Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Occurrence and Spread of Quinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli on Dairy Farms

ABSTRACT Quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli (QREC) is common in feces from young calves, but the prevalence and genetic diversity of QREC in groups of cattle of other ages and the farm environment are unknown. The aims of the study were to obtain knowledge about the occurrence of QREC on dairy farms, the genetic diversity of QREC within and between farms, and how these relate to the number of purchased animals and geographic distances between farms. We analyzed the within-sample prevalence of QREC in individual fecal samples from preweaned dairy calves and postpartum cows and in environmental samples from 23 Swedish dairy farms. The genetic diversity of the QREC isolates on 10 of these farms was assessed. In general, QREC was more prevalent in the dairy farm environment and in postpartum cows if QREC was commonly found in calves than if QREC was rare in calves. In particular, we found more QREC organisms in feed and water troughs and in environments that may come into contact with young calves. Thus, the results suggest that QREC circulates between cattle and the farm environment and that calves are important for the maintenance of QREC. Some genotypes of QREC were widespread both within and between farms, indicating that QREC has spread within the farms and likely also between farms, possibly through purchased animals. Farms that had purchased many animals over the years had greater within-farm diversity than farms with more closed animal populations. Finally, animals on more closely located farms were more likely to share the same genotype than animals on farms located far apart. IMPORTANCE This study investigates the occurrence of a specific type of antimicrobial-resistant bacterium on dairy farms. It contributes to increased knowledge about the occurrence and spread of these bacteria, and the results pave the way for actions or further studies that could help mitigate the spread of these bacteria on dairy farms and in the community as a whole.
Double-blind study of the addition of high-protein soya milk v. cows' milk to the diet of patients with severe hypercholesterolaemia and resistance to or intolerance of statins

Total substitution of soyabean protein for animal protein in the diet has been repeatedly shown to lower plasma cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolaemic individuals. A new, highly palatable, high-protein soya drink may allow replacement of a significant percentage of animal protein in the diet. The soya drink was given, within a crossover design v. a cows' milk preparation of similar composition and taste, to twenty-one severely hypercholesterolaemic patients (mean baseline plasma cholesterol 8·74 mmol/l) with a history of resistance to or intolerance of statin treatment. Each dietary supplement was given for 4 weeks, with a 4-week interval between treatments, Plasma lipid levels were monitored every 2 weeks during each dietary sequence. The concomitant dietary treatment, which had been followed for a long time by all patients, was carefully monitored throughout the study. The soya supplementation reduced plasma total cholesterol level by 6·5%, when given first, and by 7·4% when given after cows' milk. When given first, cows' milk resulted in a small, non-significant reduction of plasma cholesterol level (-3·9%), and when given after soya, it changed total plasma cholesterol to a minimal extent (-1·6%). Changes in total and LDL-cholesterol levels after 2 and 4 weeks of soya v. cows' milk treatment were, thus, respectively -6·1, -7·0 and -6·2, -7·8% (both P < 0·05). These first data from a double-blind study confirm a significant cholesterol-lowering effect of soyabean protein, even when only partly replacing animal protein in the diet, in individuals with extreme plasma cholesterol elevations.
The Quark-Gluon Vertex in Landau gauge QCD

The coupled system of the quark-gluon vertex and quark propagator Dyson-Schwinger equations (DSEs) is investigated within Landau gauge QCD. The aim is to get a deeper insight into the mechanisms of quark confinement and dynamical chiral symmetry breaking and into a possible relation between these two phenomena. To this end an earlier study is extended by improving systematically on the truncations imposed on the quark-gluon vertex DSE. A clear infrared enhancement for all tensor structures of the quark-gluon vertex is obtained.
Genetic variants in microRNAs and their binding sites within gene 3′UTRs associate with susceptibility to age‐related macular degeneration

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the elderly, is a complex disease that results from multiple genetic and environmental factors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that post‐transcriptionally regulate target mRNAs and are frequently implicated in human diseases. Here, we investigated the association of genetic variants in miRNAs and miRNA‐binding sites within gene 3′‐untranslated regions (3′UTRs) with AMD using data from the largest AMD genome‐wide association study. First, we identified three variants in miRNAs significantly associated with AMD. These include rs2168518:G>A in the miR‐4513 seed sequence, rs41292412:C>T in pre‐miR‐122/miR‐3591, and rs4351242:C>T in the terminal‐loop of pre‐miR‐3135b. We demonstrated that these variants reduce expression levels of the mature miRNAs in vitro and pointed the target genes that may mediate downstream effects of these miRNAs in AMD. Second, we identified 54 variants (in 31 genes) in miRNA‐binding sites associated with AMD. Based on stringent prioritization criteria, we highlighted the variants that are more likely to have an impact on the miRNA‐target interactions. Further, we selected rs4151672:C>T within the CFB 3′UTR and experimentally showed that while miR‐210‐5p downregulates expression of CFB, the variant decreases miR‐210‐5p‐mediated repression of CFB. Together, our findings support the notion that miRNAs may play a role in AMD.
Development and Validation of a Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS)

Objective The aim of this study was to develop a self-diagnostic scale that could distinguish smartphone addicts based on the Korean self-diagnostic program for Internet addiction (K-scale) and the smartphone's own features. In addition, the reliability and validity of the smartphone addiction scale (SAS) was demonstrated. Methods A total of 197 participants were selected from Nov. 2011 to Jan. 2012 to accomplish a set of questionnaires, including SAS, K-scale, modified Kimberly Young Internet addiction test (Y-scale), visual analogue scale (VAS), and substance dependence and abuse diagnosis of DSM-IV. There were 64 males and 133 females, with ages ranging from 18 to 53 years (M = 26.06; SD = 5.96). Factor analysis, internal-consistency test, t-test, ANOVA, and correlation analysis were conducted to verify the reliability and validity of SAS. Results Based on the factor analysis results, the subscale “disturbance of reality testing” was removed, and six factors were left. The internal consistency and concurrent validity of SAS were verified (Cronbach's alpha = 0.967). SAS and its subscales were significantly correlated with K-scale and Y-scale. The VAS of each factor also showed a significant correlation with each subscale. In addition, differences were found in the job (p<0.05), education (p<0.05), and self-reported smartphone addiction scores (p<0.001) in SAS. Conclusions This study developed the first scale of the smartphone addiction aspect of the diagnostic manual. This scale was proven to be relatively reliable and valid.
Map Location of the Rpp1 Locus That Confers Resistance to Soybean Rust in Soybean

Soybean rust (SBR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, was fi rst discovered in North America in 2004 and has the potential to become a major soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] disease in the USA. Currently, four SBR resistance genes have been identifi ed but not mapped on the soybean genetic linkage map. One of these resistance genes is the Rpp1 gene, which is present in the soybean accession PI 200492. The availability of molecular markers associated with Rpp1 will permit marker-assisted selection and expedite the incorporation of this gene into U.S. cultivars. We compared simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers between ‘Williams 82’ and the BC 5 Williams 82 isoline L85-2378, which contains the Rpp1 resistance allele from the soybean accession PI 200492, for candidate regions that might contain Rpp1. One candidate region was found with the SSR marker BARC_Sct_187 on linkage group G. A population of BC 6 F 2:3 lines segregating for the Rpp1 resistance locus was genotyped in this region on linkage group G followed by inoculation with the P. pachyrhizi isolate India 73-1 in the USDA-ARS Biosafety Level 3 Plant Pathogen Containment Facility at Ft. Detrick, MD. The Rpp1 gene was mapped between SSR markers BARC_Sct_187 and BARC_Sat_064 on linkage group G.
PREDICTION OF ATRAZINE FATE IN RIPARIAN BUFFER STRIPS SOILS USING THE ROOT ZONE WATER QUALITY MODEL

The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) was used to simulate the movement of atrazine after entry into switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Riparian Buffer Strips (RBS). A multi-species RBS located along Bear Creek, Iowa, was used as the basis for model inputs and simulation. Atrazine entered the RBS at rates representing atrazine loss in runoff of 1, 3, and 5% of a 1.5-kg ha -1 application to an adjacent cornfield. Water equivalent to runoff depths of 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5-cm from the adjacent cornfield was added to the natural rainfall to allow the model to simulate surface water entering the RBS. RBS retained about 79-94% of atrazine in runoff from the adjacent cornfield. The RZWQM predicted very low atrazine concentrations in seepage (< 3-µg L -1 ). Atrazine loss in runoff leaving the RBS was most sensitive to macropore size and plant residue, but less sensitive to soil organic matter content. At macropore sizes larger than 0.01-cm there was no atrazine in runoff leaving the RBS. Plant residue mass was directly proportional to atrazine loss in runoff, but organic matter content was inversely proportional to atrazine loss in runoff. The RZWQM needed more improvement in pesticide leaching transport, and pesticide loss in runoff components.
Glutamatergic drive along the septo-temporal axis of hippocampus boosts prelimbic oscillations in the neonatal mouse

The long-range coupling within prefrontal-hippocampal networks that account for cognitive performance emerges early in life. The discontinuous hippocampal theta bursts have been proposed to drive the generation of neonatal prefrontal oscillations, yet the cellular substrate of these early interactions is still unresolved. Here, we selectively target optogenetic manipulation of glutamatergic projection neurons in the CA1 area of either dorsal or intermediate/ventral hippocampus at neonatal age to elucidate their contribution to the emergence of prefrontal oscillatory entrainment. We show that despite stronger theta and ripples power in dorsal hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex is mainly coupled with intermediate/ventral hippocampus by phase-locking of neuronal firing via dense direct axonal projections. Theta band-confined activation by light of pyramidal neurons in intermediate/ventral but not dorsal CA1 that were transfected by in utero electroporation with high-efficiency channelrhodopsin boosts prefrontal oscillations. Our data causally elucidates the cellular origin of the long-range coupling in the developing brain. Highlights Neonatal theta bursts, sharp waves and ripples vary along septo-temporal axis Hippocampal activity times prefrontal oscillations via direct axonal projections Selective hippocampal targeting along septo-temporal axis causes precise firing Light stimulation of hippocampal neurons at 8 Hz boosts prefrontal oscillations
Self-Esteem in Hearing-Impaired Children: The Influence of Communication, Education, and Audiological Characteristics

Objective Sufficient self-esteem is extremely important for psychosocial functioning. It is hypothesized that hearing-impaired (HI) children have lower levels of self-esteem, because, among other things, they frequently experience lower language and communication skills. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare HI children's self-esteem across different domains with those of normal hearing (NH) children and to investigate the influence of communication, type of education, and audiological characteristics. Methods This large (N = 252) retrospective, multicenter study consisted of two age- and gender-matched groups: 123 HI children and 129 NH controls (mean age = 11.8 years). Self-reports were used to measure self-esteem across four domains: perceived social acceptance by peers, perceived parental attention, perceived physical appearance, and global self-esteem. Results HI children experienced lower levels of self-esteem regarding peers and parents than NH controls. Particularly HI children who attended special education for the deaf were at risk, even after correcting for their language development and intelligence. Yet, levels of global self-esteem and self-esteem involving physical appearance in HI children equalled those of NH controls. Furthermore, younger age at implantation and longer duration of having cochlear implants (CIs) were related to higher levels of self-esteem. Conclusion HI children experience lower levels of self-esteem in the social domains. Yet, due to the heterogeneity of the HI population, there is high variability in levels of self-esteem. Discussion Clinicians must always be aware of the risk and protective factors related to self-esteem in order to help individual patients reach their full potential.
Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Cryptosporidium Infection in Java Sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora) in Northern China

Cryptosporidiosis is a cosmopolitan parasitosis that affects a wide range of hosts including birds. As information concerning Cryptosporidium in birds is limited, the present study examined the prevalence and genotypes of Cryptosporidium in Java sparrows in Beijing and Shangqiu, northern China. Three hundred and fifty fecal samples were collected from Java sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora, 225 white Java sparrows and 125 gray Java sparrows) in Beijing and Shangqiu in October 2015, and the samples were examined by PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. The overall Cryptosporidium prevalence is 13.42% (47/350), with 16.44% (37/225) in white Java sparrows and 8.00% (10/125) in gray Java sparrows. Cryptosporidium prevalence was 9.82% (16/163) in Java sparrows from Beijing and 16.58% (31/187) in Java sparrows from Shangqiu. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in females and males was 40.63% (26/64) and 7.34% (21/286), respectively. The Cryptosporidium prevalence in Java sparrows of different ages varied from 10.47% to 16.33%. Sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene revealed that all the samples represented C. baileyi. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium in gray Java sparrows in China, which extend the host range for C. baileyi. These results provide baseline information for further studies of molecular epidemiology and control of Cryptosporidium infection in poultry in China.
Association of Delayed Adjuvant Chemotherapy With Survival After Lung Cancer Surgery

Importance Adjuvant chemotherapy offers a survival benefit to a number of staging scenarios in non–small-cell lung cancer. Variable recovery from lung cancer surgery may delay a patient’s ability to tolerate adjuvant chemotherapy, yet the urgency of chemotherapy initiation is unclear. Objective To assess differences in survival according to the time interval between non–small-cell lung cancer resection and the initiation of postoperative chemotherapy to determine the association between adjuvant treatment timing and efficacy. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective observational study examined treatment-naive patients with completely resected non–small-cell lung cancer who received postoperative multiagent chemotherapy between 18 and 127 days after resection between January 2004 and December 2012. The study population was limited to patients with lymph node metastases, tumors 4 cm or larger, or local extension. Patients were identified from the National Cancer Database, a hospital-based tumor registry that captures more than 70% of incident lung cancer cases in the United States. The association between time to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy and survival was evaluated using Cox models with restricted cubic splines. Exposures Adjuvant chemotherapy administered at different time points after surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures Effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy according to time to initiation after surgery. Results A total of 12 473 patients (median [interquartile range] age, 64 [57-70] years) were identified: 3073 patients (25%) with stage I disease; 5981 patients (48%), stage II; and 3419 patients (27%), stage III. A Cox model with restricted cubic splines identified the lowest mortality risk when chemotherapy was started 50 days postoperatively (95% CI, 39-56 days). Initiation of chemotherapy after this interval (57-127 days; ie, the later cohort) did not increase mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.037; 95% CI, 0.972-1.105; P = .27). Furthermore, in a Cox model of 3976 propensity-matched pairs, patients who received chemotherapy during the later interval had a lower mortality risk than those treated with surgery only (HR, 0.664; 95% CI, 0.623-0.707; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance In the National Cancer Database, adjuvant chemotherapy remained efficacious when started 7 to 18 weeks after non–small-cell lung cancer resection. Patients who recover slowly from non–small-cell lung cancer surgery may still benefit from delayed adjuvant chemotherapy started up to 4 months after surgery.
Statistical Sparse Online Regression: A Diffusion Approximation Perspective

In this paper we adopt the diﬀusion approximation perspective to investigate Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) for least squares, which allows us to characterize the exact dynamics of the online regression process. As a consequence, we show that SGD achieves the optimal rate of convergence, up to a logarithmic factor. We further show SGD com-bined with the trajectory average achieves a faster rate, by eliminating the logarithmic factor. We extend SGD to the high dimensional setting by proposing a two-step algorithm: a burn-in step using oﬄine learning and a reﬁnement step using a variant of truncated stochastic gradient descent. Under appropriate assumptions, we show the proposed algorithm produces near optimal sparse estimators. Numerical experiments lend further support to our obtained theory.
Deformation and Source Parameters of the 2015 Mw 6.5 Earthquake in Pishan, Western China, from Sentinel-1A and ALOS-2 Data

In this study, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) was used to determine the seismogenic fault and slip distribution of the 3 July 2015 Pishan earthquake in the Tarim Basin, western China. We obtained a coseismic deformation map from the ascending and descending Sentinel-1A satellite Terrain Observation with Progressive Scans (TOPS) mode and the ascending Advanced Land Observation Satellite-2 (ALOS-2) satellite Fine mode InSAR data. The maximum ground uplift and subsidence were approximately 13.6 cm and 3.2 cm, respectively. Our InSAR observations associated with focal mechanics indicate that the source fault dips to southwest (SW). Further nonlinear inversions show that the dip angle of the seimogenic fault is approximate 24°, with a strike of 114°, which is similar with the strike of the southeastern Pishan fault. However, this fault segment responsible for the Pishan event has not been mapped before. Our finite fault model reveals that the peak slip of 0.89 m occurred at a depth of 11.6 km, with substantial slip at a depth of 9–14 km and a near-uniform slip of 0.2 m at a depth of 0–7 km. The estimated moment magnitude was approximately Mw 6.5, consistent with seismological results.
Intra‐ and inter‐day reproducibility of low‐flow mediated constriction response in young adults

When assessing brachial endothelial function by reactive hyperaemia, stopping blood flow creates a period of low‐flow‐mediated constriction (L‐FMC). As little is known about how this parameter influences flow‐mediated vasodilation (FMD), the purpose of this study was to better understand this relationship and to determine the intra‐ and interday reproducibility of brachial L‐FMC.
The Study on the Droop Effect in the InGaN/AlGaInN MQWs With Lattice-Matched AlGaN/InGaN Superlattices Barrier by Highly Excited Photoluminescence Measurementctions

We have fabricated the InGaN/AlGaInN multiple quantum wells with lattice-matched AlGaN/InGaN superlattices barriers (SL-MQWs). The lattice-matched superlattices promote the formation of the high-quality MQWs and eliminate the large polarization electric field. Highly excited photoluminescence measurement is performed by Ti-sapphire pulse laser with the maximal carrier density of 1020 cm−3. Under such high carrier density, the conventional InGaN/GaN MQWs (C-MQWs) have an additional nonradiative loss of carriers and suffer from the efficiency droop effect, while slight droop behavior is observed in the SL-MQWs sample. The results show that the substitution of AlGaN/InGaN superlattices as quantum barriers can effectively suppress the droop behavior at highly excited condition.
Access to Environmental Reward Mediates the Relation Between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Alcohol Problems and Craving

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) show significant comorbidity with alcohol use, but little is known about the mechanisms that might account for this comorbidity. Deficits in reward functioning have long been implicated in alcohol misuse and more recently in PTS reactions, but no study has examined whether reward deprivation may serve as a transdiagnostic risk factor for comorbid PTS-alcohol misuse. The current cross-sectional study sought to test the behavioral economic hypothesis that reward deprivation would be related to both PTS symptoms and alcohol problems, and would mediate the relation between PTS symptoms and alcohol problems in college students. We recruited a diverse sample of urban college students (N = 203, Mage = 21.5 years, SD = 5.5; 79.5% female; 56.8% White, 28.1% Black, .9% Asian, 9.8% Multiracial) who endorsed both alcohol use and PTS symptoms. Reward deprivation (lack of access to, and ability to, experience reward) was related to alcohol problems, and a lack of access to reward was related to PTS symptoms. Furthermore, reward access mediated the relation between PTS symptoms and alcohol problems and craving, after controlling for alcohol use, age, gender, and race. These data provide preliminary support for behavioral economic models of alcohol comorbidity and suggest that treatments for combined PTS and alcohol misuse should attempt to reduce barriers to accessing natural rewards.