Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent evolution of extreme cestode growth suppression by a vertebrate host

Significance Large parasites are a persistent source of morbidity and mortality in humans, domesticated animals, and wildlife. Hosts are subject to strong natural selection to eliminate or tolerate these parasite infections. Here, we document the recent evolution of a striking form of resistance by a vertebrate host (threespine stickleback) against its cestode parasite (Schistocephalus solidus). After the Pleistocene glacial retreat, marine stickleback colonized freshwater lakes, encountered Schistocephalus, and evolved varying levels of resistance to it. We show that heavily and rarely infected populations of stickleback can similarly resist Schistocephalus colonization, but rarely infected fish suppress parasite growth by orders of magnitude. These populations represent ends of a natural continuum of cestode growth suppression which is associated with reduced infection prevalence. Parasites can be a major cause of natural selection on hosts, which consequently evolve a variety of strategies to avoid, eliminate, or tolerate infection. When ecologically similar host populations present disparate infection loads, this natural variation can reveal immunological strategies underlying adaptation to infection and population divergence. For instance, the tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus persistently infects 0–80% of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in lakes on Vancouver Island. To test whether these heterogeneous infection rates result from evolved differences in immunity, we experimentally exposed laboratory-reared fish from ecologically similar high-infection and no-infection populations to controlled doses of Schistocephalus. We observed heritable between-population differences in several immune traits: Fish from the naturally uninfected population initiated a stronger granulocyte response to Schistocephalus infection, and their granulocytes constitutively generate threefold more reactive oxygen species in cell culture. Despite these immunological differences, Schistocephalus was equally successful at establishing initial infections in both host populations. However, the no-infection fish dramatically suppressed tapeworm growth relative to high-infection fish, and parasite size was intermediate in F1 hybrid hosts. Our results show that stickleback recently evolved heritable variation in their capacity to suppress helminth growth by two orders of magnitude. Data from many natural populations indicate that growth suppression is widespread but not universal and, when present, is associated with reduced infection prevalence. Host suppression of helminth somatic growth may be an important immune strategy that aids in parasite clearance or in mitigating the fitness costs of persistent infection.
Thermal adaptation in the fungal pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola

Genetic differentiation in thermal adaptation can result from a trade‐off between the performance of organisms across different temperatures or from the accumulation of deleterious mutations. In this experiment, we assayed thermal sensitivity of 138 genetically distinct Mycosphaerella graminicola isolates sampled from five host populations in four locations under two temperature regimes (22 and 15 °C) and found significant differences in growth rate and response to temperature among populations. On average, genetic differentiation accounted for more than 50% of phenotypic variation in thermal adaptation while plasticity contributed less than a quarter of phenotypic variation. Populations originating from warm places performed better under the high‐temperature regime and had a larger positive response to increasing temperature. Pairwise population differentiation (QST) in temperature sensitivity, measured by taking the ratio of growth rates at 22 to 15 °C, was positively and significantly correlated to the pairwise difference in annual mean temperature at the collection sites. Because overall QST in temperature sensitivity was significantly higher than overall GST in neutral restriction fragment length polymorphism loci, we believe that the primary mechanism underlying this thermal adaptation is antagonistic pleiotropy. Our results indicate that temperature sensitivity is a better indicator of thermal adaptation than growth rate at individual temperatures.
Hypoglycaemia manifestations and recurrent events: Lessons from the SAVOR‐TIMI 53 outcome study

Hypoglycaemia is a well‐known risk associated with the use of sulphonylureas and insulin, often limiting achievement of glycaemic goals. Recognizing the precipitants and recurrence patterns of hypoglycaemic events, particularly major events, is therefore clinically important. The SAVOR‐TIMI‐53 trial was a cardiovascular outcome study of 16 492 patients allocated to saxagliptin vs placebo added to conventional care for a median of 2.1 years. Hypoglycaemic events were a prespecified outcome in the study and were defined as a symptomatic episode that recovered with carbohydrates or any recorded blood glucose <3.0 mmol/l (<54 mg/dL). A major event was defined as one that required third‐party assistance. Analysis of the features of the first hypoglycaemic event for each patient showed that a precipitant for the event was recognized by fewer than half of the patients, with the precipitant most often being a missed meal. In 40% of patients reporting major hypoglycaemic events, no precipitating factor was recognized, and in >60%, no previous hypoglycaemic event was reported during the timespan of the study, underscoring the lack of predictability of such an event.
Prospective Evaluation of Associations Between Prenatal Cortisol and Adulthood Coronary Heart Disease Risk: The New England Family Study

Objective Increasing evidence suggests that early life factors may influence coronary heart disease (CHD) risk; however, little is known about the contributions of prenatal cortisol. Objectives were to prospectively assess the associations of maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy with offspring’s 10-year CHD risk during middle age. Methods Participants were 262 mother-offspring dyads from the New England Family Study. Maternal free cortisol was assessed in third-trimester maternal serum samples. Ten-year CHD risk was calculated in offspring at a mean age of 42 years, using the validated Framingham risk algorithm incorporating diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, age, and sex. Results In multivariable-adjusted linear regression analyses adjusted for age and race/ethnicity, high versus low maternal cortisol tertile was associated with 36.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 8.4% to 72.5%) greater mean 10-year CHD risk score in women. There was no association in men (−2.8%, 95% CI = −23.8% to 24.0%). Further adjustment for in utero socioeconomic position showed 26.1% (95% CI = −0.5% to 59.9%) greater CHD risk in women. Adjustment for maternal age and size for gestational age had little effect on findings. Conclusions Maternal prenatal cortisol levels were positively associated with 10-year CHD risk among female, and not male, offspring. Adjusting for socioeconomic position during pregnancy reduced effect size in women, suggesting that it may be a common prior factor in both maternal cortisol and CHD risk. These findings provide evidence that targeting mothers who have elevated prenatal cortisol levels, including elevated cortisol in the setting of low socioeconomic position, may potentially reduce long-term CHD risk in their offspring.
ABSORPTION OF CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS ALONG THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF THE LAYING FOWL AS INFLUENCED BY DIETARY CALCIUM AND EGG SHELL FORMATION.

The apparent absorption of calcium, phosphorus and total dry matter along the gastrointestinal tract of the laying hen, was followed using yttrium-91 as a non-absorbed tracer. Percentage calcium and phosphorus absorption appeared to be greater in the proximal parts of the intestine than in the distal parts. This differ ence was smaller for total dry matter. Percentage calcium absorption was not signifi cantly influenced by its dietary level, nor did the latter influence the absorption of dry matter. Percentage absorption of phosphorus was, however, depressed by the higher dietary calcium level. Egg shell deposition was associated with increased calcium and to a smaller degree, phosphorus absorption. It did not influence dry matter ab sorption. A heavy endogenous phosphorus excretion was observed in the duodenum. The identification of the sites of mineral absorption is important for understanding the mechanism involved in the mineral absorption. This problem was studied mainly by in vitro and in situ experimenta tion. The in vitro studies such as those of Schachter and associates (1, 2) provide information on the capacity of various intestinal segments to absorb calcium. However, the rate and percentage of cal cium absorption may also depend on the rate of passage of food, which is quite variable in the various intestinal segments (3, 4). Therefore, in vitro methods can not measure the relative contribution of each segment to total calcium absorption in vivo. A different method for studying calcium absorption is the use of oral doses of 45Caor its injection into different parts of the intestine (5, 6). This method, how ever, measures mainly the outflux of cal cium from the intestine and not the net absorption which is the difference between the outflux and the influx. Chandler and Cragle (7) used I44Ceas a non-absorbed tracer to study calcium and phosphorus absorption in calves. The ratio of calcium and phosphorus to 144Ceat any point in the intestine measures the cumu lative percentage absorption up to this point. Similarly, Bolton (8) used cellulose as a tracer for estimation of protein and available carbohydrate absorption along the tract of chickens. Marcus and Lengemann (3) reported that 81Ywas not ab sorbed in the rat. Preliminary trials in this laboratory showed that this isotope was not absorbed by colostomized chickens. Following an oral dose of 91Ymixed in some feed, 93% of the dose was detected in the feces voided during the first 24-hour period, and 3% in the following 24-hour period. No activity could be detected in the urine of these animals. Therefore, 91Ywas used in the present trial to follow the absorption of calcium and phosphorus along the intestinal tract of laying hens. The possibility that dietary calcium and the presence of a calcifying shell in the uterus may modify the pattern of calcium and phosphorus absorption was also investigated.
Exchange Rate-Based Stabilization in Western Europe: Greece, Ireland, Italy and Portugal

This paper compares the experience with exchange-rate-based stabilization (ERBS) of four Western European countries with that of high-inflation developing countries. In general, the behavior of key macroeconomic variablesinflation, output, demand, the real exchange rate and the current accountin the four countries examined did not correspond to the pattern observed in developing countries, although some resemblance to this pattern could be found in Italy in 1987-92 and Greece in 1994-96. The experience with ERBS in Western Europe highlights the importance of incomes policy as an ingredient of a successful stabilization program and shows that the adoption of a looser anchor does not necessarily reduce the output cost of disinflation.
Insulin Sensitivity in Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients demonstrate a spectrum of pancreatic β-cell abnormalities. Those with no exocrine insufficiency (NEXO) have normal insulin secretion. Exocrine-insufficient CF patients with overt diabetes (EXO-IT) have impaired insulin secretion and fasting hyperglycemia. Exocrine-insufficient patients without diabetes (EXO) have impaired insulin secretion but maintain normoglycemia. We postulated that EXO individuals compensate for insulin deficiency by increasing insulin sensitivity and investigated glucose utilization in CF. To examine hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity, euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp studies were performed by using the hot GINF isotope dilution technique. Insulin was sequentially infused at 0.25, 1.0, and 10.0 mU · kg−1 · min−1. Glucose-mediated glucose uptake (GMGU) was assessed on another day with hyperglycemic clamp studies, during which insulin and somatostatin were infused to hold insulin-mediated glucose uptake constant between the two clamp studies. Skeletal muscle GLUT4 levels were assessed in EXO and control patients with Western blotting. Three patterns of peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity were seen that were related to the degree of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. NEXO individuals had normal peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity. EXO individuals had enhanced peripheral insulin sensitivity that was not associated with a change in skeletal muscle glucose transporter abundance compared with control patients; paradoxically, EXO subjects demonstrated hepatic insulin resistance. EXO-IT had peripheral and hepatic insulin resistance. GMGU was diminished in both EXO and EXO-IT subjects. The unique combination of increased hepatic glucose production and increased peripheral glucose utilization seen in EXO may be a metabolic adaptation to increased peripheral energy needs. Increased glucose utilization is not attributable to a change in skeletal muscle GLUT4 or glycogen levels. Insulin resistance in CF patients with overt diabetes may be related to severe hyperglycemia secondary to impairment of insulin secretion.
Modulation of calcium current gating in frog skeletal muscle by conditioning depolarization.

1. Ca2+ inward currents were measured by voltage clamping cut skeletal muscle fibres of the frog (Rana esculenta) in a double‐Vaseline‐gap system. 2. In order to study the basis of the previously described fast gating mode induced in the Ca2+ inward current by a conditioning depolarization we quantitatively analysed the response to differing features of the conditioning prepulse. 3. The faster activation seen during the second of two depolarizations was confined to the component of the inward current which could be blocked by 5 to 10 microM nifedipine. 4. By applying depolarizing conditioning pulses of gradually increasing length the time course of the transition to the fast gating mode could be determined. 5. Both the transition to the fast gating mode (point 4) caused by a depolarization and the slow inward current activated during the same depolarization showed similar voltage‐dependent kinetics. 6. The kinetic change of the test current appeared to be equal when the same fractional activation was achieved at the end of the conditioning pulse independent of its duration or amplitude. 7. Flash photolysis of nifedipine in the interval between conditioning and test pulse showed that the predepolarization causes a rate‐enhancing effect even though the slow channels were blocked by nifedipine during the conditioning pulse. 8. We conclude that the transition of the calcium channel from its slow to its fast gating mode is determined by the slow voltage‐dependent reaction which limits the rate of channel opening under control conditions. This reaction is apparently not prevented by the binding of nifedipine and the block of current flow through the channel.
Water quality issues and infant diarrhoea in a South American province

Abstract In the province of Salta, in the Northwest region of Argentina, almost two-thirds of the population live in absolute poverty, and diseases associated with poverty are rampant. Almost 12% of the total population of the province are children below 5 years of age; almost half of these infants are living in situations where the basic necessities are not available. Primitive sanitary conditions, including widespread contamination of available water supplies with pathogens, contribute to a major public health problem. Infant mortality was 17% higher for Salta than for Argentina as a whole in 2001. A major cause of death for these children is infectious disease, especially respiratory and intestinal diseases. In Salta, more than half of the total population of infants is affected by diarrhoea annually. The infectious pathogens are diverse: bacteria (predominantly in spring and summer), viruses (especially in the winter) and parasites (endemic in some situations). This paper evaluates current methods used to test for the presence of pathogens in drinking water; discusses why these methods are less than adequate; documents an episode of contamination in a local water supply source; and suggests appropriate methods that can be used to better address this major public health issue effectively.
Endogenous Covariates in Duration Models and the Effect of Adolescent Childbirth on Schooling

This paper uses a hazards model with endogenous covariates to estimate the effects of family background, employment opportunity, and childbearing upon the school dropout of youths from low-income households. Family background and employment opportunity are found to be significant, but when the effect of childbearing is properly estimated, it is not significant. The authors conclude that childbearing and dropout are jointly determined, but that when this is properly accounted for, childbearing appears to exert little effect upon dropout.
Applied General Equilibrium Analysis of Small Open Economies with Scale Economies and Imperfect Competition

An applied general equilibrium model of a small open economy is described. The model incorporates industrial organization structures heretofore absent from applied G.E. trade models. Scale economies, product differentiation and explicit price setting are novel model features. Some illustrative results for trade liberalization policies are given for a 1976 Canadian data set and contrasted with a conventional constant returns neoclassical model on the same data set. Results from the alternative models differ significantly. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Building detection in satellite images by textural features and Adaboost

A method based on textural features and Adaboost for detecting buildings in satellite images is proposed. Several local textural features including mean and standard deviation of image intensity and gradient, Zernike moments, Circular-Mellin features, Haralick features, Fourier Power Spectrum, Wavelets, Gabor Filters, and a set features extracted from HSV color space are extracted. Adaboost learning algorithm is employed for both classification and determining the beneficial feature subset, due to its feature selector nature. Some operation including morphological operators are applied for post processing. The approach was tested on a set of satellite images having different types of buildings and promising experimental results are achieved.
A cross-country comparison on user acceptance of multimedia cloud services - Germany and Japan

So-called multimedia cloud services (MCS), including SNS, have been widely spread, while various issues expressly related to privacy have been confirmed. For example, users' privacy would be significantly infringed if information aggregated from cloud services is collected, analyzed and utilized without users' permission or without full understanding by users, especially due to the nature of multimedia contents whose readability differs among users. This study aims to investigate how these services are accepted focusing on the influence of user's privacy awareness by comparing two contrasting countries in terms of recognition and regulation on privacy infringement, namely Germany and Japan. An online questionnaire survey was conducted for 500 Internet users in each country and analyzed by our technology acceptance model (TAM) based research framework and Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). As a result, it was confirmed that the users' privacy awareness positively affected the social identity that was the strongest factor to affect the utilization of MCS in both Germany and Japan.
Aircraft Landing Fees: A Game Theory Approach

Discussion of airport pricing policy has largely centered on the problem of congestion, but at most airports congestion is negligible. In the present paper we explore the implications of an alternative pricing philosophy where the common costs of runway construction are shared among the different aircraft types according to a club principle. Linear programming and game theory techniques are used to clarify the notions of optimal runway size and fair and efficient landing fees, and to suggest new rules of thumb for allocating common costs based on the Shapley value and the nucleolus. The model is applied to Birmingham Airport to assess investment and pricing policy in 1968-1969. To the authors' knowledge this paper is the first explicit application of the "club principle" and the largest numerical application of game theory to date.
Poly-Drug Use of Prescription Medicine among People with Opioid Use Disorder in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) causes substantial public health and social problems worldwide. Poly-drug use is common in people with OUD and increases morbidity and mortality. Investigation of the patterns and characteristics of poly-drug use of prescription medicine among opioid users is needed to develop appropriate prevention and intervention strategies. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of poly-drug use of prescription medicine among people with OUD in China using meta-analysis. Methods: We searched relevant epidemiological studies published before February 2017 in English and Chinese databases. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality scale. The pooled prevalences of prescription medicine use among people with OUD were estimated. Results: We included 80 eligible studies in the meta-analysis. The main prescription medicines were benzodiazepines (BZDs) and prescription opioid analgesics. The pooled prevalence of unclassified BZDs and prescription opioids was 40.6% and 23.2%, respectively. Diazepam was the most frequently co-used BZD (32.6%), followed by triazolam (32.1%), and estazolam (9.2%). Tramadol was the most commonly used prescription opioid (27.3%), followed by methadone (16.8%), buprenorphine (12.6%), pethidine (8.9%), morphine (6.5%), dihydroetorphine (3.9%), and codeine-containing cough syrup (3.7%). BZDs were mainly used for self-medication (56.1%), whereas prescription opioids were primarily coused for nonmedical purposes (69.4%). Conclusions: The results demonstrate that prescription medicine use is widespread among opioid users in China. There needs to be more consideration of poly-drug use, and early interventions and management strategies are needed to prevent poly-drug use among opioid users in China.