Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic polymorphism of fifteen microsatellite loci in Brazilian ( blue-egg Caipira ) chickens 1

Fonteque G.V. , Battilana J., Paludo E. & Lima-Rosa C.A. V. 2014. Genetic polymorphism of fifteen microsatellite loci in Brazilian (blue-egg Caipira) chickens. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 34(1):98-102. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Av. Luiz de Camões 2090, Lages, SC 88520-000, Brazil. E-mail: andrelimarosa@cav.udesc. br The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic polymorphism of fifteen microsatellites loci in Brazilian (blue-egg Caipira) chickens. Samples were collected from 100 blue eggs of Caipira chickens from rural properties in the city of Dois Lajeados, RS. After DNA extraction, the fragments related to molecular markers LEI0248, LEI0221, LEI0214, LEI0192, LEI0217, LEI0254, LEI0194, LEI0212, MCW0371, ADL0278, LEI0234, MCW0183, MCW0216, MCW0330 and MCW0081 were obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The statistical analysis were carried out with the softwares ARLEQUIN 3.5 version and CERVUS 3.0. 3 version. The allelic and genotypic frequencies, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, estimates of observed (HO) and expected (HE) heterozygosity and polymorphic information content (PIC) were obtained for each marker locus. A total of 186 alleles from 15 loci were obtained, with sizes ranging of 83 to 490 base pairs. The medium number of alleles was 12.4, the HE was 0.76±0.14 and HO was 0.49±0.21 and PIC was 0.706. The first conclusion is that the microsatellites used are polymorphic and can be used to genetic studies in chickens. The second is that the “Caipira” chicken (blue eggs) population investigated has a great genic variability, which makes than an important source of genetic resources for future animal breeding programs.
Insulin Requirements in Untreated Acromegaly: From 200 to 0

Abstract We describe a patient with acromegaly presenting in diabetic ketoacidosis who was able to achieve euglycemia despite discontinuation of all antihyperglycemic therapy prior to surgical or medical treatment for his acromegaly. No previous cases of acromegaly presenting in diabetic ketoacidosis have reported glycemic normalization without antihyperglycemic therapy prior to acromegaly treatment. Our case highlights this unique outcome and postulates that pancreatic β-cell resiliency may be influential on insulin resistance since our patient achieved euglycemia despite a persistent state of excess growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1. Our case further emphasizes that consideration for acromegaly should be given in patients presenting with severe insulin resistance and pertinent medical history and physical examination features, and it emphasizes the dramatic range of insulin requirements in patients with acromegaly.
A Study of the Bipartite Ranking Problem in Machine Learning

The problem of ranking, in which the goal is to learn a real-valued ranking function that induces a ranking or ordering over an instance space, has recently gained attention in machine learning. A particular setting of interest is the bipartite ranking problem, in which instances come from two categories, positive and negative; the learner is given examples of instances labeled as positive or negative, and the goal is to learn from these examples a ranking function that ranks future positive instances higher than negative ones. This thesis makes four important contributions to the understanding of the bipartite ranking problem. First, we derive large deviation and uniform convergence bounds for the bipartite ranking error, a quantity used to measure the quality of a bipartite ranking function. These bounds serve to bound the expected error of a ranking function in terms of its empirical error on a finite sample. The uniform convergence bound is expressed in terms of a new set of combinatorial parameters that we term the bipartite rank-shatter coefficients. Second, we define a model of learnability for bipartite ranking functions, and derive both upper and lower bounds on the sample complexity of learning ranking functions in this model. The upper bound is expressed in terms of the bipartite rank-shatter coefficients. The lower bound is expressed in terms of another new combinatorial parameter that we term the rank dimension . Third, we derive generalization bounds for bipartite ranking algorithms based on the notion of algorithmic stability. Unlike bounds based on uniform convergence, these bounds can be applied also to algorithms that search function classes of unbounded complexity. In particular, we are able to apply our results to obtain generalization bounds for kernel-based ranking algorithms, to which bounds based on uniform convergence are often not applicable. Finally, we demonstrate a practical application of bipartite ranking to a problem in bioinformatics, namely the problem of identifying genes related to a given disease based on microarray data. Our studies on leukemia and colon cancer data sets show very promising results, including the identification of some exciting candidate genes as potential targets for drug development.
Determining factors of flower coloration

Diversity and distribution of flower coloration is a puzzling topic that has been extensively studied, with multiple hypotheses being proposed to account for the functions of coloration, such as pollinator attraction, protection against herbivory, and prevention of damage by ultraviolet light. Recent methodologies have allowed studies to consider the visual system of animals other than humans, helping to answer questions regarding the distribution of flower coloration. A survey of keywords in Web of Science shows floral color to be mainly studied in relation to macroevolutionary traits and biochemistry of pigments, focusing on pollination and anthocyanins, respectively. The present paper reviews mechanisms that determine the color of flowers. First, it is discussed how pigment, visual systems and signaling environments influence flower color; secondly, patterns of convergent evolution of flower color is debated, including evolutionary history, pollinator preference, flower color change, flowering season, and habitat. Third and last, patterns of flower coloration that have been found around the globe are addressed. In short, the aim is to contribute to ongoing research, by underlining mechanisms that lead to global patterns of coloration and indicating perspectives for future study on the topic.
Transitions to nematic states in homogeneous suspensions of high aspect ratio magnetic rods

Isotropic-nematic and nematic-nematic transitions from a homogeneous suspension of high aspect ratio magnetic rods are studied for both Maier-Saupe and Onsager excluded volume potentials. Asymptotic analysis in the vicinity of critical points yields insight into the stability and type of polarized nematic states emanating from nonpolarized equilibrium states. This, in conjunction with recently published global numerical results, yields a unified picture of the bifurcation diagram and provides a convenient base state to study effects of external orienting fields.
The Enigmatic Etiology of Oculo-Auriculo-Vertebral Spectrum (OAVS): An Exploratory Gene Variant Interaction Approach in Candidate Genes

The clinical diagnosis of oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) is established when microtia is present in association with hemifacial hypoplasia (HH) and/or ocular, vertebral, and/or renal malformations. Genetic and non-genetic factors have been associated with microtia/OAVS. Although the etiology remains unknown in most patients, some cases may have an autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or multifactorial inheritance. Among the possible genetic factors, gene–gene interactions may play important roles in the etiology of complex diseases, but the literature lacks related reports in OAVS patients. Therefore, we performed a gene–variant interaction analysis within five microtia/OAVS candidate genes (HOXA2, TCOF1, SALL1, EYA1 and TBX1) in 49 unrelated OAVS Mexican patients (25 familial and 24 sporadic cases). A statistically significant intergenic interaction (p-value < 0.001) was identified between variants p.(Pro1099Arg) TCOF1 (rs1136103) and p.(Leu858=) SALL1 (rs1965024). This intergenic interaction may suggest that the products of these genes could participate in pathways related to craniofacial alterations, such as the retinoic acid (RA) pathway. The absence of clearly pathogenic variants in any of the analyzed genes does not support a monogenic etiology for microtia/OAVS involving these genes in our patients. Our findings could suggest that in addition to high-throughput genomic approaches, future gene–gene interaction analyses could contribute to improving our understanding of the etiology of microtia/OAVS.
Graphs with automorphism groups admitting composition factors of bounded rank

We prove a 1978 conjecture of Richard Weiss in the case of groups with composition factors of bounded rank. Namely, we prove that there exists a function g : N × N → N such that, for Γ a connected G-vertex-transitive, G-locally primitive graph of valency at most d, if G has no alternating groups of degree greater than r as sections, then a vertex stabiliser in G has size at most g(r, d).
Toward the determination of heavy-quark transport coefficients in quark-gluon plasma

Several transport models have been employed in recent years to analyze heavy-flavor meson spectra in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. Heavy-quark transport coefficients extracted from these models with their default parameters vary, however, by up to a factor of 5 at high momenta. To investigate the origin of this large theoretical uncertainty, a systematic comparison of heavy-quark transport coefficients is carried out between various transport models. Within a common scheme devised for the nuclear modification factor of charm quarks in a brick medium of a quark-gluon plasma, the systematic uncertainty of the extracted drag coefficient among these models is shown to be reduced to a factor of 2, which can be viewed as the smallest intrinsic systematical error band achievable at present time. This indicates the importance of a realistic hydrodynamic evolution constrained by bulk hadron spectra and of heavy-quark hadronization for understanding the final heavy-flavor hadron spectra and extracting heavy-quark drag coefficient. The transverse transport coefficient is less constrained due to the influence of the underlying mechanism for heavy-quark medium interaction. Additional constraints on transport models such as energy loss fluctuation and transverse-momentum broadening can further reduce theoretical uncertainties in the extracted transport coefficients.
Performance of real-time PCR in suspected haemodialysis catheter-related bloodstream infection: a proof-of-concept study

ABSTRACT Background Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBIs) remain a major cause of mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients with central venous catheters (CVCs), especially because of the non-specific symptomatology and the delay in microbiological diagnosis with possible use of non-optimal empiric antibiotics. Moreover, empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics increase antibiotic resistance development. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) in suspected HD CRBIs compared with blood cultures. Methods A blood sample for rt-PCR was collected simultaneously with each pair of blood cultures for suspected HD CRBI. The rt-PCR was performed on the whole blood, without any enrichment stage and with specific DNA primers: 16S (universal bacterial), Staphylococcus spp. , Staphylococcus aureus and mecA. Each successive patient with a suspected HD CRBI in the HD centre of Bordeaux University Hospital was included. Performance tests were used to compare the result obtained in each rt-PCR assay with its corresponding routine blood culture. Results Eighty-four paired samples were collected and compared for 40 suspected HD CRBI events in 37 patients. Among these, 13 (32.5%) were diagnosed as HD CRBI. All rt-PCRs except mecA (insufficient number of positive samples) showed high diagnostic performances within 3.5 h: 16S (sensitivity 100%, specificity 78%), Staphylococcus spp. (sensitivity 100%, specificity 97%), S. aureus (sensitivity 100%, specificity 99%). Based on the rt-PCR results, antibiotics could be more appropriately targeted, thus cutting anti-cocci Gram-positive therapy from 77% to 29%. Conclusions The performance of rt-PCR in suspected HD CRBI events showed fast and high diagnostic accuracy. Its use would improve HD CRBI management with an antibiotic consumption decrease.
Effect of Large Wild Herbivore Populations on the Forage-Livestock Balance in the Source Region of the Yellow River

Unmanned aerial vehicle surveys were conducted in the summer season of 2016 and the winter season of 2017 to investigate the large wild herbivore population, including kiangs, Tibetan gazelles and bharals, in Madoi County; the source region of the Yellow River. The study generated forage grass production data in 30 m spatial resolution in Madoi County in 2016 using a downscaling algorithm; estimated a forage-livestock balance including wild animals and domestic animals; and analyzed the effect of the large wild herbivore population on the balance between forage grass and herbivory in Madoi County. The large wild herbivore population was estimated based on the density of the animals in the survey sample strip and compared and verified with available statistical data and the two survey results from the summer season of 2016 and winter season of 2017. The results showed that: (1) in the winter season of 2017, the populations of kiang, Tibetan gazelle and bharal were 17,100, 16,000 and 9300, respectively, while the populations of domestic yak, Tibetan sheep and horse were 70,800, 102,200 and 1200, respectively. The total population of large wild herbivores and domestic animals was 475,000 (sheep units). The ratio (in sheep units) between large wild herbivores and domestic animals was 1:4.5; (2) When only considering domestic animals, the grazing pressure index was 1.13, indicating slight overloading of the grassland. When considering domestic animals and large wild herbivores (kiang, Tibetan gazelle and bharal), the grazing pressure index was 1.38, suggesting moderate overloading of the grassland; (3) If large wild herbivores are not taken into consideration when the forage-livestock balance is calculated, the grazing pressure will be under-estimated by 22%. Overgrazing is the major cause of grassland degradation in Madoi County. An additional 79,000 tons of hay or a 30% reduction in domestic animals is required to maintain a forage-livestock balance in Madoi County.
On the Use of Hydrogen Recombination Energy during Common Envelope Events

In this Letter we discuss what happens to hydrogen recombination energy that is released during regular common envelope (CE) events as opposed to self-regulated CE events. We show that the amount of recombination energy that can be transferred away by either convection or radiation from the regions where recombination takes place is negligible. Instead, recombination energy is destined to be used either to help CE expansion, as a work term, or to accelerate local fluid elements. The exceptions are donors that initially have very high entropy material, S/(kB NA) > 37 mol g−1. The analysis and conclusions are independent of specific stellar models or evolutionary codes, and rely on fundamental properties of stellar matter such as the equation of state, Saha equation, and opacities, as well as on stellar structure equations and the mixing length theory of convection.
Heavy Element Absorption Systems at 5.0 < z < 6.8: Metal-poor Neutral Gas and a Diminishing Signature of Highly Ionized Circumgalactic Matter

Ratios of different ions of the same element encode ionization information independently from relative abundances in quasar absorption line systems, crucial for understanding the multiphase nature and origin of absorbing gas, particularly at z > 6 where H i cannot be observed. Observational considerations have limited such studies to a small number of sightlines, with most surveys at z > 6 focused upon the statistical properties of individual ions such as Mg ii or C iv. Here we compare high- and low-ionization absorption within 69 intervening systems at z > 5, including 16 systems at z > 6, from Magellan/FIRE spectra of 47 quasars together with a Keck/High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) spectrum of the “ultraluminous” z = 6.3 quasar SDSSJ010013.02+280225.8. The highest redshift absorbers increasingly exhibit low-ionization species alone, consistent with previous single-ion surveys that show the frequency of Mg ii is unchanging with redshift, while C iv absorption drops markedly toward z = 6. We detect no C iv or Si iv in half of all metal-line absorbers at z > 5.7, with stacks not revealing any slightly weaker C iv just below our detection threshold, and most of the other half have . In contrast, only 20% of absorbers at 5.0–5.7 lack high-ionization gas, and a search of 25 HIRES sightlines at z ∼ 3 yielded zero such examples. We infer that these low-ionization high-redshift absorption systems may be analogous to metal-poor damped Lyα systems (∼1% of the absorber population at z ∼ 3), based on incidence rates and absolute and relative column densities. Simple photoionization models suggest that circumgalactic matter at redshift six has systematically lower chemical abundances and experiences a softer ionizing background relative to redshift three.
Size-specific spawning pattern in ayu , Plecoglossus altivelis

The spawning pattern and relationship to body size at maturation of amphidromous and land-locked forms of ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, was investigated. Ovarian eggs of prespawning females showed a multimodal size distribution, regardless of body size, indicating that all the females were potentially a batch spawners. The spawning schedules of individual fish were described under simulated spawning conditions. Most large-sized females died soon after their first spawning, whereas approximately half of the medium and small-sized females successfully completed a second spawning some two weeks after the first. Such a size-specific spawning pattern was common to both forms, but development of a third batch of ovarian eggs after the second spawning occurred only in the land-locked form. Spawning tactics in ayu were related to offspring survival and adult mortality during spawning season.
Acousto-electric transport in MgO/ZnO-covered graphene on SiC

We investigate the acousto-electric transport induced by surface acoustic waves (SAWs) in epitaxial graphene (EG) coated by a MgO/ZnO film. The deposition of a thin MgO layer protects the EG during the sputtering of a piezoelectric ZnO film for the efficient generation of SAWs. We demonstrate by Raman and electric measurements that the coating does not harm the EG structural and electronic properties. We report the generation of two SAW modes with frequencies around 2 GHz. For both modes, we measure acousto-electric currents in EG devices placed in the SAW propagation path. The currents increase linearly with the SAW power, reaching values up to almost two orders of magnitude higher than in previous reports for acousto-electric transport in EG on SiC. Our results agree with the predictions from the classical relaxation model of the interaction between SAWs and a two dimensional electron gas.
Fluoroscopy-Guided Splanchnic Nerve Block for Cancer-Associated Pain

Pain associated with abdominal malignancies or metastasis can be very severe and can be intractable and resistant to conventional pharmacologic therapies. Typically, narcotics and non-narcotics are used in combination to alleviate the cancer pain, but these are often unsuccessful. Neurolysis and radio-frequency ablation of the celiac plexus and splanchnic nerves is being used with great success for management of the pain associated with abdominal malignancies with added advantages of improving quality of life, pain relief and decreased narcotic consumption. The tumor or associated lymphadenopathy may result in distortion of the celiac plexus anatomy, thus making it hard to reach the celiac plexus. In such cases, splanchnic nerve block can be employed with relative ease as compared to celiac plexus block. Given the nature of the debilitating pain associated with these conditions and inadequate pain relief with narcotics, these blocks are a boon in disguise to such patients with altered anatomy. Post administration of the splanchnic block, the functioning and quality of life of patients with abdominal malignancies improve. Hence, these blocks can be used to decrease the morbidity associated with abdominal malignancies.
First Isolation of Yarrowia lipolytica in a Granulomatous Pneumonia of a Spectacled Caiman, Caiman crocodilus Linnaeus, 1758

Contrary to humans, candidiasis is a rare infection in animals. However, in reptiles, candidiasis can cause gastrointestinal, cutaneous, or rarely systemic infections in stressed animals. The infections due to Yarrowia lipolytica have been increasingly described in human medicine, and hundreds of cases are reported, comprised of granulomatous lung lesions. Herein, granulomatous pneumonia of a spectacled caiman, Caiman crocodilus, was described, and the presence of Y. lipolytica in the lesion was confirmed through histopathology, microbiologic cultures, and molecular methods. The cause of death of the spectacled caiman was ascribed to bacterial shock septicemia consequentially to a traumatic lesion. However, in the right lung, several nodules containing white exudate were evidenced. At mycological and molecular analyses, Y. lipolytica was evidenced, and the histological finding confirmed the presence of a Candida infection in the lung granulomatous lesions. The comparison of ITS sequences with 11 Yarrowia spp. isolates, recently described in green sea turtles, and with a human strain was conducted, and the whole genome of a strain isolated in the spectacled caiman was sequenced. Even though Y. lipolytica is considered a non-pathogenic yeast and has been rarely described in animals, it seems to cause granulomatous lesions in reptiles as in humans.