Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute Interstitial Pneumonia in Mink Kits Inoculated with Defined Isolates of Aleutian Mink Disease Parvovirus

The present study addressed the causal role of Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (ADV) in acute interstitial pneumonia in mink kits. All the examined isolates of ADV caused interstitial pneumonia in newborn kits, although the severity of disease and the mortality varied. These findings indicate that ADV is the direct causal agent of this disease in mink kits and that cofactors, which could have been present in the original ADV-K isolate, do not play a role. Acute interstitial pneumonia characterized by hypertrophy and hyperplasia of alveolar type II cells, intranuclear viral inclusions, interstitial edema, and hyaline membrane formation was experimentally reproduced in mink kits infected as newborns with five different isolates of ADV. Four hundred forty-nine newborn mink kits were included in the study, of which 247 were necropsied. The lesions caused by the different isolates were indistinguishable by histopathologic examination, but the incidence (50–100%) and severity (mortality of 30–100%. n = 218) of disease among the mink kits varied. Also, the content of ADV antigens in the lungs of infected kits varied among the groups. According to these features, the examined isolates could be placed in groups of high and low virulence. ADV-K, ADV-Utah I, and ADV-DK were in a highly virulent group producing a mortality of 90–100% (n = 110) in mink inoculated as newborns. ADV-GL and ADV-Pullman belonged to a group of low virulence, with an incidence of clinical disease of 50–70% and a mortality of approximately 30–50% (n = 118) in kits inoculated as newborns. The mortality in the control group receiving a mock inoculum was around 12% (n = 34). The period from infection to development of fatal disease varied from approximately 12 days for the highly virulent isolates up to around 20 days for the isolates of low virulence. The 107 mink kits that survived inoculation with ADV as newborns developed lesions typical of classical Aleutian disease irrespective of the ADV isolate used. The lesions consisted of chronic immune complexmediated glomerulonephritis and infiltrations with mononuclear cells, including plasma cells in lung, liver, spleen, kidney, mesenteric lymph node, and intestine. Surviving kits also had hypertrophy of the bronchusassociated lymphoid tissue and focal subpleural, intraalveolar accumulations of large cells with foamy cytoplasm, so-called lipid pneumonia.
High frequency of TARDBP gene mutations in Italian patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Recent studies identified rare missense mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in the TARDBP gene encoding TAR DNA binding protein (TDP)‐43, the major protein of the ubiquitinated inclusions (UBIs) found in affected motor neurons (MNs). The aim of this study was to further define the spectrum of TARDBP mutations in a large cohort of 666 Italian ALS patients (125 familial and 541 sporadic cases). The entire coding region was sequenced in 281 patients, while in the remaining 385 cases only exon 6 was sequenced. In 18 patients, of which six are familial, we identified 12 different heterozygous missense mutations (nine novel) all locating to exon 6, which were absent in 771 matched controls. The c.1144G>A (p.A382T) variation was observed in seven patients, thus representing the most frequent TARDBP mutation in ALS. Analysis of microsatellites surrounding the TARDBP gene indicated that p.A382T was inherited from a common ancestor in 5 of the 7 patients. Altogether, the frequency of TARDBP gene mutations appears to be particularly high in Italian ALS patients compared to individuals of mainly Northern European origin (2.7% vs. 1%). Western blot analysis of lymphocyte extracts from two patients carrying the p.A382T and p.S393L TARDBP mutations showed the presence of lower molecular weight TDP‐43 bands, which were more abundant than observed in healthy controls and patients negative for TARDBP mutations. In conclusion, this report contributes to the demonstration of the causative role of the TARDBP gene in ALS pathogenesis and indicates that mutations may affect the stability of the protein even in nonneuronal tissues. Hum Mutat 0, 1–7, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Investigations on the leaf anatomy and ultrastructure of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) under heat stress

Leaf anatomical and ultrastructural responses of “Razegui” and “Muscat Italia” grapevine cultivars to high temperatures were studied under controlled conditions (T > 36°C), based on photonic and electron microscopy. Histological studies performed on leaves from heat‐stressed and control grapevines revealed thicker leaf blades under high temperature conditions. Environmental scanning electron microscopy of leaf surfaces from both cultivars allowed observing sinuate epidermal cells on the leaves of grapevines cultivated under heat stress and irregular giant oblong pores on their adaxial surface. When observed by transmission electron microscopy, leaf cross sections in grapevines cultivated under high temperature conditions exhibited folded cuticle and cell wall on the adaxial epidermis layer. Therefore, significantly greater cell wall thicknesses were measured under heat stress than control conditions in both cultivars. Regarding chloroplasts, they were more globular in shape under heat stress compared with control conditions and had disorganized thylakoids with a reduced thickness of grana stacking. The size of starch granule decreased, while the number of plastoglobules increased with heat stress, indicating a reduced carbon metabolism and a beginning of senescence within the 3‐month heat stress period. This study confirms widespread adaptive properties in two grapevine cultivars in response to high temperature stress. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The applications of stochastic regulation H∞ control to HIV therapy

In this study, a nonlinear stochastic differential equation model is used to describe the interactions of the immune system with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) under intrinsic parametric fluctuation and the extrinsic modular disturbance. A robust H∞ regulation control is proposed for chemotherapy in an early treatment setting of HIV to achieve a desired steady state under intrinsic parametric fluctuations and external disturbances. The effect of intrinsic parametric fluctuations and external disturbances on the regulation error is minimized to achieve the optimal H∞ robust regulation. In order to avoid solving the Hamilton-Jacobi inequality (HJI) for H∞, robust regulation of HIV therapy. The fuzzy dynamic model is employed to interpolate several linear stochastic differential equations to approximate 11. nonlinear stochastic equation model to simplify the design procedure of H. robust regulation control. Based on fuzzy interpolation, we use a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) to replace the HJI so that the Η∞ robust regulation control of HIV therapy can be designed via the help of robust control tool box of matlab. Finally, a simulation example is given to illustrate the design procedure and to confirm the performance of the proposed stochastic 11 robust regulation control for HIV therapy.
History of Mathematics, Mathematics Education, School Practice: Case Studies in Linking Different Domains

In this paper we consider how the domains of mathematics education and history of mathematics may interact in the process of mathematics teaching. We try to tackle the problem by focussing on the teachers' role, which is central in this process (see Figure 1): on the one hand they act as filters of the stimuli and the suggestions coming from curriculum developers and historians of mathematics, on the other hand they are a basic source of outputs from classrooms which allow us to evaluate the experiments carried out. In the diagram of Figure 1 a dotted line represents the problematic relationship between the domains of research in mathematics education and in the history of mathematics, which will be the main concern of the present paper.
Rapid Atrophy of the Lumbar Multifidus Follows Experimental Disc or Nerve Root Injury

Study Design. Experimental study of muscle changes after lumbar spinal injury. Objectives. To investigate effects of intervertebral disc and nerve root lesions on cross-sectional area, histology and chemistry of porcine lumbar multifidus. Summary of Background Data. The multifidus cross-sectional area is reduced in acute and chronic low back pain. Although chronic changes are widespread, acute changes at 1 segment are identified within days of injury. It is uncertain whether changes precede or follow injury, or what is the mechanism. Methods. The multifidus cross-sectional area was measured in 21 pigs from L1 to S1 with ultrasound before and 3 or 6 days after lesions: incision into L3–L4 disc, medial branch transection of the L3 dorsal ramus, and a sham procedure. Samples from L3 to L5 were studied histologically and chemically. Results. The multifidus cross-sectional area was reduced at L4 ipsilateral to disc lesion but at L4–L6 after nerve lesion. There was no change after sham or on the opposite side. Water and lactate were reduced bilaterally after disc lesion and ipsilateral to nerve lesion. Histology revealed enlargement of adipocytes and clustering of myofibers at multiple levels after disc and nerve lesions. Conclusions. These data resolve the controversy that the multifidus cross-sectional area reduces rapidly after lumbar injury. Changes after disc lesion affect 1 level with a different distribution to denervation. Such changes may be due to disuse following reflex inhibitory mechanisms.
Violence, Risk, and Survival Strategies of Street Prostitution

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the risks and responses of street prostitutes to customer-related violence. Thirteen female street prostitutes, aged 18 to 40, were recruited from a moderate-size, midwestern city in the United States. Eight were non-Hispanic White and five were African American. Respondents participated in individual interviews to identify perceptions of work-related violence, personal risk, and self-protective survival strategies. The constant comparative method was used to analyze data.
Circadian Rhythm in the in vitro Response of Mouse Adrenal to Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Adrenal corticosterone production resulting from adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation in vitro depends upon the time of gland removal. This rhythm in adrenal reactivity to ACTH is out of phase with the corticosterone rhythm in serum of the mice used as donors of adrenals. The responsiveness of the gland to exogenous ACTH is highest when serum corticosterone levels are lowest.
[Relationships of blood stasis syndrome, CYP2C19 gene polymorphism with clopidogrel resistance and post-PCI prognosis].

OBJECTIVE To study the relationships of blood stasis syndrome (BSS), CYP2C19 gene polymorphism with clopidogrel resistance (CR) and post-PCI prognosis. METHODS Materials of 415 patients (Han nationality) with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAHD) hospitalized between January 2008 and July 2009 were collected. The CYP2C19*2 gene distribution in patients with different degrees of BBS was observed, and the relationships of BSS, CYP2C19*2 with the laboratory CR [LCR, percentage of patients with ADP-induced maximal platelet aggregation (MPA) rate reduced for < or = 10% after a 10-day clopidogrel treatment] were analyzed. Besides, an assay on the relations of maximal platelet aggregation suppressive rate (MPAS), LCR, recurrent cardiovascular events (RCEs) with BSS and CYP2C19*2 gene mutation was performed in a 7-month (in median) follow-up study on 180 post-PCI patients who received conventional treatment by clopidogrel and aspirin. RESULTS (1) The frequency of 681G>A mutation in patients with severe BSS and in those who received PCI was higher than that in those with mild BSS (P<0.01); (2) After clopidogrel treatment, LCR was 45.06% (187/415) in total patients, 61.63% (143/232) in patients with severe BSS, 53.24% (115/216) in patients carrying 681A allele; (3) The MPA was less decreased and the LCR was higher in patients with severe BSS than in those with mild BSS (P<0.01); (4) After clopidogrel treatment, the MPA was less decreased and the LCR was higher in carrying CYP2C19 681A allele than in those carrying 681 GG type gene (P<0.01); (5) Follow-up study showed that not only the MPA suppressive rate was lower, LCR was higher in patients with severe BSS or those carrying CYP2C19 681A allele, but a higher RCEs was also shown in them (P<0.01). Moreover, after the various risk factors had been adjusted, the RCEs in patients with severe BSS or carrying CYP2C19 681A allele was higher than in those with mild BSS (OR: 4.01; 95% CI: 1.79-8.99) or carrying GG type gene (OR: 6.89; 95% CI: 2.97-15.97). CONCLUSION Severe BSS and CYP2C19*2 gene mutation are associated with LCR, and could increase the risk of post-PCI cardiovascular events recurrence in patients with CAHD.
A systematic review on the definition of periimplantitis: Limits related to the various diagnoses proposed

Forty-nine articles were considered suitable for the review. Current evidence suggests the use of unequivocal case definitions for periimplantitis, defined by changes in the level of crestal bone, presence of bleeding on probing and/or suppuration, with or without concomitant deepening of periimplant pockets. However, several reference points were used to measure these changes, including different levels of severity and years of follow-up.
Apparent digestibility of nutrients in diets with different energy density, as estimated by direct and marker methods for pigs with or without ileo-cecal cannulas.

The objective of this study were a) to compare the apparent total tract digestibility (TD) between non-cannulated (intact) and cannulated (steered ileo-cecal valve technique, SICV) pigs fed diets differing in energy density (Exp. 1) and b) to compare the direct vs marker (Cr2O3) methods for estimation of the TD and apparent ileal digestibility (ID) in SICV-cannulated pigs (Exp. 2). In Exp. 1, 24 intact and 18 SICV-cannulated castrates of approximately 40 kg initial BW were randomly assigned to six treatments in a 2 x 3 x 2 factorial arrangement (two pig types, three carbohydrate sources, and two fat levels). In Exp. 2, the same SICV-cannulated pigs from Exp. 1 were given those treatments in a 2 x 3 x 2 factorial arrangement (two methods of digestibility estimation, three carbohydrates sources, and two fat levels). In both experiments either cornstarch, soybean hulls, or pure cellulose, without or with fat, were incorporated into a barely-soybean meal based diet to alter energy density. Daily diets were isoenergetic (based on NEf), and water supply was . 33 L/MJ of NEf. In Exp. 1, the pig type effect on the TD of DM, OM, CP, and the pig type x carbohydrate interactions for the TD of DM, OM, and crude fiber (CF) were significant (P < .05), merely due to a larger difference found for the diet enriched with cellulose. In Exp. 2, the TD and ID evaluated with the marker method were significantly lower (except for the TD of CF) than with the direct method, mainly because Cr recovery was below 100%. Overall, the marker method seems to be superior because the TD means obtained from Cr ratios were closer to the TD obtained from intact pigs. In general, the SICV technique seems to be suitable for long-term digestibility studies to measure the TD and ID in the same pig fed low-or high-fiber diets.
Measurement of aortic augmentation index in pregnant women with raised blood pressure and subsequent outcomes: a preliminary prospective cohort study

Objective: Preeclampsia is associated with arterial dysfunction and augmentation index (AIX%) is an established indicator of arterial dysfunction. Our aim was to investigate the relationship of AIX% with time-to-delivery and other outcomes in women admitted to an antenatal triage unit. Methods: We recruited 28 women with singleton pregnancies attending antenatal triage ward for assessment of hypertension. After 10 min rest, seated brachial blood pressure (Omron HEM-757) and AIX% (SphygmoCor applanation tonometry pulse wave analysis, PWA) were measured by a single investigator; other clinicians remained blinded to PWA results. Routine assessment included cardiotocography, urine analysis and blood tests. Subsequent outcomes were extracted from the obstetric records. Results: Mean AIX% was 19.7% (SD 11.5; range −4% to +36%), maternal age 31 years, gestation 37 weeks, brachial BP 145/95, proteinuria 39%. Nine women had preeclampsia at assessment and six subsequently developed preeclampsia. Median time-to-delivery was 10 d (IQR 1.6–25 d) and was shorter for AIX% ≥ 20% (median 8.9 versus 19.8 d). AIX% was higher with preeclampsia (24.0%; SD 9.5) versus gestational hypertension (15.2%; SD 12.4); absolute difference 8.8% (95%CI 0.1–17.5; p = 0.05). A one-point higher AIX% (adjusted for age, urate and gestation) was associated with 0.3 d (95%CI −0.5 to 0.0; p = 0.06) reduced time-to-delivery. A higher AIX% was also associated with induction for preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, peripartum–anti-hypertensives and discharge-on-anti-hypertensives. Area under the curve (AUC) for AIX% predicting preeclampsia was 0.80 (95%CI 0.59–1.00; p = 0.04). Conclusion: AIX% is associated with time-to-delivery and other outcomes in pregnancy.
Geographical and seasonal variation in the intensity of sexual selection in the barn swallow Hirundo rustica: a meta‐analysis

Sexual selection arises from competition among individuals for access to mates, resulting in the evolution of conspicuous sexually selected traits, especially when inter‐sexual competition is mediated by mate choice. Different sexual selection regimes may occur among populations/subspecies within the same species. This is particularly the case when mate choice is based on multiple sexually selected traits. However, empirical evidence supporting this hypothesis at the among‐populations level is scarce. We conducted a meta‐analysis of the intensity of sexual selection on the largest database to date for a single species, the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), relying on quantitative estimates of sexual selection. The intensity of sexual selection was expressed as the strength (effect size) of the relationships between six plumage ornaments (tail length, tail asymmetry, size of white spots on tail, ventral plumage colour, throat plumage colour and throat patch size) and several fitness proxies related to reproduction, parental care, offspring quality, arrival date from spring migration, and survival. The data were gathered for four geographically separated subspecies (H. r. rustica, H. r. erythrogaster, H. r. gutturalis, H. r. transitiva). The overall mean effect size (Zr = 0.214; 95% confidence interval = 0.175–0.254; N = 329) was of intermediate magnitude, with intensity of sexual selection being stronger in males than in females. Effect sizes varied during the breeding cycle, being larger before egg deposition, when competition for access to mates reaches its maximum (i.e. in the promiscuous part of the breeding cycle), and decreasing thereafter. In addition, effect sizes from experiments were not significantly larger than those from correlative studies. Finally, sexual selection on different sexually dimorphic traits varied among subspecies. This last result suggests that morphological divergence among populations has partly arisen from divergent sexual selection, which may eventually lead to speciation.
Fatty acid composition of fillets of silver catfish fed on sunflower oil and linseed oil

The use of lipids in diets for fish is an important source of essential fatty acids, which influence the presence of these fatty acids in the body of the fish. The objective of this study was to investigate the growth and composition of fatty acids in fillets of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen), which were fed on a diet based on sunflower oil and linseed oil as sources of essential fatty acids. During the first 20 days of the experiment the silver catfish that were fed with linseed oil presented lower weight gain and specific growth rate, but in the last 20 days this group showed higher weight gain and specific growth rate. The diet consisting of linseed oil resulted in a lower deposition of fat in the fillets, increasing the amount of n-3 fatty acids in the flesh of the silver catfish. Although the primary n-3 fatty acid found in linseed oil is 18:3n-3, which is a medium chain fatty acid, dietary supplementation with linseed oil also resulted in an increased amount of long-chain n-3 fatty acid in the fillets (DHA: 22:6n-3), indicating that silver catfish is able to elongate the 18:3 n-3.
Consumer evaluation of cold smoked fat in beef sausages

The two primary methods of infusing smoke flavor into meat products is through natural smoke and liquid smoke with each type comprising of different smoke compounds resulting in differences in organoleptic properties. The different specific smoke compounds absorb differently in water and fat. Limited research has been conducted on smoking fat, and how it alters the organoleptic properties of fat. The objective of this research was to determine if cold smoking fat prior to addition into sausages would generate a smoky flavor that the consumers would accept. The consumers rated cold smoke fat samples the lowest (P < 0.05) for like of flavor and overall like with no difference (P > 0.05) between the natural smoke and liquid smoke samples. Like of flavor was correlated (P < 0.05) to overall like (r = 0.87), like of texture (r = 0.63), and like of juiciness (r = 0.53). There were a greater (P < 0.05) percentage of consumers who liked the flavor of the natural smoke (80.8%) and liquid smoke (68.5%) sausages compared to cold smoke fat sausages (49.3%). Consumers who ranked the natural smoke or cold smoke fat treatment the highest for like of flavor did not like the flavor of the other treatments. Whereas, consumers who ranked the liquid smoke treatment the highest for like of flavor where neutral for the flavor of natural smoke treatment, and did not like the flavor of the cold smoke fat treatment.
Viability of the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 in ice cream : effect of lactose hydrolysis and overrun

The viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 incorporated into ice cream produced with and without hydrolysis of lactose was evaluated. Furthermore, the effects of La-5 and lactose hydrolysis on the physicochemical characteristics of the final product were analyzed. Three formulations were produced: T1 (without La-5 and lactose hydrolysis); T2 (La-5 and without lactose hydrolysis), and T3 (La-5 and lactose hydrolysis). La-5 viability, pH and titratable acidity were evaluated weekly during 28 days. The overrun was evaluated during manufacturing process. The lactose hydrolysis did not alter physicochemical properties of ice cream. Regarding La-5 populations, no significant differences were detected between T2 and T3 during storage (p>0.05). T2 and T3 presented La-5 counts of 7.71 and 7.67 log CFU/g on day 28, respectively. The La-5 strain has adapted to the ice cream matrix, and was resistant to the incorporation of air during the process, since 43.6 and 43.8% of overrun was obtained to T2 and T3, respectively. The manufacture of a probiotic ice cream with 56% of hydrolyzed lactose was possible. The hydrolysis of lactose contributed to obtaining a functional ice cream that could be consumed for individuals with intolerance to this carbohydrate, considering the variable degrees of lactase deficiency for each individual.