Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting calf mortality in red deer (Cervus elaphus)

(1) The paper investigates the factors affecting calf survival between 1971 and 1976 in the red deer population of the North Block of the Isle of Rhum, Scotland. (2) On average, 18% of all calves born in the study area died before the end of September and a further 11 % died during the winter and early spring. (3) There was no overall difference in mortality between stag and hind calves. However, light-born hind calves were more likely to die than light-born stag calves whereas heavy-born stag calves were more likely to die than heavy-born hind calves. (4) Mortality during the first 6 months of life was higher among the offspring of young and old hinds than among those of 7-10-year-olds. (5) Overall mortality did not differ between calves born to milk and yeld hinds. However, medium weight calves born to yeld hinds were more likely to die than similar calves born to milk hinds. (6) Winter mortality was higher among the offspring of hinds using the part of the study area where population density was highest. (7) Very light calves were more likely to die in summer than heavier calves. (8) Late-born calves showed higher mortality than those born early or within the main birth period. (9) Changes in winter (but not summer) mortality were correlated with increasing population density of hinds in the study area.
Photon sphere and phase transition of d-dimensional (d ≥ 5) charged Gauss–Bonnet AdS black holes

Motivated by recent work, nonmonotonic behaviors of photon sphere radius can be used to reflect black hole phase transition for Reissner–Nordström–AdS (RN–AdS) black holes, we study the case of five-dimensional charged Gauss–Bonnet–AdS black holes in the reduced parameter space. We find that the nonmonotonic behaviors of photon sphere radius still exist. Using the coexistence line calculated from P–V plane, we capture the photon sphere radius of saturated small and large black holes (the boundary of the coexistence phase), then illustrate the reduced coexistence region. The results show that, reduced coexistence region decreases with charge Q but increases with Gauss–Bonnet coefficient α. When the charge vanishes, reduced coexistence region does not vary with Gauss–Bonnet coefficient α any more. In this case, the Gauss–Bonnet coefficient α plays the same role as the charge of five-dimensional RN–AdS black holes. Also, the situation of higher dimension is studied in the end.
Not a COINcidence: Sub-Quadratic Asynchronous Byzantine Agreement WHP

King and Saia were the first to break the quadratic word complexity bound for Byzantine Agreement in synchronous systems against an adaptive adversary, and Algorand broke this bound with near-optimal resilience (first in the synchronous model and then with eventual-synchrony). Yet the question of asynchronous sub-quadratic Byzantine Agreement remained open. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to answer this question in the affirmative. A key component of our solution is a shared coin algorithm based on a VRF. A second essential ingredient is VRF-based committee sampling, which we formalize and utilize in the asynchronous model for the first time. Our algorithms work against a delayed-adaptive adversary, which cannot perform after-the-fact removals but has full control of Byzantine processes and full information about communication in earlier rounds. Using committee sampling and our shared coin, we solve Byzantine Agreement with high probability, with a word complexity of $\widetilde{O}(n)$ and $O(1)$ expected time, breaking the $O(n^2)$ bit barrier for asynchronous Byzantine Agreement.
Caught in an ecological web

This paper discusses risk theory and confronts it with two population dynamic theories, that of population regulation and that of population stabilization by means of risk spreading. As its basic idea complements population regulation theories, these should usefully be combined into one, more comprehensive model that avoids defects inherent in each of them, rather than be considered as alternatives.
Origin and development of juice sacs in the fruits of Citrus natsudaidai Hayata.

Summary: Initiation and development of the juice sac of the hespidium were studied in Citrus natsudaidai. The study was carried out with counter stained sections using optical microscopes. In the present study, two types of hairy protrusions were found in the ovary locules in the different stages of fruit development. In a young flower unicellular hairs arose at the funicular base of the ovary and degenerated after the pollination. There is no previous report on this structure, and the term “efunicular hair” is given tentatively. After the pollination, the multicellular juice sacs were initiated at the dorsal side of ovary locule. The epidermis of the endocarp gave rise to the epidermis of the juice sac. The subepidermal cells of the endocarp also underwent cell division to construct the internal structure of the club-shaped juice sac. The internal cells of the juice sac became vacuolated as the fruit developed and degenerated at full maturation. The carpel was occupied with elongated juice sacs that were filled with edible juice.
Implant surface topography modulates macrophage morphology and subsequent signaling cascades

ii TABLE OF CONTENTS. iv LIST OF TABLES . ix LIST OF FIGURES. x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xiii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.xvii DEDICATION.xix COAUTHORSHIP STATEMENT. xx 1 CHAPTER 1: Introduction . 1 1.1 General introduction. 2 1.2 Biocompatibility and biofunctionality of implanted devices . 4 1.3 Biocompatible material. 4 1.4 The properties of titanium and titanium alloys . 5 1.5 Commercially available dental implant designs . 7 1.5. 1 Polished (smooth) surface. 8 1.5. 2 Blasted surface . 8 1.5. 3 Acid-etched surface . 9 1.5. 4 Sand-blasted Large-grit Acid-etched (SLA) surface. 9 1.5. 5 Coated surfaces . 10 1.5. 6 Oxidized surface . 11 1.5. 7 Turned (machined) surface . 11 1.6 Clinical performance of some commercial implant systems . 13 1.7 Surface topography and cell behavior . 15 1.7. 1 Cell adhesion.16 1.7. 2 Contact guidance . 18 1.7. 3 Cell selection . 19
Undertriage Despite Use of Geriatric-Specific Trauma Team Activation Guidelines

Background Elderly trauma patients are at risk for undertriage, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine whether implementation of geriatric-specific trauma team activation (TTA) protocols appropriately identified severely-injured elderly patients. Methods This single-center retrospective study evaluated all severely injured (injury severity score [ISS] >15), geriatric (≥65 years) patients admitted to our Level 1 tertiary-care hospital between January 2014 and September 2017. Undertriage was defined as the lack of TTA despite presence of severe injuries. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes were mortality within 48 hours of admission and urgent hemorrhage control. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of appropriate triage in this study. Results Out of 1039 severely injured geriatric patients, 628 (61%) did not undergo TTA. Undertriaged patients were significantly older and had more comorbidities. In-hospital mortality was 5% and 31% in the undertriaged and appropriately triaged groups, respectively (P < .0001). One percent of undertriaged patients needed urgent hemorrhage control, compared to 6% of the appropriately triaged group (P < .0001). One percent of undertriaged patients died within 48 hours compared to 19% in the appropriately triaged group (P < .0001). Predictors of appropriate triage include GCS, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, lactic acid, ISS, shock, and absence of dementia, stroke, or alcoholism. Discussion Geriatric-specific TTA guidelines continue to undertriage elderly trauma patients when using ISS as a metric to measure undertriage. However, undertriaged patients have much lower morbidity and mortality, suggesting the geriatric-specific TTA guidelines identify those patients at highest risk for poor outcomes.
Receptors for the detection of L-amino acids and IMP by mouse taste sensory cells

The sense of taste is one of the most important factors in regulating ingestive decisions. This is central to a number of disease conditions including but not limited to obesity, diabetes, anorexia, hypertension, coronary artery diseases and malnutrition. The detection of the molecules eliciting taste qualities in food is mediated by the coordinated actions of distinct types of taste sensory cells (TSCs) housed in taste buds within specialized papillae throughout the oral cavity. Taste receptors in the taste sensory cells that detect food molecules are the key players in selecting dietary nutrients. One such example is L-amino acids, a critical part of one's diet. L-glutamate is the prototypical umami compound and is known to increase palatability of food. A unique characteristic of umami taste is the response potentiation of glutamate by 5' ribonucleotide monophosphates, such as inosine 5' monophosphate (IMP), which is also capable of eliciting an umami taste. Candidate receptors for umami taste include a heterodimer T1r1+T1r3, brain variants of mGluR1 and mGluR4, and the truncated variants of mGluR1 and mGluR4. Studies using heterogeneous expression of T1r1+T1r3 suggest it is an umami and a broadly tuned L-amino acid receptor. While much attention is devoted to understanding glutamate transduction, the detection mechanisms for other L-amino acids by TSCs are less well understood. Here calcium imaging of isolated TSCs and taste cell clusters from the circumvallate and foliate papillae of C57BL/6J and T1r3 knockout mice was performed to determine if other receptors are involved in the detection of L-amino acids and IMP. Ratiometric imaging with Fura-2 was used to study calcium responses to IMP and four L-amino acids (monopotassium L-glutamate, L-serine, L-arginine, and L-glutamine) with and without IMP. The results of these experiments showed that the response patterns elicited by L-amino acids varied significantly across TSCs. Only a small subset of cells responded to all stimuli. Interestingly, L-amino acids other than glutamate elicited synergistic responses in a subset of TSCs. Additionally IMP alone elicited a response in a large number of TSCs. Our data indicate that synergistic and non-synergistic responses to L-amino acids and IMP are mediated by multiple receptors or possibly a receptor complex. Next the roles of mGluR1 and mGluR4 in the detection of the IMP and L-amino acids were investigated. Selective agonists for mGluR1, (RS)-3, 5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG; a group I mGluR agonist), and mGluR4, L-(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4; a group III mGluR4 agonist) elicited responses in TSCs. In addition, TSCs responsive to these agonists were also responsive to L-amino acids and IMP. More importantly, selective antagonists against different mGluRs such as (RS)-1-aminoindan-1,5-dicarboxylic acid (AIDA; a group I mGluR antagonist), and (RS)-α-methylserine-O-phosphate (MSOP; a group III mGluR antagonist) significantly suppressed L-amino acid- and IMP-mediated responses in TSCs of T1r3…
Heritability, genetic correlation and breeding value for some productive and reproductive traits in Holstein cows.

Article history Received:28 Jan, 2015 Revised: 9 Feb, 2015 Accepted:12 Feb, 2015 Abstract The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters (heritability, genetic correlation) and breeding value for some productive and reproductive traits. Such traits include calving interval (CI), days open (DO), days in milk (DIM), dry period (DP), total milk yield (TMY) and 305-day milk yield (305-DMY). Accurate 3464 records of Holstein (HO) cows were utilized. Animal model was used to estimate heritability and breeding value. Strong negative genetic correlation was estimated for both CI and DP with TMY and 305-DMY ranged from (-0.65 to -0.99). High positive genetic associations were recorded for both CI with DO, DP and DO with DP. Weak heritability was estimated for CI, DO, DP and DIM ranged from 0.002-0.12 while for TMY and 305-DMY, the estimates were medium being 0.34±0.02 and 0.32±0.02 respectively. The range of breeding value for cows and sires were high for most of studied traits. The range of breeding value of cows for TMY and 305-DMY was 4213 and 688.80 kg respectively which was higher than those for sires (3485 and 623 kg respectively) and dams (2281 and 417.80 kg respectively). In conclusion, improvement of reproductive traits (CI, DO) through selection is difficult, but required improvement of managerial and environmental conditions. Higher ranges of breeding values for cows and sires for most of studied traits indicate higher genetic variation and higher opportunity for selection of top cows and sires in breeding value, which would result in rapid genetic progress in the future generations.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in acute stroke and its clinical implications

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a very important role in repairing intact and injured brain, also known as neuroplasticity. Risk factors may affect neuroplasticity. OBJECTIVES: In this study, our aim was to delineate the levels of BDNF in acute stroke with different etiology and impact of risk factors on its levels. METHODS: In this prospective study, 208 patients with first-ever stroke, between 18 and 75 years, were included. All individuals were assessed for severity and type of stroke, risk factors, levels of BDNF in the acute stroke, and its association with outcome of stroke. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in our study was 55.29 ± 11.6 years. Compared to healthy controls, a significant decline in the levels of BDNF was observed after stroke (P < 0.01). Patients with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) <6 on the 1st day of stroke had significantly higher levels of BDNF than those with NIHSS >6 (9.8 ng/ml ± 3.8; P < 0.01). A significant difference in the levels of BDNF was observed on comparing the stroke patients and healthy individuals of age <55 and >55 years (<55 years: 10.4 ng/ml ± 3.2; >55 years: 9.8 ng/ml ± 4.5 and in healthy individuals <55 years: 22.97 ± 3.8, >55 years: 15.4 ± 4.9; P < 0.01). Risk factors have negative impact on levels of BDNF (diabetics, P = 0.001; alcoholics, P = 0.003; both diabetes mellitus + hypertension, P = 0.002; smokers, P = 0.001). The difference was not significant between hypertensives and nonhypertensives (P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: BDNF level is significantly reduced in acute stroke. The presence of risk factors further affects its level.
Using Natural Language Processing on Electronic Health Records to Enhance Detection and Prediction of Psychosis Risk.

BACKGROUND Using novel data mining methods such as natural language processing (NLP) on electronic health records (EHRs) for screening and detecting individuals at risk for psychosis. METHOD The study included all patients receiving a first index diagnosis of nonorganic and nonpsychotic mental disorder within the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust between January 1, 2008, and July 28, 2018. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO)-regularized Cox regression was used to refine and externally validate a refined version of a five-item individualized, transdiagnostic, clinically based risk calculator previously developed (Harrell's C = 0.79) and piloted for implementation. The refined version included 14 additional NLP-predictors: tearfulness, poor appetite, weight loss, insomnia, cannabis, cocaine, guilt, irritability, delusions, hopelessness, disturbed sleep, poor insight, agitation, and paranoia. RESULTS A total of 92 151 patients with a first index diagnosis of nonorganic and nonpsychotic mental disorder within the SLaM Trust were included in the derivation (n = 28 297) or external validation (n = 54 716) data sets. Mean age was 33.6 years, 50.7% were women, and 67.0% were of white race/ethnicity. Mean follow-up was 1590 days. The overall 6-year risk of psychosis in secondary mental health care was 3.4 (95% CI, 3.3-3.6). External validation indicated strong performance on unseen data (Harrell's C 0.85, 95% CI 0.84-0.86), an increase of 0.06 from the original model. CONCLUSIONS Using NLP on EHRs can considerably enhance the prognostic accuracy of psychosis risk calculators. This can help identify patients at risk of psychosis who require assessment and specialized care, facilitating earlier detection and potentially improving patient outcomes.
Kin landownership, differential aggression between kin and non-kin, and population fluctuations in red grouse

Previous work on red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) on a north-east Scottish moor showed that recruitment of young to the territorial population in autumn largely determined changes in numbers between springs. This paper analyses territory locations of individually marked fathers and sons during a big cyclic-type population fluctuation in 1969-77. In years of increasing numbers, sons took territories close to their fathers. When fathers did not keep their territories for another year, sons took territories on or close to their natal territories. In years of declining numbers, kin moved further from their natal areas to establish territories. This fits ideas that some animal populations comprise distinct sub-populations or demes
Specific Protein Determinations Using Immunoelectrophoresis

The Laurell ‘rocket’ technique of immunoelectrophoresis has been used to quantitate seven specific serum proteins in a control population of SO healthy persons and in 100 hospital patients. Reference ranges have been established for each protein from data obtained from the control population. For many of the proteins variations due to age and/or sex were observed. Sex hormones, probably oestrogens, were also observed to cause variations in some of the protein concentrations. Data obtained from the hospital patients indicated that further work should prove profitable and could enable specific protein determinations to be useful, both as a diagnostic tool and in following the course of a disease.
Supplementation with L-carnitine rescues sperm epigenetic changes in asthenospermic male semen with altered acetyl-L-carnitine levels

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the concentration of L-carnitine in semen and sperm parameters and investigate the epigenetic profile in sperm cell after L-carnitine usage. Methods: From February 2017 to February 2018, 46 semen samples from asthenospermic males and 41 semen samples from healthy donors were acquired. Motility parameters were assessed using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA, n = 78) and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was evaluated through flow cytometry (n = 86), %DFI = % cells outside main population. Other oxidative stress markers, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels (n = 86) and the mitochondria DNA copy numbers, were detected (n = 78). The concentration of L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine was detected (n = 82), and methylation was analyzed (n = 30). After that, we collected 13 fresh semen samples from asthenospermic males and 23 fresh semen samples from healthy donors. These samples were used in a freeze-thaw model that was used to determine whether adding L-carnitine could change sperm progressive motility (n = 23), apoptosis index (n = 9), and methylation analysis (n = 7). In total, we have done 13 asthenospermia samples for Western blot, and except for the poor Western result, we analyzed 6 samples for H3K9ac detection, 7 samples for H3K9m3 and H3K27m3 detection, and immunofluorescence (n = 3). Finally, we had recruited 30 volunteers, and they were given oral administration of L-carnitine for 3 months and then collected semen samples at different time points for methylation analysis. Results: The concentration of acetyl-L-carnitine is negatively correlated with the %DFI value (r2 = 0.1090; P = 0.0026), and the concentration of acetyl-L-carnitine is positively correlated with sperm forward motility (r2 = 0.0543; P = 0.0458) and ROS (r2 = 0.1854;P < 0.0001), and the acetyl-L-carnitine level is negatively correlated with %DFI in asthenospermia (r2 = 0.1701; P = 0.0066), and the level of acetyl-L-carnitine in asthenospermic semen is significantly lower than the normal group (P = 0.0419). In addition, this study indicates that adding L-carnitine significantly improved sperm motility (P = 0.0325) and reduced sperm apoptosis (P = 0.0032). Importantly, Western blotting (P = 0.0429) and immunofluorescence staining results showed that the addition of L-carnitine reduced H3K9Me3 methylation level in sperm, respectively. Furthermore, semen samples from asthenospermic patients had reduced methylation levels in a specific region (16th P = 0.0003; 17th P = 0.0016) of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promoter. The 16th methylation decreased with age (r2 = 0.1564; P = 0.0306), and the 17th methylation was decreased after treatment with L-carnitine for 28 days (P = 0.0341). Conclusion: L-carnitine can reduce the %DFI and also affect the methylation of the histone modification marker in sperm as a possible epigenetic regulator.
Identification of host factors in swine respiratory epithelial cells that contribute to host anti-viral defense and influenza virus replication

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v LIST OF TABLES . xii LIST OF FIGURES . xii ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS THESIS . xiv 1.0 LITERATURE REVIEW . 1 1.1 Influenza virus . 1 1.1.1 Classification. 1 1.1.2 Virion and genome Structure . 1 1.1.3 Influenza A virus life cycle . 10 1.1.4 Evolution and genetics of influenza A iruses . 14 1.2 Overview of innate immunity and virus evasion strategies . 18 1.2. 1 Pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) and Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) . 19 1.2. 1.1 Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) . 19 1.2. 1.2 RIG-I (retinoic acid inducible gene-I) like receptors . 22 1.2. 1.3 NOD like receptors (NLRs) . 25 1.2. 1.4 Lectin Receptors.28 1.2. 2 Effectors of innate immunity . 30
Temporal variability of indoor dust concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds.

The determinants of thetemporal variability of indoordust concentrationsof semivolatileorganiccompounds(SVOCs)remains mostly unexplored. We examined temporalvariability ofdust concentrations and factors affecting dust concentrations for a wide range of SVOCs.We collected dust samples three times from29 California homes during a period of 22monthsand quantified concentrations of 47 SVOCs in 87 dust samples. We computed intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) using three samples collected within the same house.We calculated correlation coefficients (r) between two seasons with similar climate (spring and fall)and between two seasons with oppositeclimate (summer and winter). Among 26 compounds that were detected in more than 50% of the samples at all three visits, 20 compounds had ICCs above 0.50 and 6 compounds had ICCs below 0.50. For 19out of 26 compounds, correlation coefficients between spring and fall (r = 0.48-0.98) were higher than those between summer and winter (r = 0.09-0.92), implying seasonal effects on dust concentrations.Our study showed that within-home temporal variability of dust concentrations was small(ICC > 0.50) for most SVOCs, but dust concentrations may vary over time for some SVOCswith seasonal variations in source rates, such as product use.