Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SEASONAL PATTERNS OF SINGING ACTIVITY VARY WITH TIME OF DAY IN THE NIGHTINGALE (LUSCINIA MEGARHYNCHOS)

Abstract Seasonal patterns of singing activity of male birds have been thoroughly studied, but little is known about how those patterns vary with time of day. Here, we censused mated and unmated male Nightingales (Luscinia megarhynchos) at four different hours of the day throughout the breeding cycle. In unmated males, singing activity increased until the young hatched in their neighborhood, and the seasonal variation was similar at each of the four hours of the day. In mated males, however, the seasonal patterns of singing activity differed between hours of the day. In morning (about the hour of egg-laying) and during the dusk chorus, the singing activity of mated males was strongly influenced by the females' reproductive state: singing activity was low before egg-laying and during incubation, but high during the egg-laying period. In the dawn chorus, however, singing activity showed a similar seasonal pattern in mated and unmated males and was high until late stages of the breeding cycle. Our results suggest that the social context influences singing behavior to a varying degree across the season, and that this variation also depends on time of day. The hour of data collection thus is an important but often neglected factor when seasonal changes of singing activity are studied.
Comparison of acute and chronic myocardial injury in noncardiac surgical patients

Purpose Perioperative myocardial injury is a predictor of postoperative mortality, but the clinical impact of chronic injury during the perioperative period has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to evaluate chronic myocardial injury during the perioperative period in comparison with normal and acute myocardial injury. Methods Patients with serial cardiac troponin measurements before and within 30 days following noncardiac surgery were divided into three groups: normal, acute injury, and chronic injury groups. Acute and chronic myocardial injuries were stratified according to 2018 recommendations by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine’s Task Force on Clinical Applications of Bio-Markers. Thirty-day and one-year mortalities after surgery were compared. Results Of the 22,969 patients reviewed, 17,671 (76.9%) were classified into the normal, 5,179 (22.5%) into the acute injury, and 119 (0.5%) into the chronic injury groups. The acute and chronic injury groups had higher 30-day mortalities compared with the normal group (0.8% vs. 8.0%; hazard ratio [HR], 11.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.05–13.37; P < 0.001 and 0.8% vs. 7.6%; HR, 10.55; 95% CI, 5.37–20.72; P < 0.001, respectively). In a direct comparison between the acute and chronic injury groups using an inverse probability of weighting adjustments, the 30-day and one-year mortalities were not significantly different. Conclusion Chronic myocardial injury during the perioperative period may show similar clinical impacts on postoperative mortality compared with acute injury. Further studies are needed.
Différenciation du nucléosome : le rôle des variants de l’histone H2A

Les histones conventionnelles H2A, H2B, H3 et H4 sont des proteines basiques tres conservees autour desquelles s’enroule l’ADN pour former l’unite de base de la chromatine: le nucleosome. Ces histones du coeur du nucleosome peuvent etre remplacees par des variants qui sont presents chez tous les organismes eucaryotes. Les variants d’histones participent, avec les autres voies de modification du nucleosome, a la specialisation fonctionnelle de la chromatine. Dans cette synthese, nous nous focalisons sur trois variants majeurs de l’histone H2A (H2A.X, H2A.Z et macroH2A). Les recherches recentes mettent en lumiere leur implication dans des evenements cruciaux comme la reparation de l’ADN ou la regulation de la transcription.
Pathogenesis of COVID-19 from the Perspective of the Damage-Response Framework

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presents the medical community with a significant challenge. COVID-19 is an entirely new disease with disparate clinical manifestations that are difficult to reconcile with a single pathogenic principle. Here, we explain how the flexible paradigm of the “damage-response framework” (DRF) of microbial pathogenesis can organize the varied manifestations of COVID-19 into a synthesis that accounts for differences in susceptibility of vulnerable populations as well as for differing manifestations of COVID-19 disease. ABSTRACT The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presents the medical community with a significant challenge. COVID-19 is an entirely new disease with disparate clinical manifestations that are difficult to reconcile with a single pathogenic principle. Here, we explain how the flexible paradigm of the “damage-response framework” (DRF) of microbial pathogenesis can organize the varied manifestations of COVID-19 into a synthesis that accounts for differences in susceptibility of vulnerable populations as well as for differing manifestations of COVID-19 disease. By focusing on mechanisms of host damage, particularly immune-mediated damage, the DRF provides a lens to understand COVID-19 pathogenesis and to consider how potential therapies could alter the outcome of this disease.
Leveraging the Organisational Legacy: Understanding How Businesses Integrate Legacy Data into Their Big Data Plans

Big Data can help users attain a competitive advantage, and evidence suggests that by utilising Big Data, organisations can generate insight that can help strengthen their decision-making capabilities. However, a key issue remains that much data is trapped in legacy systems, and is hence not being appropriately retrieved and utilised. This paper builds on the existing literature base to investigate the challenges and issues organisations face in utilising Big Data. Through results of a survey with 97 respondents, this work shows that these issues can be categorised into six areas, including issues of format and structure of the data, as well as identification of the key need for a framework and architecture for organising Big Data.
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis development is not modified by postnatal chondrocyte deletion of Ccn2

ABSTRACT CCN2 is a matricellular protein involved in several crucial biological processes. In particular, CCN2 is involved in cartilage development and in osteoarthritis. Ccn2 null mice exhibit a range of skeletal dysmorphisms, highlighting its importance in regulating matrix formation during development; however, its role in adult cartilage remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the role of CCN2 in postnatal chondrocytes in models of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Ccn2 deletion was induced in articular chondrocytes of male transgenic mice at 8 weeks of age. PTOA was induced in knees either surgically or non-invasively by repetitive mechanical loading at 10 weeks of age. Knee joints were harvested, scanned with micro-computed tomography and processed for histology. Sections were stained with Toluidine Blue and scored using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) grading system. In the non-invasive model, cartilage lesions were present in the lateral femur, but no significant differences were observed between wild-type (WT) and Ccn2 knockout (KO) mice 6 weeks post-loading. In the surgical model, severe cartilage degeneration was observed in the medial compartments, but no significant differences were observed between WT and Ccn2 KO mice at 2, 4 and 8 weeks post-surgery. We conclude that Ccn2 deletion in chondrocytes does not modify the development of PTOA in mice, suggesting that chondrocyte expression of CCN2 in adults is not a crucial factor in protecting cartilage from the degeneration associated with PTOA. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Postnatal deletion of Ccn2 in chondrocytes does not affect the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis in mice.
Nutritional strategy affects gut wall integrity in weaned piglets

Weaning is a stressful event for pigs and induces changes in the gut integrity of pigs. Feed intake is a very important determinant for gut integrity. In this thesis the effect of nutritional strategies (with regard to feed intake level and physical structure of the feed) on changes in gut morphology, barrier function and inflammatory response were investigated. In the experiments individually housed piglets were fed diets at different intake levels with different physical forms and compositions during 4 to 14 days post weaning. The working hypotheses were that high feed intake minimizes the degeneration of the gut integrity and stimulates the regeneration of a compromised integrity. Weaning induced changes in gut integrity. Overall, feed intake level modulated parameters related to gut integrity like morphology, in vitro barrier function and inflammatory response. The effects found depended on sampling site in the gut and sampling day post weaning. Only the supply of reconstituted milk resulted in voluntary feed intake level sufficiently high to maintain gut integrity. In vitro paracellular permeability for small molecules was transiently increased after weaning, while permeability for large molecules was decreased. High intake feed (milk) resulted in lower permeability values compared to a low intake level. Changes in gut morphology and permeability were related to feed intake level. In most experiments, individual feed intake was also correlated with body weight gain and in some experiments with inflammatory response parameters. At a low feed intake level, gut barrier function was already affected at day 1 post weaning, followed by changes in gut morphology. Variation in parameters related to gut integrity between piglets within trials and between experiments was high making it very difficult to compare data of different experiments.
Overgrazing of edible algae as a mechanism behind red tides and harmful algal blooms

It has recently been suggested that there is a positive synergistic relationship between herbivorous zooplankton and their algal food, with herbivores stimulating the production of their preferred species while negatively affecting competing algal species. A prerequisite for this positive interaction hypothesis is that herbivores and phytoplankton coexist in balance in which recycled nutrients from herbivores are immediately utilised by phytoplankton, which, in turn, are grazed by the herbivores. Empirical evidence suggests that this balance is more stable during increasing primary productivity than during its decline. During longer periods of highly stratified water in summer and early autumn, primary productivity may decrease because the export of nutrients from the euphotic zone outweighs import. If there is a lag between the decline in primary production and the decline in herbivore biomass, the herbivores may overgraze their preferred algal species, which, in turn, cannot fully utilise the recycled nutrients. Hence, nutrients may become available for non-grazed phytoplankton species that cause red tides and harmful algal blooms (HABs). In other words, it is hypothesised that HABs and red tides are caused by the collapse of the balanced positive (synergistic) relationship between herbivores and their preferred algal food.
Metaphor Detection using Context and Concreteness

We report the results of our system on the Metaphor Detection Shared Task at the Second Workshop on Figurative Language Processing 2020. Our model is an ensemble, utilising contextualised and static distributional semantic representations, along with word-type concreteness ratings. Using these features, it predicts word metaphoricity with a deep multi-layer perceptron. We are able to best the state-of-the-art from the 2018 Shared Task by an average of 8.0% F1, and finish fourth in both sub-tasks in which we participate.
Influence of Various Foods on Fecundity and Longevity of Adults of Scambus buolianae (Htg.) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

The effects of fiood od the fecundity and longevity of the adults of hymenopterous parasites vary remarkably, not only between species that are host feeders and those that are not host feeders, but also within these groups. It is known, for example, that the females of Itoplectis conquisitor (Say) develop only few eggs without feeding on body fluids of their host. In the present investigations it is shown that the females of Scambus buolianae (Htg.) are not able to deposit any eggs without first feeding on the tissues of their host. Such information is important for the successful establishment of newly-imported parasites.
Stabilization of body balance with Light Touch following a mechanical perturbation: Adaption of sway and disruption of right posterior parietal cortex by cTBS

Light touch with an earth-fixed reference point improves balance during quite standing. In our current study, we implemented a paradigm to assess the effects of disrupting the right posterior parietal cortex on dynamic stabilization of body sway with and without Light Touch after a graded, unpredictable mechanical perturbation. We hypothesized that the benefit of Light Touch would be amplified in the more dynamic context of an external perturbation, reducing body sway and muscle activations before, at and after a perturbation. Furthermore, we expected sway stabilization would be impaired following disruption of the right Posterior Parietal Cortex as a result of increased postural stiffness. Thirteen young adults stood blindfolded in Tandem-Romberg stance on a force plate and were required either to keep light fingertip contact to an earth-fixed reference point or to stand without fingertip contact. During every trial, a robotic arm pushed a participant’s right shoulder in medio-lateral direction. The testing consisted of 4 blocks before TMS stimulation and 8 blocks after, which alternated between Light Touch and No Touch conditions. In summary, we found a strong effect of Light Touch, which resulted in improved stability following a perturbation. Light Touch decreased the immediate sway response, steady state sway following re-stabilization, as well as muscle activity of the Tibialis Anterior. Furthermore, we saw gradual decrease of muscle activity over time, which indicates an adaptive process following exposure to repetitive trials of perturbations. We were not able to confirm our hypothesis that disruption of the rPPC leads to increased postural stiffness. However, after disruption of the rPPC, muscle activity of the Tibialis Anterior is decreased more compared to sham. We conclude that rPPC disruption enhanced the intra-session adaptation to the disturbing effects of the perturbation.
A Comparison of Dressing Percentages and Yield of Edible Cooked Meat in Five Strains of Turkeys as Broilers and as Mature Stock

Abstract GREATER interest is being shown by producers in the dressing percentage and meat yields of different varieties and strains of turkeys in order to increase their profits. Some data has been reported on such comparisons. Harshaw et al. (1943) using 28 and 30-week-old turkeys found that the carcasses of the Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys were highest in percentage of total edible portion followed in order by Beltsville Small White, White Holland, and Standard Bronze. Sweet et al. (1954) reported that Beltsville Small White turkeys gave a cooked meat yield equal to or greater than Broad Breasted Bronze up to a weight of about 12 pounds. However, at heavier weights the meat yields of Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys were greater. They also reported that the Broad Breasted hens weighing 13 to 14 pounds New York dressed weight had a greater evisceration yield than toms of equal or heavier weights or any …
A rare case of allergic contact dermatitis caused by 3‐O‐ethyl‐L‐ascorbic acid in skin‐whitening cosmetics identified under immunosuppressive therapy

A 72-year-old nonatopic woman presented with a 4-year history of erythema on her face. She had rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate and etanercept. Face dermatitis had been treated with corticosteroid ointments but the eruptions recurred and spread. Because her eruption worsened over the preceding 3 weeks, she presented to our hospital with erythema and vesicles on her face (Figure 1A,B), arms, and legs. From the medical history and clinical picture, allergic contact dermatitis due to cosmetics was suspected. We suggested that she stop her daily cosmetics and use only moisturizer and foundation. With application of topical tacrolimus ointments, her symptoms were eliminated completely. We conducted patch tests with her cosmetics “as is,” the Japanese baseline series, a metal allergen series, and a cosmetic allergen series from our department. Patch tests were performed using Finn Chambers and Patch tester Tori, and the reactions were read on day (D) 2, D3, and D9 in accordance with the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG) criteria. There were positive reactions to a skin-whitening lotion (D3, ? +; D9, ? +), a skin-whitening cream (D3, +; D9, ? +), and 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid 10% aq. (D3, +; D9, +). 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid was contained in the skin-whitening cream ingredients. The diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis caused by 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid was made. There were also positive reactions to pphenylenediamine (D3, +; D9, ? +), thiomersal (D3, ++; D9, +), and fradiomycin sulfate (D3, +; D9, +). Discontinuation of the use of the skin-whitening cosmetics resulted in complete healing of the erythema without relapse. DISCUSSION
APOL1 Nephropathy: From Genetics to Clinical Applications.

Rates of many types of severe kidney disease are much higher in blacks than most other groups. Much of this disparity can now be attributed to genetic variants in the apoL1 (APOL1) gene found only in individuals with recent African ancestry. These variants greatly increase rates of hypertension-associated ESKD, FSGS, HIV-associated nephropathy, and other forms of nondiabetic kidney disease. We discuss the population genetics of APOL1 risk variants and the clinical spectrum of APOL1 nephropathy. We then consider clinical issues that arise for the practicing nephrologist caring for the patient who may have APOL1 kidney disease.
The effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on extracellular enzyme activities of litter and soil among different-aged stands of larch

Aims Nitrogen (N) addition could affect the rate of forest litter and soil organic matter decomposition by regulating extracellular enzyme activity (EEA). The impact of N addition on EEA may differ across different age stands with different organic matter quality. We were interested in whether the impact of N addition on EEA in litter and mineral soil during the growing season was dependent on stand age of a larch plantation in North China. Methods We added three levels of N (0, 20 and 50 kg N ha −1 year −1 ) in three age stands (11, 20 and 45 years old) of Larix principis-rupprech- tii plantation in North China. We measured potential activities of β-1,4-glucosidase (BG), cellobiohydrolase (CB), β-1,4-N-acetyl- glucosaminidase (NAG) and phenol oxidase (PO) in litter (organic horizon) and mineral soil (0-10 cm) during the second growing sea- son after N amendment. We also measured C and N concentrations, microbial biomass C and N, and KCl-extractable ammonium and nitrate in both litter and mineral soil. temperature. Stand age had a strong effect on EEA in both litter and mineral soil, and this effect differed between litter and mineral soil as well as between different enzymes. N addition did not signifi- cantly affect the activities of BG or CB but significantly suppressed the activity of NAG in litter. We also found stand age-specific responses of PO activity to N addition in both litter and mineral soil. N addition suppressed PO activity of the high C:N ratio litters in 20- and 45-year-old stands but had no significant effect on PO activity of the low C:N ratio litter in 11-year-old stand. Moreover, N addition inhibited PO activity of the high C:N ratio soil in 20-year- old stand but had no significant impact on PO activity of the low C:N ratio soils in 11- and 45-year-old stands. Overall, stand age had a greater effect on EEA in litter and mineral soil compared to 2 years of N addition. Moreover, the effect of N addition on PO activity is stand age dependent, which may affect the long-term soil carbon storage in this forest.
Longitudinal gut microbiome changes in alcohol use disorder are influenced by abstinence and drinking quantity

ABSTRACT Many patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) consume alcohol chronically and in large amounts that alter intestinal microbiota, damage the gastrointestinal tract, and thereby injure other organs via malabsorption and intestinal inflammation. We hypothesized that alcohol consumption and subsequent abstinence would change the gut microbiome in adults admitted to a treatment program. Stool and oral specimens, diet data, gastrointestinal assessment scores, anxiety, depression measures and drinking amounts were collected longitudinally for up to 4 weeks in 22 newly abstinent inpatients with AUD who were dichotomized as less heavy drinkers (LHD, <10 drinks/d) and very heavy drinkers (VHD, 10 or more drinks/d). Next-generation 16 S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to measure the gut and oral microbiome at up to ten time points/subject and LHD and VHD were compared for change in principal components, Shannon diversity index and specific genera. The first three principal components explained 46.7% of the variance in gut microbiome diversity across time and all study subjects, indicating the change in gut microbiome following abstinence. The first time point was an outlier in three-dimensional principal component space versus all other time points. The gut microbiota in LHD and VHD were significantly dissimilar in change from day 1 to day 5 (p = .03) and from day 1 to week 3 (p = .02). The VHD drinking group displayed greater change from baseline. The Shannon diversity index of the gut microbiome changed significantly during abstinence in five participants. In both groups, the Shannon diversity was lower in the oral microbiome than gut. Ten total genera were shared between oral and stool in the AUD participants. These data were compared with healthy controls from the Human Microbiome Project to investigate the concept of a core microbiome. Rapid changes in gut microbiome following abstinence from alcohol suggest resilience of the gut microbiome in AUD and reflects the benefits of refraining from the highest levels of alcohol and potential benefits of abstinence.