Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The performance advantage of a high resting metabolic rate in juvenile salmon is habitat dependent.

1. Basal levels of metabolism vary significantly among individuals in many taxa, but the effects of this on fitness are generally unknown. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) in juvenile salmon and trout is positively related to dominance status and ability to obtain a feeding territory, but it is not clear how this translates into performance in natural conditions. 2. The relationships between RMR, dominance, territoriality and growth rates of yearling Atlantic salmon Salmo salar were examined in relation to predictability in food supply and habitat complexity, using replicate sections of a large-scale controlled semi-natural stream. 3. Estimated RMR was a strong predictor of dominance, and under conditions of a predictable food supply in a structurally simple habitat, high estimated RMR fish obtained the best feeding territories and grew faster. 4. When the spatial distribution of food was made less predictable, dominant (high estimated RMR) fish were still able to occupy the most profitable feeding locations by periodically moving location to track the changes in food availability, but RMR was no longer a predictor of growth rate. Moreover, when a less predictable food supply was combined with a visually more complex (and realistic) habitat, fish were unable to track changes in food availability, grew more slowly and exhibited greater site fidelity, and there were no relationships between estimated RMR and quality of occupied territory or growth rate. 5. The relative benefit of RMR is thus context dependent, depending on both habitat complexity and the predictability of the food supply. Higher habitat complexity and lower food predictability decrease the performance advantages associated with a high RMR.
An intelligent location system based on active RFID

This study proposes a straightforward, efficient and high accuracy location system. The system can recognize without difficulty different locations of active RFID tags through machine learning and data mining. The system can accurately recognizes the locations of active RFID tags by using neural network classifiers after the active RFID readers has received different intensity of electromagnetic waves transmitted by active RFID tags. The experimental results show that the proposed system is simple, efficient and useful for practical applications.
Acid hydrolases of trypanosomatid flagellates.

Homogenates from 5 species of Trypanosomatids were screened for the presence of a series of acid hydrolases. The insect flagellae, Crithidia sp. , contains 5 enzymes reminiscent of plant parasitism, which were absent from or of very low specific activity in parasites of the genera, Trypanosoma and Leishmania. The latter mammalian parasites, on the other hand, exhibited higher acid proteinase and alpha-D-mannosidase activity levels.
Interleukin-3-mediated Cell Survival Signals Include Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-dependent Translocation of the Glucose Transporter GLUT1 to the Cell Surface*

Maintenance of glucose uptake is a key component in the response of hematopoietic cells to survival factors. To investigate the mechanism of this response we employed the interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent murine mast cell line IC2.9. In these cells, hexose uptake decreased markedly upon withdrawal of IL-3, whereas its readdition led to rapid (t½ ∼ 10 min) stimulation of transport, associated with an ∼4-fold increase in Vmax but no change in Km. Immunocytochemistry and photoaffinity labeling revealed that IL-3 caused translocation of intracellular GLUT1 transporters to the cell surface, whereas a second transporter isoform, GLUT3, remained predominantly intracellular. The inhibitory effects of latrunculin B and jasplakinolide, and of nocodazole and colchicine, respectively, revealed a requirement for both the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons in GLUT1 translocation and transport stimulation. Both IL-3 stimulation of transport and GLUT1 translocation were also prevented by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002. The time courses for activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and its downstream target, protein kinase B, by IL-3 were consistent with a role in IL-3-induced transporter translocation and enhanced glucose uptake. We conclude that one component of the survival mechanisms elicited by IL-3 involves the subcellular redistribution of glucose transporters, thus ensuring the supply of a key metabolic substrate.
Prevalence of Shiga toxin-encoding genes and risk factors among dairy farmers in Gyeonggi Province, Korea

Abstract Background: Dairy farmers perform various types of work and are in direct contact with dairy cattle nearly every day. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of Shiga toxin-encoding genes (stx) among dairy farmers and to evaluate the relationship between stx and risk factors. Methods: A questionnaire developed in-house was sent to dairy farmers in Gyeonggi Province, Korea by registered mail. Researchers obtained stool samples and identified or administered the questionnaires by interview. The stool samples were examined for stx genes by polymerase chain reaction. Results: Twenty (3.4%) of 589 stool samples from dairy farmers were stx-positive. The distribution of stx-positive stool samples revealed an increase in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection with age, duration of work, and herd size. There was no association between stx-positive stool samples and type of work. For artificial insemination, taking a shower after work was significant, and the proportion of stx-positive dairy farmers increased as taking a shower after work decreased. Conclusions: Hygiene-related education to include taking a shower after sessions of artificial insemination should be considered. However, the stx-positive dairy farmers were small in number and the results should be interpreted with caution.
HEMATOPOIESIS AND STEM CELLS Notch 1 acts via Foxc 2 to promote de fi nitive hematopoiesis via effects on hemogenic endothelium

Boston, MA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea; Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA; Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Cancer Research Program, Institut Hospital del Mar Investigacions Mediques, Barcelona, Spain; and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité de Recherche Associée 2578,
Mechanism of the therapeutic effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on limb ischemia in SD rats

Objective: The aim of this work was to explore the therapeutic effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in SD rats’ ischemic hind limb. Methods: Ligation of the abdominal aorta beneath the renal artery, the lumbar artery and the iliolumbar artery, was performed to obtain the hindlimb ischemia model in female SD rats. Amplified and purified bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells from male SD rats were injected into the rectus femoris of the right hind limb of the ischemia rats, while the control group received an injection of an equal amount of saline. Two, four and six weeks after the injection, a sample of the right rectus femoris was collected for the immunohistochemical detection of the vascular endothelial growth factor and sex-determining region Y (SRY). Results: Both the capillary number on the right rectus muscle and the vascular endothelial growth factor positive cell in the transplant group were significantly higher compared to the control group at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after transplantation (P < 0.01). The SRY positive cells were detected in the capillary walls and scattered in the muscle tissue of the rectus femoris of the transplanted rats. Conclusion: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation may increase the vascular endothelial growth factor level in ischemic tissues, participate in the new capillary formation in the ischemic limbs, promote rapid capillary growth in the ischemic tissue, and improve the blood supply to the ischemic hind limb.
Epilepsy with Typical Absence Seizures with Onset During the First Year of Life

Summary: Absence epilepsy with multiple daily seizures and onset at the age of 6 and ½ months in a healthy female child with normal development is described. EEG‐video recording revealed typical absence seizures (vacant staring and interruption of motor activity) and complex absences (as above, plus raising of the eyeballs, slight beatings of the eyebrows, and forward propulsion of head and shoulders). The absences were accompanied by bilateral symmetrical 3‐Hz spike‐wave discharges preceded, and at times followed, by bilateral frontoparietal theta activity coinciding with onset and termination of the absence seizures. The seizures regressed with nitrazepam therapy. At age 3‐years, the child is seizure‐free and shows normal neurologic development.
Cladophialophora bantiana as an Emerging Pathogen in Animals: Case Report of Equine Endometritis and Review of the Literature

ABSTRACT We present an unusual equine endometritis case associated with Cladophialophora bantiana in a 15-year-old mare. The mare displayed infertility and uterine fluid accumulation with numerous black, hairy granules. Microscopically, the fluid revealed numerous septate, dark fungal hyphae and conidia in chains. Culture yielded C. bantiana (CBS 138271); the species was confirmed by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Treatment was unsuccessful. C. bantiana causes cerebral phaeohyphomycosis in humans, while animal cases are rare. Animal cases are reviewed.
Thermal sensibility and thermoreceptors.

The sensing of changes in skin temperature is important (a) in contributing to the total sensory information about an object making contact with the skin, and (b) in assessing body heat loss or gain, that occurs over a large part of the body surface. These functions depend on (a) resolution of small, local, shifts in skin temperature, and (b) effective spatial summation by the central nervous system of thermal stimulus information. Aδ cold fiber populations excited uniquely by cooling the skin and unmyelinated warm fibers excited only by warming the skin constitute the "labeled lines" that signal all the immediate information available to the brain about changes in skin temperature. We have correlated the capacity of human subjects to identify incremental differences within pairs of warming or cooling temperature pulses and the neural events evoked by similar stimuli in the cutaneous nerve fiber populations of monkeys ( Macaca nemestrina ). The conclusions are that human discrimination of incremental changes in skin temperature depends on (a) information coded at the single fiber level as cumulative impulse count or rate over an integration interval of about 2 see, (b) the brain using information signaled by all the thermoreceptive fibers engaged by the stimulus, (c) the dependent variability among fibers of the responding population being slight, and (d) the brain integrating this information by some method of "weighted" averaging, which biases the process to favor these fibers that most effectively relay stimulus information.
Antimicrobial Activity of Girardinia heterophylla

In the present study an attempt has been made to prepare the crude extracts of leaves and stem of ‘Girardinia heterophylla’ by using various solvents like petroleum ether, ethanol and double distilled water. The samples were given the code NGLS 1, NGLS 2, NGLS 3 and NGSS 1, NGSS 2 and NGSS 3 respectively. All the extracts were used to study their antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria e.g. Bacillus subtilis, gram negative bacteria e.g. E. coli and K. pneumonia and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. The results of the antimicrobial activity showed that all the crude extracts of the plant possesses antibacterial activity. Maximum antibacterial activity was shown by NGLS 2, NGLS 3 and NGSS 3 against K. pneumonia. The growth of fungus A. niger was also inhibited by all the crude extracts. Maximum inhibition was shown by NGSS 2 followed by NGSS 1. Keywords—Girardinia heterophylla, leaves and stem extracts, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity.
Influence of diluents, media, and membrane filters on detection fo injured waterborne coliform bacteria

Pure cultures of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Citrobacter freundii were injured ( greater than 90%) in water from a dead-end section of the Bozeman, Montana, distribution system. The effects of the following laboratory variables on the enumeration efficiency of injured and undamaged control cells were examined: (i) diluent composition, temperature, and time of exposure; (ii) media, using various formulations employed in enumerating gram-negative bacteria; and (iii) surface pore morphology of membrane filters. The addition of peptone or milk solids to diluents and low temperature (4 degrees C) maximized the recovery of injured cells, but had little effect on undamaged cells. Control cells were recovered with high efficiencies on most media tested, but recoveries of injured cells ranged from 0 to near 100%. Most of the media commonly used in water analysis recovered less than 30% of injured cells. This was explained in part by the sensitivity of injured bacteria to deoxycholate concentrations greater than 0.01%, whereas control cells were unaffected by 0.1%. Membrane filter surface pore morphology (at 35 degrees C) had a negligible effect on total coliform recoveries. Recommendations are made regarding procedures to improve the recovery of injured coliforms by routine laboratory practices.
Sobre la paleobiología de Hippopotamus antiquus Desmarest,1822: ¿Un megaherbívoro acuático sin análogos vivientes?

a ICREA, Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social-IPHES, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Campus Sescelades, 43007 Tarragona, España. bienvenido.martinez@icrea.cat b Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, España c Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, España d Museo de Prehistoria y Paleontología, 18858 Orce, España
Electron delay analysis and image charge effect in AlGaN/GaN HEMT on silicon substrate

A delay time analysis is carried out for SiN-passivated AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) on silicon substrate featuring gate length of 90 nm. The influence of high parasitics in the access pads is considered using de-embedding procedure from the measured S parameters. From the obtained transit delay contributions, the effective electron velocity is estimated to 0.85×107 cm.s-1. In addition, the effect of the image charge on the drain delay is experimentally demonstrated through the extraction of the mirroring coefficient a close to the predicted simulation value.
A Probabilistic Short-Term Water Demand Forecasting Model Based on the Markov Chain

This paper proposes a short-term water demand forecasting method based on the use of the Markov chain. This method provides estimates of future demands by calculating probabilities that the future demand value will fall within pre-assigned intervals covering the expected total variability. More specifically, two models based on homogeneous and non-homogeneous Markov chains were developed and presented. These models, together with two benchmark models (based on artificial neural network and naive methods), were applied to three real-life case studies for the purpose of forecasting the respective water demands from 1 to 24 h ahead. The results obtained show that the model based on a homogeneous Markov chain provides more accurate short-term forecasts than the one based on a non-homogeneous Markov chain, which is in line with the artificial neural network model. Both Markov chain models enable probabilistic information regarding the stochastic demand forecast to be easily obtained.
Ndt80 activates the meiotic ORC1 transcript isoform and SMA2 via a bi-directional middle sporulation element in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT The origin of replication complex subunit ORC1 is important for DNA replication. The gene is known to encode a meiotic transcript isoform (mORC1) with an extended 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR), which was predicted to inhibit protein translation. However, the regulatory mechanism that controls the mORC1 transcript isoform is unknown and no molecular biological evidence for a role of mORC1 in negatively regulating Orc1 protein during gametogenesis is available. By interpreting RNA profiling data obtained with growing and sporulating diploid cells, mitotic haploid cells, and a starving diploid control strain, we determined that mORC1 is a middle meiotic transcript isoform. Regulatory motif predictions and genetic experiments reveal that the activator Ndt80 and its middle sporulation element (MSE) target motif are required for the full induction of mORC1 and the divergently transcribed meiotic SMA2 locus. Furthermore, we find that the MSE-binding negative regulator Sum1 represses both mORC1 and SMA2 during mitotic growth. Finally, we demonstrate that an MSE deletion strain, which cannot induce mORC1, contains abnormally high Orc1 levels during post-meiotic stages of gametogenesis. Our results reveal the regulatory mechanism that controls mORC1, highlighting a novel developmental stage-specific role for the MSE element in bi-directional mORC1/SMA2 gene activation, and correlating mORC1 induction with declining Orc1 protein levels. Because eukaryotic genes frequently encode multiple transcripts possessing 5′-UTRs of variable length, our results are likely relevant for gene expression during development and disease in higher eukaryotes.
Long-term outcome of AIDS-associated cryptococcosis in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy

Background:Immune restoration following combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) questions the maintenance of prophylaxis among HIV-infected patients with cryptococcosis. Objective:To describe the long-term outcome after the diagnosis of cryptococcosis at the cART era. Design:Multicentre cohort of patients with a diagnosis of cryptococcosis between 1996 and 2000, follow-up until December 2002. Comparison with a historical cohort (1990–1994) for survival. Setting:Eighty-four French AIDS clinical centres. Patients:Two-hundred and forty HIV-infected adult patients at the cART era and 149 at the pre-cART era experiencing a first episode of culture-confirmed cryptococcosis. Results:In the cART era, 82/189 patients surviving more than 3 months after initiation of antifungal therapy had their maintenance therapy interrupted with a subsequent median follow-up of 19 months. Their relapse rate per 100 person-years was 0.9 [95%confidence interval (CI),0.0–2.0]. When considering the whole cART cohort, probability of reaching negative serum cryptococcal antigen was 71% after 48 months of follow-up. A CD4 cell count < 100/μl [relative risk (RR), 5.5; 95% CI, 1.3–22.2], antifungal therapy < 3 months over the past 6 months [RR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.1–22.3] and serum cryptococcal antigen titre ≥ 1/512 [RR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.1–10.8] were associated with a higher rate of cryptococcosis relapse. The mortality rate per 100 person-years was 15.3 [95% CI,12.2–18.4] in the cART era versus 63.8 [95% CI,53.0–74.9] in the pre-cART era although early mortality did not differ between the two periods. Conclusion:Overall survival after cryptococcosis has dramatically improved at the cART era. Immune restoration and low serum cryptococcal antigen titres are associated with lower cryptococcosis relapse rates.
Data clustering using modified k-medoids algorithm

This paper proposes a modified k-medoids algorithm for data clustering. This algorithm is applied on seven different datasets including two gene expression datasets and two medical datasets. It improves initial medoids selection and employs updated medoids selection. Records in the datasets are divided into k groups. Initial medoids are selected from each group and updated medoids are also selected within the group objects, instead of replacing all objects one by one. Two salient features of this algorithm are: 1 it avoids unnecessary selection of all medoids in the dataset 2 distance matrix is calculated only once which avoids every time scanning of large database. Both these processes reduce execution time in our approach. The proposed algorithm is applied on synthetic, genome expression and medical datasets. The outcomes are validated using various measures like Rand Index and FM Index. Experiments show that proposed algorithm runs fast and finds better results than the existing algorithms.
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN BONE DENSITY AND IMPLANT STABILITY

Abstract: Introduction: Long-term studies have documented the successful treatment of edentulous and partially edentulous patients with endosseous titanium implants. Success rates between 81% and 93% have been reported. Successful treatment with endosseous implants is dependent upon a complex relationship of numerous factors. Bone density and implant stability are important factors for implant osseointegration which has been widely demonstrated by several authors. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between bone density estimated by Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and stability of dental implants estimated by resonance frequency analysis using Osstell ISQ. Materials and methods: Ten dentis s-clean tapered implants were inserted in posterior mandibular edentulous spaces in ten adult patients. The bone density of implants recipient sites were determined by density value (HU) using CBCT. And the implants’ stability were determined by quantitative unit called implant stability quotient (ISQ) measured by resonance frequency analysis using Osstell ISQ. Both values were determined immediately post-operatively and on intervals of 3&6 months. Results: The mean implant stability value was 67.3 ± 9.14 immediately post-operatively, then increased on the 3rd month to be 72.3 ± 3.95 & 75.2 ± 5.33 on the 6th month, there was a statistical significant increase. Also the results of the present study showed that the mean bone density value was 827.96 ± 206.85 immediately post-operatively, then increased to 890.67 ± 138 & 1018.0 ± 149.79 on the 3rd and 6th months respectively, there was a statistical significant increase. Conclusion: There was no correlation between bone density and implant stability. Keywords: bone density, implant stability, cone beam CT, resonance frequency analysis.
Incorporating PBL in a High School Computer Science Course

The study was conducted with 605 high-school students in 13 classes of a typical high school in northern Taiwan. In the paper, we detail the past conduct of the course, the revised PBL-induced course design, and our experimental design. We discuss how we circumvented the usual challenges faced with PBL and some of the pragmatic issues faced during our implementation. Our experimental results showed that PBL did enhance students' learning in computer science concepts and their software usage skills. Furthermore, the classroom atmosphere was changed from the teacher-directed atmosphere into lively students-centered atmosphere in which students became active learners in and out of the classroom. We have also concluded that the blending of cooperative learning with PBL in a computer class is feasible
The Closed Environment Concept in VLSI On-Chip Transmission Lines Design and Modeling

The paper examines the question of when and how can an on-chip transmission line have a stand-alone, independent model in the actual VLSI design environment. The study addresses a certain set of simple structures, covering most of practical VLSI design needs, which includes coplanar single and coupled structures. Based on theoretical analysis and numerical results, practical criteria of "sufficiently closed" transmission line environment are suggested, depending on the kind of designed interconnect, the frequency range, the transmission line type and geometry