Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of pigeon circovirus in cloacal swabs: implications for diagnosis, epidemiology and control

Pigeon circovirus (picv) was detected in cloacal swab samples by means of a newly-developed, sensitive pcr. An initial investigation of 17 Belgian racing pigeons aged up to eight months showed that rates of detection of 88 per cent and above were achieved using samples of cloacal swab, blood and bursa of Fabricius. The sampling of 15 caged pigeons six times when they were from three to 31 weeks of age indicated that picv infections were more readily detected in cloacal swabs than in blood, and that the virus could be detected in cloacal swabs for longer periods after infection than in blood. picv infections were detected in cloacal swabs from 38 of 47 young pigeons aged from two to 31 weeks, from 12 racing lofts, which had clinical signs including diarrhoea and weight loss, regurgitation and respiratory signs. Samples from birds from two infected lofts indicated that picv could be detected in some birds for at least 27 weeks. Although nine of 14 pigeons aged from 32 to 45 weeks were virus-positive, picv was detected in only one of 18 adult pigeons that originated from four infected lofts.
Positive family history of coronary atherosclerosis and serum triglycerides may predict repeated coronary artery bypass surgery

Objective. Cardiovascular risk factor profile of patients in need of repeated coronary artery bypass surgery (redo CABG) seldom differ from patients having only single coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of positive family history for coronary artery disease in respect to redo CABG vs CABG in a case-control setting. Design. One hundred and eighty four patients undergoing redo CABG between 1990–1998 were identified from the computed registry of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in Tampere University Hospital. One hundred and eighty four age, gender and operation date matched patients with CABG were selected for control. Results. According to chi-square analysis, positive family history for coronary artery disease was more common in Study group, 60.4% versus 49.5% (p < 0.05). Preoperative systolic blood pressure was 135.5±1.4 mmHg versus 133.5±1.5 mmHg (ns), preoperative diastolic blood pressure was 81.2±0.8 mmHg versus 82.8±0.9 mmHg (ns), serum total cholesterol was 5.8±0.1 mmol/L versus 6.6±1.2 mmol/L and preoperative blood glucose was 5.6±0.2 mmol/L versus 5.3±0.2 mmol/L (ns) in Controls and Study group, respectively. However, serum triglyceride level was significantly higher in Study group 2.8±0.2 mmol/L versus 2.0±0.1 mmol/L (p < 0.000). In regression analysis, only positive family history (OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.1–5.1; p < 0,02) and high serum triglyceride level (≥2 mmol/L, OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.2–2.2; p < 0,02) were independent predictors for redo CABG. Conclusion. According to this study, positive family history for coronary atherosclerosis at the presence of high serum triglyceride level is significantly predicting the need for future redo CABG as compared with age, gender and operation time matched controls of CABG.
Using the Cloud for Parameter Estimation Problems: Comparing Spark vs MPI with a Case-Study

Systems biology is an emerging approach focused in generating new knowledge about complex biological systems by combining experimental data with mathematical modeling and advanced computational techniques. Many problems in this field are extremely challenging and require substantial supercomputing resources to be solved. This is the case of parameter estimation in large-scale nonlinear dynamic systems biology models. Recently, Cloud Computing has emerged as a new paradigm for on-demand delivery of computing resources. However, scientific computing community has been quite hesitant in using the Cloud, simply because traditional programming models do not fit well with the new paradigm, and the earliest cloud programming models do not allow most scientific computations being efficiently run in the Cloud. In this paper we explore and compare two distributed computing models: the MPI (message-passing interface) model, that is high-performance oriented, and the Spark model, which is throughput oriented but outperforms other cloud programming solutions adding improved support for iterative algorithms through in-memory computing. The performance of a very well known metaheuristic, the Differential Evolution algorithm, has been thoroughly assessed using a challenging parameter estimation problem from the domain of computational systems biology. The experiments have been carried out both in a local cluster and in the Microsoft Azure public cloud, allowing performance and cost evaluation for both infrastructures.
Preparation and Application of Carboxymethyl Yam (Dioscorea esculenta) Starch

Yam (Dioscorea esculenta) starch was modified by carboxymethylation. The effect of reaction parameters, amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), amount of sodium monochloroacetate (SMCA), and reaction time on the degree of substitution (DS) of carboxymethyl yam starch (CMS), was studied using the Box–Behnken experimental design. Physicochemical and potency to be a tablet disintegrant of CMS were evaluated. CMS with DS in the range of 0.08–0.19 were obtained. The results from regression analysis indicated that the most important factor in controlling DS was the amount of NaOH followed by SMCA content and reaction time. However, high concentration of NaOH and SMCA lowered the DS. The optimal conditions to achieve the highest DS (0.19) were found to be at molar ratios of NaOH and SMCA to anhydroglucose unit of 1.80 and 2.35, respectively, and with the reaction time of 4.8 h. The swelling power and viscosity of CMS increased with an increase in the degree of modification. CMS showed satisfying tablet disintegrant properties. The tablets containing 1.0–4.0 % CMS disintegrated faster than 5 min. Hence carboxymethyl yam starch can be used as an excellent tablet disintegrant in low concentration.
Impact of asthma on self-reported health status and quality of life: a population based study of Australians aged 18–64

Background: The impact of asthma has traditionally been measured in terms of the prevalence of the disease, mortality rates, and levels of healthcare utilisation, particularly hospital admissions. However, the impact of asthma extends beyond these outcomes to include effects on lifestyle, well being, and perceived health status. Methods: Information on self-reported current asthma status, arthritis and diabetes as well as measures of life satisfaction, self-assessed health status, psychological distress, and interference with usual activities was obtained for 14 641 respondents aged 18–64 years in the 2001 National Health Survey of the general population in all states and territories in Australia. Log linear models were fitted separately for each of the dichotomised quality of life measures as dependent variables. The estimates of the adjusted rate ratio obtained from each model were used to compute the population attributable fraction (PAF) of self-reported asthma, arthritis, and diabetes for each of the health status and quality of life measures. Results: The presence of asthma accounted for 3.18% (95% CI 2.13 to 4.23) of people reporting poor life satisfaction, 8.12% (95% CI 6.57 to 9.67) of people reporting poor health status, 5.90% (95% CI 4.19 to 7.61) of people reporting high psychological distress, and 3.58% (95% CI 2.16 to 5.01) of people reporting any reduced activity days. The proportions of people with these adverse health states attributable to asthma were higher than the proportions attributable to diabetes but lower than the proportions attributable to arthritis. Conclusion: Asthma is an important contributor to the burden of ill health and impaired quality of life in the community. A strategic approach is needed to develop and implement strategies to address the impact of asthma on quality of life.
Sudden unexplained death in children with epilepsy

Background: Sudden unexplained death is a significant cause of mortality in people with epilepsy. Risk factors that have been identified include male sex, poor compliance with medications, and antiepileptic drug (AED) polypharmacy. However, these may not apply to the pediatric population in which the causes of epilepsy differ from the adult population. Therefore, risk factors for sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in children must be evaluated independently from those in the adult population. Methods: Cases of SUDEP in children less than 18 years of age occurring over a 10-year period in the province of Ontario, Canada, were identified. Records were reviewed for demographic and clinical features and neuropathology findings. Results: Twenty-seven cases of SUDEP in children were identified. Sixty-three percent were male. Age at death ranged from 8 months to 15 years. Fourteen children had symptomatic epilepsy (52%), five had cryptogenic epilepsy (18%), and eight had idiopathic epilepsy (30%). Twelve children were treated with one AED (46%), 10 were on two AED (38%), and three were on three AED (12%). At the time of death, seven children had one serum AED concentration below the therapeutic range (35%) and 12 children had AED levels within the therapeutic range (60%). Conclusions: This case series represents the largest series of sudden unexplained death in children with epilepsy. At least two previously described risk factors for SUDEP in adults, low serum AED levels at time of death and AED polytherapy, do not appear to be significant in children.
Correlations between leukocyte count and absolute granulocyte count in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy

The absolute granulocyte count (AGC) has been considered the best index for estimating the risk of infection in patients receiving myelosuppressive therapy. However, many investigators and cooperative oncology groups use the leukocyte count and extrapolate concurrent AGC values from an arbitrary conversion scale. Our review of the literature revealed no analysis of the relationship between the leukocyte count and the AGC in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. It also failed to provide a method for converting toxicity criteria from one scale to the other. To explore the possible relationship of the leukocyte count to the AGC, we have completed a retrospective analysis of leukocyte count and accompanying AGC in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. The leukocyte count and the AGC are shown to be linearly related over the entire population, enabling predictable cross‐indexing from leukocyte count to AGC by the use of the formula: AGC = −0.7 + 0.8 (leukocyte count). This provides a rational basis for the development of guidelines for drug dosing and toxicity. In the patient group with leukocyte count ⩽ 4500, however, the magnitude of random variability decreased predictive ability. Numerous patients in this group received differing toxicity scale scores when classified according to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scales for AGC and leukocyte count. In some cases, as much as 46% disagreement occurred. New toxicity scales for AGC and leukocyte count, which were developed based upon the linear relationship above, reduced this disagreement substantially. These scales result in a greater agreement of toxicity ratings, and may provide a more accurate method of classifying toxicity and regulating dosages of chemotherapeutic agents.
Human Pattern Recognition: Parallel Processing and Perceptual Learning

A new theory of visual object recognition by Poggio et al that is based on multidimensional interpolation between stored templates requires fast, stimulus-specific learning in the visual cortex. Indeed, performance in a number of perceptual tasks improves as a result of practice. We distinguish between two phases of learning a vernier-acuity task, a fast one that takes place within less than 20 min and a slow phase that continues over 10 h of training and probably beyond. The improvement is specific for relatively ‘simple’ features, such as the orientation of the stimulus presented during training, for the position in the visual field, and for the eye through which learning occurred. Some of these results are simulated by means of a computer model that relies on object recognition by multidimensional interpolation between stored templates. Orientation specificity of learning is also found in a jump-displacement task. In a manner parallel to the improvement in performance, cortical potentials evoked by the jump displacement tend to decrease in latency and to increase in amplitude as a result of training. The distribution of potentials over the brain changes significantly as a result of repeated exposure to the same stimulus. The results both of psychophysical and of electrophysiological experiments indicate that some form of perceptual learning might occur very early during cortical information processing. The hypothesis that vernier breaks are detected ‘early’ during pattern recognition is supported by the fact that reaction times for the detection of verniers depend hardly at all on the number of stimuli presented simultaneously. Hence, vernier breaks can be detected in parallel at different locations in the visual field, indicating that deviation from straightness is an elementary feature for visual pattern recognition in humans that is detected at an early stage of pattern recognition. Several results obtained during the last few years are reviewed, some new results are presented, and all these results are discussed with regard to their implications for models of pattern recognition.
Role of Nitrogen in the Formation of $\hbox{CN}_{x}$  Films by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Carbon nitride (CNx) films, deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) in nitrogen (N2) atmosphere, were studied with respect to mechanical, morphological, compositional, structural, and optical properties. All the samples were prepared at room temperature and under various N2 pressures, ranging from vacuum up to 50 Pa. Nitrogen concentration ( CN) rapidly increases with increasing N2 pressure and reaches to a saturated value above 10 Pa. The Raman results reveal that the D/G ratio increases with the increase in N2 pressure, contributing the graphitization of carbon films. With further addition of nitrogen into carbon films, optical transmission is enhanced. Localization of the electrons due to the heteropolar bonding and the high porosity of the CNx samples are speculated to be the reason of enhancement in optical transmission.
Sexual interest and activity in adolescents with spina bifida.

Summary Of 63 adolescents with spina bifida, most had had some form of sex education. The source was much more often schools and parents than their peers. Sexual interest was almost universally acknowledged and was of a markedly pre-occupying nature in about one-quarter of the cases. Some level of physical intimacy in heterosexual relationships had been established by 18 teenagers at some time or another, but boys, in particular, were deeply worried about their capacity to establish full sexual relations. A capacity for potency was claimed by about half the boys. Worries and uncertainties were very common amongst the older subjects and there is a strong case for a programme of group and individual counselling lo be established.
Prevalence of coronary risk factors in type 2 diabetics without manifestations of overt coronary heart disease.

AIMS To find the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in type-2 diabetics without manifestations of overt coronary heart disease and to estimate the prevalence of silent myocardial ischaemia in these patients. METHODS Seventy seven patients of type 2 diabetes were recruited for the study (one patient lost after recruitment; 76 completed the study). History and physical examination were recorded. Laboratory investigations included fasting and 2-hour post-prandial blood sugar, blood urea, serum creatinine, lipid profile, glycated haemoglobin, and microalbuminuria. Ultrasonographic scanning of the carotid arteries was performed to measure the carotid IMT. For identification of cases of silent ischaemia, treadmill test (TMT) was performed. RESULTS The study group was divided into a non-CAD group (n=54), and a silent CAD group (n=22). Twenty-two diabetics were found to have silent CAD as evidenced by a positive TMT result (28.9%). The prevalence of silent myocardial ischaemia was almost similar in both males and females. Serum LDL levels more than 140 mg% had a significant correlation with the prevalence of silent CAD (p = 0.04). The difference in CCA-IMT values was found to be statistically significant between the silent CAD and non-CAD groups (p = 0.019). CONCLUSION High LDL level and greater carotid intima-media thickness are particularly important parameters that can predict if a patient of type 2 diabetes is at risk for silent ischaemia. A high carotid IMT is a surrogate and reliable marker of higher risk of CAD amongst type 2 diabetic patients, even in those without overt CAD. The study also underlines the utility of carotid IMT as a simple, non-invasive, safe, and cheap screening test for the assessment of risk of CAD in type 2 diabetics.
Angiotensin II-induced hypertension dose-dependently leads to oxidative stress and DNA damage in mouse kidneys and hearts

Objective: Hypertension is associated with an increased cancer mortality and a higher kidney cancer risk. Blood pressure regulating hormones, such as the peptide hormone angiotensin II (AngII), are elevated in hypertension. AngII showed DNA-damaging effects in vitro and in the ex-vivo perfused mouse kidney. Here, the effect of rising doses of AngII was analysed for their genotoxic effects in vivo. Methods: In C57BL/6-mice equipped with osmotic mini pumps, delivering AngII in four different concentrations between 60 ng/kg per min and 1 &mgr;g/kg per min during 28 days, the oxidative and DNA damaging effects of AngII were studied, using immunohistochemistry and mass spectrometry. Results: AngII increased the SBP for up to 38 mmHg over control and adversely affected the kidney function of the mice. In the heart, at the highest dose administered, a significant increase of reactive oxygen species formation (1.4-fold over control) and double-strand breaks could be detected (13-fold over control). In the kidney, a dose-dependent increase of superoxide formation (up to 1.7-fold over control), double-strand breaks (up to 4.7-fold over control) and the mutagenic DNA base modification 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-guanine (8-oxodG, up to 3.6-fold over control) was observed. Adverse effects already appeared at lower AngII doses, which did not raise the blood pressure. Administration of the radical scavenger tempol significantly decreased oxidative stress (by 20%) in the kidney and DNA double-strand breaks in the kidney by 60% and in the heart by 52%, without being able to lower the blood pressure. Conclusion: This study for the first time shows oxidative stress mediated genotoxic effects of AngII in vivo. Furthermore, the increase of 8-oxodG suggests a mutagenic potential of an activated renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, which is often found in hypertensive patients.
The grammaticization of going to in (African American) English

Focusing on the process of grammaticization, whereby items with lexical meaning evolve into grammatical markers, this article examines the future temporal reference sectors of three diaspora varieties of African American English which have evolved in linguistic isolates and compares them with those of British-origin rural and mainstream varieties of English. With one exception, the same constraint hierarchies condition the selection of going to across the board, indicating that their future temporal reference systems are descended from a common source. All other distinctions among the varieties result from their differential positioning on the cline of ongoing grammaticization of going to as a future marker. Operationalization of constraints representing different stages of the development of going to and comparison of their probability values across communities confirm that the enclave and the rural varieties retain conservative traits, visible here in the form of variable conditioning, in contrast to mainstream English, which is innovating. We suggest that the major determinant of variability in the expression of the future is the fact that the speech of isolated speakers, whether of African or British origin, instantiates constraints that were operative at an earlier stage of the English language and that are now receding from mainstream varieties.
Relapse to prior therapy is the most important factor for the retreatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Background: Treatment options for hepatitis C have developed rapidly in the past decade. The current treatment of choice is a combination of pegylated‐interferon‐α (PEG‐IFN‐α) and ribavirin. With the development of more therapy options, patients who failed in prior therapy hope to clear hepatitis C virus by undergoing a more effective retreatment regime. In this report, we investigated response rates to combination therapy [standard IFN‐α or PEG‐IFN‐α and ribavirin] in patients who relapsed or failed in prior therapy.
Power comparison of cloud data center architectures

Power consumption is a primary concern for cloud computing data centers. Being the network one of the non-negligible contributors to energy consumption in data centers, several architectures have been designed with the goal of improving network performance and energy-efficiency. In this paper, we provide a comparison study of data center architectures, covering both classical two- and three-tier design and state-of-art ones as Jupiter, recently disclosed by Google. Specifically, we analyze the combined effect on the overall system performance of different power consumption profiles for the IT equipment and of different resource allocation policies. Our experiments, performed in small and large scale scenarios, unveil the ability of network-aware allocation policies in loading the the data center in a energy-proportional manner and the robustness of classical two- and three-tier design under network-oblivious allocation strategies.