Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Avian Influenza H7N9/13 and H7N7/13: a Comparative Virulence Study in Chickens, Pigeons, and Ferrets

ABSTRACT Human influenza cases caused by a novel avian H7N9 virus in China emphasize the zoonotic potential of that subtype. We compared the infectivity and pathogenicity of the novel H7N9 virus with those of a recent European avian H7N7 strain in chickens, pigeons, and ferrets. Neither virus induced signs of disease despite substantial replication in inoculated chickens and rapid transmission to contact chickens. Evidence of the replication of both viruses in pigeons, albeit at lower levels of RNA excretion, was also detected. No clear-cut differences between the two H7 isolates emerged regarding replication and antibody development in avian hosts. In ferrets, in contrast, greater replication of the avian H7N9 virus than of the H7N7 strain was observed with significant differences in viral presence, e.g., in nasal wash, lung, and cerebellum samples. Importantly, both viruses showed the potential to spread to the mammal brain. We conclude that efficient asymptomatic viral replication and shedding, as shown in chickens, facilitate the spread of H7 viruses that may harbor zoonotic potential. Biosafety measures are required for the handling of poultry infected with avian influenza viruses of the H7 subtype, independently of their pathogenicity for gallinaceous poultry. IMPORTANCE This study is important to the field since it provides data about the behavior of the novel H7N9 avian influenza virus in chickens, pigeons, and ferrets in comparison with that of a recent low-pathogenicity H7N7 strain isolated from poultry. We clearly show that chickens, but not pigeons, are highly permissive hosts of both H7 viruses, allowing high-titer replication and virus shedding without any relevant clinical signs. In the ferret model, the potential of both viruses to infect mammals could be demonstrated, including infection of the brain. However, the replication efficiency of the H7N9 virus in ferrets was higher than that of the H7N7 strain. In conclusion, valuable data for the risk analysis of low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses of the H7 subtype are provided that could also be used for the risk assessment of zoonotic potentials and necessary biosafety measures.
Generalized QCTO for Metamaterial-Lens-Coated Conformal Arrays

The use of inhomogeneous metamaterial lenses is proposed to enable suitable radiation properties for arbitrary-shape antenna arrays. Towards this end, the Quasi-Conformal Transformation Optics (QCTO) methodology is generalized to allow an arbitrary physical arrangement coated with a suitable lens to exhibit the same radiating features of an arbitrary reference virtual array in free space. A representative numerical example, concerned with a two-dimensional layout, is presented to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method as well as the enhanced features of the resulting metamaterial-coated arrays with respect to standard conformal arrangements.
Aster shennongjiaensis (Asteraceae), a new species from central China

A new species of Aster (Asteraceae) from China, Aster shennongjiaensis W. P. Li et Z. G. Zhang, is described and its morphology and karyotype illustrated. Aster shennongjiaensis is apparently endangered, presently known only from one small population in bamboo forests of Shennongjia Reserve in central China. On a morphological basis, the closest species to A. shennongjiaensis is A. lasiocladus Hayata, but they are quite different in many features. The morphological characteristics of the two species are compared. Karyotype of the new species is described and formulated as 2n = 2x = 18 = 16m + 2sm.
Dopamine in schizophrenia: a review and reconceptualization.

OBJECTIVE The initial hypothesis that schizophrenia is a manifestation of hyperdopaminergia has recently been faulted. However, several new findings suggest that abnormal, although not necessarily excessive, dopamine activity is an important factor in schizophrenia. The authors discuss these findings and their implications. METHOD All published studies regarding dopamine and schizophrenia and all studies on the role of dopamine in cognition were reviewed. Attention has focused on post-mortem studies, positron emission tomography, neuroleptic drug actions, plasma levels of the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA), and cerebral blood flow. RESULTS Evidence, particularly from intracellular recording studies in animals and plasma HVA measurements, suggests that neuroleptics act by reducing dopamine activity in mesolimbic dopamine neurons. Post-mortem studies have shown high dopamine and HVA concentrations in various subcortical brain regions and greater than normal dopamine receptor densities in the brains of schizophrenic patients. On the other hand, the negative/deficit symptom complex of schizophrenia may be associated with low dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex. Recent animal and human studies suggest that prefrontal dopamine neurons inhibit subcortical dopamine activity. The authors hypothesize that schizophrenia is characterized by abnormally low prefrontal dopamine activity (causing deficit symptoms) leading to excessive dopamine activity in mesolimbic dopamine neurons (causing positive symptoms). CONCLUSIONS The possible co-occurrence of high and low dopamine activity in schizophrenia has implications for the conceptualization of dopamine's role in schizophrenia. It would explain the concurrent presence of negative and positive symptoms. This hypothesis is testable and has important implications for treatment of schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Contrast-to-noise ratio of multiple slice spin lock technique: prospects for liver imaging.

Spin lock (SL) MRI technique has been demonstrated to provide similar lesion/liver contrast to conventional MR technique. Multiple slice SL technique allows a large number of slices to be collected within a given repetition time due to the short echo time. In addition, the short echo time reduces movement and susceptibility artefacts. In the present study, the potential of the multiple slice SL technique in liver imaging was evaluated by using tissue nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) information and tissue NMR parameters obtained at 0.1 T. 10 healthy volunteers were imaged at 0.1 T for the measurement of tissue T1rho, T1, and T2 relaxation times. Tissue radiofrequency-attenuation information was obtained from the literature, and included in the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) calculations. Our results demonstrated that by increasing the number of slices the acquired liver-to-spleen CNR decreases with all locking field durations (locking time, TL). However, with small TLs, the difference is small which is important for liver MRI where a wide coverage, i.e. large number of slices, is important. Long locking pulse durations are more favourable than short TLs if large flip angles are used. With an optimal combination of a moderate amount of slices, reasonably large flip angle, and TL of the order of 20 ms, high CNR is achieved in SL MRI.
Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty

Corneal edema secondary to endothelial dysfunction is the most frequent indication for full thickness penetrating keratoplasty. Although penetrating keratoplasty has a high success rate in terms of the percentage of clear corneas, visual rehabilitation is slow and is limited by high amounts of spherical and cylindrical refractive error. In the last 10 years, new procedures have been developed to selectively transplant the posterior cornea containing healthy corneal endothelium. These techniques have proven to have many practical and theoretical advantages compared with traditional full thickness penetrating keratoplasty. The most recent such procedure, which is termed ‘‘Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty’’ (DSEK) is comparatively straightforward and forgiving and thus is being rapidly adopted by corneal surgeons worldwide.
[The survey of prevalence of HIV infection among paid blood donors in one county in China].

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence rate of HIV infection among paid blood donors and to analyse high risk factors. METHOD All residents between 18 to 60 years old were selected from on county in March 1999. RESULTS There were 210 paid blood donors among 730 interviewed subjects. The HIV prevalence rate among paid blood donors was higher (9.1% or 19/210) than that of others (0.6% or 3/520). The HIV prevalence rate was higher in plasma donors (25.9%) than that (2.6%) among 210 blood donors. Donors who donated blood/plasma more than 10 times each year had a higher prevalence rate (13.5%) than those who donated less than 10 times each year (2.8%). Donors who had donated blood but stopped donation before 1995 had a higher prevalence rate (18.3%) than those who started donation after 1996 (1.4%). The results of KAP survey showed that blood donors had a low knowledge about AIDS. CONCLUSION There was a higher prevalence rate of HIV infection among paid blood donors in some regions. It should take measures to prevent further transmission HIV through paid blood donors.
Risk Assessment of Adverse Birth Outcomes in Relation to Maternal Age

Background Although a number of studies have investigated correlations of maternal age with birth outcomes, an extensive assessment using age as a continuous variable is lacking. In the current study, we estimated age-specific risks of adverse birth outcomes in childbearing women. Method National population-based data containing maternal and neonatal information were derived from the Health Promotion Administration, Taiwan. A composite adverse birth outcome was defined as at least anyone of stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, macrosomia, neonatal death, congenital anomaly, and small for gestational age (SGA). Singletons were further analyzed for outcomes of live birth in relation to each year of maternal age. A log-binomial model was used to adjust for possible confounders of maternal and neonatal factors. Results In total, 2,123,751 births between 2001 and 2010 were utilized in the analysis. The risk of a composite adverse birth outcome was significantly higher at extreme maternal ages. In specific, risks of stillbirth, neonatal death, preterm birth, congenital anomaly, and low birth weight were higher at the extremes of maternal age. Furthermore, risk of macrosomia rose proportionally with an increasing maternal age. In contrast, risk of SGA declined proportionally with an increasing maternal age. The log-binomial model showed greater risks at the maternal ages of <26 and > 30 years for a composite adverse birth outcome. Conclusions Infants born to teenagers and women at advanced age possess greater risks for stillbirth, preterm birth, neonatal death, congenital anomaly, and low birth weight. Pregnancies at advanced age carry an additional risk for macrosomia, while teenage pregnancies carry an additional risk for SGA. The data suggest that the optimal maternal ages to minimize adverse birth outcomes are 26∼30 years.
Relation between physical training and ambulatory blood pressure in stage I hypertensive subjects. Results of the HARVEST Trial. Hypertension and Ambulatory Recording Venetia Study.

BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to assess whether ambulatory blood pressure (BP) in a population of stage I hypertensive individuals was lower in the subjects performing regular exercise training. METHODS AND RESULTS The study was carried out in 796 young hypertensive patients (592 men) who had never been treated who took part in the HARVEST trial. The diagnosis of stage I hypertension was made on the basis of six office BP measurements. Subjects underwent noninvasive 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring, 24-hour urine collection for catecholamine assessment, and echocardiography (n = 457). They were classified as exercisers if they reported at least one session of aerobic sports per week and as nonexercisers if they did not engage regularly in sports activities. Age (P < .0001), body mass index (P = .002), 24-hour heart rate (P < .0001), alcohol intake (P = .02), smoking (P = .02), and norepinephrine output (P = .04) were lower in the active (n = 153) than the inactive (n = 439) men. Physically active men exhibited a lower 24-hour and daytime diastolic BP than the inactive men, while there were no group differences in office BP or in nighttime diastolic BP and in ambulatory systolic BP. The between-group ambulatory diastolic BP difference remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, body mass index, alcohol intake, and smoking (P < .0001). Of the nonexercisers, 46.2% were confirmed hypertensives, compared with only 26.8% of the exercisers (P < .0001), on the basis of daytime diastolic BP. Echocardiographic left ventricular dimensional and functional indexes were similar in the two groups of men. Similar findings were shown by the 16 women who engaged in aerobic sports. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that participation in aerobic sports may attenuate the risk of hypertension in young subjects whose office BP is in the stage I hypertensive range at office measurement.
Laser emission in Nd3+ doped barium–titanium–silicate microspheres under continuous and chopped wave pumping in a non-coupled pumping scheme

Laser action using non-coupled excitation and detection of microspheres made of Nd3+ doped barium–titanium–silicate glass has been demonstrated and measured. The microspheres have also been successfully deposited over Si3N4 strip waveguides with a SiO2 separation layer, thus enabling the laser emission extraction onto a CMOS compatible photonic circuit. The dynamics of the lasing wavelength and intensity has been studied as a function of the pump power and interpreted in terms of thermal effects generated through non-radiative recombination of the excited ions.
The Mediating Effects of Organizational Commitment on the Relationship between Transformational Leadership Style and Job Performance

Nurses are considered the most valuable assets in hospitals, and leadership style is one of the determinants that can affect their performance. The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effects of organizational commitment on the relationship between transformational leadership style and employees' job performance among Saudi female nurses. Four hospitals located in Riyadh and 227 Saudi female nurses were selected for this study. The results indicate that transformational leadership style is positively correlated with job performance and affective organizational commitment. The findings also reveal that affective organizational commitment mediates the relationship between transformational leadership style and job performance. This study recommends that hospital management should provide the groundwork for instilling transformational leadership styles and mangers should pay more attention to their leadership style in order to enhance job performance. This study also suggests further research that would include different measures and a larger sample as well as other areas, which could result in better understanding of the relationship between the variables.
GSI promotes vincristine-induced apoptosis by enhancing multi-polar spindle formation

Gamma secretase inhibitors (GSI), cell-permeable small-molecule inhibitors of gamma secretase activity, had been originally developed for the treatment of Alzheimer disease. In recent years, it has been exploited in cancer research to inhibit Notch signaling that is aberrantly activated in various cancers. We previously found that GSI could synergize with anti-microtubule agent, vincristine (VCR) in a Notch-independent manner. Here, we delineate the underlying cell cycle-related mechanism using HeLa cells, which have strong mitotic checkpoints. GSI enhanced VCR-induced cell death, although GSI alone did not affect cell viability at all. GSI augmented VCR-induced mitotic arrest in a dose-dependent manner, which was preceded by apoptotic cell death, as shown by an increase in Annexin V-positive and caspase-positive cell population. Furthermore, GSI amplified multi-polar spindle formation triggered by VCR. Altogether, we show the evidence that GSI enhances VCR-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells via multi-polar mitotic spindle formation, independent of Notch signaling. These data suggest that one or more GS substrates, yet to be identified, in a post-GS processed form, may play a role in maintaining functional centrosomes/mitotic spindles. More significantly, the synergistic effect of GSI in combination with VCR could be exploited in clinical setting to improve the efficacy of VCR.
Prospective clinical study of endoscopic ultrasound-guided choledochoduodenostomy with direct metallic stent placement using a forward-viewing echoendoscope

A prospective clinical study was conducted to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) with direct metallic stent placement using a prototype forward-viewing echoendoscope. The indication for EUS – CDS in this study was lower biliary obstruction only, and not failed endoscopic biliary drainage, because the aim was to evaluate EUS – CDS for first-line biliary drainage therapy. The technical and functional success rates were 94 % (17 /18) and 94 % (16 /17), respectively. Early complications (focal peritonitis) were encountered in two patients (11 %). No patients developed late complications. EUS – CDS with direct metallic stent placement using a forward-viewing echoendoscope was generally feasible and effective for malignant distal biliary tract obstruction. The forward-viewing echoendoscope was useful, especially for deploying the metallic stent.
HYDROLYSIS AND CONDENSATION OF SILICATES : EFFECTS ON STRUCTURE

The hydrolysis and condensation reactions of monomeric alkoxysilanes and organylalkoxysilanes utilized in sol-gel processing are reviewed. Both reactions occur by acid or base-catalyzed bimolecular displacement reactions. The acid-catalyzed mechanisms are preceded by protonation of OH or OR substituents attached to Si, whereas under basic conditions hydroxyl or silanolate anions attack Si directly. Many of the observed structural trends are understood on the basis of the pH and [H20 ] dependence of the hydrolysis, condensation, and dissolution reactions.
The Mechanism of Decreased Serum Phosphorus Levels in Rats with Chronic Kidney Disease after Oral Administration of Bifidobacterium longum

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are prone to disturbances in the intestinal microbiota, which contributes to CKD progression and complications. We previously reported a reduction of serum phosphorus (P) levels in hemodialysis patients receiving oral encapsulated bifidobacteria. The present study was conducted to clarify the mechanisms of P-lowering effect of bifidobacteria on CKD rats. CKD was induced in rats by 5/6 nephrectomy. Five weeks later, the rats were fed for 4 weeks on a powder diet containing encapsulated bifidobacteria. At the end of the study, intestinal contents were sampled for analyses of pH, intestinal flora and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Oral administration of bifidobacteria halted the onset and progression of hyperphosphatemia in CKD rats. The increased number of bifidobacteria was confirmed in the cecum. In addition, the increase in intestinal pH in CKD rats was decreased after bifidobacteria treatment, along with increases in some SCFAs. Furthermore, positive correlation between serum P levels and intestinal pH was observed. In conclusion, the mechanism for the P-lowering effect of bifidobacteria was supposed as follows: CKD conditions increase aerobic bacteria which hydrolyze urea into ammonia. Elevated pH decreases ionization of intestinal calcium (Ca) which leads to an increase in free phosphate ions through reduction of Ca phosphate crystal precipitation. Administered bifidobacteria fermented carbohydrates to produce SCFAs, resulting in acidification of the intestinal lumen. The resulting low intestinal pH increases Ca ionization, which binds with free phosphate ions as an intrinsic P binder, resulting in the reduction of serum P levels.
Primary megalencephaly at birth and low intelligence level

Objectives: To evaluate the association between primary megalencephaly (PMG) at birth and psychosensory conditions and to determine mother-child similarity for PMG at birth. Background: PMG is defined as a head circumference (HC) above the 98th percentile that most likely is due to brain enlargement and is not secondary to disease. Previously, PMG in children was reported to be associated with learning disabilities. Contradictory results regarding an association between PMG and intelligence in children exist. Many believe PMG expressed in childhood and adulthood may be inherited. Methods: Birth records on HC from 144,273 boys, of whom 732 had PMG, were linked to data concerning intelligence level, mental retardation, and impairment of vision and hearing. A potential association between PMG at birth and mental retardation was also examined in 3,204 mentally retarded boys and girls. Parent-offspring similarity for PMG at birth was determined in 13,585 mother-child pairs. Results: PMG was significantly associated with low intelligence level (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 1.38). The estimated odds ratio for mental retardation in PMG cases versus controls was 1.31 (95% CI, 0.80 to 2.02). There were no differences in frequencies of vision and hearing impairments between PMG cases and controls. Associations between mother’s and child’s birth weight-normalized HC (r = 0.14; p < 0.0001) and PMG (odds ratio, 2.55; CI, 2.00 to 3.25) were found, supporting a multifactorial inheritance of PMG. Conclusions: PMG at birth is a risk factor for low intelligence level but not for vision and hearing impairments. The heritability of HC and PMG is moderate.
Regulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 ternary complex formation in pregnancy.

The IGFs are believed to be important in pregnancy and are implicated in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. In adults the IGFs circulate primarily with IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and an acid-labile glycoprotein (ALS) in a 140 kDa complex which limits IGF bioavailability. Less than 10% of IGFBP-3 is in lower molecular weight forms. We have investigated the developmental regulation of the IGF/IGFBP system in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies with particular emphasis on the IGFBP-3 ternary complex. Circulating levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS, and their degree of association in the ternary complex in the fetus increased with gestational age. In neonatal serum from deliveries <35 weeks' gestation IGFBP-3 was predominantly in 30-50 kDa form(s) and ALS was a limiting factor for ternary complex formation. In serum from deliveries >35 weeks both ALS and IGFs were limiting but approximately 25% of IGFBP-3 was unable to form the ternary complex even in the presence of excess ALS and IGF-I. Serum IGFBP-1, -2 and -6 concentrations tended to decrease with increasing gestational age. In pre-eclamptic pregnancies, amniotic fluid IGFBP-2, -3 and -6 levels decreased with gestational age while IGFBP-1 levels did not show the normal decline. We speculate that the endocrine IGF system develops in the fetus during the third trimester of pregnancy when ALS levels increase.