Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Female reproductive success in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.): life history, habitat, provisioning, and group-size effects

This study examines factors influencing female reproductive success in wild Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) in Shark Bay, Australia. Eighty-three females and their 142 calves were surveyed between 1988 and 1998 (3457 surveys); 42 calves were also observed during focal follows for 1330 h. Calf mortality is 44% by age 3 (n 110). Reproduction is moderately seasonal (September–January), peaking from October to December. Calf loss between August and December is followed by rapid conception (1–2 months), whereas conception is delayed (2–9 months) if calf loss occurs between January and July. Weaning ages ranged from 2.7 to 8.0 years, but 66.7% (42 calves) were weaned by their fourth birthday. Females tended to wean mid-pregnancy. Accordingly, median interbirth interval was 4.1 years. Female reproductive success was classified as 0, 1, 2, or 3 according to the number of calves who survived to age 3 over a 10-year period (n 38 females with complete histories). We examined whether factors affecting predation or food availability, water depth, and group size, were related to female reproductive success. Group size was unrelated to water depth or female reproductive success, but reproductive success was predicted by water depth (p .002). Shallow water may allow mothers and calves to detect and avoid predatory sharks. Alternatively, or additionally, prey density may be higher in shallow water compared to deep water.
Butter and walnuts, but not olive oil, elicit postprandial activation of nuclear transcription factor kappaB in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy men.

BACKGROUND Nuclear transcription factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) plays an important role in atherosclerosis by modulating gene expression. Postprandial lipemia has been correlated with an increase in NF-kappaB activation in vascular cells and it is associated with an increase in postprandial triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins, which are involved in the development of atherosclerotic plaque. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the intakes of 3 different foods with different fat compositions on the postprandial activation of monocyte NF-kappaB. DESIGN Eight healthy men followed a 4-wk baseline diet and then consumed 3 fat-load meals consisting of 1 g fat/kg body wt (65% fat) according to a randomized crossover design. Each meal had a different fatty acid composition, and the consumption of each meal was separated by 1 wk. The compositions of the 3 test meals were as follows: olive oil meal [22% saturated fatty acids (SFAs), 38% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), 4% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and 0.7% alpha-linolenic acid], butter meal (38% SFAs, 22% MUFAs, 4% PUFAs, and 0.7% alpha-linolenic acid), and walnut meal (20% SFAs, 24% MUFAs, 16% PUFAs, and 4% alpha-linolenic acid). RESULTS Ingestion of the olive oil meal did not elicit NF-kappaB activation compared with ingestion of either the butter meal at 3 h (P <0.05) or the walnut meal at 9 h (P <0.05). There was no significant difference in the postprandial triacylglycerol response between the 3 meals. CONCLUSIONS Consumption of an olive oil-enriched meal does not activate NF-kappaB in monocytes as do butter and walnut-enriched meals. This effect could enhance the cardioprotective effect of olive oil-enriched diets.
Energy Stable Numerical Schemes for a Hydrodynamic Model of Nematic Liquid Crystals

We develop a first-order and a second-order, coupled, energy stable numerical schemes for a modified Ericksen--Leslie hydrodynamic model for nematic liquid crystals. We then discuss two ways to develop decoupled schemes for the model and show that they are energy stable as well. The coupled schemes are implemented in 2-dimensional space, with which we study defect dynamics in flows of nematic liquid crystals. Comparisons of our model predictions with that of a reduced model previously studied, which used the material derivative in place of the time invariant derivative in the Ericksen--Leslie model, are made, demonstrating quite different, but more realistic orientational dynamics in flows of nematic liquid crystals.
Spin-orbit scattering in quantum diffusion of massive Dirac fermions

We theoretically study the effects of spin-orbit scattering on weak (anti)localization in two-dimensional massive Dirac systems. We clarify that weak antilocalization and localization of a single massive Dirac cone come from the diffusion of a singlet Cooperon in the massless limit and one of triplet Cooperons in the large-mass limit, respectively. Spin-orbit scattering behaves like random magnetic scattering to the triplet Cooperon, and suppresses the weak localization in the large-mass regime, different from in conventional systems where spin-orbit scattering leads to a crossover from weak localization to antilocalization. This behavior suggests an experiment to detect the weak localization of bulk subbands in topological insulator thin films, in which an enhancement of “weak antilocalization” is expected after doping heavy-element impurities. Finally, we compare the conventional electron and Dirac fermion systems in the quantum diffusion transport under ordinary, spin-orbit, and magnetic scattering.
Efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin for early triple negative breast cancer: a single center experience

Background Anthracycline- and taxane-based adjuvant chemotherapies are the most frequently used systemic treatments for women with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Adding platinum derivatives in the neo-adjuvant setting has been shown to not only improve the pCR rates, but also the 3 year DFS for TNBC patients; however, data on platinum derivatives in the adjuvant setting are limited. Methods We conducted a retrospective, single-center study in a Swiss breast cancer cohort to evaluate the role of carboplatin in addition to standard adjuvant therapy (anthracyclines and/ or taxanes) in early TNBC patients. All patients with stage I-III TNBC who underwent primary breast surgery between 2004 and 2014 were included. Results Eighty-three patients were included in the analysis. Stage and grade were well balanced between patients treated with standard chemotherapy (N=54; cohort A) or standard chemotherapy plus carboplatin (N=29; cohort B). The median time to local relapse (LRFS) was 15.0 months in cohort A versus 16.0 months in cohort B (p=0.655). The median time to distant relapse (DRFS) was 29.5 months in cohort A versus 25.0 months in cohort B (p=0.606) There was also no difference in overall survival between the two cohorts (mean overall survival 98 and 91 months, respectively; p=0.208). Discussion Our data suggest that in an unselected cohort of early TNBC patients, the addition of carboplatin in the adjuvant setting may not be beneficial with respect to relapse-free and overall survival. Further prospective trials to evaluate the addition of platinum in the adjuvant setting are warranted, especially to define subgroups of TNBC patients, which might benefit from carboplatin therapy.
Self-sensing concrete enabled by nano-engineered cement-aggregate interfaces

The objective of this study was to design a multifunctional cement composite that could not only bear loads but also possessed electromechanical properties that are sensitive to damage. A mainstream approach is to disperse large quantities of conductive additives in the cement matrix, which can be costly, involve complex procedures, difficult to scale-up, and degrade concrete’s inherent mechanical properties. Instead, this research proposes a new method to design multifunctional and self-sensing concrete, which is achieved by altering the cement–aggregate interface using conductive, nano-engineered coatings. Here, a carbon nanotube–based ink solution was sprayed onto the surfaces of aggregates and then dried to form electrically conductive, thin film-coated aggregates. Then, the film-coated aggregates were used as is for casting concrete specimens. It was demonstrated experimentally that this procedure yielded concrete specimens that were not only conductive but also had electrical properties that varied in response to applied physical damage. An electrical impedance tomography algorithm was also implemented and used for estimating their spatial resistivity distributions. Since the electrical properties at every location of the film-enhanced concrete were sensitive to damage, electrical impedance tomography was able to produce electrical resistivity maps that indicated the locations and severities of damage. Multiple concrete cylinder, plate, and beam specimens were cast and tested for validating the self-sensing properties of film-enhanced concrete and the spatial damage detection capabilities of the electrical impedance tomography algorithm.
Glycemic index in the diet of European outpatients with type 1 diabetes: relations to glycated hemoglobin and serum lipids.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the variation of the glycemic index (GI) in the diet of European outpatients with type 1 diabetes and how the GI of a commonly consumed diet is associated with metabolic control. OBJECTIVE The present study examined the calculated dietary GI of European outpatients with type 1 diabetes for possible relations to glycated hemoglobin (Hb A(1c)) and serum lipid concentrations. DESIGN The relation of the GI (calculated from a 3-d dietary record) to Hb A(1c), serum cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL), and fasting triacylglycerol was analyzed in 2810 people with type 1 diabetes from the EURODIAB Complications Study. RESULTS The GI was independently related to Hb A(1c) (P = 0.0001). Compared with the highest GI quartile (median GI: 89), adjusted Hb A(1c) in the lowest GI quartile (median GI: 75) was 11% lower in patients from southern European centers and 6% lower in patients from northern, western, and eastern European centers. Of the serum lipids, only the HDL cholesterol in patients from these European centers was independently related to the GI (P = 0.002). In southern European centers, the consumption of pasta, temperate-climate fruit, white bread, and potatoes largely determined the patients' dietary GI, whereas in the northern, western, and eastern European centers, consumption of bread, potatoes, and temperate-climate fruit was most relevant. CONCLUSIONS This study in European patients with type 1 diabetes showed that a lower dietary GI is related to lower Hb A(1c) concentrations, independently of fiber intake. The consumption of bread and pasta had the biggest effect on the overall dietary GI of European outpatients.
Combining Topological Hardware and Topological Software: Color-Code Quantum Computing with Topological Superconductor Networks

Preserving the delicate states that store information in a quantum computer when dealing with a noisy environment is a considerable challenge, and many researchers are turning to hardware- and software-based topological protection as a solution. A new paradigm based on error-correcting color codes combines the advantages of both hardware and software and enables a scalable approach to fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Increased green and yellow vegetable intake and lowered cancer deaths in an elderly population.

In a prospective cohort study of 1271 Massachusetts residents 66 years of age or older, we examined the association between consumption of carotene-containing vegetables and subsequent five year mortality. Dietary information was obtained by food frequency questionnaire in 1976. The relative risk of cancer mortality was examined within quintiles of green and yellow vegetable score (calculated from intake of carrots or squash, tomatoes, salads or leafy vegetables, dried fruits, fresh strawberries or fresh melon, and broccoli or brussel sprouts). After controlling for age and smoking behavior, those in the highest quintile of intake of these carotene-containing vegetables had a risk of cancer mortality which was 0.3 (95% confidence limits 0.10-0.96) that of those in the lowest quintile. The trend of decreased cancer risk with increasing intake of carotene containing vegetables was significant (p = .026). This relationship is consistent with the hypothesis that carotene may act as an inhibitor of carcinogenesis.
QRP04-4: End-to-end Congestion Management for Real-Time Streaming Video over the Internet

In this paper, we propose a new transport protocol, namely scalable streaming video protocol (SSVP), which employs an AIMD-oriented congestion control mechanism. SSVP, in a complementary role, operates on top of UDP and is specifically designed to support unicast video streaming applications. The transmission rate is controlled by properly adjusting the inter- packet-gap, spacing outgoing packets evenly to produce a smoothed flow. SSVP attempts to optimize the performance of streaming video delivery with concern to friendliness with interfering traffic. Quantifying SSVP's performance, we identify that the protocol utilizes a higher fraction of the available bandwidth, and maintains a regular transmission rate with oscillations of a smaller magnitude in comparison with existing congestion control schemes.
The Impact of Social Ties on Depressive Symptoms in U.S. and Japanese Elderly

This study examines the effects of social ties (with spouse, children, friends, neighbors, other relatives, and community groups) on depressive symptom levels in U.S. and Japanese adults aged 60 and over. Nationally representative survey data from the United States (N= 1,419) and Japan (N= 2,200) indicate that having a spouse, or increased contacts with friends, neighbors and relatives was associated with fewer depressive symptoms in both samples. The effects of spousal presence were significantly larger in the United States than in Japan. The presence of children was associated with fewer depressive symptoms in Japan only, and this effect was significantly stronger among those currently unmarried as opposed to those who are currently married. We discuss these similarities and differences between countries.
Policosanol is ineffective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Policosanol is one of the fastest growing over-the-counter supplements sold in the United States. The use of policosanol to treat elevated cholesterol is based on clinical trials conducted in Cuba, which showed sugar cane-derived policosanol to be similar in efficacy to statins. Recent studies have challenged these findings, but there have been no trials conducted in North America that have examined the ability of sugar cane-derived policosanol to lower cholesterol. OBJECTIVES This study investigated the efficacy of sugar cane-derived policosanol in healthy adults with mild hypercholesterolemia. The primary outcome was the percentage change in LDL cholesterol after 8 wk of therapy. Secondary outcome measures included changes in total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerols, C-reactive protein, and nuclear magnetic resonance-determined lipoprotein profile. Dietary habits, weight, and blood pressure were also monitored. DESIGN Ambulatory, community-dwelling healthy adults with mild hypercholesterolemia (n = 40) were assigned to receive oral policosanol (20 mg) or placebo once daily for 8 wk. This was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial conducted from January through August 2005. RESULTS No significant differences in the change in LDL cholesterol were observed between the placebo (n = 20) and policosanol (n = 20) groups. Also, no significant changes in secondary outcome measures, including total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerol, C-reactive protein, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-determined profiles were observed. Policosanol was well tolerated, and no significant adverse events were noted. CONCLUSION Policosanol does not alter the serum lipid profile over an 8-wk period in adults with mild hypercholesterolemia.
Acute effect of amino acid peritoneal dialysis solution on vascular function.

BACKGROUND Oral ingestion of proteins or amino acids is associated with endothelial dysfunction. The effect of commercial amino acid peritoneal dialysis solutions on vascular function is unknown. OBJECTIVE We compared the acute effect of intraperitoneal amino acid administration with that of intraperitoneal glucose administration on vascular function in peritoneal dialysis patients. DESIGN In an open-label randomized, controlled, crossover and observer-blinded trial, we examined the acute effect of an intraperitoneal application of 2 L commercial 1.1% amino acid solution compared with that of a 2.27% glucose solution in 13 peritoneal dialysis patients. The primary endpoint was the change in forearm reactive hyperemia 6 h after instillation of either dialysis solution. RESULTS After 6 h of dwell time, reactive hyperemia was substantially impaired after administration of the amino acid solution compared with the glucose solution (median difference: 202%; 95% CI: 57%, 368%; P = 0.007). In a comparison of differences between values at 6 h and those before treatment, reactive hyperemia significantly decreased during the dwell with the amino acid dialysis solution compared with that with the glucose dialysis solution (median difference: 242%; 95% CI: 53%, -457%; P = 0.013). In an analysis of smoking and nonsmoking patients separately, the difference in forearm blood flow between the 2 treatments was still statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS One 6-h dwell with a commercial amino acid dialysis solution acutely impairs forearm reactive hyperemia in smoking and nonsmoking peritoneal dialysis patients. Because endothelial dysfunction is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, the long-term use of these solutions may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Effect of inter-train interval on the induction of repetition suppression of motor-evoked potentials using transcranial magnetic stimulation

Repetition suppression (RS) is evident as a weakened response to repeated stimuli after the initial response. RS has been demonstrated in motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) induced with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Here, we investigated the effect of inter-train interval (ITI) on the induction of RS of MEPs with the attempt to optimize the investigative protocols. Trains of TMS pulses, targeted to the primary motor cortex by neuronavigation, were applied at a stimulation intensity of 120% of the resting motor threshold. The stimulus trains included either four or twenty pulses with an inter-stimulus interval (ISI) of 1 s. The ITI was here defined as the interval between the last pulse in a train and the first pulse in the next train; the ITIs used here were 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12, and 17 s. RS was observed with all ITIs except with the ITI of 1 s, in which the ITI was equal to ISI. RS was more pronounced with longer ITIs. Shorter ITIs may not allow sufficient time for a return to baseline. RS may reflect a startle-like response to the first pulse of a train followed by habituation. Longer ITIs may allow more recovery time and in turn demonstrate greater RS. Our results indicate that RS can be studied with confidence at relatively short ITIs of 6 s and above.
Incomplete Contracts and Public Ownership: Remarks, and an Application to Public-Private Partnerships

The question of what should determine the boundaries between public and private firms in an advanced capitalist economy is a highly topical one. In this paper I will try to summarize some recent theoretical thinking on this issue. I will divide the paper into two parts. First, I will make some general remarks about the relationship between the theoretical literature on privatization and incomplete contracting theories of the firm. Second, I will use some of the ideas from this literature to develop a very preliminary model of public-private partnerships.
Leveraging Contextual Sentence Relations for Extractive Summarization Using a Neural Attention Model

As a framework for extractive summarization, sentence regression has achieved state-of-the-art performance in several widely-used practical systems. The most challenging task within the sentence regression framework is to identify discriminative features to encode a sentence into a feature vector. So far, sentence regression approaches have neglected to use features that capture contextual relations among sentences. We propose a neural network model, Contextual Relation-based Summarization (CRSum), to take advantage of contextual relations among sentences so as to improve the performance of sentence regression. Specifically, we first use sentence relations with a word-level attentive pooling convolutional neural network to construct sentence representations. Then, we use contextual relations with a sentence-level attentive pooling recurrent neural network to construct context representations. Finally, CRSum automatically learns useful contextual features by jointly learning representations of sentences and similarity scores between a sentence and sentences in its context. Using a two-level attention mechanism, CRSum is able to pay attention to important content, i.e., words and sentences, in the surrounding context of a given sentence. We carry out extensive experiments on six benchmark datasets. CRSum alone can achieve comparable performance with state-of-the-art approaches; when combined with a few basic surface features, it significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art in terms of multiple ROUGE metrics.
The importance of constructive feedback: Implications of top-down regulation in the development of neural circuits

ABSTRACT Neural circuits in sensory pathways develop through a general strategy of overproduction of synapses followed by activity-driven pruning to fine-tune connectivity for optimal function. The early visual pathway, consisting of the retina → visual thalamus → primary visual cortex, has served for decades as a powerful model system for probing the mechanisms and logic of this process. In addition to these feedforward projections, the early visual pathway also includes a substantial feedback component in the form of corticothalamic projections from the deepest layer of primary visual cortex. The role of this feedback in visual processing has been studied extensively in mature animals, yet historically, its role in development has received comparatively little attention. Recent technological advances allowing for selective manipulation of neural activity in development led to the uncovering of a role for feedback in guiding the refinement of the forward projection from retina to visual thalamus. Here we discuss the implications of feedback exerting influence on the development of sensory pathways. We propose several possible advantages to constructing neural circuits with top-down regulation, and discuss the potential significance of this finding for certain neurologic disorders.
Study Of The Influence Of Shape And OrientationOf The Pores On The Rigidity Of Porous MaterialsThrough A Homogeneization Method

This study deals with the modelling of the mechanical behaviour of an anisotropic porous material made up of ellipsoidal pores uniaxially oriented according to the geometric parameters that characterize porosity. To do so we used a homogeneization technique based on the finite element method and the coupling of porosity parameters was taken into account. This approach made possible both the introduction of the quantitative and qualitative aspect of porosity and the transcription of mechanical anisotropy due to geometric anisotropy. We thus determined the homogeneized elasticity moduli which traduce rigidity of the material both parallel and perpendicular to the flattening of the pores according to their shape coefficient and porosity. The results show the advantage of anisotropy in the case of building materials such as cellular concretes. Indeed we noticed that with equal porosity a material made up of ellipsoidal pores is more rigid on the mechanical level - parallelly to the flattening of pores - than a material made up of spherical pores.