Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MERCURY AND OTHER TRACE ELEMENTS IN FARMED AND WILD SALMON FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA , CANADA

The present study reports measured levels of Hg and other trace elements in commercial salmon feed; farmed Atlantic, coho, and chinook salmon (n 110); and wild coho, chinook, chum, sockeye, and pink salmon (n 91). Metal concentrations in farmed and wild salmon from British Columbia, Canada, were relatively low and below human health consumption guidelines. Methylmercury in all salmon samples (range, 0.03–0.1 g/g wet wt) were below the 0.5 g/g guideline set by Health Canada. Negligible differences in metal concentrations were observed between the various species of farmed and wild salmon. Metal concentrations generally were higher in commercial salmon feed compared to farmed salmon. Mercury showed slight bioaccumulation potential in farmed salmon, with biomagnification factors (BMFs) ranging between 0.8 and 1.9. Other metals, such as Cd, Pb, and Ni, exhibited biodilution, with BMFs of much less than one. The relatively low degree of biomagnification of metals observed in farmed salmon likely resulted from the combination of low gastrointestinal absorption efficiency, negligible transfer to muscle tissue relative to other compartments, and a high degree of growth dilution in these fish. Human dietary exposure calculations indicate intakes of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, As, and Ni via farmed and wild British Columbia salmon are a relatively small percentage of total intakes (0.05–32%) compared to other Canadian foodstuffs, such as fruits, vegetables, chicken, and beef (68–99%). Although total dietary exposure of Cd, Pb, and Cu approached provisional tolerable daily intake levels, the contribution from British Columbia salmon was less than 2%. Our findings indicate farmed and wild British Columbia salmon remain a safe source of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid intake for cardioprotective and, possibly, other health benefits. Keywords—Mercury Metals Salmon Bioaccumulation Human exposure
Ant clustering algorithm based on point symmetry

This paper proposed a new point symmetry-based ant clustering algorithm which can defect the number of clusters and the proper partitions from data sets when data sets possess the property of symmetry. In the proposed algorithm, a revised ant clustering algorithm is presented which can reduce the running time of standard ant clustering algorithm. Each ant represents a data object. It will decide its next moving position according to similarity function and probability converting function between it and its neighbors. At the same time it will update its cluster number according to clustering rules. Each ant only depends on a little local information to cluster. Assignment of points to different clusters is done based on point symmetry distance rather than the traditional Euclidean distance. Kd-tree-based nearest neighbor search is used to reduce the complexity of computing PS-based distance. The effectiveness of point symmetry-based ant clustering compared to standard ant clustering is demonstrated for one artificial and one real-life data sets.
Development and Evaluation of a New Commercial Test Allowing the Simultaneous Detection of Noroviruses and Sapoviruses by Reverse Transcription-PCR and Microplate Hybridization

ABSTRACT This work describes the design and initial evaluation of a commercial test allowing the detection of noroviruses and sapoviruses by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) in a single tube followed by microplate hybridization, as well as the detection of PCR inhibitors. The test was shown to be broadly reactive (except for Melksham-like strains), sensitive, and specific and thus should be useful for calicivirus detection in clinical practice.
On the Speed and Sequencing of Privatisation and Restructuring

This paper examines aspects of speed and sequencing of restructuring and privatization in economies in transition. It is argued that because of political constraints, restructuring is more likely to be gradual. Because of the political constraints on restructuring, a very fast and non-differentiated approach to privatization may lead to renationalization and general delays in restructuring. A more gradual policy of privatization may allow for the screening of good from bad firms, allow the emergence of a sound financial sector and give credibility to a policy of gradual restructuring and hardening of budget constraints in the state sector.
The Public Trust Navigates California's Bay Delta

California's Bay Delta, where freshwater from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers meets the saltwater from San Francisco Bay, has been mired in litigation and political controversy for decades. In the 2009 Delta Reform Act, the California State Water Board was ordered to conduct hearings to establish flow criteria to protect public trust resources in the Bay Delta. This article examines how the statutory deployment of the public trust in the 2009 Delta Reform Act built on the California Supreme Court's 1983 National Audubon decision, and details the California State Water Board proceedings leading up to the public trust Delta flow criteria adopted in August 2010. “The Public Trust Doctrine is a very sharp knife, and it can cut the hand of the person who holds it. ” [FN1]
PERSPECTIVE: COMPLEX ADAPTATIONS AND THE EVOLUTION OF EVOLVABILITY

The problem of complex adaptations is studied in two largely disconnected research traditions: evolutionary biology and evolutionary computer science. This paper summarizes the results from both areas and compares their implications. In evolutionary computer science it was found that the Darwinian process of mutation, recombination and selection is not universally effective in improving complex systems like computer programs or chip designs. For adaptation to occur, these systems must possess “evolvability,” i.e., the ability of random variations to sometimes produce improvement. It was found that evolvability critically depends on the way genetic variation maps onto phenotypic variation, an issue known as the representation problem. The genotype‐phenotype map determines the variability of characters, which is the propensity to vary. Variability needs to be distinguished from variations, which are the actually realized differences between individuals. The genotype‐phenotype map is the common theme underlying such varied biological phenomena as genetic canalization, developmental constraints, biological versatility, developmental dissociability, and morphological integration. For evolutionary biology the representation problem has important implications: how is it that extant species acquired a genotype‐phenotype map which allows improvement by mutation and selection? Is the genotype‐phenotype map able to change in evolution? What are the selective forces, if any, that shape the genotype‐phenotype map? We propose that the genotype‐phenotype map can evolve by two main routes: epistatic mutations, or the creation of new genes. A common result for organismic design is modularity. By modularity we mean a genotype‐phenotype map in which there are few pleiotropic effects among characters serving different functions, with pleiotropic effects falling mainly among characters that are part of a single functional complex. Such a design is expected to improve evolvability by limiting the interference between the adaptation of different functions. Several population genetic models are reviewed that are intended to explain the evolutionary origin of a modular design. While our current knowledge is insufficient to assess the plausibility of these models, they form the beginning of a framework for understanding the evolution of the genotype‐phenotype map.
Evidence of in vivo generation of thrombin in patients with small-for-gestational-age fetuses and pre-eclampsia

Objective: Thrombotic lesions in the maternal or fetal compartments are frequently observed in the placentas of patients with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses and in pre-eclampsia. The objective of this study was to determine whether there was evidence of in vivo generation of thrombin, the ratelimiting enzyme responsible for the formation of fibrin. The plasma concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes were used as an index of thrombin generation. Methods: TAT complexes were measured in the plasma from 68 women from the following groups: normal pregnancy (n = 29); pre-eclampsia (n = 26); and SGA (defined as estimated fetal weight below the 10th centile for gestational age, which was confirmed by neonatal birth weight) (n = 13). TAT complex plasma concentrations were determined with a specific and sensitive immunoassay. Statistical analysis was performed with non-parametric statistics. Results: The median plasma TAT complex concentrations were significantly higher in patients who delivered SGA neonates than in normal pregnant women (SGA, median 24.2 μg/l; range 11.9-788.7 vs. normal pregnancy, median: 14.4 μg/l; range 6.8-26.9; p = 0.001). Patients with pre-eclampsia had a higher median plasma TAT complex concentration than normal pregnant women (pre-eclampsia, median 18.1 μg/l; range 10.0-75.2 vs. normal pregnancy, median 14.4 μg/l; range 6.8-26.9; p = 0.02). Conclusion: In vivo generation of thrombin, determined by the plasma concentrations of TAT complexes, is higher in patients with SGA fetuses and patients with pre-eclampsia than in normal pregnancy.
An Evaluation of the Implementation Fidelity and Outcomes of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in Three Elementary Schools in Virginia.

Bullying continues to be a major concern in schools today. Many schools have implemented some type of bullying prevention program. The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is one of these programs. Evaluation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is typically done through the administration of the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire to students and produces numerical data for its report. Results have been mixed, but often show some type of decrease in bullying activity. This study evaluated the implementation fidelity and outcomes o f the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in three elementary schools in Virginia. These schools were recommended as having a successful Olweus Bullying Program by Goodman, Fobbs and Moffett, (2011). The evaluation was conducted using a form of theory-driven program evaluation known as the Center for Disease Control’s Six-step Evaluation Framework. Stakeholders represented by administrators, teachers and guidance counselors were interviewed with questions developed from the Four Levels o f General Requirements o f the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Available extant data from the Virginia Report on Discipline, Crime and Violence and the three interviewed schools’ Olweus Bullying Questionnaire survey results were also examined to look for possible evidence to support these three schools’ successful programs.
Biomonitoring Study of People Living near or Working at a Municipal Solid-Waste Incinerator Before and After Two Years of Operation

Abstract The authors conducted a biomonitoring study in the town of Mataró, Spain, of 104 subjects who lived near (i.e., within 0.5–1.5 km) an incinerator, 97 subjects who lived far (i.e., within 3.5 km-4.0 km) from an incinerator, and 17 workers at a new municipal solid-waste incinerator. The study commenced before the incinerator started functioning in 1995, and 2 y later (1977) the authors undertook the final part of the study. Dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls were studied in pooled blood samples (n = 22), and individual blood and urine samples were analyzed for the detection of lead, chromium, cadmium, and mercury. In 1995, dioxin blood levels were low-both among those living close to the incinerator (mean = 13.5 ng international-dioxin toxic equivalents/kg fat) and among those living far away (mean = 13.4 ng international-dioxin toxic equivalents/kg fat). In 1997, dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyl levels had increased in both groups of residents by approximately 25% and 12%, respectively. (The increase in dioxin levels was about 10% when the authors took into account the mean of two repeated quality-control analyses.) Blood lead levels decreased, but no difference was observed for chromium, cadmium, and mercury. Minimal changes were seen among workers. Given the low dioxin stack emissions from this plant (mean = 2.5–0.98 ng international-dioxin toxic equivalents/m3) and that the blood dioxin levels did not depend on distance of residence from the incinerator, it would appear unlikely that the small increase in dioxin blood levels resulted from the incinerator's emissions.
Validation of Fast and Selective Protection Scheme for an LVDC Distribution Network

Low-voltage direct-current (LVDC) distribution systems potentially enable more efficient power distribution and wider uptake of distributed renewables and energy storage. They do, however, present significant fault protection and safety challenges. To address these, the use of advanced protection techniques or significant system redesign is required. This paper reviews these protection key challenges, and presents experimental results of a prototype advanced protection scheme designed to help enable LVDC distribution networks for utility applications. The developed scheme is DC current direction-based and uses multiple intelligent electronic devices relays in combination with controllable solid-state circuit breakers to detect and locate DC faults. This scheme provides selective protection tripping within submillisecond timescales. A scaled laboratory demonstrator that emulates an LVDC distribution network is used as a test platform. It allows for the characterization of transient behavior for various fault conditions and locations. The developed protection algorithm is implemented in LabVIEW, and its performance against such fault conditions is tested within this environment.
A Novel Effective Distributed Dimensionality Reduction Algorithm

Dimensionality reduction algorithms are extremely useful in various disciplines, especially related to data processing in high dimensional spaces. However, most algorithms proposed in the literature assume total knowledge of data usually residing in a centralized location. While this still suffices for several applications, there is an increasing need for management of vast data collections in a distributed way, since the assembly of data centrally is often infeasible. Towards this end, in this paper, a novel distributed dimensionality reduction (DDR) algorithm is proposed. The algorithm is compared with other effective centralized dimensionality reduction techniques and approximates the quality of FastMap, considered as one of the most effective algorithms, while its central execution outperforms FastMap. We prove our claims through experiments on a high dimensional synthetic dataset.
Rate heterogeneity across Squamata, misleading ancestral state reconstruction and the importance of proper null model specification

The binary‐state speciation and extinction (BiSSE) model has been used in many instances to identify state‐dependent diversification and reconstruct ancestral states. However, recent studies have shown that the standard procedure of comparing the fit of the BiSSE model to constant‐rate birth–death models often inappropriately favours the BiSSE model when diversification rates vary in a state‐independent fashion. The newly developed HiSSE model enables researchers to identify state‐dependent diversification rates while accounting for state‐independent diversification at the same time. The HiSSE model also allows researchers to test state‐dependent models against appropriate state‐independent null models that have the same number of parameters as the state‐dependent models being tested. We reanalyse two data sets that originally used BiSSE to reconstruct ancestral states within squamate reptiles and reached surprising conclusions regarding the evolution of toepads within Gekkota and viviparity across Squamata. We used this new method to demonstrate that there are many shifts in diversification rates across squamates. We then fit various HiSSE submodels and null models to the state and phylogenetic data and reconstructed states under these models. We found that there is no single, consistent signal for state‐dependent diversification associated with toepads in gekkotans or viviparity across all squamates. Our reconstructions show limited support for the recently proposed hypotheses that toepads evolved multiple times independently in Gekkota and that transitions from viviparity to oviparity are common in Squamata. Our results highlight the importance of considering an adequate pool of models and null models when estimating diversification rate parameters and reconstructing ancestral states.
A compact 110 kVA, 140°C ambient, 105°C liquid cooled, all-SiC inverter for electric vehicle traction drives

Wide bandgap materials are having a transformational impact on the electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance of military, industrial, and commercial power electronic systems where silicon (Si) power semiconductors are the present material technology of choice. This paper reports on the design, analysis, and experimental verification of a compact allsilicon carbide (SiC)-based inverter to meet the inhospitable environmental demands of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, extended-range electrified vehicles, and fuel cell vehicle architectures. The compact 4.8 L, 6.6 kg inverter achieves a volumetric and gravimetric power density of 23.1 kVA/L and 16.8 kVA/kg, respectively. Three 1200 V, 3.6 mΩ, half-bridge power modules, each containing seven 25 mΩ SiC MOSFETs and six 50 A Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) per switch position, comprise the power stage. Significant improvement in conduction, switching, and reverse-recovery losses allowed this SiC MOSFET-based inverter to achieve 96.3% average efficiency and 98.9% average peak efficiency over all experiments. This is superior to Si IGBT-based inverters throughout the entire range of torques, speeds, and bus voltages — and especially at light load operating points typical of electric vehicles. Dynamometer experiments used a 20 kHz switching frequency, double-update space-vector modulation, thermal controls for ambient and coolant temperatures, custom data acquisition, and a commercial three-phase power meter to collect performance data over 500 to 6000 RPM, 5 to 180 N-m, four bus voltages, and six thermal cases.
Effectiveness of buspirone on urine spraying and inappropriate urination in cats.

The most frequent type of behavior problem in cats for which veterinary consultation is sought is problem urination. Urine spraying and urine marking have been treated by use of long-acting progestins and diazepam, a benzodiazepine antianxiety drug. Effectiveness of the nonbenzodiazepine antianxiety drug, buspirone, in suppressing urine spraying and marking in 47 male and 15 female cats was evaluated. The effect of the drug in correcting inappropriate urination in 9 cats also was evaluated. Buspirone resulted in a favorable response (> 75% reduction) in 55% of cats treated for urine spraying or marking. There was no sex difference in effectiveness of the treatment, but cats from single-cat households responded favorably significantly (P < 0.001) less frequently than those from multiple-cat households. The 55% response rate was within the range of treatment effectiveness that has been reported for diazepam, and was greater than that reported for progestin. In contrast to diazepam, with which over 90% of treated cats resumed spraying or marking when the drug was gradually discontinued, only half of the cats treated with buspirone resumed spraying when the drug was discontinued after 2 months of treatment (P < 0.001). This difference between diazepam and buspirone in resumption of urine spraying was attributed to diazepam's induction of physiologic and behavioral dependency, not found with buspirone. Cats that resumed spraying were placed on long-term treatment ranging from 6 to 18 months. Buspirone also did not cause the adverse effects of sedation and ataxia, which commonly are seen with diazepam treatment. In cats treated for inappropriate urination, 56% returned to normal litter box usage. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sea clutter and radar complex targets

The study, analysis and mastery of sea clutter has become indispensable in many different applications (oceanography, communications, telecommunications, maritime surveillance, detection, monitoring and classification of targets, target recognition,.), so it is one of the major themes addressed by the scientists working in different areas of the radar field. The work presented in this paper fits well in this context of study. Thus, it focuses on the presentation of different methods and techniques for the electromagnetic or statistical characterization of sea clutter (alone or in the presence of breaking waves or objects). In different geometric configurations of observation (monostatic, forward propagation, bistatic and especially for grazing angles), various simulation results are presented (especially in X and Ku bands) to evaluate different models and methods in comparison with available real data.
Market Power, International CO2 Taxation and Petroleum Wealth

This paper studies the effects on fossil fuel prices, extraction paths and petroleum wealth of an international carbon tax on fossil fuel consumption. We present an intertemporal equilibrium model for fossil fuels, where the main focus is on the oil market. The impacts of a global carbon tax of $10 per barrel of oil depend heavily on the market structure in the oil market. If OPEC acts as a cartel, they reduce their production to maintain the oil price. Thus, the effects on the oil wealth of the competitive fringe is minor, while OPEC's oil wealth is considerably reduced. This may explain the difference in attitudes of OPEC and other oil producing countries to international global warming negotiations. If, on the other side, the oil market is competitive, the highest relative reductions in the oil wealth are to be found among non-OPEC producers.
Power Stroke Angular Velocity Profiles of Archaeal A-ATP Synthase Versus Thermophilic and Mesophilic F-ATP Synthase Molecular Motors*

The angular velocities of ATPase-dependent power strokes as a function of the rotational position for the A-type molecular motor A3B3DF, from the Methanosarcina mazei Gö1 A-ATP synthase, and the thermophilic motor α3β3γ, from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (formerly known as Bacillus PS3) F-ATP synthase, are resolved at 5 μs resolution for the first time. Unexpectedly, the angular velocity profile of the A-type was closely similar in the angular positions of accelerations and decelerations to the profiles of the evolutionarily distant F-type motors of thermophilic and mesophilic origins, and they differ only in the magnitude of their velocities. M. mazei A3B3DF power strokes occurred in 120° steps at saturating ATP concentrations like the F-type motors. However, because ATP-binding dwells did not interrupt the 120° steps at limiting ATP, ATP binding to A3B3DF must occur during the catalytic dwell. Elevated concentrations of ADP did not increase dwells occurring 40° after the catalytic dwell. In F-type motors, elevated ADP induces dwells 40° after the catalytic dwell and slows the overall velocity. The similarities in these power stroke profiles are consistent with a common rotational mechanism for A-type and F-type rotary motors, in which the angular velocity is limited by the rotary position at which ATP binding occurs and by the drag imposed on the axle as it rotates within the ring of stator subunits.