Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prion strains in mammals: Different conformations leading to disease

Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders affecting mammals with a diverse etiology. Although rare, most of the cases occur spontaneously in humans, with a minority being inherited or acquired by infection. Prion disease in ruminants such as sheep, goat, and deer are relatively frequent and likely feed borne [1] or environmentally transmitted [2]. The confirmed zoonotic potential of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and the still unknown consequences of other animal prionopathies to humans have placed these diseases in the spotlight. “Prions” refers to proteinaceous infectious particles. This concept was originally defined after the pathological properties of the disease-associated prion protein (also termed PrP). These unique infectious agents exist in a wide variety of “strains. ” Prion strain variation was first suggested in 1961 by Pattison and Millson, who identified different phenotypes in experimentally infected goats [3]. This concept was later proven in inbred laboratory rodents, which also showed prion disease-specific phenotypes, brain-lesion profiles, and incubation periods [4]. The existence of prion strains was originally difficult to rationalize with the idea that the causative agent in these diseases was composed only by misfolded proteins, particularly considering that, in most cases, strain variation was documented within the same animal species (expressing a single cellular prion protein [PrP] sequence). Current evidence suggests that the main difference between prion strains lies in the different conformational arrangements that PrP acquires [5]. These infectious particles “transmit” their particular conformational motifs to the normally folded proteins expressed in the host, leading to specific disease features.
Workplace Violence Process against Emergency Medical Services Staffs: A Grounded Theory.

BACKGROUND Workplace Violence (WPV) is an undesirable social phenomenon that threatens patients and staff safety and work environments. Despite the high prevalence of WPV and its serious consequences, limited studies have been conducted on its roots and formation in pre-hospital emergency. The aim of this study was to explore and explain the process of workplace violence against emergency medical service personnel. METHODS This qualitative study was performed using grounded theory approach in 2015. The study participants included 17 Emergency Medical Service (EMS) staffs working in Tehran and Guilan provinces, Iran. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Strauss/Corbin approach and constant comparative method. The paradigm model of WPV is presented in this study. RESULTS "Serving within the context of workplace violence" was presented as the main theory. Five main groups of paradigm model theory were identified as triggers, context, and intensifiers of violence, copying strategies, and outcomes. The important consequences of violence include physical and psychological health injury of staff in the process of service delivery. CONCLUSIONS Despite their repeated exposure to violence and its consequences, EMS staffs usually fulfill their main role and perform their tasks. Training of stress management, familiarizing the community with the responsibilities of EMS, reducing response time, creating efficient communication systems, using appropriate facilities and manpower, training violence control, improving employees' job satisfaction, and coordinating cooperation with the police can reduce workplace violence. The supporting of the WPV victims is essential to improve the health and safety of EMS staff.
Cytology and molecular phylogenetics of Monoblepharidomycetes provide evidence for multiple independent origins of the hyphal habit in the Fungi

The evolution of filamentous hyphae underlies an astounding diversity of fungal form and function. We studied the cellular structure and evolutionary origins of the filamentous form in the Monoblepharidomycetes (Chytridiomycota), an early-diverging fungal lineage that displays an exceptional range of body types, from crescent-shaped single cells to sprawling hyphae. To do so, we combined light and transmission electron microscopic analyses of hyphal cytoplasm with molecular phylogenetic reconstructions. Hyphae of Monoblepharidomycetes lack a complex aggregation of secretory vesicles at the hyphal apex (i.e. Spitzenkörper), have centrosomes as primary microtubule organizing centers and have stacked Golgi cisternae instead of tubular/fenestrated Golgi equivalents. The cytoplasmic distribution of actin in Monoblepharidomycetes is comparable to the arrangement observed previously in other filamentous fungi. To discern the origins of Monoblepharidomycetes hyphae, we inferred a phylogeny of the fungi based on 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA sequence data with maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. We focused sampling on Monoblepharidomycetes to infer intergeneric relationships within the class and determined 78 new sequences. Analyses showed class Monoblepharidomycetes to be monophyletic and nested within Chytridiomycota. Hyphal Monoblepharidomycetes formed a clade sister to the genera without hyphae, Harpochytrium and Oedogoniomyces. A likelihood ancestral state reconstruction indicated that hyphae arose independently within the Monoblepharidomycetes lineage and in at least two other lineages. Cytological differences among monoblepharidalean and other fungal hyphae are consistent with these convergent origins.
Genetic Parameters and Inbreeding Depression of Litter Weight in Pannon White Rabbits

Genetic parameters and inbreeding depression were estimated for litter weight at day 21 of a synthetic Pannon White rabbit population selected as a closed population since 1992. Th e data fi le consisted of 15652 kindling records of 3711 rabbit does (mated to 933 bucks) collected between 1992 and 2009. Th e total number of animals in the pedigree fi le was 4804. REML and BLUP procedures were applied using repeatability animal model (VCE and PEST soft ware). Th e estimated narrow sense heritability for litter weight was low (0.080.01). Th e estimated permanent environmental eff ects showed higher relative importance compared to the additive genetic eff ects (0.130.01). Analyzing the inbreeding depression simultaneously for all parities, increasing the inbreeding coeffi cient by 10% had small positive eff ect on litter weight (0.028 kg) but the estimate was not signifi cant (p=0.30). When the inbreeding depression was estimated by parities small depressions (-0.023, -0.045 and -0.021 kg) were found for the 2-4th parity groups but the estimates were not signifi cant (p=0.59, 0.23 and 0.61, respectively). On the contrary a signifi cant positive eff ect was observed for the 1st parity (0.198 kg; p=0.01). Th e small positive estimate estimated at the 5th parity (0.033 kg) was not signifi cant (p=0.39).
The IFN‐inducible nucleoprotein IFI 16 is expressed in cells of the monocyte lineage, but is rapidly and markedly down‐regulated in other myeloid precursor populations

IFI 16 is an interferon‐inducible nucleoprotein expressed by human monocytes. IFI 16 and a related mouse protein, p202, control cellular proliferation by binding and modulating the functions of cell cycle regulatory factors including p53 and the retinoblastoma gene product, pRb. In this study, we examined IFI 16 expression in myeloid precursor cells cultured in vitro in colony‐forming assays using granulocyte (G‐) and granulocyte‐macrophage (GM‐) colony‐stimulating factor (CSF). IFI 16 was expressed in 100% of CD34+ cells isolated from human bone marrow. When the CD34+ cells were induced to differentiate, two subpopulations of cells were identified by two‐color cytofluorography: the CD14+ (monocytoid) cells all expressed IFI 16, whereas the CD14– (polymorphonuclear precursor) cells did not. The strongest expression of IFI 16 was in the cells staining brightest for CD14, whereas depletion of CD14+ monocytoid cells from mixed monocytic/granulocytic cultures largely abolished IFI 16‐stained cells. Furthermore, in eight independent colony‐forming assays, the number of IFI 16+ cells correlated closely with the numbers of monocyte precursors identified morphologically (R2 = 0.99), but was unrelated to the numbers of myelocytes, promyelocytes, and metamyelocytes; nor was IFI 16 expressed by erythroid or eosinophil precursors. We conclude that IFI 16 is expressed in CD34+ and monocytoid daughter cells, but is rapidly and markedly down‐regulated at the corresponding stages of polymorphonuclear and erythroid development. This differential expression of IFI 16 in myeloid precursor subpopulations and its perceived molecular properties are consistent with a possible role in regulating myelopoiesis. J. Leukoc. Biol. 64: 546–554; 1998.
Vitamin D status in autism spectrum disorders and the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in autistic children

Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by pervasive deficits in social interaction, impairment in verbal and non-verbal communication, and stereotyped patterns of interests and activities. Vitamin-D deficiency was previously reported in autistic children. However, the data on the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of autism are limited. Methods: We performed a case–controlled cross-sectional analysis conducted on 122 ASD children, to assess their vitamin D status compared to controls and the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of autism. We also conducted an open trial of vitamin D supplementation in ASD children. Results: Fifty-seven percent of the patients in the present study had vitamin D deficiency, and 30% had vitamin D insufficiency. The mean 25-OHD levels in patients with severe autism were significantly lower than those in patients with mild/moderate autism. Serum 25-OHD levels had significant negative correlations with Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores. Of the ASD group, 106 patients with low-serum 25-OHD levels (<30 ng/ml) participated in the open label trial. They received vitamin D3 (300 IU/kg/day not to exceed 5000 IU/day) for 3 months. Eighty-three subjects completed 3 months of daily vitamin D treatment. Collectively, 80.72% (67/83) of subjects who received vitamin D3 treatment had significantly improved outcome, which was mainly in the sections of the CARS and aberrant behavior checklist subscales that measure behavior, stereotypy, eye contact, and attention span. Conclusion: Vitamin D is inexpensive, readily available and safe. It may have beneficial effects in ASD subjects, especially when the final serum level is more than 40 ng/ml. Trial registration number: UMIN-CTR Study Design: trial Number: R000016846.
Do Children with Learning Disabilities Outgrow Deficits in Selective Auditory Attention? Evidence from Dichotic Listening in Adults with Learning Disabilities

Previous research suggests that children with learning disabilities (LD) evidence similar degrees of cerebral lateralization as nondisabled children, but they perform at a degraded level due to deficits in selective attention. The developmental lag hypothesis predicts that these deficits should attenuate in children with LD with maturity. The present study examined this notion by evaluating dichotic listening ability using both free recall and directed attention conditions in 24 adults with LD and their age- and sex-matched controls. Dichotic syllables, words, and sentences were employed. The results indicated similar degrees of cerebral lateralization but significantly degraded levels of accuracy in the adults with LD in the free recall and directed attention conditions across all levels of semantic processing. Thus, it would appear that adults with LD evidence similar deficits in lateralized selective auditory linguistic processing as found in children with LD.
Dynamical Masses for Pre-Main-Sequence Stars: A Preliminary Physical Orbit for V773 Tau A

We report on interferometric and radial velocity observations of the double-lined 51 day period binary (A) component of the quadruple pre-main-sequence (PMS) system V773 Tau. With these observations we have estimated preliminary visual and physical orbits of the V773 Tau A subsystem. Among other parameters, our orbit model includes an inclination of 66.0° ± 2.4° and allows us to infer the component dynamical masses and system distance. In particular, we find component masses of 1.54 ± 0.14 and 1.332 ± 0.097 M☉ for the Aa (primary) and Ab (secondary) components, respectively. Our modeling of the subsystem component spectral energy distributions finds temperatures and luminosities consistent with previous studies and, coupled with the component mass estimates, allows for comparison with PMS stellar models in the intermediate-mass range. We compare V773 Tau A component properties with several popular solar composition models for intermediate-mass PMS stars. All models predict masses consistent to within 2 σ of the dynamically determined values, although some models predict values that are more consistent than others.
Variation of haemoglobin extinction coefficients can cause errors in the determination of haemoglobin concentration measured by near-infrared spectroscopy

Near-infrared spectroscopy or imaging has been extensively applied to various biomedical applications since it can detect the concentrations of oxyhaemoglobin (HbO2), deoxyhaemoglobin (Hb) and total haemoglobin (Hbtotal) from deep tissues. To quantify concentrations of these haemoglobin derivatives, the extinction coefficient values of HbO2 and Hb have to be employed. However, it was not well recognized among researchers that small differences in extinction coefficients could cause significant errors in quantifying the concentrations of haemoglobin derivatives. In this study, we derived equations to estimate errors of haemoglobin derivatives caused by the variation of haemoglobin extinction coefficients. To prove our error analysis, we performed experiments using liquid-tissue phantoms containing 1% Intralipid in a phosphate-buffered saline solution. The gas intervention of pure oxygen was given in the solution to examine the oxygenation changes in the phantom, and 3 mL of human blood was added twice to show the changes in [Hbtotal]. The error calculation has shown that even a small variation (0.01 cm−1 mM−1) in extinction coefficients can produce appreciable relative errors in quantification of Δ[HbO2], Δ[Hb] and Δ[Hbtotal]. We have also observed that the error of Δ[Hbtotal] is not always larger than those of Δ[HbO2] and Δ[Hb]. This study concludes that we need to be aware of any variation in haemoglobin extinction coefficients, which could result from changes in temperature, and to utilize corresponding animal's haemoglobin extinction coefficients for the animal experiments, in order to obtain more accurate values of Δ[HbO2], Δ[Hb] and Δ[Hbtotal] from in vivo tissue measurements.
Color Doppler Ultrasonographic Findings Show Tendon Sheath Inflammation in Mechanic’s Hands

Two male patients with mechanics hands and concomitant interstitial lung disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon, dermatomyositis-like rash, and arthritis were evaluated with gray-scale ultrasonography (US) and color Doppler US of the hands using a high-resolution hockey stick configuration 10-MHz transducer (ATL3000). Color Doppler US and gray scale US images of the flexor tendons were obtained at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Initial gray-scale US demonstrated subcutaneous tissue and tendon thickening and synovial sheath effusion; color Doppler US demonstrated hyperemia of the subcutaneous tissues and tendons. Flexor tendon dysfunction on physical examination was proportional to hyperemia and thickening of structures shown by US. Follow-up examination, at a time when patients were improved, showed decreased blood flow in tendon sheaths and subcutaneous tissues and resolution of synovial sheath effusion; one patient, however, demonstrated accumulation within the sheath. Relative improvement in functional status mirrored the changes in the US. The color Doppler US finding of increased blood flow in the soft tissues of these two patients with mechanic’s hands represents a physiologic anatomic abnormality amenable to treatment and provides prognostic information for these patients. Mechanic’s hands and tenosynovitis occur in patients like these without muscle weakness.
No association of Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPAR-gamma gene with coronary artery disease in Korean subjects.

BACKGROUND Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma, a member of the nuclear hormone receptor family, which is involved in the differentiation of adipose tissue, is reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Whether the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with Pro12Ala polymorphism in exon B of PPAR-gamma was investigated in Korean adults. METHODS AND RESULTS The study was conducted in 267 subjects (158 males, 109 females, mean age 58 years) who underwent coronary angiography because of chest pain. Cardiovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar and serum lipid profiles, were assessed in all subjects, who were divided into 4 groups according to the number of stenosed coronary arteries: normal, 1-vessel, 2-vessel and 3-vessel disease. Genotyping of Pro12Ala polymorphism was done with real-time polymerase chain reaction. Allelic frequency for proline was 0.955 and 0.045 for alanine, which was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p=0.74). One hundred and seventeen subjects (43.8%) had normal coronary arteries, 88 (33%) had 1-vessel disease, 39 (14.6%) had 2-vessel disease and 23 (8.6%) had 3-vessel disease. When the cardiovascular risk factors were compared among the 4 groups, there were no meaningful differences except for age and FBG levels, which were significant even after adjustment for age and BMI. There were no significant differences in the prevalence or severity of CAD according to the different genotypes of Pro12Ala, and in logistic regression analysis Pro12Ala polymorphism was not a predictor for CAD. CONCLUSIONS There was no significant association between Pro12Ala polymorphism in exon B of PPAR-gamma and prevalence or severity of CAD in Korean adults. Further studies on the correlation between Pro12Ala polymorphism and CAD should be carried out in a larger Korean population in the future.
Chemical constituents from the sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus

Six triterpenoids, two sterols, and two phenolic constituents were isolated from the methanol extract of sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus (Hymenochaetaceae). Their chemical structures were identified as lanosterol (1), 3β-hydroxylanosta-8,24-dien-21-al (3), inotodiol (5), trametenolic acid (6), lanosta-8,25-dien-3,22,24-triol (7), β-sitosterol (2), ergosterolperoxide (4), betulin (8), 2,5-dihydroxy-benzaldehyde (9), and 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone (10) on the basis of spectroscopic methods and comparison with the literature. Among these compounds, 9 was isolated for the first time from this mushroom. To the best of our knowledge, the present study marks the first chemical investigation of I. obliquus from Alaska. Among the isolated compounds, compounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity against A 549 (human alveolar basal epithelial carcinoma cells), L1210 (mouse lymphocytic leukemia cells), COLO 205 (colorectal adenocarcinoma cells), MCF-7 (breast cancer cells), and HL-60 (human leukemia) cancer cell lines. 3β-Hydroxylanosta-8,24-dien-21-al (3) and tramentenolic acid (6) exhibited modest cytotoxic effects against L1210 cells with IC50s of 62.5 and 34.4 μM, and betulin (8) showed weak cytotoxic effects against A549 and HL-60 with IC50s of 81.2 and 87.5 μM, respectively. In addition, 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone (10) exhibited the strongest cytotoxic activities against A549 and HL-60 cells with IC50 values of 23.6 and 21.7 μM, respectively.
Development and validation of critical factors of environmental management

Purpose – The literature reveals that various authors have indicated various sets of requirements for corporate environmental management but no study has yet identified and statistically established the reliability and validity of a set of critical factors. It aims to develop and validate a set of critical factors of environmental management that could be used by the managers in assessing and improving their own environmental management practices.Design/methodology/approach – Using a thorough synthesis of the environmental management literature the authors identified a number of critical factors. Performance measures for each of these factors were developed through literature review and interviews with environmental managers. A survey methodology was used. A pre‐tested questionnaire was mailed to the managing directors or the chief executive officers of 848 electronic and chemical manufacturing companies in Singapore and 186 completed responses were received. Using the data collected, the identified criti.
Direct Measurements of Bedrock Incision Rates on the Surface of a Large Dip-slope Landslide by Multi-Period Airborne Laser Scanning DEMs

This study uses three periods of airborne laser scanning (ALS) digital elevation model (DEM) data to analyze the short-term erosional features of the Tsaoling landslide triggered by the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan. Two methods for calculating the bedrock incision rate, the equal-interval cross section selection method and the continuous swath profiles selection method, were used in the study after nearly ten years of gully incision following the earthquake-triggered dip-slope landslide. Multi-temporal gully incision rates were obtained using the continuous swath profiles selection method, which is considered a practical and convenient approach in terrain change studies. After error estimation and comparison of the multi-period ALS DEMs, the terrain change in different periods can be directly calculated, reducing time-consuming fieldwork such as installation of erosion pins and measurement of topographic cross sections on site. The gully bedrock incision rate calculated by the three periods of ALS DEMs on the surface of the Tsaoling landslide ranged from 0.23 m/year to 3.98 m/year. The local gully incision rate in the lower part of the landslide surface was found to be remarkably faster than that of the other regions, suggesting that the fast incision of the toe area possibly contributes to the occurrence of repeated landslides in the Tsaoling area.