Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relation between peripheral blood leukocyte counts and respiratory symptoms, atopy, lung function, and airway responsiveness in adults.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Eosinophils and neutrophils play major roles, respectively, in the pathogenesis of asthma and COPD, and it is well recognized that levels of these cells in peripheral blood are increased in relation to their pulmonary involvement. However, the relation between peripheral blood cell counts of the other major leukocyte groups and these lung diseases or markers of allergy or airflow obstruction is less clear. We have therefore investigated the association between peripheral blood levels of eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes and the occurrence of chronic respiratory symptoms, atopy, lung function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and the modifying effect of age, in adults. DESIGN A cross-sectional general population study. SETTING Data on > 2,000 British adults, who originally participated in a study of diet and lung health, were analyzed using multiple linear and logistic regression to adjust for potential confounders, including age, sex, and smoking history. RESULTS We found that, like eosinophils, the peripheral basophil count was increased in relation to asthma and associated symptoms, and to airway hyperreactivity and increased total IgE, but differed from eosinophils in that basophils were unrelated to atopy. Monocytes were predominantly associated with symptoms indicative of obstructive airway disease, in similar relation to neutrophils, but both of these leukocyte counts were also increased in asthma patients in older age groups. Lymphocyte counts were unrelated to any objective or subjective marker of disease. CONCLUSIONS If peripheral blood cell counts reflect pulmonary involvement of these leukocyte groups, basophils and monocytes may play a distinct role in the pathogenesis of allergic and nonallergic respiratory disease.
Radioimmunoassay: a method for human chorionic gonadotropin and human luteinizing hormone.

Purified human chorionic gonadotropin has been radioiodinated to give an immunologically and biologically active product which possesses high specific activity. With this labeled hormone and an antiserum which is capable of reacting specifically with human luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin, a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay has been developed. Comparable results have been obtained when the content of luteinizing hormone in preparations differing widely in luteinizing and follicle stimulating activity have been estimated by the radioimmunoassay and the ovarian ascorbic acid depletion bio-assay. The assay is sufficiently sensitive to permit quantitation of normal amounts of luteinizing hormone in 0.1 ml of unconcentrated serum and urine. With the use of the assay, peaks in concentration of luteinizing hormone have been found in serum and urine of women near the time of presumed ovulation. (Endocrinology 79: 10, 1966)
Optimal learning in optimal contexts: The role of self-determination in education

In English : This literature review provides an overview of education studies that have been guided by self-determination theory (SDT). First, the authors examine studies that have assessed motivation based on SDT. Second, the authors detail research that has focussed on the linkages between motivation types and students' behavioural, affective, and cognitive outcomes. Third, the authors present studies on how learning contexts (parents, teachers) contribute to students' motivational resources. The authors conclude that the motivation types proposed by SDT are important for understanding how students thrive and succeed at school. The authors also highlight the significant role played by teachers and parents in the development of student motivation. The authors conclude with a summary of the benefits of self-motivation for learning and offer some recommendations for the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) Resume en francais (langue de l'article en anglais) : Le present article procure une vue d'ensemble des etudes sur l'education qui ont ete guidees par la theorie de l'autodetermination. En premier lieu, nous examinons les etudes qui ont evalue la motivation fondee sur la theorie de l'autodetermination. Nous expliquons ensuite la recherche portant sur les liens existant entre les types de motivation et les resultats des etudiants en matiere de comportement et de composantes affectives et cognitives. Nous presentons aussi les etudes sur les contextes d'apprentissage (parents, enseignants) qui contribuent aux ressources motivationnelles des etudiants. Nous en deduisons que les types de motivation proposes par la theorie de l'autodetermination permettent de comprendre les elements qui permettent aux etudiants de se demarquer et de reussir en milieu scolaire. Nous mettons aussi en relief le role important que jouent les enseignants et les parents dans le developpement de la motivation de l'eudiant. En conclusion, nous presentons un resume des bienfaits de l'automotivation dans le cadre de l'apprentissage et offrons quelques recommandations pertinentes au domaine en question. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Seroepidemiology and clinical features of hepatitis delta among HBsAg carriers: a study from Hepatitis Clinic of Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization

Hepatitis B is a significant health problem and more than 350 million individuals are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) globally. About 5% of these individuals are coinfected with hepatitis D virus (HDV). HBV–HDV coinfection increases the rate of fulminant hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of HDV in individuals positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) who were referred to Tehran Blood Transfusion Hepatitis Clinic from 2011 to 2012.
Effect of lipid-lowering therapy with atorvastatin on atherosclerotic aortic plaques: a 2-year follow-up by noninvasive MRI

Background Using MRI, we reported plaque regression in thoracic aorta and retardation of plaque progression in abdominal aorta by 1-year atorvastatin. However, association between serial plaque changes and LDL-cholesterol levels was not fully elucidated. Design A prospective, randomized, open-label trial. Methods We investigated the long-term effect of 20 versus 5-mg atorvastatin on thoracic and abdominal plaques and the association between plaque progression and on-treatment LDL-cholesterol levels in 36 hypercholesterolemia patients. MRI was performed at baseline and 1 and 2 years of treatment. Vessel wall area change was evaluated. Results The 20-mg dose markedly reduced LDL-cholesterol levels (−47%) versus 5-mg (−35%) dose. After 2 years of treatment, regression of thoracic plaques was found in the 20-mg group (−15% vessel wall area reduction), but not in the 5-mg group (+7%). Although the 20-mg dose induced plaque regression (−14%) from baseline to 1 year, no further regression was seen from 1 to 2 years of treatment (−1%). Regarding abdominal plaques, progression was found in the 5-mg group (+10%), but not in the 20-mg group (+2%). Plaque progression in the 5-mg group was found from baseline to 1 year (+8%), but not from 1 to 2 years (+2%). The degree of thoracic plaque regression correlated with LDL-cholesterol reduction (r = 0.61), whereas thoracic plaque change from 1 to 2 years correlated with on-treatment LDL-cholesterol levels (r = 0.64). Conclusion Twenty milligrams of atorvastatin regressed thoracic plaques. However, maintaining low LDL-cholesterol levels was needed to prevent plaque progression. In abdominal aorta, only retardation of plaque progression was found after 2 years of 20-mg treatment. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 16:222-228 © 2009 The European Society of Cardiology
Lateromedial Gradient of the Susceptibility of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons to Neonatal 6-Hydroxydopamine Toxicity

The topography-dependent vulnerability of midbrain dopaminergic neurons to neonatal intracranial exposure to 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was investigated at adult age by the quantitative analysis of cell counts of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunopositive neurons. In all cases of intracisternal 6-OHDA treatment, A9 dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) were much more vulnerable to death than more medially located A10 dopaminergic neurons. Moreover, within each cell group, there were also lateromedial topographic gradients. In the A9 neuronal group, cells located in the pars lateralis of the SN and the lateral part of the pars compacta of the SN were more susceptible to 6-OHDA toxicity than those located more medially. In the A10 neuronal group, cells located in the medial part of the ventral tegmental area were more resistant to toxicity than those located more laterally, and dopaminergic cells in the midline midbrain areas (interfascicular nucleus and rostral linear nucleus of raphe) were completely spared from 6-OHDA toxicity. These findings revealed that 6-OHDA is not equally toxic to all midbrain dopaminergic neurons in neonates and that the lateromedial vulnerability pattern shows similarities to those reported in Parkinson's disease.
Vertical integration and non‐linear price adjustments: The Spanish poultry sector

The analysis of asymmetries in the price-transmission mechanism at different levels of the marketing chain provides a good indicator of market efficiency in vertically related markets. The objective of this paper is to investigate the non-linear adjustments of prices in the poultry marketing chain in Spain. The methodology used is based on the multivariate approach to specify and estimate a threshold autoregressive model. Price relationships at feed industry, producer, and retail levels are considered. Results indicate that, in the long run, price transmission is perfect and any supply or demand shocks are fully transmitted to all prices in the system. In the short run, price adjustments between the feed and the farmer levels are fairly symmetric and are representative of a cost-push transmission mechanism. On the other hand, retailers benefit from any shock, whether positive or negative, that affects supply or demand conditions when price spreads are increasing, while price behavior is closely related to competitive markets when faced with declining price spreads. lEconLit citations: C320, Q130.r © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 21: 253-271, 2005.
The anomalous influence of salinity on temperature tolerances of summer and winter populations of the copepod Eurytemora affinis.

1. Thermal tolerances of populations of Eurytemora affinis were measured using two basic methods, at various salinities with and without acclimation. Little distinction in tolerances was made using temperature of inactivation. A more useful assay was temperature shocking at 34.5° C, observing time to succumb (TS) and time to recover (TR) over a 30 minute period.2. Using the shock-recovery assay, there were repeatable and significant differences in tolerance between populations collected in March and August and also between salinities. Average tolerances and differences between populations generally increased with salinity.3. The distinction between populations in thermal tolerance was greater when the animals were osmotically acclimated for 24 hours.4. A simple index of tolerance combining TS and TR was suggested. In most cases the proportional variance between populations, using the index, was increased over TS and TR.5. The seasonal distribution of E. affinis is contrary to that expected from the therma.
Can Internal Shocks Produce the Variability in Gamma-Ray Bursts?

We discuss the possibility that gamma-ray bursts result from internal shocks in ultrarelativistic matter. Using a simple model, we calculate the temporal structure and estimate the efficiency of this process. In this model the flow of ultrarelativistic matter is represented by a succession of shells with random values of the Lorentz factor. We calculate the shocks that take place between those shells, and we estimate the resulting emission. Internal shocks can produce the highly variable temporal structure observed in most of the bursts, provided that the source emitting the relativistic flow is highly variable. The observed peaks are in almost one-to-one correlation with the activity of the emitting source. A large fraction of the kinetic energy is converted to radiation. The most efficient case is when an inner engine produces shells with comparable energy but very different Lorentz factors. It also gives the most desirable temporal structure.
Preventing Second-Generation Infections in a Smallpox Bioterror Attack

This article presents a new probabilistic model for the prevention of second-generation infections by different vaccination strategies in the event of a smallpox bioterror attack. The main results are independent of the reproductive number R0 (the number of secondary infections transmitted per index infected individual) and population mixing patterns. General expressions are derived for the fraction of second-generation infections that can be prevented through vaccination, whereas specific results are obtained for traced and mass vaccination, respectively. Expressions for total outbreak size in controlled epidemics are also presented. The analysis highlights the importance of vaccination logistics in addition to beliefs and assumptions regarding smallpox epidemiology in evaluating alternative responses to a smallpox bioterror attack.
Cortical projections to spinal motoneurons

Peristimulus time histograms (PSTHs) of discharging single motor units, recorded from the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) during randomly applied cortical magnetic stimulation, were obtained in 42 normal subjects aged 24 to 83 years and 42 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) aged 37 to 84 years. Normal subjects had an early period of increased firing probability occurring at about 20 msec poststimulus, reflecting an underlying compound excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) induced by fast-conducting, descending volleys of the corticomotoneuronal core facilitating the single spinal motoneuron. There was an age-dependent, linear decline in the amplitude of the EPSP (r = 0.673). We estimated that by age 50 years about 35% of corticomotoneurons are lost or nonfunctioning in normal controls. Compared with age-matched controls, the EPSP in most patients with ALS was reduced, and it was unmeasurable in six. We postulate this reflects a loss of corticomotoneurons. Seven (16.7%) patients phenotypically the same as the others had EPSPs that were larger than age-predicted values. This may reflect glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in a subset of ALS. In a single patient with chronic spinal muscular atrophy the EPSP was normal.
Genetic and Antigenic Variation of Shedding Viruses from Vaccinated Chickens After Challenge with Virulent Newcastle Disease Virus

SUMMARY Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolation was attempted from La Sota–vaccinated or unvaccinated chickens exposed to the virulent NDV variant E347Kmt. Shedding viruses were purified by plaque assay and then were sequenced for HN and F genes. The amino acid sequences of the F gene of all shedding viruses were identical to the sequence of the challenge virus. However, amino acid substitution occurred at four positions (70, 347, 466, and 517) in the HN protein among shedding viruses from vaccinated and challenged chickens but not from unvaccinated and challenged chickens. Amino acid substitution occurred more frequently at position 347 (K to G or V) in the HN protein compared with the other positions. There was minor antigenic variation between some of mutant viruses shed and challenge virus. However, none of mutant viruses had a significantly lower antigenic R value with La Sota virus compared with challenge virus E347Kmt. Our findings indicate that vaccinal immunity might facilitate an evolutional event through antigenic selection, genetic mutation among virulent virus populations shed from vaccinated flocks, or both. RESUMEN Nota de Investigación—Variación genética y antigénica de los virus eliminados de pollos vacunados después del desafío con un virus virulento de la enfermedad de Newcastle. Se intentó el aislamiento del virus de la enfermedad de Newcastle (NDV) de pollos vacunados con la cepa La Sota, o de pollos no vacunados expuestos a la cepa variante virulenta E347Kmt del virus de Newcastle. Los virus eliminados se purificaron mediante ensayo de placas y posteriormente se secuenciaron los genes HN y F. Las secuencias de aminoácidos del gene F de todos los virus eliminados eran idénticas a la secuencia del virus de desafío. Sin embargo, se observaron sustituciones de aminoácidos en cuatro posiciones (70, 347, 466, y 517) en la proteína HN de los virus eliminados de pollos vacunados y desafiados pero no sucedió así con los pollos no vacunados y desafiados. La sustitución de aminoácidos ocurrió con más frecuencia en la posición 347 (lisina sustituida por glicina o por valina) dentro de la proteína HN en comparación con las otras posiciones. Hubo una variación antigénica menor entre algunos de los virus mutantes eliminados y de desafío. Sin embargo, ninguno de los virus mutantes tenían un valor antigénico R significativamente menor a la cepa La Sota en comparación con el virus de desafío E347Kmt. Estos hallazgos indican que la inmunidad de la vacuna podría facilitar un evento evolutivo por selección antigénica o por mutación genética, o por ambos mecanismos entre las poblaciones de virus virulentos eliminados de las aves vacunadas.
Hepcidin Regulation by Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling and IronHomeostasis

Homeostasis Marianna Rodova1, Seunghwan Kim1, M. Abdul Mottaleb2 and M. Rafiq Islam1* 1Biochemistry Laboratory, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri, USA 2Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri, USA *Corresponding author: Rafiq Islam, Biochemistry Laboratory, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, USA, Tel: 660-562-3118; E-mail:
Toxoplasmosis. Problems in diagnosis and treatment

Forty‐two cases of Toxoplasma gondii infection were analyzed, 25 in patients with neoplastic disease and 17 in apparently normal patients. Infection in normal hosts was usually manifested by adenopathy and ran a benign course. Infection in patients with neoplastic diseases was usually manifested by fever and/or neurologic symptoms. Patients with leukemias and lymphomas, particularly Hodgkin's Disease, were at highest risk for infection. Most, but not all, patients developed serologic titers indicative of infection. T. gondii infections were fatal in all eight cases with central nervous system involvement despite treatment in five cases. Leukopenia was a significant complication of treatment with sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine despite the use of folinic acid.
Does pioglitazone prevent macrovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes?

Dormandy JA, Charbonnel B, Eckland DJ, et al; the PROactive Investigators. Secondary prevention of macrovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes in the PROactive Study (PROspective pioglitAzone Clinical Trial In macroVascular Events): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2005; 366: 1279-89
Persistent Toxic Substances

Annex 12 addresses definitions, general principles, programs, monitoring, early warning system, human health, research, and reporting. This annex embraces the philosophy of zero discharge and the goal of virtual elimination, and the Parties have achieved considerable success in controlling direct, point source discharges of toxic chemicals to the lakes. The Commission finds, however, that there are two remaining significant challenges to the virtual elimination of persistent toxic substances. The first is the historic burden of toxic chemicals in contaminated sediment; the second is the ongoing problem of airborne pollutants. The Parties’ Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy does not adequately address either of these two remaining challenges.
Transition of the stellar initial mass function explored using binary population synthesis.

The stellar initial mass function (IMF) plays a crucial role in determining the number of surviving stars in galaxies, the chemical composition of the interstellar medium, and the distribution of light in galaxies. A key unsolved question is whether the IMF is universal in time and space. Here we use state-of-the-art results of stellar evolution to show that the IMF of our Galaxy made a transition from an IMF dominated by massive stars to the present-day IMF at an early phase of the Galaxy formation. Updated results from stellar evolution in a wide range of metallicities have been implemented in a binary population synthesis code, and compared with the observations of carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars in our Galaxy. We find that applying the present-day IMF to Galactic halo stars causes serious contradictions with four observable quantities connected with the evolution of AGB stars. Furthermore, a comparison between our calculations and the observations of CEMP stars may help us to constrain the transition metallicity for the IMF which we tentatively set at [Fe/H] = -2. A novelty of the current study is the inclusion of mass loss suppression in intermediate-mass AGB stars at low-metallicity. This significantly reduces the overproduction of nitrogen-enhanced stars that was a major problem in using the high-mass star dominated IMF in previous studies. Our results also demonstrate that the use of the present day IMF for all time in chemical evolution models results in the overproduction of Type I.5 supernovae. More data on stellar abundances will help to understand how the IMF has changed and what caused such a transition.
Occurrence and distribution of organophosphate ester flame retardants in indoor dust and their potential health exposure risk

The occurrence and distribution of 10 organophosphate ester (OP) flame retardants/plasticizers were studied in indoor dust collected in 2 districts of Wuhan City. Total concentrations of the 10 OPs (ΣOPs) varied from 86.5 to 6389 ng/g in 26 dust samples in Caidian District and from 300 to 10 186 ng/g in 27 samples in Jiang'an District. In most dust samples tris(2‐chloroethyl) phosphate was dominant over the other OPs, with concentrations of 9.14 to 2722 ng/g (mean 388 ng/g) in Caidian District and 57.3 to 3718 ng/g (mean 616 ng/g) in Jiang'an District. The calculated hazard indices, based on estimated exposure dose via dust ingestion to the reference dose, were much lower than 1. The results suggested that the inhabitants in the 2 regions were at low risk of exposure through dust ingestion. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:345–352. © 2017 SETAC