Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sero-Surveillance of Lyssavirus Specific Antibodies in Nigerian Fruit Bats (Eidolon helvum)

The aetiological agent of rabies is a member of the Lyssavirus genus (Rhabdoviridae family, order Mononegavirales). The disease (rabies) is endemic in many parts of Asia and Africa and still remains an important public and veterinary health threat. In Nigeria, there is a dearth of information on the natural infection and/or exposure of bat species to lyssaviruses. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of rabies virus (RABV) neutralizing antibodies in sera obtained from bats from the central Plateau and North-East Bauchi States in Nigeria. Two hundred serum samples were collected from Nigerian fruit bats from six different locations and tested for anti-RABV antibodies using a commercial blocking ELISA. Of the 200 bat serum samples collected, one batch consisting of 111 samples did not meet the validation criteria and hence was not included in the final analysis. Of the remaining 89, only three (3.4%) contained anti-lyssavirus antibodies, demonstrating a low prevalence of lyssavirus antibodies in the study population. In order to further understand the exposure of bat species to phylogroup II lyssaviruses (Lagos bat virus and Mokola virus), the same panel of samples will be tested for neutralizing antibodies to phylogroup II members, viruses that do not cross-neutralize with members of phylogroup I.
Computational Motor Control and Human Factors: Modeling Movements in Real and Possible Environments

An aim of human factors research is to have models that allow for the advance design of user-friendly environments. This is still a distant dream because existing models are not yet sufficiently sophisticated. Models in the domain of motor control are a case in point, but recent developments in computational motor control suggest that the gap between the current state of modeling in this area and the desired state is shrinking. To illustrate this point, we review principles of motor control research that any model of motor control must accommodate. Then we describe a model that captures many of the capacities of actors in the everyday world, including the capacity to reach for objects in different ways depending on factors such as the ease with which different joints can rotate, the required speed of movement, and whether obstacles are present. The model relies on the ideas that goal postures are internally specified before movements are generated, that tasks are defined with flexibly ordered constraint hierarchies, and that movements can be shaped according to task demands. Actual or potential applications of this research include designing and testing possible environments where motor components play a key role.
Novel insertion sequence IS1380 from Acetobacter pasteurianus is involved in loss of ethanol-oxidizing ability

Acetobacter pasteurianus NCI1380, a thermophilic strain isolated from the surface culture of acetic acid fermentation, showed genetic instability to produce at high frequency spontaneous mutants which were deficient in ethanol oxidation because of the loss of alcohol dehydrogenase activity. Southern hybridization experiments with the cloned alcohol dehydrogenase-cytochrome c gene cluster as the probe showed insertion of an unknown DNA fragment into a specific position in the cytochrome c gene in most of the mutant strains. Cloning and sequencing analyses revealed that the inserted sequence was 1,665 bp in length and had a terminal inverted repeat of 15 bp. In addition, this inserted sequence was found to generate a 4-bp duplication at the inserted site upon transposition. The target site specificity was not very strict, but a TCGA sequence appeared to be preferentially used. The inserted sequence contains two long open reading frames of 461 and 222 amino acids which are overlapped and encoded by different strands. Although these open reading frames showed no homology to any protein registered in the DNA data bases, the longer open reading frame contained many basic amino acids (87 of 461), as was observed with transposases of so-called insertion sequence (IS) elements. All of these characteristics are typical of IS elements, and the sequence was named IS1380. The copy number of IS1380 in a cell of A. pasteurianus NCI1380 was estimated to be about 100. Several strains of acetic acid bacteria also contained IS1380 at high copy numbers. These results suggest that IS1380 is associated with the genetic loss of ethanol-oxidizing ability as well as the genetic instability of acetic acid bacteria in general.
Disability prevalence among adults: estimates for 54 countries and progress toward a global estimate

Abstract Objectives: We estimated disability prevalence among adults at global, regional and country levels using internationally comparable disability data and measure. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from the World Health Survey (WHS) (2002–2004) for nationally representative samples of civilian, non-institutionalized populations in 54 countries. A disability was measured as having at least one severe or extreme difficulty with bodily functions (seeing, concentrating) and activities (moving around, self-care) based on an individual’s self-reports. Results: In the 54 countries under study, severe or extreme functional or activity difficulties are highly prevalent. For all countries, disability prevalence is estimated at 14% for all adults. Low and middle income countries have higher disability prevalence compared to high income countries. Among subgroups, disability prevalence stands at 12% among working age adults and 39% among the elderly. Women have higher prevalence than men. Conclusions: Disability is found to be highly prevalent among adults, with an estimated global prevalence at 14%. Disability deserves enhanced policy attention and resources in public health and international development. Implications for Rehabilitation Global disability prevalence is found to stand at 14% among adults. Disability prevalence is estimated to be higher in developing countries, among women and the elderly population. Rehabilitation needs worldwide are large and assessments are required to assess unmet needs globally.
Biophysiologic and social stress relationships with breast milk feeding pre- and post-discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE To determine influences on incidence of breast milk feeding (BMF) at time of discharge and 6 months later among infants cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). DESIGN A 2-year prospective descriptive NICU hospital-based cohort design. SETTING Academic Center Level III-IV NICU. PARTICIPANTS Five hundred and thirty-five infants cared for in NICU and a subgroup of one hundred twenty-nine participant mothers who answered questionnaires. METHODS Predischarge data were collected using maternal and infant medical records. Post-discharge data were collected from maternal questionnaires. RESULTS At NICU discharge, biophysiologic stressors predictive of not receiving BMF included birth weight <1500 grams (p < .035), heart surgery (p = .014), and inhaled nitric oxide treatment (p = .002). Teenage mothers were less likely to BMF (p = .022). After discharge, BMF duration correlated with BMF duration of a prior infant (p < .009). Most mothers reported BMF >4 months, 91% continued pumping, and 89% indicated an interest in a hospital support group. Logistic regression analysis (R(2) 0.45) identified factors that significantly increased the likelihood of BMF > 4 months: BMF plan (p < .001), convenience (p = .018), and family as resource (p = .025). Negative associations were: awareness of immune benefits (p = .025), return to work (p = .002), and infants requiring surgical ligation of the patent ductus arterious (p = .019). CONCLUSIONS Social and medical stressors contribute to BMF duration pre- and post-NICU discharge. We speculate that active NICU BMF support targeting vulnerable infants and their families and assisting with plans for BMF pre- and post-discharge will help overcome barriers.
Boundary Layer Energy Transport and Cumulus Development over a Heated Mountain : An Observational Study

Abstract Aircraft and surface measurements of the boundary layer transport of mass and moisture toward an isolated, heated mountain are presented. The data were collected around the Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona, 20–30 km in diameter, during the North American monsoon, on days with weak winds and cumulus congestus to cumulonimbus development over the mountain. Flights in the boundary layer around the mountain and surface station data indicate that mountain-scale anabatic surface wind generally develops shortly after sunrise, peaking at ∼1 m s−1 in strength close to solar noon. There is some evidence for a toroidal heat island circulation, with divergence in the upper boundary layer. The aircraft data and mainly the diurnal surface temperature and pressure patterns confirm that this circulation is driven by surface heating over the mountain. Three case studies suggest that growth spurts of orographic cumulus and cumulonimbus are not preceded by enhanced mountain-scale mass convergence near the surfac.
Recognition Memory Strength is Predicted by Pupillary Responses at Encoding While Fixation Patterns Distinguish Recollection from Familiarity

Thirty-five healthy participants incidentally encoded a set of man-made and natural object pictures, while their pupil response and eye movements were recorded. At retrieval, studied and new stimuli were rated as novel, familiar (strong, moderate, or weak), or recollected. We found that both pupil response and fixation patterns at encoding predict later recognition memory strength. The extent of pupillary response accompanying incidental encoding was found to be predictive of subsequent memory. In addition, the number of fixations was also predictive of later recognition memory strength, suggesting that the accumulation of greater visual detail, even for single objects, is critical for the creation of a strong memory. Moreover, fixation patterns at encoding distinguished between recollection and familiarity at retrieval, with more dispersed fixations predicting familiarity and more clustered fixations predicting recollection. These data reveal close links between the autonomic control of pupil responses and eye movement patterns on the one hand and memory encoding on the other. Moreover, the data illustrate quantitative as well as qualitative differences in the incidental visual processing of stimuli, which are differentially predictive of the strength and the kind of memory experienced at recognition.
Modified Mallampati test and thyromental distance as a predictor of difficult laryngoscopy in Thai patients.

BACKGROUND Preoperative evaluation of anatomical landmarks and clinical factors are important in the detection of patients at risk for difficult laryngoscopy. The modified Mallampati test (MMT) and thyromental distance (TMD) are commonly used for this purpose but there are controversies regarding their accuracy. OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of MMT and TMD in the prediction of difficult laryngoscopy in Thai patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD 1888 consecutive patients undergoing general anesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation were evaluated preoperatively using the MMT and TMD. The cut-off points for the difficult airway predictors were: Mallampati 3, 4 and TMD less than 6 cm. During direct laryngoscopy, the laryngeal view was graded using the Cormack and Lehane (CL) classification. CL grades III and IV were considered difficult laryngoscopy. Sensitivity and specificity for each airway predictor in isolation and in combination were determined. RESULTS The present study found Mallampati grade I 1050 patients (55.6%), grade II 730 patients (38.7%), grade III 104 patients (5.5%), grade IV 4 pateints (0.2%) and TMD less than 6 cm 85 patients (4.5%), TMD more than 6 cm 1803 patients (95.5%). Difficult laryngoscopy occurred in 60 patients (3.2%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for the two airway predictors were: MMT 41.7%, 95.5%, 23.1% and 98.0% and TMD 23.3%, 96.1%, 16.5% and 97.4% respectively. The combination of two predictors with a sensitivity, specificity PPV and NPV were 55.0%, 92.3%, 19.1% and 98.4%. CONCLUSION MMT TMD and their combination are good predictors of difficult laryngoscopy in a Thai population.
Invariant NKT Cells Require Autophagy To Coordinate Proliferation and Survival Signals during Differentiation

Autophagy regulates cell differentiation, proliferation, and survival in multiple cell types, including cells of the immune system. In this study, we examined the effects of a disruption of autophagy on the differentiation of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells. Using mice with a T lymphocyte–specific deletion of Atg5 or Atg7, two members of the macroautophagic pathway, we observed a profound decrease in the iNKT cell population. The deficit is cell-autonomous, and it acts predominantly to reduce the number of mature cells, as well as the function of peripheral iNKT cells. In the absence of autophagy, there is reduced progression of iNKT cells in the thymus through the cell cycle, as well as increased apoptosis of these cells. Importantly, the reduction in Th1-biased iNKT cells is most pronounced, leading to a selective reduction in iNKT cell–derived IFN-γ. Our findings highlight the unique metabolic and genetic requirements for the differentiation of iNKT cells.
New material for permanent magnets on a base of Nd and Fe (invited)

A new compound composed of Nd, Fe, and a small quantity of B (about 1 wt. %) has been found, which has a tetragonal structure with lattice constants a=0.880 nm and c=1.221 nm. This phase, which has the approximate composition, 12 at. % Nd, 6 at. % B and balance Fe, possesses remarkable magnetic properties. From the approach to saturation an anisotroy constant of about 3.5 MJ/m3 can be calculated, while saturation magnetization amounts to 1.35 T. The magnetization versus temperature curve shows a Curie temperature of 585 K, which is much higher than those of the Fe and light rare earth binary compounds. Based on the new compound, sintered permanent magnets have been developed which have a record high energy product. Permanent magnet properties and physical properties of a typical specimen which has the composition Nd15B8Fe77 are as follows: Br =1.23 T, HcB =880 kA/m, HcI =960 kA/m, (BH)max =290 kJ/m3, temperature coefficient of Br =−1260 ppm/K, density=7.4 Mg/m3, specific resistivity=1.4 μΩm, Vickers hardn.
Production of Anti-Candida albicans by Egyptian Streptomyces Isolates

Streptomyces isolate SY1, which exhibited anticandidial activity, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Kalyoubia governorate, Egypt. The isolate was identified as a strain of Streptomyces griseolus. The effect of different agar media (starch nitrate, yeast malt extract, oat-meal extract, inorganic salts starch, glycerol asparagine and fish-meal extract medium) on anticandidial activity by selected strain was studied. Results showed that Streptomyces griseolus strain SY1 can produce anticandidial metabolites in different tested media. However, starch nitrate agar medium was the most suitable medium for maximum anticandidial activity, which gave 20 mm inhibition zone followed by fish-meal extract, inorganic salts starch, oat-meal extract, yeast malt extract and glycerol asparagine, which gave 16, 15, 15, 13 and 12 mm inhibition zone, respectively. It was concluded that starch nitrate is the best medium for production of anticandidial metabolites.
Energy-Efficient and Portable Least Squares Prediction for Image Coding on a Mobile GPU

Least squares prediction is a technique used to foresee pixel values during image coding by finding the minimum square error of neighbouring pixels. It has shown considerable quality gains especially for complex images with high variations in pixel intensities. The drawback of this technique consists of high computational complexity, consuming the most significant part of processing time and resources available, which makes it difficult to implement in fast, lossy image coders. One challenge is therefore to reduce the computational time of this predictor, namely through the use of new parallel programming techniques, making it more attractive for state-of-the-art coder-decoders. Also, new algorithmic propositions are made, trying to reduce the time spent in exchange for rate-distortion performance. These propositions are senseful since this predictor is used not only in lossless image coding, but also in lossy as well. Another aim of this article is to analyze energy efficiency among different types of platforms for this signal processing algorithm. Comparisons are provided on parallel computing processors ranging from very powerful Graphics Computing Units (GPUs) to mobile General-Purpose GPUs.
In Vivo Visualization of the Effect of Polyclonal Antithymocyte Globulins on the Microcirculation after Ischemia/Reperfusion in a Primate Model

Background. Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) leads to increased leukocyte adherence enhancing acute cellular rejection and microvascular dysfunction. Polyclonal antithymocyte globulins (ATGs) induce T-cell depletion and functional impairment of nondepleted lymphocytes in peripheral blood. ATGs represent an important option in the treatment of acute cellular rejection but little is known about their effects on the microcirculation in IRI. Methods. In a perfusion system, 19 cynomolgus monkeys were used to evaluate the influence of three different ATGs on the leukocyte-endothelium interaction after cold ischemia. ATGs were administered to human blood 30 min prior to reperfusion of primate extremities. Using intravital fluorescence microscopy the postreperfusion microcirculation of skeletal muscle was visualized. Results. Significant differences were found between ATG-treated and ATG-free groups concerning blood flow velocity, leukocyte count, and leukocyte-endothelium interaction. ATGs reduced microvascular leukocyte adhesion, count, and blood flow impairment. Conclusion. ATGs have a favorable impact on early mechanisms of IRI. Due to reduced leukocyte adherence to the antigen-presenting endothelial cells, recognition events cannot take place in the posttransplant period of reperfusion. In addition to inhibiting acute transplant rejection, increase of posttransplant blood flow supports the use of ATGs as pretransplant induction therapy.
Eradication of Helicobacter pylori for the prevention of peptic ulcer rebleeding

Aim: To evaluate the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on ulcer bleeding recurrence in a prospective, long-term study including more than 400 patients. Methods: Patients with peptic ulcer bleeding were prospectively included. H. pylori infection was confirmed by rapid urease test, histology or 13 C-urea breath test. Several eradication regimens were used. Ranitidine 150 mg was administered daily until eradication was confirmed by breath test 8 weeks after completing eradication therapy. Patients with therapy failure received a second or third course of therapy. Patients with eradication success did not receive maintenance anti-ulcer therapy, and were controlled yearly with a repeated breath test. Results: Four hundred and twenty-two patients were followed up for at least 12 months, with a total of 906 patient-years of follow up. Mean age was 59 years, and 35% were previous nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) users. Sixty-nine percent had duodenal, 24% gastric, and 7% pyloric ulcer. Recurrence of bleeding was demonstrated in two patients at 1 year (incidence: 0.22% per patient-year of follow up), which occurred after NSAID use in both cases. Conclusion: Peptic ulcer rebleeding does not occur in patients with complicated ulcers after H. pylori eradication. Maintenance anti-ulcer (antisecretory) therapy is not necessary if eradication is achieved.
Nursing Care Systematization : a Study with Nurses at a Teaching Hospital

Conclusion: The implementation and applicability of that method depend on not only the knowledge and motivation of the nursing professionals, but also on a strategic planning involving management and staff, from the recognition of their importance in order to obtain adherence and effective operationalization in practice. Nursing Care Systematization: a Study with Nurses at a Teaching Hospital ORIGINAL
Effects of Estrogen and Tamoxifen on the Regulation of Dihydrofolate ReducÃ-aseGene Expression in a Human Breast Cancer Cell Line

We have studied the effects of estrogen and the antiestrogen tamoxifen on the regulation of dihydrofolate reducÃ-ase(DHFR) gene expression in a methotrexate-resistant (MTXR) human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, which contains a 50-fold increase in the level of DHFR enzyme and amplified DHFR gene se quences. Despite their selection for methotrexate resistance, the MTXR cells have retained many characteristics of the parental MCF-7 cell line. Concentrations of estrogen receptors as well as their binding affinity to estradici are identical in both cell lines. MTXR MCF-7 cells remain sensitive to estrogen and respond to estradici with an induction of progesterone receptors, as well as increases in the rate of DMA synthesis and cell growth. Incubation of MTXR MCF-7 cells with estradici results in an additional 1.5to 3.0-fold increase in their already elevated level of DHFR. The hormone-induced increases in DNA synthesis and DHFR levels are similar both with respect to the time course of inductions, as well as their dose response to estradici. However, these two estrogen-induced effects are not coupled, since the induction of DHFR occurs even in the absence of concomitant DNA synthe sis. Estradici has no effect on DHFR enzyme stability; thus, the entire effect of estrogen on DHFR levels results from the in creased synthesis of this housekeeping enzyme. In contrast, treatment of MTXR MCF-7 cells with the antiestrogen tamoxifen reduces the rate of DHFR enzyme synthesis, resulting in lower cellular levels of DHFR. These MTXR MCF-7 cells represent a useful model in which to study the mechanisms involved in the modulation of DHFR gene expression by estrogen and tamoxi fen. Since the level of DHFR is a critical determinant of metho trexate cytotoxicity understanding, the regulation of DHFR gene expression may have clinical implications for the use of hormonal therapy in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer.