Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intérêt d'une restriction hydrique en comparaison au rationnement alimentaire en bonnes conditions sanitaires et lors d'une reproduction expérimentale de l'Entéropathie Epizootique du lapin (EEL)

Resume – L’interet d’une restriction hydrique (acces a l’eau de boisson 1h/jour) a ete compare a un rationnement alimentaire severe (-35% de l’ad libitum) en bonnes conditions sanitaires et lors d’une reproduction experimentale de l’Enteropathie Epizootique du lapin (EEL). Deux lots de lapins (bonnes conditions sanitaires (189 individus) et inocules avec l’inoculum TEC2 (128 individus)) ont ete repartis au sevrage en 3 groupes et suivis jusqu’a 67 jours d’âge : A (lot temoin), B (restriction hydrique de 32 a 53 jours) et C (rationnement alimentaire de 32 a 53 jours). En bonnes conditions sanitaires, la restriction hydrique se distingue du rationnement alimentaire par un rapport eau/aliment consomme tres bas (1.2 contre 3.5) et une croissance compensatrice limitee lors du retour a volonte (-19% en comparaison au rationnement alimentaire). En conditions d’EEL, la restriction hydrique 1h/jour utilisee en preventif est tout aussi efficace qu’un rationnement alimentaire (-35% de l’ad libitum) pour limiter la mortalite et la morbidite (22 points de morts en moins).
Estimating Default Probabilities Implicit in Equity Prices

This paper uses a reduced form credit risk model to estimate default probabilities implicit in equity prices. For a cross-section of firms, a time-series regression of monthly equity returns is estimated. We show that it is feasible to infer the firm's probability of default implicit in equity returns. However, the existence of price bubbles and the difficulty in modeling equity price risk premium confound the estimation of these default probabilities, generating potentially biased estimates with large standard errors. Comparing these default intensities with those obtained from historical data or implicitly from debt prices confirms this result.
Acute Contact Toxicity Test of Oxalic Acid on Honeybees in the Southwestern Zone of Uruguay

Este trabajo estudio la toxicidad aguda por contacto del acido oxalico (AO) sobre una subespecie poli-hibrida de abejas (Apis mellifera), la cual es el biotipo dominante en la zona sudoeste de Uruguay (SWZU), la region mas importante para la produccion de miel en este pais. Este estudio determino la dosis letal 50 (DL50), asi como el nivel de efecto no observado (NOEL), el nivel de efecto minimo observado (LOEL), y el numero total de individuos por colmena. El proposito fue evaluar la relacion entre la dosis maxima de AO usada en Uruguay (3.1 g AO por colmena) y los parametros toxicologicos de las abejas de la SWZU. Los resultados mostraron que es posible elevar la dosis actual de AO por colmena a 9.3 g, ya que la dosis actual de 3.1 g de AO corresponde a 132.8 AO por abeja, y el NOEL determinado es 400 AO por abeja. Los resultados tambien destacaron algunas diferencias entre la DL50 de las abejas del SWZU (548.95 AO por abeja) y algunos valores de DL50 publicados para otras subespecies de abejas.
‘If these machines could talk…’: experts, cigarettes and policymaking in Turkey

Inspired by the studies of Bruno Latour, the article aims to illustrate the ways in which policymaking is being made within a ‘heterogeneous network’ of humans and non-humans. Through an analysis of a controversy, it argues that the policymaking process is a more complicated and multidimensional process, which cannot be simply comprehended within the framework of predetermined roles and structures. Specifically, the article ethnographically investigates the policymaking practices of the Turkish tobacco regulatory agency, which was established in 2002 in return for a loan provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Breastfeeding duration in families with type 1 diabetes compared to non-affected families: results from BABYDIAB and DONALD studies in Germany.

BACKGROUND There are only a few small studies that compare breastfeeding rates in mothers with and without type 1 diabetes (T1D). STUDY DESIGN We studied breastfeeding duration in 665 German infants whose mother and/or father had T1D from the BABYDIAB Study (data collected between 1992 and 2000) and compared it with data from 268 German infants of unaffected parents from the DONALD Study. RESULTS Infants with a parent who had T1D were less likely to be breastfed and breastfed for shorter lengths of time than infants from unaffected families. Mothers with T1D showed a positive long-term breastfeeding time trend, but did not reach the rates of the DONALD Study. CONCLUSIONS This study identified minor secular trends influencing the differences in breastfeeding initiation and duration between families affected with T1D and those without.
One Institution's Experience in Transforming the Health Sciences Library of the Future

Recognizing a need to be more relevant to its constituents, and aligned with institutional priorities, the Taubman Health Sciences Library redefined its mission, roles, and space. This transformation facilitated innovative, team-based collaborations within the health sciences community and the addition of new roles and responsibilities in academic and clinical engagement, research and informatics, enabling technologies, community outreach, and global health. Library space is being redesigned, and a branch library dedicated to interdisciplinary partnerships has been established. Information gained from this experience will be useful to other libraries faced with budget, resource, and staffing challenges and will offer practical ideas for becoming more integrated into the academic, research, and clinical work of the health sciences enterprise.
Preparation of Engineering Students for Capstone Design Experience through a Microprocessors Course

This paper presents the outcomes of a developed methodology to handle the project component in a higher-level undergraduate course. The approach relies on providing the students the freedom to choose their own project area as well as the utilized technology. At the same time, the students have to follow certain regulation to allow for the creation of a semi-capstone experience. We illustrate how this approach has a positive effect, not only on the project outcomes at the course level, but also on the students’ performances in subsequent capstone courses. Data collected, over five consecutive course offerings, shows that this approach is an effective method to prepare engineering students for their senior design capstone courses.
Molecular Characterization of the Human NANOG Protein

NANOG is a key transcriptional regulator of pluripotent stem cell (PSC) self‐renewal. NANOG occupies promoters that are active and others that are repressed during self‐renewal; however, the mechanisms by which NANOG regulates transcriptional repression and activation are unknown. We hypothesized that individual protein domains of NANOG control its interactions with both the promoters and its coregulators. We performed a detailed characterization of the functional domains in the human (h) NANOG protein, using a panel of deletion‐mutant and point‐mutant constructs. We determined that six amino acids in the homeodomain (136YKQVKT141) are sufficient for the nuclear localization of hNANOG. We also determined that the tryptophan‐rich region (W) of hNANOG contains a CRM1‐independent signal for nuclear export, suggesting a possible cellular shuttling behavior that has not been reported for hNANOG. We also show that at least four tryptophans are required for nuclear export. We also determined that similar to murine (m) NANOG, the W region of hNANOG contains a homodimerization domain. Finally, in vitro transactivation analyses identified distinct regions that enhance or diminish activity at gene promoters that are active during self‐renewal. Specifically, the N‐terminal region interferes with transcription and removal of this region that produced a “super‐active” hNANOG with enhanced transcriptional activity. We also confirmed that the transcriptional activator in hNANOG is contained in the C‐terminal region, similar to murine NANOG. In summary, this study has characterized the structure and function of hNANOG protein leading to an increased understanding of the mechanism by which hNANOG regulates both transcriptional activation and repression during PSC self‐renewal. STEM CELLS 2009;27:812–821
A clinical comparison study of the effects of reserpine and placebo on anxiety.

Within recent years considerable attention has been directed toward the therapeutic effects of reserpine (alkaloid of Rauwolfia serpentina) on a large variety of emotional disorders, and many favorable reports have appeared in both medical and lay publications. Noce et al., 1,2 Barsa and Kline, 3 Kline and Stanley, 4 and Hollister et al. 5 were among the first to report on its effects on mentally ill patients. These studies were limited to hospitalized patients who manifested psychotic disorders of varying duration, type, and degree. More recently, Hare, Seager, and Leitch 6 reported a study of the effects of reserpine as compared with those of amobarbital and of an inert control substance on 42 neurotic inpatients. These authors concluded that amobarbital produced much improvement in a great majority of their patients, whereas the results with reserpine were no better than those with the placebo. They suggested the need for caution in
Application of plasma surface modification techniques to improve hemocompatibility of vascular grafts: A review

Surface modification using plasma processing can significantly change the chemical and physical characteristics of biomaterial surfaces. When used in combination with additional modification techniques such as direct chemical or biochemical methods, it can produce novel biomaterial surfaces, which are anticoagulant, bioactive, and biomimetic in nature. This article reviews recent advances in improving hemocompatibility of biomaterials by plasma surface modification (PSM). The focus of this review is on PSM of the most commonly used polymers for vascular prostheses such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron®), and next generation of biomaterials, including polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocomposite.
The Prevalence and Determinants of Short Stature in HIV-Infected Children

Background: Children with HIV infection are often reported to be short. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HIV-associated short stature in HIV endemic setting. Methods: Data were obtained by retrospective review of the electronic medical records. Patients were grouped into various clinical categories. For each category, the proportion of patients with height-for-age Z score of less than −2 standard deviation [SD] and of less than −3 SD was determined. Results: The prevalence of short stature (less than −2 SD) was 28.4%. Severe short stature (less than −3 SD) is more likely with percentage of CD4 <15% (odds ratio [OR]: 3.30, confidence interval [CI]: 1.51-7.09, P = .002) and with males (OR: 1.49, CI: 1.19-1.87, P = .001). Severe short stature is more likely with viral load >400 copies/mL (OR 2.64, CI 1.27-5.38, P = .008) and poor adherence (<95%; OR 1.72, CI 1.03-2.05, P = .037). Conclusion: In Botswana, short stature affects a quarter of HIV-infected children and severe short stature is associated with poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment, severe immunosuppression, and virologic failure.
Outer retinal corrugations in age-related macular degeneration.

IMPORTANCE Optical coherence tomography (OCT) abnormalities of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have not been fully characterized because of the complex morphology and a lack of correlative histologic studies. Expansion of our ability to interpret increasing attributes brings us closer to the goal of in vivo histologic analysis of the eye by OCT. OBJECTIVE To describe a new outer retinal finding of AMD using spectral-domain (SD) OCT and suggest histopathologic correlates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Twenty-five eyes of 16 patients with AMD with severe atrophy due to either choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or geographic atrophy (GA) and 53 donor eyes of 53 patients with late AMD were included. Imaging studies were conducted at a referral retinal practice and histopathology was done at a university research laboratory. EXPOSURES Findings in the outer retina were evaluated in SD-OCT images in eyes with atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and compared with histopathologic findings in eyes with GA or CNV that also showed loss of the RPE. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Spectral-domain OCT and histologic characteristics of the outer retina. RESULTS The mean (SD) age of the 16 patients was 82.7 (7.9) years. Twenty eyes had CNV and 5 eyes had GA. The mean best-corrected visual acuity was 0.800 logMAR (interquartile range, 0.350-1.000 logMAR), a Snellen equivalent of 20/126. A curvilinear hyperreflective density was identified above the Bruch membrane line within the atrophic area in the SD-OCT images. At the internal border, the material was contiguous with the outer portion of the RPE band. Below the material was a relatively hyporeflective space. The material was thrown into folds in cases with atrophy following CNV or was seen as a sheet with numerous bumps in eyes with GA. Review of histopathologic findings of eyes with advanced GA and CNV revealed a rippled layer of basal laminar deposits in an area of RPE atrophy that was located in the same level as the curvilinear line seen in the OCT images. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE We have described a new entity, termed outer retinal corrugations, which may correspond to histological findings of basal laminar deposits, extracellular deposits that persist in eyes with late AMD. Observation of this undulating band does not necessarily mean there is exudation or leakage; as a consequence, these patients do not need treatment based on this solitary finding.
Childhood adversity moderates the influence of proximal episodic stress on the cortisol awakening response and depressive symptoms in adolescents

Abstract Childhood adversity (CA) is known to predict sensitization to proximal stressors. Researchers have suggested that disruptions in hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis functioning may be a biological mechanism. If so, CA may predict altered associations between proximal life stress and markers of cortisol secretion. We examined whether CA moderates associations between recent episodic stress and (a) the cortisol awakening response (CAR), and (b) depressive symptoms, in 241 adolescents aged 14–17 years (cortisol n = 196). Salivary cortisol was sampled at 0, 30, and 60 min postawakening for 2 days. The CAR was calculated as the area under the curve with respect to increase and waking cortisol. CA and episodic stress were assessed using contextual-threat-method-coded objective interviews. CA significantly interacted with episodic stress to predict both the CAR and depression. Among those with low CA, episodic stress predicted increased CAR but did not predict depression. For adolescents with high CA, episodic stress predicted lower CAR and higher depression. These interactions were found only for independent (uncontrollable, fateful) events, and not for dependent (self-generated) stress. Increased allostatic load resulting from CA exposure may interfere with adolescents' ability to optimally regulate their CAR in relation to recent stress, contributing to increased depression risk.
Prevalence of Retinitis Pigmentosa in South Indian Population Aged Above 40 Years

Purpose: The study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in rural and urban South India. Methods: Seven thousand seven hundred and seventy four subjects aged 40 years or more from rural and urban Tamil Nadu, underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination out of 9576 enumerated (81.17%). After a thorough ophthalmic examination, fundus photographs were taken for documentation. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS for Windows (ver 14). Results: 7461 (95.9%) subjects had fundus details seen in both eyes. Thirteen subjects (0.17%; 4 males, 9 females) were diagnosed as retinitis pigmentosa. Retinitis pigmentosa in the urban population was seen in approximately 1 in 930 persons, while 1 in 372 of rural subjects had the disorder. This figure is greater than other reports from the western populations and that of the conservative estimate of 1 in 4000. The age and gender adjusted prevalence rate of retinitis pigmentosa to national census 2001 was 0.155%. Eight subjects (61.53%) had visual acuity less than 3/60. Conclusion: Prevalence of RP in South India appears to be alarmingly higher in comparison to those seen in other parts of the world.
Evaluation of Molecular Technique with Predictable Methods for Discrimination of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Northwestern Nigeria

Background: Accurate and rapid detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is very important in a clinical laboratory setting to avoid treatment failure. Methods: A total of 100 non-duplicate Staphylococcus aureus isolates were collected from different human clinical specimens at 8 different health institutions in Northwestern Nigeria. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify both the S. aureus specific sequence gene and mecA gene of the isolates with the amplicon size of 107 and 532 bp. To accelerate the procedure of identification in clinical microbiology laboratories, simple and rapid method for DNA extraction directlyfrom a single colony was employed. The result of the PCR was compared with conventional methods. Results: All the isolates (n=100) expressed S. aureus specific sequence gene in their PCR products. Only 5 isolates (5.0%) were confirmed as MRSA based on the detection of mecA gene. There was a significant different between MRSA identified on conventional and molecular techniques (P < 0.05). The study reports that the prevalence of mecA gene in S. aureus in Northwestern Nigeria is 5.0% and mecA gene detection is a good predictor of methicillin resistance in S. aureus. Conclusion: On the basis of this finding; establishment of molecular diagnostic laboratory in secondary and tertiary health units is urgently required. The identification of multi-resistant methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (mMSSA) indicates that strict antibiotic and infection control policies are important factors to be considered in health institutions during policy management decision. Control of MRSA infection is essential, and it can be achieved by proper implementation of hospital control measures.
Molecular Interaction between Bacterial Antigens and Macrophage Receptors Studied by Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a high resolution imaging method for the investigation of biological samples. In particular it allows studies of dynamical biological processes in vivo [1]. In addition to its microscopic capabilities, AFM allows direct probing of the specific non-covalent forces between isolated biological molecules [2–5], as well as between molecules and receptors on the surface of cells (e.g. ligand–receptor interactions) [6, 7]. A spontaneous dissociation rate of the molecular complex is increased by the mechanical load applied by the cantilever. This was discussed for the first time by Bell [8] and by Evans and Ritchie in terms of the force spectroscopy [9, 10]. The rupture of the ligand–receptor bond is a fully statistical process and it always gives a continuous distribution of the ∗corresponding author; e-mail: mtargosz@if.uj. edu.pl
The evidence for routine anti-arrhythmic prophylaxis in patients undergoing pulmonary resection surgery.

tee 100% safety. Another device introduced to reduce subatmospheric pressure peaks in the venous line is the BB [6]. The system comprises a flexible thin-walled tube inside a rigid transparent box and is capable of absorbing venous line pressure fluctuations. The adjustable volume of air between the tube and the casing allows buffering. The study by Simons et al. [6] showed a 40% reduction in venous line pressure fluctuations with the BB. Despite these elegant results, the BB cannot eliminate ENPs completely. In Figure 2 of the study by Simons et al., ENP peaks of up to −200 mmHg are still observed. The durations of ENPs seem to be longer, as can be inferred from the oblique curve in the graph. However, the main reason for ENPs is volume depletion, which remains untreated in this case. This system would certainly provide more time for perfusionists to replenish the intravascular volume. We would like to mention that, in our experimental model, the utilization of a one-way-valve connected to the venous side of MPSs for automatic pressure and volume compensation has been evaluated. The results will be published soon. In summary, to lower complications, optimization and a refined perfusion management of the routinely used MPSs are required.
Epilepsy in South Africa

Since its first democratic elections in 1994, South Africa has undertaken a massive social reconstruction program that has included major healthcare reform. The state healthcare system aims to provide a unitary service, based on a primary healthcare approach, to the 85% of the population who depend on it. Although the burden of epilepsy is largely unknown, it is likely to be large, with a study of children in a large rural community, for example, demonstrating an active prevalence of 6.7/1000. Common causes of epilepsy are likely to include infectious diseases, such as neurocysticercosis and HIV/AIDS, trauma and alcohol consumption. Limited evidence suggests the existence of a large treatment gap in some areas. The management and treatment of epilepsy are also greatly influenced by cultural attitudes and beliefs, which vary widely. South Africa thus provides a microcosm of issues affecting the management of epilepsy worldwide.