Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serosurvey and Diagnostic Application of Antibody Titers to Aspergillus in Avian Species

Abstract A multiyear study was conducted using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure antibody to address the application of the test to the diagnosis of aspergillosis in avian species. In general serostudies (n = 1314), four avian groups (psittaciform, raptor, penguin, and zoo) were found to have samples with antibody reactivity. Penguin, raptor, and zoo groups were found to have higher levels of antibody to Aspergillus than the psittaciform group. Additional clinical information was collected on 303 cases, which resulted in the definition of presumptive normal, probable, and confirmed infection groups. Although the confirmed group was more likely to have antibody reactivity, the mean antibody index was not found to be significant between presumptive normal and probable or confirmed cases.
Methods for Genotyping Verotoxin‐Producing Escherichia coli

Verotoxin‐producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) is annually incriminated in more than 100 000 cases of enteric foodborne human disease and in losses amounting to $US 2.5 billion every year. A number of genotyping methods have been developed to track VTEC infections and determine diversity and evolutionary relationships among these microorganisms. These methods have facilitated monitoring and surveillance of foodborne VTEC outbreaks and early identification of outbreaks or clusters of outbreaks. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has been used extensively to track and differentiate VTEC because of its high discriminatory power, reproducibility and ease of standardization. Multiple‐locus variable‐number tandem‐repeats analysis (MLVA) and microarrays are the latest genotyping methods that have been applied to discriminate VTEC. MLVA, a simpler and less expensive method, is proving to have a discriminatory power comparable to that of PFGE. Microarrays are successfully being applied to differentiate VTEC and make inferences on genome diversification. Novel methods that are being evaluated for subtyping VTEC include the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms and optical mapping. This review discusses the principles, applications, advantages and disadvantages of genotyping methods that have been used to differentiate VTEC strains. These methods have been mainly used to differentiate strains of O157:H7 VTEC and to a lesser extent non‐O157 VTEC.
Myometrial elasticity determined by elastosonography to predict preterm labor

Abstract Aim: To determine the utility of elastosonography (ES) combined to cervical length measurement to predict preterm labor. Methods: One hundred twenty-seven women with pregnancies between 21 to 36 weeks of gestation without any risk factor for preterm labor were included in the study. All subjects underwent sonographic evaluation including fetal biometry, cervical length measurement and ES of uterine myometrium. Subcutaneous tissue was the reference point for ES evaluation. Tissue strain ratio values were obtained from all patients. Results: Cervical length was a significant predictor for preterm delivery (AUC = 0.958, p < 0.001). Optimal cut-off value was obtained at 30 mm with 92% sensitivity and 81% specificity. Elastosonographic strain ratio was also a significant predictor for preterm delivery (AUC = 0.827, p < 0.001). Optimal cut-off value was obtained at 4.7 with 79% sensitivity and 91% specificity. In linear regression analysis, strain ratio (R2 = 0.61, beta = 0.171, p = 0.03) and cervical length (R2 = 0.61, beta = −0.516, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with preterm delivery. Cervical length < 30 mm [39.1 (95 CI, 6.6–231.5, p < 0.001)] and strain ratio > 4.7 [24.5 (95 CI, 4.1–146.5, p < 0.001)] were the risk factors for preterm delivery. Conclusion: Elastosonographic evaluation of uterine myometrium was found to be significantly correlated with cervical length but cervical length measurement is a better predictor for preterm labor than ES.
Expression and role of adiponectin receptor 1 in lipopolysaccharide‐induced proliferation of cultured rat adventitial fibroblasts

Adiponectin is an adipose‐derived hormone that has anti‐diabetic and anti‐atherogenic effects through interaction with AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 (adiponectin receptors 1 and 2), but little is known about the expression and function of adiponectin and its receptors in adventitia and adventitial fibroblasts. In the present study, we have demonstrated that AdipoR1 is highly expressed in rat adventitia and cultured adventitial fibroblasts by quantitative real‐time PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining, whereas Adipo2 is low‐expressed. The expression of AdipoR1 have been observed to decrease gradually in adventitial fibroblasts in response to LPS (lipopolysaccharide) treatment. No local expression of adiponectin has been detected in adventitial tissues, indicating that serum adiponectin is the ligand for AdipoR1 in adventitial fibroblasts. In addition, treatment of recombinant adiponectin inhibited LPS‐induced proliferation of adventitial fibroblasts via activation of the AMPK (adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase). AdipoR1 siRNA (small interfering RNA) transfection potently knocked down the receptor protein. The siRNA‐AdipoR1 transfected cells and AMPK inhibitor compound C treated cells showed decreased phosphorylated level of AMPK as determined by Western blot analysis, and increased the proliferation of adventitial fibroblasts as determined by BrdU (5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine) staining. These results demonstrated that adiponectin stimulates the proliferation of adventitial fibroblasts via the AdipoR1 and AMPK signalling pathways.
Toward an augmented shoe for preventing falls related to physical conditions of the soil

It is known that the physical conditions of an environment might represent an important risk of falling. In this paper, we report an ongoing project toward the creation of intelligent clothes aiming at preventing falls related to such conditions. The package described here is centered on an intelligent shoe. The developed prototype counts two main parts: hardware and software. The material is composed of a set of sensors and actuators, distributed in strategic positions of the shoe, while the software is a soft real-time system running on a Smartphone. Our prototype has been served for the differentiation of physical properties of soils (concrete, broken stone, sand and dust stone).
[Neurotrophic factors of the GDNF family and their receptors are detectable in spiral ganglion cells of normal hearing as well as of deafened rats].

BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that neurotrophic factors like BDNF, NT-3 and GDNF induce protective effects on spiral ganglion cells after noise- or drug-induced hearing loss. According to these studies it is suggested that deafness leads to a lack of neurotrophic factor or relating receptor expression in spiral ganglion cells, that has to be compensated by local cochlear application of these factors. METHODS In the present study we examined the expression pattern of members of the GDNF family (GDNF, Neurturin, Artemin, Persephin) and their relating receptors (Ret, GFRalpha1 - 3) as well as BDNF and trkB on spiral ganglion cells of normal hearing and experimentally deafened rats (10 % neomycine). Indirect immunofluorescence was carried out to determine protein expression of these factors and their receptors 26 days following deafening. RESULTS Our results demonstrate neurotrophic factor and receptor expression on spiral ganglion cells of normal hearing as well as experimentally deafened animals. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that within a period of 26 days after deafening no detectable reduction of the GDNF-family member expression and their receptors was ascertainable on spiral ganglion cells by immunohistochemistry. Thus, a lack of neurotrophic factor expression is unlikely to be the only cause of spiral ganglion cell loss following deafening.
Architecture Design of Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Diffuse Lung Disease Using Representation Separation Information

In this work, we propose a new architecture design of Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) with representation separation information of intermediate layers. The DCNN is one of the multi-layer neural network models. In recent years, the DCNN is attracting attention by its stateof-the-art performance in the image and speech recognition tasks. For example, Krizhevsky et al. showed the state-ofthe-art performance in the large scale image recognition in 2012 [5]. However, the design for the architecture of the DCNN has not been discussed much since we have not found effective guideline to construct. We try to modify the architecture of the DCNN for the Diffuse Lung Disease (DLD) image classification task [9], [8], and confirm that the modified DCNN shows better performance than that of the original one.
Effect of platelet-associated virus on assays of HIV-1 in plasma.

high concentrations of RNA from human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) (up to 22 million RNA genomes per milliliter) in the plasma of each of the 66 seropositive patients they evaluated (1). This concentration, as determined by their "quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction" (QC-PCR) assay (1), was highly correlated with CD4' T cell counts and with the progression of the AIDS disease; concentration declined with antiretroviral therapy. These results led Piatak et al. to recommend clinical use of quantitative determination of HIV-1 RNA in plasma for monitoring the health of seropositive persons. As Piatak et al. note, the concentrations they measured greatly exceeded those observed by other investigators who used viral culture or alternative reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. Piatak et al. attribute this difference to the optimized design of their QCPCR assay, to their use of ultracentrifugation, and to other steps taken to maximize recovery of viral RNA. On the basis of recent experiments conducted in our laboratories, we suggest that this difference can be explained, at least in part, by the fact that their QC-PCR assay does not account for contribution to viremia of HIV-1 associated with platelets. As part of a project to investigate the feasibility of inducing viral depletion or inactivation in blood for transfusion, we have studied the compartmentalization of HIV-1 in blood. We found that platelets subjected to filtration (to remove leukocytes) and to serial washes (to remove plasma) retained high concentrations of tightly associated HIV-1 RNA; presumably this reflected bound viral particles. The concentrations of virus associated with platelets frequently exceeded those free in plasma by a factor of ten or more. When we used the protocol of Piatak et al. to process 15 blood samples (centrifugation at 200g for 15 min; 1000g for 15 min), we found that plasma specimens (which they would designate "cell-free") in fact contained an average of 7 x 106 platelets per milliliter (range, 3 to 14 x 106 platelets per milliliter). Six of these samples (from four HIV-1 seropositive subjects) were further processed (in a step not taken by Piatak et al.) by centrifugation at 10,000g for 15 min to yield platelet pellets and plasma samples that were truly platelet-free (Fig. 1). We also prepared purified platelets from these patients by centrifugation of whole blood at 250g for 5 min. leukodepletion of the platelet-rich plasma (PL-F1 filters, Pall, Glen Cove, New York), pelleting of platelets at 10,000g for 15 min, and five washes of the pellet to remove plasma. The platelet-free plasma and the two platelet pellets from each sample were then assayed in parallel to detect HIV-1 RNA with the use of a sensitive RT-PCR assay (2). To recover virions from the cell-free plasma, we used an immunocapture technique with anti-gp-120/41-coated latex microparticles (2).
Is foreign direct investment good for growth? Evidence from sectoral analysis of China and Vietnam

We estimate the impact of FDI on growth using sectoral data for FDI inflows to China and Vietnam. Previous empirical studies, using either cross-country growth regressions or firm-level micro-econometric analysis, fail to reach a consensus. Our paper is the first to use sectoral FDI inflow data to evaluate the sector-specific impact of FDI on growth. Our results show that, for the two developing-transition economies we examine, FDI has a statistically-significant positive effect on economic growth operating directly and through its interaction with labor. Intriguingly, we find the effects seem to be very different across economic sectors, with most of the beneficial impact concentrated in the secondary industries. Other sectors appear to see much less growth benefit from sector-specific FDI.
Evaluation of the SERM Ormeloxifene in the Treatment of Uterine Fibroid in the Reproductive Age Group

Method: The study was a prospective clinical observation undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of ormeloxifene in uterine fibroid in reproductive age group. Forty four (44) women aged 20-50 year age group who attended the outpatient gynaecology department, diagnosed with fibroid uterus; symptomatic or asymptomatic were recruited for the study. Ormeloxifene 60 mg was given orally twice a week for 6 months. Follow up was done at monthly interval and at the end of 6 months clinically and by USG. The primary outcome measures were fibroid size, uterine size and delta size. Secondary outcomes were measurement of menstrual blood loss using the PBAC score, hemoglobin concentration and endometrial thickness.
Letter to the Editor - Nonoptimality of Planned Replacement in Intervals of Decreasing Failure Rate

The planned replacement problem assumes a known failure distribution Ft and that replacement occurs at the earlier of a planned replacement interval at cost c1 and the time of failure at cost c2. We show that it cannot be optimal to select a planned replacement interval at a point for which the failure rate ft/[1-Ft] is decreasing.
A Low-Power CT Incremental 3rd Order /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ ADC for Biosensor Applications

This paper proposes a 3rd order single-loop continuous-time incremental sigma-delta analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) for time-multiplexed signals. Incremental sigma-delta modulation is used to address medium to high resolution requirements of multi-channel applications, while a 3rd order continuous-time implementation is investigated as an alternative for low-power solutions. A prototype of the proposed modulator, running at 320 kHz, has been fabricated in a 0.15-μm CMOS technology, while the synchronization circuitry to allow incremental operation was built on-board. Measurement results show that the ADC achieves 65.3 dB peak SNR, 64 dB peak SNDR and 68.2 dB dynamic range over a 2 kHz bandwidth. The modulator's power dissipation is 96 μW from a 1.6 V power supply. This translates into the best figure-of-merit when compared to recently published continuous-time alternatives, while being competitive with respect to state-of-the-art discrete-time counterparts.
Pulmonary cement embolism after percutaneous vertebroplasty in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: incidence, characteristics, and risk factors.

PURPOSE To prospectively evaluate the incidence of, characteristics of, and risk factors for pulmonary cement embolism after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board approval and written informed consent were obtained. From June 2006 to September 2007, 75 patients (57 women, 18 men; mean age, 74.78 years; range, 48-93 years) who underwent 78 PVP sessions at 119 levels for osteoporotic VCFs were prospectively enrolled in this study. Computed tomographic (CT) scans of the chest and treated vertebrae were obtained after PVP. The presence, location, involved pulmonary arteries, number, and size of each pulmonary cement embolus were analyzed at CT. Possible risk factors were analyzed as follows: Age, injected cement volumes, and numbers of treated vertebrae were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U test; operators (radiologist or nonradiologist), level of treated vertebrae, guidance equipment, approach (uni- or bipedicular), presence of intravertebral vacuum clefts, and presence of paravertebral venous leakage were analyzed by using Pearson chi(2) and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS Pulmonary cement emboli developed in 18 (23%) of 78 PVP sessions and were detected in the distal to third-order pulmonary arteries. Only cement leakage into the inferior vena cava showed a statistically significant relationship to pulmonary cement embolism (P = .03). A higher frequency of pulmonary cement embolism was noted for the absence of intravertebral vacuum clefts, for the bipedicular approach, and for a nonradiologist operator with C-arm fluoroscopy (P > .05). CONCLUSION In osteoporotic VCFs, pulmonary cement embolism was detected in 23% of PVP sessions, developed in the distal to third-order pulmonary arteries, and was related to leakage into the inferior vena cava.
Stages and Conformations of the Tau Repeat Domain during Aggregation and Its Effect on Neuronal Toxicity*

Background: Tau oligomers are thought to play key roles in Alzheimer disease. Results: Oligomers of the Tau repeat domain do not cause gross neuronal toxicity but decrease spine density. Conclusion: Synaptic toxicity from extracellular Tau oligomers is local, without general loss of viability. Significance: Extracellular Tau oligomers are not likely to explain Tau-mediated neurodegeneration but may cause functional impairment by spine reduction. Several neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the aggregation and posttranslational modifications of Tau protein. Its “repeat domain” (TauRD) is mainly responsible for the aggregation properties, and oligomeric forms are thought to dominate the toxic effects of Tau. Here we investigated the conformational transitions of this domain during oligomerization and aggregation in different states of β-propensity and pseudo-phosphorylation, using several complementary imaging and spectroscopic methods. Although the repeat domain generally aggregates more readily than full-length Tau, its aggregation was greatly slowed down by phosphorylation or pseudo-phosphorylation at the KXGS motifs, concomitant with an extended phase of oligomerization. Analogous effects were observed with pro-aggregant variants of TauRD. Oligomers became most evident in the case of the pro-aggregant mutant TauRDΔK280, as monitored by atomic force microscopy, and the fluorescence lifetime of Alexa-labeled Tau (time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC)), consistent with its pronounced toxicity in mouse models. In cell models or primary neurons, neither oligomers nor fibrils of TauRD or TauRDΔK280 had a toxic effect, as seen by assays with lactate dehydrogenase and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, respectively. However, oligomers of pro-aggregant TauRDΔK280 specifically caused a loss of spine density in differentiated neurons, indicating a locally restricted impairment of function.
Estrategias de síntesis de nanopartículas magnéticas Mono-Núcleo y Multi-Núcleo de óxidos de hierro para aplicaciones en biomedicina

En esta tesis, las nanoparticulas de oxidos de hierro han sido el caso del estudio (especificamente las fases magnetita y maghemita de los oxidos de hierro) ya que este nanomaterial presenta algunas caracteristicas y ventajas interesantes, que surgen de su composicion quimica y estructura atomica: pueden ser manipuladas por un gradiente de campo magnetico externo y pueden responder a un campo magnetico externo que cambia con el tiempo con resultados ventajosos relacionados con la transferencia energetica de dicho campo de excitacion a las nanoparticulas. [1] Por ultimo, las nanoparticulas magneticas afectan a la relaxividad de los protones circundantes. En base a estos atributos, las nanoparticulas magneticas son uno de los materiales funcionales emergentes tanto en la industria de la ciencia de materiales como en biomedicina.
THE STABILITY OF INTELLECTUAL FUNCTION IN CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA

Intelligence tests on 49 chronic schizophrenics, followed by retests 8 and 14 years later, fail to support the concept of progressive loss in intellectual function. When allowances are made for normal aging, IQs increase significantly. The results hold for both paranoid and nonparanoid patients and for verbal and nonverbal tests. The stability of intelligence with continuing psychosis cannot be attributed to practice or to sample attrition. Chronic patients who improve in symptoms and in social adequacy show appreciable gains in test scores. The evidence on mean changes suggests that the severity of psychosis may decrease over the years, thus counteracting effects of old age and long hospitalization. The concept of deterioration might well be deemphasized, with more attention directed to the environmental and behavioral determinants of deficit reversal.
Consistent Estimation of the Expected Brier Score in General Survival Models with Right‐Censored Event Times

In survival analysis with censored data the mean squared error of prediction can be estimated by weighted averages of time‐dependent residuals. Graf et al. (1999) suggested a robust weighting scheme based on the assumption that the censoring mechanism is independent of the covariates. We show consistency of the estimator. Furthermore, we show that a modified version of this estimator is consistent even when censoring and event times are only conditionally independent given the covariates. The modified estimators are derived on the basis of regression models for the censoring distribution. A simulation study and a real data example illustrate the results. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Lightning strikes to towers: An attempt to identify the effect of the channel resistance on wave interactions at the return-stroke front

This paper presents an attempt to identify the influence of the channel resistance on return-stroke current propagation resulting from a lightning strike to a tall object such as a metallic tower. For simplicity, the tall object and the lightning channel are represented as uniform transmission lines. The former is modeled as a lossless transmission line, while a nonlinear resistance is considered in the latter. Two cases are considered for different values of channel conductivity. In the first case a series voltage source is used to excite the interface between the tower and the channel assuming that the characteristic impedances of both are matched. The second case assumes unmatched characteristic impedances. The role of the per-unit-length resistance on the currents calculated in both cases is investigated. This is made to study its effect on wave interactions that take place at the return-stroke front.