Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cross‐species microsatellite markers for elucidating population genetic structure in Arabidopsis and Arabis (Brassicaeae)

Species closely related to model organisms present the opportunity to efficiently apply molecular and functional tools developed by a large research community to taxa with different ecological and evolutionary histories. We complied 42 microsatellite loci that amplify under common conditions in four closely related Arabidopsis: A. thaliana; A. halleri; A. lyrata ssp. lyrata; and A. lyrata ssp. petraea, as well as in one more distantly related crucifer; Arabis drummondii. Variation at these loci is amenable to a diversity of applications including population genetics, phylogeographical analyses, mapping of inter and intraspecific crosses, and recombination mapping. Our analysis of microsatellite variation illustrates significant differences in population genetic parameters among three Arabidopsis species. A population of A. thaliana, an inbreeding annual plant associated with disturbed habitats, was highly monomorphic (P = 8% percent polymorphic loci) and only 0.2% heterozygous for 648 locus‐by‐individual combinations. A population of the self‐incompatible perennial herb, A. halleri, was more genetically variable (P = 71%) and had an excess of heterozygosity that may reflect a recent population bottleneck associated with human‐mediated founder events. A population of the self‐incompatible perennial herb, A. lyrata ssp. petraea, was even more genetically variable (P = 86%) and appeared to be at mutation‐drift equilibrium. Population structure estimated from neutrally evolving loci provides an empirical expectation against which hypotheses of adaptive evolution at functional loci can be tested.
Age‐ and dose‐interval‐dependent antibody responses to inactivated poliovirus vaccine

Antibody responses were studied in five groups of children immunized with different three‐dose schedules of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). The age of the child at the first dose (1–4 months) and the interval between the first and second doses (2–4 months) influenced the initial responses in a serotype‐dependent manner. All the groups attained sufficient antibody level after three doses but the third dose given at 18 months resulted in higher persisting antibody levels than that given at 12 months. The highest persisting antibody titers against PV1 and PV2 (but not against PV3) at the age of 3 years were measured in the control group immunized with the current schedule (P < 0.001) in which the first dose is given at 6 months. The level of maternal antibodies present at the time of the first dose correlated negatively with the antibody titers as late as at 3 years of age. It is concluded that three doses of IPV given in widely variable schedules may result in satisfactory immune responses in children but, for optimal results, very early onset of the program and short dosage intervals should be avoided. J. Med. Virol. 63:305–310, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of digital panoramic radiography as an auxiliary means of low bone mineral density detection in post-menopausal women.

OBJECTIVES To correlate the radiomorphometric indices obtained using digital panoramic radiography (DPR) with bone mineral densities, evaluated by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry test, in a population of post-menopausal females to identify patients with asymptomatic low bone mineral densities. METHODS The morphology of the mandibular cortex was evaluated using the mandibular cortical index (MCI) and the inferior mandibular cortex width was evaluated using the mental index (MI) in 64 female patients who had undergone dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry assessment. Of these patients, 21 were diagnosed with osteopaenia and 20 with osteoporosis, and 23 were normal. Three new indices for evaluating the inferior mandibular cortex width were designed: the mental posterior index 1 (MPI1), MPI2 and MPI3. Statistical analyses were performed using the χ(2) and Kruskal-Wallis tests and the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS There were significant differences between the normal and lower bone mineral density groups (osteopaenia and osteoporosis) for MCI (p < 0.01). In the osteoporosis group, the MI, MPI1, MPI2 and MPI3 were significantly different from the normal and osteopaenia groups (p < 0.05). The MI, MPI1, MPI2 and MPI3 showed that there is an area in the mandibular cortex, located between the mental foramen and the antegonial region, which is valid for identifying females at high risk for osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS The MCI, MI, MPI1, MPI2, and MPI3 radiomorphometric indices evaluated using DPR can be used to identify post-menopausal females with low bone densities and to provide adequate medical treatment for them.
Do the Big Five Personality Factors Affect Knowledge Sharing Behaviour? A Study of Malaysian Universities

This study aims to develop an integrative understanding of the Big Five Personality (BFP) factors supporting or inhibiting individuals’ online entertainment knowledge sharing behaviours. Survey data are collected from 255 university students from two Malaysian universities. As hypothesised, structural equation modelling shows that extraversion and neuroticism are positively related to the attitude towards knowledge sharing. Openness to experience is found to have an inverse relationship with the attitude towards knowledge sharing. Subjective norm is positively related to the attitude towards knowledge sharing. Both attitude towards knowledge sharing and subjective norm are found to be independently and significantly related to the intention to share knowledge, which significantly influences the knowledge sharing behaviour. The research model proposed in the present study is useful to other researchers seeking to understand the personality factors that influence the knowledge sharing behaviour among the organisational communities. The results of this study provide empirical evidence for a new model that shows that the BFP factors are implicated in individuals’ knowledge sharing behaviour. This study and its findings have filled the research gap in the literature of the BFP factors and knowledge sharing behaviours. Furthermore, the inclusion of the BFP factors in the Theory of Reasoned Action framework is an important distinction that other studies have not established.
1 Emergence of leishmaniasis in northern Italy

Background – Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is traditionally endemic in central-south Italy, whereas northern regions (Padana plane and Alpine territories) have been considered Leishmania-free (Pozio et al., 1985) until early 1990’s, when CanL foci were firstly identified in Veneto and Piedmont. Because of the appearance of autochthonous human cases (VL), a national project was launched in 2003 to systematically collect CanL and sandfly data in 5 northern regions of Italy: Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige and Emilia Romagna. A 2.7% seroprevalence was revealed among some 6,500 dogs from 18 scattered foci, with 118 proven autochthonous infections. Phlebotomus perniciosus was recorded in almost all new foci, characterized by hilly sub-Apennine and sub-Alpine environments. P. neglectus, P. ariasi and P. perfiliewi showed more limited diffusion in the territories investigated (Capelli et al., 2004; Rossi et al., 2005; Ferroglio et al., 2005). In the frame of the subproject EDEN-LEI we aimed to study and monitor leishmaniasis spreading in two selected areas of the northern Italy, trying to answer the following questions: (i) Is Leishmania transmission spreading northward into Alpine valleys? and (ii) Which environmental conditions limit the diffusion of P. ariasi and P. perfiliewi towards northern latitudes and, in general, the spreading of all Leishmania vectors in the large Padana plane?
Assessing the Temporal Reproducibility of Human Esophageal Motor-Evoked Potentials to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Background: Although the electrophysiological properties and reproducibility of somatic limb motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are well characterized, little is known about the reproducibility of MEPs for viscerosomatic structures such as the esophagus. Aim: To determine the temporal reproducibility of esophageal MEPs to TMS. Methods: MEPs to TMS were recorded from the proximal esophagus, using a swallowed catheter housing a pair of electrodes, in eight healthy subjects at five stimulus intensities (SI) (motor threshold [MT] to 20% above MT). For each SI, 20 consecutive TMS stimuli at 5-second intervals were delivered over a single scalp site (dominant hemisphere at site exhibiting MT at lowest SI) and repeated 40 and 80 minutes thereafter. MEP amplitudes and latencies were measured, and means were sequentially calculated for each SI and then log-transformed. The repeatability coefficients (RC) for the three time points were calculated across each set of 20 stimuli and presented as an exponential ratio. Results: Best RC (amplitude/latency) were achieved at 120% SI relative to MT, being 1.8/1.2 (optimal = 1.0). For lower intensities of 115%, 110%, 105%, and 100% SI, the RC were 2.1/1.2, 2.1/1.1, 2.4/1.2, and 2.6/1.4, respectively. For all SI, the greatest reductions in RC occurred over the first 10 stimuli, with little additional gain beyond this number. Conclusions: Latencies of esophageal MEP to TMS across intensities are highly reproducible, whereas amplitudes are more stimulus intensity–dependent, being most reliable and reproducible at the highest stimulus strengths. Significance: Using careful parameters, TMS can be used reliably in future studies of viscerosomatic structures, although the size of the response variability needs to be taken into account when assessing changes in cortico-fugal activity.
Increased oxygen consumption in human visual cortex: response to visual stimulation

To test whether a sufficiently complex visual stimulus causes the consumption of oxygen to rise in the human visual cortex, we used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) during visual stimulation in 6 healthy normal volunteers. A yellow‐blue checkerboard, reversing its contrast at a frequency of 8 Hz, was presented for a period of 7 min, beginning 4 min before the onset of a 3‐min scan. In the baseline condition, subjects fixated a cross‐hair from 30 s before until the end of the 3‐min scan. The CMRO2 was calculated with the two‐compartment weighted integration method (1). The checkerboard minus baseline subtraction yielded statistically significant increases in CMRO2 in the primary (VI) and higher order visual cortices (V4 and V5). The significant CMRO2 increases were detected in these regions in both the group average and in each individual subject.
An improved genetic algorithm for degree constrained minimum spanning trees

The Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) is of crucial importance for Communication Networks (CNs), which can solve problems of unconstrained CNs effectively. However, in practical CNs, the degree of the spanning tree is constrained. In such a case, the problem is very difficult, which has been proved to be NP-hard. In this paper, an improved genetic algorithm (I-GA) is proposed for solving the problem of Degree Constrained Minimum Spanning Tree (DCMST). We use Prufer number as the chromosome, and improve the crossover and mutation processes of the existing genetic algorithm for obtaining high locality, heritability, and self-adaptation. Simulation results show that our mechanism of I-GA can get relatively better results.
Prevalence of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after acute pulmonary embolism

Summary Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has been estimated to occur in 0.1–0.5% of patients who survive a pulmonary embolism (PE), but more recent prospective studies suggest that its incidence may be much higher. The absence of initial haemodynamic evaluation at the time of PE should explain this discrepancy. We performed a prospective multicentre study including patients with PE in order to assess the prevalence and to describe risk factors of CTEPH. Follow-up every year included an evaluation of dyspnea and echocardiography using a predefined algorithm. In case of suspected CTEPH, the diagnosis was confirmed using right heart catheterisation (RHC). Signs of CTEPH were searched on the multidetector computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography performed at the time of PE. Of the 146 patients analysed, eight patients (5.4%) had suspected CTEPH during a median follow-up of 26 months. CTEPH was confirmed using RHC in seven cases (4.8%; 95%CI, 2.3 – 9.6) and ruled-out in one. Patients with CTEPH were older, had more frequently previous venous thromboembolic events and more proximal PE than those without CTEPH. At the time of PE diagnosis, patients with CTEPH had a higher systolic pulmonary artery pressure and at least two signs of CTEPH on the initial CT. After acute PE, the prevalence of CTEPH appears high. However, initial echocardiography and CT data at the time of the index PE suggest that a majority of patients with CTEPH had previously unknown pulmonary hypertension, indicating that a first clinical presentation of CTEPH may mimic acute PE.
Short term outcomes of the first round of a pilot colorectal cancer screening programme with guaiac based faecal occult blood test

Objective: To assess both feasibility and short term outcomes of a population based colorectal cancer screening programme using a biennial guaiac based faecal occult blood test (gFOBT). Method: All participants were invited by mail to take part in a screening programme using a non-rehydrated gFOBT. The gFOBTs were first provided by general practitioners (GPs) and then directly mailed to individuals who failed to comply after two invitations. The setting was a French administrative district: Haut-Rhin (710 000 inhabitants). 182 981 residents aged 50–74 years were invited to participate. Results: 19 274 people (10.5%) were excluded from gFOBT screening and 90 706 completed a gFOBT, so that the participation rate was 55.4% of those eligible. 76.5% of the completed gFOBTs were provided by GPs and 15.5% by direct mailing. The gFOBT positivity rate was 3.4%. The positive predictive value was 42.7% for neoplasia (women 30.8%, men 52.5%), 23.6% for advanced adenoma, and 7.6% for cancer. The number of normal colonoscopic procedures (without neoplasia) needed to be performed for each colonoscopy detecting an advanced neoplasia was 1.8, lower in men (1.2) than in women (3.4), and decreasing with age. Detection rates for neoplasia and cancer were 12.8 and 2.3 per 1000 people screened. 206 adenocarcinomas were detected: 47.6% were stage I and 23.8% stage II. The direct cost was estimated at €29.3 per screened person and €13 466 per cancer detected. Conclusions: Participation and diagnostic yield of controlled trials of gFOBT screening are reproducible in the real world at an acceptable cost through an organised population based programme involving GPs.
Ultra-Low Leakage Arithmetic Circuits Using Symmetric and Asymmetric FinFETs

We are examining different configurations and circuit topologies for arithmetic components such as adder and compressor circuits using both symmetric and asymmetric work-function FinFETs. Based on extensive characterization data, for the carry generation of a mirror full adder using symmetric devices, both leakage current and delay are decreased by 25% and 50%, respectively, compared to results in the literature. For the 14-transistor (14T) full adder topology, both leakage and delay are decreased by 23% and 29%, respectively, compared to the mirror topology. The 14T adder topology, using asymmetric devices without any additional power supply, achives reduction in leakage current by 85% with a small degradation of 7% in delay. The compressor circuits, using asymmetric devices for one of the proposed configurations, achieve reduction in both leakage current and delay by 86% and 4%, respectively. All simulations are based on a 25nm FinFET technology using the University of Florida UFDG model.
Ovulation prediction in spontaneous and induced cycles: the role of ovarian reserve markers

Objective (s): To evaluate the role of day 3 serum; FSH, inhibin-B and estradiol, (biochemical markers), ultrasound measured antral follicle count AFC and ovarian volume OV (biophysical markers) in ovulation prediction in induced cycles in infertile patients with different induction protocols. Also, the secondary aim was to analyze the correlations between these markers and prediction of ovulation success in induced cycles with different induction protocols. Design: Prospective comparative controlled study Settings: Infertility Clinic, University Hospital, El Minia & IVF center, Egypt. Patients: Eighty infertile patients (study group) classified into four subgroups, twenty patients each according to the method of ovulation induction and twenty matched fertile subjects (control group). Interventions: Day 3 serum; inhibin-B, FSH and estradiol were measured together with transvaginal ultrasound measurements of the antral follicle count and ovarian volume in the study and the control groups. The study group was subdivided into four subgroups according the method of ovulation induction; whether clomiphene citrate (group I), or urinary follicle stimulating hormone (group II), or low dose recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (group III) or long protocol (group IV). Main outcome measures: The predictive values of different screening markers in relation to ovulation. Other outcome measures were the analysis of the correlations between various biochemical and biophysical markers and prediction of ovulation success in induced cycles with different induction protocols. Results: The predictive values of FSH ( 45 pg/ml), estradiol ( 6), and OV (>3 cm³) in relation to ovulation prediction were statistically comparable (P>0.05). Multivariate analysis of the variables that predict ovulation in induced cycles demonstrated that of the biochemical variables FSH was the most significant contributor to ovulation (R2 = 0.93, P ≤ 0.01), while of the biophysical variables AFC is the most significant one (R 2= 0.46, P ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: Day 3 serum; FSH, inhibin-B and estradiol, ultrasound measured AFC and ovarian volume are comparable screening markers of the ovarian reserve in the general infertility patients. Of the biochemical factors
Blue wing disease of chickens: experimental infection with a Swedish isolate of chicken anaemia agent and an avian reovirus.

Isolates of an avian reovirus and chicken anaemia agent (CAA) from a field case of blue wing disease (BWD) in Sweden were inoculated into groups of SPF, one-day-old chicks as follows: Expt 1, an organ suspension from the field case; Expt 2, a selected non-purified reovirus isolate grown in chicken embryo liver cells. Expt 3, a plaque-purified reovirus strain; Expt 4, the CAA isolate from the organ suspension and Expt 5, a combination of reovirus (from Expt 3) and CAA (from Expt 4). The inoculations were given intraperitoneally. In a sixth experiment the isolates were given intramuscularly. The chicks in Expts 1, 2, 5 and 6 became ill after two weeks, and several birds died or were killed when moribund between 13 and 22 days of age. These birds had lesions similar to those found in field cases of BWD, i.e., atrophy of the thymus and the bursa of Fabricius and petechial haemorrhages in the skin. All of them had atrophie bone marrow. The chicks inoculated with the cloned reovirus strain (Expt 3) or CAA alone (Expt 4), did not show any apparent signs of disease. In Expt 4, lesions were found in the thymus, bursa of Fabricius, and bone marrow but to a less severe degree. In Expts 1, 2 and 5 both the reovirus and the CAA were successfully reisolated.
Panic disorder and depression: A psychodynamic exploration of comorbidity

Eight of twenty‐one patients presenting for treatment in an open trial of brief psychodynamic psychotherapy for panic disorder also carried the diagnosis of major depression. For the patients who completed the study, depression remitted as well as panic disorder. The authors highlight psychodynamic factors that they hypothesize may contribute to the significant overlap between panic disorder and depression, and describe three videotaped cases to illustrate these points.
Experimental Study of the Refractive Index Sensitivity in Arc-induced Long Period Gratings

This paper presents an experimental study of the sensitivity characteristics to the surrounding refractive index (SRI) in arc-induced long period gratings (LPGs), in order to outline their dependence over the fabrication parameters. Several LPGs were fabricated, with spectral features that are appealing for chemical sensing applications, e.g., negligible power losses, bands depth greater than 20 dB, and total length smaller than 35 mm. In addition, low spatial periods Λ, which are close to the limit of the arc-based fabrication technique, were selected in order to excite high-order cladding modes. In particular, the period was chosen in range 350-500 μm to focus attention on the same cladding modes for the gratings under investigation. Accordingly, a wide experimental analysis was then carried out to investigate the dependence of the sensitivity to SRI changes on the period in order to derive design criteria for LPG fabrication. In the wavelength range 1100-1700 nm and taking into consideration the attenuation bands related to the LP05 and LP06 cladding modes, an SRI sensitivity enhancement up to one order of magnitude can be achieved by proper selection of the grating period.
Cardiotoxicity after Adjuvant Anthracycline-based Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer

There is growing evidence that anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity may occur at a greater frequency and a lower cumulative dose than previously reported. With the increasing use of anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy to treat breast cancers, more clinical research is needed to evaluate the long-term cardiac risk. The addition of postoperative radiotherapy also raises concern about late cardiac risk in patients with left-side breast cancers. This article reviews the current information on the cardiac risk after adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
PCR–RFLP identification of endemic Chilean species of Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae) attacking Solanaceae

Abstract Four species of the genus Rhagoletis are native to Chile: R. nova (Schiner), R. conversa, (Brèthes), R. penela Foote and R. tomatis Foote. Currently, identification of these species is based on morphological criteria, but their strong similarity makes precise recognition difficult. To clarify species separation for quarantine purposes, a reliable method based on a PCR–RFLP procedure is reported. A DNA region containing mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase genes was selected as a target sequence for the analysis. The amplification products (c. 1 kb) were digested with either SspI or DdeI, yielding specific patterns that differentiated each of the endemic species. Complete nucleotide sequences were determined, confirming empirical restriction maps. This report updates information on the geographical distribution of Rhagoletis species in Chile.
Thermal diffractive corrections to Casimir energies

We study the interplay of thermal and diffractive effects in Casimir energies. We consider plates with edges, oriented either parallel or perpendicular to each other, as well as a single plate with a slit. We compute the Casimir energy at finite temperature using a formalism in which the diffractive effects are encoded in a lower dimensional non-local field theory that lives in the gap between the plates. The formalism allows for a clean separation between direct or geometric effects and diffractive effects, and makes an analytic derivation of the temperature dependence of the free energy possible. At low temperatures, with Dirichlet boundary conditions on the plates, we find that diffractive effects make a correction to the free energy which scales as T^6 for perpendicular plates, as T^4 for slits, and as T^4 log T for parallel plates.