Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Political Decision Making Under Uncertainty: Politicians’ Risk Preferences are Affected by Choice Frames and Implied Accountability

Risk management underlies almost every aspect of elite politics. Yet direct, systematic evidence on the risk preferences of elected politicians scarcely exists due to the difficulty of administering assessment tasks to elites. As a result, we do not know if politicians’ risk calculus is malleable, and if so, why and under what conditions. In this paper, we conduct a survey experiment with 440 incumbent local politicians from across the United States. Using a modified version of the Asian Disease experiment, we show that gain/loss frames alter the risk preference of elected officials. We further show that an induced sense of accountability increases the tendency to engage in risky behaviour, and that this shift in preference only occurs in those politicians who are interested in seeking re-election. These results inform several political science theories that assume stable risk preferences by political elites, or that make no risk assumptions whatsoever. ∗Department of Political Science, University of Toronto. lior.sheffer@utoronto.ca †Department of Political Science, University of Toronto. peter.loewen@utoronto.ca ‡Department of Political Science, Washington University in St. Louis. daniel.butler@wustl.edu
Advanced Multicompartment Diffusion MRI Models and Their Application in Multiple Sclerosis

In this review, the authors provide an appraisal of the current literature on the physics principles, histopathologic validation, and clinical applications of advanced diffusion techniques in both brains and spinal cords of patients with MS (neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging, diffusion basis spectrum imaging, multicompartment microscopic diffusion MR imaging with the spherical mean technique, and models enabled through high-gradient diffusion MR imaging). They discuss limitations of each of the methods and directions that future research could take to provide additional validation of their roles as biomarkers of axonal and myelin injury in MS. SUMMARY: Conventional MR imaging techniques are sensitive to pathologic changes of the brain and spinal cord seen in MS, but they lack specificity for underlying axonal and myelin integrity. By isolating the signal contribution from different tissue compartments, newly developed advanced multicompartment diffusion MR imaging models have the potential to detect specific tissue subtypes and associated injuries with increased pathologic specificity. These models include neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging, diffusion basis spectrum imaging, multicompartment microscopic diffusion MR imaging with the spherical mean technique, and models enabled through high-gradient diffusion MR imaging. In this review, we provide an appraisal of the current literature on the physics principles, histopathologic validation, and clinical applications of each of these techniques in both brains and spinal cords of patients with MS. We discuss limitations of each of the methods and directions that future research could take to provide additional validation of their roles as biomarkers of axonal and myelin injury in MS.
Genome-wide study of the effect of blood collection tubes on the cell-free DNA methylome

Background The methylation pattern of cfDNA, isolated from liquid biopsies, is gaining substantial interest for diagnosis and monitoring of diseases. We have evaluated the impact of type of blood collection tube and time delay between blood draw and plasma preparation on bisulfite-based cfDNA methylation profiling. Methods 15 tubes of blood were drawn from three healthy volunteer subjects (BD Vacutainer K2E EDTA spray tubes, Streck Cell-Free DNA BCT tubes, PAXgene Blood ccfDNA tubes, Roche Cell-Free DNA Collection tubes and Biomatrica LBgard blood tubes in triplicate). Samples were either immediately processed or stored at room temperature for 24 or 72 hours before plasma preparation. DNA fragment size was evaluated by capillary electrophoresis. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing was performed on the cell-free DNA isolated from these plasma samples. We evaluated the impact of blood tube and time delay on several quality control metrics. Results All preservation tubes performed similar on the quality metrics that were evaluated. Furthermore, a considerable increase in cfDNA concentration and the fraction of it derived from NK cells was observed after a 72-hour time delay in EDTA tubes. Conclusion The methylation pattern of cfDNA is robust and reproducible in between the different preservation tubes. EDTA tubes processed as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours, are the most cost effective. If immediate processing is not possible, preservation tubes are valid alternatives.
Expression of stress proteins 70 in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) during confinement and crowding stress

The knowledge of fish biology of stress response to unfavourable environmental conditions is of interest for both basic and applied purpose, providing useful information for fish farming and environmental risk assessment. In this study, tilapias (Oreochromis mossambicus), confined in nets inside the tanks for 4 or 5 h, were examined for induction of Hsp 70 in various organs by western blotting and for cortisol levels in the blood. In net‐confined fish, cortisol, primary stress indicator, was found to consistently increase with differences between 4 and 5 h of confinement. Hsp 70 expression, evaluated in striated and cardiac muscle, gill, liver and brain showed fluctuations in confined animals. Indeed, increase or decrease of Hsp 70 expression in stressed fish was modified in organ‐ and stress duration‐dependent manner and subjective fluctuations were minimal. Morphological observations (LM and EM) were carried out on liver, brain and gill from control and stressed animals. In particular, the liver underwent major modifications while the brain was only slightly modified and the gills were unmodified during confinement stress. Taken together, our data suggest that Hsp 70 expression could be an indicator of stress state in fish when measured in the significant responsive organs.
Kinetics Study of the Solvent Extraction of Lipids from Chlorella vulgaris

The aim of this investigation was to reduce the chemical hazard and possibly the production time of biodiesel from microalgae by investigating the process of hexane lipid extraction. This extraction process is energy-intensive and time-consuming. Hexane, a toxic solvent, is traditionally used for microalgae lipid extractions. The goals of this project were to (1) evaluate the less hazardous heptane as a substitute for hexane and (2) determine the kinetics of the extraction process for hexane and heptane at different solvent volume to dry microalgae mass ratios (R, mL solvent/g dry microalgae). To accomplish the first goal, the project included growth, monitoring, and harvesting of Chlorella vulgaris microalgae in reverse osmosis water and analyzing the lipid extraction using hexane and heptane. The second goal was accomplished by proposing a kinetics model of lipid extraction, measuring the hexane and heptane extracted lipids as function of the extraction time and fitting the data to the kinetic model. Using a spectrophotometer, it was determined that hexane and heptane extract similar material. For both solvents, the extraction process followed a first order model: τ dY/dt = (K-Y), where Y is the grams of lipid extracted per 100 gram dry microalgae, K is the maximum gram of lipid which can be extracted in the process per 100 gram dry microalgae, t is the extraction time (min), and τ is the time constant for the process (min). A smaller τ implies a faster extraction process, while a higher K indicates a higher lipid extraction yield. It was found that for hexane with R = 5, K = 2.75 and τ = 10. Increasing R to 30 amplifies K to 3.90 and τ to 20. For heptane with R = 5, K = 1.80 and τ = 2. When R was increased to 30, K rose to 2.61 and τ to 7. For a given R, heptane extraction is faster, but hexane extraction has a higher maximum yield.
Lsr2 is a nucleoid-associated protein that exerts pleiotropic effects on mycobacterial cellular processes

Lsr2 is involved in maintaining chromosome structure in asymmetrically dividing mycobacteria and is essential in the tubercle bacillus (M. tuberculosis) during infection. Here, we report that a lack of Lsr2 profoundly impacts the mycobacterial cell morphology and the properties of the cell envelope resulting in the formation of smooth, short and antibiotics sensitive cells. Lsr2 forms large and dynamic nucleoprotein complexes in vivo and deletion of lsr2 gene exerts a profound effect on the replication time and replisome dynamics. We suggest that the Lsr2 nucleoprotein complexes may contribute to maintaining the proper organization of the newly synthesized DNA. Moreover, we demonstrate that the N-terminal oligomerization domain of Lsr2 is indispensable for the formation of nucleoprotein complexes in vivo. Collectively, our results indicate that Lsr2 exerts a pleiotropic effect on cellular processes and appears to be an attractive target for the development of a novel antitubercular drugs.
Reference Dose and Reference Concentration Rounding in IRIS: Risk Assessment Ramifications

Commonly, reference doses and reference concentrations, toxicity factors supporting non-cancer assessments for the chemical exposures of humans, are rounded values. While the U.S. EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System rather evidently employs this rounding practice so as to arrive at toxicity values that are uniform and simple in appearance, the particulars of the rounding approach are only loosely discussed. The analysis provided here found that reference dose and reference concentration rounding, occurring respectively, for some 50% and 87% of chemicals of methodically developed lists, is a fully indiscriminate and highly inconsistent process. Toxicity factors being either rounded up or down are close to equiprobable events. Further, through rounding, sizeable percentages (e.g., ca. 20%) of the toxicity factors bear magnitude increases or decreases of 20% or more, and an overall absolute shifted magnitude figure (i.e., for both reference doses and reference concentrations, and independent of rounding direction) was approximately 12%. The consequences of seemingly unnecessary rounding for hundreds of chemicals, in terms of the non-cancer/hazard outcomes of risk assessments, are reviewed. peer-reviewed reports and articles is first examined, leading to the designation of a critical study. It is from the critical study that the NOAEL, the highest experimental dose for which no adverse health effects have been documented, is identified. Assumed to be safe, a series of uncertainty factors (UFs) and a modifying factor (MF) are nevertheless applied to NOAELs, to arrive at RfDs and RfCs. Uncertainty factors (UFs), generally 10-fold factors, reduce the magnitude of the NOAEL in an effort to offset the influences of such phenomena as animal-to-human extrapolation, subchronic exposure-to-chronic exposure extrapolation, and datasets being deemed incomplete. The MF, with a value ranging from greater than zero to a maximum of 10, is applied using professional judgment. Quite evidently, pursuant to UF and MF application, RfDs and RfCs are rounded prior to use, rendering them into their final forms. Thus the EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System, [4] in addition to identifying a chemical’s critical study, NOAEL, and the pertinent UFs and MF applied, will also display RfDs and RfCs that, in nearly every case, have been adjusted somewhat in their decimal places. This generally is in keeping with approaches adopted across the sciences; commonly bona fide rules exist for rounding to significant figures [5,6] or to n decimal places. U.S. EPA practice, as stated in its seminal human health risk assessment (HHRA) guidance document (USEPA 1989) [2] is to express oral RfDs (RfDos) as one significant figure (in units of mg/kgday). It is noteworthy that this same guidance does not identify a rounding rule for inhalation reference concentrations (RfCis), one of two toxicity factors explored in this paper. It is also noteworthy that this guidance OriginaL arTicLe
Knowledge and Perceptions of COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers: Cross-Sectional Study

Background During the first week of March, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak reached more than 100 countries with over 100,000 cases. Health care authorities have already initiated awareness and preparedness activities worldwide. A poor understanding of the disease among health care workers (HCWs) may result in delayed treatment and result in the rapid spread of the infection. Objective This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of HCWs about COVID-19. Methods A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among HCWs about COVID-19 during the first week of March 2020. A 23-item survey instrument was developed and distributed randomly to HCWs using social media; it required 5 minutes to complete. A chi-square test was used to investigate the level of association among variables, with significance set to P<. 05. Results Of 529 participants, a total of 453 HCWs completed the survey (response rate: 85.6%); 51.6% (n=234) were male, 32.1% (n=147) were aged 25-34 years, and most were doctors (n=137, 30.2%) and medical students (n=134, 29.6%). Most participants (n=276, 61.0%) used social media to obtain information on COVID-19. A significant proportion of HCWs had poor knowledge of its transmission (n=276, 61.0%) and symptom onset (n=288, 63.6%) and showed positive perceptions of COVID-19. Factors such as age and profession were associated with inadequate knowledge and a poor perception of COVID-19. Conclusions As the global threat of COVID-19 continues to emerge, it is critical to improve the knowledge and perceptions of HCWs. Educational interventions are urgently needed to reach HCWs worldwide, and further studies are warranted.
Size At Sexual Maturity and Morphometric Variability in Three Populations of a Ustropotamobi Us Pallipes Pallipes (Lereboullet, 1858) According To a Restocking Strategy

Size at sexual maturity was determined by the allometric equation in three populations of Austropotamobius pallipes pallipes from the Poitou-Charentes region, France. Seven morphological characters were measured and POL (post orbital length) was used as a reference parameter. The puberal moult was identified by changes in the relative growth of CW (claw width) and CL (claw length) in both sexes. Males have shown variation of the relative growth of CW and CL at 19.15 mm of POL for the Gatineau (Gat) stream, 20.1 mm of POL for the Magnerolle (Mag) and 20.3 mm for the Fontaine Saint-Pierre (Fsp) populations, respectively. Sexual maturity of females occurred at 16.17 mm POL for the Fsp, 18.2 mm for the Mag and for the Gat. Geographic variation in A. pallipes was investigated using multivariate analysis of five morphometric characters on mature specimens. By canonical discriminant analysis, the Mag population was distinct from the other two populations. Results are discussed with regard to restocking strategy.
ANALYSIS OF THE BORONIZED LAYER ON K 190 PM TOOL STEEL

This work deals with the characterization of the phases in boronized layers formed for particular processing parameters on tool steel of the ledeburite type. The high-alloyed tool steel K190 PM prepared by powder metallurgy was used as a substrate. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were carried out at different depths of boronized layers, as well as of transient layers, using a Philips PW1710 diffractometer. The analysis revealed that the surface consisted of FeB (MeB) and an unidentified crystalline phase (or phases), which amount decreases with increasing distance from the surface. Also, a gradual increase in the amount of Fe2B (Me2B) at the expense of MeB was observed with increasing distance from the surface. The layer neighboring the substrate consists mainly of Me2B and CrB. The transition layer between the borides and the base material was found to contain the Me23(C,B)6 phase.
Functional morphology of the mouthparts and alimentary tract of the slipper lobster Thenus orientalis (Decapoda : Scyllaridae)

The mouthparts and proventriculus of Thenus orientalis Lund are adapted to ingest soft flesh, which is consistent with the diet of this and other scyllarids. The crista dentata are reduced, with food transfer into the oesophagus facilitated by large stout setae on the second and third maxillipeds. The mandibles exert little force and most food maceration is effected by the gastric mill. Ingestion is aided by mucus secreted by rosette glands in the paragnaths and membranous lobe, as well as expansion of four longitudinal folds in the oesophageal wall. The cardiac stomach has considerable food storage capacity by extension of its membranous walls, reduced ossicles and simplified ventral filtration channels. The filtering ability of the pyloric filter press is consistent with other macrophagous decapods. The dorsal caecum above the pyloric stomach has an absorptive columnar epithelium that contains acid mucin granules and protein. Muscular walls and longitudinal folds in the hindgut facilitate faecal pellet extrusion.
Xilanase e β-glucanase na digestibilidade aparente de nutrientes do triticale pela Tilápia-do-nilo

The effects of different levels of Natugrain Blend L® enzymatic compound on triticale nutrients and energy digestibility by Nile tilapia were evaluated. The digestibility was indirectly determined with chromic oxide III (0.10%) as an external marker. The level of substitution by triticale in the reference diet was 50%. The treatments were 0, 150, 300, 450, and 600g kg of Natugrain Blend L, which contains 800 units g-1 of endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase (BGU) and 36.600 units g-1 of endo-1,4-β-xylanase (EXU). The apparent digestibility coefficients were: dry matter 76.42, 74.01, 83.39, 82.97, and 78.34%; crude protein 88.19, 88.39, 90.52, 92.05, and 88.34%; crude energy 75.93, 71.31, 81.78, 80.27, and 78.62%, respectively to inclusion levels of 0.0, 150.0, 300.0, 450.0, and 600.0mg kg-1 of Natugrain Blend L in diet. Results demonstrated that 300mg kg-1 of enzymes were enough to increase the dry matter apparent digestibility coefficient and energy. The enzyme compound can be used to increase the efficiency of triticale feed utilization.
Influence of meteorological parameters on Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa spore release in central and eastern Poland

Abstract Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa are fungal pathogens able to cause allergic reactions in humans and infect plants of Brassica species. The rate of their development and subsequent spore release depend on weather conditions. The aim of this paper was to pinpoint the exact meteorological conditions triggering the release of L. maculans and L. biglobosa ascospores in central and eastern Poland. Multiple regressions indicated that the frequency and amount of rainfall over short periods were important in mediating spore release. The first ascospore event depended mainly on the number of rainy days during the first 10 days of July and the cumulative precipitation during July and September. The most important variables for maximum spore release were cumulative rainfall in the beginning of July and the end of September, as well as the number of days with precipitation events in the first 10 days of August. The results highlighted for the first time the importance of the days preceding the collection of oilseed rape plants from the field. Higher moisture content of senescing but still living stems play a crucial role in the early start of the ascospore season and the maximum release of ascospores. This was not yet considered to date.
In vitro antioxidant activity and HPTLC determination of n-hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia (L.)DC.

The free radical scavenging activities of n-hexane extract of the whole plant of Emilia sonchifolia was evaluated by employing various in vitro assay systems like DPPH radical scavenging activity, superoxide radical scavenging activity and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity with IC50 values 180, 160 and 160 μg/ml respectively. The results of the study indicate that the n-hexane extract of the whole plant of Emilia sonchifolia possess a significant scavenging effect with increasing concentrations probably due to its antioxidant potential. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis in the n-hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia showed the presence of terpenoids which probably may be responsible for the antioxidant activity. Thus, n-hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia can be used potentially as a bioactive source of natural antioxidants due to the presence of terpenoids in it
Toxicity of Cyanobacteria Isolated from the Guadiana River

The Guadiana River flows through the Southwest area of the Iberian Peninsula crossing from the Spanish provinces of Extremadura and Andalucia to the southern region of Portugal. Preliminary studies on the presence and distribution of toxic cyanobacteria led to the identification of several cyanobacterial species in the Guadiana River itself as well as in the freshwater reservoirs established along its course. The objectives of this paper were the identification and quantification of planktonic cyanobacteria in freshwater reservoirs from the Guadiana River, with different applications (human consumption, agriculture purposes and recreational uses), and determination of their toxicity. After the isolation of cyanobacterial strains, the characterisation of their toxicological profile was carried out using immunoadsorbent assays (ELISA) and chromatographic techniques (HPLC-UV). Monitorization studies revealed that predominant species were Microcystis aeruginosa, Anabaena spp. and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Some strains of M. aeruginosa were responsible for microcystins production. The toxicity observed in ISACYA 10B was low. The strain ISACYA 2C produces high amounts of microcystins, and probably these toxins were responsible for the toxicity of the cyanobacterial bloom detected in these waters.
Winter digestive strategy of a concentrate selector in Norway: the European roe deer

Seasonal variations in gut contents were measured in 63 adult roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) collected in the southeastern part of Norway. Gut contents were 50% greater in animals collected in winter than summer. This resulted from an increase in the contents of the rumeno-reticulum and, to some extent, the distal fermentation chamber (caecum and proximal colon). The winter digestive strategy of the roe deer was in accordance with the optimal digestion theory, i.e., given gut capacity as a limiting factor, the digestive system should hold more, allowing a longer retention time and more complete digestion of the less nutritious winter diet. This seasonal digestive adaptation in the roe deer underlines the importance of a flexible nutritional strategy in a highly seasonal environment for winter survival in concentrate selectors.
Comparative neuromorphology of the telencephalon of sturgeon of the genera Acipenser, Huso and Scaphirhynchus (Actinopterygii; Acipenseridae)

Summary Brain anatomy and structure, composition of the neurons, and cytoarchitectural maps were compared between five species of Acipenser, one species of Huso and two species of Scaphirhynchus. Morphological differences in the forebrain structure between species and genera were apparent. The evolutionary history of the Acipenseridae has been marked by an extensive mosaic radiation in the evolutionary development of the inner structure of their brains. Members of Scaphirhynchus have a very simple telencephalon structure differing significantly from that of Huso and Acipenser. It is clear that neuromorphological variation of sturgeon species will serve as an additional data useful in understanding the evolutionary processes and history associated with the speciation in Acipenseridae.