Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Benthic Macroinvertebrates of Selected Aquatic Habitats of the Lower Mississippi River.

ABSTRACT We investigated the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in four aquatic habitat types in the lower Mississippi River: dike fields, a natural bank, a secondary channel, and an abandoned channel over a high flow (flood stage), two moderate, and two low flow periods. The biotas present in the natural bank, the secondary channel, and the abandoned channel showed only minor changes in composition over the various flow regimes. The natural bank was consistently dominated by the burrowing mayflies Tortopus incertus and Pentagenia vittigera and hydropsychid caddisflies; the consistently most common taxa in the secondary channel were the sand-dwelling chironomids Robackia claviger and Chernovskiia orbicus; phantom midges, tubificid oligochaetes, and fingernail clams were always the most abundant macroinvertebrates in the abandoned channel. The dike fields, however, showed large changes in biotic composition over the different flow regimes. These compositional changes correlated with changes in rive.
The Perceived Impacts of Tourism: The Case of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Abstract A study was undertaken among the residents in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh, Vietnam, to examine the perceived impacts of tourism and to explore residents’ support for tourism development. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 residents. The findings show that, on the whole, respondents viewed tourism positively and displayed strong support for tourism development. They were generally in favor of tourism that contributes economically and socio-culturally to Ha Long Bay. They were, however, slightly ambivalent about the environmental impacts of tourism. Based on the findings, this paper discusses the implications of the research, and the direction for future studies.
Oligodendroglial cell behaviour in traumatic oedematous human cerebral cortex: a light and electron microscopic study

Cortical biopsies of 12 patients with traumatic brain injuries have been used in the present study to examine oligodendroglial cell changes and reactivity. The samples were processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. Four main types of oligodendrocyte populations have been found: resting or unreactive oligodendrocytes, reactive oligodendrocytes, anoxic-ischaemic oligodendroglial cells and hyperthrophic phagocytic oligodendrocytes. The unreactive or resting oligodendrocyte type exhibited a fusiform or elongated shape, a clear or dense band of scarce perikaryal cytoplasm and a nucleus with peripheral heterorocromatin masses. Clear or dense reactive oligodendrocytes showed increased amount of perikaryal citoplasm, dilated endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope, numerous clear, oedematous mitochondria and dense bodies. These oligodendrocytes appeared associated with degenerated myelinated axons. Anoxic-ischaemic oligodendrocytes showed lacunar enlargement of endoplasmic reticulum, dilated Golgi complex and enlargement and disassembly of nuclear envelope. They appeared also in contact with degenerated myelinated axons. Hypertrophic phagocytic oligodendrocytes were observed engulfing the associated degenerated myelinated axons, invading the myelin sheath, separating the myelin lamellae and exerting myelinolitic effects. Oligodendroglialpseudopodic expansions were observed phagocyting the axoplasmic matrix and leaving a huge vacuolar axoplasmic space. The vasogenic and cytotoxic components of traumatic brain oedema are discussed in relation with the oligodendroglial cell changes and reactivity.
A neglected life‐history trait: clutch‐size variance in snakes

Most analyses of life-history traits have focused on mean values rather than their associated variance. We review published and original data on snakes, including records gathered over many years on single populations, to examine patterns in clutch-size variability in these animals. Within single populations, the coefficient of variation of clutch size did not vary significantly with maternal body size, or among years. The stability of clutch-size variance through time is consistent with experimental studies showing no significant influence of food intake rates on this characteristic. Clutch-size variances did not differ between viviparous and oviparous snakes, but were dependent upon allometric relationships involving maternal body size and the relationship between clutch size and body size. Clutch-size variability was highest in species with relatively variable female sizes, and with a high rate of increase in clutch size with increasing body size. These two factors acted to magnify the extent of clutch-size variability engendered by variability in maternal body sizes. The relationships among these variables were similar in the two squamate Suborders, but the larger body sizes and mean clutch sizes of snakes resulted in clutch-size variances being higher in snakes than in lizards.
Treating the metabolic syndrome: acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibition

Metabolic syndrome is defined as a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors (abdominal obesity, hyperinsulinaemia, atherogenic dislipidaemia, hypertension, hypercoagulability) that together increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease and Type-2 diabetes. Inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), with its resultant inhibition of fatty acid synthesis and stimulation of fatty acid oxidation, has the potential to favourably affect, in a concerted manner, a multitude of cardiovascular risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. Studies in ACC2 knockout mice and in experimental animals treated with isozyme-nonselective ACC inhibitors have demonstrated the potential for treating metabolic syndrome through this modality. A variety of structurally diverse, mechanistically distinct classes of ACC inhibitors have been disclosed in the scientific and patent literature. Isozyme-nonselective ACC inhibitors may provide the optimal therapeutic potential for beneficially affecting metabolic syndrome. However, demonstration of the full potential of isozyme-selective inhibitors, once identified, should reveal advantages and liabilities associated with single isozyme inhibition. Whereas demonstrating clinical efficacy of an ACC inhibitor should be straightforward, the heterogeneity of the patient population and absence of established guidelines regarding approval end points for agents simultaneously affecting multiple aspects of metabolic syn-drome will pose developmental challenges for initial market entries.
Análise faunística de gafanhotos na Floresta Nacional de Chapecó, Santa Catarina

A study of the grasshopper fauna was performed through samples collected in three vegetal types in the National Forest of Chapeco. Weekly collections were carried out from December 2003 to December 2004. Pitfall traps, sweep nets, entomological umbrellas and malaise traps were used. Collections were repeated in areas with eucalyptus trees, native species and pine trees. The fauna found in different areas was classified by its abundance, constancy, dominance and frequency. Eighteen species were common in the three areas. Staurorhectus longicornis longicornis , Cylindrotettix sp. and Ommexecha virens were found only in eucalyptus and pine areas. Scotussa lemniscata and Zoniopoda tarsata were found in areas with eucalyptus and native trees. Amblytropidia sp. was found only in native vegetation and pines areas. Tridactylus politus was found just in the pine area. Allotruxalis gracilis , Dichroplus elongatus , Dichroplus misionensis and Ronderosia bergi were very frequent, dominant and very abundant in the eucalyptus tree area. A. gracilis , M. adspersa and D. misionensis were very frequent, dominant and very abundant in the native tree area. Metaleptea adspersa and R. bergi were very frequent, dominant and very abundant in the pine area. A similarity in diversity of species was verified with greater abundance in the eucalyptus area. doi: 10.4336/2011.pfb. 31.65. 43
Stress response to acoustic stimuli in an aphid: A behavioral bioassay model

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), feeds consistently and regularly throughout all stages of nymphs and adult. That is, honey dew production, which indicates a state of feeding, occurs at regular intervals within a given stage, and moving, which interrupts feeding, tends to occur rarely. We used these behaviors to test whether sound stimuli acted as a stress in this species. We conducted the playback experiment in which acoustic stimuli with a combination of five frequencies (100, 500, 1000, 5000, and 10000 Hz) and three intensity levels (66, 78, 90 dB SPL) were presented to all stages of aphids. Under all acoustic stimuli, honey dew production occurred less often, and moving occurred more often and for longer. The results of two‐way multivariate analysis of variance showed that the stimulus frequency was a significant factor for variation in aphid behaviors in the playback experiment. However, there was no intensity effect on the aphid's behavior. Based on the electrical penetration graph experiment, aphid feeding stopped frequently and lasted only for short durations under acoustic stimuli. The results of both experiments demonstrated that the acoustic stimuli were effective in inducing feeding suppression in this species. Thus, the acoustic stimuli may be a stressor in the green peach aphid. Furthermore, the behavioral bioassay employed in this study may be used to assess the effect of various stressors on aphids.
Timing of developmental stages in permanent mandibular teeth of Finns from birth to age 25

Objective. The aim was to provide radiographic data on postnatal development of the 8 mandibular teeth to serve as reference norms in clinical dentistry, forensic dentistry, anthropology, and research. Material and Methods. Developmental stages of teeth were assessed from a total of 2795 radiographs, mostly panoramic, of 1970 Finns (966 M and 1004 F) from birth to age 25. The grading was based on Demirjian's 8 mineralization stages and the crypt stage. Results. Timing of development in individual mandibular teeth is presented in two ways: as age at attainment of each developmental stage and as age of subjects in a developmental stage. Initiation of mineralization was visible in 1st molars at 0.20 years, in central incisors at 0.22 years, lateral incisors at 0.37 years, and canines at 0.56 years of age. Timing was usually earlier in girls than in boys. Differences were greatest in canines, where females were advanced by 1.74 years at the closure of the apex. Root development in 3rd molars showed an opposite trend, where apical closure was 1.19 years earlier in men. In 3rd molars, age at apical closure in females was 21.50 years, among the highest reported. In general, the early developmental stages had the shortest duration and the last stages the longest. Conclusion. Timing of postnatal development of individual mandibular teeth in Finns resembled developmental schedules reported for other Caucasian population groups. Any differences were mostly small and inconsequential.
The rehabilitation of attention in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury, using the APT-II programme

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a prevalent cause of cognitive impairments and dysfunctions and affects over 2 million individuals each year. Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is generally defined by a brief loss of consciousness, and post-traumatic amnesia that lasts for less than 24 hours. One region of the brain that is likely affected in patients with MTBI is the pre-frontal cortex. This region mediates several functions, including those required for adequate attention. Three individuals, diagnosed with MTBI and difficulties with attention, volunteered to participate in the study. Individuals were presented with 10 weeks of cognitive retraining with the Attention Process Training-II (APT-II) programme, followed by 6 or 7 weeks of educational and applicational programmes. Cognitive tests were administered both pre- and post-training to assess the effectiveness of the programme. Analysis of the results showed that the APT-II programme improved attention and performance speed in each of the three individuals. In addition, any rehabilitated cognitive skills remained stable in each individual in the absence of the rehabilitation programme for at least 6 weeks.
Variation in tiger salamander density within prairie potholes affects aquatic bird foraging behaviour

Through competitive asymmetry, coexisting fish populations can alter aquatic bird distributions and reduce the reproductive success of their offspring. Gray tiger salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium diaboli Dunn, 1940) may function similarly in fishless prairie potholes. To test the hypothesis that tiger salamanders compete with aquatic birds (including ducks, grebes, and American Coot (Fulica americana J.F. Gmelin, 1789)) for prey resources during the breeding season, 16 potholes were divided into halves by an impermeable plastic barrier and tiger salamander densities were increased or decreased on opposite sides of the barrier. From late May until early July, aquatic invertebrates were sampled from both sides of the divider and the foraging activities of birds were observed. Invertebrate samples revealed that densities of most macroinvertebrate taxa were lower in the halves of potholes with relatively higher densities of tiger salamanders. On average, bird occupancy was evenly distributed on either side of.
Safety of rifampin and pyrazinamide for the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection

A 2-month regimen of rifampin and pyrazinamide (2RZ) became an accepted alternative for treatment of latent tuberculosis (TB) after initial studies in HIV-seropositive patients demonstrated safety and efficacy. Once this alternative came into widespread use, however, a number of cases of severe and fatal hepatitis associated with 2RZ were reported. Although the initial experience with HIV-seropositive patients was encouraging, subsequent research demonstrated that the risk of 2RZ-associated hepatitis is considerably greater than the risk of hepatitis associated with isoniazid treatment for latent TB. Updated guidelines now recommend only restricted use of the 2RZ regimen for latent TB, with careful supervision.
Testing Hypotheses on Disjunctions Present in the Primarily Woody Boraginales: Ehretiaceae, Cordiaceae, and Heliotropiaceae, Inferred from ITS1 Sequence Data

Hypotheses on the origin of the current distribution patterns and bicontinental disjunctions of Cordiaceae, Ehretiaceae, and Heliotropiaceae (Primarily Woody Boraginales) are tested by pairwise comparison of Kimura two‐parameter distances. Estimated absolute dates of fossils and geological events (plate tectonics, climate changes) were used to calibrate a molecular clock. A mid‐Cretaceous origin of the Primarily Woody Boraginales is proposed with an initial diversification in South America. Plate tectonics appear to play a minor role in their phylogeography. Most disjunctions are best explained by the rare events of long‐distance dispersal because of the widespread occurrence of drupaceous fruits and their potential for endozoochoria. Furthermore, migrations and extinctions might have played a considerable role in the formation of the current distribution patterns.
The safety of phosphate binders

Disturbances of mineral metabolism occur during the early stages of chronic kidney disease. As renal function worsens, excess dietary phosphorus accumulates and blood levels increase, that can be clearly seen when the glomerular filtration rate has fallen below 30 ml/min/1.73m2. In patients with end stage renal disease, standard dialysis (three times/week) falls far short of removing adequate amounts of absorbed phosphorus; therefore, hyperphosphataemia is found in the majority of these patients. Hyperphosphataemia has long been associated with progression of secondary hyperparathyroidism and renal osteodystrophy, it can also lead to soft-tissue and vascular calcification. Recent observational data have associated hyperphosphataemia with increased cardiovascular mortality among dialysis patients. Adequate control of serum phosphorus remains a cornerstone in the clinical management and, despite the growing amount of available therapeutic options, achievement of NFK/KDOQI targets for mineral metabolism remain poor. Several reasons may explain the failure to adequately treat hyperphosphataemia: poor compliance with diet and phosphate binder prescriptions are common causes. Also, factors related with cost, tolerance, palatability, safety and efficacy are important. In this article, the authors review the advantages and drawbacks of conventional and emerging therapies in phosphorous binding.
Regulation of EPCs: The Gateway to Blood Vessel Formation

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are primitive endothelial precursors which are known to functionally contribute to the pathogenesis of disease. To date a number of distinct subtypes of these cells have been described, with differing maturation status, cellular phenotype, and function. Although there is much debate on which subtype constitutes the true EPC population, all subtypes have endothelial characteristics and contribute to neovascularisation. Vasculogenesis, the process by which EPCs contribute to blood vessel formation, can be dysregulated in disease with overabundant vasculogenesis in the context of solid tumours, leading to tumour growth and metastasis, and conversely insufficient vasculogenesis can be present in an ischemic environment. Importantly, it is widely known that transcription factors tightly regulate cellular phenotype and function by controlling the expression of particular target genes and in turn regulating specific signalling pathways. This suggests that transcriptional regulators may be potential therapeutic targets to control EPC function. Herein, we discuss the observed EPC subtypes described in the literature and review recent studies describing the role of a number of transcriptional families in the regulation of EPC phenotype and function in normal and pathological conditions.
Seed and Forest Dynamics: A Theoretical Framework and an Example from the Neotropics

Models that combine seed demography and forest dynamics to predict seed densities in forest patches of different disturbance ages are proposed. Two models are derived from a generalized Lefkovitch model with immigration. The first model assumes constant seed rain; the second one considers seed rain as a function of the forest mosaic configuration that changes according to a Markov-chain process. This theoretical framework was used to analyze data for the pioneer tree Cecropia obtusifolia at Los Tuxtlas rain forest. Our first model suggests that despite low soil-seed survival rates, high seed densities in all patch types in a forest mosaic may be explained by the abundant seed rain typical of pioneer species. We found that an abundant seed rain to all patches enables the regeneration of this species despite high seed predation and pathogen attack rates in the soil. Analysis of the second model suggests that increased gap formation in sites 2-35 yr since disturbance seems to alter seed availability of pioneers and patch dynamics less than an equal increase in gap formation in mature patches (>35 yr since disturbed). Extensive deforestation that alters seed-rain regimes will prevent regeneration of secondary species such as C. obtusifolia that have fast seed-bank turnover rates. A comparison with previous works calls for more quantitative studies on the input and loss dynamics of soil seeds in different patches for particular tropical species.
A taxonomic revision of native New Zealand Plantago (Plantaginaceae)

Species delimitation is challenging in New Zealand Plantago because of a complex polyploid evolutionary history, few taxonomically useful characters due to reduced habit and wind-pollinated flowers, and phenotypic plasticity. To clarify species limits and revise the taxonomy of this group, analyses of novel morphological data were undertaken and evaluated alongside previously published studies of chromosome number, amplified fragment length polymorphisms, molecular phylogenetics, molecular cytogenetics and morphology. All 11 native species of Plantago recognised here are endemic to New Zealand, except Plantago triantha which is also native to Tasmania, Australia. In contrast to previous treatments, Plantago picta is recognised here at the species rank, Plantago masoniae is treated as a synonym of Plantago triandra, and one new 16-ploid species, Plantago udicola Meudt & Garn. -Jones, is formally described. Seed number and shape, scape, bract and sepal vestiture, and number of flowers and spikes are particularly important characters for species delimitation.
Caries decline before fluoride toothpaste was available: earlier and greater decline in the rural north than in southwestern Norway

The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors related to caries in 6–17-year-olds in 2 groups of Norwegian counties between 1966 and 1983. The average number of surfaces filled and permanent teeth extracted due to caries declined in the 4 northern counties from 1967. An increase was recorded in the 7 southwestern counties until 1971, then a decline. In the 1960s significantly more surfaces were filled and teeth extracted in the north compared to the southwest. Based on intra-county comparisons, the decline in surfaces treated was greater in the north between 1967 and 1983; 5.4 ± 0.4 vs 3.7 ± 0.7, P < 0.01. The averages were 1.9 surfaces treated in the north and the southwest in 1983. Higher infant mortality, lower percentage of people with completed senior secondary education, and more inhabitants per doctor and per dentist in the north indicate a less favorable situation than in the southwest. School-based fluoride programs had been implemented in both groups from the mid-1960s and around 60% participated when fluoride toothpaste became freely marketed in 1971. More fluoride programs and more fluoride tablets were available to children in the north; this may indicate a preventive attitude among dentists. The decline of caries started at different times in different parts of Norway. In the rural north with the most unfavorable situation, the decline was greater and started years before fluoride toothpaste came on to the market. The early decline may partly be ascribed to the school-based fluoride programs, the continued decline to several factors.
Effect of dietary substitution of fish oil by Echium oil on growth, plasma parameters and body lipid composition in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.)

Gilthead seabream juveniles were fed on either a fish oil (FO)-containing diet or a diet containing a 50 : 50 blend of FO and Echium oil (EO) to determine the effect of EO on growth, plasma parameters and tissue lipid compositions. After 4 months of feeding, there was a significant increase of 18 : 2n-6 and a reduction of approximately 25% of 20 : 5n-3 in the flesh of fish fed the EO diet. At this point, half of the fish that fed on EO were returned to the FO diet as a third treatment and the trial continued with the three groups for a further 3 months. At the end of the experiment, food intake, survival, growth and plasma parameters were not affected by the inclusion of dietary EO. However, hepatosomatic index (HSI), total lipid and triacylglycerol contents of muscle decreased in fish fed the EO diet. Feeding the EO diet resulted in significant increments of potentially health-promoting fatty acids such as 18 : 3n-6, 18 : 4n-3 and 20 : 3n-6 but reduced n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids, particularly 20 : 5n-3. When EO-fed fish were returned to the FO diet, tissue lipid contents and HSI tended to increase, but 18 : 2n-6 and 20 : 5n-3 levels were not fully restored to the levels of fish fed the FO diet for the entire trial. Furthermore, the fatty acids present in EO, which may promote beneficial health effects, were reduced.