Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mycoplasma Corogypsi–Associated Polyarthritis and Tenosynovitis in Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus)

Three wild American black vultures (Coragyps atratus) were presented to rehabilitation centers with swelling of multiple joints, including elbows, stifles, hocks, and carpal joints, and of the gastrocnemius tendons. Cytological examination of the joint fluid exudate indicated heterophilic arthritis. Radiographic examination in 2 vultures demonstrated periarticular soft tissue swelling in both birds and irregular articular surfaces with subchondral bone erosion in both elbows in 1 bird. Prolonged antibiotic therapy administered in 2 birds did not improve the clinical signs. Necropsy and histological examination demonstrated a chronic lymphoplasmacytic arthritis involving multiple joints and gastrocnemius tenosynovitis. Articular lesions varied in severity and ranged from moderate synovitis and cartilage erosion and fibrillation to severe synovitis, diffuse cartilage ulceration, subchondral bone loss and/or sclerosis, pannus, synovial cysts, and epiphyseal osteomyelitis. No walled bacteria were observed or isolated from the joints. However, mycoplasmas polymerase chain reactions were positive in at least 1 affected joint from each bird. Mycoplasmas were isolated from joints of 1 vulture that did not receive antibiotic therapy. Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons from joint samples and the mycoplasma isolate identified Mycoplasma corogypsi in 2 vultures and was suggestive in the third vulture. Mycoplasma corogypsi identification was confirmed by sequencing the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region of mycoplasma isolates. This report provides further evidence that M. corogypsi is a likely cause of arthritis and tenosynovitis in American black vultures. Cases of arthritis and tenosynovitis in New World vultures should be investigated for presence of Mycoplasma spp, especially M. corogypsi.
Tackling Glaucoma from within the Brain: An Unfortunate Interplay of BDNF and TrkB

According to the neurotrophin deprivation hypothesis, diminished retrograde delivery of neurotrophic support during an early stage of glaucoma pathogenesis is one of the main triggers that induce retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration. Therefore, interfering with neurotrophic signaling seems an attractive strategy to achieve neuroprotection. Indeed, exogenous neurotrophin administration to the eye has been shown to reduce loss of RGCs in animal models of glaucoma; however, the neuroprotective effect was mostly insufficient for sustained RGC survival. We hypothesized that treatment at the level of neurotrophin-releasing brain areas might be beneficial, as signaling pathways activated by target-derived neurotrophins are suggested to differ from pathways that are initiated at the soma membrane. In our study, first, the spatiotemporal course of RGC degeneration was characterized in mice subjected to optic nerve crush (ONC) or laser induced ocular hypertension (OHT). Subsequently, the well-known neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was chosen as the lead molecule, and the levels of BDNF and its high-affinity receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), were examined in the mouse retina and superior colliculus (SC) upon ONC and OHT. Both models differentially influenced BDNF and TrkB levels. Next, we aimed for RGC protection through viral vector-mediated upregulation of collicular BDNF, thought to boost the retrograde neurotrophin delivery. Although the previously reported temporary neuroprotective effect of intravitreally delivered recombinant BDNF was confirmed, viral vector-induced BDNF overexpression in the SC did not result in protection of the RGCs in the glaucoma models used. These findings most likely relate to decreased neurotrophin responsiveness upon vector-mediated BDNF overexpression. Our results highlight important insights concerning the complexity of neurotrophic factor treatments that should surely be considered in future neuroprotective strategies.
Evidence for the genetic unrelatedness of nosocomial vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains in a pediatric hospital

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci are now found with increasing frequency. Up to now, epidemiological studies of enterococci have been limited by the lack of convenient and accessible methods for comparing strains. In this study, we report an epidemiological investigation on 16 nosocomial vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from 15 patients in four different wards of a children's hospital over a period of 17 months. Analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of total DNA and of ribosomal DNA regions (ribotyping) was used as a typing approach. Each strain produced a different total DNA RFLP pattern after HindIII and PvuII digestion, except for two strains that were isolated from a single patient and that gave indistinguishable patterns. In our system, ribotyping was less discriminative than RFLP of total DNA. This approach, therefore, shows the genetic unrelatedness of the nosocomial strains studied and excludes patient-to-patient strain transmission either in the same ward or between wards.
Time Courses of Attentional Modulation in Neural Amplification and Synchronization Measured with Steady-state Visual-evoked Potentials

Endogenous attention modulates the amplitude and phase coherence of steady-state visual-evoked potentials (SSVEPs). In efforts to decipher the neural mechanisms of attentional modulation, we compared the time course of attentional modulation of SSVEP amplitude (thought to reflect the magnitude of neural population activity) and phase coherence (thought to reflect neural response synchronization). We presented two stimuli flickering at different frequencies in the left and right visual hemifields and asked observers to shift their attention to either stimulus. Our results demonstrated that attention increased SSVEP phase coherence earlier than it increased SSVEP amplitude, with a positive correlation between the attentional modulations of SSVEP phase coherence and amplitude. Furthermore, the behavioral dynamics of attention shifts were more closely associated with changes in phase coherence than with changes in amplitude. These results are consistent with the possibility that attention increases neural response synchronization, which in turn leads to increased neural population activity.
Association of HLA-C disparity with graft failure after marrow transplantation from unrelated donors.

Disparity for HLA-A or HLA-B antigens increases the risk of marrow graft rejection, but the relevance of HLA-C is unknown because typing methods have not been sufficiently accurate for clinical use. We designed a matched case-control study and employed DNA sequencing methods to evaluate the role of HLA-C disparity in 21 patients who experienced graft failure (cases) following transplantation with unmanipulated marrow from either HLA-A, B serologically matched, DRB1 matched (n = 14) or single locus mismatched (n = 7) unrelated donors. For each case, two patients who successfully engrafted were selected as controls based on similarity for factors known or suspected to influence engraftment. The estimated odds ratio (OR) of graft failure for an HLA-C mismatch relative to match (univariable model) was 5.2 (95% CI, 1.4, 19; P = .01). Serologically undetectable HLA-A or HLA-B allele disparity was also associated with graft failure. The association between HLA-C disparity and graft failure remained significant even after accounting for the contribution of HLA-A and/or HLA-B allele disparity (OR 4.0; 95% CI, 1.1, 15; likelihood ratio test P = .03). These results show that HLA-C functions as a transplantation antigen and that HLA-A and HLA-B allele mismatches are biologically important. Molecular-based methods for pretransplant assessment of class I compatibility should be implemented for the selection of unrelated marrow donors.
Speech emotion recognition based on wavelet packet coefficient model

Conventional features have achieved good performance in speech emotion recognition. However, these features are based on short-time analysis without considering the non-stationary properties. In this paper we focus on wavelet packet techniques, which can provide an improved signal representation with a tradeoff between time and frequency resolution. We propose a wavelet packet coefficient model in speech emotion recognition. The wavelet packet coefficients at five decomposition levels are analyzed and used as input features to Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers. The performances of these features are evaluated for seven emotional states in two languages, German and Chinese. Results demonstrate that these wavelet packet coefficients features show improvement in emotion recognition performance compared with conventional Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) features.
Early intervention in the home for children at risk of reading failure

Early identification of children who are at risk of developing specific reading disability has long been regarded as being crucial for successful remediation (Snow, Burns and Griffin, 1998). However, such identification must lead to immediate intervention if there is to be any benefit for the child. In addition, the intervention should be directly related to the weaknesses identified, well-grounded in theory, effective and easy to administer. The focus of the current study is on identifying children at-risk before the first years of formal schooling. The reasoning behind this is that such children are very capable of overcoming their disadvantages before formal schooling, with the assistance of their families (Fielding-Barnsley, 2000; Jordan, Snow and Porche, 2000). The intervention in this study was based on a method developed by Arnold and Whitehurst (1994), and Whitehurst, Arnold, Epstein, Angell, Smith and Fischel (1994) known as dialogic reading. Dialogic reading involves families reading with their children rather than to their children.
Lumbar spine: quantitative and qualitative assessment of positional (upright flexion and extension) MR imaging and myelography.

PURPOSE To compare measurements of the sagittal diameter of the lumbar dural sac obtained at positional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and at functional myelography and to assess the influence of various body positions on the dural sac and the intervertebral foramina. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty consecutive patients referred for lumbar myelography were examined with an open 0.5-T MR imager, Sagittal T2-weighted fast spin-echo images were acquired with patients in the supine, upright flexion, and upright extension positions. The midsagittal diameter of the dural sac was measured at the level of the disks on MR images and myelograms. Foraminal sizes on the MR images were scored independently by two observers. RESULTS Correlation between MR imaging and myelographic measurements was high (r = .81-.97). A small but statistically significant positional dependence of the dural sac diameter was found in the lower lumbar spine. Position-dependent differences in foraminal scores were uncommon. CONCLUSION Quantitative assessment of sagittal dural sac diameters is comparable between lumbar myelography and positional MR imaging. In a selected patient population, only small changes in the sagittal diameter of the dural sac and foraminal size can be expected between various body positions, and the information gained in addition to that from standard MR imaging is limited [corrected].
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) That Signal via Protein Kinase A (PKA) Cross-talk at Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (IRS1) to Activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT Pathway*

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate PI3K/v-AKT thymoma viral oncoprotein (AKT) to regulate many cellular functions that promote cell survival, proliferation, and growth. However, the mechanism by which GPCRs activate PI3K/AKT remains poorly understood. We used ovarian preantral granulosa cells (GCs) to elucidate the mechanism by which the GPCR agonist FSH via PKA activates the PI3K/AKT cascade. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is secreted in an autocrine/paracrine manner by GCs and activates the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) but, in the absence of FSH, fails to stimulate YXXM phosphorylation of IRS1 (insulin receptor substrate 1) required for PI3K/AKT activation. We show that PKA directly phosphorylates the protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) regulatory subunit myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) to activate PP1 associated with the IGF1R-IRS1 complex. Activated PP1 is sufficient to dephosphorylate at least four IRS1 Ser residues, Ser318, Ser346, Ser612, and Ser789, and promotes IRS1 YXXM phosphorylation by the IGF1R to activate the PI3K/AKT cascade. Additional experiments indicate that this mechanism also occurs in breast cancer, thyroid, and preovulatory granulosa cells, suggesting that the PKA-dependent dephosphorylation of IRS1 Ser/Thr residues is a conserved mechanism by which GPCRs signal to activate the PI3K/AKT pathway downstream of the IGF1R.
Family Organizational Labor

Abstract Many dual-earner couples are striving for equality in their marital or intimate partnerships as a way to balance family and work successfully. Despite substantial advances in achieving equality in many aspects of marital or intimate partnerships, such as housework and child care, many couples struggle to equitably divide responsibility for family organizational tasks, such as maintaining the family calendar, managing the household, and organizing the children's activities, schedules, and care. Data for this study were drawn from 47 middle-class, heterosexual, dual-earner couples who perceive themselves as successful in balancing family and work. The couples were interviewed to investigate their philosophies and strategies for successful work-family balance. The purpose of this article is to describe how these couples divided responsibility for family organization. Although the vast majority of these couples reported that striving for marital equality was foundational to their successful work-family balance, most reported that wives were primarily responsible for family organization. Organization is discussed as a factor of equality that warrants more research and as an important remaining barrier to the achievement of couples' equality. Clinical implications are provided.
The effect of religious coping on caregiving appraisals of mothers of adults with developmental disabilities.

PURPOSE This article explores the association between race and religious coping on caregiving appraisals for mothers who coreside with an adult child with mental retardation. DESIGN AND METHODS 71 Black and 71 White women (aged 50 or older) were matched on demographic characteristics to control for the association between race and socioeconomic status. Structural equation analysis was used to examine the relationship between race, religious coping, and caregiving appraisals. RESULTS Black women were more likely to use religious coping. Religious coping was associated with higher levels of caregiving satisfaction, but not with burden. Blacks experienced higher levels of caregiving satisfaction. Blacks also experienced higher levels of caregiving burden due to their poor health. IMPLICATIONS The needs of Blacks should be considered when developing "best practices" in service provision. Culturally sensitive outreach approaches should not ignore the importance of faith and faith-based organizations in the lives of Blacks.
Reverse‐Flow Island Sural Flap

&NA; The reverse flow island sural flap is presented as an alternative to flaps currently used for reconstruction of small and medium substance losses in the distal third of the leg, ankle, and heel. This is a random type of flap, based on the reverse flow of the superficial sural artery, which mainly depends on the anatomy of the perforators of the peroneal artery system. The anatomic structures that constitute the pedicle are the superficial and deep fascias, the sural nerve, the short saphenous vein, and the superficial sural artery. The skin island and the subcutaneous cellular tissue complement the flap proper. This skin island was demarcated at any point of the median or distal thirds of the leg, having the short saphenous vein and the sural nerve on its central axis. The distal dissection limit of the pedicle is located 5 centimeters above the lateral malleolus. This limit is established so as to ensure the integrity of the perforators from the principal arteries of the leg, mainly the peroneal artery, responsible for the reverse flow nourishing the flap. These perforators will affect anastomoses with the superficial sural artery in charge of irrigating the structures compounding the flap. A total of 71 patients were operated on with this technique, some of them with basic pathologic abnormalities limiting the distal blood flow, such as diabetes mellitus, and some others having proven vascular insufficiency or displaying unstable areas attributable to problems such as pseudarthrosis and osteomyelitis, which needed to be covered. Fifteen flaps (21.1 percent) suffered partial necrosis, which did not compromise the final result, and another three (4.2 percent) showed total loss. The flap in question has great mobility and versatility, allowing the treatment of specific areas of the lower limb, without sacrificing important arteries or mobilizing structures that might bring about functional deficits. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 109: 583, 2002.)
The emancipatory potential of online reporting: The case of counter accounting

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to elaborate upon the notion of counter accounting, to assess the potentiality of online reports for counter accounting and hence for counter accounting's emancipatory potential as online reporting, to assess the extent to which this potential is being realised and to suggest ways forward from a critical perspective. Design/methodology/approach – There are several components to a critical interpretive analysis: critical evaluative analysis, informed to some extent by prior literature in diverse fields; web survey; questionnaire survey; case study. Findings – Web-based counter accounting may be understood as having emancipatory potential, some of which is being realised in practice. Not all the positive potential is, however, being realised as one might hope: things that might properly be done are not always being done. And there are threats to progress in the future. Originality/value – Clarification of a notion of counter accounting incorporating the activity of groups such as pressure groups and NGOs; rare study into practices and opinions in this context through a critical evaluative lens.
Combining Statistical Translation Techniques for Cross-Language Information Retrieval

Cross-language information retrieval today is dominated by techniques that rely principally on context-independent token-to-token mappings despite the fact that state-of-the-art statistical machine translation systems now have far richer translation models available in their internal representations. This paper explores combination-of-evidence techniques using three types of statistical translation models: context-independent token translation, token translation using phrase-dependent contexts, and token translation using sentence-dependent contexts. Context-independent translation is performed using statistically-aligned tokens in parallel text, phrase-dependent translation is performed using aligned statistical phrases, and sentence-dependent translation is performed using those same aligned phrases together with an n-gram language model. Experiments on retrieval of Arabic, Chinese, and French documents using English queries show that no one technique is optimal for all queries, but that statistically significant improvements in mean average precision over strong baselines can be achieved by combining translation evidence from all three techniques. The optimal combination is, however, found to be resource-dependent, indicating a need for future work on robust tuning to the characteristics of individual collections.
Chlamydia trachomatis infection and persistence of human papillomavirus

Human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence is the major cause of cervical cancer, but most HPV infections will not persist and risk factors for HPV persistence are not well known. Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis infection seems to also be associated with cervical cancer. We investigated whether C. trachomatis infection is a risk factor for HPV persistence. In a cohort of 12,527 women participating in a population‐based HPV screening trial in Sweden, 6,418 women completed testing for HPV DNA by general primer PCR and typing by reverse dot blot hybridization. On average 19 months later, 303 women that had been HPV‐positive and had normal cytology at enrollment completed a new HPV test. Environmental exposures were assessed by an 87‐item questionnaire. Previous sexually transmitted infections were also investigated by serology. At follow‐up, 44% of the women were positive for the same type of HPV DNA as at enrollment. Persistence correlated with length of follow‐up (p < 0.01) and condom use seemed to protect against HPV persistence (p < 0.05). The most significant risk factor for persistent presence of HPV DNA was self‐reported history of previous C. trachomatis infection (relative risk in multivariate model = 2.09; 95% confidence interval = 1.05–4.18). We conclude that persistence of oncogenic HPV infections is more likely among women with a previous C. trachomatis infection. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The tissue reaction as related to the functional factor.

The tissue reaction following orthodontic tooth movement and its relation to functional influences has been a problem frequently discussed during the last 15 years. Earlier studies on tissue changes, those made by Sandstedt (1905), Oppenheim (1911), Schwarz (1932), Stuteville (1938), Gubler (1941) and others, did not include the functional factor to any great extent. As we know, it was Haupl (1938), Haupl and Psansky (1938) and Eschler (1939), who called attention to this factor as possibly being of importance in functional orthopaedics, treatment performed with Andresen plates, the so-called activators. In a study, just recently published (Reitan, 1951), I have made an attempt to investigate the functional factor as related to treatment with fixed appliances as well as plates. One should assume that this is a problem of academic interest only, but it certainly also has its practical side. The problem touches upon fundamental principles of construction and application of orthodontic appliances as a whole. To-day I should like to draw some conclusions from my findings. It is well known that a tooth moved by continuous forces will usually be slightly tipped, particularly in its initial movement. Bone resorption will occur at the pressure side, while there will be bone apposition at the tension side. A secondary pressure and tension side may be found in the apical region as well (Fig. 1). Figure 1 Pressure area, P, and tension area, T, created in the marginal region, M. Secondary pressure area, P', and tension area, T', in the apical region. Some of my experiments were performed with continuous forces in dogs. The active force was provided by springs coiled around high labial arches of the type described by Friel and McKeag (1939). The arches were anchored to the canines and the upper and lower second …