functional targets of the DSC/MBF transcription factor complex, as well as certain gene promoter requirements. Finally, we compared our data with those for the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and found approximately 140 genes that are cell cycle regulated in both yeasts, suggesting that these genes may play an evolutionarily conserved role in regulation of cell cycle-specific processes. Our complete data sets are available at http://giscompute.gis. a-star.edu. sg/~gisljh/CDC.
SST fronts and the summer sperm whale distribution in the north-west Mediterranean Sea

The relative distribution of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and sea surface temperature (SST) fronts have been studied in summer in the north-western Mediterranean Sea. We used passive acoustic data (778 samples) obtained offshore during dedicated surveys between 1999 and 2004 and Pathfinder/Modis remote sensing data to compute front maps and to calculate mean distances from sperm whale detections (N=132) to SST-fronts. Mean distances from sperm whale acoustic detections to SST-fronts were significantly lower (10.4 km) than from other acoustic samples to those fronts (17.0 km). The same result was obtained when calculating distances from sperm whales to the North Balearic Front surface signature. If sperm whales are commonly observed along the continental slope, we showed that offshore individuals were located close to SST-fronts. This bimodal distribution in the north-western Mediterranean is linked to sperm whale feeding strategy, demonstrating ecological opportunistic behaviour in this high level predator.
Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic joint condition in the United States. It is a major cause of joint pain and of disability in the elderly. The risk factors, clinical manifestations, and prognosis vary with the joints affected. After 50 years of age, women are affected more than men with more joints involved and greater severity. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects hands, knees, hips, and spinal apophyseal joints. Osteoarthritis is characterized by focal damage to cartilage surfaces of synovial joints. This is associated with remodeling of the bone and mild synovitis. When severe, there is a characteristic joint space narrowing and osteophyte formation. There are visible subchondral bone changes on radiographic evaluation; this is the usual method of diagnosis. Risk factors for osteoarthritis vary with the affected joints but include joint trauma, aging, and excessive weight. Smoking appears to decrease the risk. There is also little clinical experimentation on the effect of hormones on osteoarthritis. There are no randomized controlled trials addressing the effect of hormone therapy (HT) on the primary outcomes of joint pain, joint swelling, radiographic changes, or joint replacement. With rare exceptions, all studies involving joint pain and osteoarthritis, sometimes used interchangeably, are observational studies. Inclusion criteria are extremely variable. Some studies observe hand, hip, or knee changes. Some studies use either symptoms or different radiologic findings as endpoints. Thus, the studies are not comparable.
Bacterioplankton community structure: Protists control net production and the proportion of active bacteria in a coastal marine community

A series of dialysis experiments was performed to study the relative importance of substrate limitation and grazing in controlling the proportion of active cells of coastal marine bacterioplankton. The grazer community was manipulated by filling dialysis bags with unfiltered water and water serially passed through 150-, 40-, and O.p Ducklow and Carlson 1992). This pattern has prompted speculation that bacterial growth and abundance must be tightly regulated across aquatic systems and confined within a relatively narrow range by a combination of resource limitation and grazing (Sanders et al. 1992; Wright 1988). One issue that is seldom incorporated into models of microbial food webs is the varying proportion of metabolically active and inactive cells. In
Health Checks of Rehabilitated Leopard Tortoise, Stigmochelys pardalis, before Release into the Wild

The release of tortoises after confinement and treatment in rehabilitation centres includes the risk that released individuals may infect wild conspecifics with foreign parasites and other pathogens. The recent monitoring of the release of rehabilitated leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) onto private land in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, revealed that the health-checking protocol at the wildlife rehabilitation centre was inadequate. As a result the provincial conservation authority placed a moratorium on further leopard tortoise releases until a comprehensive health-checking protocol was in place. This protocol is detailed here to ensure the success of the release of confiscated and rehabilitated leopard tortoises, and that this does not come at cost to the wild leopard tortoise populations.
The rumen as a water store in sheep.

The rumen fluid volume in sheep was measured by the method of phenol red dilution. Serial determinations made in 22 sheep deprived of food and water for up to 8 days showed that the greatest decrease in rumen fluid volume occurred during the first 2-3 days, the magnitude of the decrease depending on the initial volume. After the third day, the rate of loss of rumen fluid became slower as the rumen fluid volume became depleted. Sheep deprived of food only gave similar results to those deprived of both food and water. This absorption of rumen fluid during the first 2-3 days of food and water deprivation may account for the expansion Of plasma volume which has been recorded on the third day. In a group of eight sheep deprived of food and water for 4 days, the mean rumen volume loss for the period amounted to about half the body weight loss. These results support the view that in the sheep, the water balance of the body proper is kept virtually unaltered by fluid drawn from the alimentary tract during the first days of water deprivation. The animal does not become dehydrated, in the physiological sense, until this reserve is depleted. For this reason, the rumen may be regarded as a water “store” in sheep.
Adverse Patient Events in Anesthesia Delivery – Review and Analysis of Potentially Avoidable Events

The paper examines the MDR (Medical Device Reporting) reportable events reported to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from medical device manufacturers and caregivers in the US market. A review of all MDRs reported between October 2014 and September 2019 is performed. The MDRs under analysis are related to adverse patient events, in particular to deaths and serious injuries. The study will provide a trend of patient safety as a result of the adverse patient events reported in the five considered years.
Weather-Dependent Variation in the Cold-Season Diet of Urban Kestrels Falco tinnunculus

Abstract. The composition and variation of the diet of urban Kestrels in Warsaw (Central Poland) were studied during non-breeding periods (October-March) between 1995 and 2003. A total of 1 651 pellets were collected (at 15 sites), in which 2 390 vertebrate prey items were found. The most common prey were small rodents (80% of items, 78% of biomass), predominantly Common Voles. Birds were markedly less common (7% of items, 11% of biomass). The dietary composition was variable during the cold season. Mean ambient temperature and the consecutive day of the cold season did influence the diet composition but snow depth did not. The main prey category in the Kestrels' diet — Microtidae — remained stable and independent of weather conditions. The percentages of mice and birds were negatively affected by mean ambient temperature, and consumption of birds was higher at the beginning (October) than at the end of the winter (March). Prey number and biomass of prey per pellet decreased during the cold season but were not influenced by temperature. The index of food niche breadth was inversely proportional to temperature.
Botanical pesticides as a source of safe bioacaricides for the control of Tetranychus cinnabarinus

The potential of crude extracts from four plant species were evaluated for their ability to control the Tetranychus cinnabarinus mites under controlled conditions. The extracts were prepared from four plant species Artemisia herba-alba, A. leucodes, Eruca sativa and Sinapis alba . The toxicity of the four plant extracts to animal cells was measured in vitro using the vital mitochondrial dye 3-[4,5-dimethyliazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The assay revealed that the extracts from A. herba-alba, A. leucodes or S. alba were not toxic to animal cells up to concentrations of 100 µg/ml. Extracts from E. sativa at concentrations > 100 µg/ml were found to significantly reduce cell viability and are therefore toxic to animal cells. The mortality and repellency potential of the different extracts showed that A. leucodes or E. sativa at a concentration of 50 µg/ml resulted in more than 80% mortality and repellency. However, extracts at the same concentration from A. herba-alba or S. alba caus.
Response of nitrogen fertilizer and legumes residues on biomass production and utilization in rice-legumes rotation

A cropping sequence including rice after winged bean, rice after bush bean, rice after corn, and rice after fallow with varying rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer were carried out to investigate the effects of legume residues and N fertilizer to clarify dynamics of soil N supply, N utilization in soil -plant system and grain yield of rice. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied in both legumes at rates of 0, 2, 4 and 6 g m -2 . The first crop cycle for rice and corn were fertilized with N fertilizer at rates of 0, 4, 8 and 12 g m -2 with no chemical fertilizer applied in the 2 nd crop cycle for the legumes, corn and rice. In 2010, bush bean and winged bean accumulated 5.0-5.9 and 6.2-6.8 g N m -2 of which 10.0-29.4 and 21.7-42.1 % was derived from N2 fixation. In 2011, bush bean and winged bean accumulated 4.7-5.6 and 5.8-6.9 g N m -2 of which 13.2-28.8 and 29.5-41.4% was derived from N2 fixation and estimated by total N difference method. Higher yield was recorded by rice after winged bean with N at rates of 4, 8 and 12 g N m -2 during both years. This superior performance of rice after winged bean is likely linked to greater N fixation (21 .7-42.1%) and N uptake by both legumes. Such tropical legumes that improve productivity of rice might be attractive to farmers who are generally resource -poor farmers. The results revealed that bush bean and winged bean can supply >50% and >95% of N required for rice and ca n be a viable alternative organic N source to enhance soil fertility and reduce cost.
Postnatal growth and reproductive biology of Rhinolophus hipposideros (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae)

The timing of birth and postnatal growth in lesser horseshoe bats Rhinolophus hipposideros were studied during 2000 and 2001 at three maternity roosts located in the provinces of Carinthia and Salzburg, Austria. Postnatal growth curves for length of forearm and body mass were determined separately for the different colonies and years. Cooler weather during June 2001 coincided with a median birth date that was 8 days later than in 2000, whilst the difference between colonies was 4 and 5 days, respectively, for the pooled data of both years. Cool temperatures in June also coincided with a longer duration of the parturition period. Postnatal growth rates were higher than in most other bat species but differences between years and colonies were considerable. These differences may be attributed to the ambient roost temperatures, whereby the young of two cooler roosts showed significantly reduced growth rate during 8 days of cool weather in 2000. Moreover, later born and therefore smaller pups were more strongly affected by low temperatures than earlier born and larger ones. The mean length of forearm of young lesser horseshoe bats at the beginning of September equalled that of adult bats, whilst their body mass was still lower. Non-volant juveniles did not cluster following the nightly emergence of adult females, and a preferred location within the roosts could not be identified. High and very low roost temperatures, however, did have an influence on the location of non-volant young in the colonies.
Predicting digestible protein and digestible dry matter in tannin-containing forages consumed by ruminants

Equations for predicting digestible protein and digestible dry matter on the basis of laboratory analytical techniques (Robbins et al. 1987a, b) were tested with in vivo digestion trials using black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis). Leaves of seven natural, tannin-containing forages and twigs from one browse species were fed fresh in total collection digestion trials. The equation for estimating digestible protein was based on the plant's crude protein content and a measure of the tannin's protein-precipitating capacity. The equation for estimating digestible dry matter was based on a measure of tannin astringency and the concentrations of neutral detergent fiber, lignin, cutin, and biogenic silica. Both equations predicted in vivo results accurately, although a slight mod- ification of the laboratory technique was recommended for determining neutral detergent fiber. Sodium sulfite should be used when analyzing tannin-containing forb and shrub leaves and omitted for relatively tannin-free forages. The equations provide useful measures of both the ecological effectiveness of tannins as digestion-reducing agents and the nutri- tional value of the ingested plant matter for the animal.
A Summary of Fungal Leaf Pathogens of Eucalyptus and the Diseases they Cause in South Africa

Eucalyptus leaf disease surveys conducted since 1984 in the Cape, Eastern Transvaal and Natal Forest Regions (Crous, Knox-Davies and Wingfield. 1988, 1989a, b, c) revealed a number of fungal leaf pathogens previously unreported in South Africa. This paper combines information gained during these surveys with records from previous sources (Doidge, 1950; Doidge et al., 1953; Lundquist and Baxter, 1985). We also include a key to these Eucalyptus leaf pathogens. Opportunistic fungi such as Botryosphaeria rib is Grossenb. & Duggar, Botrytis cinerea Pers. , Cylindrocladium spp. and Hainesia lythri (Desm.) Hahne! , which are commonly found on Eucalyptus leaves under stress conditions and which have a wide host range, have not been included. Where possible, comment is made on the relative significance of the pathogens to Eucalyptus propagation. These evaluations are based on field observations, the relative importance of the Eucalyptus spp. affected, and reports from other countries.
Grazing and nitrogen on the growth of roots in the mixture of oat and ryegrass.

This study evaluated the effect of grazing and its absence, and the nitrogen on the morphology of roots of black oat ( Avena strigosa Schreb.) mixed with Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.). The experimental design was a randomized block design in split-split, the main portion was study the effects of grazing and its absence, in the subplots the nitrogen doses of 75 and 150 kg ha-1 and in the sub-subplots were at sampling period. There was used the cylinder method to collect the root, being measured the length, surface area, mean diameter and volume by image analysis system Win / MacRizho (4.1c). Determined the dry mass of roots and shoot, and estimated the density of the root tissue and shoot:root ratio. From these results we determined the rate of root growth relative (RGR), relative root expansion rate (RRER) and rate of accumulation of dry matter daily (RADM). In the first period, was higher RGR, RRER, the second period there was a reduction of the same, probably due to the period of drought and plant senescence. There was also reduced due to grazing RADM. With grazing, the length, surface area, mean diameter and root volume were higher, indicating that there was greater root growth of plants grazed compared to ungrazed. The systems studied had no effect on the dry weight of roots. There were found greater specific mass and shot:root ratio in the system without grazing. There was no significant difference between the nitrogen studied. At mixed of black oat and ryegrass, the grazing and nitrogen dose until 150 kg ha-1 little affect root growth. The nitrogen dose changed a little the growth rates and expansion of the roots. On the other hand, the grazing favored the length, area, volume and root diameter.