Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Vegetation and Background Noise on the Detection Process in Auditory Avian Point-Count Surveys

Abstract We used a bird-song simulation system to experimentally assess the effects of habitat, vegetation structure, and background noise on detection probability in aural avian point counts. We simulated bird songs of seven species in two habitats (mixed pine–hardwood forest and deciduous forest) and two leaf conditions (leaves on and leaves off) with two levels of background noise (~40 dB and ~50 dB). Estimated detection probabilities varied greatly among species, and complex interactions among all the factors existed. Background noise and the presence of leaves on trees decreased detection probabilities, and estimated detection probabilities were higher in mixed pine–hardwood forest than in deciduous forest. At 100 m, average estimated detection probabilities ranged from 0 to 1 and were lowest for the Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) and highest for the Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum). Simulations of expected counts, based on the best logistic model, indicated that observers detect between 3% (for the worst observer, least detectable species, with leaves on the trees and added background noise in the deciduous forest) and 99% (for the best observer, most detectable species, with no leaves on the trees and no added background noise in the mixed forest) of the total count. The large variation in expected counts illustrates the importance of estimating detection probabilities directly. The large differences in detection probabilities among species suggest that tailoring monitoring protocols to specific species of interest may produce better estimates than a single protocol applied to a wide range of species.
The molecular chaperone Ydj1 is required for the p34CDC28-dependent phosphorylation of the cyclin Cln3 that signals its degradation

The G1 cyclin Cln3 of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is rapidly degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. This process is triggered by p34CDC28-dependent phosphorylation of Cln3. Here we demonstrate that the molecular chaperone Ydj1, a DnaJ homolog, is required for this phosphorylation. In a ydj1 mutant at the nonpermissive temperature, both phosphorylation and degradation of Cln3 were deficient. No change was seen upon inactivation of Sis1, another DnaJ homolog. The phosphorylation defect in the ydj1 mutant was specific to Cln3, because no reduction in the phosphorylation of Cln2 or histone H1, which also requires p34CDC28, was observed. Ydj1 was required for Cln3 phosphorylation and degradation rather than for the proper folding of this cyclin, since Cln3 produced in the ydj1 mutant was fully active in the stimulation of p34CDC28 histone kinase activity. Moreover, Ydj1 directly associates with Cln3 in close proximity to the segment that is phosphorylated and signals degradation. Thus, binding of Ydj1 to this domain of Cln3 seems to be essential for the phosphorylation and breakdown of this cyclin. In a cell-free system, purified Ydj1 stimulated the p34CDC28-dependent phosphorylation of the C-terminal segment of Cln3 and did not affect phosphorylation of Cln2 (as was found in vivo). The reconstitution of this process with pure components provides evidence of a direct role for the chaperone in the phosphorylation of Cln3.
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus in Children

The authors describe eight cases of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in children, six of them studied at a hospital. Five of the cases came from four generations of a family showing a pattern typical of sex‐linked inheritance, two are brothers from another family, and the eighth is a sporadic case. These children usually showed signs of severe dehydration during the first three years of life, suffering from fever, malnutrition, and retarded physical and mental development. In two of the unequivocal cases the boys died in early childhood. There are also three boys in the large family who died in infancy from an obscure cause, and who were so situated in the family tree that there was a 50 per cent risk of their getting the disorder.
Modeling and motion planning of the infant-size humanoid robot THBIP-II

The infant-size humanoid robot THBIP-II, Tsinghua University biped robot II, is the second generation prototype of Tsinghua biped robots. THBIP-II is 75 cm tall, weighs 18 Kg, and has 24 degrees of freedom (DOF). This paper addresses the design, mechanical modeling, gait planning method, and global footstep planning method of the robot. First the humanoid mechatronics system and its kinematics and dynamics modeling are prescribed. Second, the gait planning algorithm developed for human-like walking is presented. Third, a footstep planning method for global navigation is addressed. Finally, the walking experiments are given to verify the validity of the above aspects.
Enterococcal superinfection and colonization with aztreonam therapy

Patients were given aztreonam (SQ 26,776) parenterally for the treatment of various gram-negative infections. During or shortly after therapy, 8 (17.8%) of 45 patients became infected with or colonized by enterococcus. These eight cases included eight urinary tract isolates; one of these cases subsequently developed bacteremia. Five patients required further antimicrobial therapy directed against enterococcus. Patients receiving aztreonam are at risk for the development of enterococcal superinfection or colonization.
The use of helical CT and CT angiography to predict vascular involvement from pancreatic cancer: correlation with findings at surgery.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test the accuracy of helical CT with and without CT angiography to predict vascular involvement from pancreatic cancer and correlate the resultant images with findings at surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Helical CT and CT angiography was done in 84 patients who had adenocarcinoma of the pancreas to refine an integrated CT angiography protocol. Of these patients 38 underwent radical pancreatoduodenectomy. Vessel integrity of the superior mesenteric artery, superior mesenteric vein, and portal vein was assessed prospectively on both axial CT scans and CT angiograms and correlated with findings at surgery and in particular with the ability of the surgeon to dissect the tumor from these vessels along the vascular planes. RESULTS CT angiograms were obtained in 82 (98%) of 84 studies. Of the 38 patients who underwent radical pancreatoduodenectomy, resection was aborted in 11 (29%) because of vascular encasement, Compared with axial CT images, CT angiography was more accurate at revealing unresectable cases. In all but one of 11 patients with vessel encasement (narrowing of the lumen) revealed on CT angiography, the lesion was unresectable. Vessel encasement was shown in only two of these 11 patients on axial CT images (of these two patients, one underwent tumor resection). The negative predictive value of a resectable tumor was 96% for CT angiography and axial helical CT compared with 70% for axial helical CT images alone (p = .021). CONCLUSION Helical CT with CT angiography of the pancreas provides useful information about local vascular involvement from pancreatic carcinoma. Compared with conventional axial helical CT, the addition of CT angiography improves radiologists' ability to predict the resectability of pancreatic tumors.
Efficient Repair of Genomic Double-Strand Breaks by Homologous Recombination between Directly Repeated Sequences in the Plant Genome Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at www.plantcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1105/tpc.001727.

Previous studies demonstrated that in somatic plant cells, homologous recombination (HR) is several orders of magnitude less efficient than nonhomologous end joining and that HR is little used for genomic double-strand break (DSB) repair. Here, we provide evidence that if genomic DSBs are induced in close proximity to homologous repeats, they can be repaired in up to one-third of cases by HR in transgenic tobacco. Our findings are relevant for the evolution of plant genomes because they indicate that sequences containing direct repeats such as retroelements might be less stable in plants that harbor active mobile elements than anticipated previously. Furthermore, our experimental setup enabled us to demonstrate that transgenic sequences flanked by sites of a rare cutting restriction enzyme can be excised efficiently from the genome of a higher eukaryote by HR as well as by nonhomologous end joining. This makes DSB-induced recombination an attractive alternative to the currently applied sequence-specific recombination systems used for genome manipulations, such as marker gene excision.
Protein‐protein interaction via PAS domains: role of the PAS domain in positive and negative regulation of the bHLH/PAS dioxin receptor‐Arnt transcription factor complex.

Gene regulation by dioxins is mediated by the dioxin receptor‐Arnt heterodimer, a ligand generated complex of two basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLH)/Per‐Arnt‐Sim (PAS) transcription factors. By using dioxin receptor chimeras where the dimerization and DNA binding bHLH motif has been replaced by a heterologous DNA binding domain, we have detected an ability of Arnt to interact with the dioxin receptor via the PAS domain in a mammalian ‘hybrid interaction’ system. By coimmunoprecipitation assays, we have confirmed the ability of PAS domains of the dioxin receptor and Arnt to mediate independent heterodimerization in vitro. Selectivity for PAS dimerization was noted in our hybrid interaction system, as dioxin receptor or Arnt PAS‐mediated homodimers were not detected. Surprisingly, however, the PAS domain of Per could dimerize with both the dioxin receptor and Arnt subunits in vitro, and disrupt the ability of these subunits to form a DNA binding heterodimer. Moreover, ectopic expression of Per blocked dioxin signalling in mammalian cells. The PAS domains of the dioxin receptor and Arnt are therefore novel dimerizing regions critical in formation of a functional dioxin receptor‐Arnt complex, while the PerPAS domain is a potential negative regulator of bHLH/PAS factor function.
Accelerated portfolio optimization with conditional value-at-risk constraints using a cutting-plane method

Financial portfolios are often optimized for maximum profit while subject to a constraint formulated in terms of the Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR). This amounts to solving a linear problem. However, in its original formulation this linear problem has a very large number of linear constraints, too many to be enforced in practice. In the literature this is addressed by a reformulation of the problem using so-called dummy variables. This reduces the large number of constraints in the original linear problem at the cost of increasing the number of variables. In the context of reinsurance portfolio optimization we observe that the increase in variable count can lead to situations where solving the reformulated problem takes a long time. Therefore we suggest a different approach. We solve the original linear problem with cutting-plane method: The proposed algorithm starts with the solution of a relaxed problem and then iteratively adds cuts until the solution is approximated within a preset threshold. This is a new approach. For a reinsurance case study we show that a significant reduction of necessary computer resources can be achieved.
Galvanic test in central vestibular lesions.

1. Brainstem lesions without presence of a spontaneous vestibular nystagmus generally do not show any particular change of the pattern of the galvanic nystagmus reactions.2. In brainstem lesions with presence of a spontaneous nystagmus the threshold of the galvanic nystagmus is mostly normal whereas supra-liminar tests invariably show a pathological reversal phenomenon. Sometimes a relatively high incidence of abnormally increased amplitude and frequency values can be found, a phenomenon which is not observed among other groups.3. Cerebello-pontine angle tumours (acoustic neuroma excluded) show either a normal or only moderately raised nystagmus threshold.4. In supratentorial lesions of the brainstem the pattern of liminar and supraliminar galvanic responses is not characteristic.5. In lesions of the cerebral cortex threshold values are normal among the majority of the cases but supraliminar tests reveal a relatively high incidence of pathological directional preponderance towards the side of the lesion, .
Testosterone and Dementia: Too much Ado About too Little Data

In vitro and animal investigations have indicated that testosterone is neuroprotective and reduces the levels of beta-amyloid and the phosphorylation of tau (which are considered to be critical to the pathophysiological process that leads to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD)). Such findings imply that testosterone may have an important role in the modulation of cognitive function and in reducing the risk of AD. Currently available clinical evidence of the association between testosterone and cognitive function/AD comes from a small number of cross-sectional studies and five randomised trials of testosterone supplementation for healthy older men. The results suggest that testosterone has a weak association with visuospatial and memory scores, but the findings are inconsistent across different studies, which often included multiple comparisons across a wide range of cognitive domains. In addition, the serum levels of testosterone in men with AD are comparable to those of controls, as are brain levels. In conclusion, currently available evidence does not support the existence of a strong association between testosterone and cognitive function/AD.
Essential Medicine Utilization and Situation in Selected Ten Developing Countries: A Compendious Audit

Medicine improves the quality of life and increases mean age of human beings as it fights against diseases. Accessibility to medicines is the fundamental right of every person. The principle of the essential medicines (EMs) is that a limited number of availability of medicine will promote to a better supply chain and rational prescribing to the rural and remote health centers for any developing countries. Furthermore, it was also expected that this concept will also ensure better procurement policy at lower costs, more in amount, with easier storage. Thereby, EMs will safeguard and improve distribution and dispensing of medicine. Correspondingly, motivational and dedicated training program regarding drug information and adverse drug reactions will boost up access to medicine and health-care. In addition, the selection of medicine from EM is the first step in the direction of the rational use of medicine and progress and ensuring the quality of health care. Thereafter, selection needs to be followed by appropriate use. Everyone should receive the right medicine, in an adequate dose for an adequate duration, with appropriate information and follow-up treatment, and at an affordable cost. The acceptance and implementation of World Health Organization-promoted EM policies in deferent countries have improved quality use of medicine in terms of accessibility and affordability, predominantly in developing countries. The corporations and teamwork among various participants of health care are instantly obligatory to progress equitable access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries.
INTERSPECIFIC DIFFERENCES IN HEMATOZOAN INFECTION IN SONORAN DESERT AIMOPHILA SPARROWS

Numerous studies have identified factors that control avian hematozoan infections, but the mechanisms that account for host differences in parasitemia remain largely speculative. To address this issue, we compared the prevalence of these parasites in stained blood smears from four conspecific Sonoran desert Aimophila sparrow species sampled during their breeding season: rufous-winged (Aimophila carpalis; RWSP), rufous-crowned (Aimophila ruficeps; RCSP), Cassin's (Aimophila cassinii, CASP), and Botteri's (Aimophila botterii; BOSP) sparrows. Blood smears contained Haemoproteus fringillae (RWSP), Trypanosoma everetti (RWSP, RCSP, BOSP), Trypanosoma avium (CASP), and microfilariae (all species). Most (92.5%) RWSP (n=40) were infected with Haemoproteus, but this parasite was not detected in RCSP (n=20) or BOSP (n=20) and was found only in one (2.5%) CASP (n =40). Trypanosoma spp. and microfilariae were detected in all species, but prevalence differed between these four sparrow species. Species differences in parasite prevalence were not due to difference in sex, age, adult body mass, incubation period, breeding habitat, or plumage colorfulness. However, differences in Haemoproteus sp. prevalence correlated with preferred nesting height, as RWSP generally nest above ground, whereas the other species nest on or close to the ground. Elevated H. fringillae prevalence in breeding-condition RWSP presumably does not result from a seasonal relapse associated with breeding or require new infection because 1) this prevalence did not differ in males sampled during and outside (n=21) the breeding season, and 2) all male RWSP (n=25) that we held in captivity and shielded from new infections and influence of natural photoperiod for 1 yr had viable blood H. fringillae gametocytes. H. fringillae prevalence in fall-sampled hatch-year male RWSP (n =11) was 63.6%, demonstrating that this parasite can be transmitted on the breeding grounds and during the first months of life. T. everetti prevalence in RWSP was lower in winter than in summer and also in long-term captive than in free-ranging adults. Presence of this parasite in the blood of breeding males may depend on recrudescence of existing infections or new infections.
Estabilización de la “Marea Verde” causada por Ulva lactuca (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta) a través del ensilaje

Las grandes poblaciones del alga Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta) forma la denominada “marea verde”, que al descomponerse en las orillas, representa un grave problema ambiental, social y economico. En el humedal La Poza de la Arenilla (Callao, Peru) en el 2008 se extrajeron un total de 410 TM, que luego fueron devueltas a la misma bahia, por no tener uso comercial, ocasionando incremento del nivel de eutrofizacion en la zona. Este estudio planteo darle un destino util y adecuado a estas macroalgas, elaborando un bioabono liquido a traves del proceso de ensilaje. Se diseno un experimento de doce tratamientos, cada uno con diferentes proporciones en sus componentes, melaza de cana (0 a10%), consorcio microbiano de bacterias lacticas (5 a 15%) y U. lactuca (70 a 90%). Entre los parametros abioticos el mas importante se considero el descenso del pH. Los niveles altos de N, K y Fe observados estan relacionados con las altas concentraciones de estos nutrientes en U. lactuca . Los analisis obtenidos de metales pesados (Co, Mn, Fe, Zn y B) son bajos y no generan problemas de toxicidad a plantas. Los 3 tratamientos sin melaza fueron eliminados debido al aumento de pH (pH>5) que origino que las bacterias putrefactivas dominen el proceso, reflejandose en el color y el mal olor. Los nueve tratamientos restantes fueron evaluados como bioabono en invernadero comparandose con un control (agua) y fertilizante mineral. Los resultados indicaron que los rendimientos fueron menores que el fertilizante mineral pero mayores que el control.
Effect of Helicobacter pylori Infection on Barrett’s Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Formation in a Rat Model of Chronic Gastroesophageal Reflux

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and Barrett’s esophagus (BE), a rat model of chronic gastroesophageal reflux with H. pylori infection was established and the degree of inflammation, incidence of BE and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) were evaluated.
Total laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical trachelectomy.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the feasibility and operative morbidity of a total laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical trachelectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. METHODS Between July 2004 and May 2005, this procedure had been undergone to four consecutive young patients with early cervical cancer (one with stage IA2, three with stage IB1). It was distinguished from the conventional radical trachelectomy in that it consisted of a reanastomosis of uterine corpus and upper vagina via laparoscopic approach, and an autonomic nerve-sparing dissection under the magnified laparoscopic view. RESULTS The mean operative time and blood loss was 250 minutes and 185 mL, respectively. The pathologic diagnosis was all squamous cell carcinoma. There were no node metastasis and cancer-free cervical margin. Any wound defect and leakage from a stump were not found. There were no neurologic impairments such as bladder hypotonia. The mean follow-up period was 34 months. Only one patient (Case 1) received concurrent chemo-radiation due to recurrence, followed by no further sign of progression. Unfortunately, there has not been any pregnancy yet. CONCLUSION A total laparoscopic nerve-sparing radical trachelectomy is feasible and without any increase of morbidity, and has the potential to improve surgical outcomes, compared with a conventional radical trachelectomy.
Identifying Children With Autism Early?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement “Identifying Infants and Young Children With Developmental Disorders: An Algorithm for Developmental Surveillance and Screening” (published in the July issue of Pediatrics ) highlights the importance of ongoing developmental surveillance of all children during preventive care visits.1 Early identification of and intervention for developmental problems improves developmental outcomes and allays parental anxiety.2,3 This is particularly critical in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), who may demonstrate significant developmental gains with early intervention.4,5 Although the average age of diagnosis of ASDs has decreased,6 many children still do not receive a definitive diagnosis of autism until the age of 3½ to 4 years or later.7,8 The policy statement recommends surveillance for developmental problems at all well-child preventive care visits and routine screening with a general screening tool at the 9-, 18-, and 30-month visits, plus screening with an autism-specific tool at the age of 18 months. Although we commend the statement for … Address correspondence to Vidya Bhushan Gupta, MD, 32 Sunset Rd, Demarest, NJ 07627. E-mail: bhushan07627{at}yahoo.com
Capital Good Imports, Public Capital, and Productivity Growth

This paper examines the sources for U.S. labor productivity growth over more than three decades. We find that access to lower priced capital good imports played a signifcant role for gains in labor productivity. In contrast, imported industrial materials did contribute very little to the overall increase in labor productivity although they have become slightly more important since the early ’80s. While private capital formation was the most important and consistent component of labor productivity growth, non-military government expenditures on capital goods did not contribute to the observed long-run increase in labor productivity.
JITSafe: a framework against Just-in-time spraying attacks

A new code-reuse attack, named Just-in-time (JIT) spraying attack, leverages the predictable generated JIT compiled code to launch an attack. It can circumvent the defenses such as data execution prevention and address space layout randomisation built-in in the modern operation system, which were thought the insurmountable barrier so that the attackers cannot construct the traditional code injection attacks. In this study, the authors describe JITSafe, a framework that can be applied to existing JIT-based virtual machines (VMs), in the purpose of preventing the attacker from reusing the JIT compiled code to construct the attack. The authors framework narrows the time window of the JIT compiled code in the executable pages, eliminates the immediate value and obfuscates the JIT compiled code. They demonstrate the effectiveness of JITSafe that it can successfully prevent existing JIT spraying attacks with low performance overhead.