Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental DNA detection of rare and invasive fish species in two Great Lakes tributaries

The extraction and characterization of DNA from aquatic environmental samples offers an alternative, noninvasive approach for the detection of rare species. Environmental DNA, coupled with PCR and next‐generation sequencing (“metabarcoding”), has proven to be very sensitive for the detection of rare aquatic species. Our study used a custom‐designed group‐specific primer set and next‐generation sequencing for the detection of three species at risk (Eastern Sand Darter, Ammocrypta pellucida; Northern Madtom, Noturus stigmosus; and Silver Shiner, Notropis photogenis), one invasive species (Round Goby, Neogobius melanostomus) and an additional 78 native species from two large Great Lakes tributary rivers in southern Ontario, Canada: the Grand River and the Sydenham River. Of 82 fish species detected in both rivers using capture‐based and eDNA methods, our eDNA method detected 86.2% and 72.0% of the fish species in the Grand River and the Sydenham River, respectively, which included our four target species. Our analyses also identified significant positive and negative species co‐occurrence patterns between our target species and other identified species. Our results demonstrate that eDNA metabarcoding that targets the fish community as well as individual species of interest provides a better understanding of factors affecting the target species spatial distribution in an ecosystem than possible with only target species data. Additionally, eDNA is easily implemented as an initial survey tool, or alongside capture‐based methods, for improved mapping of species distribution patterns.
A New Typology for Mountains and Other Relief Classes

Abstract A new classification of 15 relief patterns at the global scale combines a relief roughness indicator and the maximum altitude at a resolution of 30′ × 30′. Classical geographic terms have been retained but assigned to fixed relief roughness (RR = maximum minus minimum elevation per cell divided by half the cell length in meters/kilometer, or ‰) and altitude boundaries. Plains (33.2 Mkm2 of currently nonglaciated land surface) correspond to subhorizontal terrain (RR < 5‰). Lowlands (19.2 Mkm; 0–200 m) have a very low degree of roughness (5 20‰). Plateaus (16.8 Mkm2), with mean elevations between 500 and 6000 m, have a medium degree of roughness (RR from 5 to 40‰). Mountains (33.3 Mkm2) are differentiated from hills by their higher mean elevation (>500 m) and from plateaus by their greater roughness (>20‰ then >40‰) in each elevation class. Accordingly, Tibet and the Altiplano are very high plateaus, not mountains. These quantitative definitions of relief patterns were divided into 15 classes, then clustered into 9 main types and mapped at the global scale at a resolution for which water runoff depth and population were previously determined. We also differentiated between exorheic areas (115.6 Mkm2 globally) and endorheic areas (17.36 Mkm2 globally) of potential runoff. Mountains thus account for 25% of the Earth's total land area, 32% of surface runoff, and 26% of the global population. The presence or vicinity of a rough and elevated landscape is less limiting to human settlement than water runoff.
Association Between Hearing Loss and Saccular Dysfunction in Older Individuals

Objective 1) Describe the association between hearing loss and dysfunction of each of the 5 vestibular end-organs—the horizontal, superior, and posterior semicircular canals; saccule; and utricle—in older individuals. 2) Evaluate whether hearing loss and vestibular end-organ deficits share any risk factors. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Academic medical center. Patients Fifty-one individuals age 70 years or older. Interventions Audiometry, head-thrust dynamic visual acuity (htDVA), sound-evoked cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP), and tap-evoked ocular VEMP (oVEMP). Main Outcome Measures Audiometric pure-tone averages (PTA), htDVA LogMAR scores as a measure of semicircular canal function in each canal plane, and cVEMP and oVEMP amplitudes as a measure of saccular and utricular function, respectively. Results We observed a significant correlation between hearing loss at high frequencies and reduced cVEMP amplitudes (or reduced saccular function; r = −0.37, p < 0.0001) in subjects age 70 years or older. In contrast, hearing loss was not associated with oVEMP amplitudes (or utricular function), or htDVA LogMAR scores (or semicircular canal function) in any of the canal planes. Age and noise exposure were significantly associated with measures of both cochlear and saccular dysfunction. Conclusion The concomitant decline in the cochlear and saccular function associated with aging may reflect their common embryologic origin in the pars inferior of the labyrinth. Noise exposure seems to be related to both saccular and cochlear dysfunction. These findings suggest a potential benefit of screening individuals with presbycusis—particularly those with significant noise exposure history—for saccular dysfunction, which may contribute to fall risk in the elderly.
Investigating the linearity versus efficiency trade-off of different power amplifier modes in an envelope tracking architecture

Envelope tracking (ET) power amplifiers achieve wideband efficiency over dynamic range by modulating supply voltage in response to the input envelope signal magnitude. Shaping functions relate input envelope magnitude to dynamic supply voltage and can be defined to achieve optimum performance in terms of not only efficiency and power, but also linearity. Using an active harmonic load-pull measurement system, this paper explores the trade-off between linearity and efficiency in terms of the intrinsic current and voltage behavior within an emulated ET environment, and as determined by different envelope shaping functions. The analysis compares the behavior of conventional class-AB and high-efficiency class-F modes in an ET architecture, using a 50V LDMOS device. Experimental results at 900MHz show that simple shaping functions with only second order terms are able to generate linear relationships between the fundamental output current and input voltage envelopes. In the case of class-F, this is achieved while maintaining high-efficiency, and thus raises the attractive prospect of using an ET architecture to reduce required linearizer complexity - an important factor in small-cell base station power amplifier (PA) design.
Regulation of delayed‐type hypersensitivity I. T suppressor cells for delayed‐type hypersensitivity to sheep erythrocytes in mice

Mice injected with 1 x 108 sheep red blood cells (SRBC) into the footpad showed high levels of delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) to SRBC 4‐8 days after the injection. In contrast, mice injected intravenously with 1 x 109 SRBC were unresponsive to DTH induction through 1 x 108 SRBC injected into the footpad. This suppression of DTH was maintained for at least 6 weeks and was transferable by spleen, lymph node and thymus cells to normal syngeneic recipients. Bone marrow cells, on the other hand, did not contain the suppressor cells. The suppression of DTH was antigen‐specific in that DTH to chicken red blood cells and contact sensitivity to 2,4‐dinitrofluorobenzene was not affected. The suppressor cells were theta‐positive and Ig‐negative. They appeared in the spleen in optimum number 3–4 days after induction. The suppressor cells affected both the induction and manifestation of DTH. The presence of suppressor and effector cells for DTH inducible by different routes of antigenic presentation reflects the dynamic balance in the regulation of DTH.
Efficacy of metformin supplementation during ovarian stimulation of lean PCOS patients undergoing in vitro fertilization

Objective. To evaluate the effect of metformin addition during ovarian hyperstimulation on cycle parameters and outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with a body mass index (BMI) <28 kg/m2. Design. Retrospective review of patients’ records. Setting. Istanbul Memorial Hospital Assisted Reproductive Treatment Unit. Population. A total of 339 non‐obese PCOS patients undergoing IVF were evaluated according to the supplementation of metformin. Methods. Cycle parameters and IVF outcomes of 220 patients given metformin were compared to those of 119 patients treated without metformin. Main outcome measures. Implantation and pregnancy rates. Results. Metformin co‐treatment led to significantly lower peak E2 levels (3,481 pg/ml vs. 4,192 pg/ml; p <0.0001). However, gonadotropin consumption, stimulation duration, numbers of total and mature oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, and ratio of grade I embryos developed were similar in both groups. In the metformin administered group, significantly higher implantation (25% vs. 18%; p = 0.003) and pregnancy rates (58% vs. 45%; p = 0.04) were achieved. Abortion and moderate–severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome rates were found to be similar in both groups. Conclusions. Although metformin use was especially and strongly recommended in obese PCOS cases, its supplementation during IVF in PCOS patients with a BMI <28 kg/m2 was observed to be beneficial and efficacious.
Las spin-off académicas como vía de transferencia tecnológica

Uno de los mecanismos de transferencia de tecnologia usados por las universidades que mayor interes ha despertado en la ultima decada es la formacion de spinoffs academicas, empresas creadas especificamente para la explotacion comercial de tecnologia derivada de resultados de investigacion. En el presente articulo se revisan las tipologias y el proceso de creacion y desarrollo de esta clase de empresas y se propone un modelo que agrupa los factores condicionantes de la actividad spinoff en el ambito universitario
Platinum Compound-Related Ototoxicity in Children: Long-Term Follow-Up Reveals Continuous Worsening of Hearing Loss

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the severity of hearing loss after cisplatin and/or carboplatin treatment in young children and to analyze its evolution and its relation to different therapy schedules. Methods:One hundred twenty patients treated in the Pediatrics Department at the Institut Gustave-Roussy from 1987 to 1997 for neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, hepatoblastoma, or germ cell tumors were analyzed. Median age at diagnosis was 2.6 (range 0–17) years. Median follow-up was 7 (1–13) years. Chemotherapy regimens contained cisplatin and/or carboplatin. Three patients also received high-dose carboplatin. Cisplatin was administered at a dose of 200 mg/m2/course in 72% of cases. The median cumulative dose was 400 mg/m2 for cisplatin and 1,600 mg/m2 for carboplatin. Hearing loss of grade 2 or above, according to Brock’s grading scale, was revealed with pure tone audiometry and behavioral techniques. Results:Carboplatin alone was not ototoxic. Deterioration of hearing of grade 2 or above was observed in 37% of patients treated with cisplatin and 43% of patients treated with cisplatin plus carboplatin (P = NS). Fifteen percent of patients experienced grade 3 or 4 ototoxicity. Ototoxicity was most often observed after a total cisplatin dose of at least 400 mg/m2. No improvement was observed with time; on the contrary, worsening or progression of hearing loss at lower frequencies was detected during follow-up. Only 5% of audiograms showed toxicity of at least grade 2 before the end of therapy; in contrast, this level was observed in 11% of early post-therapy evaluations and in 44% after more than 2 years of follow-up. Conclusions:Children treated with cisplatin at cumulative doses approaching 400 mg/m2 require long-term surveillance to avoid overlooking hearing deficits. Carboplatin, at a standard dose, does not appear to be a significant risk factor for ototoxicity even in patients who have already been treated with cisplatin.
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage Using Self-Expandable Metal Stent for Malignant Biliary Obstruction

Purpose. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has been increasingly reported worldwide. However, studies concerning EUS-BD from Mainland China are sporadic. This study aims to investigate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of EUS-BD using SEMS in a single center from Mainland China. Methods. Between November 2011 and August 2015, 24 patients underwent EUS-BD using a standardized algorithm. Results. Three patients underwent rendezvous technique (RV), 4 underwent hepaticogastrostomy (HGS), and 17 underwent choledochoduodenostomy (CDS). The technical and clinical success rates were 95.8% (23/24) and 100% (23/23), respectively. Mean procedure time for the CDS group (35.9 ± 5.0 min) or HGS group (39.3 ± 5.0 min) was significantly shorter than that for the RV group (64.7 ± 9.1 min) (P < 0.05). Complications (13%) included (1) cholangitis and (2) postprocedure hemorrhage. During the follow-up periods (mean 6.4 months), 22 (91.7%) patients died of tumor progression with mean stent patency of 5.8 ± 2.2 months. Stent occlusion occurred in 2 (8.7%) patients. Conclusion. EUS-BD using SEMS is a feasible, effective, and safe alternative for biliary decompression after failed ERCP. EUS-RV may not be the first-line choice for EUS-BD in a medium volume center. Further evaluation and experience of this method are needed.
Organization of proximal signal initiation at the TCR:CD3 complex

Summary: The series of events leading to T‐cell activation following antigen recognition has been extensively investigated. Although the exact mechanisms of ligand binding and transmission of this extracellular interaction into a productive intracellular signaling sequence remains incomplete, it has been known for many years that the immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motifs (ITAMs) of the T‐cell receptor (TCR):CD3 complex are required for initiation of this signaling cascade because of the recruitment and activation of multiple protein tyrosine kinases, signaling intermediates, and adapter molecules. It however remains unclear why the TCR:CD3 complex requires 10 ITAMs, while many other ITAM‐containing immune receptors, such as Fc receptors (FcRs) and the B cell receptor (BCR), contain far fewer ITAMs. We have recently demonstrated that various parameters of T cell development and activation are influenced by the number, as well as location and type, of ITAMs within the TCR:CD3 complex and hence propose that the TCR is capable of ‘scalable signaling’ that facilitates the initiation and orchestration of diverse T‐cell functions. While many of the underlying mechanisms remain hypothetical, this review intends to amalgamate what we have learned from conventional biochemical analyses regarding initiation and diversification of T‐cell signaling, with more recent evidence from molecular and fluorescent microscopic analyses, to propose a broader purpose for the TCR:CD3 ITAMs. Rather than simply signal initiation, individual ITAMs may also be responsible for the differential recruitment of signaling and regulatory molecules which ultimately affects T‐cell development, activation and differentiation.
Autologous cultured chondrocytes: adverse events reported to the United States Food and Drug Administration.

BACKGROUND Carticel is an autologous cultured chondrocyte product that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the repair of symptomatic cartilaginous defects of the femoral condyle that are caused by acute or repetitive trauma in patients who have been previously managed with arthroscopy or other surgical procedures. The present report describes the adverse events following Carticel implantation as reported to the Food and Drug Administration from 1996 to 2003. METHODS We reviewed adverse event reports that had been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration's MedWatch system for information on demographic characteristics, adverse events, and surgical revisions. Adverse events were categorized into sixteen non-mutually exclusive groups. Five categories were used to classify reoperations. Food and Drug Administration regulations require manufacturers to report adverse events; however, reporting by clinicians and others is voluntary. Therefore, adverse event reporting is likely to underestimate the number of event occurrences. Adverse events may be either causally or coincidentally related to the product. RESULTS A total of 497 adverse events among 294 patients receiving Carticel were reported. The median interval from Carticel implantation to the diagnosis of an adverse event was 240 days (range, one to 2105 days). The median age of the patients was thirty-eight years, and 63% of the patients were male. Of the 270 events for which the anatomic site was noted, 258 (96%) involved the femoral condyles. More than one adverse event was reported for 135 patients (46%). The most commonly reported events were graft failure (seventy-three patients; 25%), delamination (sixty-five patients; 22%), and tissue hypertrophy (fifty-two patients; 18%). In addition, eighteen surgical site infections were reported, including eleven joint and seven soft-tissue infections. Surgical revision subsequent to Carticel implantation was mentioned in the records for 273 patients (93%). The reasons for the 389 revision procedures included graft-related problems (187 procedures; 48.1%), periarticular soft-tissue problems (ninety-seven procedures; 24.9%), and intra-articular problems (sixty-three procedures; 16.2%). Eight patients had a total knee replacement. Based on the manufacturer's reported distribution of 7500 Carticel lots between 1995 and 2002, 285 patients (3.8%) had an adverse event that was reported to the Food and Drug Administration. CONCLUSIONS The most common adverse events reported in association with the Carticel technique involved graft failure, delamination, and tissue hypertrophy.
Contemporary Training Practices in Elite British Powerlifters: Survey Results From an International Competition

Swinton, PA, Lloyd, R, Agouris, I, and Stewart, A. Contemporary training practices in elite British powerlifters: survey results from an international competition. J Strength Cond Res 23(2): 380-384, 2009-The primary objective of this study was to investigate current powerlifting training methods in light of anecdotal evidence purporting increased similarity with the explosive training practices of weightlifters. The study also assessed the prevalence of contemporary training practices frequently recommended for powerlifters in the popular literature. A 20-item survey was distributed to 32 elite British powerlifters at an International competition. The subject group included multiple national, international, and commonwealth champions and record holders. Based on 2007 competition results, the average Wilks score of the group was 450.26 ± 34.7. The response rate for the surveys was 88% (28 of 32). The survey was sectioned into 6 areas of inquiry: a) repetition speed, b) explosive training load, c) resistance materials used, d) adjunct power training methods, e) exercise selection, and f) training organization. The results demonstrate that the majority of powerlifters train with the intention to explosively lift maximal and submaximal loads (79 and 82%, respectively). Results revealed that 39% of the lifters regularly used elastic bands and that 57% incorporated chains in their training. Evidence for convergence of training practices between powerlifters and weightlifters was found when 69% of the subjects reported using the Olympic lifts or their derivatives as part of their powerlifting training. Collectively, the results demonstrate that previous notions of how powerlifters train are outdated. Contemporary powerlifters incorporate a variety of training practices that are focused on developing both explosive and maximal strength.
Robot-assisted laparoscopic skills development: formal versus informal training.

INTRODUCTION The learning curve for robotic surgery is not completely defined, and ideal training components have not yet been identified. We attempted to determine whether skill development would be accelerated with formal, organized instruction in robotic surgical techniques versus informal practice alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-three medical students naive to robotic surgery were randomized into two groups and tested on three tasks using the robotic platform. Between the testing sessions, the students were given equally timed practice sessions. The formal training group participated in an organized, formal training session with instruction from an attending robotic surgeon, whereas the informal training group participated in an equally timed unstructured practice session with the robot. The results were compared based on technical score and time to completion of each task. RESULTS There was no difference between groups in prepractice testing for any task. In postpractice testing, there was no difference between groups for the ring transfer tasks. However, for the suture placement and knot-tying task, the technical score of the formal training group was significantly better than that of the informal training group (p < 0.001), yet time to completion was not different. CONCLUSION Although formal training may not be necessary for basic skills, formal instruction for more advanced skills, such as suture placement and knot tying, is important in developing skills needed for effective robotic surgery. These findings may be important in formulating potential skills labs or training courses for robotic surgery.
Improved Switching Variability and Stability by Activating a Single Conductive Filament

We successfully fabricated a single-filament-activated resistive memory having limited conductive filament (CF) source through a novel fabrication technique. The formation of a single filament was confirmed using conductive atomic force microscopy. Compared to conventional programmable metallization cell devices having an unlimited CF source, our single-filament device showed a significantly improved switching variability by minimizing the probability of randomly formed CFs. The elimination of unlimited CF sources changed the rate-limiting parameter that determines the retention and disturbance properties and improved thermal and electrical stability.
Research on linked organization and visualization aggregation of shipping digital resource: An open data perspective

At present, more and more government departments and organizations choose to open their own data to the outside world. Open data can expand the scope of data sharing and improve the use efficiency of digital resources. However, most of the open data presents massive, decentralized and heterogeneous characteristics that greatly limit the use of open data. Also, semantic interoperability between data from different sources cannot be achieved. In addition, the user's application of open data mainly focuses on the lower level such as “data download” and “data retrieval”. The analysis of the patterns hidden behind open data is not sufficient. Therefore, from the perspective of open data, taking shipping digital resources as an example, this paper uses the linked data technology to realize the linked organization of data resources. On this basis, the visualization scheme of shipping digital resources is designed and implemented, so as to maximize the value of open digital resource. Our work in this paper provides a reference suggestion for effective use of open digital resources in other domain.