Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trench Fever in Texas

Trench Fever is caused by Bartonella quintana, a small fastidious gram-negative rod organism carried by the body louse. We report a case of a 62-year-old woman who was admitted to a hospital in central Texas for a two-week history of fever and malaise. She was initially treated for Q fever which is usually caused by inhaling dust particles contaminated by infected animals, given that she was regularly around farm animals, but when her extensive infectious disease panel came back negative, the search was expanded and she was found to have positive B. quintana serology titers. She recovered on Doxycycline therapy for 14 days and discharged to continue it for 4 more weeks as outpatient and to follow up in the clinic.
Colony‐level sex ratio selection in the eusocial Hymenoptera

We present an inclusive fitness model on worker‐controlled sex investments in eusocial Hymenoptera which expands the existing theory for random mating populations as formulated by Trivers and Hare (1976) and Benford (1978). We assume that relatedness asymmetry is variable among colonies — owing to multiple mating, worker reproduction and polygyny — and that workers are able to assess the relatedness asymmetry in their own colony. A simple marginal value argument shows that “assessing” workers maximize their inclusive fitness by specializing on the production of the sex to which they are relatively more related than the average worker in the population is related to that sex. The model confirms our earlier verbal argument on this matter (Boomsma and Grafen, 1990) and gives further quantitative predictions of the optimal sex ratio of relatedness‐asymmetry classes for both infinite and finite, random mating populations.
Drug Delivery System Using Protein Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles have various advantages as drug carriers, so they have been widely used to deliver various chemical and biomolecule drugs, such as anti-cancer drugs and therapeutic proteins. Among nanoparticles, protein nanoparticles are non-cytotoxic and biodegradable, with high potential as drug carriers. Protein nanoparticles can be synthesized using proteins such as silk protein fibroin, albumin, gelatin, gliadin, legumin, 30Kc19 protein derived from silkworm hemolymph, and are manufactured using methods such as emulsion/solvent extension, desolvation, electrospray technology, complexification, and etc. The characterization parameters of protein nanoparticles are particle size, particle morphology and structure, surface charge, drug loading and release, which vary the drug delivery efficiency according to these parameters. Thus, the synthesis of protein nanoparticles using various materials and manufacturing techniques is being actively studied to improve drug delivery efficiency.
Partial replacement of soybean meal by urea or starea for lactating dairy goats

Thirty-three dairy goats were used to evaluate the effects of partial replacement of soybean meal by urea or starea (urea + extruded corn) on milk production and composition and plasma glucose, urea nitrogen and nonesterified fatty acids concentrations. The animals were distributed in a randomized complete block design, with three experimental diets and eleven replicates. All the experimental diets were isonitrogenous, composed by 40% corn silage and 60% concentrate, with different nitrogenous sources (soybean meal, soybean meal + 2.8% starea or soybean meal + 1.5% urea). The nitrogenous sources used in the diets did not influence dry matter intake, milk production, milk production corrected for 3.5% fat-corrected milk, neither milk fat and protein contents. Plasma glucose and non-esterified fatty acids concentrations were not modified by nitrogen sources. However, plasma urea nitrogen concentration in the harvest after the fourth experimental week was lower for animals fed soybean meal diet. Plasma concentration of glucose, urea nitrogen and non-esterified fatty acids were similar among non-protein nitrogen sources, regardless to the way it was used. Urea used in the extruded form (starea) has no advantage compared to the urea used in the conventional form.
Evaluating the Impacts of Using Different Digital Surface Models to Estimate Forest Height with TanDEM-X Interferometric Coherence Data (in English)

In our previous studies, we demonstrated the usefulness of TanDEM-X interferometric bistatic mode with single polarization to obtain forest heights for the purposes of large area mapping. A key feature of our approach has been the use of a simplified Random Volume Over Ground (RVOG) model that locally estimates forest height. The model takes TanDEM-X interferometric coherence amplitude as an input and uses an external Digital Surface Model (DSM) to account for local slope variations due to terrain topography in order to achieve accurate forest height estimation. The selection of DSM for use as a local slope reference is essential, as an inaccurate DSM will result in less accurate terrain-correction and forest height estimation. In this paper, we assessed TanDEM-X height estimates associated with scale variations in different DSMs used in the model over a remote sensing supersite in Petawawa, Canada. The DSMs used for assessments and comparisons included ASTER GDEM, ALOS GDSM, airborne DRAPE DSM, Canadian DSM and TanDEM-X DSM. Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data were used as reference for terrain slope and forest height comparisons. The results showed that, with the exception of the ASTER GDEM, all DSMs were sufficiently accurate for the simplified RVOG model to provide a satisfactory estimate of stand-level forest height. When compared to the ALS 95th height percentile, the modeled forest heights had R2 values greater than 80% and Root-Mean-Square Errors (RMSE) less than 2 m. For a close similarity in slope estimation with the ALS reference, coverage across Canada and open data access, the 0.75 arc-second (20 m) resolution Canadian DSM was selected as a preferred choice for the simplified RVOG model to provide TanDEM-X height estimation in Canada.
ENERGY-METABOLISM OF PLANTAGO-LANCEOLATA, AS AFFECTED BY CHANGE IN ROOT TEMPERATURE

The long and short term metabolic effects of a shift in root temperature was investigated in Plantago lanceolata L. with special reference to the role of the cyanide resistant alternative pathway in root respiration. After a 10-day period of growth at a 13°C root temperature, a decrease in root as well as shoot growth was observed, compared to control plants grown continuously at 21°C. Apart from an increase in shoot soluble and insoluble sugar level, no changes in metabolism were found, neither in root respiration, shoot photosynthesis, nor in root sugar and plant protein level. Decreasing the root temperature from 21 to 13°C gave several clear short term changes in metabolism. Within one hour a decrease in cytochrome chain activity of the roots was found together with an increase in activity of the alternative chain. After 24 h a recovery to the initial level of both chains was observed. An increase in root temperature from 13 to 21°C gave an immediate increase in activity of both respiratory chains that was still present 24 h after the switch. It is concluded that the activity of the alternative respiratory pathway in the root is strongly affected by a sudden temperature change in the root environment. This pathway acts in a way which is described by ‘the energy overflow model'. The presence of the alternative electron transport pathway should be taken into account in determinations of the respiratory Q10. Moreover, the length of time between the temperature change and respiration measurements is an important factor.
Snorkeling as an Alternative to Depletion Electrofishing for Estimating Abundance and Length-Class Frequencies of Trout in Small Streams

Abstract Trout counts and length-class frequencies determined by snorkeling were compared with estimates determined by electrofishing in 25 reaches of small (≤11-m wetted width) streams of the Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming. The numbers of trout (brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, and cutthroat trout O. clarki) counted by snorkeling were highly correlated (r 2 = 0. 90–0.99) to depletion estimates of abundance determined by electrofishing, averaging 65% of depletion estimates. Inclusion of instream cover and underwater visibility significantly improved predictions of all salmonid species combined in regression models that predicted depletion estimates by electrofishing from snorkeling counts. Length frequencies obtained by snorkeling and electrofishing were similar when frequencies of trout in three length-classes (0–100, 101–300, and >300 mm) were adjusted (observed length by snorkeling divided by 1.25) for underwater visual magnification. Snorkeling was an alternative to el.
Elevated serum KL-6 in pediatric asthma exacerbation: a proof of alveolar injury

Background: Asthma is one of the most popular chronic diseases in children. It is defined as a complicated inflammatory disorder in which the patient suffers from chronic and persistent inflammation of the airways. The sialylated glycoprotein Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), one of the lung epithelium-specific proteins, has been recognized as a significant biomarker which directly associates with interstitial lung disease (ILD) pathogenesis, indicating the extent of damage and regeneration of type II pneumocytes. Objective: the aim of this study is to investigate the degree of alveolar damage in asthmatic children with acute exacerbation as reflected by serum KL-6 levels. Methods: This cross-sectional controlled study included 50 patients with acute asthma exacerbation diagnosed as per the GINA guidelines definition and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy children as controls. Spirometry was done for all participants. Serum KL-6 level was estimated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and total serum IgE level was measured via the electrochemiluminescence technology. Results: The asthma patients included 35 (70%) males and 15 (30%) females with mean age of 10.76 ±1.9 years. Forty-seven patients (94%) had a positive family history of bronchial asthma and 32 (64%) had other atopic manifestations The mean serum KL-6 level in patients was more than double the mean level of the control group (115.79 vs 55.64). No significant relation was observed between KL-6 serum level and age, family history of asthma, seasonal variation, or atopic manifestation among the cases. Serum total IgE levels were significantly higher in cases compared to controls (P<0.05). Conclusion: Serum KL-6 levels in pediatric asthma patients may be a useful diagnostic tool for detecting and monitoring the severity of airway inflammation. The use of serum KL-6 alone may help to differentiate between asthmatic patients in exacerbation and healthy controls.
Safety and efficacy of l‐glutamine produced using Corynebacterium glutamicum NITE BP‐02524 for all animal species

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of l‐glutamine (≥ 98.0%) produced by fermentation using a genetically modified strain of Corynebacterium glutamicum (NITE BP‐02524). It is intended to be used in feed for all animal species and categories as nutritional additive (amino acid) and as sensory additive (flavouring compound). Viable cells of the production strain and its recombinant DNA were not detected in the additive. l‐Glutamine manufactured by fermentation using C. glutamicum NITE BP‐02524 does not give rise to any safety concern with regard to the genetic modification of the production strain. The use of l‐glutamine produced by fermentation using C. glutamicum NITE BP‐02524 in animal nutrition is considered safe for all animal species when applied as a nutritional additive to achieve an adequate amino acid profile in feed and to overcome potential glutamine shortages during critical periods of life. The proposed use level (25 mg/kg feed) when used as sensory additive (flavouring compound) is safe for all animal species. The uses of l‐glutamine produced using C. glutamicum NITE BP‐02524 as nutritional additive or as flavouring compound are considered safe for the consumer. l‐Glutamine produced using C. glutamicum NITE BP‐02524 is not toxic by inhalation, is non‐irritant to skin and eyes and is not a skin sensitiser. l‐Glutamine produced using C. glutamicum NITE BP‐02524 is considered safe for the environment. l‐glutamine is a non‐essential amino acid and it plays a physiological role as such. Recent evidence shows that glutamine may act as conditionally essential amino acid mainly in growing animals and has some specific effects e.g. in improving intestinal development and immune response. This amino acid produced by fermentation using C. glutamicum NITE BP‐02524 is regarded as an efficacious source of glutamine for all animal species. For supplemental l‐glutamine to be as efficacious in ruminants as in non‐ruminants, it would require protection against degradation in the rumen. The use of l‐glutamine as sensory additive at 25 mg/kg feed is considered efficacious.
Language for Description of Worlds

We will reduce the task of creating AI to the task of finding an appropriate language for description of the world. This will not be a programing language because programing languages describe only computable functions, while our language will describe a somewhat broader class of functions. Another specificity of this language will be that the description will consist of separate modules. This will enable us look for the description of the world automatically such that we discover it module after module. Our approach to the creation of this new language will be to start with a particular world and write the description of that particular world. The point is that the language which can describe this particular world will be appropriate for describing any world. This is the first part of the paper. In this part we will define the basic theoretical concepts which will we will need when creating the language we are looking for.
A multilocus phylogeny of archiheterodont bivalves (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Archiheterodonta)

The bivalve clade Heterodonta encompasses more than half of the extant bivalve species and is presently considered a derived group of the modern bivalves (Newell ; Waller ). Heterodonta is subdivided into two major lineages, the hyperdiverse Euheterodonta and Archiheterodonta. The latter comprises four relatively small extant families: Astartidae, Carditidae, Condylocardiidae and Crassatellidae, whose relationships and internal phylogeny are poorly understood. We assessed the phylogeny of archiheterodont bivalves using a multilocus data set comprised of molecular sequence data from six loci (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, cytochrome b, internal transcribed spacer 2 and histone H3). Resultant data sets of ~4 Kb of concatenated molecular sequence data were analysed using probabilistic approaches (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) and parsimony direct optimization. We recovered strong support for the monophyly of Archiheterodonta, within which Astartidae is the sister group of Crassatellidae, and these two constitute the sister clade of Carditidae, which is paraphyletic with respect to Condylocardiidae. The relationships among the constituent species groups were evaluated in the context of the archiheterodont fossil record through the estimation of divergence times. Diversification times of archiheterodont families were congruent with bounded estimates of origins based on palaeontological data: Archiheterodonta diversified during the Devonian, 373.1 Ma (95% highest posterior density interval [HPD] 325.8–428.2); Crassatelloidea around the Carboniferous, 330.1 Ma (95% HPD 291.0–372.7); Crassatellidae around the Triassic, 224.0 (95% HPD 140.6–320.2); Astartidae around the Permian, 288.2 Ma (95% HPD 269.2–307.3); and Carditoidea around the Jurassic, 178.8 Ma (95% HPD 120.9–228.3).
Changes in molecular species composition of triacylglycerol in subcutaneous fat from beef cattle during fattening

The composition of the molecular species of triacylglycerols (TG) in subcutaneous fat biopsied from Japanese Black steers was studied during the fattening period. An analysis of the fatty acid (FA) composition of the TG showed that palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic and oleic acids were the major FA, together accounting for over 80% of the total FA. The concentrations of C14:0, C16:0 and C18:0 decreased between 10 and 30 months of age, while those of C16:1 c9 and C18:1 c9 increased during the fattening period. The major molecular species among more than 40 compounds were palmitoyl-dioleoyl-glycerol (POO) and dipalmitoyl-oleoyl-glycerol (PPO). POO showed the highest concentration during the fattening period. The levels of palmitoyl-oleoyl-linoleoyl glycerol and some tentatively identified molecular species increased during the fattening period, while the levels of tripalmitoyl, dipalmitoyl-stearoyl-glycerol, palmitoyl-distearoyl and palmitoyl-stearoyl-oleoyl-glycerol decreased with growth. A comparison of the experimental values of TG molecular species with theoretical values derived from the experimental FA contents showed that the FA distribution in TG was non-random. TG synthesis favors the formation of TG molecular species containing at least one C16 FA, rather than three C18 FA.
The Chilling Effect of Regulation FD: Evidence from the SEC Endorsement of Social Media

We find evidence consistent with the notion that the broad non-exclusionary disclosure requirement of Reg-FD inhibits the adoption of new disclosure technologies. Our analyses exploit unanticipated SEC guidance (“Reg-SocMedia”) that outlined how social media channels could be used in compliance with Reg-FD. Overall, we find substantial changes in corporate Twitter usage to communicate financial information using a large hand-collected and coded sample. We document a non-transitory stock price response of 25 basis points to financial tweets following Reg-SocMedia, compared with no detectable response before. This differential price response occurs on days with no concurrent disclosures, and is stronger for firms with more Twitter followers. We use a variety of alternative specifications and placebo tests to provide assurance that the effects we document are attributable to Reg-SocMedia rather than time-series changes in disclosure policies. Collectively, our findings suggest that firms were reluctant to use Twitter to communicate value relevant financial information without SEC guidance, consistent with the concern that Reg-FD has a “chilling” effect on corporate disclosures.
Within-pair testosterone covariation and reproductive output in Greylag Geese Anser anser

In monogamous animals, reproductive success may vary considerably among pairs. To study this variation, we focussed on reproductive events and the circannual hormonal co-ordination within pairs during the reproductive cycle. Testosterone was chosen as covariable for both sexes because of its mediator function between behaviour and physiology. In a flock of free-living Greylag Geese Anser anser, individual faecal samples were collected weekly from 23 pairs over a complete annual cycle. From the faeces, equivalents of testosterone, oestrogen and other steroid hormones were analysed by enzyme immunoassay. In contrast to correlations between male and female testosterone, no correlations were found between oestrogen-oestrogen or oestrogen-testosterone. Therefore, only testosterone (T) is considered here. Sex-specific differences in T were in amplitude rather than in the annual timing of maxima and minima. However, the annual timing varied to some degree between individuals within sexes. Therefore, we examined the degree of annual testosterone correlation (TC) within pairs. Pairs that nested had significantly higher TC over the year than pairs that did not. The higher the within-pair TC, the larger the clutches and the heavier the eggs. Also, TC in the year investigated was positively and significantly correlated with the pairs' long-term reproductive output. No correlation was found between TC and the duration of the pair-bond, individual age, or age difference from pair partner. We suggest that TC is a measure of behavioural synchrony and, therefore, pair-bond quality. We consider whether within-pair TC results from mate choice.
“Natural” Climate Solutions Could Speed Up Mitigation, With Risks. Additional Options Are Needed.

Mitigation of climate change by intentionally storing carbon in tropical forests, soils, and wetlands and by reducing greenhouse gas fluxes from these settings has been promoted as rapidly deployable and cost‐effective. This approach, sometimes referred to as “natural climate solutions,” could keep post‐industrialization warming below 1.5 °C, when coupled with reductions in fossil fuel emissions, as confirmed here with a simple numerical model of future emissions. However, such mitigation could cease in response to changes in future climate, land use, or natural resource policies, or there could be CO2 released from reservoirs of stored carbon. Model simulations suggest cumulative emissions could be similar, under scenarios where carbon storage ceases, or stored carbon is released, to emissions expected in the absence of any natural mitigation. If climate change is to be minimized, no‐regrets approaches to natural mitigation should be considered (e.g., by reducing deforestation), as emissions targets that could limit warming to 1.5 °C cannot be met without mitigation of this magnitude. However, additional mitigation options should also be evaluated that can reduce CO2 emissions and remove CO2 from the air (and store it permanently).
Potential density and tree survival: an analysis based on South African spacing studies

Because of the high cost of maintaining a series of unthinned, densely stocked stands over long periods of time, suitable data about potential forest density and tree survival for different planting espacements are difficult to find. Direct assessment of the potential density (which is always preferable to speculation, however ingenious the estimation may be) requires densely stocked unmanaged field studies that are remeasured regularly during long observation periods. An example of such a study is the Correlated Curve Trend (CCT) series of spacing studies established by O'Connor in South Africa. This contribution presents results for unthinned Pinus patula stands using an unusually large data set, specifically: (1) the potential density using the relationship between the quadratic mean diameter and trees per hectare, which does not confirm Reineke's constant of −1.605; (2) the relationship between average spacing and average tree diameter (known as Nilson's sparsity), which is found to be non-linear, thus contradicting previous assumptions; and (3) the development of the ratio basal area/trees per hectare, which appears to remain unchanged during the life of a planted forest, irrespective of the planting espacement. Finally, we present a tree survival analysis, based on the Weibull distribution function, for the Nelshoogte replicated CCT study, which has been observed for almost 40 years after planting and provides information about tree survival in response to planting espacements ranging from 494 to 2 965 trees per hectare.