Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scenarios for Global Biodiversity in the 21st Century

Assessing Biodiversity Declines Understanding human impact on biodiversity depends on sound quantitative projection. Pereira et al. (p. 1496, published online 26 October) review quantitative scenarios that have been developed for four main areas of concern: species extinctions, species abundances and community structure, habitat loss and degradation, and shifts in the distribution of species and biomes. Declines in biodiversity are projected for the whole of the 21st century in all scenarios, but with a wide range of variation. Hoffmann et al. (p. 1503, published online 26 October) draw on the results of five decades' worth of data collection, managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission. A comprehensive synthesis of the conservation status of the world's vertebrates, based on an analysis of 25,780 species (approximately half of total vertebrate diversity), is presented: Approximately 20% of all vertebrate species are at risk of extinction in the wild, and 11% of threatened birds and 17% of threatened mammals have moved closer to extinction over time. Despite these trends, overall declines would have been significantly worse in the absence of conservation actions. Quantitative scenarios are coming of age as a tool for evaluating the impact of future socioeconomic development pathways on biodiversity and ecosystem services. We analyze global terrestrial, freshwater, and marine biodiversity scenarios using a range of measures including extinctions, changes in species abundance, habitat loss, and distribution shifts, as well as comparing model projections to observations. Scenarios consistently indicate that biodiversity will continue to decline over the 21st century. However, the range of projected changes is much broader than most studies suggest, partly because there are major opportunities to intervene through better policies, but also because of large uncertainties in projections.
Some variants of projection methods for large nonlinear optimization problems

Two ideas of modifying projection methods for the case of smooth nonlinear optimization are presented. Projection methods were originally successfully used in solving largescale linear feasibility problems. The proposed instantiations of projection methods fall into two groups. One of them is a decomposition approach in which projections onto sets are realized as optimization problems which themselves involve much portions of original problem constraints. There are two subproblems: one build with linear constraints of the original problem and the second one build with original nonlinear constraints. These approaches use special accelerating cuts so that the separation of nonlinear and linear constraints can be effective and some problem sparsity preserved. The second group bases on penalty-shifting/multiplier methods and draws from the observation that unconstrained subproblems obtained there may solve very slowly due to their nonsmooth character. Thus it is proposed to solve them with modified projection methods which inherit from conjugate gradient methods a multi-dimensional subspace in one epoche.
Mechanisms of homocysteine‐induced atherothrombosis

Summary. Elevation of plasma homocysteine level is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and venous thromboembolism. It is still uncertain, however, whether hyperhomocysteinemia is a causative factor or a marker of vascular disease. The strongest evidence that homocysteine plays a causal role in atherothrombosis has been provided by studies using animal models. In the past decade, considerable progress in defining the vascular effects of hyperhomocysteinemia was achieved through the use of genetic and dietary approaches to induce hyperhomocysteinemia in experimental animals. A key vascular phenotype observed in hyperhomocysteinemic animals is endothelial dysfunction, manifested by decreased bioavailability of endothelium‐derived nitric oxide. Impairment of endothelial function may be mediated by either accelerated oxidative inactivation of nitric oxide or inhibition of nitric oxide production caused by the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, asymmetric dimethylarginine. Hyperhomocysteinemia also increases susceptibility to arterial thrombosis and accelerates the development of atherosclerosis in susceptible models such as the apolipoprotein E‐deficient mouse. Mechanisms of atherothrombosis may include homocysteine‐induced thiolation or acylation of plasma or endothelial proteins and endoplasmic reticulum stress, which activates signal transduction pathways leading to inflammation and apoptosis.
Coexistence and function of glutamate receptor subtypes in the horizontal cells of the tiger salamander retina

Abstract Effects of the major glutamate receptor agonists, kainate (KA), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA), quisqualate (QA), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), L-α-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (L-AP4), and trans-l-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD) on horizontal cells (HCs) were studied in superfused larval tiger salamander retina. 20 μM of KA, AMPA, and QA mimicked the action of 3 mM glutamate in the absence and presence of 1 mM Co2+-20 μM 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) blocked the actions of KA and AMPA, but not those of QA and glutamate, indicative of the existence of CNQX-resistant QA receptors in the tiger salamander HCs. Prolonged application of ACPD hyperpolarized the HCs and enhanced the light responses, probably by shifting the resting HC voltage (Er) to a more hyperpolarized position. It is possible that the KA, AMPA, and CNQX-resistant QA receptors are involved in mediating the postsynaptic light responses in HCs, and ACPD receptors are involved in sensitivity adjustment of the HC responses.
Prevalence of Salmonella on retail chicken meat in Russian Federation.

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella on raw retail chicken meat in Russia. Broiler chicken carcasses (n = 698) were collected from three regions of Russia: central (i.e., Moscow area), northwest (i.e., St. Petersburg area), and southern (i.e., Krasnodar area). In each region, samples were collected to represent various cities and districts, as well as different types of retail stores and carcass storage temperatures (i.e., chilled and frozen). All chicken samples were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella using a whole-carcass rinse method. The overall Salmonella prevalence was 31.5%. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in Salmonella prevalence by (i) region-29.3% (n = 464) in Moscow, 38.5% (n = 192) in St. Petersburg, and 23.8% (n = 42) in Krasnodar; (ii) retail store type-28.8% (n = 236) in hypermarkets, 31.9% (n = 260) in supermarkets (part of chain stores), 44.3% (n = 61) in independent supermarkets, 42.9% (n = 28) in independent minimarkets, and 26.6% (n = 113) in wet markets; and (iii) poultry company-34.3% (n = 545) on chickens produced by integrated companies compared with 22.9% (n = 118) on chickens produced by nonintegrated companies. Strategies such as good agriculture and management practices should be enhanced to reduce Salmonella prevalence on raw poultry in Russia and therefore increase the safety of chicken products.
Translocation of Active Heparanase to Cell Surface Regulates Degradation of Extracellular Matrix Heparan Sulfate upon Transmigration of Mature Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells1

After Ag capture and exposure to danger stimuli, maturing dendritic cells (DCs) migrate to regional lymph nodes, where antigenic peptides are presented to T lymphocytes. To migrate from peripheral tissue such as the epidermis to regional lymph nodes, Ag-bearing epidermal Langerhans cells must move through an extracellular matrix (ECM) of various compositions. The nature of their capacity to transmigrate via ECM is not well understood, although MIP-3β and CCR7 play critical roles. We were interested in verifying whether heparanase, a heparan sulfate-degrading endo-β-d-glucuronidase that participates in ECM degradation and remodeling, is expressed and functional in monocyte-derived DCs. Using immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, assays for heparanase activity, and Matrigel transmigration, we show that heparanase is expressed in both nuclei and cytoplasm of immature DCs, and that gene expression and synthesis take place mainly in monocytes and early immature DCs. We also found that both nuclear and cytoplasm fractions show heparanase activity, and upon LPS-induced maturation, heparanase translocates to the cell surface and degrades ECM heparan sulfate. Matrigel transmigration assays showed a MIP-3β-comparable role for heparanase. Because heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans play a key role in the self-assembly, insolubility, and barrier properties of the ECM, the results of this study suggest that heparanase is a key enzyme in DC transmigration through the ECM.
The role of the gastric afferent vagal nerve in ghrelin-induced feeding and growth hormone secretion in rats.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Visceral sensory information is transmitted to the brain through the afferent vagus nerve. Ghrelin, a peptide primarily produced in the stomach, stimulates both feeding and growth hormone (GH) secretion. How stomach-derived ghrelin exerts these central actions is still unknown. Here we determined the role of the gastric afferent vagal nerve in ghrelin's functions. METHODS Food intake and GH secretion were examined after an administration of ghrelin intravenously (IV) to rats with vagotomy or perivagal application of capsaicin, a specific afferent neurotoxin. We investigated Fos expression in neuropeptide Y (NPY)-producing and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)-producing neurons by immunohistochemistry after administration IV of ghrelin to these rats. The presence of the ghrelin receptor in vagal afferent neurons was assessed by using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization histochemistry. A binding study on the vagus nerve by (125)I-ghrelin was performed to determine the transport of the ghrelin receptor from vagus afferent neurons to the periphery. We recorded the electric discharge of gastric vagal afferent induced by ghrelin and compared it with that by cholecystokinin (CCK), an anorectic gut peptide. RESULTS Blockade of the gastric vagal afferent abolished ghrelin-induced feeding, GH secretion, and activation of NPY-producing and GHRH-producing neurons. Ghrelin receptors were synthesized in vagal afferent neurons and transported to the afferent terminals. Ghrelin suppressed firing of the vagal afferent, whereas CCK stimulated it. CONCLUSIONS This study indicated that the gastric vagal afferent is the major pathway conveying ghrelin's signals for starvation and GH secretion to the brain.
Three light-inducible heat shock genes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Genomic clones representing three Chlamydomonas reinhardtii genes homologous to the Drosophila hsp70 heat shock gene were isolated. The mRNAs of genes hsp68, hsp70, and hsp80 could be translated in vitro into proteins of Mr 68,000, 70,000, and 80,000, respectively. Transcription of these genes increased dramatically upon heat shock, and the corresponding mRNAs rapidly accumulated, reaching a peak at around 30 min after a shift to the elevated temperature. Light also induced the accumulation of the mRNAs encoded by these heat shock genes. A shift of dark-grown cells to light resulted in a drastic increase in mRNA levels, which reached a maximum at around 1 h after the shift. Thus, in Chlamydomonas, expression of hsp70-homologous heat shock genes appears to be regulated by thermal stress and light.
An improved fixation method for guinea pig cochlear tissues.

The influence of different fixation methods and of various primary fixatives on the ultrastructural preservation of guinea pig cochlear tissues was investigated. No differences in fixation quality were observed between cochleas fixed by intravascular perfusion and cochleas fixed by intralabyrinthine perfusion. Tri-aldehyde primary fixation resulted, in contrast to other formulae investigated, in an excellent, uniform preservation of all cochlear tissues without obvious fixation artefacts. The influence of OSO4/K4Ru(CN)6- and OSO4/K4Fe(CN)6 postfixation was also tested. Cochlear tissues postfixed with OSO4/K4Ru(CN)6 or OSO4/K4Fe(CN)6 exhibited more cellular detail (e.g., membrane- and glycogen contrast) as compared to tissues postfixed with OSO4 alone. Tri-aldehyde primary fixation followed by OSO4/K4Ru(CN)6- or OSO4/K4Fe(CN)6 postfixation therefore is recommended as a multipurpose procedure for optimal preservation of labyrinthine tissues.
Evaluation of Improved Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve Using Transthoracic Doppler Echocardiography After Single LDL Apheresis

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to clarify whether coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), evaluated by adenosine 5′‐triphosphate‐induced hyperemia, is improved by single low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis. Lipid lowering therapy is known to improve endothelium‐dependent vasodilatation in forearm or coronary resistant vessels. However, few reports have studied the effect of acute LDL reduction on CFVR. Methods: Seven patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and significant coronary stenosis except in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) were enrolled in this study. Coronary flow velocity reserve was estimated before and after LDL apheresis using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE), which detects the flow velocity at the distal site of the LAD. Although the averaged diastolic peak velocity (ADPV) during ATP‐induced hyperemia was similar before and after LDL apheresis, the ADPV at baseline decreased from 30.69 to 25.56 cm/s, resulting in an increased CFVR from 1.78 to 2.10 (P < 0.001). Plasma bradykinin and 6 keto PGF1α increased while fibrinogen and plasma viscosity decreased after apheresis. Single LDL apheresis improves CFVR according to TTDE analysis because of the decreasing ADPV at baseline, which is thought to be induced by epicardial coronary artery dilatation and improved microvessel function. This is the result of various factors, such as changes in plasma LDL cholesterol, bradykinin and PGI2 levels with LDL apheresis.
The epigenomics of schizophrenia, in the mouse

Large‐scale consortia including the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, the Common Minds Consortium, BrainSeq and PsychENCODE, and many other studies taken together provide increasingly detailed insights into the genetic and epigenetic risk architectures of schizophrenia (SCZ) and offer vast amounts of molecular information, but with largely unexplored therapeutic potential. Here we discuss how epigenomic studies in human brain could guide animal work to test the impact of disease‐associated alterations in chromatin structure and function on cognition and behavior. For example, transcription factors such as MYOCYTE‐SPECIFIC ENHANCER FACTOR 2C (MEF2C), or multiple regulators of the open chromatin mark, methyl‐histone H3‐lysine 4, are associated with the genetic risk architectures of common psychiatric disease and alterations in chromatin structure and function in diseased brain tissue. Importantly, these molecules also affect cognition and behavior in genetically engineered mice, including virus‐mediated expression changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and other key nodes in the circuitry underlying psychosis. Therefore, preclinical and small laboratory animal work could target genomic sequences affected by chromatin alterations in SCZ. To this end, in vivo editing of enhancer and other regulatory non‐coding DNA by RNA‐guided nucleases including CRISPR‐Cas, and designer transcription factors, could be expected to deliver pipelines for novel therapeutic approaches aimed at improving cognitive dysfunction and other core symptoms of SCZ.
Model of Both-Branch Fuzzy System Set Pair Analysis Dynamic Decision-Making

In this paper, we study the both-branch fuzzy dynamic decision-making by using the method of set pair analysis in both-branch fuzzy system. The factors and the up-branch, down-branch, both-branch of the Both-branch fuzzy decision-making are analysed with the set pair analysis respectively. It provides the method of both-branch fuzzy decision-making based on SPA, builds up the model of both-branch fuzzy decision degree based on SPA, puts forward the method of forecasting are strongness and weakness situation of the both-branch fuzzy decision degree. Thereby, the paper provides the new prespective and method for reseraching the both-branch fuzzy decision-making theory, gives a better instrument and more reasional theory for the application of the both-branch fuzzy decision-making.
Cancer of the breast. The Janeway Lecture--1965.

It is emphasized that, while early diagnosis does not necessarily guarantee lack of dissemination of the disease, prompt treatment is of great importance in many patients. Until it can be conclusively proven in a large series of entirely unselected patients that less comprehensive methods of treatment are superior, radical mastectomy in conjunction with postoperative radiotherapy must be considered the best treatment in early "operable" cases. The experience of Saskatchewan's centralized cancer program, which covers in a purely voluntary way almost all cancer occurring in the province from all strata of society and in which a clear, consistent treatment policy has been maintained, attests the validity of this contention. It is possible that more radical operations, again with radiotherapy, may be even more successful, but certainly, in the light of present evidence, patients who are not energetically managed are getting something less than the best.
VoIP for Telerehabilitation: A Pilot Usability Study for HIPAA Compliance

Consumer-based, free Voice and video over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) software systems such as Skype and others are used by health care providers to deliver telerehabilitation and other health-related services to clients. Privacy and security applications as well as HIPAA compliance within these protocols have been questioned by practitioners, health information managers, and other healthcare entities. This pilot usability study examined whether four respondents who used the top three, free consumer-based, VoIP software systems perceived these VoIP technologies to be private, secure, and HIPAA compliant; most did not. While the pilot study limitations include the number of respondents and systems assessed, the protocol can be applied to future research and replicated for instructional purposes. Recommendations are provided for VoIP companies, providers, and clients/consumers.
Spectroscopic confirmation of a galaxy cluster associated with 7C 1756+6520 at z = 1.416

We present spectroscopic follow-up of an overdensity of galaxies photometrically selected to be at 1.4 < z < 2.5 found in the vicinity of the radio galaxy 7C 1756+6520 at z = 1.4156. Using the DEIMOS optical multi-object spectrograph on the Keck 2 telescope, we observed a total of 129 BzK-selected sources, comprising 82 blue, star-forming galaxy candidates (sBzK) and 47 red, passively-evolving galaxy candidates (pBzK^*), as well as 11 mid-infrared selected AGN candidates. We obtain robust spectroscopic redshifts for 36 blue galaxies, 7 red galaxies and 9 AGN candidates. Assuming all foreground interlopers were identified, we find that only 16% (9%) of the sBzK (pBzK^*) galaxies are at z < 1.4. Therefore, the BzK criteria are shown to be relatively robust at identifying galaxies at moderate redshifts. Twenty-one galaxies, including the radio galaxy, four additional AGN candidates and three red galaxy candidates are found with 1.4156 ± 0.025, forming a large scale structure at the redshift of the radio galaxy. Of these, eight have projected offsets <2 Mpc relative to the radio galaxy position and have velocity offsets <1000 km s^(-1) relative to the radio galaxy redshift. This confirms that 7C 1756+6520 is associated with a high-redshift galaxy cluster. A second compact group of four galaxies is found at z ~ 1.437, forming a sub-group offset by Δv ~ 3000 km s^(-1) and approximately 1. '5 east of the radio galaxy.
The State of Science and Research in Clinical Pharmacy

In late 2002, the president of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), Mary Beth O’Connell, Pharm.D. , charged the ACCP Research Affairs Committee with developing a White Paper on The State of Science and Research in Clinical Pharmacy. Its purpose would be to address the current state of research conducted by clinical pharmacists in terms of prevalence, scope, funding, location, and impact; describe the current state of research training for clinical pharmacists; envision the state of research conducted by future clinical pharmacists in 2030 and the training required for these future scientists, if ACCP’s vision is to be realized; describe any gaps that exist between current and envisioned states of clinical pharmacy research; and formulate recommendations to the profession and to ACCP in order to narrow any identified gaps. Member surveys, additional research, and committee deliberations in preparation for this White Paper began in October 2002. It is in accordance with these goals the following observations, analyses, and recommendations have been developed.
Cognitive Biases and Strategic Decision Processes: An Integrative Perspective

Previous studies have not adequately addressed the role of cognitive biases in strategic decision processes. In this article we suggest that cognitive biases are systematically associated with strategic decision processes. Different decision processes tend to accentuate particular types of cognitive bias. We develop an integrative framework to explore the presence of four basic types of cognitive bias under five different modes of decision making. The cognitive biases include prior hypotheses and focusing on limited targets, exposure to limited alternatives, insensitivity to outcome probabilities and illusion of manageability. The five modes of strategic decision making are rational, avoidance, logical incrementalist, political and garbage can. We suggest a number of key propositions to facilitate empirical testing of the various contingent relationships implicit in the framework. Lastly, we discuss the implications of this framework for research and managerial practice.
THE HEALTH ECONOMICS OF CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D3 FOR THE PREVENTION OF OSTEOPOROTIC HIP FRACTURES IN SWEDEN

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the economics of administering calcium and vitamin D3 to post-menopausal women in Sweden. We focus primarily on the cost-effectiveness of treating older women for whom clear evidence of efficacy is available. We supplement this information, however, with estimates of the cost-effectiveness of treating certain high-risk groups of younger women, while acknowledging the greater uncertainty involved. Methods: We developed a Markov model for analyzing the occurrence and timing of hip fractures, based almost entirely on peer-reviewed data from Sweden. In a 3-year randomized clinical trial, the combination of calcium and vitamin D3 was shown to reduce the risk of hip fractures by 27%. Costs for treating hip fractures were based on 1,080 women who were hospitalized in Stockholm. Results: Treatment of 70-year-old women was cost saving at efficacy as low as two-thirds that seen in the clinical trials, and upwards. Even at modest rates of efficacy, treatment of the high-risk 50- and 60-year-old cohorts was generally cost-effective and in some cases even cost saving. Particularly cost-effective was treatment of women with identified osteoporosis or a maternal family history of hip fracture. Conclusion: Simulation results suggest a role for lifetime treatment of older women with calcium and vitamin D3 in Sweden. While there is more uncertainty underlying the treatment of younger women, our simulation results suggest that treatment may also be cost saving or at least cost-effective for many cohorts of high-risk 50- and particularly 60-year-old women, in particular those with osteoporosis or a maternal family history of hip fracture.