Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in Dumfries and Galloway, 2001. 1: Characteristics and control

The foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in Dumfries and Galloway in south-west Scotland comprised 177 infected premises (IPs) in 24 geographical clusters, and ran from March 1 until May 23, 2001. Initial seeding of infection was by livestock (predominantly sheep) that had passed through Longtown Market in adjacent Cumbria. Thereafter, spread within existing, and to new, clusters was associated with the movement of personnel and vehicles, with further transmission by Longtown Market contacts and across common boundaries. Sheep and cattle premises were equally affected. After the peak of the epidemic at the beginning of the third week of March, the upper possible limit of attack rates for premises contiguous to IPs, and premises within 3 km, remained around 10 per cent, with new clusters emerging more distantly. Control procedures included traditional methods of slaughter of all animals on IPs and, elsewhere, of animals considered by veterinary assessment to be Dangerous Contacts; movement restrictions; enhanced biosecurity; tracing of potential sources and spread of virus; and surveillance of premises subsequently considered at risk. These methods were supplemented by the novel pre-emptive slaughter, without veterinary assessment, of all susceptible livestock on all premises contiguous to IPs, and of small ruminants and pigs within a 3 km radius (known as the Protection Zone) around IPs. In total, approximately 80,000 cattle, 564,000 sheep, 2600 pigs and 500 goats were slaughtered, the novel methods accounting for 29 per cent of all cattle and 75 per cent of all sheep killed. Limitations of existing national databases necessitated the development of local databases to administer control procedures.
Introduction and Establishment of the Exotic Mosquito Species Aedes Japonicus Japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Belgium

ABSTRACT The establishment of the potential vector species Aedes (Finlaya) japonicus japonicus (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae) in southern Belgium is reported. The species was most likely introduced through the international trade in used tires. It was first collected in 2002 on the premises of a second-hand tire company and was sampled using different sampling methods in the two consecutive years (2003–2004). It was only in 2007 and 2008, during a national mosquito survey (MODIRISK), that its presence as adults and larvae at the above-mentioned site and at another tire company in the area was confirmed based on morphological and molecular identification. This discovery is the first record for Belgium of an exotic mosquito species that established successfully and raises the question on the need for monitoring and control. Considering the accompanying species found during the surveys, we also report here the first observation of Culex (Maillotia) hortensis hortensis (Ficalbi) in Belgium.
The resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to chloramphenicol.

A strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was resistant to 400 mug/ml of chloramphenicol (CM), was isolated. The generation time of the resistant strain was the same in the presence or absence of CM and similar to that of the parent strain growing in the absence of chloramphenicol. Resistance is eliminated by treatment with acridine dyes, mitomycin C, and sodium dodecyl sulfate, suggesting that resistance may be expressed by a plasmid. The resistant strain does not produce the pigment pyocyanine and the addition of pyocyanine to this strain eliminates the resistance factor. A strain sensitive to CM was isolated. This strain does not produce the enzyme acetyl CoA : chloramphenicol transacetylase whereas the resistant strain does. The sensitive strain accumulates 14C-CM at a greater rate and to a greater extent than the resistant strain grown in the presence of CM. The results suggest that the resistant strain inactivates CM by acetylation and, in.addition, develops a "permeability" barrier towards chloramphenicol.
Detection and prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes in Campylobacter spp. isolated from chickens and humans

Campylobacter spp. are common pathogenic bacteria in both veterinary and human medicine. Infections caused by Campylobacter spp. are usually treated using antibiotics. However, the injudicious use of antibiotics has been proven to spearhead the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The purpose of this study was to detect the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in Campylobacter spp. isolated from chickens and human clinical cases in South Africa. One hundred and sixty one isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were collected from chickens and human clinical cases and then screened for the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes. We observed a wide distribution of the tetO gene, which confers resistance to tetracycline. The gyrA genes that are responsible quinolone resistance were also detected. Finally, our study also detected the presence of the blaOXA-61, which is associated with ampicillin resistance. There was a higher (p < 0.05) prevalence of the studied antimicrobial resistance genes in chicken faeces compared with human clinical isolates. The tetO gene was the most prevalent gene detected, which was isolated at 64% and 68% from human and chicken isolates, respectively. The presence of gyrA genes was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with quinolone resistance. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the presence of gyrA (235 bp), gyrA (270 bp), blaOXA-61 and tetO antimicrobial resistance genes in C. jejuni and C. coli isolated from chickens and human clinical cases. This indicates that Campylobacter spp. have the potential of resistance to a number of antibiotic classes.
The Use of an 8-Week Mixed-Intensity Interval Endurance-Training Program Improves the Aerobic Fitness of Female Soccer Players

Clark, JE. The use of an 8-week mixed-intensity interval endurance-training program improves the aerobic fitness of female soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 24(7): 1773-1781, 2010-The purpose of this study is to examine improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (&OV0312;o2) after the use of a mixed-intensity interval endurance-training (MI-ET) program in female soccer players, to validate the MI-ET program as an appropriate training regimen to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (&OV0312;o2) in soccer players. 32 female soccer players (average 18.66 ± 0.31 years) were recruited from a group of currently conditioning local U-19 and college soccer teams and randomly assigned to participate in an 8-week periodized training program that involved either the MI-ET program or the continuation of a current endurance-training (ET) program. Analysis of variance indicates no differences in &OV0312;o2 values within the group of athletes before participating in the exercise program. After the 8 weeks of training, the MI-ET group of athletes had significantly greater average &OV0312;o2 values (62.13 ± 0.96 ml O2·kg−1·min−1 vs. 57.27 ± 1.59 ml O2·kg−1·min−1), p = 0.015, along with a greater group average of change in &OV0312;o2 (12.44 ± 0.92 ml O2·kg−1·min−1 vs. 7.72 ± 0.99 ml O2·kg−1·min−1), p < 0.001. The MI-ET program is shown to be a valid means to improve aerobic fitness as indicated by the MI-ET group exhibiting significantly greater &OV0312;o2 measures after training.
Pancreatojejunostomy: leakage is a preventable complication of the Whipple resection.

BACKGROUND Leakage of the pancreaticojejunal anastomosis has been a major complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple operation), frequently reported in an incidence of 5 percent to 15 percent. The most widely used techniques of anastomosis have been variations of end-to-end pancreaticojejunostomy. Complicating 152 end-to-end anastomoses, done by me (including 98 for carcinoma of the pancreas or ampulla), were 5 pancreatic anastomotic leaks; the fifth patient died of this complication. STUDY DESIGN The death resulting from a pancreatic anastomotic fistula led me to change my technique to an end of the pancreas to side of the jejunum, mucosa-to-mucosa, pancreaticojejunostomy (intubated), a modification of the technique described by Cattell and used since 1985 by me in 56 consecutive patients. Patients were monitored for clinical evidence of a pancreatic fistula, including evaluation of amylase content in serum and, in most, in peritoneal drainage. Pancreatography through the exteriorized pancreatic catheter was possible if deemed advisable. RESULTS No pancreatic duct was too small or pancreas too soft to permit effective anastomosis. No clinical evidence developed of a pancreatic fistula, "sentinel bleed," or acute pancreatitis, and no patient was recognized to have a high amylase content in the peripancreatic peritoneal drainage. Results of the pancreatogram were negative in three patients with peripancreatic infections and in one with severe cholestasis. CONCLUSIONS Although consensus among surgeons does not exist as to technique of pancreatic anastomosis, the end-to-side, mucosa-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy, intubated, has proved safer in my experience than end-to-end pancreaticojejunostomy. The experience has led me to believe that the technique may reduce the incidence of this fistula and contribute to making pancreaticojejunal leakage a preventable complication.
Investigation of cytomegalovirus infection as a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis in the explanted hearts of patients undergoing heart transplantation

Infection with a human herpes virus, particularly cytomegalovirus (CMV), has been hypothesized to be a cofactor in the development of atherosclerosis in humans. We investigated the association of prior CMV infection with the presence of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries of the native heart of 314 individuals undergoing heart transplantation. Age, male gender, race, tobacco use, and previous general and cardiac surgery were also studied as covariables. Factors associated with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis by univariate analysis were age greater than the median of 48 years (odds ratio [OR] = 5.9, 95% confidence intervals [Cl] 3.0–11.6; P < 0.0001), tobacco use (OR = 3.8, 95% Cl 2.1–7.0; P < 0.005), CMV seropositivity (OR = 3.1, 95% Cl 1.8–5.5; P < 0.001), and male gender (OR = 3.0, 95% Cl 1.6–5.4; P < 0.0005). When patients were divided into quartiles based on age, coronary atherosclerosis was shown to be associated with CMV seropositive status only in the youngest quartile of patients (OR = 3.6, 95% Cl 1.4–8.9; P < 0.01) but not in the older three quartiles of patients (OR = 0.9, 95% Cl = 0.3–2.4; P > 0.5). In multiple logistic regression analyses, CMV seropositivity was not a significant independent variable in the whole group of patients (P = 0.13) but remained a significant variable in the youngest quartile of patients (P = 0.01). However, 43% of these younger patients and 29% of all patients with coronary atherosclerosis were seronegative for CMV. We infer that prior CMV infection is not a general risk factor for atherosclerosis, but it may be a cofactor in a subset of younger patients. Further studies are warranted but need to be carefully controlled for confounding variables. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Upregulated miR-146 a expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients

Introduction MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression via degradation or translational repression of their targeted mRNAs. It is known that aberrant microRNA expression can play important roles in cancer, but the role of microRNAs in autoimmune diseases is only beginning to emerge. In this study, the expression of selected microRNAs is examined in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Total RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and healthy and disease control individuals, and the expression of miR-146a, miR-155, miR-132, miR-16, and microRNA let-7a was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. Results Rheumatoid arthritis peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibited between 1.8-fold and 2.6-fold increases in miR146a, miR-155, miR-132, and miR-16 expression, whereas let7a expression was not significantly different compared with healthy control individuals. In addition, two targets of miR-146a, namely tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK-1), were similarly expressed between rheumatoid arthritis patients and control individuals, despite increased expression of miR-146a in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Repression of TRAF6 and/or IRAK-1 in THP-1 cells resulted in up to an 86% reduction in tumor necrosis factor-α production, implicating that normal miR146a function is critical for the regulation of tumor necrosis factor-α production. Conclusions Recent studies have shown that synovial tissue and synovial fibroblasts from patients with rheumatoid arthritis exhibit increased expression of certain microRNAs. Our data thus demonstrate that microRNA expression in rheumatoid arthritis peripheral blood mononuclear cells mimics that of synovial tissue/fibroblasts. The increased microRNA expression in rheumatoid arthritis patients is potentially useful as a marker for disease diagnosis, progression, or treatment efficacy, but this will require confirmation using a large and well defined cohort. Our data also suggest a possible mechanism contributing to rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis, whereby miR146a expression is increased but unable to properly function, leading to prolonged tumor necrosis factor-α production in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder that is characterized by chronic inflammation of synovial tissue, which results in irreversible joint damage [1]. Inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-1β, play an important role in RA pathogenesis, and inhibition of these cytokines can ameliorate disease in some patients [2,3].
Hypothermic coagulopathy in trauma: effect of varying levels of hypothermia on enzyme speed, platelet function, and fibrinolytic activity.

BACKGROUND The coagulopathy noted in hypothermic trauma patients has been variously theorized to be caused by either enzyme inhibition, platelet alteration, or fibrinolytic processes, but no study has examined the possibility that all three processes may simultaneously contribute to coagulopathy, but are perhaps triggered at different levels of hypothermia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether, at clinically common levels of hypothermia (33.0-36.9 degrees C), there are specific temperature levels at which coagulopathic alterations are seen in each of these processes. METHODS Of 232 consecutive adult trauma patients presenting to a Level I trauma center, 112 patients met the inclusion criteria of an Injury Severity Score of 9 or greater and time since injury of less than 2 hours. Of the included patients, 40 were normothermic and 72 were hypothermic (> or =37 degrees C, n = 40; 36.9-36 degrees C, n = 29; 35.9-35 degrees C, n = 20; 34.9-34 degrees C, n = 16; 33.9-33 degrees C, n = 7). Included patients were prospectively studied with thrombelastography adjusted to core body temperature. Additionally, PT, aPTT, platelets, CO2, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and Injury Severity Score were measured. RESULTS Analysis by multivariate analysis of variance of the relationship between coagulation and temperature demonstrated that in hypothermic trauma patients, 34 degrees C was the critical point at which enzyme activity slowed significantly (p < 0.0001), and at which significant alteration in platelet activity was seen (p < 0.001). Fibrinolysis was not significantly affected at any of the measured temperatures (p > 0.25). CONCLUSIONS Patients whose temperature was > or =34.0 degrees C actually demonstrated a significant hypercoagulability. Enzyme activity slowing and decreased platelet function individually contributed to hypothermic coagulopathy in patients with core temperatures below 34.0 degrees C. All the coagulation measures affected are part of the polymerization process of platelets and fibrin, and this process may be the mechanism by which the alteration in coagulation occurs.
Apoptosis in cancer.

In the last decade, basic cancer research has produced remarkable advances in our understanding of cancer biology and cancer genetics. Among the most important of these advances is the realization that apoptosis and the genes that control it have a profound effect on the malignant phenotype. For example, it is now clear that some oncogenic mutations disrupt apoptosis, leading to tumor initiation, progression or metastasis. Conversely, compelling evidence indicates that other oncogenic changes promote apoptosis, thereby producing selective pressure to override apoptosis during multistage carcinogenesis. Finally, it is now well documented that most cytotoxic anticancer agents induce apoptosis, raising the intriguing possibility that defects in apoptotic programs contribute to treatment failure. Because the same mutations that suppress apoptosis during tumor development also reduce treatment sensitivity, apoptosis provides a conceptual framework to link cancer genetics with cancer therapy. An intense research effort is uncovering the underlying mechanisms of apoptosis such that, in the next decade, one envisions that this information will produce new strategies to exploit apoptosis for therapeutic benefit.
PREVENTING ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA'S HOMECOMING: AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CASE STUDY*

In 1995, the University of Arizona installed and publicized new policies to provide better alcohol control during its annual homecoming event. Systematic observation at pregame tents revealed that, compared to 1994, these policies led to a lower percentage of tents selling alcohol, elimination of beer kegs, greater availability of food and nonalcoholic beverages, the presence of hired bartenders to serve alcohol, and systems for identification checks. These changes were still in evidence through 1998. In 1995, campus police also saw a downward shift in the number of neighborhood calls for complaints related to homecoming activities, which was maintained through 1998. Statistics on law enforcement actions were inconsistent. There was a sharp drop in 1995, but 1996 and 1998 saw enforcement levels similar to what was seen prior to the new policies. This case study underscores the importance of environmental management strategies for campus-based alcohol and other drug prevention.
Fluorescent leprosy antibody absorption (FLA-ABS) test for early serodiagnosis of leprosy.

The conventional parameters for the diagnosis of leprosy i.e. clinical symptoms aided by smear and histological examinations, have certain limitations. With the conventional parameters, it is difficult to diagnose new cases in the early stage of leprosy. Recently Abe et al (1976) and Abe and Yoshino (1978) suggested that Florescent Leprosy Antibody Absorption (FLA-ABS) test developed by one of the authors (Abe) might be useful for early serodiagnosis of leprosy. Following this, the FLA-ABS test was standardised at the Central Jalma Institute for Leprosy, Agra to study the usefulness of the test in early serodiagnosis and detection of sub-clinical infections. In the present study sera were collected from 136 cases of different types of leprosy which includes 11 cases with lesions suspected to be leprosy, 58 healthy contacts and 19 healthy controls. Using FLA-ABS test, anti M. leprae antibodies were detected in all types of leprosy irrespective of the type and duration of the disease. The test has shown significantly high positive results in very early cases of leprosy with a duration of 3-6 months and having very small lesions measuring below 2 cms.
Performance Evaluation of A Modified Sum-Product Decoding Algorithm for LDPC Codes

We propose a modified hyperbolic tangent (tanh) function that is used in the sum-product algorithm (SPA). This is done in order to approximate the infinite argument of the tanh function, when decoding low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. As shown by computer simulation results, the proposed modification has a significant impact on the error floor reduction of the code and to the coding gain improvement with respect to the SPA with no modification. Computer simulation results with approximations using both piecewise linear function and coarse quantization are also presented
SEARCHES FOR POINT-LIKE AND EXTENDED NEUTRINO SOURCES CLOSE TO THE GALACTIC CENTER USING THE ANTARES NEUTRINO TELESCOPE

A search for cosmic neutrino sources using six years of data collected by the ANTARES neutrino telescope has been performed. Clusters of muon neutrinos over the expected atmospheric background have been looked for. No clear signal has been found. The most signal-like accumulation of events is located at equatorial coordinates R.A. = −46. °8 and decl. = −64. °9 and corresponds to a 2. 2σ background fluctuation. In addition, upper limits on the flux normalization of an E−2 muon neutrino energy spectrum have been set for 50 pre-selected astrophysical objects. Finally, motivated by an accumulation of seven events relatively close to the Galactic Center in the recently reported neutrino sample of the IceCube telescope, a search for point sources in a broad region around this accumulation has been carried out. No indication of a neutrino signal has been found in the ANTARES data and upper limits on the flux normalization of an E−2 energy spectrum of neutrinos from point sources in that region have been set. The 90% confidence level upper limits on the muon neutrino flux normalization vary between 3.5 and 5.1 × 10−8 GeV cm−2 s−1, depending on the exact location of the source.
Chemical and Microbiological Evaluation of Pasteurized Milk Available in Sylhet City of Bangladesh

A study was conducted to evaluate the chemical and microbiological quality of pasteurized milk samples belonging to five brands: Milk vita, Tatka, Farm Fresh, Aarong and RD milk. Pasteurized milk of different brands were collected from the retail store of Sylhet city and the laboratory examination was conducted at Dairy Science Laboratory under the Dept. of Dairy and Poultry Science, Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh during January to march 2012. The average fat contents were 3.51, 3.06, 3.26, 3.41 and 3.33 for Milk vita, Tatka, Farm Fresh, Aarong and RD milk brands respectively. There was significant difference among the different brands pasteurized milk in respect of fat%. The protein contents were 4.07, 4.14, 4.14, 4.03 and 4.10 respectively in Milk vita, Tatka, Farm Fresh, Aarong and RD milk brands, though the difference was not significant. The equivalent SNF contents were 8.13, 8.54, 8.15, 8.11 and 8.02%, whereas total solids were 11.46, 11.58, 11.41, 11.53 and 11.35%, respectively. Acidity content of different brands of pasteurized milk was highly significant (p<0.001). The standard plate counts were significantly (p<0.001) different while coliform counts were similar among the different brands of pasteurized milk. It was found that the Milk vita brand pasteurized milk maintained standard levels for chemical composition and microbiological quality because it follow the BSTI (2002) as per as possible. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/agric.v10i2. 13147 The Agriculturists 2012; 10(2) 104-108