Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Post-Vaccinal Inclusion Body Encephalitis in Dogs

Two separate episodes of an encephalitis occurred in dogs after the administration of a few batches of a combined, live attenuated distemper/hepatitis virus vaccine. The lesions consisted of eosinophilic intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions in large neurones, together with a nonsuppurative encephalitis and malacia of the ventral pontine gray matter. The presence of nucleocapsid, indistinguishable from that seen in distemper infection, indicates that a distemper or distemper-like virus was directly involved.
Skeletal muscle signaling, metabolism, and performance during sprint exercise in severe acute hypoxia after the ingestion of antioxidants.

The aim of this study was to determine if reactive oxygen species (ROS) could play a role in blunting Thr172-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-α phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle after sprint exercise in hypoxia and to elucidate the potential signaling mechanisms responsible for this response. Nine volunteers performed a single 30-s sprint (Wingate test) in two occasions while breathing hypoxic gas ([Formula: see text] = 75 mmHg): one after the ingestion of placebo and another following the intake of antioxidants (α-lipoic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E), with a randomized double-blind design. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained before, immediately after, and 30- and 120-min postsprint. Compared with the control condition, the ingestion of antioxidants resulted in lower plasma carbonylated proteins, attenuated elevation of the AMP-to-ATP molar ratio, and reduced glycolytic rate (P < 0.05) without significant effects on performance or V̇o2 The ingestion of antioxidants did not alter the basal muscle signaling. Thr172-AMPKα and Thr184/187-transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) phosphorylation were not increased after the sprint regardless of the ingestion of antioxidants. Thr286-CaMKII phosphorylation was increased after the sprint, but this response was blunted by the antioxidants. Ser485-AMPKα1/Ser491-AMPKα2 phosphorylation increased immediately after the sprints coincident with increased Akt phosphorylation. In summary, antioxidants attenuate the glycolytic response to sprint exercise in severe acute hypoxia and modify the muscle signaling response to exercise. Ser485-AMPKα1/Ser491-AMPKα2 phosphorylation, a known mechanism of Thr172-AMPKα phosphorylation inhibition, is increased immediately after sprint exercise in hypoxia, probably by a mechanism independent of ROS.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The glycolytic rate is increased during sprint exercise in severe acute hypoxia. This study showed that the ingestion of antioxidants before sprint exercise in severe acute hypoxia reduced the glycolytic rate and attenuated the increases of the AMP-to-ATP and the reduction of the NAD+-to-NADH.H+ ratios. This resulted in a modified muscle signaling response with a blunted Thr286-CaMKII but similar AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation responses in the sprints preceded by the ingestion of antioxidants.
Menstrual and menarche experience among pubescent female students in Taiwan: implications for health education and promotion practice.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore the menarche and menstruation experiences of young females aged 10-12 years in elementary education in Taiwan. BACKGROUND Menarche is a significant milestone in a woman's life and for female adolescents it is a sharply defined biological event that can be a traumatic and uncomfortable time. If used, school nurses can make a significant contribution in educating young people and help to ameliorate these problems. Understanding how young women feel about menstruation is a central element to sexual health education practice. DESIGN A qualitative research design was employed using focus groups. METHODS Data were collected from 20 female students, aged between 10-12 years. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed and subject to a thematic analysis. RESULTS Three themes emerged from the data analysis reflecting the menstrual experience of participants. These were: 'Changing bodies: the physical effects of menarche and menstruation', 'Emotional issues: the psychological impact of menarche and menstruation' and 'Social dimensions of the menarche and menstruation'. CONCLUSION Our findings show that young females can experience significant physical and emotional difficulties around menstruation - many of which stem from poor information and the reactions of their peer group to menstrual activity. The potential for school nurses to contribute to this education is significant and schools should explore the manner in which nurses can contribute to this area of health education. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurses involved in health education work with young people and ensure that menstruation education addresses the social and psychological impact of the menarche as well as the physical elements of menstruation. Boys should not be absent from this education and the impact of their attitudes towards menstruation upon their female peers should be addressed in health education work.
A psychophysically motivated model for two-dimensional motion perception

Abstract A quantitative model is developed to predict the perceived direction of moving two-dimensional patterns. The model incorporates both a simple motion energy pathway and a “texture boundary motion” pathway that incorporates response squaring before the extraction of motion energy. These pathways correspond to Fourier and non-Fourier motion pathways and are hypothesized to reflect processing in the VI-MT and V1-V2-MT pathway, respectively. A cosine-weighted sum of these pathways followed by competitive feedback inhibition accurately predicts the perceived direction for patterns composed of two cosine gratings at different orientations (“plaids”). The model also predicts direction discrimination, differences between foveal and peripheral viewing, changes in perceived direction with exposure duration, motion masking, and motion transparency.
Evaluation of the Preventive Effect of Isoflavone Extract on Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Rats

To examine a potential role for soybean phytoestrogens in postmenopausal bone loss, twenty-four 12-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into 4 groups and given controlled diets for 16 weeks. The treatment groups were as followed: sham operated, ovariectomized (OVX) control, OVX + isoflavone extract (6.25 g/kg), and OVX + 17β-estradiol (4 mg/kg). OVX treatments reduced femoral and fourth lumbar vertebral bone density and mineral content (p<0.01), decreased uterine weight (p<0.01), accelerated body weight increases (p<0.05), and increased the activities (p<0.01) of both serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). Supplementation with isoflavone prevented the losses of bone density and mineral content caused by OVX (p<0.01). Although both isoflavone and 17β-estradiol exhibited similar bone-sparing ability on the OVX-induced bone loss, the effect of isoflavone was not the same as that of 17β-estradiol on the serum ALP and TRAP, body weight increase, and uterine weight change. We concluded that dietary supplementation with soybean isoflavone can prevent postmenopausal bone loss via a different mechanism of estrogen in OVX rats.
Analysis of the Genetic Sequences of PCV2 Virus in Mexico

These All pig-producing countries from around the world report the presence of Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS.) In America, PCV2 has been recognized in Canada, United States and Brazil. Knowledge concerning the genetic sequences of PMWS has been very important. In Mexico, there is no report describing the genetic sequences and variations of the PCV2 virus present around the country. For this reason, the main objective was to describe the homology and genetic sequences of the PCV2 virus obtained from different regions of Mexico. The results show that in Mexico are present both subgenotypes \"a\" and \"b\" of this virus and the homologies are from 89 to 99%. Regarding with the aminoacid sequence, three major heterogenic regions were present in the position 59-91, 123–136 and 185–210. This study presents the results of the first genetic characterization of PCV2 in production herds from Mexico. Keywords—PCV-2; sequencing analysis; Mexico
Chlamydia pneumoniae in multiple sclerosis: humoral immune responses in serum and cerebrospinal fluid and correlation with disease activity marker

Humoral immune responses to Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) were studied in paired sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and other inflammatory and non-inflammatory neurological diseases. Seropositivity was not significantly different between these groups. However, C. pneumoniae-specific IgG titers were significantly higher in CSF of MS than in controls. Sixteen out of 52 seropositive MS patients (30.8%) showed intrathecal synthesis of C. pneumoniae-specific IgG but only one of 43 seropositive controls (2.3%). In MS, this was strongly associated with intrathecal synthesis of polyclonal IgG in 13/16 patients. However, these elevated C. pneumoniae antibody titers in CSF did not significantly correlate with disease duration, disease course, clinical or MRI disease activity, disability or presence of oligoclonal IgG in MS.
Interobserver concordance in the assessment of liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients using transient elastometry

Objectives Although the reproducibility of transient elastometry (TE) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-monoinfected patients seems to be high, this may not be the case in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients because of different degrees of steatosis and/or inflammation. This study was aimed to determine the interobserver concordance of TE measurements in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Methods A total of 188 patients were evaluated in a cross-sectional, prospective study in two hospitals. The interobserver variability of TE results and the rate of unequal classification of significant fibrosis (cutoff value = 7.2 kPa) and cirrhosis (cutoff value = 14.6 kPa) for two observers were evaluated. Results The values of liver stiffness (LS) for two observers highly correlated [intraclass correlation index = 0.976; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.968–0.982]. The κ indexes for the concordance of patient classification were 0.60 for significant fibrosis and 0.89 for cirrhosis. Using two cutoff points to diagnose or rule out significant fibrosis (LS ≥9 kPa or <6 kPa) yielded a κ index of 0.96, but 46% of patients were not classified. Covariables that influenced the interobserver agreement were a high interquartile range in the determination (adjusted odd ratio: 0.189; 95% CI: 0.087–0.411; P = 0.001) and elevated levels of triglycerides (adjusted odd ratio: 1.004; 95% CI: 1.000–1.008; P = 0.031). Conclusion TE measurement is an observer-independent method to evaluate LS in HIV/HCV coinfected patients. The concordance of the classification of mild-to-severe fibrosis is good and for the diagnosis of cirrhosis is excellent. Lower interquartile ranges and triglyceride levels lead to a higher interobserver agreement.
Influencing Practice through the Development of Clear and Transparent Guidelines for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This study has used quality assurance processes from business and industry to benchmark the role of the RPL practitioner so that the process of assessment could be made explicit to all involved in the RPL process. An action research approach has been taken using mixed methodology. The following research questions were asked: what principles are common to RPL practice; can these principles be developed as benchmarks to make RPL practice more explicit; how might emergent benchmarks inform the career of the RPL practitioner? Three cycles of research were undertaken over a 15-year period. The first cycle was conducted within the tertiary sector in Canada. The second cycle was undertaken in South Africa with a cohort of university academics and a cohort of nurse educators. A third cycle was undertaken with nurse educators in the UK, which is the focus of this report. It was found that when resources are optimal the practitioner uses assessment methods based on the individual needs of the learner. These methods are holistic and contrary to the literature are inclusive, rather than exclusive or specific to, a competency or developmental approach to RPL. A career pathway for the RPL practitioner has been identified. This demonstrates the characteristic way the practitioner engages with an organisation to bring about changes in assessment practice. The functional role of the RPL practitioner has also been identified. This provides an explicit framework for practice that may be used to complement and support the career of the RPL practitioner and to construct a model for RPL practice.
Energy Consumption is a Determinant of Economic Growth in BRICS Countries or Not

Energy consumption as a determinant of economic growth is a matter that has been frequently discussed in recent years in the theory of economics. In this study, the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries from 1990 to 2013 analyzed by panel data analysis. According to the results of empirical analysis, conservation hypothesis in Russia and feedback hypothesis in Brazil and neutrality hypothesis in other countries are valid.
Feasibility study for the development of certified reference materials for specific migration testing. Part 2: Estimation of diffusion parameters and comparison of experimental and predicted data

This paper describes the second part of a project whose main objective was to develop the know-how to produce certified reference materials (CRMs) for specific migration testing. Certification parameters discussed are the diffusion coefficient, D P , the respective polymer-specific coefficient, A P , of the migrant polymer combinations and the partitioning coefficient, K P, , F , describing the partitioning of the migrant between the polymer and a food simulant. The parameters were determined for 16 preliminary candidate CRMs. Each parameter was determined by one laboratory. The six materials most suitable as reference materials were selected and the parameters then determined by four laboratories. The coefficients resulting from this small-scale interlaboratory comparison study can be regarded as the most reliable values available to date. These coefficients were applied for a comparison of experimental and predicted migration data. The experimental migration data arose from the same project and were determined by one laboratory for the first 16 materials and subsequently by four laboratories for the six materials selected in the second phase. Overall, experimental and predicted migration data fit together quite well. Roughly half of the predicted data were within ±10%; almost all predicted data were within ±40% compared with the experimental data.
IgG on Infants' B Lymphocytes: Enhanced Binding of IgG by IgM‐Bearing Lymphoid Cells in Early Childhood

IgM/IgD‐bearing lymphocytes (B cells) from children in the first few weeks of life were found to also have surface IgG, unlike most normal adult B cells. The IgG was loosely bound to the lymphocyte surface and was partially or completely removed by incubation at 37°C or by trypsinization. When F(ab)2 antisera were employed, very few infant B cells had surface IgG, although the IgM staining was similar to that obtained with the native antisera. IgM/IgD‐positive cells bound IgG anti‐Rh‐coated (Ripley) erythrocytes, unlike most adult B lymphocytes. Capping experiments suggested that an Fc receptor on these cells could be redistributed by the anti‐IgM‐surface IgM complex. These data indicate that, during infancy, B‐lymphocyte receptors for IgG are of altered affinity, frequency, or availability compared with adult B‐lymphocyte Fc receptors and resemble the Fc receptors found on ‘third population’ (Fc + Ig ‐) mononuclear cells and monocytes.
Air Permeability and Acoustic Absorbing Behavior of Nonwovens

Abstract: Several nonwovens were studied to explore the relationship between their structural characteristics, permeability and acoustic absorbing behavior. Fundamental structural parameters including thickness, gram square meter and porosity were considered. Results show that the permeability is not just linear to porosity, but also related to many other complex and difficult-to-measure parameters. Further in this the paper we compared absorption coefficient of nonwovens with and without air permeability back, the sound absorption principles of those are completely different. For nonwovens with rigid back, the absorption coefficient increases with increasing thickness. For samples tested with air gap, the increasing air permeability moves the absorption curve towards lower frequency, and enhances the initial slopes of the curves. And also the absorption coefficients over the whole frequency range were found to increase with air permeability. This finding also indicates that the capillary effect alone cannot sufficiently explain the acoustic absorbing behaviour of nonwovens. Accurate theories which can illustrate sound absorption property of nonwovens still need to be improved and more precise model is still to be developed to explain the acoustic absorbing behaviour of nonwovens.
A review on chemical and biological properties of Tinospora cordifolia.

Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi) is an important herb in folk and ayurvedic systems of medicine. This paper presents a critical review on chemic al and biological properties of Tinospora cordifolia. Tinospora cordifoliacontain various chemical constituents belonging to different classes such as alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones, glycosides and ste r- oids. The most important biological properties repor ted are antioxidant, anti -diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-stress, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory and anti -neoplastic activities .
The Ca2+ Affinity of Synaptotagmin 1 Is Markedly Increased by a Specific Interaction of Its C2B Domain with Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate

The synaptic vesicle protein synaptotagmin 1 is thought to convey the calcium signal onto the core secretory machinery. Its cytosolic portion mainly consists of two C2 domains, which upon calcium binding are enabled to bind to acidic lipid bilayers. Despite major advances in recent years, it is still debated how synaptotagmin controls the process of neurotransmitter release. In particular, there is disagreement with respect to its calcium binding properties and lipid preferences. To investigate how the presence of membranes influences the calcium affinity of synaptotagmin, we have now measured these properties under equilibrium conditions using isothermal titration calorimetry and fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Our data demonstrate that the acidic phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2), but not phosphatidylserine, markedly increases the calcium sensitivity of synaptotagmin. PI(4,5)P2 binding is confined to the C2B domain but is not affected significantly by mutations of a lysine-rich patch. Together, our findings lend support to the view that synaptotagmin functions by binding in a trans configuration whereby the C2A domain binds to the synaptic vesicle and the C2B binds to the PI(4,5)P2-enriched plasma membrane.
Minute Virus of Mice Small Nonstructural Protein NS2 Interacts and Colocalizes with the Smn Protein

ABSTRACT The small nonstructural protein NS2 of the minute virus of mice (MVM) is required for efficient viral replication, although its mode of action is unclear. Here we demonstrate that NS2 and survival motor neuron protein (Smn) interact in vitro and in vivo. NS2 and Smn also colocalize in infected nuclei at late times following MVM infection.
Reduced cerebrospinal fluid production and intracranial pressure in mice lacking choroid plexus water channel Aquaporin‐1

Aquaporin‐1 (AQP1) is a water channel expressed strongly at the ventricular‐facing surface of choroid plexus epithelium. We developed novel methods to compare water permeability in isolated choroid plexus of wild‐type vs. AQP1 null mice, as well as intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production and absorption. Osmotically induced water transport was rapid in choroid plexus from wild‐type mice and reduced by fivefold by AQP1 deletion. AQP1 deletion did not affect choroid plexus size or structure. By stereotaxic puncture of the lateral ventricle with a microneedle, ICP was 9.5 ± 1.4 cm H2O in wild‐type mice and 4.2 ± 0.4 cm H2O in AQP1 null mice. CSF production, an isosmolar fluid secretion process, was measured by a dye dilution method involving fluid collections using a second microneedle introduced into the cisterna magna. CSF production in wild‐type mice was (in µl min–1) 0.37 ± 0.04 (control), 0.16 ± 0.03 (acetazolamide‐treated), and 1.14 ± 0.15 (forskolin‐treated), and reduced by ~25% in AQP1 null mice. Pressure‐dependent CSF outflow, measured from steady‐state ICP at different ventricular infusion rates, was not affected by AQP1 deletion. In a model of focal brain injury, AQP1 null mice had remarkably reduced ICP and improved survival compared with wild‐type mice. The reduced ICP and CSF production in AQP1 null mice provides direct functional evidence for the involvement of AQP1 in CSF dynamics, suggesting AQP1 inhibition as a novel option for therapy of elevated ICP.
Targeted focal therapy for prostate cancer: a review of the literature

Improvements in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment have resulted in a decreasing age-adjusted death rate. But improved diagnostic tools have not delivered a proportionate decrease in mortality, primarily because physicians now are diagnosing _ and treating _ more clinically insignificant tumors. Targeted focal therapy (TFT) uses three dimensional (3D) mapping biopsies to guide cryotherapy so that it targets lesions themselves while sparing surrounding healthy tissues, thereby avoiding side effects associated with more invasive treatments. As such, TFT can provide a bridge between active surveillance and more aggressive treatments for patients with low-risk tumors. It is appropriate for men who either do not want or are not good candidates for more aggressive therapies. Identifying patients who are appropriate candidates for TFT is challenging, but the mapping biopsy technique helps identify individuals who have localized disease and could benefit from this treatment. In recent years, improvements in cryotherapy have increased its efficacy while decreasing complications. At the present time using cryotherapy to target and destroy the cancer(s) is appealing. Other approaches to less aggressive therapies are discussed including gland hemi ablation, high intensity ultrasound (HIFU) and others. Going forward, patients will benefit further from development of better imaging technologies and completion of long-term survival studies.