Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rabies in the Baltic States: Decoding a Process of Control and Elimination

Rabies is a fatal zoonosis that still causes nearly 70, 000 human deaths every year. In Europe, the oral rabies vaccination (ORV) of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was developed in the late 1970s and has demonstrated its effectiveness in the eradication of the disease in Western and some Central European countries. Following the accession of the three Baltic countries—Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—to the European Union in 2004, subsequent financial support has allowed the implementation of regular ORV campaigns since 2005–2006. This paper reviews ten years of surveillance efforts and ORV campaigns in these countries resulting in the near eradication of the disease. The various factors that may have influenced the results of vaccination monitoring were assessed using generalized linear models (GLMs) on bait uptake and on herd immunity. As shown in previous studies, juveniles had lower bait uptake level than adults. For the first time, raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) were shown to have significantly lower bait uptake proportion compared with red foxes. This result suggests potentially altered ORV effectiveness in this invasive species compared to the red foxes. An extensive phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the North-East European (NEE) rabies phylogroup is endemic in all three Baltic countries. Although successive oral vaccination campaigns have substantially reduced the number of detected rabies cases, sporadic detection of the C lineage (European part of Russian phylogroup) underlines the risk of reintroduction via westward spread from bordering countries. Vaccine induced cases were also reported for the first time in non-target species (Martes martes and Meles meles).
Autoantibodies May Predict Immune-Related Toxicity: Results from a Phase I Study of Intralesional Bacillus Calmette–Guérin followed by Ipilimumab in Patients with Advanced Metastatic Melanoma

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of advanced melanoma. The first ICI to demonstrate clinical benefit, ipilimumab, targets cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4); however, the long-term overall survival is just 22%. More than 40 years ago intralesional (IL) bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), a living attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, was found to induce tumor regression by stimulating cell-mediated immunity following a localized and self-limiting infection. We evaluated these two immune stimulants in combination with melanoma with the aim of developing a more effective immunotherapy and to assess toxicity. In this phase I study, patients with histologically confirmed stage III/IV metastatic melanoma received IL BCG injection followed by up to four cycles of intravenous ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4) (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01838200). The trial was discontinued following treatment of the first five patients as the two patients receiving the escalation dose of BCG developed high-grade immune-related adverse events (irAEs) typical of ipilimumab monotherapy. These irAEs were characterized in both patients by profound increases in the repertoire of autoantibodies directed against both self- and cancer antigens. Interestingly, the induced autoantibodies were detected at time points that preceded the development of symptomatic toxicity. There was no overlap in the antigen specificity between patients and no evidence of clinical responses. Efforts to increase response rates through the use of novel immunotherapeutic combinations may be associated with higher rates of irAEs, thus the imperative to identify biomarkers of toxicity remains strong. While the small patient numbers in this trial do not allow for any conclusive evidence of predictive biomarkers, the observed changes warrant further examination of autoantibody repertoires in larger patient cohorts at risk of developing irAEs during their course of treatment. In summary, dose escalation of IL BCG followed by ipilimumab therapy was not well tolerated in advanced melanoma patients and showed no evidence of clinical benefit. Measuring autoantibody responses may provide early means for identifying patients at risk from developing severe irAEs during cancer immunotherapy.
Survival and functional and oncological outcomes following intersphincteric resection for low rectal cancer: short-term results

Objective This study was performed to evaluate the 1-year survival rate and functional outcomes of 20 patients who underwent intersphincteric resection (ISR) for low rectal cancer. Methods Twenty patients who underwent ISR for low rectal cancer were followed up for 1 year. Complications, functional outcomes objectified by the Wexner score, and oncological outcomes were assessed. Results The short-term survival rate was 100%. The median Wexner score was ≤10 in all patients at 12 months after surgery. Signs of local recurrence were absent, and antigen levels remained within the reference ranges 1 year postoperatively. Conclusions ISR is a feasible alternative in highly selected patients who primarily refuse a colostomy bag and present with type II or III tumors. In the present study, patient-reported continence was satisfactory, and the absence of a colostomy bag increased patients’ quality of life. The oncological outcomes were satisfactory at 1 year postoperatively.
The Onset and Time Course of Semantic Priming During Rapid Recognition of Visual Words

In 2 experiments, we assessed the effects of response latency and task-induced goals on the onset and time course of semantic priming during rapid processing of visual words as revealed by ocular response tasks. In Experiment 1 (ocular lexical decision task), participants performed a lexical decision task using eye movement responses on a sequence of 4 words. In Experiment 2, the same words were encoded for an episodic recognition memory task that did not require a metalinguistic judgment. For both tasks, survival analyses showed that the earliest observable effect (divergence point [DP]) of semantic priming on target-word reading times occurred at approximately 260 ms, and ex-Gaussian distribution fits revealed that the magnitude of the priming effect increased as a function of response time. Together, these distributional effects of semantic priming suggest that the influence of the prime increases when target processing is more effortful. This effect does not require that the task include a metalinguistic judgment; manipulation of the task goals across experiments affected the overall response speed but not the location of the DP or the overall distributional pattern of the priming effect. These results are more readily explained as the result of a retrospective, rather than a prospective, priming mechanism and are consistent with compound-cue models of semantic priming.
Mental Health of Transgender Veterans in US States With and Without Discrimination and Hate Crime Legal Protection.

OBJECTIVES To examine whether indicators of community- and state-level lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality are associated with transgender veterans' mental health. METHODS We extracted Veterans Administration data for patients who were diagnosed with gender identity disorder, had at least 1 visit in 2013, and lived in a zip code with a Municipality Equality Index score (n = 1640). We examined the associations of whether a state included transgender status in employment nondiscrimination laws and in hate crimes laws with mood disorders; alcohol, illicit drug, and tobacco use disorders; posttraumatic stress disorder; and suicidal ideation or attempt. RESULTS Nearly half (47.3%) of the sample lived in states with employment discrimination protection, and 44.8% lived in states with hate crimes protection. Employment nondiscrimination protection was associated with 26% decreased odds of mood disorders (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.59, 0.93) and 43% decreased odds of self-directed violence (AOR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.34, 0.95). CONCLUSIONS Understanding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social stressors can inform treatment and care coordination for transgender populations.
Validation of a Simple 0 to 10 Numerical Score (IBD-10) of Patient-reported Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity for Routine Clinical Use

Background:Various physician- and patient-reported instruments exist for quantification of disease activity in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) but none are widely used in routine clinical practice. A simple patient-reported outcome measure might help inform clinical decision making. We evaluated a patient-reported 0 to 10 score of IBD activity (IBD-10) by correlation with conventional multicomponent activity indices. Methods:A single-center prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in ambulant patients with IBD. Patients were asked to verbally rate the control of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) on a numerical scale from 0 to 10, with 10 indicating perfect control. Disease activity was assessed using Harvey–Bradshaw index for CD and simple clinical colitis activity index for UC. Results:A total of 405 patients were included, of whom 209 (52%) had CD and 196 (48%) had UC. The median age was 41 (interquartile range, 27–55) years. IBD-10 correlated well with Harvey–Bradshaw Index (rs = −0.69, P < 0.001) and simple clinical colitis activity index (rs = −0.79, P < 0.001). An IBD-10 score of ≥7 predicted remission (defined by Harvey–Bradshaw index/simple clinical colitis activity index) with 90% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI], 86–94) and 75% specificity (95% CI, 67–82). The discriminatory ability of IBD-10 for remission was better for UC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89–0.97) than for CD (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.81–0.91; P = 0.035). An IBD-10 score of <7 correlated with treatment escalation. Conclusions:The IBD-10 score correlates well with more complex clinical activity indices. Correlation was less strong for CD than for UC, possibly reflecting a weaker link in CD between stool frequency and the patient perspective of disease activity. The IBD-10 score could readily be used in routine clinical practice.
Real-life evaluation of COPD treatment in a Bulgarian population: a 1-year prospective, observational, noninterventional study

Introduction This was the first study designed to prospectively evaluate treatment patterns in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the degree of adherence with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy recommendations in routine clinical practice in Bulgaria. Methods The study was conducted in an outpatient setting and enrolled patients of both genders, aged >40 years, who were diagnosed with COPD (as per GOLD 2013). Evaluations were performed at baseline and at 6- and 12-month visits. Results Of the 811 enrolled patients, 719 were assessed and completed the 12-month observation period. Overall, a substantial number of patients experienced moderate airflow limitation (~49% patients, GOLD 2 as per GOLD 2013; mean postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second value was ~50% of the predicted value), belonged to GOLD group D (~51% patients), and had COPD assessment test score ≥10 or modified Medical Research Council score ≥2 (~79% patients), and ≤1 exacerbation in the past 1 year (~80% patients). Short-acting β2-agonists (~63% patients), inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting β2-agonist fixed-dose combination (~62% patients), and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (~59% patients) were the most frequently used medications at all visits, regardless of severity. High levels of deviation from GOLD recommendations were observed in GOLD groups A and B patients. The deviation comprised high use of inhaled corticosteroid-containing regimens in ~45% and 63% of patients in GOLD groups A and B, respectively. Only 25 (3%) of the 796 patients reported at least one adverse event. Conclusion The routine clinical practice for COPD in Bulgaria deviates from the GOLD recommendations largely in patients at a low risk (GOLD groups A and B), while the deviation was lesser in those at a higher risk (GOLD groups C and D).
Highly thermal-stable and functional cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibrils produced using fully recyclable organic acids

Here we report the production of highly thermal stable and functional cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and nanofibrils (CNF) by hydrolysis using concentrated organic acids. Due to their low water solubility, these solid organic acids can be easily recovered after hydrolysis reactions through crystallization at a lower or ambient temperature. When dicarboxylic acids were used, the resultant CNC surface contained carboxylic acid groups which facilitate functionalization and dispersion in aqueous processing. The carboxylic acid group content was 0.1–0.4 mmol g−1 for CNC produced from a bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp (BEP) using oxalic acid at concentrations of 50–70 wt%. The onset thermal degradation temperature for the CNC was increased to 322 °C from 274 °C for the feed BEP fibers, compared with 218 °C for CNC produced from the same feed fibers using conventional concentrated sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The low strength (high pKa) of organic acids also resulted in CNC with longer lengths of approximately 275–380 nm and higher crystallinity than those produced using mineral acids. Fibrous cellulosic solid residue (FCSR) collected from acid hydrolysis was an excellent feedstock for producing CNF through subsequent mechanical fibrillation with low energy input. The ability to recover organic acids using a conventional and commercially proven crystallization method makes these organic acids uniquely suitable for sustainable and green production of cellulose nanomaterials. The resultant CNC and CNF with high thermal stability and a large aspect ratio are excellent for bio-composite applications.
Broiler breeder performance in response to diet protein and energy.

Two hundred and forty Hubbard X Hubbard broiler breeders at 19 weeks of age were weight-sorted and transferred to individual laying cages where one of six experimental diets was provided to 41 weeks of age. Each diet was represented by 10 replicate groups of 4 individually caged and fed birds. Feed allocation was gradually increased to 150 g/bird per day, which provided 19 or 25 g crude protein and either 325, 385, or 450 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/bird per day. Hens were inseminated every 7 days with . 05 ml pooled semen from Hubbard males. Hen-day production was 1.6% lower with the high vs. low protein intake. Peak egg production occurred at 31 weeks and was 77.3, 87.9, and 84.1% for the low (L), medium (M), and high energy (H) intakes, respectively (P less than or equal to .01). Egg weight increased as the protein or energy intake increased; yolk content increased as energy intake increased or as broiler breeders aged (P less than or equal to .01). Carcass fat, protein, and moisture content of defeathered 41-week-old breeders were L: 45.5, 44.4, 56.6; M: 49.0, 40.4, 54.8; and H: 58.4, 32.5, 50.4, respectively (P less than or equal to .01). There were no dietary effects on hatchability, embryonic mortality, or fertility. From 32 to 35 weeks of age the higher protein intake increased egg weight by 1.2 g (P less than or equal to .05) and chick weight by . 6 g; whereas hatched live chick weight was 39.6, 39.7, and 41.0, for L, M, and H diets, respectively (P less than or equal to .05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Evolution of Serum 25OHD in Response to Vitamin D3–Fortified Yogurts Consumed by Healthy Menopausal Women: A 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Interactions between Doses, Baseline Vitamin D Status, and Seasonality

ABSTRACT Background: Adequate vitamin D status contributes to bone fragility risk reduction and possibly other pathological conditions that occur with aging. In response to pharmaceutical vitamin D3 supplements, several studies have documented the influence of doses, baseline status, and seasonality on serum 25-hydroyvitamin D (s25OHD). Objective: Using fortified yogurt, we investigated in one randomized controlled trial how both baseline status, as assessed by measuring s25OHD prior the onset of the trial, and the season of enrollment quantitatively influenced the response to the supplemented (Suppl.) of vitamin D3 (VitD3) in healthy community-dwelling women. Methods: A 24-week controlled trial was conducted in menopausal women (mean age: 61.5). Participants were randomized into 3 groups (Gr): Gr.Suppl.0, time controls maintaining dietary habits; Gr.Suppl.5 and Gr.Suppl.10 consuming one and two 125-g servings of VitD3-fortified yogurts with 5- and 10-µg daily doses, respectively. The 16 intervention weeks lasted from early January to mid-August, the 8 follow-up weeks, without product, from late August to mid-October. Before enrollment, subjects were randomized into 2 s25OHD strata: low stratum (LoStr): 25–50 nmol/L; high stratum (HiStr): >50–75 nmol/L. Results: All enrolled participants adhered to the protocol throughout the 24-week study: Gr.Suppl.0 (n = 45), Gr.Suppl.5 (n = 44), and Gr.Suppl.10 (n = 44). Over the 16 intervention and 8 follow-up weeks, s25OHD increased in both supplemented groups, more in Gr.Suppl.10 than in Gr.Suppl.5. At the end of the intervention, the subject proportion with s25OHD ≥ 50 nmol/L was 37.8, 54.5, and 63.6% in Gr.Suppl.0, Gr.Suppl.5, and Gr.Suppl.10, respectively. The constant rate of s25OHD per supplemental VitD3 microgram was greater in LoStr than HiStr. The s25OHD increase was greater with late (mid-March) than early (mid-January) inclusion. Conclusion: This randomized trial demonstrates (1) a dose-dependent s25OHD improvement related to fortified yogurt consumption; (2) an inversely baseline-dependent increase in s25OHD; and (3) a seasonal effect that highlights the importance of VitD3-fortified foods during winter, even at 5 µg/d, in healthy menopausal women.
Interrelationship between sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, calcium, and phosphorus in laying hen diets.

Three experiments were conducted with Hy-Line W-36 laying hens housed in individual wire cages in open type houses. The first and second experiments were designed to investigate the effects of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate fed at two levels of dietary total phosphorus (.30 and .60%). The third experiment was designed to study the interrelationships between age and sodium source. Supplementing sodium chloride at two levels (.37 and 1.11%) did not effect hen performance, except that egg production was better at the lower NaCl. Egg production was greater when . 60 rather than . 30% dietary phosphorus was fed. Egg specific gravity and egg weight were decreased at the lower dietary phosphorus. The addition of 1.6% sodium bicarbonate in the sodium chloride-free diets was deleterious to hen performance in all experiments. High mortality was observed in both experiments in which hens were fed diets containing high sodium and low chloride. Plasma calcium and phosphorus levels were significantly depressed in hens fed diets containing the lower phosphorus. Blood pH, base excess, bicarbonate, and total carbon dioxide were significantly increased by sodium bicarbonate supplementation, and these values were found to be inversely related to dietary phosphorus levels.
Evaluation of Corneal Biomechanics After Excimer Laser Corneal Refractive Surgery in High Myopic Patients Using Dynamic Scheimpflug Technology

Objective: To compare the effect of femtosecond-assisted thin flap laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy with mitomycin-C (PRK-MMC) in highly myopic patients (>7.0 D [D]) on corneal biomechanical parameters. Methods: In this prospective comparative interventional case series, 60 patients (30 patients in each group) with a manifest refractive spherical equivalent (MRSE) greater than 7.0 D were enrolled. Corvis ST parameters were measured before and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Results: Preoperatively, mean MRSE was −8.65±1.51 D in FS-LASIK and −8.04±1.70 D in PRK-MMC groups (P=0.149), and corneal thickness was 570.67±36.79 &mgr;m and 507.12±32.55 &mgr;m, respectively (P<0.001). At 6 months, both groups showed significantly higher applanation (A) 2 time and A2-velocity (P<0.05 in both), whereas intraocular pressure (IOP), corrected IOP, A1 time, A1-velocity, and radius at highest concavity were significantly reduced (P<0.05 in all). In the FS-LASIK group, there was a significant increase in deformation amplitude (DA) (P=0.001), and significant decreases in A2-length (P=0.004). Peak distance increased in the PRK-MMC group (P=0.029). At 6 months, after controlling for fellow eye correlations and preoperative corneal thickness between the two groups, decreases in IOP, A1-time, A2-length and radius, and the increase in DA was greater in FS-LASIK. Conclusion: This study demonstrated significant changes in Corvis ST ocular biomechanical metrics after both PRK-MMC and FS-LASIK in high myopic patients, indicating the significant effect of excimer laser refractive surgery on corneal biomechanical properties. However, changes that occur with FS-LASIK are more significant than with PRK-MMC. Further randomized studies are needed to better characterize the pattern of biomechanical changes associated with each type of surgery.
Rocking behaviour of simple unreinforced load-bearing masonry walls including soundproofing rubber layers

This paper compares experimental measurements with predictions of different rocking models. These comparisons are carried out on the base of recent experimental results obtained by shake-table tests of four simple unreinforced load-bearing clay masonry walls that have exhibited a significant rocking behaviour for the highest acceleration inputs. In a first stage, the simple model proposed by Housner is used after slight modifications needed to properly consider the actual mass distribution. Two parameters are identified as governing the model response, namely the criterion defining the initiation of motion and the restitution coefficient. Then, a two stacked blocks model is developed and solved by an event-driven strategy. This two-block model is intended to allow a better description of the behaviour of tested specimens through a more precise modelling of the additional mass. Finally, the presence of rubber layers positioned at the top and bottom of two of the tested walls with the purpose of improving their acoustic behaviour required the development of an updated rocking model with viscous and flexible interfaces at the base of the wall and between the two stacked blocks. The properties of these interfaces are deduced from experimental data and their significant influence on the response is evidenced.