Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathological Conditions Causing Organ and Carcass Condemnation and Their Financial Losses in Cattle Slaughtered in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

2 Abstract: A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2011 to April 2012 to identify the major causes of organ and carcass condemnation and to estimate the direct financial losses attributed to the condemned organs and carcasses in cattle slaughtered at Gondar ELFORA abattoir, northwest Ethiopia. Out of the total 1550 randomly selected cattle subjected to antemortem and postmortem examination, 378 (24.4%) and 944 (60.9%) were found to have various types of abnormalities, respectively. From the total organs and carcasses examined, 532(34.23%) livers, 305(19.68%) lungs, 32(2.06%) hearts, 17(1.1%) kidneys, 16(1.03%) heads, 6(0.39%) tongues and 1(0.06%) carcass were totally condemned while 35 (3.22%)carcasses were partially condemned from gross abnormalities as unfit for human consumption. Emaciation (43.9%), nasal discharge (10.58%), branding (16.92%) and lameness (10.05%) were the dominant abnormalities observed during antemortem examination. Major pathological conditions that caused a total condemnation of organs were fasciolosis (48.5%), hydatidosis (17.29%), cirrhosis (15.41%), calcification (7.89%), abscess (6.2%), pneumonia (12.45%), emphysema (10.5%) pericarditis (78.1%), pylonephritis (29.41%), infarcts (23.53%), hydronephrosis (17.65%), cysticercosis (42.85.7%) and wooden tongue (14.3%). Organ and carcass condemnation rates did not show significant difference (P>0.05) among age groups. However, there was a statistical significant difference P<0.05 between body condition groups in organ and carcass condemnation rates. The financial loss due to edible organ and carcass condemnation was estimated to be 21,565,849 Ethiopian Birr (1,268,579 USD) per annum. The current study revealed that fasciolosis and hydatidosis were the major causes for condemnation that lead to huge economic losses. In conclusion, the observation of such a level of abnormalities and substantial financial loss with condemnation of affected organs warrants the institution of appropriate control measures.
Combined Evaluation of Matrix Metalloproteinases and their Inhibitors has Better Clinical Utility in Oral Cancer

Background Oral cancer is a major health hazard worldwide with increasing incidence and mortality. Cervical lymph node metastasis is a major determinant of outcome in oral cancer. The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system is critically involved in invasion and metastasis. Assessment of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) in certain combinations might have better clinical efficacy given their potential role in the metastatic process. Aim Plasma concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in 50 controls and 75 oral cancer patients (nonmetastatic, n=54; metastatic, n=21) were evaluated to assess their investigative value and role in predicting the behavior of this malignancy. Methods The plasma concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were quantified by ELISA. The best 2- and 3-marker combinations were calculated using the statistical software mROC. The diagnostic values for all the biomolecules as single markers and their combinations were estimated using the measures of diagnostic accuracy, i.e. the area under the ROC curve and the sensitivity and specificity at cutoff limits with the highest diagnostic accuracy and at the 95% limits of sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Results MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were significantly elevated (p=0.000, p=0.013 and p=0.005, respectively) in oral cancer patients. MMP-9 emerged as the best single statistically significant marker in plasma for oral cancer detection. It showed an increase in diagnostic performance when tested in combination with MMP-2 and TIMP-2. The median plasma MMP-9 levels were elevated in both the metastatic and nonmetastatic groups compared with controls (p<0.004 and p<0.007, respectively). Conclusion The results indicated that plasma MMP and TIMP levels in relevant combinations may facilitate clinical decision-making for improved management of oral cancer patients and may provide important data for selecting patients for treatment with drugs that interfere with MMP and TIMP activities.
Tetramerization of human guanylate‐binding protein 1 is mediated by coiled‐coil formation of the C‐terminal α‐helices

The human guanylate‐binding protein 1 (hGBP1) is a large GTP‐binding protein belonging to the dynamin family, a common feature of which is nucleotide‐dependent assembly to homotypic oligomers. Assembly leads to stimulation of GTPase activity, which, in the case of dynamin, is responsible for scission of vesicles from membranes. By yeast two‐hybrid and biochemical experiments we addressed intermolecular interactions between all subdomains of hGBP1 and identified the C‐terminal subdomain, α12/13, as a new interaction site for self‐assembly. α12/13 represents a stable subdomain of hGBP1, as shown by CD spectroscopy. In addition to contacts between GTPase domains leading to dimer formation, the interaction between two α12/13 subdomains, in the course of GTP hydrolysis, results in tetramer formation of the protein. With the help of CD spectroscopy we showed coiled‐coil formation of two α12/13 subdomains and concentration‐dependent measurements allow estimating a value for the dissociation constant of 7.3 μm. We suggest GTP hydrolysis‐driven release of the α12/13 subdomain, making it available for coiled‐coil formation. Furthermore, we can demonstrate the biological relevance of hGBP1 tetramer formation in living cells by chemical cross‐link experiments.
Cryptococcal disease in the solid organ transplant setting: review of clinical aspects with a discussion of asymptomatic cryptococcal antigenemia

Purpose of review Cryptococcal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant patients. Here, we review the microbiology, epidemiology, clinical course, treatment, and outcomes of Cryptococcus in solid organ transplant recipients. Recent findings We identify the unique findings in solid organ transplant patients when compared to other immunocompromised patients such as those with HIV. We also describe our experience and outcomes with regard to solid organ transplant patients who do not have positive fungal cultures, but cryptococcal antigen positivity and concern for cryptococcal disease. Summary Our review will highlight the importance of these new diagnostic techniques in those with Cryptococcus and solid organ transplant, which will be the subject of new research.
Strange Haven: A Jewish Childhood in Wartime Shanghai

In the wake of Kristallnacht, November 9, 1938, Sigmund Tobias and his parents made plans to flee a Germany that was becoming increasingly dangerous for them. Like many other European Jews, they faced the impossibility of obtaining visas to enter any other country in Europe or almost anywhere else in the world. One city offered shelter without requiring a visa: the notorious pleasure capital, Shanghai. Seventeen thousand Jewish refugees flocked to Hongkew, a section of Shanghai ruled by the Japanese.Beginning in December 1938 these refugees created an active community that continued to exist through the end of the war and was dissolved by the early 1950s. In this exotic sanctuary, Sigmund Tobias grew from a six-year-old child to an adolescent. Strongly attracted by the discipline and rigor of Talmudic study, Tobias entered the Mirrer Yeshiva, a rabbinical seminary transplanted from the Polish city of Mir. The money and food the 1,200 refugees of the Yeshiva received from the American Jewish community made them a privileged elite within the Shanghai Jewish community.Tobias' own coming-of-age story unfolds within his descriptions of Jewish life in Shanghai. Depleted by disease and hunger, constantly struggling with primitive and crowded conditions, the refugees faced shortages of food, clothing, and medicine that became increasingly severe as the war continued. Tobias observes the under life of Shanghai: the prostitution and black market profiteering, the brutal lives of the Chinese workers, the tensions between Chinese and Japanese during the war, and the paralyzing inflation and the approach of the communist 'liberators' afterward.Sheltered from what was happening in Europe, Tobias recounts the anguish of the refugees when news of the Holocaust finally reached them. Richly detailed, "Strange Haven" opens a little-documented chapter of the Holocaust and provides a fascinating glimpse of life for these foreigners in a foreign land. An epilogue describes the changes Tobias observed when he returned to Shanghai forty years later as a visiting professor.
FOOD SECURITY STATUS IN NIGERIA: PRE AND POST ECONOMIC DEREGULATION REVIEW

Hitherto, the Nigerian economy was highly regulated. By 1986 however, there was a transition to deregulation as the dominant economic philosophy with far reaching effects on the economy and the well being of the people. This paper reviews the effects of this shift in economic philosophy on one aspect of human well being, namely, food security using trend examination and descriptive methods. The paper submitted that while food supplies improved considerably after deregulation especially in the immediate post deregulation period, the ability of the citizens to access this food deteriorated significantly and the food security position worsened. Appropriate suggestions were consequently
Numerical study of the two-dimensional Hubbard model.

We report on a numerical study of the two-dimensional Hubbard model and describe two new algorithms for the simulation of many-electron systems. These algorithms allow one to carry out simulations within the grand canonical ensemble at significantly lower temperatures than had previously been obtained and to calculate ground-state properties with fixed numbers of electrons. We present results for the two-dimensional Hubbard model with half- and quarter-filled bands. Our results support the existence of long-range antiferromagnetic order in the ground state at half-filling and its absence at quarter-filling. Results for the magnetic susceptibility and the momentum occupation along with an upper bound to the spin-wave spectrum are given. We find evidence for an attractive effective /ital d/-wave pairing interaction near half-filling but have not found evidence for a phase transition to a superconducting state.
Aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular events in a general population screened for a low ankle brachial index: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT A low ankle brachial index (ABI) indicates atherosclerosis and an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Screening for a low ABI can identify an asymptomatic higher risk group potentially amenable to preventive treatments. OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of aspirin in preventing events in people with a low ABI identified on screening the general population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Aspirin for Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis trial was an intention-to-treat double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted from April 1998 to October 2008, involving 28,980 men and women aged 50 to 75 years living in central Scotland, free of clinical cardiovascular disease, recruited from a community health registry, and had an ABI screening test. Of those, 3350 with a low ABI (< or = 0.95) were entered into the trial, which was powered to detect a 25% proportional risk reduction in events. INTERVENTIONS Once daily 100 mg aspirin (enteric coated) or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary end point was a composite of initial fatal or nonfatal coronary event or stroke or revascularization. Two secondary end points were (1) all initial vascular events defined as a composite of a primary end point event or angina, intermittent claudication, or transient ischemic attack; and (2) all-cause mortality. RESULTS After a mean (SD) follow-up of 8.2 (1.6) years, 357 participants had a primary end point event (13.5 per 1000 person-years, 95% confidence interval [CI], 12.2-15.0). No statistically significant difference was found between groups (13.7 events per 1000 person-years in the aspirin group vs 13.3 in the placebo group; hazard ratio [HR], 1.03; 95% CI, 0.84-1.27). A vascular event comprising the secondary end point occurred in 578 participants (22.8 per 1000 person-years; 95% CI, 21.0-24.8) and no statistically significant difference between groups (22.8 events per 1000 person-years in the aspirin group vs 22.9 in the placebo group; HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.85-1.17). There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between groups (176 vs 186 deaths, respectively; HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.77-1.16). An initial event of major hemorrhage requiring admission to hospital occurred in 34 participants (2.5 per 1000 person-years) in the aspirin group and 20 (1.5 per 1000 person-years) in the placebo group (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 0.99-2.97). CONCLUSION Among participants without clinical cardiovascular disease, identified with a low ABI based on screening a general population, the administration of aspirin compared with placebo did not result in a significant reduction in vascular events. TRIAL REGISTRATION isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN66587262.
Characterization of Bacterium Isolated from the Sediment at Coastal Area of Omura Bay in Japan and Several Biological Activities of Pigment Produced by This Isolate

Recently we discovered a bacterial strain (MS‐02–063) that produces large amounts of red pigment from coastal area of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Comparative 16S rDNA gene sequencing analysis revealed that strain MS‐02–063 was phylogenetically closely related to γ‐proteobacterium Hahella sp. MBIC 3957 that produces prodigiosin. However, some physiological and biochemical differences between strain MS‐02–063 and Hahella sp. MBIC 3957 were observed. The red pigment (RP‐063) produced by this isolate was highly purified from the culture supernatant. It was speculated that RP‐063 might be prodigiosin‐like pigment in physical properties and biological activities such as antibacterial and cytotoxic activity. Antibacterial activity of RP‐063 was examined by an agar dilution method. The results indicated that RP‐063 showed antibacterial activity for specific for pathogenic gram‐positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. The potency of antibacterial activity against S. aureus was nearly equal to those of tetracycline. Moreover, RP‐063 showed inhibition of the superoxide generation by 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA)‐stimulated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line. Prodigiosin members have a wide variety of biological properties, including anticancer and antimalarial, etc. Especially, potent immunosuppressive properties have been reported for prodigiosin members with the mechanism of action different from that of the other well known immunosuppressors in atopic dermatitis therapy such as cyclosporin A, FK506 and rapamycin. It is suggested that RP‐063 may be able to arrest the inflammation caused by superantigens secreted from S. aureus, which colonized skin on atopic dermatitis as well as suppression of activated lymphocyte proliferation and superoxide generation from leucocytes.
Inactivation of the srtA gene in Listeria monocytogenes inhibits anchoring of surface proteins and affects virulence

During infection of their hosts, Gram‐positive bac‐teria express surface proteins that serve multiple biological functions. Surface proteins harbouring a C‐terminal sorting signal with an LPXTG motif are covalently linked to the cell wall peptidoglycan by a transamidase named sortase. Two genes encoding putative sortases, termed srtA and srtB, were identified in the genome of the intracellular pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Inactivation of srtA abolishes anchoring of the invasion protein InlA to the bacterial surface. It also prevents the proper sorting of several other peptidoglycan‐associated LPXTG proteins. Three were identified by a mass spectrometry approach. The ΔsrtA mutant strain is defective in entering epithelial cells, similar to a ΔinlA mutant. In contrast to a ΔinlA mutant, the ΔsrtA mutant is impaired for colonization of the liver and spleen after oral inoculation in mice. Thus, L. monocytogenes srtA is required for the cell wall anchoring of InlA and, presumably, for the anchoring of other LPXTG‐containing proteins that are involved in listerial infections.
Muscle-driven tentacle animation

Tentacles are dexterous appendages that are often illustrated in comics and animated in movies; most famously in the tentacled beard of Davy Jones in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Each tentacle in Davy Jones's beard was animated by an articulated rigid skeleton [Criswell et al. 2006]. Real-world tentacles, however, do not have the luxury of an internal skeleton, and instead must generate movement solely with muscle tissue. Such "muscular hydrostats" use tissue incompressibility (muscle tissue is largely composed of incompressible fluid) as the mechanical support required to exert movement. For example, tentacle lengthening is achieved by the contraction of muscle fibers that are perpendicular to the elongation direction. This inward squeezing reduces a tentacle's circumference and increases its length to maintain overall tissue volume. The internal deformations needed to generate movement provide a visible set of secondary movements that enhance the lifelike nature of tentacles and are not captured by rigid tentacle simulation. Recent work has demonstrated muscle-driven animations of soft-bodies [Tan et al. 2012], here we extend this approach for anatomically-based models of tentacles that include helical muscle fibers for twisting movements. Animated with keyframe motion targets prescribed by an animator, the resulting simulations generate lifelike secondary tentacle deformations.
Introducing design skills at the freshman level: structured design experience

Development of design skills in engineering students at United Arab Emirates University is achieved using an integrated learning approach which consists of structured, guided, and open-ended design experiences. This paper presents a description of the structured design experience in terms of main objectives, implementation mechanisms, and assessed outcomes as applied to freshman laboratory courses in the College of Engineering. These courses are developed to introduce structured design experience through step-by-step, hands-on procedures which guide students to complete particular learning assignments. The coursework spans a wide range of typical engineering practice, such as measurement, calibration, error and tolerance determination, data acquisition, and control. Finally, the course assessment mechanism is presented as a means of ensuring the successful achievement of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology educational outcomes
Prognost ic Value of the Human Kal l ikre in Gene 15 Express ion in Ovar ian Cancer

Purpose: KLK15 is a newly cloned human kallikrein gene. Many kallikreins were found to be differentially expressed in ovarian cancer. Like other kallikreins, KLK15 is regulated by steroid hormones in cancer cell lines. KLK15 is upregulated mainly by androgens and to a lesser extent by progestins. The purpose of this study was to examine the prognostic value of KLK15 in ovarian cancer tissues. Materials and Methods: We studied KLK15 expression by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 168 consecutive patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Ten patients with benign ovarian tumors were also included in the study. An optimal cutoff point equal to the 50th percentile was defined based on the ability of KLK15 to predict progression-free survival and overall survival of the study population. Results: KLK15 expression levels were significantly higher in cancerous tissues compared with benign tumors. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that KLK15 overexpression is a significant predictor of reduced progressionfree survival (PFS; P < .001) and overall survival (OS; P < .009). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicate that KLK15 is an independent prognostic factor for PFS and OS. A weak positive correlation was found between KLK15 expression and serum CA-125 levels. Conclusion: KLK15 expression, as assessed by quantitative RT-PCR, is an independent marker of unfavorable prognosis for ovarian cancer. J Clin Oncol 21:3119-3126. © 2003 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.
A cellular paradigm for the failure to increase vascular endothelial growth factor in chronically hypoxic states.

BACKGROUND Angiogenesis, or new blood vessel formation, is the physiological adaptation of a tissue to hypoxia or ischemia. However, this compensatory response to hypoxic stress in vivo is often insufficient. In many of the conditions in which the angiogenic response to tissue hypoxia is insufficient, such as chronic critical limb ischemia or myocardial hibernation, the hypoxic stress is chronic and persistent, lasting for days or even months. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro to be the principal mediator of hypoxia-induced angiogenesis. We propose that the lack of compensatory angiogenesis in response to tissue hypoxia in many clinical syndromes characterized by chronic hypoxia is due to a failure to induce VEGF appropriately. METHODS AND RESULTS Heart or liver cells were grown under conditions of chronic hypoxia, returned to a normoxic environment, and then rechallenged with hypoxia. We found that the hypoxic induction of VEGF mRNA was markedly blunted using this algorithm. Furthermore, transient transfection studies using the VEGF promoter containing an oxygen-responsive enhancer element failed to show induction in cells pretreated by subjection to chronic hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS Hypoxic pretreatment results in a blunting of the ability of a cell to induce VEGF in response to subsequent episodes of hypoxia. This may provide a rationale for the inadequate amount of compensatory angiogenesis seen in many chronic ischemic disorders.
Role of Self-Esteem in the Relationship between Stress and Ingratiation

The relations among self-esteem, stress, and ingratiatory behaviors in the workplace were examined. Competing models for moderating and mediating effects of self-esteem on the relationship between stress and ingratiation were presented. Data from a sample of 136 employees at a state lottery organization were used to test the competing models. Support was found for the full mediation model, wherein self-esteem completely mediated the relationship between stress and ingratiation.
The effects of nebulised isotonic saline and terbutaline on breathlessness in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

BACKGROUND There is anecdotal evidence that nebulised saline relieves breathlessness at rest in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is unclear whether nebulised beta agonists are any more effective than nebulised saline in relieving breathlessness at rest in these individuals. AIM To compare the effects of nebulised saline and nebulised terbutaline on breathlessness at rest in patients with severe COPD. METHODS We studied 18 patients with severe COPD with a mean age of 71.1 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of 0.58 L and vital capacity (VC) of 1.59 L, in a randomised, double-blind, crossover trial. The subjects received three doses of nebulised saline on one study day, and three doses of nebulised terbutaline (cumulative dose 10 mg) on the other. Breathlessness was measured using Likert and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). RESULTS Both treatments led to a significant improvement in breathlessness on VAS and Likert scales but there was no significant difference in breathlessness scores for saline compared with terbutaline. There was a small but significant increase in FEV1 with terbutaline of 74 mL, but no change with saline. CONCLUSIONS A saline aerosol has no effect on lung function but reduces breathlessness at rest in subjects with severe COPD. Nebulised saline may be considered as an adjunct to the use of nebulised bronchodilators for the treatment of breathlessness in patients with COPD.