Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pneumothorax in horses: 40 cases (1980-1997).

OBJECTIVE To characterize pneumothorax in horses and to describe clinical signs, diagnostic testing, and clinical outcome of horses with pneumothorax. DESIGN Retrospective study. ANIMALS 40 horses. PROCEDURE Medical records of horses with pneumothorax were reviewed to obtain information on signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic testing, treatment, and clinical outcome. RESULTS Horses developed pneumothorax secondary to pleuropneumonia (17 horses), open wounds of the thorax (9), closed trauma to the thorax (7), surgery on the upper portion of the respiratory tract (3), and surgery involving the thoracic cavity (1); 3 horses had pneumothorax of unknown cause. Clinical signs included tachypnea, dyspnea, cyanosis, lack of lung sounds on auscultation of the dorsal aspect of the thorax, fever, tachycardia, signs of depression or anxiousness, and cough. Radiography and ultrasonography were useful to definitively diagnose pneumothorax. Pneumothorax was bilateral in 47.5% (19/40) and unilateral in 42.5% (17/40) of horses; designation of unilateral versus bilateral was not recorded in the remaining 4 horses. Horses with pneumothorax secondary to pleuropneumonia more commonly had unilateral pneumothorax (64.7% for unilateral vs 29.4% for bilateral; not specified for 1 horse). Horses with pneumothorax secondary to pleuropneumonia were less likely to survive than horses with pneumothorax secondary to other causes (35.3 vs 69.6% survived, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Pleuropneumonia is an important cause of pneumothorax in horses. Classic clinical signs of pneumothorax may not be evident. Radiography, ultrasonography, or both may be required for diagnosis. Prognosis for survival is better for horses with pneumothorax not associated with pleuropneumonia.
Neurotic excoriations. A controlled psychiatric examination.

The investigation covers 68 patients with the primary form of neurotic excoriations (n.ex.) who within a 5 year period, 1974-78 had contact with the dermatology department, Odense University Hospital. The diagnosis was ascertained clinically - anamnestically, and by various laboratory examinations. The first 25 typical patients were matched with neurotic control patients (control group) who were homogeneous with regard to sex, age, level of intelligence, main personality traits (self-esteem, orderliness in a broad sense, hysterical traits), and level of invalidity. The primary psychiatric investigation contained a semistructured biographic interview lasting about 3 hours. N.ex. patients were on an average 42 years old at the time of reference to the dermatology department and most frequently in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. About 90% were women and only about 1/2 were married. Occupationally pensioners and workers dominated. Childhood seems on many levels to have been more discordant for n.ex. patients than for the control patients. Father and steady partners tended to have a lower social status in the n.ex. group than in the control group. A predominance of n.ex. patients lacked self-confidence (though possibly managed to mask it), were hypersensitive, meticulous or perfectionistic, suffered from sexual dysfunction. They were more reserved in contact situations than patients in the control group and often revealed no manifest need of psychiatric treatment. Significantly more in the n.ex. group than in the control group had a high level of energy and activity. There was a dominant tendency to depressive/dysphoric moods in the n.ex. group. Management of aggression was seldom without problems in both the n.ex. group and in the control group but aggressive explosions occurred with significantly greater frequency in the n.ex. group. A number of the patients in the n.ex. group described how their spouse's phlegmatism could violently irritate them. The same frequency for suicidal behaviour was found for both groups. The onset of the skin disease occurred at the average age of 30 years approximately; for 40% the outbreak could be described as "fresh" on approach to the dermatology department. Distressing factors preceding onset or recidivation after healing that were of significance for the patient were registered for about 90%. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Measuring the physical activity practices used by parents of preschool children.

INTRODUCTION Parents play a critical role in shaping children's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, including those around physical activity and inactivity. Our ability to identify which practices effectively promote children's physical activity and limit inactivity is limited by existing measurement instruments. This project will present a newly developed physical activity parenting practices survey, the psychometric properties of this survey's scales, and their association with child physical activity and screen time behaviors. METHODS A sample of 324 parents with 2- to 5-yr-old children from central North Carolina completed a series of questionnaires, including this newly developed survey of physical activity parenting practices. Child physical activity was assessed by ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers and parent report. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify physical activity parenting practice constructs, and Pearson correlation was used to explore relations between constructs and child physical activity. RESULTS Fourteen parent practices used to either control or support children's physical activity or screen time were identified. Limits on screen time (r = -0.44), use of screen time to control behavior (r = 0.23), exposure to TV (r = 0.33), and parent modeling of physical activity (r = 0.37) were all significantly associated with children's TV viewing. Use of physical activity to control child behavior was significantly associated with time spent outside (r = 0.15) and minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity (r = 0.16). Several supportive practices were associated with time outside (+) and TV time (-). CONCLUSIONS Results provide support for this new measure of physical activity parenting practices and identify several practices that are clearly associated with child physical activity.
An improved genetic algorithm and graph theory based method for optimal sectionalizer switch placement in distribution networks with DG

In this paper a new graph-theory and improved genetic algorithm based practical method is employed to solve the optimal sectionalizer switch placement problem. The proposed method determines the best locations of sectionalizer switching devices in distribution networks considering the effects of presence of distributed generation (DG) in fitness functions and other optimization constraints, providing the maximum number of costumers to be supplied by distributed generation sources in islanded distribution systems after possible faults. The proposed method is simulated and tested on several distribution test systems in both cases of with DG and non DG situations. The results of the simulations validate the proposed method for switch placement of the distribution network in the presence of distributed generation.
Otolith patterns of rockfishes from the northeastern pacific

Sagitta otolith shape was analysed in twenty sympatric rockfishes off the southern California coast (Northeastern Pacific). The variation in shape was quantified using canonical variate analysis based on fifth wavelet function decomposition of otolith contour. We selected wavelets because this representation allow the identifications of zones or single morphological points along the contour. The entire otoliths along with four subsections (anterior, ventral, posterodorsal, and anterodorsal) with morphological meaning were examined. Multivariate analyses (MANOVA) showed significant differences in the contours of whole otolith morphology and corresponding subsection among rockfishes. Four patterns were found: fusiform, oblong, and two types of elliptic. A redundancy analysis indicated that anterior and anterodorsal subsections contribute most to define the entire otolith shape. Complementarily, the eco‐morphological study indicated that the depth distribution and strategies for capture prey were correlated to otolith shape, especially with the anterodorsal zone. J. Morphol. 276:458–469, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Remodeling rather than neointimal formation explains luminal narrowing after deep vessel wall injury: insights from a porcine coronary (re)stenosis model.

BACKGROUND Oversized balloon dilatation of normal porcine coronary arteries usually heals without stenosis formation. METHODS AND RESULTS With the purpose of developing a stenotic model and examining the mechanisms of luminal narrowing after angioplasty, we produced a circumferential deep vessel wall injury by inflating and withdrawing an oversized chain-encircled angioplasty balloon in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) of 20 pigs. Three pigs died and did not complete the study. In 8 pigs (group 1), serial coronary arteriography was performed. The lumen diameter (mean+/-SD) before dilation was 3.4 +/- . 4 mm; after dilation, 4.2 +/- 0.6 mm; and at follow-ups 2 and 4 weeks later, 1.6 +/- 0.4 mm (P<.0001). In 9 pigs (group 2) examined postmortem 3 weeks after dilatation, histology revealed that the injury was deep (out to adventitia) in all arteries and completely circumferential (360 degrees) in all but two arteries. Adventitia was markedly thickened as a result of neoadventitial formation. Injury correlated strongly with neointimal formation (middle LAD, r=.71, P=.00001, but neither injury nor neointima correlated with lumen size (r=.14, P=.46 and r=.34, P=.07, respectively); ie, neointimal formation did not explain late luminal narrowing. Lumen size, however, did correlate strongly with vessel size (r=.74, P=000005). The late loss in lumen diameter observed angiographically in group 1 substantially exceeded that caused by neointimal formation seen by histology in group 2. CONCLUSIONS The chain-encircled angioplasty balloon produced a circumferential deep vessel wall injury that healed by luminal narrowing. In this porcine model, arterial remodeling was more important than neointimal formation in late luminal narrowing.
Effects of diphenylhydantoin on synaptic transmission in cat spinal cord and stellate ganglion.

Diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin) has been studied for its effects on various aspects of synaptic transmission in 30 unanesthetized cats. The effects on spinal cord and stellate ganglion are qualitatively identical and will be summarized together. Maximal isolated monosynaptic responses are reduced about 10 per cent by 30 mgm. /kgm. of the drug. This dose reduces polysynaptic potentials by about 30 per cent. Dilantin does not affect either direct facilitation or inhibition in the spinal cord. The drug deepens presynaptic depression following transmission of an impulse and enhances transmission failure during repetitive stimulation. Response deficit referable to the drug is quite pronounced in the ganglion, but it is slight in both monosynaptic and polysynaptic pathways of the spinal cord. Post-tetanic potentiation (PTP) is strikingly reduced by Dilantin. This reduction in PTP is attributable to specific suppression of the potentiating process. It is not dependent upon the parameters of tetanization, nor related to the effect of the drug on excitation or transmission during tetanization. None of the effects of Dilantin is antagonized by Metrazol or strychnine. The doses of Dilantin employed in all experiments were in the anticonvulsant, nontoxic range for cats. The observed effects are discussed with regard to the anticonvulsant properties of the drug. It is specifically proposed that PTP, including enhancement of transmission during tetanic stimulation, is involved in spread of seizure discharge and that reduction of PTP by Dilantin is intimately related to its anticonvulsant action.
Implementation of an excess sludge reduction step in an activated sludge process

In this study, excess sewage sludge reduction resulting from the modification of an activated sludge process by incorporation of an excess sludge digesting reactor (ESDR) was examined. The ESDR was coupled to the sludge return line, and enhanced the solubilization of cell mass under thermophilic aerobic conditions. The decrease in the level of total suspended solids (TSS) observed in the reference ESDR (without thermophilic microbial inoculation) was 13.76% whereas a TSS decrease of 32.09% was achieved by the test ESDR (with thermophiles), thus showing microbial enhancement of solubilization of 18.33% over a test period of 48 h. The average excess sludge solubilization ratios (β values) of TSS were 51.17% and 41.56% in two distinct protocols varying in operative parameters. The calculated excess sludge reduction ratio was 49.60% with a sludge recirculation ratio of 2, but increased to 68.97% when the sludge recirculation ratio rose to 3. The sludge volume indexes (SVIs) for the control and test processes were 68.4 and 57.0 respectively, indicating the absence of any negative effect of the modification on sludge settling characteristics. Effluent water quality satisfied national legislative requirements.
Glial soluble factors regulate the activity and expression of the neuronal glutamate transporter EAAC1: Implication of cholesterol

A co‐ordinated regulation between neurons and astrocytes is essential for the control of extracellular glutamate concentration. Here, we have investigated the influence of astrocytes and glia‐derived cholesterol on the regulation of glutamate transport in primary neuronal cultures from rat embryonic cortices. Glutamate uptake rate and expression of the neuronal glutamate transporter EAAC1 were low when neurons were grown without astrocytes and neurons were unable to clear extracellular glutamate. Treatment of the neuronal cultures with glial conditioned medium (GCM) increased glutamate uptake Vmax, EAAC1 expression and restored the capacity of neurons to eliminate extracellular glutamate. Thus, astrocytes up‐regulate the activity and expression of EAAC1 in neurons. We further showed that cholesterol, present in GCM, increased glutamate uptake activity when added directly to neurons and had no effect on glutamate transporter expression. Furthermore, part of the GCM‐induced effect on glutamate transport activity was lost when cholesterol was removed from GCM (low cholesterol‐GCM) and was restored when cholesterol was added to low cholesterol‐GCM. This demonstrates that glia‐derived cholesterol regulates glutamate transport activity. With these experiments, we provide new evidences for neuronal glutamate transport regulation by astrocytes and identified cholesterol as one of the factors implicated in this regulation.
Breast cancer awareness and practice of breast self examination among primary health care nurses: influencing factors and effects of an in-service education.

AIM The purposes of this study were to identify the level of breast cancer and breast self examination practice knowledge of primary health nurses and the factors influencing breast cancer and breast self examination knowledge as well as to investigate the frequency of breast self examination practice of primary health nurses and influencing factors and to evaluate the effects of an in-service training program about breast cancer and breast self examination practice for primary health nurses. BACKGROUND An increased awareness among nurses about breast cancer prevention would most likely result in a higher number of better educated women about breast cancer and also motivate adherence to screening recommendations. DESIGN AND METHODS A pre-test and post-test design was implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of a Breast Cancer and Breast Self Examination Education Program for primary health nurses. The program was instructed to 192 of the 215 primary health nurses by two nurse trainers. Pre- and post-tests made available a quantitative evaluation of the level of improvement in breast cancer and breast self-examination knowledge. RESULTS Mean of total breast cancer knowledge score of primary health nurses prior to the program was 58.51 SD 15.63 whereas, it increased to 75.96 SD 9.53, revealing a statistically significant escalation (p < 0.0001). A significant increase was detected in the number of primary health nurses practising breast self examination as a result of the significant improvement in the mean of self breast self examination practice knowledge score which rose evidently from 71.09 SD 19.31 to 85.02 SD 12.92 (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The in-service education program improved the knowledge about breast cancer and practice of breast self examination in trained primary health nurses. The program model, which involved trained primary health nurse also represented an efficient use of the resources. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE It is important that primary health nurses have adequate breast cancer knowledge and practice of breast self examination to contribute effectively to primary health care. Findings of this study can be used to guide the planning efforts on continuous education of primary health nurses about breast cancer and breast self examination issues.
Critical role of Vα14+ natural killer T cells in the innate phase of host protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection

The present study was designed to elucidate the role of Vα14+ NKT cells in the host defense against pulmonary infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae using Jα281 gene‐disrupted mice (Jα281KO mice) that lacked this lymphocyte subset. In these mice, pneumococcal infection was severely exacerbated, as shown by the shorter survival time and marked increase of live bacteria in the lung compared to wild‐type (WT) mice. The proportion of Vα14+ NKT cells, detected by an α‐galactosylceramide (α‐GalCer)‐loaded CD1d tetramer, increased in thelung after S. pneumoniae infection. This increase was significantly reduced in mice with a genetic disruption of monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)‐1, which was produced in the early phaseof infection in WT mice. In the lungs of Jα281KO mice, the number of neutrophils was significantly lower at 12 h than that in WT mice. In support of this finding, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐2 and TNF‐α synthesis in infected lungs was significantly reduced at 3 h and at both 3 and 6 h, respectively, in Jα281KO mice, compared to WT mice. In addition, treatment of mice with α‐GalCer significantly improved the outcome of this infection. Our results demonstrated MCP‐1‐dependent recruitment of Vα14+ NKT cells and their critical role in early host protection against S. pneumoniae by promoting the trafficking of neutrophils to the site of infection.
Extreme Value Mixture Models: Are They Able to Cope with Extreme Insurance Losses? Presentation at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the German Insurance Science Association (DVfVW) (Vienna, Austria)

This paper provides a critical analysis of extreme value mixture models for the approximation of heavy-tailed insurance loss distributions. In a Bayesian framework, we consider various extreme value mixture models with different degrees of complexity. Based on an empirically calibrated distribution of windstorm losses, we perform a comprehensive simulation study and examine the accuracy of the tail approximation, extrapolation to out-of-sample quantiles, variation of results across different data sets, and influence of outliers. Moreover, the models are applied to samples of U.S. hurricane losses and fire insurance losses reported by Aon Re Belgium. Our analysis shows a substantial variation of the results across different samples and a substantial impact of extreme observations. In comparison to the peaks-over-threshold approach, the extreme value mixture model approach leads to a good tail fit for the distribution of windstorm losses. For the samples of hurricane and fire losses, in contrast, the estimation errors are substantially higher than under the peaks-over-threshold method. The tail fit is not robust with regard to the adequacy of the bulk model distribution and the choice of an inappropriate bulk component can lead to very low thresholds and biased tail estimates.
Relative positioning of diazepam in the benzodiazepine‐binding‐pocket of GABAA receptors

GABAA receptors are the major inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. Some of them are targets of benzodiazepines that are widely used in clinical practice for their sedative/hypnotic, anxiolytic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant effects. In order to rationally separate these different drug actions, we need to understand the interaction of such compounds with the benzodiazepine‐binding pocket. With this aim, we mutated residues located in the benzodiazepine‐binding site individually to cysteine. These mutated receptors were combined with benzodiazepine site ligands carrying a cysteine reactive group in a defined position. Proximal apposition of reaction partners will lead to a covalent reaction. We describe here such proximity‐accelerated chemical coupling reactions of α1S205C and α1T206C with a diazepam derivative modified at the C‐3 position with a reactive isothiocyanate group (–NCS). We also provide new data that identify α1H101C and α1N102C as exclusive sites of the reaction of a diazepam derivative where the –Cl atom is replaced by a –NCS group. Based on these observations we propose a relative positioning of diazepam within the benzodiazepine‐binding site of α1β2γ2 receptors.
Differential c‐Fos immunoreactivity in arousal‐promoting cell groups following systemic administration of caffeine in rats

Despite the widespread use of caffeine, the neuronal mechanisms underlying its stimulatory effects are not completely understood. By using c‐Fos immunohistochemistry as a marker of neuronal activation, we recently showed that stimulant doses of caffeine activate arousal‐promoting hypothalamic orexin (hypocretin) neurons. In the present study, we investigated whether other key neurons of the arousal system are also activated by caffeine, via dual immunostaining for c‐Fos and transmitter markers. Rats were administered three doses of caffeine or saline vehicle during the light phase. Caffeine at 10 and 30 mg/kg, i.p., increased motor activities, including locomotion, compared with after saline or a higher dose, 75 mg/kg. The three doses of caffeine induced distinct dose‐related patterns of c‐Fos immunoreactivity in several arousal‐promoting areas, including orexin neurons and adjacent neurons containing neither orexin nor melanin‐concentrating hormone; tuberomammillary histaminergic neurons; locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons; noncholinergic basal forebrain neurons that do not contain parvalbumin; and nondopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area. At any dose used, caffeine induced little or no c‐Fos expression in cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain and mesopontine tegmentum; dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area, central gray, and substantia nigra pars compacta; and serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Saline controls exhibited only few c‐Fos‐positive cells in most of the cell groups examined. These results indicate that motor‐stimulatory doses of caffeine induce a remarkably restricted pattern of c‐Fos expression in the arousal‐promoting system and suggest that this specific neuronal activation may be involved in the behavioral arousal by caffeine. J. Comp. Neurol. 498:667–689, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.