Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The isotopic biosignatures of photo‐ vs. thiotrophic bivalves: are they preserved in fossil shells?

Symbiont‐bearing and non‐symbiotic marine bivalves were used as model organisms to establish biosignatures for the detection of distinctive symbioses in ancient bivalves. For this purpose, the isotopic composition of lipids (δ13C) and bulk organic shell matrix (δ13C, δ34S, δ15N) from shells of several thiotrophic, phototrophic, or non‐symbiotic bivalves were compared (phototrophic: Fragum fragum, Fragum unedo, Tridacna maxima; thiotrophic: Codakia tigerina, Fimbria fimbriata, Anodontia sp.; non‐symbiotic: Tapes dorsatus, Vasticardium vertebratum, Scutarcopagia sp.). ∆13C values of bulk organic shell matrices, most likely representing mainly original shell protein/chitin biomass, were depleted in thio‐ and phototrophic bivalves compared to non‐symbiotic bivalves. As the bulk organic shell matrix also showed a major depletion of δ15N (down to –2.2 ‰) for thiotrophic bivalves, combined δ13C and δ15N values are useful to differentiate between thio‐, phototrophic, and non‐symbiotic lifestyles. However, the use of these isotopic signatures for the study of ancient bivalves is limited by the preservation of the bulk organic shell matrix in fossils. Substantial alteration was clearly shown by detailed microscopic analyses of fossil (late Pleistocene) T. maxima and Trachycardium lacunosum shell, demonstrating a severe loss of quantity and quality of bulk organic shell matrix with time. Likewise, the composition and δ13C‐values of lipids from empty shells indicated that a large part of these compounds derived from prokaryotic decomposers. The use of lipids from ancient shells for the reconstruction of the bivalve's life style therefore appears to be restricted.
Transient liver function abnormality following treatment with rabbit antithymocyte globulin for nonmyeloablative hematopoetic stem cell transplant: Two case reports

Rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) is increasingly used in nonmyeloablative hematopoetic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Elevated liver function tests (LFTs) have been reported for antithymocyte globulin in the treatment of aplastic anemia, but not when used in a conditioning regimen for HSCT. We describe two cases of patients receiving a conditioning regimen for HSCT containing rATG who developed a transient, severe transaminase elevation. In the first case, a 66-year-old woman with a history of acute myeloid leukemia received the first dose of rATG and the patient’s transaminases were found to be extremely elevated within a few hours. The aspartate transaminase (AST) peaked at 1286 U/L and alanine transaminase (ALT) peaked at 991 U/L and both resolved within a week. In the second case, a 72-year-old woman with a history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma received the first dose of rATG and the AST and ALT were found to be 1212 U/L and 689 U/L, respectively, 1 h after finishing the infusion. Like the previous case, the transaminase elevation resolved within a week. LFT abnormalities induced by rATG during conditioning therapy for HSCT may be transient and have a rapid onset after the first dose, but quickly subside without any complications or sequelae. It is important to follow the LFTs closely, as well as monitor for any signs and symptoms of acute liver failure.
High-Concentration PV using III-V Solar Cells

Recently, high-concentration PV using III-V solar cells becomes more attractive and several companies were founded. In the first part of this paper we present examples of III-V based high-concentration systems. The second part of the paper is devoted to experimental results obtained for a CPV system using FLATCONreg-type modules. An averaged system efficiency of 19.1% and a maximum system efficiency of 22.2% were determined. FLATCONreg test modules using triple-junction solar cells achieved outdoor measured efficiencies of 26.8%
A Generic and Robust System for Automated Patient-Specific Classification of Electrocardiogram Signals

This paper presents a generic and patient-specific classification system designed for robust and accurate detection of electrocardiogram (ECG) heartbeat patterns. The proposed feature extraction process utilizes morphological wavelet transform features, which are projected onto a lower-dimensional feature space using principal component analysis, and temporal features from the ECG data. For the pattern recognition unit, feed-forward and fully-connected artificial neural networks (ANNs), which are optimally designed for each patient by the proposed multi-dimensional particle swarm optimization (MD PSO) technique, are employed. By using relatively small common and patient-specific training data, the proposed classification system can adapt to significant inter-patient variations in ECG patterns by training the optimal network structure and thus achieves higher accuracy over larger data sets. The classification experiments over a benchmark database demonstrate that the proposed system achieves such average accuracies and sensitivities better than most of the current state-of-the-art algorithms for detection of ventricular ectopic beats (VEB) and supraventricular ectopic beats (SVEB). Over the entire database, the average accuracy sensitivity performances of the proposed system for VEB and SVEB detections are 98.3% 84.6%, and 97.4% 63.5%, respectively. Finally, due to its parameter invariant nature, the proposed system is highly generic and thus applicable to any ECG dataset.
The Adult Learning Open University Determinants (ALOUD) study: Biological and psychological factors associated with learning performance in adult distance education

Learning is crucial for everyone. The association between biological (eg, sleep, nutrition) and psychological factors (eg, test anxiety, goal orientation) and learning performance has been well established for children, adolescents and college students in traditional education. Evidence for these associations for adult distance students is lacking however. The Adult Learning Open University Determinants ( ALOUD) study is the first to identify the determinants of learning performance within adult distance education. Over the course of 1 year, all new students ( n = 4945) of the Open University of the Netherlands were approached. At baseline, 2040 students fully participated in this observational longitudinal study by filling out an online questionnaire and performing cognitive tests. At the 7 and 14 months follow-up, participants filled out a second and third questionnaire respectively, and data were given by the exam registration office to measure learning performance at these times. The ALOUD study might result in tailor-made educational innovations for adults participating in distance education and, finally, a more successful distance education student population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Virtual rigid body dynamics

An important direction in biological simulations is the development of methods that permit the study of larger systems and/or longer simulation time scales than is currently feasible by molecular dynamics. One such method designed with this objective in mind is stochastic boundary molecular dynamics (SBMD). SBMD was developed for the characterization of spatially localized processes in proteins, and has been shown to successfully reproduce structural and dynamical properties of these macromolecules, as compared to a molecular dynamics control simulation, when concerted or global motions are not present. The virtual rigid body dynamics method presented in this work extends the range of applicability of the SBMD method, by providing a framework to include these important long time scale conformational transitions. In this paper we describe the two‐step implementation of the virtual rigid body model: first, the reduction of the full atomic representation to a reduced particle (virtual bond) model, and second, the propagation of the dynamics of flexibly connected rigid bodies containing virtual atom sites.
Potential impacts of a future persistent El Niño or La Niña on three subspecies of Australian butterflies

One of the major uncertainties of 21st century climate change is the potential for shifts to the intensity and frequency of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. Although this phenomenon is known to have dramatic impacts on ecosystems regionally and globally, the biological consequences of climate change‐driven shifts in future ENSO events have been unexplored. Here, we investigate the potential impacts that a persistent El Niño, La Niña, or ‘Neutral' phase may have on species distributions. Using MaxEnt, we model the distribution of climatically suitable habitat for three northeast Australian butterfly subspecies (Doleschallia bisaltide australis, Hypolimnas alimena lamina, and Mycalesis terminus terminus) across the three ENSO phases. We find that the spatial extent and quality of habitat are lowest under conditions that would characterize a persistent El Niño (hot/dry). In contrast, suitable habitat is broadest under the warm/wet conditions associated with La Niña. Statistical analyses of the difference between pair‐wise combinations of suitability maps using Hellinger distance showed that projections for each subspecies and ENSO phase combination were significantly different from other combinations. The resilience of these, and other, butterfly (sub)species to changes in ENSO will be influenced by fluctuations in the strength of these events, availability of refugia, and life‐history characteristics. However, the population dynamics of wet‐ and dry‐season phenotypes of M. t. terminus and physiological limitations to high temperatures suggest that this subspecies, in particular, may have limited resilience should the strength and frequency of El Niño events increase.
Mechanism of oxidative stress‐induced intracellular acidosis in rat cerebellar astrocytes and C6 glioma cells

1 Following ischaemic reperfusion, large amounts of superoxide anion (.O2−), hydroxyl radical (.OH) and H2O2 are produced, resulting in brain oedema and changes in cerebral vascular permeability. We have found that H2O2 (100 μm) induces a significant intracellular acidosis in both cultured rat cerebellar astrocytes (0.37 ± 0.04 pH units) and C6 glioma cells (0.33 ± 0.07 pH units). 2 Two membrane‐crossing ferrous iron chelators, phenanthroline and deferoxamine, almost completely inhibited H2O2‐induced intracellular acidosis, while the non‐membrane‐crossing iron chelator apo‐transferrin had no effect. Furthermore, the acidosis was completely inhibited by two potent membrane‐crossing . OH scavengers, N‐(2‐mercaptopropionyl)‐grycine (N‐MPG) and dimethyl thiourea (DMTU). Since . OH can be produced during iron‐catalysed H2O2 breakdown (Fenton reaction), we have shown that a large reduction in pH1 in glial cells can result from the production of intracellular . OH via H2O2 oxidation. 3 We have ruled out the possible involvement of: (i) an increase in intracellular Ca2+ levels; and (ii) inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. 4 Our results suggest that . OH inhibits glycolysis, leading to ATP hydrolysis and intracellular acidosis. This conclusion is based on the following observations: (i) in glucose‐free medium, or in the presence of iodoacetate or 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose, H2O2‐induced acidosis is completely suppressed; (ii) H2O2 and iodoacetate both produce an increase in levels of intracellular free Mg2+, an indicator of ATP breakdown; and (iii) direct measurement of intracellular ATP levels and lactate production show 50 and 55% reductions in ATP content and lactate production, respectively, following treatment with 100 μm H2O2. 5 Inhibition of the pH1 regulators (i.e. the Na+–H+ exchange and possibly the Na+–HCO3−–dependent pH1 transporters) resulting from H2O2‐induced intracellular ATP reduction may also be involved in the H2O2‐evoked intracellular acidosis in glial cells.
Bacteriological profiling of diphenylureas as a novel class of antibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics remains an imposing global public health challenge. Of the most serious pathogens, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is problematic given strains have emerged that exhibit resistance to several antibiotic classes including β-lactams and agents of last resort such as vancomycin. New antibacterial agents composed of unique chemical scaffolds are needed to counter this public health challenge. The present study examines two synthetic diphenylurea compounds 1 and 2 that inhibit growth of clinically-relevant isolates of MRSA at concentrations as low as 4 µg/mL and are non-toxic to human colorectal cells at concentrations up to 128 μg/mL. Both compounds exhibit rapid bactericidal activity, completely eliminating a high inoculum of MRSA within four hours. MRSA mutants exhibiting resistance to 1 and 2 could not be isolated, indicating a low likelihood of rapid resistance emerging to these compounds. Bacterial cytological profiling revealed the diphenylureas exert their antibacterial activity by targeting bacterial cell wall synthesis. Both compounds demonstrate the ability to resensitize vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to the effect of vancomycin. The present study lays the foundation for further investigation and development of diphenylurea compounds as a new class of antibacterial agents.
Vibrio cholerae non-O1, non-O139 associated with seawater and plankton from coastal marine areas of the Caribbean Sea

The aim of this study was to characterize the virulence properties and the antimicrobial resistance of Vibrio cholerae isolates from a coastal area of the Caribbean Sea. Three V. cholerae isolates were obtained from seawater and plankton using the HP selective medium for Helicobacter pylori. These V. cholerae isolates belonged to the non-O1, non-O139 serogroups and they did not have cholera toxin genes. They were resistant to penicillins and some cephalosporins and were sensitive to netilmicin, tetracyclines, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and quinolones. This is the first study that provides biochemical and molecular evidence of non-O1, non-O139 V. cholerae isolates, non-toxigenic, carrying antibiotic resistance in seawater and plankton from a coastal area of the Caribbean Sea.
Microsatellite Markers Reveal Population Structure and Low Gene Flow Among Collections of Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Asia

ABSTRACT The melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is widespread agricultural pest, and it is known to have the potential to establish invasive populations in various tropical and subtropical areas. Despite the economic risk associated with a putative stable presence of this fly, the population genetics of this pest have remained relatively unexplored in Asia, the main area for distribution of this pest. The goals for this study were to employ nuclear markers to examine geographic collections for population genetic structure and quantify the extent of gene flow within these Southeast Asian and Chinese populations. To achieve these goals, we used 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers. A low level of genetic diversity was found among collections from China and higher levels were seen in Southeast Asia collections. Three genetically distinct groups, Southeast Asia, southwest China, and southeast China, were recovered by Bayesian model-based clustering methods, the phylogenetic reconstruction and the principal coordinate analysis. The Mantel test clearly shows geographical distance contributed in the genetic structuring of B. cucurbitae's populations. No recent bottlenecks for any of the populations examined. The results of clustering, migration analyses, and Mantel test, strongly suggest that the regional structure observed may be due to geographical factors such as mountains, rivers, and islands. We found a high rate of migration in some sites from the southwest China region (cluster 1) and the southeast China region (cluster 2), suggesting that China-Guangdong-Guangzhou (GZ) may be the center of melon fruit fly in the southeast China region.
A new partitioning based algorithm for document clustering

Document clustering is one of the key problems in text mining and information retrieval area. It groups text documents in a way that maximizes the similarity within clusters and minimizes the similarity between different clusters. Most partitioning based algorithms are sensitive to the initial centroids, the clustering result greatly depends on the initial centroids. This paper first uses unsupervised feature selection method to reduce the dimension of document feature space and then proposes a novel partitioning based algorithm which select initial cluster centriods in the process of clustering by the size and density of cluster in the datasets. The experiments on several text datasets show that the proposed approach effectively improves the quality of clustering.
Bias in estimates of lithosphere viscosity from interseismic deformation

The estimation of uniform viscosities representing the lower crust and uppermost mantle from postseismic or interseismic deformation (i.e., apparent viscosities) is inherently biased with respect to a depth dependence of the viscosities within each layer. Estimates are biased toward a more viscous lower crust or a less viscous lithospheric mantle, depending on the relative geometric mean viscosities of the two layers. When there is a low‐viscosity shear zone beneath the fault, apparent viscosities are close to that of the shear zone immediately after the earthquake, although the apparent viscosities increase significantly during the later interseismic period. Inferences made from interseismic deformation that the lower crust is more viscous than the upper mantle may be entirely consistent with depth‐dependent viscosity profiles that have a significant increase in viscosity from the lowermost crust to the uppermost mantle.
More donors or more delayed graft function? A cost‐effectiveness analysis of DCD kidney transplantation

Expansion of the donor pool with expanded criteria donors and donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors is essential. DCD grafts result in increased rates of primary non‐function (PNF) and delayed graft function (DGF). However, long‐term patient and graft survival is similar between donation after brain death (DBD) donors and DCD donors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of the use of DCD donors. A Markov‐based decision analytic model was created to simulate outcomes for two wait list strategies: (i) wait list composed of only DBD organs and (ii) wait list combining DBD and DCD organs. Baseline values and ranges were determined from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) database and literature review. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to test model strength and parameter variability. The wait list strategy consisting of DBD donors only provided recipients 5.4 Quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) at $65 000/QALY, whereas a wait list strategy combining DBD + DCD donors provided recipients 6.0 QALYs at a cost of $56 000/QALY. Wait lists with DCD donors provide adequate long‐term survival despite more DGF. This equates to an improvement in quality of life and decreased cost when compared to remaining on dialysis for any period of time.
Body composition, diet, and physical activity: a longitudinal cohort study in preschoolers with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND Altered body composition in children with cerebral palsy (CP) could be due to differences in energy intake, habitual physical activity (HPA), and sedentary time. OBJECTIVE We investigated the longitudinal relation between the weight-for-age z score (WZ), fat-free mass (FFM), percentage of body fat (%BF), and modifiable lifestyle factors for all Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels (I-V). DESIGN The study was a longitudinal population-based cohort study of children with CP who were aged 18-60 mo (364 assessments in 161 children; boys: 61%; mean ± SD recruitment age: 2.8 ± 0.9 y; GMFCS: I, 48%; II, 11%; III, 15%; IV, 11%; and V, 15%). A deuterium dilution technique or bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to estimate FFM, and the %BF was calculated. Energy intake, HPA, and sedentary time were measured with the use of a 3-d weighed food diary and accelerometer wear. Data were analyzed with the use of a mixed-model analysis. RESULTS Children in GMFCS group I did not differ from age- and sex-specific reference children with typical development for weight. Children in GMFCS group IV were lighter-for-age, and children in GMFCS group V had a lower FFM-for-height than those in GMFCS group I. Children in GMFCS groups II-V had a higher %BF than that of children in GMFCS group I, with the exception of orally fed children in GMFCS group V. The mean %BF of children with CP classified them as overfat or obese. There was a positive association between energy intake and FFM and also between HPA level and FFM for children in GMFCS group I. CONCLUSIONS Altered body composition was evident in preschool-age children with CP across functional capacities. Gross motor function, feeding method, energy intake, and HPA level in GMFCS I individuals are the strongest predictors of body composition in children with CP between the ages of 18 and 60 mo.
Environmental Poliovirus Surveillance during Oral Poliovirus Vaccine and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine Use in Córdoba Province, Argentina

ABSTRACT This study compares the presence of environmental poliovirus in two Argentinean populations using oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) or inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). From January 2003 to December 2005, Córdoba City used IPV in routine infant immunizations, with the exception of intermittent OPV use in August 2005. Between May 2005 and April 2006, we collected weekly wastewater samples in Córdoba City and the province's three major towns, which continued OPV use at all times. Wastewater samples were processed and analyzed for the presence of poliovirus according to WHO guidelines. During the months of IPV use in Córdoba City, the overall proportion of poliovirus-positive samples was 19%. During an intermittent switch from IPV to OPV, this proportion increased to 100% within 2 months. During the 3 months when IPV was reintroduced to replace OPV, a substantial proportion of samples (25%) remained positive for poliovirus. In the OPV-using sites, on average, 54% of samples were poliovirus positive. Seventy-seven percent of poliovirus isolates showed at least one mutation in the VP1-encoding sequence; the maximum genetic divergence from the Sabin strain was 0.7%. Several isolates showed mutations on attenuation markers in the VP1-encoding sequence. The frequency or type of virus mutation did not differ between periods of IPV and OPV use or by virus serotypes. This study indicates that the sustained transmission of OPV viruses was limited during IPV use in a middle-income country with a temperate climate. The continued importation of poliovirus and genetic instability of vaccine strains even in the absence of sustained circulation suggest that high poliovirus vaccine coverage has to be maintained for all countries until the risk of reintroduction of either wild or vaccine-derived poliovirus is close to zero worldwide.