Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of video and diver observations of sharks from a fishery-independent trap-video survey off east-central Florida, including utility of an alternative method of video analysis

The views and opinions expressed or implied in this article are those of the author (or authors) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. Abstract—We assessed the utility of an alternative method of video analysis for generating data for sharks and compared observations of sharks from the use of baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) with observations made by scuba divers during surveys conducted simultaneously with BRUVS video recordings. Videos were made off east-central Florida as part of a fishery-independent trap-video survey of fish species in hard-bottom reef habitats. In videos from 25 of 72 sites, we observed sharks, including the nurse (Ginglymostoma cirratum), tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier), spinner (Carcharhinus brevipinna), sandbar (C. plumbeus), Atlantic sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae), bull (C. leucas), and lemon (Negaprion brevirostris) sharks. In contrast, divers observed 3 species of sharks at 5 sites. We conclude that video observations are superior to diver observations for detecting sharks. Rapidly viewing an entire video (the alternative method), rather than viewing only a 20-min segment (the standard protocol), has the potential to increase the number of sites where sharks are observed and the number of shark species that are observed in video analysis (as it did, by 400% and 40%, respectively, in this study). This method holds promise for providing critical information without extraction of specimens and for aiding stock assessments and essential fish habitat delineation for these important predators. Predation is recognized as a key ecological and evolutionary process, and sharks, a group that includes species capable of being the top predators in oceans, are important members of marine communities (Estes et al., 2011; Osgood and Baum, 2015; Barley et al., 2017). Sharks are capable of exerting top-down effects on prey from lower trophic levels over wide spatial and temporal scales (Osgood and Baum, 2015; Barley et al., 2017; Dulvy et al., 2017), and shark species are valuable targets of recreational and commercial fisheries. To help protect species that have relatively low reproductive rates, late maturity, and slow growth, the United States has implemented shark management measures that are some of the strongest worldwide (NMFS1). Despite conservation efforts, global bycatch of sharks and demand for shark fins and meat have resulted in ~25% of shark species listed as endangered, vulnerable, or near threatened by the International Union for Con-
Differences in lethality between cancer cells and human lymphocytes caused by LF‐electromagnetic fields

The lethal response of cultured cancer cells lines K‐562, U‐937, DG‐75, and HL‐60 were measured directly after a 4 h exposure to a pulsating electromagnetic field (PEMF, sinusoidal wave form, 35 mT peak, 50 Hz) [Traitcheva et al. ( 2003 ): Bioelectromagnetics 24:148–158] and 24 h later, to determine the post‐exposure effect. The results were found to depend on the medium, pH value, conductivity, and temperature. From these experiments, suitable conditions were chosen to compare the vitality between K‐562 cells and normal human lymphocytes after PEMF treatment and photodynamic action. Both agents enhance necrosis synergistically for diseased as well as for healthy cells, but the lymphocytes are more resistant. The efficacy of PEMF on the destruction of cancer cells is further increased by heating (hyperthermia) of the suspension up to 44 °C or by lowering the pH‐value (hyperacidity) to pH 6.4. Similar apoptosis and necrosis can be obtained using moderate magnetic fields (B ≤ 15 mT 50/60 Hz), but this requires longer treatment of at least over a week. PEMF application combined with anticancer drugs and photodynamic therapy will be very effective. Bioelectromagnetics 25:503–507, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biological effects of low level microwave radiation

The article presents the results of changes in the emotional state of a person under the influence of low-intensity microwave radiation, which were confirmed by functional changes in the central and autonomic nervous systems, and also by formation of the physical and psychological attributes, typical for the definite states. Analysis of the obtained results allows considering them as a biological effect.
Perfusion MRI Abnormalities in Speech or Motor Transient Ischemic Attack Patients

Background and Purpose— Transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients may deteriorate rapidly. MRI is being increasingly used to assess such patients. One possible mechanism of neurological worsening is the presence of perfusion abnormalities. We sought to identify what proportion of TIA patients had evidence of perfusion abnormalities on MRI. Methods— TIA patients were prospectively enrolled and had a MRI completed as soon as possible. The images were assessed for the presence of perfusion abnormalities. Results— Sixty-nine TIA patients were enrolled, and 62 had perfusion imaging. In 56 patients (81%), the symptoms had resolved before imaging. In 21 patients (33.9%), there was evidence of a perfusion abnormality defined by relative mean transit time delay. In 12 patients (19.4%), the perfusion abnormality was present despite having complete resolution of neurological symptoms. We found no relationship between the presence of a perfusion abnormality and the clinical outcome. Conclusions— A proportion of TIA patients have perfusion abnormalities evident on MRI.
Eye care in rural communities: reaching the unreached in Sunderbans

Good health is dependent on having services which are accessible and affordable. The Sunderbans in West Bengal, India, is a conglomeration of 106 islands, 52 of which are inhabited, and the remaining of which are home to India's famous tigers and the world's biggest mangroves. Small boats are the main mode of transport. Sunderbans has the most deprived and marginalised population in India, with more than 40% of households living below the poverty line and 13% officially declared as the poorest of the poor. 1 The health infrastructure is dismal and nearly 70% of health services in the Sunderbans is provided by the government (in the public health system). There is a huge shortfall in the number of primary health centres and in the number of people working in the public health system. The general morbidity rate is higher in Sunderbans than in the rest of West Bengal: about half of the children under 5 years are chronically malnourished and women are very vulnerable. The Sunderbans are prone to natural disasters, which further accentuates poor health conditions. People in the Sunderbans are significantly disadvantaged in terms of eye health: whereas the prevalence of blindness amongst people aged 50 and above in West Bengal is 1.19% (and in India 1.0%), the prevalence of blindness in Sunderbans is 2.1%. To address these challenges, Sightsavers is implementing the Sunderbans Eye Health Service Strengthening Project supported by Seeing is Believing. The five-year project, which started in September 2013, has recognised that multiple efforts and approaches are needed to address the inequity in eye health experienced by the people of Sunderbans. They have therefore employed various strategies to provide services and access to these remote communities: both by strengthening the existing channels of eye care provision and by creating new ones to provide eye health services in this rural part of West Bengal. At the core of the project are 17 vision centres at locations where the 'block' (or local) government administration has its offices. Refraction, detection of cataract, provision of subsidised spectacles and making appropriate referrals are amongst the services delivered at these centres. People from the local area manage the vision centres after receiving specialised training to ensure a good quality service. The vision centres are linked to hospitals which help patients to make use of free and subsidised services that are available under government schemes, including operations. They are designed within a …
Customised component transaction with insufficient trust: case study of the LCD-panel industry

A new form of inter-firm transaction named customised component transaction with insufficient trust is investigated in this study. Trust is important in customised component transaction. But firms often face situations in which they are unable to build trustful relationships in today's global supply chain. By the case study of the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel industry, we explore the features, problems and solutions for such trustless transactions.
Association of Fusobacterium nucleatum infection with colorectal cancer in Chinese patients.

AIM To investigate Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) abundance in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and its association with CRC invasiveness in Chinese patients. METHODS The resected cancer and adjacent normal tissues (10 cm beyond cancer margins) from 101 consecutive patients with CRC were collected. Fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) was applied to detect F. nucleatum in CRC and normal tissues. The difference of F. nucleatum abundance between cancer and normal tissues and the relationship of F. nucleatum abundance with clinical variables were evaluated. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed on 22 CRC tissues with the highest F. nucleatum abundance by FQ-PCR testing to confirm FQ-PCR results. RESULTS The median abundance of F. nucleatum in CRC tissues [0.242 (0.178-0.276)] was significantly higher than that in normal controls [0.050 (0.023-0.067)] (P < 0.001). F. nucleatum was over-represented in 88/101 (87.1%) CRC samples. The abundance of F. nucleatum determined by 2(-ΔCT) was significantly greater in tumor samples [0.242 (0.178, 0.276)] than in normal controls [0.050 (0.023, 0.067)] (P < 0.001). The frequency of patients with lymph node metastases was higher in the over-abundance group [52/88 (59.1%)] than in the under-abundance group [0/13 (0%)] (P < 0.005). No significant association of F. nucleatum with other clinico-pathological variables was observed (P > 0.05). FISH analysis also found more F. nucleatum in CRC than in normal tissues (median number 6, 25(th) 3, 75(th) 10 vs 2, 25(th) 1, 75(th) 5) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION F. nucleatum was enriched in CRC tissues and associated with CRC development and metastasis.
Enhancement on primate corneal endothelial cell survival in vitro by a ROCK inhibitor.

PURPOSE The transplantation of cultivated corneal endothelial cells (CECs) has gained attention recently for the treatment of patients with corneal endothelial dysfunction. However, an efficient culturing technique for human (H)CECs has yet to be properly established. The present study was conducted to investigate the applicability of the Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632 in promoting cultivation of cynomolgus monkey (M)CECs. METHODS MCECs of cynomolgus monkeys were cultured in a medium containing 10 microM Y-27632. The number of viable cells adherent to culture plates were monitored by a luminescent cell-viability assay and colony growth was detected by toluidine blue staining. Proliferating cells were detected by Ki67 expression using flow cytometry and a BrdU-labeling assay for immunocytochemistry. Annexin V-positive apoptotic cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS The number of viable cultivated MCECs was enhanced by Y-27632 addition after 24 hours in culture. The colony area of the culture in the presence of Y-27632 was higher than in the absence of Y-27632 on day 10. In Y-27632-treated cultures, the number of Ki67-positive cells was significantly increased at 24 and 48 hours, and the number of proliferating BrdU-positive cells was increased at 48 hours. The number of Annexin V-positive apoptotic cells was decreased at 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS The inhibition of Rho/ROCK signaling by specific ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 promoted the adhesion of MCECs, inhibited apoptosis, and increased the number of proliferating cells. These results suggest that the ROCK inhibitor may serve as a new tool for cultivating HCECs for transplantation.
Study of the mechanisms involved in adenosine‐5′‐O‐(2‐thiodiphosphate) induced relaxation of rat thoracic aorta and pancreatic vascular bed

1 The endothelium‐dependent relaxation of blood vessels induced by P2Y‐purinoceptor activation has often been shown to involve prostacyclin and/or nitric oxide (NO) release. In this work, we have investigated the mechanisms involved in the relaxant effect of the P2Y agonist, adenosine −5′‐O‐(2‐thiodiphosphate) (ADPβS) using two complementary preparations: rat pancreatic vascular bed and aortic ring. 2 On the pancreatic vascular bed, ADPβS (1.5 and 15 μm) infused for 30 min induced a concentration‐dependent vasodilatation; it was progressive during the first 10 min (first period) and sustained from 10 to 30 min (second period). Indomethacin (10 μm) delayed ADPβS‐induced vasodilatation (1.5 and 15 μm) by about 6 min. Nω‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME) (200 μm) suppressed the relaxation for about 5 min but thereafter ADPβS at the two concentrations progressively induced an increase in the flow rate. Even the co‐administration of L‐NAME and indomethacin did not abolish the ADPβS‐induced vasorelaxation. 3 On 5‐hydroxy tryptamine (5‐HT) precontracted rings mounted in isometric conditions in organ baths, we observed that ADPβS induced a concentration‐dependent relaxation of rings with a functional endothelium; this effect was stable for 25 min. The ADPβS relaxant effect was strongly inhibited by Reactive Blue 2 (30 μm) and was suppressed by pretreatment of rings with saponin (0.05 mg ml−1 for 30 min), which also abolished the acetylcholine‐induced relaxation. 4 ADPβS‐induced relaxation of 5‐HT precontracted rings is largely inhibited by indomethacin (100 or 10 μm) or L‐NAME (100 μm). 5 We conclude that: the ADPβS‐induced relaxation is endothelium‐dependent, mediated by P2Y‐purinoceptors, and at least in part linked to NO and prostacyclin release, depending on the preparation used. Furthermore, on the pancreatic vascular bed, (an)other mechanism(s) than prostacyclin and NO releases may be involved in ADPβS‐induced vasodilatation.
The Role of Viscous Soluble Fiber in the Metabolic Control of Diabetes: A review with special emphasis on cereals rich in β-glucan

Recent recommendations for the dietary management of diabetes mellitus state that diet needs to be individualized so that there is improved glucose and lipid control in the patient. In a majority of individuals with diabetes, this is best done with a diet that is low in fat and high in carbohydrate, particularly that of cereal origin. However, symptoms of hyper- and hypoglycemia must be averted. Most cereal products, however, tend to have a high glycemic index. Cereals such as Prowashonupana barley or fractions of oat bran are particularly high in the soluble fiber β-glucan, which when taken with a meal increases the viscosity of the meal bolus once it has reached the small intestine, where the absorption of nutrients occurs. This high viscosity delays absorption. A 50% reduction in glycemic peak can be achieved with a concentration of 10% β-glucan in a cereal food. A significant lowering of plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations can also be anticipated with the daily consumption of ≥3 g of (β-glucan. Diabetic individuals can benefit from diets that are high in (β-glucan, which, as a component of oats and barley, can be incorporated into breakfast cereals and other products.
Alteration of hepatic cells glucose metabolism as a non-cholinergic detoxication mechanism in counteracting diazinon-induced oxidative stress

The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of acute exposure to various doses of diazinon, a widely used synthetic organophosphorus (OP) insecticide on plasma glucose, hepatic cells key enzymes of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, and oxidative stress in rats. Diazinon was administered by gavage at doses of 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg. The liver was perfused and removed under anaesthesia. The activities of glycogen phosphorylase (GP), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were analysed in liver homogenate. Administration of diazinon (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) increased plasma glucose concentrations by 101.43% (P=0.001), 103.68% (P=0.000) and 160.65% (P=0.000) of control, respectively. Diazinon (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) increased hepatic GP activity by 43.5% (P=0.05), 70.3% (P=0.00) and 117.2% (P=0.02) of control, respectively. In addition, diazinon (30 and 60 mg/kg) increased hepatic PEPCK by 77.3% (P=0.000) and 93.5% (P=0.000) of control, respectively. Diazinon (30 and 60 mg/kg) decreased liver TAC by 38% (P=0.046) and 48% (P=0.000) of control, respectively. Also diazinon (30 and 60 mg/kg) increased hepatic cell liver lipid peroxidation by 77% (P=0.05) and 280% (P=0.000) of control. The correlations between plasma glucose and hepatic cells TBARS (r2=0.537, P=0.02), between plasma glucose and ChE activity (r2=0.81, P=0.049) and between plasma glucose and hepatic cells GP activity (r2=0.833, P=0.04) were significant. It is concluded that the liver cells are a site of toxic action of diazinon. Diazinon increases glucose release from liver into blood through activation of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis as a detoxication non-cholinergic mechanism to overwhelm diazinon-induced toxic stress. The results are in accordance with the hypothesis that OPs are a predisposing factor of diabetes.
Acute toxicity of curative radiotherapy in elderly patients.

AIM One reason for obvious differences in cancer treatment of elderly patients, compared to younger patients, may be the fear of reduced tolerance at a higher age. The purpose of the study was to document acute tolerance of radiotherapy with curative intent in patients > 74 years old. Special emphasis was given to 72 patients treated to large volumes and/or high doses for gynecological carcinomas, prostate cancer of subsites of the head and neck requiring bilateral treatment of the neck including major parts of the pharynx and larynx. PATIENTS AND METHOD From January 1991 to May 1995, 210 consecutive patients entered a prospective study to assess acute toxicity of radiotherapy given with curative intent. Median age was 79.3 (74.4 to 93.7) years. Fifty-three percent received postoperative radiotherapy, 47% radiotherapy alone. Radiation technique, fractionation and doses were the same as applied in younger patients. Tolerance was scored using a 5-point scale; in addition, pre- and post-treatment Karnofsky performance status and body weight were assessed. RESULTS Acute toxicity leads to a dose reduction in 3 patients. The death of 1 patient with Hodgkin's disease was attributable to large field radiotherapy, and 1 case of grade 4 cystitis was noted in a patient with prostate cancer. Radiotherapy for breast cancer with or without lymph nodes imposed no problem. With appropriate supportive measures, even hyperfractionated or accelerated radiotherapy regimens for carcinomas of the head and neck were feasible in elderly patients. Radiotherapy to the pelvic region lead to severe diarrhea requiring medication in 20% of the patients. For all areas treated, higher age within the range of > 74 to < 94 years did not increase the severity of the acute radiation reactions. CONCLUSIONS Using the same treatment schedules and techniques of radiotherapy as for younger patients, curative radiotherapy is well tolerated in patients aged > 74 years treated even when major parts of the pharynx and larynx or large volumes of the pelvis are included. Small bowel reaction (diarrhea) and pharyngeal mucositis deserve special attention and supportive care in elderly patients prone to a rapidly symptomatic dehydration.
Data-driven prognostic techniques for estimation of the remaining useful life of lithium-ion batteries

This paper aims to study the use of various data-driven techniques for estimating the remaining useful life (RUL) of the Li-ion batteries. These data-driven techniques include neural networks, group method of data handling, neuro-fuzzy networks, and random forests as an ensemble-based system. These prognostic techniques make use of the past and current data to predict the upcoming values of the capacity to estimate the remaining useful life of the battery. This work presents a comparative study of these data-driven prognostic techniques on constant load experimental data collected from Li-ion batteries. Experimental results show that these data-driven prognostic techniques can effectively estimate the remaining useful life of the Li-ion batteries. However, the random forests and neuro-fuzzy techniques outperform other competitors in terms of the RUL prediction error and root mean square error (RMSE), respectively.
Dynamics of Inflation Persistence in International Inflation Rates

Characteristics of inflation play a key role in policy formulation and market analysis. Several studies have analyzed inflation persistence and reached diverging conclusions. In this paper we investigate the dynamics of inflation persistence using fractionally integrated processes and find that there has been a clear decline in inflation persistence in the U.S. over the past two decades. We also show that the presence of fractional integration in inflation successfully explains previous diverging results. Lastly we provide some international comparisons to examine the extent to which there has been a commensurate decline in inflation persistence in the other G7 economies.
Capital Vintage, Time Trends, and Technical Change in the Electric Power Industry

Beginning with Tinbergen in 1942, economists have employed a time trend in cost or production functions to represent the rate at which new technology is introduced into the production unit. In sufficiently flexible models of the production process the time trend may be used to obtain estimates of the rate, as well as direction, of technical change. The use of the time trend is generally defended on pragmatic grounds, as no theoretical justification exists for assuming that new technology is introduced at a steady rate that is independent of a firm's investment in R&D, education, capital of a more recent vintage, etc. In recent years alternatives to the traditional time trend have been sought to represent the rate at which new technology is introduced. Research in this area has been concentrated in the telecommunications industry, where the stock of R&D or the percentage of calls completed by direct-dialing or modern switching facilities have been employed as technological indices by Nadiri and Schankerman [32], Denny et al. [14], and Christensen et al. [7]. The latter two studies indicate that explicit technological indices provide a better representation of the pace of innovation than the time trend. This conclusion must remain tentative, however, as it is not possible to determine what is the true direction of technical change in these studies. This shortcoming is overcome in a recent study by Kopp and Smith [24], who compare the performance of time trends and explicit technological indices in a study using pseudo data generated by process analysis models. Their results unambiguously support the use of technologically explicit indicators of technical change, and indicate that the use of a time trend may not provide a consistent estimate of the direction of technical change. This study does not, however, shed any light on the ability of a time trend to accurately reflect the rate of technical change. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of alternative technological indices on the estimated rate and direction of technical change in the electric power industry. The performance of a time trend is compared with that of a vintage index, computed as the average age of a firm's steam generating capacity. This latter index is consistent with the notion that new technology is embodied in newly constructed capital, an assumption sup-