Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
African Swine Fever Virus Georgia 2007 with a Deletion of Virulence-Associated Gene 9GL (B119L), when Administered at Low Doses, Leads to Virus Attenuation in Swine and Induces an Effective Protection against Homologous Challenge

ABSTRACT African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the etiological agent of an often lethal disease of domestic pigs. Disease control strategies have been hampered by the unavailability of vaccines against ASFV. Since its introduction in the Republic of Georgia, a highly virulent virus, ASFV Georgia 2007 (ASFV-G), has caused an epizootic that spread rapidly into Eastern European countries. Currently no vaccines are available or under development to control ASFV-G. In the past, genetically modified ASFVs harboring deletions of virulence-associated genes have proven attenuated in swine, inducing protective immunity against challenge with homologous parental viruses. Deletion of the gene 9GL (open reading frame [ORF] B119L) in highly virulent ASFV Malawi-Lil-20/1 produced an attenuated phenotype even when administered to pigs at 106 50% hemadsorption doses (HAD50). Here we report the construction of a genetically modified ASFV-G strain (ASFV-G-Δ9GLv) harboring a deletion of the 9GL (B119L) gene. Like Malawi-Lil-20/1-Δ9GL, ASFV-G-Δ9GL showed limited replication in primary swine macrophages. However, intramuscular inoculation of swine with 104 HAD50 of ASFV-G-Δ9GL produced a virulent phenotype that, unlike Malawi-Lil-20/1-Δ9GL, induced a lethal disease in swine like parental ASFV-G. Interestingly, lower doses (102 to 103 HAD50) of ASFV-G-Δ9GL did not induce a virulent phenotype in swine and when challenged protected pigs against disease. A dose of 102 HAD50 of ASFV-G-Δ9GLv conferred partial protection when pigs were challenged at either 21 or 28 days postinfection (dpi). An ASFV-G-Δ9GL HAD50 of 103 conferred partial and complete protection at 21 and 28 dpi, respectively. The information provided here adds to our recent report on the first attempts toward experimental vaccines against ASFV-G. IMPORTANCE The main problem for controlling ASF is the lack of vaccines. Studies on ASFV virulence lead to the production of genetically modified attenuated viruses that induce protection in pigs but only against homologous virus challenges. Here we produced a recombinant ASFV lacking virulence-associated gene 9GL in an attempt to produce a vaccine against virulent ASFV-G, a highly virulent virus isolate detected in the Caucasus region in 2007 and now spreading though the Caucasus region and Eastern Europe. Deletion of 9GL, unlike with other ASFV isolates, did not attenuate completely ASFV-G. However, when delivered once at low dosages, recombinant ASFV-G-Δ9GL induces protection in swine against parental ASFV-G. The protection against ASFV-G is highly effective after 28 days postvaccination, whereas at 21 days postvaccination, animals survived the lethal challenge but showed signs of ASF. Here we report the design and development of an experimental vaccine that induces protection against virulent ASFV-G.
An iterative reweighted least-squares algorithm for the design of 2D IIR filters

We present a new method for optimizing two-dimensional IIR filters with respect to a p-norm error criterion, especially for large p, when quasi-equiripple filters are obtained. We combine a Gauss-Newton convexification of the criterion with the iterative reweighted least-squares (IRLS) algorithm. Stability is obtained by using 1-D or 2-D convex stability domains based on a positive realness description. A final optimization of the numerator, keeping the denominator fixed, allows more freedom in choosing the value of a key parameter.
Short-term memory impairment in vestibular patients can arise independently of psychiatric impairment, fatigue, and sleeplessness.

Vestibular dysfunction is associated with visual short-term memory impairment; however, it remains unclear if this impairment arises as a direct result of the vestibular dysfunction or is a consequence of comorbid changes in mood, affect, fatigue, and/or sleep. To this end, we assessed the concurrence and interdependence of these comorbidities in 101 individuals recruited from a tertiary balance clinic with a neuro-otological diagnosis. Over fifty per cent of the sample showed reduced visuospatial short-term memory, 60% and 37% exceeded cut-off on the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories, respectively, 70% exceeded cut-off on the Fatigue Severity Scale, 44% reported daytime sleepiness on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and 78% scored above cut-off on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The high concurrence of these symptoms gives reason to infer the existence of a vestibular cognitive affective syndrome. Structural equation modelling indicated that the significant statistical association between general unassisted posture (a marker of chronic vestibular dysfunction and strong predictor of falls risk) and short-term memory was not mediated by mood and wakefulness. Instead, the memory impairment related more directly to vestibular dysfunction. From a rehabilitation perspective, the implication is that if the vestibular disorder is treated successfully then the memory problem will likewise improve.
Air Pollution Forecasts: An Overview

Air pollution is defined as a phenomenon harmful to the ecological system and the normal conditions of human existence and development when some substances in the atmosphere exceed a certain concentration. In the face of increasingly serious environmental pollution problems, scholars have conducted a significant quantity of related research, and in those studies, the forecasting of air pollution has been of paramount importance. As a precaution, the air pollution forecast is the basis for taking effective pollution control measures, and accurate forecasting of air pollution has become an important task. Extensive research indicates that the methods of air pollution forecasting can be broadly divided into three classical categories: statistical forecasting methods, artificial intelligence methods, and numerical forecasting methods. More recently, some hybrid models have been proposed, which can improve the forecast accuracy. To provide a clear perspective on air pollution forecasting, this study reviews the theory and application of those forecasting models. In addition, based on a comparison of different forecasting methods, the advantages and disadvantages of some methods of forecasting are also provided. This study aims to provide an overview of air pollution forecasting methods for easy access and reference by researchers, which will be helpful in further studies.
Poor Cognitive Inhibition Predicts Rumination About Insomnia in a Clinical Sample

ABSTRACT Objective/Background: According to the Cognitive Model of Insomnia disorder, rumination about lack of sleep and its diurnal consequences plays a crucial role in maintaining insomnia. Consolidated evidence shows that rumination is related to poor executive functions, which are cognitive control processes impacted by insomnia. Despite this evidence, no studies so far investigated the relationship between executive functions and rumination in individuals with insomnia. The aim of this pilot study was to cover this gap by investigating whether poor executive functions are associated with rumination in a sample of individuals with a diagnosis of insomnia disorder. Participants: Thirty young adults (22.67 ± 3.68 years, 73.3% females) diagnosed with insomnia disorder by clinical psychologists with expertise in behavioral sleep medicine completed the study. Methods: Measures of insomnia, depression, emotion regulation, and rumination about the daytime consequences of insomnia were collected. Executive functions were assessed using a Task Switching paradigm, measuring cognitive inhibition and set-shifting with cognitive flexibility. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that higher depression (β = 0.781, p < 0.001) and cognitive reappraisal (β = 0.329, p = 0.016), and poorer cognitive inhibition (β = −0.334, p = 0.014), significantly predicted higher rumination. Conclusions: Rumination about symptoms of insomnia in a clinical sample is associated with impaired inhibitory but not switching capacities above and beyond the role played by traditional predictors such as depression and emotion regulation strategies. If replicated, present preliminary results suggest the need to target cognitive inhibition deficits in insomnia treatment.
Strategic response to Industry 4.0: an empirical investigation on the Chinese automotive industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the strategic response to Industry 4.0 for Chinese automotive industry and to identify the critical factors for its successful implementation. Design/methodology/approach A technological, organizational, and environmental framework is used to build the structural models, and statistical tools are used to validate the model. The data analysis helps to determine which factors have impact on the strategic response and whether their relationships are positive or negative. Interpretive structural modeling method is applied to further analyze these derived factors for depicting the relationship. Findings The result shows that company size and nature do not increase the use of advanced production technologies, while other factors have positive impacts on improving the technology adoption among the companies surveyed. Practical implications A strategic response to Industry 4.0 not only helps in improving organizational competitiveness, but it also has social and economic implications. For this purpose, empirical data are collected to measure the understanding of Industry 4.0 in the Chinese automotive industry. Originality/value Despite the fact that the Chinese Government has proposed the “Made in China 2025” approach as a way to promote smart manufacturing, little empirical evidence exists in the literature validating company’s perspective toward Industry 4.0. This paper is to fill the research gap.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KJDNEY DISEASE DETERMINANTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS: AN EXAMINATION OF THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR By

Physical activity improves physical and psychological functioning in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, no studies have investigated the determinants of physical activity in the CKD population. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the utility of the Theory ofPlanned Behaviour (TPB) for understanding physical activity in the CKD population. A secondary purpose of this study was to examine alternate conceptualizations of the subjective norm construct within the TPB framework. We hypothesized that attitude, subjective norm (injunctive and descriptive norms), perceived behavioural control (PBC), and social support would predict intention to engage in physical activity and that both intention and PBC would predict physical activity behaviour Participants (52 male, 28 female, mean age= 68.43 (13.21)) were recruited from nephrologists' clinics and were all predialysis (mean serum creatinine= 310.55 (148.75) ~-tmol/L). Participants completed a questionnaire assessing attitude, subjective norm, PBC, and social support. One week later, participants were phoned for a follow-up interview to assess their physical activity during the preceding week. In a regression model, 61% of the variance in intention to perform physical activity was explained, with PBC (f3=.69,p<.001) emerging as the sole significant predictor, while attitude (/3=.17, p=.1 0), subjective norm (/3=.02, p=.89), informational support from family (f3=-.10,p=.33), and informational support from doctors (/3=-. 05, p=. 54) were non-significant predictors. In a regression model to explain physical activity, 28% of the variance in physical activity was explained, with intention emerging as a significant predictor (/3=.53, p=.02), but not PBC (/3=.18, p=.29). The hypotheses were only partially supported, as PBC emerged as a significant predictor of physical activity intention, while attitude, subjective norm, and social support did not. Furthermore, intention, but not PBC, predicted physical activity behaviour. These results demonstrate the utility of the TPB for explaining physical activity in the CKD population. Additional research is required to clarify if targeting PBC may be an effective means for intervention to increase physical activity in the CKD population.
Seasonal changes in depth of water uptake for encroaching trees Juniperus virginiana and Pinus ponderosa and two dominant C4 grasses in a semiarid grassland.

We used the natural abundance of stable isotopic ratios of hydrogen and oxygen in soil (0.05-3 m depth), plant xylem and precipitation to determine the seasonal changes in sources of soil water uptake by two native encroaching woody species (Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson, Juniperus virginiana L.), and two C(4) grasses (Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash, Panicum virgatum L. ), in the semiarid Sandhills grasslands of Nebraska. Grass species extracted most of their water from the upper soil profile (0.05-0.5 m). Soil water uptake from below 0.5 m depth increased under drought, but appeared to be minimal in relation to the total water use of these species. The grasses senesced in late August in response to drought conditions. In contrast to grasses, P. ponderosa and J. virginiana trees exhibited significant plasticity in sources of water uptake. In winter, tree species extracted a large fraction of their soil water from below 0.9 m depth. In spring when shallow soil water was available, tree species used water from the upper soil profile (0.05-0.5 m) and relied little on water from below 0.5 m depth. During the growing season (May-August) significant differences between the patterns of tree species water uptake emerged. Pinus ponderosa acquired a large fraction of its water from the 0.05-0.5 and 0.5-0.9 m soil profiles. Compared with P. ponderosa, J. virginiana acquired water from the 0.05-0.5 m profile during the early growing season but the amount extracted from this profile progressively declined between May and August and was mirrored by a progressive increase in the fraction taken up from 0.5-0.9 m depth, showing plasticity in tracking the general increase in soil water content within the 0.5-0.9 m profile, and being less responsive to growing season precipitation events. In September, soil water content declined to its minimum, and both tree species shifted soil water uptake to below 0.9 m. Tree transpiration rates (E) and water potentials (Psi) indicated that deep water sources did not maintain E which sharply declined in September, but played an important role in the recovery of tree Psi. Differences in sources of water uptake among these species and their ecological implications on tree-grass dynamics and soil water in semiarid environments are discussed.
Prophylactic Use of Steroids and Antibiotics in Acute Hydrocarbon Poisoning in Children

Ingestion of hydrocarbons is a common cause of childhood poisoning in low and middle-income countries. Although mild ingestions are usually devoid of complications, the morbidity and mortality associated with such poisoning are primarily related to pulmonary aspiration. Subsequent complications, most importantly, secondary bacterial infections can worsen the clinical condition. Standard treatment protocol for acute accidental hydrocarbon poisoning does not advocate routine use of steroids or antibiotics. However, some studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of prophylactic steroid and antibiotic to prevent chemical pneumonitis. In this article, we have summarized the findings of the clinical studies from literature, which have evaluated the advantages of early administration of steroids and antibiotics to prevent chemical pneumonitis in acute hydrocarbon poisoning in children. From these studies, we have found that there is no convincing evidence for initiating steroid and antibiotic to improve outcome in these children.
GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 Polymorphisms and Associations between Air Pollutants and Markers of Insulin Resistance in Elderly Koreans

Background: Previous studies have suggested that diabetes mellitus (DM) is an outcome of exposure to air pollution, and metabolic detoxification genes affect air pollution–related outcomes. Objectives: We evaluated associations between air pollutants and markers of insulin resistance (IR), an underlying mechanism of type 2 DM, and effect modification by GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genotypes among elderly participants in the Korean Elderly Environmental Panel (KEEP) study. Methods: We recruited 560 people ≥ 60 years of age and obtained blood samples from them up to three times between 2008 and 2010. For air pollution exposure, we used ambient air pollutant [i.e., particulate matter ≤ 10 µm in diameter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)] monitoring data. We measured levels of fasting glucose and insulin and derived the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index to assess IR. Mixed-effect models were used to estimate associations between air pollutants and IR indices on the same day or lagged up to 10 days prior, and effect modification by GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genotypes. Results: Interquartile range increases in PM10, O3, and NO2 were significantly associated with IR indices, depending on the lag period. Associations were stronger among participants with a history of DM and among those with GSTM1-null, GSTT1-null, and GSTP1 AG or GG genotypes. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PM10, O3, and NO2 may increase IR in the elderly, and that GSTM1-null, GSTT1-null, and GSTP1 AG or GG genotypes may increase susceptibility to potential effects of ambient air pollutants on IR.
Mediational pathways of the impact of cigarette warning labels on quit attempts.

OBJECTIVE To test and develop, using structural equation modeling, a robust model of the mediational pathways through which health warning labels exert their influence on smokers' subsequent quitting behavior. METHOD Data come from the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey, a longitudinal cohort study conducted in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Waves 5-6 data (n = 4,988) were used to calibrate the hypothesized model of warning label impact on subsequent quit attempts via a set of policy-specific and general psychosocial mediators. The finalized model was validated using Waves 6-7 data (n = 5065). RESULTS As hypothesized, warning label salience was positively associated with thoughts about risks of smoking stimulated by the warnings (β = .58, p < .001), which in turn were positively related to increased worry about negative outcomes of smoking (β = .52, p < .001); increased worry in turn predicted stronger intention to quit (β = .39, p < .001), which was a strong predictor of subsequent quit attempts (β = .39, p < .001). This calibrated model was successfully replicated using Waves 6-7 data. CONCLUSION Health warning labels seem to influence future quitting attempts primarily through their ability to stimulate thoughts about the risks of smoking, which in turn help to raise smoking-related health concerns, which lead to stronger intentions to quit, a known key predictor of future quit attempts for smokers. By making warning labels more salient and engaging, they should have a greater chance to change behavior.
Increased male bias in eider ducks can be explained by sex-specific survival of prime-age breeders

In contrast to theoretical predictions of even adult sex ratios, males are dominating in many bird populations. Such bias among adults may be critical to population growth and viability. Nevertheless, demographic mechanisms for biased adult sex ratios are still poorly understood. Here, we examined potential demographic mechanisms for the recent dramatic shift from a slight female bias among adult eider ducks (Somateria mollissima) to a male bias (about 65% males) in the Baltic Sea, where the species is currently declining. We analysed a nine-year dataset on offspring sex ratio at hatching based on molecularly sexed ducklings of individually known mothers. Moreover, using demographic data from long-term individual-based capture-recapture records, we investigated how sex-specific survival at different ages after fledgling can modify the adult sex ratio. More specifically, we constructed a stochastic two-sex matrix population model and simulated scenarios of different survival probabilities for males and females. We found that sex ratio at hatching was slightly female-biased (52.8%) and therefore unlikely to explain the observed male bias among adult birds. Our stochastic simulations with higher survival for males than for females revealed that despite a slight female bias at hatching, study populations shifted to a male-biased adult sex ratio (> 60% males) in a few decades. This shift was driven by prime reproductive-age individuals (≥5-year-old), with sex-specific survival of younger age classes playing a minor role. Hence, different age classes contributed disproportionally to population dynamics. We argue that an alternative explanation for the observed male dominance among adults–sex-biased dispersal–can be considered redundant and is unlikely, given the ecology of the species. The present study highlights the importance of considering population structure and age-specific vital rates when assessing population dynamics and management targets.
Productive vocabulary across discourse types

Aims: The goals of the study were (a) to examine the effect of discourse type on lexical diversity by testing whether there are significant differences among language samples elicited using four discourse tasks (procedures, eventcasts, story telling, and recounts); and (b) to assess the extent to which age influences lexical diversity when different types of discourse are elicited. Methods & Procedures: A total of 86 cognitively healthy adults participated in the study and comprised two groups – young adults (20–29 years old) and older adults (70–89 years old). Participants completed the discourse tasks and their language samples were analysed using dedicated software (voc-D) to obtain estimates of their lexical diversity. Outcomes & Results: A mixed 2 × 4 ANOVA was conducted and followed by an investigation of simple main effects. A lexical diversity hierarchy was established that was similar for both age groups. The study also uncovered age-related differences that were evident when the stimuli were verbally presented but were eliminated when the language samples were elicited using pictorial stimuli. Conclusions: Results indicated that lexical diversity is one of the microlinguistic indices that are influenced by discourse type and age, a finding that carries important methodological implications. Future investigations are warranted to explore the patterns of lexical diversity in individuals with neurogenic language disorders and assess the clinical utility of measures of lexical diversity.