Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clustering of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Rabbits and the Environment: How Hot Is a Hot Spot?

ABSTRACT Clustering of pathogens in the environment leads to hot spots of diseases at local, regional, national, and international levels. Scotland contains regional hot spots of Johne's disease (caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis) in rabbits, and there is increasing evidence of a link between paratuberculosis infections in rabbits and cattle. The spatial and temporal dynamics of paratuberculosis in rabbits within a hot spot region were studied with the overall aim of determining environmental patterns of infection and thus the risk of interspecies transmission to livestock. The specific aims were to determine if prevalence of paratuberculosis in rabbits varies temporally between seasons and whether the heterogeneous spatial environmental distribution of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis on a large scale (i.e., regional hot spots) is replicated at finer resolutions within a hot spot. The overall prevalence of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in rabbits was 39.7%; the temporal distribution of infection in rabbits followed a cyclical pattern, with a peak in spring of 55.4% and a low in summer of 19.4%. Spatially, M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis-infected rabbits and, thus, the risk of interspecies transmission were highly clustered in the environment. However, this is mostly due to the clustered distribution of rabbits. The patterns of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in rabbits are discussed in relation to the host's socioecology and risk to livestock.
Working memory and the memory distortion component of hindsight bias

One component of hindsight bias is memory distortion: Individuals' recollections of their predictions are biased towards known outcomes. The present study examined the role of working memory in the memory distortion component of hindsight bias. Participants answered almanac-like questions, completed a measure of working memory capacity, were provided with the correct answers, and attempted to recollect their original judgements in two conditions: with and without a concurrent working memory load. Participants' recalled judgements were more biased by feedback when they recalled these judgements with a concurrent memory load and working memory capacity was negatively correlated with memory distortion. These findings are consistent with reconstruction accounts of the memory distortion component of hindsight bias and, more generally, with dual process theories of cognition. These results also relate the memory distortion component of hindsight bias with other cognitive errors, such as source monitoring errors, the belief bias in syllogistic reasoning and anchoring effects. Implications for the separate components view of hindsight bias are discussed.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Depression on Subsequent Smoking Cessation in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: 1990 to 2013

Objective Smoking cessation is crucial for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), yet depression may impede cessation success. We systematically reviewed the prospective association between depression and subsequent smoking cessation in individuals with CHD to quantify this effect. Methods Electronic databases (PsychInfo, PubMed, CINAHL) were searched for prospective studies of patients with CHD that measured depression at baseline (scales, diagnostic interview, or antidepressant prescription) and reported smoking continuation/cessation at follow-up. Inclusive dates were January 1, 1990, to May 22, 2013. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and associated 95% confidence intervals were estimated using random-effects meta-analysis. Sensitivity analysis explored the impact of limiting meta-analysis to studies using different depression measures (validated scales, diagnostic interviews, antidepressant prescription), different durations of follow-up, or higher-quality studies. Results From 1185 citations retrieved, 28 relevant articles were identified. Meta-analysis of all available data from 20 unique data sets found that depressed patients with CHD were significantly less likely to quit smoking at follow-up (SMD = −0.39, 95% confidence interval = −0.50 to −0.29; I2 = 51.2%, p = .005). Estimates remained largely unchanged for each sensitivity analysis, except for two studies that used antidepressants, which showed a much larger effect (SMD = −0.94, −1.38 to −0.51; I2 = 57.7%, p = .124). Conclusions Patients with CHD and depressive symptoms are significantly less likely to quit smoking than their nondepressed counterparts. This may have implications for cardiovascular prognosis, and CHD smokers may require aggressive depression treatment to enhance their chances of quitting.
A high-performance mapping algorithm for heterogeneous computing systems

A mapping algorithm for heterogeneous computing systems is proposed in this paper. This algorithm utilizes a new indicator-the relative cost-to obtain optimal mapping. The existing Min-min algorithm can be well explained under synergy of this new indicator. It is found that the Min-min algorithm leaves room for improvement because of its haste to reduce completion time by overlooking the impact of load balance. Our new algorithm retains the advantages of the Min-min algorithm and balances the load very well. It demonstrates the ability to generate good mapping in various heterogeneous environments.
Narrative social psychology 1

Social psychologists argue that people’s past weighs on their present (e.g. Liu and Hilton, 2005). The present chapter intends to show that language, particularly narrative language is an extremely useful device so as to trace the impact of past experiences on current psychological conditions. We will first review some basic tenets of narrative psychology. In the next section, we will contrast the social cognitive approach to language with that of the narrative approach emphasizing that whereas social cognition conceives language as mediator of social perception, narrative psychology in general and narrative social psychology in particular are interested in linguistic expressions of individual and group identity. We will also demonstrate that current studies on group based emotions (intergroup emotions, e.g. Smith (1993), or collective emotions, e.g. Doosje et al., 1998) can also be placed in the framework of narrative-linguistic analysis. A contrast between the universalistic social cognitive approach to self and self-categorization and the more relativistic stance of the narrative social psychology to narratively constructed personal identity and historically constructed group identity will also be discussed.The forthcoming section will outline the concepts and methods we have developed for studying quantitatively the processes and states of personal and group identity. Finally, an application of the analytic devices to the Hungarian national identity with particular respect to the elaboration of historical traumas will be presented.
Tridimensional study of the deep cortex of the rat lymph node. V: Postnatal development of the deep cortex units

ABSTRACT Recently, the deep cortex of the adult rat lymph node was shown to be made up of semirounded lymphocytic “units. ” Each unit is contiguous to the peripheral cortex, bulges into the medulla, and is centered on the opening(s) of an afferent lymphatic vessel of a node. Furthermore, each unit comprises a “center” and a “periphery,” bearing distinct morphological features. The present study investigated the postnatal development of the units in rats of various ages. One minute after birth, no lymphocytic structures were detected in the nodes. One day after birth, tiny rounded lymphocytic areas were detected in the developing cortex. These areas were topographically related to the openings of afferent lymphatic vessels. One week after birth, small semirounded lymphocytic areas with some morphological features of the adult deep cortex units were observed. Two weeks after birth, typical units were present in the nodes. The observations indicated that the rounded lymphocytic areas observed in nodes of rats aged 1 week or less were actually developing deep cortex units. The overall findings further provided information on the morphological processes involved during the postnatal development of the deep cortex units. Key words: lymph node, deep cortex, development of deep cortex, rat.
Influence of HCV genotype 1 subtypes on the virus response to PEG interferon alpha‐2a plus ribavirin therapy

New factors that influence the viral response in HCV non‐genotype 2/3 patients must be identified in order to optimize anti‐HCV treatment. This multicenter prospective study evaluates the influence of HCV variability and pharmacological parameters on the virological response of these patients to pegylated interferon α2a (peg‐IFN‐α2a: 180 µg/week) and ribavirin (RBV; 800–1,200 mg/day) for 48 weeks. HCV subtypes were identified by sequencing the NS5B region. Serum RBV and peg‐IFN‐α2a concentrations were measured at weeks 4 and 12. The 115 patients (67 men; median age = 49, range 31–76) included 64 who had never been treated and 27 co‐infected with HIV. The mean baseline HCV RNA was 6.30 ± 0.06 log IU/ml and the HCV genotypes were: G1 (n = 93) with 1a (n = 37) and 1b (n = 50), G4 (n = 20) and G5 (n = 2). Most patients (79/108; 73%) had an early virological response. Independent predictors of an early virological response were interferon naive patients (OR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.15–7.72) and RBV of >2,200 ng/ml at week 12 (OR = 3.41, 95% CI: 1.31–8.90). Forty of 104 patients (38%) had a sustained virological response. The only independent predictors of a sustained virological response were subtype 1b (OR = 6.82, 95% CI: 1.7–26.8), and HCV RNA <15 IU/ml at week 12 (OR = 25, 95% CI: 6.4–97.6). Thus a serum RBV concentration of >2,200 ng/ml was associated with an early virological response and patients infected with HCV subtype 1b had a better chance of a sustained virological response than did those infected with subtype 1a. J. Med. Virol. 83:437–444, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Latent Structure of Loneliness

This study assessed the dimensional structure of the UCLA Loneliness Scale ([UCLA-LS], UCLA-3). Data from the Northern Ireland Young Life and Times Survey (2011), a survey of 1,434 16-year-olds, was used to examine the underlying factor structure of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to compare alternative factor analytical models that can inform the scoring of the measure and determine the degree to which different factors provided unique predictive utility. Fit statistics indicated that the best fitting model comprised three correlated factors: Isolation, Related Connectedness, and Collective Connectedness. These findings were consistent with previous findings that identified the multidimensional nature of the UCLA-LS. The study also found evidence that the subscales were differentially associated with psychiatric morbidity as measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and provides a more reliable and comprehensive framework to assess the clinical significance of loneliness.
Géodynamique des cirques de la Réunion : implications géotechniques et stabilité des versants

Ce travail analyse l'ensemble des parametres necessaires a la comprehension du mecanisme de la formation des cirques et des mouvements de versants actuels qui s'y rattachent, ceci en vue d 'y definir les conditions geotechniques indispensables au zonage du risque, comme a tout projet d ' amenagement. * La premiere partie presente les traits generaux de l'ile, l'occupation du sol des cirques et souligne les particularites hydro-meteorologiques. * La deuxieme partie concerne tous les evenements geologiques qui se sont produits avant l'arret de l'activite volcanique du Piton des Neiges , vers 25 000 ans BP , On y expose le contexte geotectonique , puis les donnees lithostratigraphiques et structurales, ainsi que l'alteration hydrothermale subie par les materiaux originels, en faisant ressortir les faits geologiques qui ont une incidence marquee sur les caracteristiques geotechniques globales du massif. * La troisieme partie analyse les modalites de l'action des principaux agents morphogenetiques presidant a l ' evolution des reliefs, lors des periodes de calme eruptif, et aboutit a une interpretation des mecanismes de la naissance et du developpement des cirques . * la quatrieme partie exploite le schema de distribution spatiale et temporelle issu des analyses precedentes pour une analyse de la dynamique et de l'erosion des versants, une classification geotechnique des terrains et une methodologie de zonage du risque
Noncommutativity of Finite Rotations and Definitions of Curvature and Torsion

The geometry of a space curve, including its curvature and torsion, can be uniquely defined in terms of only one parameter which can be the arc length parameter. Using the differential geometry equations, the Frenet frame of the space curve is completely defined using the curve equation and the arc length parameter only. Therefore, when Euler angles are used to describe the curve geometry, these angles are no longer independent and can be expressed in terms of one parameter as field variables. The relationships between Euler angles used in the definition of the curve geometry are developed in a closed-differential form expressed in terms of the curve curvature and torsion. While the curvature and torsion of a space curve are unique, the Euler-angle representation of the space curve is not unique because of the noncommutative nature of the finite rotations. Depending on the sequence of Euler angles used, different expressions for the curvature and torsion can be obtained in terms of Euler angles, despite the fact that only one Euler angle can be treated as an independent variable, and such an independent angle can be used as the curve parameter instead of its arc length, as discussed in this paper. The curve differential equations developed in this paper demonstrate that the curvature and torsion expressed in terms of Euler angles do not depend on the sequence of rotations only in the case of infinitesimal rotations. This important conclusion is consistent with the definition of Euler angles as generalized coordinates in rigid body dynamics. This paper generalizes this definition by demonstrating that finite rotations cannot be directly associated with physical geometric properties or deformation modes except in the cases when infinitesimal-rotation assumptions are used.
From latent disseminated cells to overt metastasis: Genetic analysis of systemic breast cancer progression

According to the present view, metastasis marks the end in a sequence of genomic changes underlying the progression of an epithelial cell to a lethal cancer. Here, we aimed to find out at what stage of tumor development transformed cells leave the primary tumor and whether a defined genotype corresponds to metastatic disease. To this end, we isolated single disseminated cancer cells from bone marrow of breast cancer patients and performed single-cell comparative genomic hybridization. We analyzed disseminated tumor cells from patients after curative resection of the primary tumor (stage M0), as presumptive progenitors of manifest metastasis, and from patients with manifest metastasis (stage M1). Their genomic data were compared with those from microdissected areas of matched primary tumors. Disseminated cells from M0-stage patients displayed significantly fewer chromosomal aberrations than primary tumors or cells from M1-stage patients (P < 0.008 and P < 0.0001, respectively), and their aberrations appeared to be randomly generated. In contrast, primary tumors and M1 cells harbored different and characteristic chromosomal imbalances. Moreover, applying machine-learning methods for the classification of the genotypes, we could correctly identify the presence or absence of metastatic disease in a patient on the basis of a single-cell genome. We suggest that in breast cancer, tumor cells may disseminate in a far less progressed genomic state than previously thought, and that they acquire genomic aberrations typical of metastatic cells thereafter. Thus, our data challenge the widely held view that the precursors of metastasis are derived from the most advanced clone within the primary tumor.
Jagged1 Suppresses Collagen-Induced Arthritis by Indirectly Providing a Negative Signal in CD8+ T Cells1

Distinct Notch ligands possess a characteristic ability in terms of functional T cell differentiation. However, the precise role or the therapeutic potential of each Notch ligand in autoimmune diseases is largely unknown. In this study, we examined whether Jagged1 modulates a collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis (CIA) model by altering T cell responses. The injection of a soluble Jagged1-encoding plasmid, sJag1-P, before or even after initial type II collagen (CII) immunization suppressed the disease severity of CIA. However, this treatment did not suppress CII-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation and CII-specific Ab production. Depletion of either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells ameliorated CIA severity and sJag1-P further improved CIA in CD4+ but not CD8+ T cell-depleted mice. Injection of OVA and Jagged1-encoding plasmids inhibited proliferation of OVA-specific granzyme B-producing CD8+ T cells, although Jagged1 could not directly inhibit CD8+ T cell proliferation in vitro. The blockade of Jagged1 by an anti-Jagged1 Ab exacerbated CIA, whereas this effect was not observed in the absence of CD8+ T cells. These data indicate that Jagged1 is able to deliver an indirect negative signal into CD8+ T cells in vivo, which suggests its therapeutic potential in the treatment of CD8+ T cell-mediated diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Tetanus – A Review Of Current Concepts In Management

Tetanus is a vaccinepreventable disease that yearly causes a total of 309,000 deaths. Reports showed up to 1 million cases annually, mostly in underdeveloped countries. Clostridium tetani, the causative organism, is widespread in the faeces of domestic animals and humans, while spores of C. tetani are abundant in soil and in the environment surrounding the habitation of humans and animals. In developing countries, mortality rates are as high as 28 per 100,000; in North America the rate is less than 0.1 per 100,000. Immunization programs clearly decreased neonatal tetanus deaths, and some recent evidence suggests progress in prevention throughout the World. Tetanus remains a great public health problem in developing countries such as Nigeria and it is associated with high mortality, but the understanding of the epidemiological aspects of this disease forms the basis of preventive strategies in any community. This paper reviewed the history, epidemiology and clinical diagnosis of tetanus and emphasized the current opinions in the management of tetanus outlining the various suggested treatment plans from experts in developing countries which form the basis for World Health Organization recommendations.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIETARY PROTEIN SOURCE AND SOME REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF GROWING FRIESIAN MALE CALVES

The present study aimed to define the effect of rumen un-degradable protein (RUP) as different protein sources on the reproductive performance of growing Friesian male calves from March to September, 2010. Fifteen healthy male calves, (8:10 months of age, with average live body weight of 180±40 kg) were used and allocated to three groups (five animals each). Dietary treatments were: “control” (protein source: cotton seed meal (CSM) and maize gluten feed (MGF); (CP 13.15 %, 33% RUP of CP and TDN 66%), (SBM) ration (protein source was: soybean meal (CP 16.72, 34% RUP of CP and TDN 67%) and (MGM) ration (protein source was: maize gluten meal (CP 15.75, 45% RUP of CP and TDN 66%) . Feed intake, body weight and testicular size were measured monthly. Blood samples were taken monthly and semen was collected twice a week by artificial vagina from the 14 th month of age in order to estimate semen characteristics. Average daily dry matter intake (DMI) was 7.9, 7.12 and 7.29 kg for control, SBM and MGM groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed in average body weight gain (253.7, 256.0 and 261.7 kg), average daily gain (1.09, 1.15 and 1.12 kg), scrotal circumference (28.0, 29.4 and 29.0 cm), semen ejaculate volume (4.14, 4.25 and 4.10 ml), sperm-cell concentration (1.52, 1.49 and 1.53 X10 9 /ml), sperm wave motion (80, 77 and 83 %) , dead spermatozoa (20, 23, and 17) and abnormalities sperm ( 6, 7 and 7) for control, SBM and MGM groups, respectively. There was a significant correlation between scrotal circumference and body weight (P<0.001, r = 0.76). No differences in blood measurements (total protein, albumen, aspartate-aminotransferase; (AST), alanine-aminotransferase; (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) acid phosphatase (ACP) and creatinine) were observed among treatments. The same result was recorded with blood testosterone. However, triiodothyronin (T3) hormone concentration was (P<0.05) different. Consequently, feeding male calves on rations contained different protein sources don’t improve their reproductive performance.
Cytochrome b-245 is a flavocytochrome containing FAD and the NADPH-binding site of the microbicidal oxidase of phagocytes.

The NADPH oxidase of phagocytic cells is important for the efficient killing and digestion of ingested microbes. A very unusual low-potential cytochrome b (b-245) is the only redox molecule to have been identified in this system. The FAD-containing flavoprotein that binds NADPH and transfers electrons to the cytochrome has eluded identification for three decades. We show here that the haem/FAD ratio in the membranes does not change significantly on activation of this oxidase, indicating that the FAD is present in the membranes from the outset and not recruited from the cytosol. The FAD content of membranes from cells of patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) lacking the cytochrome b was roughly one-quarter of that in normal subjects and in autosomal recessive CGD patients lacking the cytosolic protein p47-phox. Similar low amounts of FAD were present in uninduced promyelocytic (HL60) cells, suggesting that the low amount of FAD in cells from X-CGD patients was probably unrelated to this oxidase system. Cytochrome b-245 appears to bind both the haem and FAD, in a molar ratio of 2:1. The e.p.r. signal of the purified cytochrome was weak and had an asymmetric g(z) peak at g = 3.31. The purified cytochrome could be partially reflavinated (about 20%) in the presence of lipid. Amino acid sequence homology was detected between the beta-subunit of this cytochrome b and the ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (FNR) family of reductases in the putative NADPH- and FAD-binding sites. 32P-labelled 2-azido-NADP was used as a photoaffinity label for the NADPH-binding site. Labelling that was competed off with NADP was observed in the region of the beta-subunit of the cytochrome. No labelling was seen in this region in X-CGD in three subjects in whom this cytochrome was missing and in a third in whom it was present but bore a Pro-His transposition in the putative NADPH-binding site. These studies indicate that cytochrome b-245 is a flavocytochrome, the first described in higher eukaryotic cells, bearing the complete electron-transporting apparatus of the NADPH oxidase.