Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Stellar Abundances for Galactic Archaeology (SAGA) data base - II. Implications for mixing and nucleosynthesis in extremely metal-poor stars and chemical enrichment of the Galaxy

We discuss the characteristics of known extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars in the Galaxy using the Stellar Abundances for Galactic Archaeology (SAGA) database (Suda et al. 2008, PASJ, 60, 1159). The analyses of carbon-enhanced stars in our sample suggest that the nucleosynthesis in AGB stars can contribute to the carbon enrichment in a different way depending on whether the metallicity is above or below [Fe/H] � 2.5, which is consistent with the current models of stellar evolution at low metallicity. We find the transition of the initial mass function at [Fe/H] � 2 in the viewpoint of the distribution of carbon abundance and the frequency of carbonenhanced stars. For observed EMP stars, we confirmed that some, not all, of observed stars might have undergone at least two types of extra mixing to change their surface abundances. One is to deplete the lithium abundance during the early phase of red giant branch. Another is to decrease the C/N ratio by one order of magnitude during the red giant branch phase. Observed small scatters of abundances for α-elements and iron-group elements suggest that the chemical enrichment of our Galaxy takes place in a well-mixed interstellar medium. We find that the abundance trends of α-elements are highly correlated with each other, while the abundances of iron-group elements are subject to different slopes relative to the iron abundance. This implies that the supernova yields of α-elements are almost independent of mass and metallicity, while those of iron-group elements have a metallicity dependence or mass dependence with the variable initial mass function. The occurrence of the hot bottom burning in the mass range of 5 . M/M⊙ . 6 is consistent with the initial mass function of the Galaxy peaked at � 10-12M⊙ to be compatible with the statistics of carbon enhanced stars with and without s-process element enhancement, and of nitrogen enhanced stars. For s-process elements, we find not only the positive correlation between carbon and s-process element abundances, but the increasing slopes of the abundance ratio between them with increasing mass number of s-process elements. The dominant site of the s-process is still an open question because none of the known mechanisms of the s-process is able to account for this observed correlations. In spite of the evidence of AGB evolution in observed abundances of EMP stars, we cannot find any evidence of binary mass transfer through the effect of dilution in the convective envelope. We found the dependence of sulphur and vanadium abundances on the effective temperatures in addition to the previously reported trends for silicon, scandium, titanium, chromium, and cobalt.
Infection and Hearing Impairment

Contributors. Preface. 1. Basic Anatomy and Physiology of the Ear (J. Irwin). 2. Development of the Ear and of Hearing (V.E. Newton). 3. Epidemiology of Infection as a Cause of Hearing Loss (A. Smith and C. Mathers), 4. Cytomegalovirus (S.B. Boppana and W.J. Britt). 5. Rubella (P.A. Tookey). 6. Mumps (K.E. Wright). 7. Measles (B. Rima). 8. Toxoplasma Infection and the Ear (B. Stray-Pedersen). 9. Sexually Transmitted Infections (P. Turner). 10. Otitis Media (J.J. Grote and P.J. Vallely). 11. Meningitis and Hearing Loss (K.J. Mutton and E.B. Kaczmarski). 12. Infectious Diseases and Hearing in the Tropics (R. Hinchcliffe and S. Prasansuk). 13. Ototoxic Drugs (R. Taylor and A. Forge). 14. Laboratory Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Infection Leading to Hearing Loss (P.E. Klapper and P.J. Vallely). 15. The Experience of Deafness - Psychosocial Effects (A. Young). References. Index.
Stochastic activation and bistability in a Rab GTPase regulatory network

Significance Small GTPases of the Rab family play a crucial role in the intracellular organization of eukaryotic cells. These molecular switches transition between active guanosine triphosphate- and inactive guanosine diphosphate-bound states in concert to regulate membrane trafficking in space and time. Despite its ubiquity, the collective network dynamics of the Rab activity switch are unknown. Here, we use in vitro reconstitution and mathematical modeling to answer fundamental long-standing questions of small GTPase regulation. We discover that the minimal Rab5 regulatory system operates as an intrinsically bistable and stochastic switch, which can precisely tune the collective GTPase state transitions in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, the indispensable positive feedback of Rab5 activation drives emergent spatial activity patterns, a general small GTPase system behavior. The eukaryotic endomembrane system is controlled by small GTPases of the Rab family, which are activated at defined times and locations in a switch-like manner. While this switch is well understood for an individual protein, how regulatory networks produce intracellular activity patterns is currently not known. Here, we combine in vitro reconstitution experiments with computational modeling to study a minimal Rab5 activation network. We find that the molecular interactions in this system give rise to a positive feedback and bistable collective switching of Rab5. Furthermore, we find that switching near the critical point is intrinsically stochastic and provide evidence that controlling the inactive population of Rab5 on the membrane can shape the network response. Notably, we demonstrate that collective switching can spread on the membrane surface as a traveling wave of Rab5 activation. Together, our findings reveal how biochemical signaling networks control vesicle trafficking pathways and how their nonequilibrium properties define the spatiotemporal organization of the cell.
NEW IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST HEPATITIS B IN LIVER TRANSPLANTATION PATIENTS.

BACKGROUND Although liver transplantation is considered to be a high-risk procedure, it is well-established as a treatment option for the cure and quality of life enhancement for individuals who suffer from diseases. Preventing an infection by hepatitis B virus through immunization schedules has been the most effective way to reduce complications, since it decreases the number of people who suffer from chronic hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus and eradicates its transmission. OBJECTIVE 1. Analyzing evidence in the literature on various schedules employed for immunization against hepatitis B in patients who have received a liver transplantation. 2. Suggesting potential immunization schedules against hepatitis B in patients who suffer from liver cirrhosis, without previous verifying documentation, using the Child-Turcotte Pugh score, according to evidences found in the literature. METHODS Systematic review of the literature, conducted on the data bases MedLine, PubMed, and Lilacs, between September, 2017 and January, 2018, by using the following keywords: "Liver Transplantation, "Immunization Schedule", "Hepatitis B Vaccines". In order to analyze the articles, a summary figure was especially designed and both the results and discussion were presented in a descriptive way. RESULTS We included 24 studies; among them, eight had accelerated immunization schedules, 13 followed the conventional schedules, and three had super accelerated schedules. Regarding immunization, 21 studies were conducted with patients in the pre-transplant period, one with a transplanted patient, one with a pre-transplant group, and one with a post-transplant group. Found articles suggest that, disregarding the chosen immunization schedule, seroconversion rates tended to be lower as the liver disease advanced, compared to the healthy population. CONCLUSION The studies did not find seroconversion superiority between the different immunization schedules (conventional and unconventional). However, since candidates to liver transplantation are usually very vulnerable, results show that super accelerated immunization schedules are possibly recommended for such group of patients; serologic test results will be higher when the immunization schedule is completed in the pre-transplant period.
Trophic Feeds

The question of when to start enteral feeding confronts the caretaker of very lowbirthweight (VLBW) infants on a daily basis. Seemingly conflicting objectives enter into consideration. The desire to minimize the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) argues for the delayed introduction of feeds. Or so it did until recently. On the other hand, the desire to provide nutrients argues in favor of the early introduction of feeds. In the 1960s and 1970s the argument for delayed introduction was considered compelling and regimens calling for the prolonged withholding of feeds were widely adopted. In more recent years, the focus of attention has shifted to the prevention of gut atrophy as an important consideration. Consequently, early feeding regimens have been devised and successfully tested. Undernutrition is common in the preterm infant (1) and is perhaps to some degree unavoidable. Its potential for long-term adverse effects is generally not fully appreciated by neonatologists, who face the challenge of providing nutritional support while battling with a host of usually more pressing medical problems. In the overall nutrition of the VLBW infant, enteral feeding during the early days of life constitutes but one facet of a complex situation (2). What follows is a brief description, from a decidedly nutritional point of view, of the delayed feeding as practiced until recently. A review of the controlled studies of trophic (early) feeds shows that this modality is not only effective in preventing gut atrophy, but also appears safe in that it does not seem to increase the risk of NEC. Finally, the results of a survey of feeding practices at my own institution are presented, showing that gastric residuals are a common occurrence in the first week of life without being harbingers of NEC.
A theoretical model for telemedicine : social and value outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region is faced with limited medical personnel and healthcare services to address the many healthcare problems of the region. Poor health indicators reflect the overall decline in socio-economic development. Shortages of access to health services in the region is further complicated by the concentration of health services in urban areas, the region’s multiple medical problems (over 70% of HIV/AIDS cases in the world); and the brain drain phenomenon – it is estimated one-third of African physicians emigrate to North America and Europe. The result is that the SSA region is left with about 10 physicians, and 20 beds, per 100,000 patients. Telemedicine has been found to offer socio-economic benefits, reduce costs, and improve access to healthcare service providers by patients, but previous attempts to move various information technologies from developers in the industrial world to the developing world have failed because of a clear neglect of infrastructural and cultural factors that influence such transfers. The objective of this study is to address key factors that challenge the introduction of telemedicine technology into the health sector in SSA in particular, and by extension, other developing countries with similar socio-economic structures. This research offers a distinctive perspective, focusing on visually-based clinical applications in the SSA region, and considerable attention to the national infrastructure and cultural impact of telemedicine transfer (social and value) outcomes. Two research models and its associated hypotheses are proposed and empirically tested using quantitative data collected from SSA physicians and other health professionals. The study also contributes to the ongoing debate on the potential of telemedicine in improving access and reducing costs. This research can help to understand the socio-economic impact of telemedicine outcomes in a comprehensive way. The finding from the survey shows the rapid advances in telemedicine technology specifically, visual clinical applications may become an essential healthcare tool in the near future within SSA countries.
Unmet needs of chronic hepatitis C in the era of direct-acting antiviral therapy

The treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has been revolutionized in an era of all-oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) since 2014. Satisfactory treatment efficacy and tolerability can be provided by novel DAAs. Nevertheless, there are still some unmet needs and emerging issues in the treatment of CHC in the DAA era. Certain hard-to-cure populations are prone to have inferior treatment responses, including patients with severe liver decompensation, active hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 (HCV-3) infection and those who experience multiple DAA treatment failures. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during and after DAA treatment has raised concern regarding the use of prophylactic antivirals against HBV throughout DAA treatment. However, the standard strategy for the use of prophylactic antivirals is not uniform across regional guidelines. In the post-sustained virological response (SVR) period, HCC still occurs in a substantial proportion of patients. Due to the relatively short follow-up period, the net benefit of the achievement of an SVR by DAAs in the reduction of extrahepatic manifestations has not yet been determined. Attention must also be paid to HCV reinfection, particularly in high-risk populations. The most critical and unmet need for HCV elimination is the large gap in the HCV care cascade at the population level. To accomplish the World Health Organization (WHO)’s goal for HCV elimination by 2030, the expansion of access to HCV care requires a continuous effort to overcome practical and political challenges.
Modern methods in food mycology.

List of Contributors. Preface. Introduction Introduction and summary of the First International Workshop on Standardisation of Methods for the Mycological Examination of Foods (A.D. Hocking, J.I. Pitt). Methods For Enumeration of Fungi In Foods Methodology for routine mycological examination of food - a collaborative study (A.D. King). Evaluation of the Petrifilm(TM) Yeast and Mold plate for enumeration of fungi in foods (L.R. Beuchat et al.). Comparison of pour and spread plating for enumeration of fungi in foods (L.R. Beuchat et al.). Media for enumerating spoilage yeasts - a collaborative study (T. Deak). Comparison of yeast identification methods (A.D. King, T. Torok). Experiences with, and further improvement to, the Deak and Beuchat simplified identification scheme for food-borne yeasts (T. Deak). Spoilage yeasts of unusual sorbate resistance (T. Deak et al.). Comparitive study of WL Nutrient agar with DRBC and OGY for yeast enumeration in foods (S. Andrews). Collaborative study to compare fungal counts in flour samples (D.A.L. Seiler). Monitoring mycological media (D.A.L. Seiler). Report on a collaborative study on the effect of presoaking and mixing time on the recovery of fungi from foods (D.A.L. Seiler). Collaborative study of media and methods for enumerating heat stressed fungi in wheat flour (L.R. Beuchat, R.E. Brackett). Influence of method of sterilisation and solute in the recovery medium on enumeration of heat stressed Zygosaccharmoyces rouxii (D.A. Golden, L.R. Beuchat). Specifications for fungi in Australian foods (S. Andrews). Specifications for yeasts in Austrailian beer, wine and fruit juice products (S. Andrews). Methods For Xerophilic Fungi Collaborative study on media for enumeration of xerophilic fungi (A.D. Hocking). Observations on the effect of recovery conditions on colony formation by Wallemia sebi and Chrysosporium farinicola (L.R. Beuchat). Mycology and spoilage of hazelnuts (J.L. Kinderlerer, M. Phillips-Jones). Mould counts and mycoflora in samples of spices as influenced by medium and plating technique (K. Akerstrand). Evaluation of the mycological quality of dried and intermediate moisture fruits (J.E.L. Corry, K. Regan, J.B. Head). Heat Resistant Fungi Influence of pretreatment of raspberry pulp on the detection of heat resistant moulds (R.A. Samson, E.S. van Reenen-Hoekstra, B.J. Hartog). Differentiation of food-borne taxa of Neosartorya (P.V. Nielsen, R.A. Samson). Activation and germination of Neosartorya ascospores (D.F. Splittstoesser, J.J. Churey). Comparison of Neosartorya fischeri varietes based on protein profiles and immunoactivities (H. Girardin. J.P. Latge). Factors contributing to variations in D values obtained for ascospores of Neosartorya fischeri (D.E. Conner). Immunological Detection of Fungi in Foods Development of a technique for the immunological detection of fungi (H.J. Kamphuis, S. Notermans). Detection of fungi in foods by latex agglutination: a collaborative study (S.
Biodiversity in dead wood.

Preface 1. Introduction 2. Wood decomposition 3. The saproxylic food web 4. Other associations with dead woody material 5. Host tree associations 6. Mortality factors and decay succession 7. Microhabitats 8. Tree size 9. The surrounding environment 10. Evolution of saproxylic organisms 11. Species diversity of saproxylic organisms 12. Natural forest dynamics 13. Dead wood and sustainable forest management 14. Population dynamics and evolutionary strategies 15. Threatened saproxylic species 16. Dead wood in agricultural and urban habitats 17. The value and future of saproxylic diversity References Index.
How Does Firm Size Explain Cross-Country Differences in Ownership Concentration?

Using a comprehensive international sample of 18,932 firms across 40 countries, we find that cross-country variations in ownership concentration are attributable to differences in firm sizes. Ownership concentration in large firms differs strikingly between countries. For example, large U.S. firms tend to have much more dispersed ownership structures than large non-U.S. firms. In contrast, the ownership concentration of small firms does not seem to vary across countries. Further analysis reveals that differences in ethical values and legal environments across countries can assist in explaining this cross-country variation in ownership across different firm size groups. Our results are robust to alternative blockholding proxies and firm size measures. Taken together, our findings not only provide novel and ethics-based explanations of corporate ownership structures around the world, but also potentially reconcile the presently conflicting views on whether U.S. ownership structures differ from those found elsewhere in the world.
ANPP ESTIMATES FROM NDVI FOR THE CENTRAL GRASSLAND REGION OF THE UNITED STATES

Several studies have suggested the existence of a positive relationship be- tween the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from AVHRR/NOAA satellite data and either biomass or annual aboveground net primary production (ANPP) for different geographic areas and ecosystems. We calibrated a 4-yr average of the ingegral of the NDVI (NDVI-J) using spatially aggregated values of ANPP. We also provided an estimate of the energy conversion efficiency coefficient (? ) of Monteith's equation. This is the first attempt to calibrate a standard NDVI product for temperate perennial grasslands. We found a positive and statistically significant relationship between NDVI-I and ANPP for grassland areas with mean annual precipitation between 280 and 1150 mm, and mean annual temperature between 40 and 20'C. Depending on the method used to estimate the fraction of photosynthetic active radiation, the energy conversion officency coefficient was constant (0.24 g C/MJ), or varied across the precipitation gradient, from 0.10 g C/MJ for the least productive to 0.20 g C/MJ for the most productive sites.
Effects of Food on the Longevity, Fecundity, and Development of Adult Coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract Access to drinking water increased the longevity of Coccinella trifasciata perplexa Muls. by about 35%. The water content of field-collected insects was 70% and of laboratory-fed insects 64%. Rate of loss of water increased, and longevity decreased when protein was absent from the food. Anatis mali Auct. lived more than 1000 days and Coleomegilla maculata lengi Timberlake lived more than 400 days when fed on various synthetic foods. Seven of 13 species tested kid eggs when fed on these foods. A diet containing desiccated liver was the best non-prey food supplement for reproduction, and adults of three generations of C. maculata were kept on this food. A. mali preferred dry powdered pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harr.), to either bean aphids. Aphis fabae Scop. , or corn aphids, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), whereas C. maculata preferred corn pollen to aphids and A. pisum and R. maidis to A. fabae. Previous feeding did not affect the preference of either A. mali or C. maculata for dry aphids or pollen. C. maculata produced six eggs per mg. of food while feeding on A. pisum and four on R. maidis. Young adults ate more than older adults. The rate of food intake was highest in A. mali during the first two weeks and in C. maculata during the first eight days after emergence. The living weight and dry weight of feeding C. maculata adults increased for eight days and then did not vary, whereas the water content decreased in this period. The index of relative growth was about 0.10 mg. per day per mg. of adult weight and food efficiency was about 0.18 mg. per mg. of food.
Effects of Paper Mulberry Silage on the Milk Production, Apparent Digestibility, Antioxidant Capacity, and Fecal Bacteria Composition in Holstein Dairy Cows

Simple Summary Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera; PM) is a type of roughage rich in bioactive substances, such as phenolics and flavonoids, which are beneficial for animal health. This study evaluated the apparent digestibility of PM silage in Holstein dairy cows and its effect on the milk production, antioxidant capacity, and fecal bacteria composition of the animals. The results showed that the PM silage had no significant influence on the milk yield, apparent digestibility, and fecal bacteria composition of dairy cows. However, diets with PM silage can enhance the antioxidant and immune capacity of dairy cows, mainly due to the bioactive substance in PM. Today, faced with a shortage of feedstuff resources in ruminants, PM can be a useful feed resource for ruminants. Simultaneously, with the ban on antibiotics, PM may become an important functional feed for protecting animal health. Abstract Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera; PM) is an excellent and extensive type of roughage in Asia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of PM silage on the milk production, apparent digestibility, antioxidant capacity, and fecal bacteria composition in Holstein dairy cows. Forty-five lactating Holstein dairy cows with a similar milk yield and parity were selected and randomly assigned to three groups. The control group was fed a non-PM silage diet, and the PM-treated groups were fed 4.5 and 9.0% PM silage supplementary diets for 28 days. Then, treatment groups were fed diets containing 13.5 and 18.0% PM silage for the next 28 days, respectively. PM silage increased the milk urea nitrogen and decreased the somatic cell count (p < 0.05), but did not affect the dry matter intake, milk yield, apparent digestibility, and energy balance of dairy cows. PM silage can enhance the blood total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and immune globulin content (p < 0.05). The PM silage significantly decreased the relative abundance of the genera Ruminococcaceae UCG-013 and Tyzzerella-4 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, PM silage enhanced the antioxidant capacity and immunity of dairy cows, but did not influence the milk yield, dry matter digestibility, and fecal bacteria composition.