Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Micro- and macroevolutionary aspects of body size diversification and thermal adaptation in insects

Body size and body temperature are the two most important traits in biology. In this thesis I show how these twovariables have shaped the evolution of insects over the last 300 million years. These variables are so important infact that three rules have been developed to summarize their effects: (1) bigger is better, (2) hotter makes yousmaller, and (3) hotter is better.Using primarily dragonflies and damselflies, I explore the implications of these rules in the evolution of insects.Bigger is better (rule 1) states that larger individuals tend to have higher fitness. In insects larger adult body size isexpect to produce higher fitness in terms of higher fecundity in females and higher mating success in males, whilepotentially increasing longevity in both males and females. I show that there are limits to how large one can get, andstabilizing selection body is expected to be the norm in most populations, mediated through conflicting selectionbetween large adults and costs of increased development time.Hotter makes you smaller (rule 2), also known as the temperature-size rule in insects, states that within a populationinsects that develop in warmer regions will be smaller. The hotter makes you smaller rule is typically observed alonga latitudinal gradient within the range of a species. This within species trend suggests strong associations betweenan organism size and its developmental environment, and suggests a possible resolution to of the paradox imposedby the bigger is better rule. While the temperature-size rule is well-established in natural and laboratory populations,I show that other factors such as predation and dispersal are likely determining latitudinal size patterns betweenspecies.The final rule (rule 3), hotter is better, is the least well-established “rule” of the three rules. It states that warmer bodytemperatures will tend to lead higher performance in adult insects. Since dragonflies and damselflies areectotherms, they are strongly dependent on ambient temperature to achieve optimal body temperatures, I show thathotter is not always better, and individuals with higher heating rates are favoured only in extreme temperatureconditions, and otherwise thermal inertia is preferred, since the mean environment will match an individual’s optimalbody temperature. (Less)
Understanding Business Process Change Failure: An Actor-Network Perspective

In this paper, we use concepts from actor-network theory (ANT) to interpret the sequence of events that led to business process change (BPC) failure at a telecommunications company in the United States. Through our intensive examination of the BPC initiative, we find that a number of issues suggested by ANT, such as errors in problematization, parallel translation, betrayal, and irreversible inscription of interests, contributed significantly to the failure. We provide nine abstraction statements capturing the essence of our findings in a concrete form. The larger implication of our study is that, for sociotechnical phenomena such as BPC with significant political components, an ANT-informed understanding can enable practitioners to better anticipate and cope with emergent complexities.
The acrosome reaction-inducing effect of human follicular and oviductal fluid.

The human sperm acrosome reaction (AR) can be induced in vitro by a variety of naturally occurring and synthetic compounds. The present investigation determined the effect of human natural cycle periovulatory follicular (hFF) and oviductal fluids (hOF) on the human sperm AR in dose-response fashion using the synchronous AR assay. When hFF (30% v/v) or hOF (40% v/v) was added to non-capacitated spermatozoa, no significant (P > 0.05) increase in the % AR was detected in comparison to the non-treatment control. When either of these compounds was added (10%, 20%, and 30% v/v hFF; 20%, 30%, and 40% v/v hOF) to capacitated spermatozoa (3 hour incubation), a significant (P < 0.05) stimulation of the AR was detected. Bovine oviductal fluid (bOF) was tested (20%, 30%, and 40% v/v) to determine if it might have an effect similar to hOF. In contrast to hOF, the highest concentration of bOF (40% v/v) tested failed to stimulate a significant (P > 0.05) increase in the % AR of capacitated spermatozoa in comparison to control. Inhibitors of protein kinases A (KT5720) and C (calphostin C) were tested to determine their effects on the hFF-induced AR. In comparison to hFF treatment alone, the kinase A inhibitor KT5720 (50 nM, 100 nM) prevented hFF (20%) stimulation of the AR when added at the end of the capacitation period and 5 minutes prior to the addition of inducer. Similarly, the kinase C inhibitor calphostin C (50 nM, 100 nM) prevented hFF (20%) stimulation of the AR. The present data demonstrate that periovulatory hFF and hOF stimulate the human sperm AR. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Increase in Bacterial Community Diversity in Subsurface Aquifers Receiving Livestock Wastewater Input

ABSTRACT Despite intensive studies of microbial-community diversity, the questions of which kinds of microbial populations are associated with changes in community diversity have not yet been fully solved by molecular approaches. In this study, to investigate the impact of livestock wastewater on changes in the bacterial communities in groundwater, bacterial communities in subsurface aquifers were analyzed by characterizing their 16S rDNA sequences. The similarity coefficients of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of the cloned 16S ribosomal DNAs showed that the bacterial communities in livestock wastewater samples were more closely related to those in contaminated aquifer samples. In addition, calculations of community diversity clearly showed that bacterial communities in the livestock wastewater and the contaminated aquifer were much more diverse than those in the uncontaminated aquifer. Thus, the increase in bacterial-community diversity in the contaminated aquifer was assumed to be due to the infiltration of livestock wastewater, containing high concentrations of diverse microbial flora, into the aquifer. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences from a subset of the RFLP patterns showed that the Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroidesand low-G+C gram-positive groups originating from livestock wastewater were responsible for the change in the bacterial community in groundwater. This was evidenced by the occurrence of rumen-related sequences not only in the livestock wastewater samples but also in the contaminated-groundwater samples. Rumen-related sequences, therefore, can be used as indicator sequences for fecal contamination of groundwater, particularly from livestock.
A Program to Improve Secondary Stroke Prevention: The Colorado Neurological Institute Stroke Preventing Recurrence of Thromboembolic Events Through Coordinated Treatment Program

ABSTRACT The key to secondary stroke prevention often lies in improved control of traditional stroke risk factors. Studies have shown that there is an evidence-practice gap, for both physicians and patients, when it comes to adhering to national stroke prevention guidelines. We developed a program to reinforce stroke prevention messages for 1 year after a patient's ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. Our results show encouraging improvement in our patients' adherence to treatment guidelines for 1 year after the event, as well as a reduction in recurrent strokes as compared with the number expected.
Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Osteochondral lesions of the talar dome are increasingly diagnosed and are a difficult pathology to treat. Conservative treatment yields best results in pediatric patients, often leaving surgical options for adult populations. There is a paucity of long-term data and comparisons of treatment options. Arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation is a common first-line treatment for smaller lesions. Despite promising short to medium term clinical results, bone marrow stimulation results in fibrocartilagenous tissue that incurs differing mechanical and biological properties compared with normal cartilage. Autologous osteochondral transplantation has demonstrated promising clinical results in the short to medium term for larger, cystic lesions and can restore the contact pressure of the joint. However, concerns remain over postoperative cyst formation and donor site morbidity. Recent developments have emphasized the usefulness of biological adjuncts such as platelet-rich plasma and concentrated bone marrow aspirate, as well as particulate juvenile cartilage, in augmenting reparative and replacement strategies in osteochondral lesion treatment. The purpose of this article is to review diagnosis and treatment of talar osteochondral lesions so that current practice guidelines can be more efficiently used given the available treatment strategies. A treatment paradigm based on current evidence is described. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level V, Expert Opinion
Anomalous expression of HLA class II molecules on keratinocytes and fibroblasts in hypertrophic scars consequent to thermal injury

Immunoperoxidase staining of skin sections obtained from 11 hypertrophic scars, six normotrophic scars and three samples of normal skin were performed using anti‐HLA monoclonal antibodies (HLA‐DR, ‐DQ, class I), anti‐interleukin‐2 receptor (IL‐2R) and anti‐CD1. Sections from all hypertrophic scars showed an anomalous expression of HLA‐DR molecules on keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Moreover hypertrophic scars were characterized by dense infiltrates of IL‐2R‐positive cells and by the presence of abundant Langerhans (CD1+) cells in the epidermis and dermis. These results support the hypothesis that immunologic mechanisms play an important role in hypertrophic scarring and point to an involvement of cell‐mediated immune phenomena.
Characterization of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Salmonella enterica serovar 4,[5],12:i:- isolates from pigs presenting with diarrhea in Korea

Between 2011 and 2012, a total of 896 pig fecal samples were collected from nine provinces in Korea, and 50 salmonella enterica susp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) was isolated. The characteristics of the 50 strains were analyzed, and 4 strains were identified as Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar 4,[5],12:i:-. Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- could not be distinguished from S. Typhimurium through phage typing, antimicrobial resistance testing or multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). However, among the four Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- strains, one (KVCC-BA1400078) was identified as a Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- clone isolated from humans in the United States, and another (KVCC-BA1400080) was identified as DT193, which has been primarily isolated from humans and animals in European countries. The presence of Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- in Korea poses a significant threat of horizontal transfer between pigs and humans.
What Have We Learnt about BCG Vaccination in the Last 20 Years?

A number of new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines have been or are entering clinical trials, which include genetically modified mycobacteria, mycobacterial antigens delivered by viral vectors, or mycobacterial antigens in adjuvant. Some of these vaccines aim to replace the existing BCG vaccine but others will be given as a boosting vaccine following BCG vaccination given soon after birth. It is clear that the existing BCG vaccines provide incomplete and variable protection against pulmonary TB. This review will discuss what we have learnt over the last 20 years about how the BCG vaccine induces specific and non-specific immunity, what factors influence the immune responses induced by BCG, and progress toward identifying correlates of immunity against TB from BCG vaccination studies. There is still a lot to learn about the BCG vaccine and the insights gained can help the development of more protective vaccines.
Migration and Differentiation of Neurons in the Retina and Optic Tectum of the Chick

Migration and differentiation of immature neurons in the retina and optic tectum were studied using retrograde transport of DiI and immunocytochemistry. The results demonstrate that many of these cells migrate via a method of perikaryal translocation. DiI was applied to the optic nerves or tecta in fixed chick embryos (Embryonic Days 4-10); 1-2 months later the tissues were dissected and examined as whole mounts or vibratome sections using fluorescent and confocal microscopy. In both the retina and the optic tectum many labeled cells have a bipolar shape with leading and trailing processes contacting the pial and ventricular surfaces, respectively. Axons grow from the leading processes before somata reach their final locations and dendrites sometimes begin to grow prior to retraction of trailing processes. Immunocytochemical studies using a monoclonal antibody (TUJ1) specific for postmitotic neurons show a similar pattern. These results indicate that neuronal migration occurs via more than one mode. In thin tissues like the retina and newly forming optic tectum, many postmitotic neurons migrate by translocating their somata while retaining connections with the pial and/or ventricular surfaces. In thicker, more complex tissues like the maturing optic tectum, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum, most young neurons appear to detach from the surfaces and migrate along processes of radial glia or other cell types.
Trypanosoma cruzi-triatomine associations and the presence of mixed infections in single triatomine bugs in Paraná state, Brazil

Eighteen strains of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from two species of triatomines in the state of Paraná, Brazil, were characterized molecularly using three strategies: RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA) with four primers, analysis of the D7 polymorphic region of the 24Sα rDNA, and RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) of region 5′ of the mitochondrial gene COII (cytochrome oxidase subunit 2). The phenogram constructed with the RAPD data showed that only three strains isolated from Panstrongylus megistus collected in the Municipality of Arapongas were grouped together in a sub-branch. None of the other 15 strains could be clustered according to triatomine species or geographical origin. The strains were grouped with the T. cruzi I reference sample, indicating closer association with the sylvatic transmission cycle of T. cruzi in the state of Paraná. However, analyses of the rDNA and COII gene polymorphisms revealed the presence of populations from both T. cruzi I and II major lineages. In half of the analyzed triatomines, we found parasites from both lineages coinfecting the same bugs. Of these, most (6/9) were isolated from Triatoma sordida, and 3/9 from Panstrongylus megistus. These results contribute to a better comprehension of the ecoepidemiology of Chagas’ disease in Paraná, and raise questions about the role of studies of polyclonal population dynamics for controlling the transmission of T. cruzi to humans in this region.
Causal Associations of Obesity With the Intervertebral Degeneration, Low Back Pain, and Sciatica: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study

The role of obesity in the development of dorsopathies is still unclear. In this study, we assessed the associations between body mass index (BMI) and several dorsopathies including intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), low back pain (LBP), and sciatica by using the Mendelian randomization method. We also assessed the effect of several obesity-related traits on the same outcomes. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the exposures are extracted from summary-level datasets of previously published genome-wide association studies. Summary-level results of IVDD, LBP, and sciatica were from FinnGen. In our univariable Mendelian randomization analysis, BMI is significantly associated with increased risks of all dorsopathies including sciatica (OR = 1.33, 95% CI, 1.21–1.47, p = 5.19 × 10-9), LBP (OR = 1.28, 95% CI, 1.18–1.39, p = 6.60 × 10-9), and IVDD (OR = 1.23, 95% CI, 1.14–1.32, p = 2.48 × 10-8). Waist circumference, hip circumference, whole-body fat mass, fat-free mass, and fat percentage, but not waist–hip ratio, were causally associated with increased risks of IVDD and sciatica. Higher hip circumference, whole-body fat mass, fat-free mass, and fat percentage increased the risk of LBP. However, only whole-body fat-free mass remained to have a significant association with the risk of IVDD after adjusting for BMI with an odds ratio of 1.57 (95% CI, 1.32–1.86, p = 2.47 × 10-7). Proportions of BMI’s effect on IVDD, sciatica, and LBP mediated by leisure sedentary behavior were 41.4% (95% CI, 21.8%, 64.8%), 33.8% (95% CI, 17.5%, 53.4%), and 49.7% (95% CI, 29.4%, 73.5%), respectively. This study provides evidence that high BMI has causal associations with risks of various dorsopathies. Weight control is a good measure to prevent the development of dorsopathies, especially in the obese population.
Contextualizing the 2016 State Duma Election

An overview is given of the 2016 Russian State Duma election, and its significance for the current Russian regime. As the first in a series of five articles in this edition of Russian Politics, it sets the 2016 State Duma election into context. It begins by discussing the role of the Duma in Russian politics, and reviews political developments between the protests that followed the 2011 parliamentary election, and the successful conclusion of the 2016 one. It then examines how institutional and political changes came together in the 2016 campaign. The resultant supermajority for the pro-Kremlin United Russia party is analyzed, before the remaining articles in this issue – which examine the issues of turnout, voting behavior, electoral manipulation and the future of the regime – are introduced.
Crop-planning, making smarter agriculture with climate data

Agriculture has an important tradition in Latin America and large areas have maintained stable conditions for decades with constant practices and yield. Planning processes in those areas have not suffered any change for years and some countries like Colombia have not modified its rural policies in the last three of four decades; on the other hand, natural and environmental conditions have changed dramatically in the last years as a consequence of climate change and climate variability modifying established practices for traditional crops. Since farmers have suffered several effects on its production process they have realized the importance of supporting future actions on reliable climate data, scientific development have also grown in last decades and planning offices are looking for better practices, today' scientists and planning offices are trying to link all this reality in a new paradigm called “Climate Smart Agriculture”. The Research program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security - CCAFS follows this interest of linking its research results with open data sources, software developers and Latin American problems therefore in 2014 they performed a hackathon in Lima to develop new applications that help farmers to support their decision on scientific information. “Crop-planning” is one product designed and developed at CCAFS's hackathon conceived as a worldwide platform for sharing and sowing crop calendars and agro-climate data, it compiles open dataset like historical production, land cover, local climate conditions and integrates an interface for crowdsourced collection of dates of agricultural activities, it is designed to offer easy access to relevant data and updated crop calendars from farmers and also share management practices from local authorities. Although it is farmer oriented, principal users are technical assistants that deal with the application and share knowledge with farmers, they will use their experience to warranty knowledge management and overcome technical difficulties of web and mobile platforms in rural areas.
Classification and diagnostic criteria for psoriatic arthritis

Background: The study of psoriatic arthritis is difficult and has lagged behind the study of other arthropathies in that there are no universally agreed or properly validated case definitions. Method: This paper examined the validity and practicality of the original Moll and Wright criteria and subsequent criteria sets. Key features discriminating between psoriatic and other arthropathies were reviewed. A comparative study involving patients with psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis was used to contrast the different classification methods. Results: Although the Moll and Wright criteria continue to be widely used, they have been shown to discriminate poorly between psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis. In comparison, the most sensitive criteria were those of Vasey and Espinoza, McGonagle et al, and Gladman et al (99%), whereas the others were significantly less sensitive (between 56% and 94%). The specificity of all methods was high and statistically similar (between 93% and 99%). Models that had reasonably good accuracy even without such key variables as psoriasis or rheumatoid factor were developed. Spinal involvement continues to be a key feature of psoriatic arthritis, but dissimilarities with classic ankylosing spondylitis have been highlighted. Conclusions: Further work is required to produce classification criteria for psoriatic arthritis. A prospective study collecting clinical, radiological, human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and immunological data from both psoriatic and non-psoriatic cases should provide agreed criteria for use in psoriatic arthritis studies in the future.
Are Micro-Cap Stocks a Valid Asset Allocation Alternative?

It is a well-known maxim in the investment business that inefficiency breeds opportunity. While the U.S. equity market is the most efficient in the world, micro-caps represent perhaps the only realistic exception to that rule. In many respects, the micro-cap portion of the U.S. equity market is the Wild West of the investment landscape. This universe is by far the largest and arguably the most dynamic component of the U.S. equity market, yet it receives very little attention from institutional investors. This lack of attention is key to the sector9s attractiveness. Highly illiquid and volatile, however, micro-caps are not for the fainthearted.
Robust feature matching for aerial visual odometry

Interest points matching for aerial visual odometry using quadrotor MAV is tackled in this work. First, a set of sparse feature points are extracted using ORB detector. These are then grouped using Gradient Vector Flow (GVF) fields by finding points of high symmetry within the image. A robust matching strategy is introduced to improve the motion estimation. In order to validate ORB features matches, their grouping points are compared. Using the matched points, windowed bundle adjustment incorporating Gauss-Newton optimization is utilised for motion estimation. In order to deal with matching outliers, a Random sample consensus outlier rejection scheme is integrated. Lack of MAV stereo datasets in the literature motivated the generation of such vital data. Detailed results validating the proposed strategy are illustrated using these datasets. Also, a comparison with other approaches is also provided and shows the superiority of our approach.