Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hematologic effects of xylazine when used for restraint of Bactrian camels.

Xylazine was found to be a safe and reliable drug for chemical restraint of Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus). Dosages of 0.27 to 0.51 mg/kg of body weight provided adequate sedation for the performance of various procedures (e.g., tuberculin testing, lymph node biopsy, and electroejaculation). Hematologic and serum biochemical values for camels restrained manually were compared with those for camels restrained with xylazine. Xylazine-treated camels had significantly lower values for RBC, hemoglobin, and packed cell volume, and significantly higher blood glucose concentrations. Venous blood gas analyses did not reveal any major acid-base disturbances resulting from the use of xylazine. Rapid arousal from the sedative effects of xylazine occurred after the intravenous administration of doxapram hydrochloride in dosages of 0.05 to 0.13 mg/kg of body weight.
PROPYLENE GLYCOL INCREASES CYTOSOLIC FREE CALCIUM IN RAT CEREBROCORTICAL SYNAPTOSOMES

In these studies, the authors investigated the effect of propylene glycol (PG) on the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2. PG (0.5-5% v/v) increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. The PG-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was inhibited approximately 50% by the omission of extracellular Ca2+ or the addition of Ni2+ (100 μM). Decrease of extracellular Na+ (6.2 mM) or addition of tetrodotoxin (1 μM), verapamil (10 μM), nifedipine (10 μM), ω-agatoxin IVA (200 nM), ω-conotoxin GVIA (1 μM), or ω-conotoxin MVIIC (1 μM) had no effect on the increase in [Ca2+]i. Also, addition of TMB-8 (100 μM), ryanodine (50 μM) or thapsigargin (1 μM) did not modify the increase in [Ca2+]i in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. These results suggest that PG increases [Ca2+]i in rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes by both stimulat-ing Ca2+ entry through a Ni2+-sensitive pathway and releasing Ca2+ from TMB-8-, ryanodine- and thapsigargin-insensitive Ca2+ stores
Interference-Aware Routing in Wireless Mesh Networks

User demand for seamless connectivity has encouraged the development of alternatives to traditional communications infrastructure networks. Potential solutions have to be low-cost, easily deployable and adaptive to the environment. One approach that has gained tremendous attention over the past few years is the deployment of a backbone of access points wirelessly interconnected, allowing users to access the wired infrastructure via wireless multi-hop communication. Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN) fall into this category and constitute a technology that could revolutionize the way wireless network access is provided. However, limited transfer capacity and interference resulting from the shared nature of the transmission medium will prevent widespread deployment if the network performance does not meet users’ expectations. It is therefore imperative to provide efficient mechanisms for such networks. Resource management encompasses a number of different issues, including routing. Although a profusion of routing mechanisms have been proposed for other wireless technologies, the unique characteristics of WMNs (i.e. fixed wireless backbone, with the possibility to embed multiple interfaces) prevent their straight forward adoption in WMNs. Moreover, the severe performance degradations that can result from the interference generated by concurrent data transmissions and environmental noise call for the development of interference-aware routing mechanisms. In this thesis, we investigated the impact of interference on the network performance of wireless mesh networks. We designed algorithms to associate routers to gateways that minimize the interference level in single-channel and multi-channel networks. We then studied the performance of existing routing metrics and their suitability for mesh networks. As a result of this analysis, we designed a novel routing metric and showed its benefits over existing ones. Finally, we provided an analytical evaluation of the probability of finding two non interfering paths given a network topology.
Toward a Typology of Internet Users and Online Privacy Concerns

Traditional typologies of consumer privacy concern suggest that consumers fall into three distinct groups: One-fourth of consumers are not concerned about privacy, one-fourth are highly concerned, and half are pragmatic, in that their concerns about privacy depend on the situation presented. This study examines online users to determine whether types of privacy concern online mirror the offline environment. An e-mail survey of online users examined perceived privacy concerns of 15 different situations involving collection and usage of personally identifiable information. Results indicate that the vast majority of online users are pragmatic when it comes to privacy. Further analysis of the data suggested that online users can be segmented into four distinct groups, representing differing levels of privacy concern. Distinct demographic differences were seen. Persons with higher levels of education are more concerned about their privacy online than persons with less education. Additionally, persons over the age of 45 years tended to be either not at all concerned about privacy or highly concerned about privacy. Younger persons tended to be more pragmatic. Content and policy implications are provided.
Evidence of Harm. Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: Medical Controversy

W hen Andrew Wakefield, the former Royal Free Hospital researcher who launched the scare about a link between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism in Britain, claimed that he had learnt everything he knew about autism from parents, this sounded merely disingenuous. In David Kirby's case, unfortunately, it appears to be true: he seems to take at face value every claim made by campaigning parents in the United States who believe that vaccines containing the mercury based preservative thiomersal caused their children to become autistic. [][1] David Kirby St Martin's Press, $26.95/$C38.95, pp 480 ISBN 0 312 32644 0 www.stmartins. com/ Rating:! [Graphic][2] ! [Graphic][3] ! [Graphic][4] ! [Graphic][5] But parents may not be reliable guides. Kirby faithfully records one mother's account of how she brought her son from the United States to see Dr Wakefield at the Royal Free Hospital, which she described as an “old stone building, soot-coloured and depressing,” located “on Grays Inn Road in central London,” a site abandoned by the Royal Free some 30 years ago for a modernist tower block in Hampstead. Further descriptions of “halls filled with the … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [4]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif [5]: /embed/inline-graphic-4.gif
Interleukin 33 as a Mechanically Responsive Cytokine Secreted by Living Cells*

Background: Conflicting data describe Interleukin 33 as a nuclear factor and ligand for a transmembrane receptor complex. Results: IL-33 displays multi-compartmental geography, inter-organelle flux and extracellular release from mechanically stressed cells. Conclusion: IL-33 manifests dynamic subcellular mobility and secretion from living cells upon biomechanical strain. Significance: IL-33 belongs to a group of factors displaying dual inflammatory and mechano-responsive properties. Interleukin 33 (IL-33), a member of the Interleukin 1 cytokine family, is implicated in numerous human inflammatory diseases such as asthma, atherosclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite its pathophysiologic importance, fundamental questions regarding the basic biology of IL-33 remain. Nuclear localization and lack of an export signal sequence are consistent with the view of IL-33 as a nuclear factor with the ability to repress RNA transcription. However, signaling via the transmembrane receptor ST2 and documented caspase-dependent inactivation have suggested IL-33 is liberated during cellular necrosis to effect paracrine signaling. We determined the subcellular localization of IL-33 and tracked its intracellular mobility and extracellular release. In contrast to published data, IL-33 localized simultaneously to nuclear euchromatin and membrane-bound cytoplasmic vesicles. Fluorescent pulse-chase fate-tracking documented dynamic nucleo-cytoplasmic flux, which was dependent on nuclear pore complex function. In murine fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo, mechanical strain induced IL-33 secretion in the absence of cellular necrosis. These data document IL-33 dynamic inter-organelle trafficking and release during biomechanical overload. As such we recharacterize IL-33 as both an inflammatory as well as mechanically responsive cytokine secreted by living cells.
Genetic Analysis of Hepatitis A Virus Isolated from Korea

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is one of the most important causes of acute infectious hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the genotypes of HAV that have been circulating in Koreans. A total of 76 sera referred to our institute for HAV genotyping from 11 Korean provinces were used for this study. Those samples were diagnosed by positive of IgM anti-HAV. HAV RNA was extracted from 150 μl of serum, and reverse transcription PCR-sequencing was used to detect and characterize HAV RNA. Primer pairs from the VP1/2A region of the HAV were used for amplification and sequencing. HAV RNA was found in 64.5% (n = 49) of the 76 patient sera with acute hepatitis A. Forty-seven strains were genotype ⅢA in a total of 49 isolated strains (95.9%, 47/49); only two strains belonged to genotype ⅠA (4.1%, 2/49). Thirty eight genotype ⅢA isolates were 100% identical to consensus amino acid sequences of the reference strain AJ299467. The amino acid change of L772F was found in two ⅢA strains; other ⅢA isolates showed one amino acid change. Amino acid of genotype ⅠA was compared to reference strain L20541. K801R was found in 1 strain and Q810S in both strains. The amino acid change of K801R was the first report in Koreans. Until recently HAV genotype ⅠA has been reported as a major circulating HAV genotype in Koreans. In the present study, the predominant HAV strain in Koreans seemed to be HAV genotype ⅢA.
Mineral fiber content of lungs in patients with mesothelioma seeking compensation in Québec.

Asbestos fibers (AF) and ferruginous bodies (FB) in lung parenchyma from 50 workers seeking compensation from the Workers' Compensation Board of Québec for pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and phase-contrast microscopy (PCM). These workers had been occupationally exposed in mining and milling activities (12 were from Asbestos Township and 11 from Thetford Mines) and 27 were from other types of industry (asbestos factory, shipyard, etc.). For comparison, analyses of lung tissue at autopsy were done in a group of 49 subjects from a reference population. A 95% confidence interval upper limit of 540 AF < 5 microns/mg and a 95% confidence interval upper limit of 161 AF > or = 5 microns/mg dried lung tissue were found for the reference population. Similarly, a concentration of FB of 142 FB/g constituted the upper limit of detectable FB in the lungs of the reference population. Forty-eight of the 50 workers with mesothelioma had either a ferruginous body or total asbestos fiber count greater than the 95% confidence interval for the reference population; the remaining two had amosite and/or crocidolite concentrations greater than the 95% confidence interval for the reference population. The fiber types were different in the three groups, with the lungs of workers from Thetford Mines containing only chrysotile and tremolite, those from Asbestos Township containing chrysotile, tremolite, amosite, and crocidolite, and those in other industries containing largely amosite and crocidolite. We conclude that in this population of workers seeking compensation for mesothelioma, fiber analysis confirmed occupational asbestos exposure in every case. The fiber types responsible for the tumors are probably different in the three different groups.
Intelligibility and Localization of Speech from Virtual Directions

We studied the intelligibility of speech and the ability of listeners to localize speech when synthetic direction information was added to the signal. Masked thresholds for single synthesized words were measured for simulated, horizontal angular separations of speech in the presence of a masking noise. Speech recognition was measured using the Modified Rhyme Test; the masker was broad-band white noise. A single set of head-related transfer functions conditioned the speech and noise waveforms presented over headphones, and listeners were free to move their heads relative to the apparent directions of these signals. The masker was fixed at 0 deg, and when speech was presented from other azimuths, its intelligibility typically increased by 4 to 5 dB. Individuals' masked thresholds were variable yet repeatable, and the plot of threshold by azimuth seemed unique to each subject. In a separate test, the same listeners were asked to estimate the azimuth of items from the rhyme test. Localization was accurate and performance was similar to previous work, except that confusions of source locations in the front and rear hemispheres were evenly distributed across azimuth.
Ipsilateral neglect in a patient following a unilateral frontal lesion

Using a crossed-response task, it has been demonstrated that as a patient with unilateral frontal lesion recovers from visual inattention, he or she may inappropriately saccade to contralateral stimuli (visual grasp). We report a patient with a right frontal lesion who showed a similar phenomenon on sequential line bisection tasks. On day 1, he showed left-sided neglect on line bisections that enhanced with sequential trials. On day 5, he exhibited right-sided neglect (ipsilateral neglect) on line bisection tasks that also enhanced with repeated trials.
Epidemiology and vectors of Dracunculus medinensis in northwest Burkina Faso, West Africa.

The epidemiology of the guinea worm, Dracunculus medinensis, was studied in the dry savanna zone of West Africa. The monthly incidence data collected over a period of four years showed peak transmission occurring in June and July at the beginning of the rainy season. The different types of local water sources (i.e. wells, periodic streams, seasonal cattle waterings, natural ponds and man-made ponds) were examined for infected cyclopoid copepods. Small hand-dug ponds or water-holes situated in the fields proved to be the most important sites of transmission. While the domestic water supply is obtained from draw-wells in the villages throughout the year, the villagers take additional drinking water from these ponds during the planting season when farm activities require long stays in the fields. Four cyclopoid species were found for the first time acting as natural intermediate hosts of D. medinensis. Thermocyclops inopinus was the most frequently infected cyclopoid, and small man-made ponds are the preferred habitats of this species. Occurrence of T. inopinus is confined to the first half of the rainy season, coinciding with peak transmission. The epidemiology of dracunculiasis in dry and humid regions of West Africa is compared with regard to seasonality. The use of protective water filters proved to be the only adequate method for guinea worm control in the project area.
Effects of celecoxib in human retinoblastoma cell lines and in a transgenic murine model of retinoblastoma

Background/aim: Celecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor and antiangiogenic agent, has demonstrated potent anticancer effects in preclinical studies and in human clinical trials. To evaluate the potential utility of this agent in the treatment of retinoblastoma, the authors investigated the effects of celecoxib in retinoblastoma cell lines and in a murine model of this disease. Methods: Growth inhibitory effects of celecoxib were evaluated in Y79 and Weri-RB1 human retinoblastoma cell lines by WST-1 cell proliferation assay. For animal study, two groups of 24, 8 week old LHβ-TAg transgenic mice were treated with celecoxib (250 mg/kg, orally once a day) or vehicle control, 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Mice were sacrificed on day 43. Enucleated eyes were serially sectioned and ocular tumour burden was quantified by histopathological analysis. Results: Celecoxib did not inhibit proliferation of Y79 or Weri-RB1 cells, even at concentrations far exceeding clinically achievable levels. No significant difference in ocular tumour burden between celecoxib treated and control mice (p = 0.73) was found. Conclusion: Celecoxib was ineffective at inhibiting proliferation of retinoblastoma cells in vitro and was ineffective at controlling retinoblastoma tumour growth in a murine model of this disease. On the basis of these findings, oral celecoxib therapy is unlikely to have clinical utility in the treatment of retinoblastoma.
Fast Response Microstructured Optical Fiber Methane Sensor With Multiple Side-Openings

We have demonstrated a fast response optical fiber methane sensor by use of a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber with periodic microchannels fabricated by a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser. A diffusion limited response time of ~3 s and a sensitivity of ~647 ppm have been achieved for a 7-cm sensing fiber with seven side-holes separated by 1 cm along the fiber. The side holes introduce very little loss and hence it would be practically possible to construct fiber gas sensors with long sensing length (up to a few tens of meters) to achieve highly sensitive distributed sensing without compromising the response time.
An RNA G-quadruplex in the 3' UTR of the proto-oncogene PIM1 represses translation

We have identified a conserved G-quadruplex forming sequence in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of the proto-oncogene PIM1. Circular dichroism and thermal denaturation studies revealed that the PIM1 mRNA guanine-rich sequence forms a highly stable intramolecular G-quadruplex structure. Reporter gene assay demonstrated that the PIM1 RNA G-quadruplex represses translation. It is the first experimental evidence of an RNA G-quadruplex structure located in the 3' UTR that may act as posttranscriptional regulator.
The Gender Pay Gap for Private Sector Employees in Canada and Britain

The gender earnings differentials for private‐sector employees in Britain and Canada are similar, substantial and significant. Using linked employer–employee data, we show that women are more likely to be employed in low‐wage workplaces than men in both counties. After accounting for the workplace, women continue to earn less than comparable men. Although men and women face a more equal pay structure within their workplace than they do across workplaces, a substantial portion of the gender pay gap in both countries remains unexplained by the individual characteristics or workplace effects considered in this study.
Invertebrate population genetics across Earth's largest habitat: The deep‐sea floor

Despite the deep sea being the largest habitat on Earth, there are just 77 population genetic studies of invertebrates (115 species) inhabiting non‐chemosynthetic ecosystems on the deep‐sea floor (below 200 m depth). We review and synthesize the results of these papers. Studies reveal levels of genetic diversity comparable to shallow‐water species. Generally, populations at similar depths were well connected over 100s–1,000s km, but studies that sampled across depth ranges reveal population structure at much smaller scales (100s–1,000s m) consistent with isolation by adaptation across environmental gradients, or the existence of physical barriers to connectivity with depth. Few studies were ocean‐wide (under 4%), and 48% were Atlantic‐focused. There is strong emphasis on megafauna and commercial species with research into meiofauna, “ecosystem engineers” and other ecologically important species lacking. Only nine papers account for ~50% of the planet's surface (depths below 3,500 m). Just two species were studied below 5,000 m, a quarter of Earth's seafloor. Most studies used single‐locus mitochondrial genes revealing a common pattern of non‐neutrality, consistent with demographic instability or selective sweeps; similar to deep‐sea hydrothermal vent fauna. The absence of a clear difference between vent and non‐vent could signify that demographic instability is common in the deep sea, or that selective sweeps render single‐locus mitochondrial studies demographically uninformative. The number of population genetics studies to date is miniscule in relation to the size of the deep sea. The paucity of studies constrains meta‐analyses where broad inferences about deep‐sea ecology could be made.
Resilience through training - assessing cognition in teams

Breakdowns in team cognition are accepted as an explanation for system collapses, especially in complex environments. In the nuclear industry, training for system collapses is a part of the job for control room teams. Such training focus both on improving skills required for recognising and solving disturbances and on improving team processes. This paper presents an approach to team training for nuclear power plant control room teams with the purpose of making the system more resilient by improving debriefing sessions through feedback on shared strategic understanding among team members.
Les manifestations cutanées chez les patients hémodialysés chroniques dans un pays en voie de développement

Le but de cette étude était deconnaître les affections cutanées les plus fréquentes chez les patients hémodialysés chroniques du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Yalgado Ouédraogo (CHU-YO) de Ouagadougou. L’étude, de type transversal descriptif, menée du 15 Septembre au 31 Décembre 2014, s'estdéroulée au CHU-YO. Elle concernait les patients qui avaient au moins trois mois d'ancienneté en hémodialyse chronique. La fréquence des séances d'hémodialyse était d'une tous les cinq jours. Le seuil de signification des tests statistiques était défini pour une probabilité p ≤ 0,05. Quatre-vingt-quinze patients (61,1% d'hommes et 38,9% de femmes), de moyenne d’âge 42,1 ans participaient à l’étude. La durée moyenne en hémodialyse était de 31,9 mois. Le taux de réalisation des analyses biologiques variait de 7,4 à 85,3%. Quatre-vingt patients (85,3%) avaient au moins une manifestation cutanée. La xérose cutanée (67,4%), le prurit (45,3%), et l'hyperpigmentation (23,2%) étaient les plus fréquentes des manifestations cutanées pouvant être spécifiques de l'hémodialyse. L'hypomélanose en gouttes (11,6%), le prurigo (11,6%) et la folliculite (8,4%) étaient les principales manifestations cutanées non spécifiques. L'atteinte cutanée était fréquente mais ne semblait pas liée à l'ancienneté en hémodialyse. Les mauvaises conditions d'hémodialyse et l'environnement sec et chaud à Ouagadougou, ont pu favoriser ces atteintes, en particulier la xérose et le prurit. Une meilleure subvention des soins de santé contribuerait à réduire la prévalence des maladies cutanées et à améliorer la qualité de vie de nos patients hémodialysés chroniques.