Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms among captive green iguanas and potential public health implications.

OBJECTIVE To determine prevalence of fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms among captive green iguanas (Iguana iguana). DESIGN Cohort study. ANIMALS 12 captive green iguanas. PROCEDURE Iguanas were isolated in an environmental chamber, and fecal samples were collected weekly for 10 consecutive weeks. Samples were incubated aerobically in tetrathionate broth for 18 to 24 hours. Aliquots were then transferred to Hektoen and Salmonella-Shigella agar plates and incubated for an additional 18 to 24 hours. Isolated colonies were subcultured on nutrient agar slants, and Salmonella isolates were serogrouped and serotyped. RESULTS All 12 iguanas were found to be shedding Salmonella organisms at least once during the study, and multiple serotypes were isolated from 7 of the 12. Salmonella organisms were isolated from 88 of 106 (83%) fecal samples; 21 samples contained multiple Salmonella serotypes. Overall, 11 Salmonella serotypes were identified. In 74 of 100 instances, when a particular Salmonella serotype was isolated from an individual iguana, the same serotype was also isolated from a subsequent fecal sample from that iguana. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Results suggested that most iguanas have a stable mixture of Salmonella serotypes in their intestinal tracts and intermittently or continuously shed Salmonella organisms in their feces. Veterinarians should advise their clients on precautions for reducing the risk of acquiring these organisms from their pets. Public health officials trying to determine whether an iguana is the source of a specific Salmonella serotype that caused infection in human patients should submit at least 3 fecal samples collected from the iguana 1 week apart for bacterial culture.
African American church participation and health care practices

AbstractBACKGROUND: While religious involvement is associated with improvements in health, little is known about the relationship between church participation and health care practices. OBJECTIVES: To determine 1) the prevalence of church participation; 2) whether church participation influences positive health care practices; and 3) whether gender, age, insurance status, and levels of comorbidity modified these relationships. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis using survey data from 2196 residents of a low-income, African-American neighborhood. MEASUREMENTS: Our independent variable measured the frequency of church attendance. Dependent variables were: 1) Pap smear; 2) mammogram; and 3) dental visit—all taking place within 2 years; 4) blood pressure measurement within 1 year, 5) having a regular source of care, and 6) no perceived delays in care in the previous year. We controlled for socioeconomic factors and the number of comorbid conditions and also tested for interactions. RESULTS: Thirty-seven percent of community members went to church at least monthly. Church attendance was associated with increased likelihood of positive health care practices by 20% to 80%. In multivariate analyses, church attendance was related to dental visits (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 1.9) and blood pressure measurements (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.1). Insurance status and number of comorbid conditions modified the relationship between church attendance and Pap smear, with increased practices noted for the uninsured (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.1) and for women with 2 or more comorbid conditions (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.5). CONCLUSION: Church attendance is an important correlate of positive health care practices, especially for the most vulnerable subgroups, the uninsured and chronically ill. Community-and faith-based organizations present additional opportunities to improve the health of low-income and minority populations.
Factors influencing repair of dental restorations with resin composite

The presentation of patients with dental restorations that exhibit minor defects is one of the commonest clinical situations in the practice of general dentistry. The repair of such restorations, rather than replacement, is increasingly considered to be a viable alternative to replacement of the defective restoration. This paper considers factors influencing the repair of direct restorations, including indications and details of relevant techniques, based on the best available knowledge and understanding of this important aspect of minimal intervention dentistry. Practitioners who do not consider repair before deciding to replace restorations that present with limited defects are encouraged to consider including repair in the treatment options in such situations. The effective repair of direct restorations can greatly influence the rate of descent down the “restorative death spiral”.
A possible mechanism for the inhibition of ribosomal RNA gene transcription during mitosis

When cells enter mitosis, RNA synthesis ceases. Yet the RNA polymerase I (pol I) transcription machinery involved in the production of pre- rRNA remains bound to the nucleolus organizing region (NOR), the chromosome site harboring the tandemly repeated rRNA genes. Here we examine whether rDNA transcription units are transiently blocked or "frozen" during mitosis. By using fluorescent in situ hybridization we were unable to detect nascent pre-rRNA chains on the NORs of mouse 3T3 and rat kangaroo PtK2 cells. Appropriate controls showed that our approach was sensitive enough to visualize, at the light microscopic level, individual transcriptionally active rRNA genes both in situ after experimental unfolding of nucleoli and in chromatin spreads ("Miller spreads"). Analysis of the cell cycle-dependent redistribution of transcript-associated components also revealed that most transcripts are released from the rDNA at mitosis. Upon disintegration of the nucleolus during mitosis, U3 small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) and the nucleolar proteins fibrillarin and nucleolin became dispersed throughout the cytoplasm and were excluded from the NORs. Together, our data rule out the presence of "frozen Christmas-trees" at the mitotic NORs but are compatible with the view that inactive pol I remains on the rDNA. We propose that expression of the rRNA genes is regulated during mitosis at the level of transcription elongation, similarly to what is known for a number of genes transcribed by pol II. Such a mechanism may explain the decondensed state of the NOR chromatin and the immediate transcriptional reactivation of the rRNA genes following mitosis.
Kaurenoic Acid from Pulp of Annona cherimolia in regard to Annonaceae‐induced Parkinsonism

Guadeloupean Parkinsonism has been linked epidemiologically to the consumption of Annonaceae fruits. These were proposed to be etiological agents for sporadic atypical Parkinsonism worldwide, because of their content of neurotoxins such as isoquinolinic alkaloids and Annonaceous acetogenins. The pulp of Annona cherimolia Mill. from Spain was screened for these toxic molecules using Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation – Time of Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) and it was found not to be a source of exposure. However, kaurenoic acid, a diterpene considered to be cytotoxic, was detected in high amounts (66 mg/fresh fruit). Treatment of rat embryonic striatal primary cultures, up to a high concentration (50 µ m), did not cause neuronal death nor astrogliosis, suggesting that this molecule is not at risk of implication in human neurodegenerative diseases. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On Capacity Scaling in Arbitrary Wireless Networks

In recent work, Ozgur, Leveque, and Tse (2007) obtained a complete scaling characterization of throughput scaling for random extended wireless networks (i.e., n nodes are placed uniformly at random in a square region of area n). They showed that for small path-loss exponents alpha isin (2,3], cooperative communication is order optimal, and for large path-loss exponents alpha > 3, multihop communication is order optimal. However, their results (both the communication scheme and the proof technique) are strongly dependent on the regularity induced with high probability by the random node placement. In this paper, we consider the problem of characterizing the throughput scaling in extended wireless networks with arbitrary node placement. As a main result, we propose a more general novel cooperative communication scheme that works for arbitrarily placed nodes. For small path-loss exponents alpha isin (2,3], we show that our scheme is order optimal for all node placements, and achieves exactly the same throughput scaling as in Ozgur. This shows that the regularity of the node placement does not affect the scaling of the achievable rates for alpha isin (2,3]. The situation is, however, markedly different for large path-loss exponents alpha > 3. We show that in this regime the scaling of the achievable per-node rates depends crucially on the regularity of the node placement. We then present a family of schemes that smoothly ldquointerpolaterdquo between multihop and cooperative communication, depending upon the level of regularity in the node placement. We establish order optimality of these schemes under adversarial node placement for alpha > 3.
Mouse models of neural tube defects: Investigating preventive mechanisms

Neural tube defects (NTD), including anencephaly and spina bifida, are a group of severe congenital abnormalities in which the future brain and/or spinal cord fail to close. In mice, NTD may result from genetic mutations or knockouts, or from exposure to teratogenic agents, several of which are known risk factors in humans. Among the many mouse NTD models that have been identified to date, a number have been tested for possible primary prevention of NTD by exogenous agents, such as folic acid. In genetic NTD models such as Cart1, splotch, Cited2, and crooked tail, and NTD induced by teratogens including valproic acid and fumonisins, the incidence of defects is reduced by maternal folic acid supplementation. These folate‐responsive models provide an opportunity to investigate the possible mechanisms underlying prevention of NTD by folic acid in humans. In another group of mouse models, that includes curly tail, axial defects, and the Ephrin‐A5 knockout, NTD are not preventable by folic acid, reflecting the situation in humans in which a subset of NTD appear resistant to folic acid therapy. In this group of mutants alternative preventive agents, including inositol and methionine, have been shown to be effective. Overall, the data from mouse models suggests that a broad‐based in utero therapy may offer scope for prevention of a greater proportion of NTD than is currently possible. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
RUNX3 promoter methylation in colorectal cancer: its relationship with microsatellite instability and its suitability as a novel serum tumor marker.

BACKGROUND/AIM RUNX3 is a novel gastric cancer tumor suppressor. RUNX3 promoter hypermethylation is associated with many types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. Furthermore, the RUNX3 promotor is one of the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)-specific promotors. CIMP is a distinct phenotype associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) in colorectal cancer. In this study, the suitability of the quantitative analysis of RUNX3 promoter hypermethylation as a novel serum tumor marker was investigated. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between RUNX3 promoter methylation and MSI in colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS A RUNX3 real-time quantitative methylation-specific PCR (RTQ-MSP) technique we developed was used to analyze the CpG sites in the RUNX3 promoter of 119 colorectal tumors and 344 sera from colorectal cancer patients. MSI analysis of 119 colorectal tumors was performed with five microsatellite markers (BAT25, BAT26, D5S346, D2S123, and D17S250). RESULTS Proximal colon tumors exhibited significantly higher RUNX3 methylation than their paired normal tissues (p=0.0438). Analysis of the clinicopathological parameters revealed that a proximal location (p=0.0054), lymphatic invasion (p<0.0001), and an advanced pathological stage (p=0.0018) were associated with significantly higher RUNX3 methylation. Assessment of the relationship between RUNX3 methylation and tumor MSI revealed 11 out of 13 tumors with high-frequency MSI (85%) were positive for RUNX3 hypermethylation, significantly more than the tumors with low-frequency MSI or which were microsatellite stable (34%, p=0.0070). In preoperative sera from 344 colorectal cancer patients, significantly higher RUNX3 methylation was associated with lymphatic invasion (p=0.0487) and an advanced pathological stage (p=0.0466). Post-operative follow-up data revealed that recurrence cases exhibited significantly higher preoperative serum RUNX3 methylation than non-recurrence cases (p=0.0003). Concomitant analysis of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in the preoperative sera showed that 17.7% (61/344) were CEA-negative but RUNX3 methylation-positive, which means assessing both serum RUNX3 methylation and CEA should improve diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma. CONCLUSION RTQ-MSP-based quantification of serum RUNX3 methylation is useful for the detection and monitoring of colorectal cancer.
The Effect of Bead Fusion on the Energy Absorption of Polystyrene Foam. Part I: Fracture Toughness

This report examines the effect of processing parameters on the fracture characteristics of three densities of EPS. The fracture toughness of EPS increased as a function of increased molding time and pressure because of incresing bead fusion. Bead fusion is thought to occur by molecular diffusion at the interbead contacts during the expansion process. It was characterized by quantitative fractography and was correlatde with the fracture toughness
Anchor Plate Efficiency in Postoperative Orthodontic Treatment Following Orthognathic Surgery via Minimal Presurgical Orthodontic Treatment

Purpose: The efficiency of an anchor plate placed during orthognathic surgery via minimal presurgical orthodontic treatment was evaluated by analyzing the mandibular relapse rate and dental changes. Methods: The subjects included nine patients with Class III malocclusion who had bilateral sagittal split osteotomy at the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Dentistry in Ajou University Hospital, after minimal presurgical orthodontic treatment. During orthognathic surgery, anchor plates were placed at both maxillary buttresses. The anchor plates were used to move maxillary teeth backward and for maximum anchorage of Class III elastics to minimize mandibular relapse during the postoperative orthodontic treatment. The lateral cephalometric X-ray was taken preoperatively (T0), postoperatively (T1), and one year after the surgery (T2). Seven measurements (distance from Pogonion to line Nasion-Nasion perpendicular [Pog-N Per.], angle of line B point-Nasion and Nasion-Sella [SNB], angle of line maxilla 1 root-maxilla 1 crown and Nasion-Sella [U1 to SN], distance from maxilla 1 crown to line A point-Nasion [U1 to NA], overbite, overjet, and interincisal angle) were taken. Measurements at T0 to T1 and T1 to T2 were compared and differences tested by standard statistical methods. Results: The mean skeletal change was posterior movement by 13.87±4.95 mm based on pogonion from T0 to T1, and anterior movement by 1.54±2.18 mm from T1 to T2, showing relapse of about 10.2%. There were significant changes from T0 to T1 for both Pog-N Per. and SNB (P <0.05). However, there were no statistically significant changes from T1 to T2 for both Pog-N Per. and SNB. U1 to NA that represents the anterior-posterior changes of maxillary incisor did not differ from T0 to T1, yet there was a significant change from T1 to T2 (P <0.05). Conclusion: This study found that the anchor plate minimizes mandibular relapse and moves the maxillary teeth backward during the postoperative orthodontic treatment. Thus, we conclude that the anchor plate is clinically very useful.
Fibrinolytic activity and calf pump failure

The interstitial fibrinolytic activity of the upper and lower limbs was investigated in subjects with abnormal calf pump function by measuring the lysis rate of experimentally produced subcutaneous 125I‐fibrin clots. Thirty‐three subjects with healed venous ulcers, five with varicose veins and 11 controls were studied. 125I‐fibrin clots were produced in the subcutaneous tissue of the forearms and legs and clearance half‐life was calculated. Calf pump function was assessed by foot volumetry and the ‘gaiter’ skin nutritive circulation by measuring the transcutaneous oxygen tension (PtcO2). Fibrin clearance was prolonged from the subcutaneous tissues of the legs of subjects with varicose veins and healed ulcers compared with controls. Negative correlations were found between fibrin clearance half‐life and the half‐volume refilling time (P < 0.01) and the PteO2 (P < 0.01).
Concentration Effects of Organosilane (TESPD) on Mechanical Properties of Silica Filled Silicone Rubber/Natural Rubber Compounds

Abstract The concentration effects of the silane coupling agent bis (triethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide (TESPD) on mechanical properties of silica-filled silicone rubber (SR)/natural rubber (NR) compound are investigated upon torque maximum value, tensile strength, tensile modulus and hardness. The compounds are cured with a conventional vulcanization system. The concentration range of the TESPD used is 1 to 17 phr. The optimum concentration of the TESPD is found to be 13 phr in the SR/NR compound. The degree of dispersion of silica in the rubber matrix is also examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Response to Reader's Queries

For the primary outcome, i.e., International Restless Legs Scale (IRLS) score, there were significant effect of time, which suggests improvement in all the three groups, and significant group × time interaction, suggesting differences in efficacy between the treatment groups. Post hoc comparison suggested ropinirole be more effective than bupropion and iron and folate combination as shown in Figure 1 of Vishwakarma et al.[1] However, in the absence of control group, it was assumed that both bupropion and iron and folate combination were effective treatment in RLS. In reality, both treatment groups were neither superior nor equivalent to ropinirole, which is considered as standard treatment. In such situations, it is better to report the effect sizes of the differences with 95% confidence intervals and discuss the practical significance of the finding, i.e., reduction in IRLS scores. Furthermore, it was interesting to observe that ropinirole was effective at a dose of 0.5 mg/day, which is much lower than the recommended dose of 1.5–4.6 mg/day. [2]
Partial discharge characteristics of electrical treeing in XLPE insulation exposed to voltages of different rise times

The use of pulse width modulated (PWM) waveforms allows a more flexible energy applications and management. The downside is that under such operating conditions the voltage stress imposed on the insulation systems increases, particularly as the frequency content is considerably higher than at the conventional 50 Hz sinusoidal waveform. Among various degradation mechanisms, electrical treeing is one important processes and it can be linked with a presence of partial discharge (PD) activity. In this paper, the changes in PD characteristics at different stages of degradation by electrical treeing were investigated for XLPE based insulation exposed to rapidly changing voltages of varying magnitude. The tested material samples were subjected to two square voltage shapes, each characterized by their rise-time. Here the shorter was 1 ps and the longer 0.5 ms, all tests run at 414 Hz. To compare the voltage endurance, the voltage level was gradually increased until detectable PD activity and tree initiation could be observed, both electrically and optically. Typically continuous PD appearance was observed between 23 and 32 kVpp. The total number of PDs and their characteristics were monitored as the trees were gradually growing. Here the experimental results shows that the PDs appears at lower voltage magnitudes for the shorter rise times and that the trees had a significantly less branched appearance as compared to the longer voltage rise time. These results resemble the observations that recently been presented with tests on DC voltage pre-stressed material samples exposed to impulses of reversed polarity. Additionally the measured PD characteristics were non-symmetric, having a clear polarity dependence. This finding suggests a possibility to use the presented approach for a more detailed investigating of degradation processes in solid insulation systems suitable for both HVAC and HVDC applications.
High Order Accurate Methods for the Evaluation of Layer Heat Potentials

We discuss the numerical evaluation of single and double layer heat potentials in two dimensions on stationary and moving boundaries. One of the principal difficulties in designing high order methods concerns the local behavior of the heat kernel, which is both weakly singular in time and rapidly decaying in space. We show that standard quadrature schemes suffer from a poorly recognized form of inaccuracy, which we refer to as “geometrically induced stiffness,” but that rules based on product integration of the full heat kernel in time are robust. When combined with previously developed fast algorithms for the evolution of the “history part” of layer potentials, diffusion processes in complex, moving geometries can be computed accurately and in nearly optimal time.
Anemia- and polycythemia-inducing isolates of Friend spleen focus- forming virus. Biological and molecular evidence for two distinct viral genomes

Two distinct clones of Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV), differing in their erythroleukemic potential, are described. These isolates have been cloned free of their associated helper viruses and shown to be replication-defective. Both SFFV isolates have been rescued from rat fibroblast nonproducer cell clones with cloned replication- competent viruses, F-MuLVA and F-MuLVP, obtained from the anemia- or polycythemia-inducing isolates of Friend virus complex, respectively. These rescued viruses induce a rapid proliferative disease associated with the appearance of macroscopic spleen foci and splenomegaly. In addition, each is subject to regulation by the W, Steel (Sl), and Fv-2 host gene loci. These two isolates of SFFV can, however, be distinguished by both biological and molecular criteria. Friend SFFVP induces a rapid polycythemia associated with the appearance of large numbers of erythropoietin (EPO)-independent erythroid colony-forming cells in the marrow and spleen. In contrast, SFFVA induces a rapid anemia associated with a progressive decrease in the number of EPO- dependent erythroid colony-forming cells in marrow, and a rapid increase in the number of EPO-dependent erythroid colony-forming cells in spleen. Furthermore, the nature of the disease induced by the two isolates of SFFV is independent of the Friend helper virus: SFFVP, rescued from a nonproducer cell clone with either F-MuLVA or F0MuLVP, induced a polycythemic transformation, whereas SFFVA, rescued with either F-MuLVA or F-MuLVP, induced an anemic transformation. The two Friend SFFV isolates can also be discriminated on the basis of translational products encoded by their gag and env genes: SFFVP encodes the amino-terminal gag-gene protein p15, whereas SFFVA encodes the gag-gene proteins p15, p12, and p30. In addition, the SFFV isolates encode nonidentical 55,000-mol wt env gene-related proteins that can be distinguished by analysis of their methionine-containing tryptic peptides.