Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationships between food provisioning patterns , stress and reproductive parameters of Rhinopithecus roxellana ( Milne-Edwards , 1870 )

Inadequate body condition in wild animals (especially lactating and gestating females) may be caused by intense physiological stress, which compromises reproductive success, thereby reducing population growth rates. Our study troop of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) at the Shennongjia Nature Reserve were subjected to two different food provisioning patterns: (i) an interactive pattern (all family units fed together; 2006–2008) and (ii) an individualistic pattern (family units fed separately; 2009-2012). We postulated that fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) and birth rates would differ significantly between monkeys subjected to these two feeding patterns. Behavioral ranks were assigned by Dominance Index (DI) values. A Machine Learning (ML) approach was used to assess correlations between behavioral ranks and infant mortality. We collected 841 fecal samples from 12 adults (7♂, 5♀) and monitored survival of infants borne by 16 females in the period 2006–2012. Infant survival rates were 78.26% % and 93.10 % when the troop was fed interactively and individualistically, respectively. FGM values obtained when provisioning was interactive were significantly higher than when provisioning was individualistic. In cold seasons, FGM values obtained when provisioning was individualistic were much reduced in comparison with interactive provisioning. Low rank among females greatly increased the risk of infant death. Thus, nutritional stress caused by provisioning pattern is a major contributory factor to overall physiological stress in Rhinopithecus roxellana females in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve.
U.S. versus European web searching trends

As the Web is becoming a worldwide phenomenon we need to understand what searching trends are emerging across different global regions. Are there regional differences in Web searching? What are the differences between searching by the United States population compared to Europeans? As part of a body of research studying these questions, we have analyzed two data sets culled from more than one million queries submitted by more than 200,000 users of the Excite Web search engine collected in May 2001 and the FAST Web search engine (All theWeb.com), collected in February 2001.We compare the searching behavior of largely European FAST Web search engine users (mostly German) with Excite Web search engine users who are largely U.S. This comparative study shows differences in Web searching by U.S. and European users. Specifically, the results suggest some differences in the topics searched and searching behaviors.
How green was Cooksonia? The importance of size in understanding the early evolution of physiology in the vascular plant lineage

Abstract Because of the fragmentary preservation of the earliest Cooksonia-like terrestrial plant macrofossils, younger Devonian fossils with complete anatomical preservation and documented gametophytes often have received greater attention concerning the early evolution of vascular plants and the alternation of generations. Despite preservational deficits, however, possible physiologies of Cooksonia-like fossils can be constrained by considering the overall axis size in conjunction with the potential range of cell types and sizes, because their lack of organ differentiation requires that all plant functions be performed by the same axis. Once desiccation resistance, support, and transport functions are taken into account, smaller fossils do not have volume enough left over for an extensive aerated photosynthetic tissue, thus arguing for physiological dependence on an unpreserved gametophyte. As in many mosses, axial anatomy is more likely to have ensured continued spore dispersal despite desiccation of the sporophyte than to have provided photosynthetic independence. Suppositions concerning size constraints on physiology are supported by size comparisons with fossils of demonstrable physiological independence, by preserved anatomical detail, and by size correlations between axis, sporangia, and sporangial stalk in Silurian and Early Devonian taxa. Several Cooksonia-like taxa lump fossils with axial widths spanning over an order of magnitude—from necessary physiological dependence to potential photosynthetic competence—informing understanding of the evolution of an independent sporophyte and the phylogenetic relationships of early vascular plants.
Definición de reglas de comportamiento para un robot cognitivo social

En el proyecto singular estrategico Avanza2 ACROSS (AutoConfigurable Robots for Social Services) se definen tres escenarios para validar los desarrollos experimentales: (i) marketing, (ii) ninos con problemas psicoafectivos y (iii) vida independiente. A su vez, estos escenarios permiten definir diferentes casos de uso, siguiendo un criterio de funcionalidades del robot. Atendiendo a la aproximacion general de robotica cognitiva y de conicimiento del contexto del proyecto, este documento tiene por objetivo la definicion de unas reglas de comportamiento roboticas para cada diversos de esos casos de uso. Las reglas se definen en funcion de las caracteristicas tecnicas del robot y las necesidades de usuario en cada escenario y caso de uso. Para ello se ha realizado un estudio sobre la recogida continuada de informacion de los usuarios antes y despues de su interaccion experimental con las plataformas roboticas.
Electrostatic heteroaggregation processes arising in two-component collodial dispersions

La Tesis se centra en los procesos de heteroagregacion en dispersiones coloidales bicomponentes, cuyas particulas son todas de igual tamano pero con cargas electricas opuestas. Es un fenomeno fundamental para la sintesis de materiales nanocompuestos, de gran interes industrial. Se ha estudiado tanto las tasas de agregacion como el comportamiento cinetico, en funcion de dos variables: (ion) (concentracion de electrolito del medio) y x (fraccion de particulas de cada especie). La Tesis dos vertientes complementarias: experimental y de simulacion. El estudio experimental se basa en la dispersion de luz por agregados individuales, SCLS, que nos permite determinar la distribucion de tamanos de agregado, CSD, sin necesidad de recurrir a un modelo para su estructura. Otras tecnicas se han utilizado en menor medida (nefelometria, movilidad electroforetica.). El estudio por simulacion utiliza dos tipos de simulaciones de dinamica Browniana, BDS: 1,- BDS con reglas de contacto, para interacciones entre particulas de corto alcance. 2,- BDS con interacciones DLVO-HHF, para otros casos. Finalmente, la Tesis se ha completado con otros metodos numericos, destacando un algoritmo estocastico para resolver la ecuacion de coagulacion. Los puntos principales del trabajo son: 1,- Seleccion y caracterizacion de los sistemas experimentales y adaptacion del dispositivo de SCLS. 2,- Medida de la tasa de formacion de dimeros, tanto k-S (constante cinetica efectiva) como k- {AB} (constante cinetica absoluta), frente a (ion). Encontramos que k-S toma 1,- Valores DLCA para (ion) altas. 2,- La mitad de ese valor para (ion) intermedias. 3,- Valores mucho mayores para (ion) muy bajas. Se ha encontrado un buen acuerdo al comparar nuestras medidas con las predicciones teoricas de la teoria DLVO-HHF y con la simulaciones con interacciones. 3,- Determinacion de los regimenes de heteroagregacion en si
Simulation of intermittent action potential firing in thalamocortical neurons

THALAMOCORTICAL neurons are capable of displaying complex electrophysiological behaviour, such as lowand high-frequency oscillations, because of their large number of different membrane channels. Recent experimental results have provided direct evidence on the involvement of high-threshold Ca2+ currents (IHVA) in the genesis of the high-frequency oscillations that underlie intermittent action potential firing. Complementing these findings, we now show by means of a biophysical model of a thalamocortical neuron how the interaction of IHVA with a Ca2+-activated K+ current which is also present in these neurons may generate this activity via intracellular Ca2+ processing.
Exploring the Oriented Graceful Labeling Conjecture on Lobster Trees

Introduced in 1967 by Rosa and further explored by Ringel and Kotzig, the famously unsolved graceful tree labeling conjecture (GTL) is a labeling problem in graph theory which proposes that for any tree with m +1 vertices, each vertex can be assigned a distinct label from 0 to m such that if we assign to each edge the absolute value of the difference of its adjacent vertices, then every edge is assigned a distinct value between 1 and m . This conjecture has been proven to hold for certain families of trees, but no proof for the general conjecture has been found. In 2015, Bell et al. presented a stricter version of GTL known as the oriented graceful tree labeling conjecture (OTL), imposing the additional constraint that for every vertex v in a tree T , the labels of vertices adjacent to v are either all strictly less than the label of v , or all strictly greater than the label of v . Our contribution addresses the mathematical community’s desire for a computational toolset to assist in the exploration of these graph labeling conjectures, particularly on lobster tree topologies. Using Python, parallel computing, and Microsoft’s Z3 SMT solver, we are able to verify the conjecture for lobster trees up to 19 vertices. We plan to continue developing this toolset and eventually make it available to the public as an open-source project.
Identification, diagnosis and assessment of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia, affecting 2% of the population and about 10% of those aged >80 years,1 and accounts for 1% of all National Health Service expenditure in the UK.2 Atrial fibrillation coexists with common conditions, both cardiovascular (such as hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus) and non-cardiovascular (thyroid disease, chest disease, etc), as well as with an increasingly older general population.1 Indeed, hospitalisation rates for atrial fibrillation have increased by nearly 2–3-fold.1 Thus, atrial fibrillation (and its comorbidities) will become an increasing healthcare burden. The importance of this arrhythmia is reflected by the considerable morbidity and mortality associated with it. As atrial fibrillation is often asymptomatic, it is often diagnosed only when it has caused a (potentially serious) complication, such as an ischaemic stroke. Appreciation of the clinical subtypes of atrial fibrillation may guide the approach to subsequent management. Atrial fibrillation is considered recurrent when a patient develops two or more episodes, which may be “paroxysmal” if they terminate spontaneously (defined by consensus as 7 days) or “persistent” if the arrhythmia requires electrical or pharmacological cardioversion for termination. Successful termination of atrial fibrillation does not alter the classification of persistent atrial fibrillation in these patients. Longstanding atrial fibrillation (defined as over a year) not successfully terminated by cardioversion, or when cardioversion is not pursued or deemed inappropriate, is classified as “permanent” (fig 1). Figure 1 Diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Screening for atrial fibrillation was outwith the scope of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline, but was recently addressed in the Screening for Atrial Fibrillation in the agEd (SAFE) study, which reported, in terms of a screening programme, that the only strategy that improved on routine practice was opportunistic screening, rather than targeted screening.3 As …
Inaccuracy in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome: analysis of referrals.

OBJECTIVE To examine prospectively the accuracy of an initial diagnosis for fibromyalgia (FM). METHODS All patients newly referred for rheumatology consultation in a 6-month period were evaluated prospectively for either a preceding, current or subsequent diagnosis of FM. Clinical characteristics, previous and subsequent management and health care utilization were assessed. The final diagnosis at 6 months was verified and accuracy regarding the diagnosis of FM was assessed. RESULTS Seventy six (12%) of all new patients were either referred with a question of FM or finally diagnosed with FM. At the final evaluation the accuracy of the diagnosis regarding FM by either the referring physician or by the rheumatologist at the time of the initial visit was correct in 34% of patients. The FM group in comparison with those with some other rheumatological diagnosis had more tender points (12.5 vs 4) and were more fatigued. In contrast, prolonged early morning stiffness and limitation of lumbar spinal mobility in more than one plane was more common in the non-FM group. CONCLUSION There is a disturbing inaccuracy, mostly observed to be overdiagnosis, in the diagnosis of FM by referring physicians. This finding may help explain the current high reported rates of FM and caution physicians to consider other diagnostic possibilities when addressing diffuse musculoskeletal pain.
Maf nuclear oncoprotein recognizes sequences related to an AP-1 site and forms heterodimers with both Fos and Jun

The v-maf oncogene, identified from AS42 avian retrovirus, encodes a nuclear bZip protein. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of cell transformation induced by this oncogene, we determined the specific binding sequences of its product. Maf protein recognized two types of relatively long palindromic consensus sequences, TGCTGACTCAGCA and TGCTGACGTCAGCA, at roughly equal efficiency. The middle parts of these Maf-binding sequences completely match with two binding sequences for AP-1 transcription factor, i.e., phorbol 12-O-tetradecanoate-13-acetate (TPA)-responsive element (TRE) and cyclic AMP responsive element, suggesting partial overlapping of the target genes for Maf and AP-1. Furthermore, Maf efficiently formed heterodimers with the components of AP-1, Fos and Jun, through their leucine zipper structures, and these heterodimers show binding specificities distinct from those for Maf-Maf and Jun-Jun homodimers. Thus, a multiple combination of the dimers should generate a greatly expanded repertoire of transcriptional regulatory potential. DNA data base search for the Maf-binding consensus sequences suggested that some of the TRE-like cis elements reported previously may actually be the targets for Maf family proteins or their heterodimers with other bZip proteins.
TroA of Streptococcus suis Is Required for Manganese Acquisition and Full Virulence

ABSTRACT Streptococcus suis causes infections in pigs and occasionally in humans, resulting in manifestations as meningitis, sepsis, arthritis, and septic shock. For survival within the host, S. suis requires numerous nutrients including trace metals. Little is known about the specific proteins involved in metal scavenging in S. suis. In this study we evaluated the role of the putative high-affinity metal binding lipoprotein TroA in metal acquisition and virulence. A mutant strain deficient in the expression of TroA (ΔtroA mutant) was constructed. Growth of the ΔtroA mutant in Todd-Hewitt broth was similar to wild-type growth; however, growth of the ΔtroA mutant in cation-deprived Todd-Hewitt broth and in porcine serum was strongly reduced compared to growth of wild-type bacteria. Supplementing the medium with extra manganese but not with magnesium, zinc, copper, nickel, or iron restored growth to wild-type levels, indicating that TroA is specifically required for growth in environments low in manganese. The ΔtroA mutant also showed increased susceptibility to H2O2, suggesting that TroA is involved in counteracting oxidative stress. Furthermore, the expression of the troA gene was subject to environmental regulation at the transcript level. In a murine S. suis infection model, the ΔtroA mutant displayed a nonvirulent phenotype. These data indicate that S. suis TroA is involved in manganese acquisition and is required for full virulence in mice.
Oxidation of elongation factor G inhibits the synthesis of the D1 protein of photosystem II

Oxidative stress inhibits the repair of photodamaged photosystem II (PSII). This inhibition is due initially to the suppression, by reactive oxygen species (ROS), of the synthesis de novo of proteins that are required for the repair of PSII, such as the D1 protein, at the level of translational elongation. To investigate in vitro the mechanisms whereby ROS inhibit translational elongation, we developed a translation system in vitro from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The synthesis of the D1 protein in vitro was inhibited by exogenous H2O2. However, the addition of reduced forms of elongation factor G (EF‐G), which is known to be particularly sensitive to oxidation, was able to reverse the inhibition of translation. By contrast, the oxidized forms of EF‐G failed to restore translational activity. Furthermore, the overexpression of EF‐G of Synechocystis in another cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 increased the tolerance of cells to H2O2 in terms of protein synthesis. These observations suggest that EF‐G might be the primary target, within the translational machinery, of inhibition by ROS.
Evidence of cardiac injury and arrhythmias in dogs with acute kidney injury.

OBJECTIVES Cardiac involvement in the course of acute kidney injury is described in humans as cardiorenal syndrome type 3 but has received only limited attention in dogs. This study was designed to evaluate cardiac injury and dysfunction in acute kidney injury in dogs and its association with outcome. METHODS This prospective cohort study enrolled 24 client-owned dogs with acute kidney injury. Cardiac disorders were evaluated with thoracic radiographs, echocardiography, 24-hour Holter monitoring and cardiac troponin I concentrations within 2 days of admission and 7 to 10 days later. RESULTS Most dogs were diagnosed with leptospirosis (n=18, 75%) and presented with moderate-to-severe acute kidney injury, International Renal Interest Society grades III to V. Dogs with ê100 ventricular premature complexes per 24 hour in the first examination (n=8) had significantly higher initial cTnI concentrations (P=0·007) compared to dogs with fewer than 100. In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the number of ventricular premature complexes was predictive of outcome (AUC 0·83, P<0·001). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Acute kidney injury seems to be associated with cardiac injury and arrhythmias in dogs. The data do not indicate a cardiac cause of poor outcome in dogs with increased number of ventricular premature complexes but the association may reflect the severity of disease.
Aplicación de PCA y técnicas bayesianas a la clasificación de píxeles basada en color

En este trabajo se propone un metodo para la clasificacion de pixeles en base a su color. A partir de un conjunto de variables que caracterizan un pixel segun su color se determinara cuales de estas son las mas representativas y se realizara la clasificacion propiamente dicha. Para ello nuestro metodo consta de dos fases: en la primera se aplica PCA para obtener el conjunto de variables caracteristicas mas informativas; en la segunda, dichas variables se utilizan como patrones de las clases de un clasificador bayesiano. El metodo se ilustra a traves de varios experimentos.
Towards a More Precise Analysis of an Algorithm to Generate Binary Trees: A Tutorial

For the analysis of an algorithm to generate binary trees, the behaviour of a certain sequence of numbers is essential. In the original paper, it was expressed by a recursion. Here, we show how to solve this (and similar) recursions, both explicitly and asymptotically. Some additional information about useful mathematical software is also provided.
ORIENTATION BEHAVIOR OF DELPHINIDS: RADIO TELEMETRIC STUDIES

The movements of delphinids appear to parallel closely movements of their potential food supply.1,2 In addition to a close tie with food sources, several species seem to have their range restricted within specific thermal zones. The presence of Dall porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) in southern California coastal waters is closely related to water temperatures of 1l0-12O C.S Gaskin4 has observed similar dependence of delphinid distribution on sea surface temperatures off eastern and southern New Zealand. Norrid has observed that some species of delphinid, notably the Hawaiian spinning porpoise (Srenella s p . ) , are quite sedentary. It is of interest to note that a similar species, Stenella longirostris, in the tropical waters of the eastern Pacific have been observed to move over moderately long distances. This same situation appears to exist for the common dolphin or saddle back porpoise (Delphinus sp.) . In the Gulf of California this species occurs as resident populations; however, in the coastal waters of Japan Delphinus apparently makes seasonal migration^. ^ Such seasonal movements have also been observed in the Delphinus populations distributed in the waters off Baja California. Distinct patterns have not been recorded. Norris and Prescotts do state that in the coastal waters of California Delphinus tends to be distributed more inshore in the fall and winter months and offshore during the spring and summer. Thus we have differences in orienting behavior within the same species of delphinid similar in many ways to those occurring in birds.6 Our recent observations based on weekly aerial surveys have verified the presence of Delphinus in the coastal waters of California throughout the year. Differences in morphology and external color pattern (FIGURE 1) do exist between the populations of Delphinus found off the coast of Baja California and those commonly found in the offshore waters of southern California. ’ In the late spring and summer we have recorded individuals of the Mexican population as far north as the Santa Catalina channel; however, these “southern” animals appear to remain in Mexican coastal waters during the winter months. Other differences in orientation behavior may be found in the same species or closely related species at different geographic locations. In the tropical eastern Pacific the relationship between three delphinid species (Stenella longirostris, Stenella graflmani, Delphinus clelphis) and tuna (Eutunnus pelamis, Thunnus albacares) is such that the majority of the tuna purse seine industry has been based on it.8 Although the two species of Stenella (or at least closely related forms) occur in Hawaiian waters, association with schools of tuna has not been evident. In contrast, Simmons9 has observed a delphinid-tuna association in the Gulf of Guinea (west coast of Africa) similar to that found in the tropical eastern Pacific. It is of further interest to note that the oceanographic conditions are quite similar in these areas and both differ markedly from those of the waters adjacent to the Hawaiian Islands.
Analysis of Existence-Judging Criteria for Optimal Power Regions in DMPPT PV Systems

This paper quantitatively evaluates different distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) photovoltaic (PV) systems in mismatch cases. To help designers obtain the full benefits of the DMPPT concept, a general analysis of the optimal power region (OPR) in different DMPPT system configurations is undertaken. Taken into account in the evaluation of OPRs are functional constraints derived from DMPPT converters, mismatch conditions, and system architectures and parameters of related PV units. To simplify the calculation process and enable rapid discovery of OPRs, judging criteria are proposed for 4 DMPPT structures. If the judging criteria are met, DMPPT PV systems can extract ideal maximum power regardless of mismatch issues. Finally, experimental results are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed static models, formulas, and judging criteria.