Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enterococcus cecorum Infection in a Racing Pigeon

SUMMARY Until now, Enterococcus cecorum (EC) has been known as a pathogen for broilers, broiler breeders, and Pekin ducks. In the present report, we describe a fatal systemic EC infection in a young racing pigeon (Columba livia forma domestica). EC was isolated from the heart, liver, spleen, and intestine of the bird in pure culture. In the pathologic examination, the pigeon showed enteritis and an ulcerative gastritis, which may have been predisposing factors for the development of the generalized EC infection. An accumulation of gram-positive cocci in spleen tissue was found in the histopathologic examination and confirms the presence of a systemic EC infection in the pigeon. Additionally, EC was isolated from cloacal swabs of other pigeons in the same loft, but no additional pigeons were submitted for necropsy. All EC isolates tested were negative by PCR for the enterococcal virulence factors cytolysin, enterococcal surface protein, aggregation substance, hyaluronidase, and gelatinase. Therefore, the reason for the enhanced virulence of the EC isolate remains unknown. Our report confirms EC as a disease-causing agent in pigeons and presents the first data concerning the analysis of EC for virulence factors. RESUMEN Reporte de Caso—Infección por Enterococcus cecorum en una paloma mensajera. Hasta esta fecha, el Enterococcus cecorum (CE) ha sido reconocido como un patógeno para los pollos de engorde, reproductoras pesadas y patos Pekín. En el presente informe se describe una infección sistémica fatal por E. cecorum en una paloma mensajera (Columba livia forma domestica) joven. Se aisló E. cecorum de corazón, hígado, bazo e intestino del ave en cultivo puro. En el examen patológico, la paloma mostró enteritis y una gastritis ulcerativa, que pueden haber sido factores predisponentes para el desarrollo de la infección generalizada por E. cecorum. Mediante el examen histopatológico se observó acumulación de cocos grampositivos en el tejido del bazo y confirma la presencia de la infección sistémica por E. cecorum en la paloma. Además, se aisló E. cecorum de hisopos de cloaca de otras palomas en el mismo palomar, pero no se sometieron palomas adicionales a la necropsia. Todas las cepas aisladas de E. cecorum fueron negativas por PCR para los factores de virulencia para enterococos como la citolisina, la proteína de superficie de enterococos, la sustancia de, hialuronidasa, y gelatinasa. Por lo tanto, la razón de la mayor virulencia de esta cepa de E. cecorum sigue siendo desconocida. Nuestro informe confirma a E. cecorum como agente causante de la enfermedad en palomas y presenta los primeros datos relativos al análisis de los factores de virulencia de E. cecorum.
Fatal Intoxication with α‐PVP, a Synthetic Cathinone Derivative

This study presents the fatal case of a young man who was admitted to the ICAU due to sudden cardiac arrest. An interview revealed that the patient had taken some unspecified crystals. From the moment of admission, his condition deteriorated dramatically as a result of increasing circulatory insufficiency. After a few hours, sudden cardiac arrest occurred again and the patient was pronounced dead. In the course of a medicolegal autopsy, samples of biological material were preserved for toxicology tests and histopathological examination. The analysis of samples using the LC‐MS/MS technique revealed the presence of α‐PVP in the following concentrations: blood—174 ng/mL, urine—401 ng/mL, brain—292 ng/g, liver—190 ng/g, kidney—122 ng/g, gastric contents—606 ng/g. The study also presents findings from the parallel histopathological examination. Based on these findings, cardiac arrest secondary to intoxication with alpha‐PVP was determined as the direct cause of the patient's death.
An efficient four points modified explicit group poisson solver

In this paper, wc introduce a four points modified explicit group method for solving a two dimensional Poisson equation with Dirichlet boundary condition. The method is shown to be superior compared to the existing four points–explicit group and explicit decoupled group methods due to D. J. Evans and M. J. Biggins (1982) and A. R. Abdullah (1991), respectively, Some experiment results of the test problem are given in order to confirm our claim.
Right hemisphere dominance for attention

Because hemiinattention is most commonly caused by right parietal lesions, it is possible that the left hemisphere attends to contralateral stimuli whereas the right attends to both contralateral and ipsilateral stimuli. We gave lateralized visual stimuli to 12 normal subjects and recorded the electroencephalograms. Desynchronization was determined by comparing the alpha power 1 second before and 1 second after a lateralized visual stimulus. Although the left parietal lobe desynchronized most after right-sided stimuli, the right parietal lobe desynchronized equally after right or left stimuli. These findings support the hypothesis that the right hemisphere is dominant for attention.
p53 Tumor Suppressor Protein Overexpression in Osteogenic Tumors of Dogs

Alterations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene have been implicated in the genesis and/or progression of the majority of human cancers, including osteosarcoma. Stabilization of the protein by mutation or interaction with other proteins prolongs its half-life, rendering it detectable by immunohistochemistry. Osteosarcoma is the most common primary canine bone tumor and is characterized by frequent early metastases. Multilobular tumors of bone involve primarily flat bones of the head and are low-grade malignancies with lower metastatic potential. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of p53 protein overexpression in 106 osteogenic tumors of dogs using an indirect immunohistochemical method and to compare p53 overexpression between tumors with different clinical behavior. A polyclonal p53 antibody (CM-1) served as the primary antibody. Tumors were scored based upon an estimate of the percentage of tumor cells stained. Significant differences in the prevalence of overexpression were observed between osteosarcomas (72%) and multilobular tumors of bone (20%, P = 0.0020). Osteosarcomas of the appendicular skeleton had a significantly higher prevalence of p53 overexpression (84%) than did osteosarcomas of the axial skeleton (56%, P = 0.0060). Our results show that p53 tumor suppressor protein is overexpressed in the majority of canine osteosarcomas. The higher prevalence of overexpression in osteosarcomas versus multilobular tumors of bone and in osteosarcomas of the appendicular skeleton versus those of the axial skeleton suggests that alterations in p53 expression correlate with highly aggressive tumor behavior.
CONTROLE ALTERNATIVO DE Sitophilus zeamais MOTS., 1855 (COL.: CURCULIONIDAE) EM GRÃOS DE MILHO.

Palavras – chave: Agricultura orgânica, Produtos naturais, Gorgulho do milho. INTRODUCÂO No Brasil, o milho e o grao de maior volume em producao (47,4 milhoes de toneladas) representando de 35 a 40% do total de graos produzidos, sendo que mundialmente sua producao chega a 615,92 milhoes de toneladas, atras apenas do trigo (Cocamar, 2004). Os principais produtores sao: Estados Unidos, China, Brasil, Uniao Europeia, Mexico e Argentina (FAO, 2003). O milho tem grande importância como base da alimentacao humana e animal. Com o crescimento populacional ha a necessidade de se aumentar a producao de graos e minimizar as perdas de grande parte das safras agricolas decorrentes de falhas na colheita, transporte e armazenamento. Varios fatores, como: metodos incorretos de armazenagem, estruturas armazenadoras improprias e ataque de pragas, influenciam estas perdas. No Brasil, as perdas devido ao ataque de pragas chegam a 20% da producao total do grao, demandando a necessidade de novas pesquisas e tecnologias. Entre as causas que levam ao dano de graos, o ataque de insetos, tais como o curculionidae Sitophilus zeamais, destaca-se pela grande capacidade de penetracao, alto potencial biotico, infestacao cruzada e grande numero de hospedeiros (Gallo et al., 2002), acarretando perdas quanto ao peso, valor comercial e nutritivo (Santos & Cruz, 1984). _________________________ ESALQ/USPAluna do Curso de Graduacao-E-mail: prila_helena@yahoo.com. br 2 Profo Dr.o do Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura/USP Pesquisador Cientifico do Polo Regional Centro-Sul Piracicaba, SP Resumos do II Congresso Brasileiro de Agroecologia
Second malignant neoplasms after treatment for Hodgkin's disease in childhood or adolescence.

PURPOSE To determine the frequency of and risk factors for second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) after treatment for Hodgkin's disease diagnosed in children and adolescents. PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred eighty-two consecutive, previously untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease who were younger than 20 years of age at diagnosis and who were referred to Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Buffalo, NY) for treatment between January 1, 1960, and December 31, 1989, were studied. Sex-specific standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship of several demographic and treatment variables to SMN incidence. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients developed an SMN at a mean of 14.93 +/- 8.09 years (range, 2.65 to 29.88 years) after diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease. The cumulative percentage of patients who developed an SMN was 26.27 +/- 6.75% at 30 years after diagnosis. The SIR was 9.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.05 to 18.49) for male patients and 10.16 (95% CI, 5.56 to 17.05) for female patients. The most frequent SMNs were thyroid cancer, breast cancer, nonmelanoma skin cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and acute leukemia. Multivariate analysis of sex, treatment with any alkylating agent, treatment with doxorubicin, splenectomy, and relapse (as a time-dependent covariate) with time to SMN onset gave nonsignificant results. CONCLUSION Successfully treated children and adolescents with Hodgkin's disease have a substantial risk for the occurrence of subsequent neoplasms. The most frequent SMNs (skin, thyroid, and breast) are readily detected by physical examination and available screening procedures.
Salvianolic Acid A Suppresses CCL-20 Expression in TNF-&agr;–treated Macrophages and ApoE-deficient Mice

Objectives: The CC chemokine ligand-20 (CCL-20)/macrophage inflammatory protein-3&agr; has been seen as one of the most important chemokines and played a key role in atherogenesis, but the mechanism that underlies the regulation of CCL-20 has not been established clearly yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of salvianolic acid A (SAA) on the expression of CCL-20 in macrophages and ApoE-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice. Methods: The expression of CCL-20 was detected both at protein and messenger RNA levels in RAW264.7 cells. We validated the result in ApoE−/− mice that were intraperitoneally injected with SAA. Phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was detected with Western blot, and inhibitor of p38 was used to investigate the mechanism of regulation of CCL-20. Hematoxylin and eosin and Oil-Red-O staining were used to evaluate the atherosclerotic lesions and lipid accumulation in ApoE−/− mice. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to detect the expressions of CCL-20 and CCR6 in the atherosclerotic lesions. Immunofluorescent analysis was used to certify the origination of CCL-20. Results: Recombinant tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF-&agr;) upregulated CCL-20 production in dose- and time-dependent manners in RAW264.7 cells. The activity of TNF-&agr;–induced CCL-20 production seemed to be significantly suppressed by SAA. Using p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, we found that p38 mediated the effects of TNF-&agr;– and SAA-induced CCL-20 expression changes. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis of aortic root of ApoE−/− mice also demonstrated that the expressions of CCL-20 and CCR6 were both downregulated significantly with SAA treatment. Furthermore, treatment of SAA inhibited the progression of the atherosclerotic plaques and lipid accumulation. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that TNF-&agr; increased but SAA suppressed CCL-20 production significantly via a novel mechanism.
The Four-Way Stop Sign: Viruses, 12-Lipoxygenase, Islets, and Natural Killer Cells in Type 1 Diabetes Progression

Natural killer (NK) cells represent an important effector arm against viral infection, and mounting evidence suggests that viral infection plays a role in the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in at least a portion of patients. NK cells recognize their target cells through a delicate balance of inhibitory and stimulatory receptors on their surface. If unbalanced, NK cells have great potential to wreak havoc in the pancreas due to the beta cell expression of the as-yet-defined NKp46 ligand through interactions with the activating NKp46 receptor found on the surface of most NK cells. Blocking interactions between NKp46 and its ligand protects mice from STZ-induced diabetes, but differential expression non-diabetic and diabetic donor samples have not been tested. Additional studies have shown that peripheral blood NK cells from human T1D patients have altered phenotypes that reduce the lytic and functional ability of the NK cells. Investigations of humanT1D pancreas tissues have indicated that the presence of NK cells may be beneficial despite their infrequent detection. In non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, we have noted that NK cells express high levels of the proinflammatory mediator 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LO), and decreased levels of stimulatory receptors. Conversely, NK cells of 12/15-LO deficient NOD mice, which are protected from diabetes development, express significantly higher levels of stimulatory receptors. Furthermore, the human NK92 cell line expresses the ALOX12 protein [human 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO), related to mouse 12/15-LO] via Western blotting. Human 12-LO is upregulated in the pancreas of both T1D and T2D human donors with insulin-containing islets, showing a link between 12-LO expression and diabetes progression. Therefore, our hypothesis is that NK cells in those susceptible to developing T1D are unable to function properly during viral infections of pancreatic beta cells due to increased 12-LO expression and activation, which contributes to increased interferon-gamma production and an imbalance in activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors, and may contribute to downstream autoimmune T cell responses. The work presented here outlines evidence from our lab, as well as published literature, supporting our hypothesis, including novel data.
Molecular cloning of sequences from wingless, a segment polarity gene in Drosophila: the spatial distribution of a transcript in embryos

In Drosophila the process of segmentation depends on the function of coordinate, gap, pair‐rule and segment‐polarity genes. Mutations in segment‐polarity genes cause defects in the pattern of every segment. Here the cloning of sequences from a segment‐polarity gene, wingless, and the in situ localization of a transcript in embryos are described. The transcript is first detected in the anterior and posterior regions of the blastoderm embryo at cellularization, and accumulates in a series of stripes in the extended germ band, one stripe per metameric unit. Each stripe is localized to the most posterior cells of each parasegment. The signal is predominantly epidermal, and transcript accumulates only transiently in the mesoderm and nervous system. This pattern of expression is discussed with respect to models of pattern formation in segmental units.
Global Tactile Coding in Rat Barrel Cortex in the Absence of Local Cues

Although whisker-related perception is based predominantly on local, near-instantaneous coding, global, intensive coding, which integrates the vibrotactile signal over time, has also been shown to play a role given appropriate behavioral conditions. Here, we study global coding in isolation by studying head-fixed rats that identified pulsatile stimuli differing in pulse frequency but not in pulse waveforms, thus abolishing perception based on local coding. We quantified time locking and spike counts as likely variables underpinning the 2 coding schemes. Both neurometric variables contained substantial stimulus information, carried even by spikes of single barrel cortex neurons. To elucidate which type of information is actually used by the rats, we systematically compared psychometric with neurometric sensitivity based on the 2 coding schemes. Neurometric performance was calculated by using a population-encoding model incorporating the properties of our recorded neuron sample. We found that sensitivity calculated from spike counts sampled over long periods (>1 s) matched the performance of rats better than the one carried by spikes time-locked to the stimulus. We conclude that spike counts are more relevant to tactile perception when instantaneous kinematic parameters are not available.
Impaired flow-mediated dilation is associated with low pulmonary function and emphysema in ex-smokers: the Emphysema and Cancer Action Project (EMCAP) Study.

RATIONALE Basic science research suggests a causal role for endothelial dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinical studies examining endothelial function are lacking, particularly early in the disease. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a physiologic measure of endothelial reactivity to endogenous nitric oxide. OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that lower FMD among former smokers would be associated with lower post-bronchodilator FEV(1), higher percentage of emphysema using computed tomography (CT) and lower diffusing capacity. METHODS We measured FMD, pulmonary function, and CT percentage of emphysema in a random sample of 107 cotinine-confirmed former smokers in the ongoing EMCAP study. FMD was defined as percentage change in the brachial artery diameter with reactive hyperemia. Generalized additive models were used to adjust for potential confounders and assess linearity. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Mean age of participants was 71 +/- 5 years, 46% were female, and pack-years averaged 48 +/- 26. Mean FMD was 3.8 +/- 3.1%; mean post-bronchodilator FEV(1), 2.3 +/- 0.8 L; and mean CT percentage of emphysema, 26 +/- 10%. A 1 SD decrease in FMD was associated with a 132-ml (95% confidence interval, 16-248 ml; P = 0.03) decrement in post-bronchodilator FEV(1) and a 2.6% (95% confidence interval, 0.5-4.7%; P = 0.02) increase in CT percentage of emphysema in fully adjusted models. These associations were linear across the spectrum from normality to disease, independent of smoking history, and also significant among participants without COPD. Associations with diffusing capacity were consistent but nonsignificant (P = 0.09). The FMD-FEV(1) association was entirely attributable to percentage of emphysema. CONCLUSIONS Impaired endothelial function, as measured by FMD, was associated with lower FEV(1) and higher CT percentage of emphysema in former smokers early in COPD.
Decadal to seasonal variability of Arctic sea ice albedo

A controlling factor in the seasonal and climatological evolution of the sea ice cover is its albedo α. Here we analyze Arctic data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Polar Pathfinder and assess the seasonality and variability of broadband albedo from a 23 year daily record. We produce a histogram of daily albedo over ice covered regions in which the principal albedo transitions are seen; high albedo in late winter and spring, the onset of snowmelt and melt pond formation in the summer, and fall freezeup. The bimodal late summer distribution demonstrates the combination of the poleward progression of the onset of melt with the coexistence of perennial bare ice with melt ponds and open water, which then merge to a broad peak at α ≳ 0.5. We find the interannual variability to be dominated by the low end of the α distribution, highlighting the controlling influence of the ice thickness distribution and large‐scale ice edge dynamics. The statistics obtained provide a simple framework for model studies of albedo parameterizations and sensitivities.
Influence of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Molecular Weight Grade on Water Uptake, Erosion and Drug Release Properties of Diclofenac Sodium Matrix Tablets

Purpose: To comparatively evaluate the effect of two hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) molecular weight grades (K4M and K15M) on drug release from diclofenac sodium matrix tablets. Methods: Tablets containing diclofenac sodium were prepared by direct compression method at various drug/HPMC ratios and evaluated in vitro for their water uptake, erosion and dissolution characteristics over a period of 8 h. Their release data were analyzed according to various release kinetic models. Results: The release rate of diclofenac decreased with increase in polymer content and was dependent on the HPMC type used, with the lower release rate observed in formulations containing the higher molecular weight grade HPMC K15M. Formulations containing the higher molecular weight HPMC (F4, F5 and F6) showed higher water uptake than those containing the lower molecular weight polymer (F1, F2 and F3) (p < 0. 001). The formulations incorporating the lower molecular weight HPMC K4M (F1, F2 and F3) showed higher erosion than those that contained HPMC K15M (F4, F5 and F6) (p < 0.001). Kinetic data based on the release exponent, n, in Peppas model, showed that n values were between 0.14 and 0.55, indicating that drug release from HPMC matrices was predominantly by diffusion. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the molecular weight (MW) of HPMC does affect the water uptake and erosion as well as the rate of drug release from of HPMC matrices. Keywords: Matrix, Diclofenac sodium, HPMC, Erosion, Water uptake.
Chemical abundances in the multiple sub-giant branch of 47 Tucanae: insights on its faint sub-giant branch component

AFM, APM and RC have been supported by the Australian Research Council through Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards DE150101816, DE160100851 and DE120102904. CIJ gratefully acknowledges support from the Clay Fellowship, administered by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. AD is supported by the Australian Research Council under grant FL110100012.
Comparative Evaluation of Frontal Offset Tests to Control Self and Partner Protection

The present demand on self protection and insurance test is increasing the local strength and global force deformation of all cars. Unfortunately, the ratio is not the same, due to the different masses: The design of a large car makes it stiffer than a small one in order to compensate the mass. Furthermore, the current frontal offset test is more severe for heavy vehicles because of the specific barrier used. Due to this self protection trend, compatibility requirements are more and more difficult to achieve. Moreover, it is yet required to improve light car compartment strength without increasing heavy car compartment strength and to limit vehicle front units' aggressiveness. In other words, it is necessary to assess the possibility to check and improve partner protection with regards to self-protection. To achieve this new requirement, an amendment of ECE R94 test procedure, based on progressive deformable barrier (PDB), was proposed in order to check both parts of compatibility (structural interaction - partner and compartment strength - self), and is still being studied. To validate and compare this approach with other offset procedures, many tests have been performed with different cars from the European market (light and heavy, old and new generation, left and right hand drive) in different test configurations (current R94 at 56 km/h, possible future R94 at 60 km/h suggested by EEVC WG16 and PDB protocol at 60 km/h). Based on the tests results, this paper describes in detail: the comparison of different offset barrier tests; the validation of PDB test protocol aiming to check self and partner protection; the possibility to generate constant severity for all cars (same EES); the possibility to change the current frontal barrier; and the possibility to assess partner protection and self protection.