Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen limitation of secondary production on Georges Bank

Springtime distributions of phytoplankton chlorophyll a and nitrate + nitrite on Georges Bank were analyzed for three survey cruises: 17-26 May 1993,7-15 April 1994 and 12-20 May 1994. Results showed that nutrients become depleted over much of the Bank inside the 60 m isobath as a result of the spring phytoplankton bloom, after which relatively high nutrient concentrations were con- fined to the frontal regions around the periphery of the Bank. Highest nutrient concentrations and horizontal gradients occurred along the northern edge and the Northeast Peak, where cross-frontal, on-bank fluxes of new nitrogen onto the Bank were most pronounced. These data, and earlier obser- vations by others that show (i) high rates of primary production on the central Bank despite low nutri- ents, (ii) low f-ratios on the central Bank, (iii) anomalously low secondary production as compared with rates of primary production and (iv) average distributions of zooplankton and gadid spawning areas on the Bank, are interpreted in the context of nitrogen limitation of secondary production. Calculations of cross-bank nutrient fluxes suggest that Georges Bank is too large a geographical feature to function efficiently on nutrients delivered via fluxes from deeper waters around its periph- ery and therefore much of the primary production is recycled. Thus, it follows that production of higher trophic level biomass, from zooplankton to fish, is limited by the frequency and intensity of processes that drive fluxes of deep-water nitrogen onto the Bank.
Dealing with Multicollinearity in Predicting Egg Components from Egg Weight and Egg Dimension

Measurements of 174 eggs from meat-type breeder flock (Ross) at 36 weeks of age were used to study the problem of multicollinearity (MC) instability in the estimation of egg components of yolk weight (YKWT), albumen weight (ALBWT) and eggshell weight (SHWT). Egg weight (EGWT), egg shape index (ESI)=egg width (EGWD)*100/egg length (EGL) and their interaction (EGWTESI) were used in the context of un-centred vs centred data and principal components regression (PCR) models. The pairwise phenotypic correlations, variance inflation factor (VIF), eigenvalues, condition index (CI), and variance proportions were examined. Egg weight had positive correlations with EGWD and EGL (r=0.56 and 0.50, respectively; P<0.0001) and EGL had a negative correlation with ESI (r=-0.79; P<0.0001). The highest correlation was observed between EGWT and ALBWT (r=0.94; P<0.0001), while the lowest was between EGWD and SHWT (r=0.33; P<0.0001). Multicollinearity problems were found in EGWT, ESI and their interaction as shown by VIF (>10), eigenvalues (near zero), CI (>30) and high corresponding proportions of variance of EGWT, ESI and EGWTESI with respect to EGWTESI. Results from this study suggest that mean centring and PCR were appropriate to overcome the MC instability in the estimation of egg components from EGWT and ESI. These methods improved the meaning of intercept values and produced much lower standard error values for regression coefficients than those from un-centred data.
Features of the relationship between cardiointervalographic indices and constitutional characteristics in highly skilled mesomorphic somatotype wrestlers

Mechanisms of regulation of cardiac rhythm have many individual features, which are conditioned by age, sex, training of the organism, strength and nature of external influence, constitutional features of the organism. The purpose of the work is to determine the relationship between cardiointervalographic indices and parameters of the external structure of the body in highly skilled wrestlers of the mesomorphic somatotype. The study involved 24 wrestlers between the ages of 17 and 21 with a high level of sportsmanship and more than 3 years of experience. All of the wrestlers were of medium weight and engaged in free and Greco-Roman wrestling. We conducted a study of heart rate variability on the cardiac computer diagnostic complex “OPTW” following the recommendations of the European and North American Cardiac Association (1996). The indices of vegetative homeostasis according to Bayevsky, variational heart rate, statistical and spectral cardiointervalographic indicators were determined. Anthropometry was performed according to the method of V.V. Bunak (1941), somatotypological study – by the calculated modification of the Heath-Carter method (1990), determination of the component composition of body weight by the method of Matejko (1992). In the package “STATISTICA 5.5” correlation analysis was performed using the nonparametric Spearman statistical method. It was found that in the wrestlers of the mesomorphic somatotype, the variations of the pulsometry had the highest number and strength of reliable correlations with constitutional parameters, most of which were inverse of the mean force. All statistical indicators of heart rate variability with indicators of the external structure of the body had only inverse significant correlations. The least significant correlations were found for spectral indices and parameters of vegetative homeostasis. According to the results of the correlation analysis in the wrestlers of the mesomorphic somatotype, we can assume that with the increase of total, longitudinal, circumferential, transverse body sizes and muscle and bone mass, the variability of the heart rhythm of the sympathetic department of the autonomic nervous system will be more pronounced.
Cyst Formation and Poly-β-Hydroxybutyric Acid Accumulation in Azotobacter

Stevenson, L. H. (Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge), and M. D. Socolofsky. Cyst formation and poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid accumulation in Azotobacter. J. Bacteriol. 91:304–310. 1966. —The relationship between cyst formation and the accumulation of poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) in Azotobacter vinelandii (A. agilis) was investigated. After various periods of growth, the cells were harvested, and the amount of PHB and the extent of encystment were determined. The polymer content of the cells increased sharply and reached a maximum on the 2nd day of growth followed by a gradual decline as the culture aged. At maximal accumulation, the PHB content was 35% of the dry weight, and the PHB-nitrogen ratio was 11:1. Those substrates promoting the highest polymer content (glucose, butanol) also promoted 95 to 100% encystment. Manipulation of the carbon and nitrogen supply in the medium indicated that both the maximal PHB content and the extent of cyst formation could be controlled. A direct correlation was noted between the amount of polymer accumulated and the percentage of cysts formed, indicating a possible role of PHB as a carbon or energy source, or both, for the encystment process.
Biologically active phenolic acids produced by Aspergillus sp., an endophyte of Moringa oleifera

This study investigates the secondary metabolites of an endophytic Aspergillus sp. isolated from leaves of M. oleifera growing in Anambra State, South-Eastern Nigeria. Antimicrobial and antioxidant screening of the fungal extract and isolated compounds, as well as cytotoxicity assay of the extract against cisplatin-sensitive A2780 (sens) and cisplatin-resistant A2780 (cisR) ovarian cancer cell lines were carried out using standard methods. Chemical investigations of the fungal extract involving a combination of different chromato-graphic methods and spectroscopic techniques were carried out to isolate and characterize the constituents of the extract. At a concentration range of 1-4 mg/ml, the crude extract of Aspergillus sp. showed mild antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Candida albicans. The fungal extract showed good antioxidant activity at 500 µg/ml, with an inhibition of 72.1%. Also, at 100 µg/ml, the extract showed excellent cytotoxic activity against A2780 (sens) and A2780 (cisR), with growth inhibitions of 105.1% and 105.5% respectively. Two known pharmacologically active phenolic compounds (p-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid and ferulic acid) were isolated from the fermentation extract of the endophytic fungus. At 250 µg/ml, ferulic acid exhibited an excellent antioxidant activity with an inhibition of 90.4%, while an inhibition of 35.4% was recorded for p-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid. Ferulic acid also showed a mild antifungal activity at 500 µg/ml against A. niger with an IZD of 2 mm. p-Hydroxyphenyl acetic acid showed no antimicrobial activity. These results further confirm the potentials of endophytic fungi associated with Nigerian plants as source of bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical or industrial applications. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5281/zenodo.1404981
Experimental and Computational Analysis of NEAMS Pebble Bed Reactors

This work experimentally investigated the flow characteristics in a facility with randomly packed spheres at a low-aspect ratio of 4.4. Velocity fields in the near-wall region and in the pores between spheres were obtained by employing the matched-index-of-refraction (MIR) and time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) techniques for Reynolds numbers of 340, 520, and 720. From the obtained TR-PIV velocity vector fields, flow characteristics including firstand second-order statistics, such as mean velocity, root-mean-square fluctuating velocity, and Reynolds stress profiles, were computed. The effects of the wall enclosure and Reynolds numbers on the flow patterns were investigated by comparing the computed flow statistics and evaluating two-point cross correlations of the velocities measured adjacent to and far from the wall. Comparisons of the mean velocities, root-mean-square fluctuating velocities, and Reynolds stress component showed an increase in flow mixing and turbulent intensity in the gaps between spheres in the packed bed. The re-circulation-region sizes, however, were found to be independent from an increase in Reynolds numbers. Finally, flow modal decompositions, such as the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD), were applied to the vorticity fields extracted from sub-regions located near and far from the wall to reveal the most dominant POD and DMD flow structures.
Unequal Family Lives

Much demographic research implicitly or explicitly views family changes over the past half century as examples of the “pathology of matriarchy” first raised in Moynihan’s 1965 report on The Negro Family: The Case for National Action. The basis of this perspective is the correlation between female-headed families and negative outcomes for children. Yet the magnitude of family changes and any ill-effects vary across social groups within their cultural, economic, and political contexts. By reviewing the research on family, market, and policy changes over the past half-century with this in mind, I argue that the pattern of group variation does not point to an inherent pathology of matriarchy because the differences in life chances across family types are minimized where institutional arrangements support greater gender (and class) equality. In fact, the gendered responses to the inter-related family, market, and state institutional changes suggest instead it is a growing pathology of patriarchy disproportionately hurting the life chances of boys and men in post-industrial societies. Only with full gender equality in states, markets, and families will the pathology recede.
Stand age‐related effects on soil respiration in a first rotation Sitka spruce chronosequence in central Ireland

The effect of stand age on soil respiration and its components was studied in a first rotation Sitka spruce chronosequence composed of 10‐, 15‐, 31‐, and 47‐year‐old stands established on wet mineral gley in central Ireland. For each stand age, three forest stands with similar characteristics of soil type and site preparation were used. There were no significant differences in total soil respiration among sites of the same age, except for the case of a 15‐year‐old stand that had lower soil respiration rates due to its higher productivity. Soil respiration initially decreased with stand age, but levelled out in the older stands. The youngest stands had significantly higher respiration rates than more mature sites. Annual soil respiration rates were modelled by means of temperature‐derived functions. The average Q10 value obtained treating all the stands together was 3.8. Annual soil respiration rates were 991, 686, 556, and 564 g C m−2 for the 10‐, 15‐, 31‐, and 47‐year‐old stands, respectively. We used the trenching approach to separate soil respiration components. Heterotrophic respiration paralleled soil organic carbon dynamics over the chronosequence, decreasing with stand age to slightly increase in the oldest stand as a result of accumulated aboveground litter and root inputs. Root respiration showed a decreasing trend with stand age, which was explained by a decrease in fine root biomass over the chronosequence, but not by nitrogen concentration of fine roots. The decrease in the relative contribution of autotrophic respiration to total soil CO2 efflux from 59.3% in the youngest stand to 49.7% in the oldest stand was explained by the higher activity of the root system in younger stands. Our results show that stand age should be considered if simple temperature‐based models to predict annual soil respiration in afforestation sites are to be used.
α1-Antitrypsin Suppresses TNF-α and MMP-12 Production by Cigarette Smoke–Stimulated Macrophages

We have previously observed that mice exposed to cigarette smoke and treated with exogenous α1-antitrypsin (A1AT) were protected against the development of emphysema and against smoke-induced increases in serum TNF-α. To investigate possible mechanisms behind this latter observation, we cultured alveolar macrophages lavaged from C57 mice. Smoke-conditioned medium caused alveolar macrophages to increase secretion of macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12) and TNF-α, and this effect was suppressed in a dose–response fashion by addition of A1AT. Macrophages from animals exposed to smoke in vivo and then lavaged also failed to increase MMP-12 and TNF-α secretion when the animals were pretreated with A1AT. Because proteinase activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) is known to control MMP-12 release, macrophages were treated with the G protein–coupled receptor inhibitor, pertussis toxin; this suppressed both TNF-α and MMP-12 release, while a PAR-1 agonist (TRAP) increased TNF-α and MMP-12 release. Smoke-conditioned medium cau.
Meta-Analyses on the Validity of Verbal Tools for Credibility Assessment

Since ancient times, approaches to distinguish between true and deceptive statements have been of particular importance in the context of court decisions. However, the applicability of most psychophysiological or behavioral measures of deception is critically discussed. Verbal tools for credibility assessment, nonetheless, are widely used. They rest on the assumption that the quality of statements that are experience-based differs from the quality of fabricated accounts. In order to test the validity of two prominent procedures, Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA) and Reality Monitoring (RM), a random-effects meta-analysis (REMA) was conducted on 52 Englishand German-language studies in Meta-Analysis 1. The REMA revealed a large point estimate with moderate to large effect sizes in the confidence interval. This finding applied for both CBCA and RM, despite the fact that (1) there was a high level of heterogeneity between studies that could not be resolved by moderator analyses and, (2) it cannot be ruled out that effect size estimates are biased and thus verbal tools for credibility assessment only work to a smaller extent. However, a recent simulation study cast doubt on these findings: It showed that the metaanalytic methods used in Meta-Analysis 1 lead to false-positive rates of up to 100% if data sets are biased. To test the robustness of previous findings, a reanalysis with different bias-correcting meta-analytic methods was conducted on an updated set of 71 studies in Meta-Analysis 2. The overall effect size estimates ranged from a null effect to conventionally large effect sizes. Taking into account specific strengths and limitations of each meta-analytic method, results indicated that CBCA and RM distinguish between experience-based and fabricated statements with moderate to large effect sizes. In contrast, the Scientific Content Analysis (SCAN) – a third verbal tool for credibility assessment that was also tested in the updated data set of Meta-Analysis 2 – did not discriminate between truth and lies and should thus not be used in practice. “AT LEAST, LYING IS THINKING THE TRUTH. ” Oliver Hassenkamp (translated from German)
Carthamus tinctorius L. Extract ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by regulating matrix metalloproteinases and apoptosis

We investigate the protective effect of Carthamus tinctorius L. (CTL, also known as Honghua in China or Safflower) on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and explored the possible mechanisms on regulating apoptosis and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). High-performance liquid chromatography method with diode array detection analysis was established to analyze the components of CTL. Middle cerebral artery occlusion rats model was established to evaluate Neurological Function Score and hematoxylin-eosin staining, as well as triphenyltetrazolium was used to examine the infarction area ratio. Transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling was performed for the apoptosis. Apoptosis-related factors, including B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bax and Caspase3, and MMPs-related MMP2, MMP9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) in ischemic brain, were assayed by Western blot, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. The data showed that CTL (2, 4 g crude drug/kg/d) treatment could significantly reduce the ischemic damage in brain tissue and improve a significant neurological function score. In addition, CTL could also attenuate apoptosis degree of brain tissues and regulate Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase 3 and also have a significant decrease on MMP-9 expression, followed by a significant increase of TIMP1 protein expression. These findings indicated that regulation of CTL on apoptosis and MMPs contributed to its protective effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Effect of Pellet Diameter in Broiler Prestarter Diets on Subsequent Performance

SUMMARY Differently sized dies were used to pellet broiler starter diets formulated to meet typical commercial standards. From 0 to 13 d of age, birds in floor pens were assigned different feed forms, such as mash, crumble, or pellets made by using 1.59- and 3.17-mm dies, followed by common grower and finisher diets pelleted with a 4.76-mm die fed to 41 d. During the first 13 d, birds fed the crumble diet and the 1.59- and 3.17-mm die diets had greater BW and more efficient feed conversion than did birds fed the mash feed; however, when all birds were placed on a common pelleted feed from 13 to 41 d, these positive effects dissipated as the birds grew older. Significant differences in feed intake were observable only at 13 d. Birds fed the diet pelleted with a 1.59- or 3.17-mm die had higher feed consumption than did birds fed the mash feed, but the feed intake was similar when birds were fed either the crumble or mash diet. Significant linear regressions were observed between BW or feed intake at 13 d and at 34 or 41 d. According to these correlations, the numerical differences in BW or feed intake at 7 d were maintained up to 34 or 41 d. It was likely that a 3.17-mm die diet was suitable for the starter diet because these birds became accustomed to a larger pellet size, thereby increasing the feed intake in subsequent periods. These data indicate that the small pellet diameters could be beneficial during the starter period and on subsequent performance.
Differences in dental arch characteristics between genders in patients with suspected condylar hyperplasia in a North Sumatra subpopulation: a cross-sectional study

Background: Condylar Hyperplasia (CH) is a self-limiting mandibular condyle disorder that shows asymmetry progress in conjunction with associated occlusal changes as long as condylar growth is still active and leads to facial asymmetry. This study aimed to analysis the difference of dental arch characteristics based on genders in orthodontic patients with suspected CH in a North Sumatra subpopulation. Methods: This is a retrospective study of suspected CH patient’s clinical records who sought for the initial orthodontic treatment between January 2015 to March 2019. Patient with facial asymmetry (based on photography, posterior crossbite and midline deviation), the positive temporomandibular joint disorder in functional analysis, and no history of facial trauma were included in the study. Dental arch asymmetry was based on the measurement of dental midline deviation, canine tip in the dental arch, the distance of the upper canines from the palatal suture, and inter canine distance. The evaluation of dental arch was achieved by comparing arch width and length. Results: There was a significant difference (p<0.05) of upper canine distance from the palatal suture in female patients when evaluating upper dental arch asymmetry. There was a moderate correlation (r=0.379) in midline deviation between upper and lower dental arch. The dimension and dental arch form were mid and flat, and there was moderate correlation (r=0.448) between the upper and lower dental arch form in these suspected CH patients. Conclusion: Indeed skeletal asymmetry, the evaluation of the dental arch characteristic symmetry and arch form showed asymmetric occlusal characteristics in orthodontics patient with suspected CH in the North Sumatera subpopulation. In treating these patients, we recommend the plaster cast evaluation as essential and routine procedure in order to understand the complexity of occlusal change due to active growth of condylar and limitation in radiography evaluation.
Volumetric study of the maxillary sinus in patients with sinus pathology

Objectives The aim of this study is 1) to obtain the area and volumes of the maxillary sinuses in patients affected by clinically unilateral sinus pathology by comparing the results to the contralateral sinus and 2) to determine the importance of the volumetric measures when diagnosing the percentage of sinus obliteration. Materials and methods A single-centre observational retrospective clinical study was conducted in 214 patients with clinically unilateral sinus pathologies. Linear (mm), area (mm2) and volume (mm3) measurements were taken from Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images of the affected sinus as well as from the contralateral ones. Histopathological study was performed using haematoxylin/eosin and PAS or Groccot stains. The lesions were classified into non-specific sinusitis, polyps, inverted papilloma, fungal sinusitis, cysts, mucocele and other lesions. Chi-squared test, ANOVA for independent samples and Pearson test were used for the statistical analysis. Results A total of 100 sinuses were measured in 50 patients (28 men and 22 women, with an age of 43.6 years (SD = 18.3), 50 pathological and 50 healthy contralateral sinuses. The three-dimensional occupation volume of the affected sinuses was 97.1 mm3 (62.5%) vs. 40.6 mm3 (22.8%) in the healthy ones (p<0.0001). The medial-lateral width of the sinus in the frontal plane was significantly higher in the cysts group (32.4 mm, CI: 23–41.8 mm). Conclusion In medical terms, the global percentage of occupation determined using the classic manual determination method does not differ from the three-dimensional percentage calculated using specific complex software.