Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Puntos fijjos o recorridos lineales para el censo de aves en las estepas patagónicas

Point or transect counts as alternatives to censusing steppe birds in Patagonia. - Success- ful evaluation of bird populations in Patagonia depends on the appropriate choice and use of survey meth- ods. Our objective was to evaluate three bird survey methodologies: point counts, foot transects, and road transects, for bird distribution evaluation (particularly birds of prey) in shrub-steppe landscapes of south- ern Patagonia. Field work was undertaken during the spring of 1998 and 1999 in Santa Cruz province, southern Argentine Patagonia. We performed 15-min point counts, 30-min foot transects and vehicle road transects at 40-60 km/h. During the 1998 spring, we contacted 65 raptors representing 8 species during 125 point counts. We also contacted 252 raptors (10 species) during 3537 km of road transects. Road transects produced 22 times more contacts per unit effort than did point counts. During spring 1999, we contacted 2065 individuals, representing 54 species of birds. Foot and road transects provided significantly more contacts than point counts, both for raptors and all species of birds. Although more raptors were contacted by road census, foot transects performed well for all other species of birds. The detection and identification of birds by foot transects were less affected by prevailing wind conditions, and contact rate was higher than that of point counts on a time effort basis. Resumen. - La deteccion y recuento de aves en Patagonia, como en cualquier otra region del mundo, sera optima dependiendo del ajuste entre las condiciones fisicas y ambientales del lugar con el metodo de recuento elegido. Nuestro objetivo fue valorar tres alternativas metodologicas de recuento de aves: puntos fijos, transectos a pie y en coche, para obtener informacion sobre la distribucion de aves (presencia-ausen- cia), en particular rapaces, en la estepa patagonica. El estudio se llevo a cabo en la provincia de Santa Cruz (Argentina), durante las primaveras de 1998 y 1999. Se realizaron censos en puntos fijos de 15 min de duracion, transectos a pie de 30 min de duracion, y recorridos en coche a velocidades nunca superiores a 60 km/h. Durante la primavera de 1998, se contactaron 65 individuos de aves rapaces (8 especies) en 125 puntos fijos y 252 rapaces (10 especies) en 3537 km de transecto en vehiculo. Los censos en carretera pro- dujeron hasta 22 veces mas contactos por unidad de esfuerzo que los censos en puntos fijos. Durante 1999 se contactaron 2065 aves, pertenecientes a 54 especies. Se contactaron significativamente mas aves en general, y rapaces en particular, durante los transectos a pie y en coche que durante los puntos fijos. Los recorridos en coche resultaron con mas contactos de rapaces por unidad de esfuerzo. Sin embargo, si se tiene interes por incluir en los recuentos a otras aves menos conspicuas, los recorridos a pie resultarian
Impacts of community forestry on farming system sustainability in the Middle Hills of Nepal

Recent years have seen greater official recognition and support for community‐based natural resource management in hillside systems globally. In the Middle Hills of Nepal, this has led to adoption of Community Forestry with communities keen to conserve forest resources through greater control of access to forest resources. In this paper, we investigate the impacts of Community Forestry on agricultural sustainability using Participatory Learning and Action Research (PLAR) methods and soil and compost nutrient analyses to assess the nutrient balance for rainfed and irrigated fields. Studies demonstrate a yield dependence on annual nutrient inputs to fields, but a remaining positive balance of nutrient inputs. Concerns over soil degradation associated with increasing urea fertilizer dependence highlight the vital role played by organic compost inputs to the soils typified by very low organic carbon concentrations. The findings from two study villages show that Community Forestry has not yet had a major impact (either positive or negative) on farming systems and therefore the majority of rural livelihoods. However, opportunities are recognized that would increase the quantity and quality of compost supply, and consequently crop yields. Increases in natural capital (subcanopy plants) and the increased social capital (provided by Forest User Groups) offer the means through which potential increases to compost materials can be obtained and through which knowledge of the potentials of, and techniques for, improving compost supply could be disseminated. It is such strategies, which go beyond the traditional focus on forests, that will enable Community Forestry in Nepal (which already has many achievements) to realize its full potential in maintaining and improving the livelihoods of the hill farming communities it is intended to assist. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rural/Urban and Socioeconomic Differentials in Quality of Antenatal Care in Ghana

Background Approximately 800 women die of pregnancy-related complications every day. Over half of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Most maternal deaths can be prevented with high quality maternal health services. It is well established that use of maternal health services vary by place of residence and socioeconomic status (SES), but few studies have examined the determinants of quality of maternal health services in SSA. The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of antenatal care (ANC) quality in Ghana–focusing on the role of place of residence and SES (education and wealth). The analysis also examines the interactions of these variables and the mediating role of ANC timing, frequency, facility type, and provider type. Methods The data are from the Ghana Maternal Health Survey (N = 4,868). Analytic techniques include multilevel linear regression with mediation and moderation analysis. Results Urban residence and higher SES are positively associated with higher ANC quality, but the urban effect is completely explained by sociodemographic factors. Specifically, about half of the urban effect is explained by education and wealth alone, with other variables accounting for the remainder. The effects of education are conditional on wealth and are strongest for poor women. Starting ANC visits early and attending the recommended four visits as well as receiving ANC from a higher level facility and from a skilled provider are associated with higher quality ANC. These factors partially explain the SES differentials. Implications Ghanaian women experience significant disparities in quality of ANC, with poor illiterate women receiving the worst care. Targeted efforts to increase quality of ANC may significantly reduce maternal health disparities in Ghana and SSA. A particularly crucial step is to improve ANC quality in the lower level health facilities, where the most vulnerable women are more likely to seek ANC.
Polypyrimidine tract‑binding protein 1 regulates the Sertoli cell blood‑testis barrier by promoting the expression of tight junction proteins

Sertoli cells (SCs) are an important component of spermatogenic tubules. The blood‑testis barrier (BTB) is composed of SCs and is necessary for the development and maturity of spermatogenic cells. When the tight connection between SCs is destroyed, the BTB loses its integrity, leading to impaired spermatogenesis. Polypyrimidine tract‑binding protein 1 (PTBP1) is a key protein involved in precursor mRNA splicing and selective splicing events, which directly affects tumor cell proliferation and influences the formation of the blood‑tumor barrier by regulating the expression levels of tight junction‑associated proteins. The present study revealed that the expression of PTBP1 was downregulated following a decrease in spermatogenic activity at the phase of senescence. TM4 to evaluate the effect of silencing PTBP1 on the expression levels of tight junction proteins and the integrity of tight junctions between adjacent SCs. Western blot analysis indicated that the expression levels of Zonula occludens 1, occludin and claudin‑5 decreased significantly due to silencing of PTBP1 in SCs. Through detecting trans‑epithelial electrical resistance, it was revealed that silencing of PTBP1 broke the integrity of tight junctions between adjacent SCs. The results suggested that PTBP1 maintained the integrity of the BTB by promoting the expression levels of tight junction‑associated proteins and revealed the possible mechanism of PTBP1 in regulating spermatogenesis.
Robust analysis of 5′-transcript ends (5′-RATE): a novel technique for transcriptome analysis and genome annotation

Complicated cloning procedures and the high cost of sequencing have inhibited the wide application of serial analysis of gene expression and massively parallel signature sequencing for genome-wide transcriptome profiling of complex genomes. Here we describe a new method called robust analysis of 5′-transcript ends (5′-RATE) for rapid and cost-effective isolation of long 5′ transcript ends (∼80 bp). It consists of three major steps including 5′-oligocapping of mRNA, NlaIII tag and ditag generation, and pyrosequencing of NlaIII tags. Complicated steps, such as purification and cloning of concatemers, colony picking and plasmid DNA purification, are eliminated and the conventional Sanger sequencing method is replaced with the newly developed pyrosequencing method. Sequence analysis of a maize 5′-RATE library revealed complex alternative transcription start sites and a 5′ poly(A) tail in maize transcripts. Our results demonstrate that 5′-RATE is a simple, fast and cost-effective method for transcriptome analysis and genome annotation of complex genomes.
An advanced algorithm for operational retrieval of water quality from satellite data in the visible

We present a new operational algorithm for the retrieval of water quality from optical remote sensing data for both clear and turbid waters. It contains an array of neural networks providing input for the Levenberg–Marquardt multivariate optimization procedure as the final retrieval tool. With a given accuracy threshold, the developed algorithm is sufficiently robust to data with noise up to 15% for certain hydro‐optical conditions. To avoid inadequate retrieval results, the algorithm identifies and eventually discards the pixels with inadequate atmospheric correction and/or water optical properties incompatible with the applied hydro‐optical model. This procedure also identifies coccolith expressions. Examples of practical applications of the developed algorithm are given.
Cardiac Autonomic Dysfunction and Risk of Silent Myocardial Infarction Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

Background There is a paucity of large‐scale epidemiological studies on the link between cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and the risk of silent myocardial infarction (SMI) in type 2 diabetes. We evaluated the association between CAN and the risk of SMI in a large sample of adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods and Results Participants with type 2 diabetes from the ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) study without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at baseline were included. CAN was ascertained using heart rate variability indices calculated from 10‐s resting electrocardiograms. The heart rate variability indices included standard deviation of all normal‐to‐normal R‐R intervals and root mean square of successive differences between normal‐to‐normal R‐R intervals. CAN was defined as both the standard deviation of all normal‐to‐normal R‐R intervals and root mean square of successive differences between normal‐to‐normal R‐R intervals less than the fifth percentile of the general population. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to generate hazard ratios (HRs) for incident SMI in relation to CAN measures. Among 4842 participants (mean age, 62.5 years; 46.6% women; 60.2% White), there were 73 incident SMI cases over a median follow‐up of 4.9 years (incidence rate 3.1 out of 1000 person‐years [95% CI, 2.5–3.9]). After adjusting for confounders, low heart rate variability was associated with a higher risk of SMI (HR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.02–2.72] and HR, 1.56 [95% CI, 0.94–2.58] for low standard deviation of all normal‐to‐normal R‐R intervals and root mean square of successive differences between normal‐to‐normal R‐R intervals, respectively). Participants with CAN had a 1.9‐fold greater risk of SMI (HR, 1.91 [95% CI, 1.14–3.20]). Conclusions In a large cohort of adults with type 2 diabetes, CAN was significantly associated with an increased risk of incident SMI.
Origin, evolution, and tectonic setting of the eastern part of the Mexican Volcanic Belt and comparison with the Central American Volcanic Arc from conventional multielement normalized and new multidimensional discrimination diagrams and discordancy and significance tests

If both the Mexican Volcanic Belt (MVB) and the Central American Volcanic Arc (CAVA) have been related to the subduction of the Cocos plate beneath the North American and Caribbean plates, respectively, their magmas, and especially the less evolved basic varieties, should show considerable similarities. The conventional multielement normalized diagrams indicate more complex petrogenetic processes for the MVB than the CAVA. Forty-five statistically coherent tectonomagmatic discrimination diagrams were used to infer the tectonic setting of the controversial geological subprovince of the eastern part of the MVB (E-MVB). Basic rocks from the E-MVB indicated a continental rift setting, whereas the intermediate rocks were more consistent with a transitional setting of rift to collision. The acid rocks, presumably having a larger crustal component than the intermediate and basic rocks, showed inconclusive results. The volcanic rock data from the CAVA were used to successfully test these diagrams. The expected arc setting was consistently indicated for the CAVA from basic, intermediate, and acid rocks, confirming the satisfactory functioning of the diagrams. The data for all three types of rocks from the E-MVB and CAVA were then objectively compared for their similarities and differences. Specially designed computer programs were used to efficiently apply discordancy and significance tests at the strict 99% confidence level. Most (43 out of 50) chemical elements and (25 out of 28) log-ratio parameters in basic rocks from the E-MVB and CAVA showed statistically significant differences. For intermediate rocks and, to a lesser extent, for acid rocks, a large number of parameters also showed differences between the E-MVB and CAVA. The differences in the inferred tectonic settings for basic and evolved rocks from the E-MVB are likely related to the different magmatic sources.
Abstract: Thermal Modeling - Oil or Gas? Examples from the Faroes-Shetland (NW Europe) and Casamance (NW Africa) Basins

F rom the South China Sea to the deepwater of West Africa, that the predicted and observed values are the same. This can basin niodelcrs frequently predict gas, yet oil is found. This rarely be achieved without violating the thermal predictions of presentation reviews where the modeling was in error and how the established basin subsidence models (McKenzie, 1978), o r t h e science can be p u t r ight . Examples will be shown of how the oil window may be deeper than t radi t ional ly modeled in s o m e basins (c.g., Faroes-Shet land Basin), and how it can be shallower in other basins (e.g., Casarnance Basin). In the latter case, the origin of the 2BR0 plus oil charge to the Dome Flore discovery is now readily apparent whereas in the past it was necessary to draw o n unproven source horizons. The message is that charge risks cannot be properly assessed, in either frontier basins or established plays, until the correct thermal model is applied.
Outcome of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients with severely impaired health status

437 our interdisciplinary a weekly average 20–25 hours. directly several measures of physical performance and health-related quality of life determined. Results: At baseline, most patients (75%) had a Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage of III − IV. Peak exercise performance on a cycle ergometer was on average reduced to 43 ± 29 Watt, and health-related quality of life was significantly impaired, with a total score on the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) of 66. Health-care utilization in the year preceding PR was very high. After rehabilitation, all outcome measures improved statistically significantly ( P , 0.001). Exercise performance measured with the 6 minute walking distance test improved clinically significantly in 68% of the patients, whereas 75% of the patients showed a clinically meaningful improvement in quality of life as measured with the SGRQ. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 19% of the variation in responses on the 6 minute walking distance test and the SGRQ could be explained on the basis of baseline characteristics. Conclusion: The present study provides data to indicate that COPD patients may substantially benefit from rehabilitation in a tertiary pulmonary rehabilitation center, despite a severely impaired health status and high level of health-care utilization, in which prior treatment in primary and secondary care have failed to improve health status. Individual rehabilitation responses can only partially be predicted on the basis of baseline characteristics. Consequently, no firm conclusions can be drawn from this study with respect to the selection of candidates that could be deemed eligible for this rehabilitation program when entering the program.
Mapping Cell-in-Cell Structures in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cell-in-cell (CIC) structures contribute to tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In vitro 3D models may contribute to the understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of these events. We employed a spheroid model to study the CIC structures in OSCC. Spheroids were obtained from OSCC (HSC3) and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) lines using the Nanoshuttle-PLTM bioprinting system (Greiner Bio-One). Spheroid form, size, and reproducibility were evaluated over time (EvosTM XL; ImageJ version 1.8). Slides were assembled, stained (hematoxylin and eosin), and scanned (Axio Imager Z2/VSLIDE) using the OlyVIA System (Olympus Life Science) and ImageJ software (NIH) for cellular morphology and tumor zone formation (hypoxia and/or proliferative zones) analysis. CIC occurrence, complexity, and morphology were assessed considering the spheroid regions. Well-formed spheroids were observed within 6 h of incubation, showing the morphological aspects of the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxic (core) and proliferative zone (periphery) formation. CIC structures were found in both homotypic and heterotypic groups, predominantly in the proliferative zone of the mixed HSC3/CAF spheroids. “Complex cannibalism” events were also noted. These results showcase the potential of this model in further studies on CIC morphology, formation, and relationship with tumor prognosis.
Is the number of North Atlantic tropical cyclones significantly underestimated prior to the availability of satellite observations?

The number of North Atlantic tropical cyclones that may have been undetected before satellite observations are available is estimated by passing the cyclone tracks taken from 1976 to 2005 through ship observations from 1900 to 1965. The probability of detection is equated to the probability that the ships would have made wind observations of 18 m/s or higher had the tropical cyclones been present during the earlier years, based on the probability computed from actual wind observations around tropical cyclones during the satellite era. It is estimated that the number of tropical cyclones not making landfall over any continent or the Caribbeans may have been underestimated by up to 2.1 per year during 1904–1913, with this number decreasing to 1.0 per year or less during the 1920s and later decades. Our results suggest that the characteristics of North Atlantic tropical cyclone track statistics might have changed during the 20th century.
Aplicación de la electroforesis bidimensional en diferentes especies: Vibrio tapetis , Pseudoscleropodium purum y Mus musculus

En esta Tesis Doctoral se utilizo la electroforesis bidimensional alta resolucion como la herramienta principal de analisis en el estudio de diversas problematicas en diferentes especies. La eleccion de la electroforesis bidimensional como herramienta central para el analisis de las diferentes cuestiones se basa a que esta tecnica permite separar cientos de proteinas en un solo experimento, y sigue siendo actualmente uno de los metodos mas eficaz para la separacion de mezclas complejas de proteinas. Por lo tanto, a pesar de la enorme complejidad de los procesos biologicos y de la cantidad de proteinas existentes, el uso de esta tecnica hace posible descubrir nuevas proteinas asociadas a procesos celulares normales, proteinas relacionadas con la adaptacion de los organismos o celulas a condiciones fisiologicas o ambientales cambiantes, que de otra forma serian muy dificiles de descubrir o estudiar. El objetivo principal de esta Tesis ha sido la puesta a punto y aplicacion de la electroforesis bidimensional en diversos grupos taxonomicos: Vibrio tapetis (Bacteria), Pseudoscleropodium purum (Briofitos) y Mus musculus (Mamiferos) utilizando un buffer de extraccion de proteinas comun para todos los estudios. Dentro del estudio de cada grupo taxonomico se persiguieron diferentes objetivos secundarios, los cuales se detallan a continuacion: 1. Objetivos del estudio en Vibrio tapetis: Obtencion del primer mapa proteomico de referencia de las dos cepas mas importantes de Vibrio tapetis implicadas en la enfermedad del Anillo Marron que afecta a almejas, para poder conocer y estudiar las similitudes y diferencias de estas dos cepas a nivel proteico. 2. Objetivos del estudio en Pseudoscleropodium purum: Obtencion de evidencias sobre la adaptacion fisiologica del musgo a la contaminacion atmosferica, mediante el estudio de alteraciones proteicas en trasplantes cruzados de musgos entre zonas libres de contaminacion y zonas con contaminacion atmosferica. 3. Objetivos del estudio en Mus musculus: Aplicacion de la electroforesis bidimensional como via de entrada en el estudio de funcion del gen pitx2 durante el desarrollo cardiaco, mediante la busqueda de proteinas alteradas en los corazones adultos de raton debidas a la inhibicion del gen pitx2 durante el desarrollo cardiaco fetal. Durante la realizacion de esta tesis se publicaron dos articulos de revision del estado de la metodologia. Estas publicaciones son la consecuencia del intenso estudio y revision de la metodologia existente para la puesta a punto y aplicacion de la electroforesis bidimensional en las especies anteriormente mencionadas. Al final de la realizacion de esta Tesis Doctoral se consiguieron completar los objetivos planteados en esta tesis de forma satisfactoria. Los resultados y conclusiones de cada uno de los objetivos se encuentran detallados en sus respectivas secciones de la presente Tesis Doctoral.