Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ALMA reveals the magnetic field evolution in the high-mass star forming complex G9.62+0.19

Context. The role of magnetic fields during the formation of high-mass stars is not yet fully understood, and the processes related to the early fragmentation and collapse are as yet largely unexplored. The high-mass star forming region G9.62+0.19 is a well known source, presenting several cores at different evolutionary stages. Aims. We seek to investigate the magnetic field properties at the initial stages of massive star formation. We aim to determine the magnetic field morphology and strength in the high-mass star forming region G9.62+0.19 to investigate its relation to the evolutionary sequence of the cores. Methods. We made use of Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) observations in full polarisation mode at 1 mm wavelength (Band 7) and we analysed the polarised dust emission. We estimated the magnetic field strength via the Davis–Chandrasekhar–Fermi and structure function methods. Results. We resolve several protostellar cores embedded in a bright and dusty filamentary structure. The polarised emission is clearly detected in six regions: two in the northern field and four in the southern field. Moreover the magnetic field is orientated along the filament and appears perpendicular to the direction of the outflows. The polarisation vectors present ordered patterns and the cores showing polarised emission are less fragmented. We suggest an evolutionary sequence of the magnetic field, and the less evolved hot core exhibits a stronger magnetic field than the more evolved hot core. An average magnetic field strength of the order of 11 mG was derived, from which we obtain a low turbulent-to-magnetic energy ratio, indicating that turbulence does not significantly contribute to the stability of the clump. We report a detection of linear polarisation from thermal line emission, probably from methanol or carbon dioxide, and we tentatively compared linear polarisation vectors from our observations with previous linearly polarised OH masers observations. We also compute the spectral index, column density, and mass for some of the cores. Conclusions. The high magnetic field strength and smooth polarised emission indicate that the magnetic field could play an important role in the fragmentation and the collapse process in the star forming region G9.62+019 and that the evolution of the cores can be magnetically regulated. One core shows a very peculiar pattern in the polarisation vectors, which can indicate a compressed magnetic field. On average, the magnetic field derived by the linear polarised emission from dust, thermal lines, and masers is pointing in the same direction and has consistent strength.
Morphology of endothelial cells from different regions of the equine cornea

The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphology of different regions of the equine cornea using optical microscopy. Both healthy eyes of eight horses, male or female, of different ages were evaluated. Corneas were stained with alizarin red vital dye and subsequently examined and photographed using optical microscopy. Corneal endothelial morphology of central, superior, inferior, temporal and nasal areas was assessed. One hundred endothelial cells from each corneal area were analyzed. The shape of the corneal endothelial cells of each corneal region was analyzed. Statistical data analysis was conducted using the Student's t test. Values of P<0.01 were considered significant. Regarding morphological analysis, no statistically significant differences were reported between the equine corneal regions analyzed. The present research suggested that there are no morphological differences between regions of the equine cornea. The values obtained in any region of the equine cornea can be extrapolated to other regions of the cornea and are representative of the cell morphology present in all regions of the cornea.
Reduction of Surgical Complications in Dogs and Cats by the Use of a Surgical Safety Checklist.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether the use of a surgical safety checklist (SSC) could reduce the incidence of complications after small animal surgery. STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS Client-owned dogs and cats (n = 520). METHODS Consecutive cases were enrolled in the study, the first 300 cases without implementation of the surgical checklist (SSC-), followed by 220 cases with implementation of the checklist (SSC+). The checklist was adapted from the WHO surgical checklist and consisted of three different check points: (1) before induction of anaesthesia (sign in), (2) before surgical incision (time out), and (3) before recovery (sign out). In-hospital outcomes were prospectively recorded, and complications within 6 weeks were retrospectively recorded by reviewing medical records and by telephone interviews with owners. The severity of each recorded complication was graded as minor, moderate, or severe. Comparisons were made between SSC- and SSC+ outcomes. RESULTS There were significantly more complications in SSC- animals than SSC+ animals (SSC- 52/300 vs. SSC+ 15/220, P = .0003). There was a significantly higher frequency of SSI (P = .045) and wound healing complications (P = .0006) for SSC- animals than SSC+ animals. CONCLUSION The frequency and severity of postoperative complications was significantly decreased after introduction of a surgical checklist. All veterinary hospitals should consider using a surgical checklist. Compliance with implementation of the checklist is important for success.
Sesame allergy: current perspectives

Sesame is an important global allergen affecting ~0.1% of the North American population. It is a major cause of anaphylaxis in the Middle East and is the third most common food allergen in Israel. We conducted a systematic review of original articles published in the last 10 years regarding the diagnosis and management of sesame allergy. Skin prick testing appears to be a useful predictor of sesame allergy in infants, although data are less consistent in older children and adults. The diagnostic capacity of serum-specific immunoglobulin E is poor, especially in studies that used oral food challenges to confirm the diagnosis. Double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge thus remains the diagnostic gold standard for sesame allergy. The cornerstone of sesame allergy management is allergen avoidance, though accidental exposures are common and patients must be prepared to treat the consequent reactions with epinephrine. Novel diagnostic and treatment options such as component-resolved diagnostics, basophil activation testing, and oral immunotherapy are under development but are not ready for mainstream clinical application.
Intragenomic conflict over queen determination favours genomic imprinting in eusocial Hymenoptera

Colonies of eusocial Hymenoptera, such as ants, bees and wasps, have long been recognized as candidates for the study of genomic imprinting on the grounds of evolutionary conflicts that arise from close interactions among colony members and relatedness asymmetry owing to haplodiploidy. Although a general kinship theory of genomic imprinting predicts its occurrence under various circumstances of the colony life cycle, new theoretical approaches are required to account for the specifics of real colonies based on recent advances in molecular-level understanding of ants and honeybees. Using a multivariate quantitative genetic model, we examined the potential impact of genomic imprinting on genes that determine the carrier female's propensity to develop into the queen caste. When queen overproduction owing to the increased propensity comes at a colony-level cost, the conflict between maternally and paternally inherited genes in polyandrous (queen multiple mating) colonies favours genomic imprinting. Moreover, we show that the genomic imprinting can occur even under monandry (queen single mating), once incorporating the costs differentially experienced by new males and new queens. Our model predicts the existence of imprinted ‘genetic royal cheats’ with patriline-specific expression in polyandrous colonies, and seems consistent with the paternal effect on queen determination in monandrous Argentine ants.
In vivo DNA-binding properties of a yeast transcription activator protein

UV light can serve as a molecular probe to identify DNA-protein interactions at nucleotide level resolution from intact yeast cells. We have used the photofootprinting technique to determine during which of three regulated states (uninduced, induced, and catabolite repressed) the transcriptional activator protein encoded by GAL4 binds to its recognition sites within the GAL1-GAL10 upstream activating sequence (UASG). GAL4 protein is bound to at least four, and probably five, related sequence blocks within UASG under both induced and uninduced states. GAL4-dependent photofootprints are lost under conditions of catabolite repression. We observed no footprint patterns unique to catabolite-repressed cells, which suggests that binding of a repressor to the UASG is not involved in this process. Photofootprints of the GAL10 TATA element are strictly correlated with transcription: uninduced, catabolite-repressed, and delta gal4 cells exhibit footprints characteristic of the inactive promoter; induced and delta gal80 cells, which express GAL10 constitutively, display footprints unique to the actively transcribed gene.
Oxidative damage and genotoxic effect in mice caused by sub-chronic exposure to low-dose volatile organic compounds

Abstract Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are widely used as constituents of household chemicals. Although adverse health effects have been reported, long-term exposure to low-level VOCs mixture has not been studied. Especially, there is a lack of substantial information on the sensitive biomarkers and carcinogenic markers. In the present study, we examined oxidative stress and genotoxic effects of sub-chronic low-dose VOCs mixture (formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and xylene). Male Kunming mice were exposed to 0 (control) and three different doses of VOCs mixture (group 1S, 5S and 10S) for 90 d (2 h/d). Group 1S is 0.10, 0.11, 0.20 and 0.20 mg/m3, group 5S is 0.50, 0.55, 1.00 and 1.00 mg/m3, group 10S is 1.00, 1.10, 2.00 and 2.00 mg/m3, which, respectively, corresponded to 1, 5 and 10 times of indoor air quality standard (IAQS) in China. One day following VOCs exposure, oxidative stress markers in lung, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and genotoxicity (DNA damage) in liver were examined. Results showed that exposure to VOCs (IAQS dose) resulted in oxidative damages of lung, which were supported by the significant changes on reactive oxygen species, reduced glutathione (GSH), GSH S-transferase, total antioxidative capacity, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, oxidative stress markers in group 5S and 10S (except NO) in lung were affected significantly. In addition, VOCs exposure also induced significantly DNA damage in liver. Our study suggested long-term VOCs inhalation at low levels caused oxidative stress and genotoxicity response in mice. Since effects were seen at the current IAQS level, further studies below this level are necessary.
Deficits in reflexive covert attention following cerebellar injury

Traditionally the cerebellum has been known for its important role in coordinating motor output. Over the past 15 years numerous studies have indicated that the cerebellum plays a role in a variety of cognitive functions including working memory, language, perceptual functions, and emotion. In addition, recent work suggests that regions of the cerebellum involved in eye movements also play a role in controlling covert visual attention. Here we investigated whether regions of the cerebellum that are not strictly tied to the control of eye movements might also contribute to covert attention. To address this question we examined the effects of circumscribed cerebellar lesions on reflexive covert attention in a group of patients (n = 11) without any gross motor or oculomotor deficits, and compared their performance to a group of age-matched controls (n = 11). Results indicated that the traditional RT advantage for validly cued targets was significantly smaller at the shortest (50 ms) SOA for cerebellar patients compared to controls. Critically, a lesion overlap analysis indicated that this deficit in the rapid deployment of attention was linked to damage in Crus I and Crus II of the lateral cerebellum. Importantly, both cerebellar regions have connections to non-motor regions of the prefrontal and posterior parietal cortices—regions important for controlling visuospatial attention. Together, these data provide converging evidence that both lateral and midline regions of the cerebellum play an important role in the control of reflexive covert visual attention.
Integrated Human Surveillance Systems of West Nile Virus Infections in Italy: The 2012 Experience

In Italy, a West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance plan was firstly implemented in 2008 and 2009 in two affected regions and, since 2010, according to a national plan, a WNV neuroinvasive disease (WNND) surveillance has to be carried out each year during the period 15 June–30 November, in those regions where WNV circulation has been demonstrated among humans, animals or vectors. Moreover, since WNV can be transmitted to humans even by blood transfusions and organ transplants obtained from infected donors, the national surveillance integrates the blood transfusions and organs transplant surveillances too. The paper describes the results of this integrated human surveillance in Italy in 2012. Overall, in 2012, 28 autochthonous confirmed cases of WNND were reported, 14 blood donations were found WNV positive by Nucleic Acid Amplification Test and no solid organ donors tested positive for WNV. Moreover, 17 cases of WNV fever were confirmed in Veneto region. When comparing the number of WNND cases reported to the surveillance system in previous 4 years (43 cases during the period 2008–2011), with those reported in 2012 an important increase was observed in 2012. The geographic distribution of human cases was consistent with the WNV circulation among animals and vectors. Moreover, the implementation of preventive measures for WNV transmission through blood components allowed the detection of blood donors positive for WNV, avoiding the further spread of the disease. Since surveillance strategies and preventive measures are based on the integration among human, animal and vector control activities, the Italian experience could be considered a good example of collaboration among different sectors of public health in a “one health” perspective.
Rhamnogalacturonan-II, a Pectic Polysaccharide in the Walls of Growing Plant Cell, Forms a Dimer That Is Covalently Cross-linked by a Borate Ester

Rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II) is a structurally complex pectic polysaccharide present in the walls of growing plant cells. We now report that RG-II, released by endopolygalacturonase treatment of the walls of suspension-cultured sycamore cells and etiolated pea stems, exists mainly as a dimer that is cross-linked by a borate ester. The borate ester is completely hydrolyzed at room temperature within 30 min at pH 1, partially hydrolyzed between pH 2 and 4, and stable above pH 4. The dimer is formed in vitro between pH 2.4 and 6.2 by treating monomeric RG-II (0.5 mM) with boric acid (1.2 mM); the dimer formed after 24 h at pH 3.4 and 5.0 accounts for ∼30 and ∼5%, respectively, of the RG-II. In contrast, the dimer accounts for ∼80 and ∼54% of the RG-II when the monomer is treated for 24 h at pH 3.4 and 5.0, respectively, with boric acid and 0.5 mM Sr2+, Pb2+, or Ba2+. The amount of dimer formed at pH 3.4 or 5.0 is not increased by addition of 0.5 mM Ca2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+. Steric considerations appear to regulate dimer formation since those divalent cations that enhance dimer formation have an ionic radius >1.1 Å. Our data suggest that the borate ester is located on C-2 and C-3 of two of the four 3′-linked apiosyl residues of dimeric RG-II. Our results, taken together with the results of two previous studies (Kobayashi, M., Matoh, T., and Azuma, J.-I. (1996) Plant Physiol. 110, 1017-1020; Ishii, T. , and Matsunaga, T. (1996) Carbohydr. Res. 284, 1-9) provide substantial evidence that this plant cell wall pectic polysaccharide is covalently cross-linked.
Anger and Hostility Predict the Development of Atrial Fibrillation in Men in the Framingham Offspring Study

Background—Conflicting findings in the literature with regard to the ability of type A behavior, expressions of anger, or hostility to predict incident coronary heart disease (CHD) have created controversy. In addition, there are no prospective studies relating these characteristics to the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and Results—From 1984 to 1987, 3873 men and women, 18 to 77 years of age, participating in the Framingham Offspring Study, were examined and monitored for 10 years for the incidence of CHD, AF, and total mortality. Measures of type A behavior, anger, hostility, and risk factors for CHD and AF were collected at the baseline examination. After controlling for age, diabetes, hypertension, history of myocardial infarction, history of congestive heart failure, and valvular heart disease in Cox proportional hazards models, trait-anger (RR=1.1; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.4; P =0.04), symptoms of anger (RR=1.2; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.4; P =0.008), and hostility (RR=1.3; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.5; P =0.003) were predictive of 10-year incidence of AF in men. After controlling for risk factors for CHD, none of the measures of anger, type A behavior, or hostility were related to incident CHD; however, trait-anger (RR=1.2; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.4; P <0.01) was related to total mortality in men. None of the psychosocial variables were related to the 3 outcomes in women. Conclusions—This is the first study to examine and demonstrate a predictive relation between measures of anger and hostility to the development of AF in men. As opposed to type A behavior, measures of anger and hostility may be more productive avenues for research in studying the risk of arrhythmias and total mortality in men.
Results From a Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Trial as a Decision Tool for Launching a Large-Scale Morbidity and Mortality Trial

Background—Trials with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) as primary end point may improve the efficiency of the evaluation of new therapies targeting atherosclerosis considerably, and the results of CIMT trials may be used as a decision tool to help in the choice to launch or not to launch a large-scale morbidity and mortality (M&M) trial. We evaluated the literature to provide evidence to support or refute this proposition. Methods and Results—PubMed Medline was systematically searched on May 1, 2012, for randomized double-blind controlled CIMT trials. The agreement between the results from CIMT and M&M trials was assessed, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Forty-eight CIMT trials were included. CIMT trials (n=20) on lipid-level modifying therapies are all, except one, in agreement with the M&M trial findings. For blood pressure-lowering trials (n=13), 3 were not congruent with the M&M trial. The positive and negative predictive value (95% confidence interval) of a CIMT trial to predict the outcome of a M&M trial are 96% (80–99%) and 83% (64–93%), respectively. The predictive values are higher for lipid-level modifying therapies than for other therapies. Conclusions—A CIMT trial positioned before an M&M trial may considerably improve the efficiency of the evaluation of new drug therapies on atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease risk. Hence, the results of a CIMT trial should be seen as a decision tool to support or refute the start of a large-scale M&M trial on drugs targeting atherosclerosis.
Conservadurismo político y tolerancia hacia comportamientos transgresores

This study analyses the relationship between political conservatism and tolerance toward transgression of social norms and laws. Participants are students and university graduates of the city of Lima. Measures of right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), social domination orientation (SDO), intolerance of ambiguity and the left/right position were used to assess political conservatism. An instrument was build in order to evaluate the tolerance toward transgression, which presented a factorial structure with four dimensions and appropriate levels of reliability for each factor. It was found a direct correlation between SDO and tolerance toward transgressive behaviors and an inverse relationship between RWA and tolerance toward transgression of social conventions. Although RWA and SDO were associated and can be considered as dimensions of political conservatism, SDO is associated with a greater tolerance toward transgression and RWA with a greater rejection of it.
TOWER OF COVERINGS AND COMPLEX STRUCTURES ON FOUR DIMENSIONAL MANIFOLDS

We study a tower of coverings of a real four dimensional manifold and its relations to properties such as complex structures and existence of meromorphic functions. This allows us revisit the question of existence of a complex structure on an almost complex surface from a perspective different from the usual one. A consequence is the existence of an almost complex surface with any prescribed set of Chern numbers c21 and c2 satisfying the Noether relation but supporting no integrable almost complex structure.
Individual Differences in Human Auditory Processing: Insights From Single‐Trial Auditory Midbrain Activity in an Animal Model

Abstract Auditory‐evoked potentials are classically defined as the summations of synchronous firing along the auditory neuraxis. Converging evidence supports a model whereby timing jitter in neural coding compromises listening and causes variable scalp‐recorded potentials. Yet the intrinsic noise of human scalp recordings precludes a full understanding of the biological origins of individual differences in listening skills. To delineate the mechanisms contributing to these phenomena, in vivo extracellular activity was recorded from inferior colliculus in guinea pigs to speech in quiet and noise. Here we show that trial‐by‐trial timing jitter is a mechanism contributing to auditory response variability. Identical variability patterns were observed in scalp recordings in human children, implicating jittered timing as a factor underlying reduced coding of dynamic speech features and speech in noise. Moreover, intertrial variability in human listeners is tied to language development. Together, these findings suggest that variable timing in inferior colliculus blurs the neural coding of speech in noise, and propose a consequence of this timing jitter for human behavior. These results hint both at the mechanisms underlying speech processing in general, and at what may go awry in individuals with listening difficulties.