Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genomic Diversity of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni Isolates Recovered from Free-Range Broiler Farms and Comparison with Isolates of Various Origins

ABSTRACT In many industrialized countries, the incidence of campylobacteriosis exceeds that of salmonellosis. Campylobacter bacteria are transmitted to humans mainly in food, especially poultry meat products. Total prevention of Campylobacter colonization in broiler flocks is the best way to reduce (or eliminate) the contamination of poultry products. The aim of this study was to establish the sources and routes of contamination of broilers at the farm level. Molecular typing methods (DNA macrorestriction pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and analysis of gene polymorphism by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism) were used to characterize isolates collected from seven broiler farms. The relative genomic diversity of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni was determined. Analysis of the similarity among 116 defined genotypes was used to determine clusters within the two species. Furthermore, evidence of recombination suggested that there were genomic rearrangements within the Campylobacter populations. Recovery of related clusters from different broiler farms showed that some Campylobacter strains might be specifically adapted to poultry. Analysis of the Campylobacter cluster distribution on three broiler farms showed that soil in the area around the poultry house was a potential source of Campylobacter contamination. The broilers were infected by Campylobacter spp. between days 15 and 36 during rearing, and the type of contamination changed during the rearing period. A study of the effect of sanitary barriers showed that the chickens stayed Campylobacter spp. free until they had access to the open area. They were then rapidly colonized by the Campylobacter strains isolated from the soil.
Effect of aging on serum gonadotropin levels in healthy subjects and patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas.

OBJECTIVE Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA), which represent about one-quarter of human pituitary tumors, occur in middle or old age. Determination of gonadotropin levels, which are not expected to be high during the early postmenopause in normal women and which are low in women with NFPA, is important to distinguishing hypogonadal status due to the normal decline of gonadal function from that due to hypothlalamic-pituitary dysfunction. The aim of the study was to verify whether this difference still persists in old subjects, despite the physiological decline of gonadotropins in the last decades of life. DESIGN AND METHODS The study included 154 healthy subjects (aged 50-104 years) and 47 patients with NFPA (aged 50-80 years). Blood samples were collected after an overnight fast and hormone levels were measured by two immunofluorimetric assays. RESULTS In healthy women the highest serum levels of gonadotropins were present in the 50-60 year age group, with a slight but progressive age-associated decrease in serum FSH and LH being observed thereafter. In healthy men serum gonadotropin levels were stable up to 70 years, increased up to 75-85 years and thereafter gradually decreasing. Female patients with NFPA showed levels of gonadotropins which were far lower than controls. Only three patients had levels of both FSH and LH above the 2.5 centile for normal subjects. A high sensitivity and specificity of gonadotropin measurements (about 90%) for the diagnosis of NFPA was observed in female patients aged 50-80 years. In male subjects, a large overlap of gonadotropin values in NFPA and controls, namely over the 50-70 years age range, was observed. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that despite the gradual decline of gonadotropin levels in healthy postmenopsausal women, the reduction of both FSH and LH persists in old patients with NFPA, suggesting that measurement of gonadotropin levels could prove useful in the evaluation of pituitary lesions even in old women. More subtle differences seem to occur in male subjects.
Pupillary Attributions of College Students to Happy and Angry Faces

As evidence for an hypothesis that pupil size plays an important role in nonverbal communication, Hess (1975) has reported that adults draw in appropriately sized pupils on his happy and angry faces task. However, he did not report a statistical test of his data. In this study, we replicated Hess' research and found congruent with his hypothesis that college students (n = 223) draw in significantly larger pupils on the happy face.
Fibre-Optic Chemical Sensor Approaches Based on Nanoassembled Thin Films: A Challenge to Future Sensor Technology

Optical phenomena have been employed extensively by human civilization throughout the centuries for lighting, communication, calculations, observations, etc. and have played a crucial role in industrial development. The applications of the optics increased significantly after the first demonstration of the light guiding phenomenon based on total internal reflection in the 1840s, which was the precursor for the development of modern optical fibres. In modern life, optical fibres found their niche in telecommunications and, more recently, as sensors.
Ultrasound‐enhanced latex immunoagglutination test (USELAT) for detection of capsular polysaccharide antigen of Neisseria meningitidis from CSF and plasma

Aim: An ultrasonic instrument, the Immunosonic, was used to evaluate ultrasound‐enhanced latex immunoagglutination testing (USELAT) for detection and serogroup determination of Neisseria meningitidis in clinical specimens. Methods: Eighty‐two CSF and EDTA blood specimens from patients with suspected meningococcal disease (MD) were tested by USELAT. Results were compared with routine laboratory tests for confirmation of MD and discrepant results were resolved by analysis of further laboratory and clinical data. Results: Using the Wellcogen Bacterial Antigen Kit, USELAT was positive in 20 (24%) specimens. The resolved sensitivity of USELAT was 49% compared with 67% for PCR. There were no discrepancies between serogroups indicated by USELAT and serogroups confirmed by PCR or culture grouping. Conclusions: Although USELAT could be performed in laboratories without facilities for PCR testing, a specific ultrasonic instrument is necessary and some experience is required in interpreting results. The lower resolved sensitivity makes USELAT unsuitable as a stand‐alone rapid test, and it added little value to standard laboratory culture with PCR testing.
The effect of time of day on hypnotizability: a brief communication.

Abstract Hypnotizability has been shown to be very stable for long periods of time in a person's adult life when no attempts at modification are made (Morgan, Johnson, & Hilgard, 1974). Even though it can be improved by several different means, attempts to modify individual hypnotizability may only allow people to reach a “plateau” level of hypnotizability that is predetermined for each person. The present experiment addressed the question of whether hypnotizability like body temperature, reflex response intensity, and performance on various mental and motor tasks, fluctuates in a circadian rhythm. The Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A) of Shor and E. Orne (1962) was used to test compliance with hypnotic suggestions among several large groups of Ss at different hours of the day. A plot of the mean HGSHS:A scores obtained at each time of day showed a bimodal distribution, with the highest mean score significantly different from 2 of the 3 minima. Although the second peak did n.
Skin conductance responses in Huntington's chorea progeny.

To test the assumption that limbic dysfunctioning in Huntington's Chorea (HC) would be reflected in abnormal skin conductance responses, 25 patients were examined.Only 2 of these patient showed normal skin conductance response. A further sample of 52 first generation, asymptomatic offspring of diagnosed HC patentes were tested. Seventeen of the at-risk subject were non-responders compared with 2 non-responders in the control sample of 26 subjects. The finding could be interpreted to favor the hypothesis that the presence of the pathogenic gene is correlated with electrodermal non-responding.
Analysis and Modeling of the Glitch Error in Current-Steering D/A Converter

For a high-speed and high-resolution current-steering D/A Converter (DAC), Spurious-Free dynamic range (SFDR) becomes a major limiting factor for its performance. This paper gives an overall analysis of its dynamic error due to non-ideal switching behavior and identifies the link between the 3rd or higher order harmonic distortion and digital encoding scheme for the first time so far as our knowledge. A behavioral model of non-ideal current-steering DAC is developed to estimate its SFDR property. A 12-bit up to 1GS/s transistor-level circuit of current-steering DAC is designed using 0.18 um CMOS Mixed-Signal process. The simulation result demonstrates the validation of the established behavior model.
Further studies on the growth of herpes simplex virus in the egg-white-replaced one-day egg.

The previous report from this laboratory (Yoshino, 1956) revealed that the 1-day old hen's egg was capable of supporting growth of herpes simplex virus. Later, it was found that the 1-day egg was also susceptible to rabies (Yoshino, Kuma, Kondo and Kitaoka, 1956), vaccinia (Oya, 1956), variola (Oya, 1956), Japanese B encephalitis (Matumoto, 1957), and Rift Valley fever viruses (Matumoto, personal communication). An interesting observation common to all these cases was that a few infectious units as measured in other susceptible hosts could initiate an infection in the 1-day egg and that the quantity of virus yielded per egg was as high as, or in some cases even higher than, usually obtained in older eggs. In the above-cited experiments with herpes virus, egg-white of infected eggs was replaced with saline and a considerable amount of virus appeared in the saline portion over a couple of weeks following infection. The egg-white re-
Serial Position Effects in Recall of Television Commercials

Does the position of a television commercial in a block of commercials determine how well it will be recalled? The findings of naturalistic studies can be affected by uncontrolled presentation, viewing, and retention variables. In the present article, college students viewed lists of 15 commercials in a laboratory simulation and recalled the product brand names. In an immediate test, the first commercials in a list were well recalled (a primacy effect), as were the last items (a recency effect), in comparison with the recall of middle items. In an end-of-session test, the primacy effect persisted, but the recency effect disappeared. Embedding lists within a television program again produced better recall of the first items during end-of-session tests of recall and recognition. These results offered convergent validity for the naturalistic studies of commercial memory, and they supported the usefulness of combining laboratory and field methods to answer questions about everyday memory.
Prediction of meningioma consistency using fractional anisotropy value measured by magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECT Preoperative planning for meningiomas requires information about tumor consistency as well as location and size. In the present study the authors aimed to determine whether the fractional anisotropy (FA) value calculated on the basis of preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion tensor (DT) imaging could predict meningioma consistency. METHODS In 29 patients with intracranial meningiomas, MR DT imaging was performed preoperatively, and the FA values of the tumors were calculated. Tumor consistency was intraoperatively determined as hard or soft, and the histological diagnosis of the tumor was established. RESULTS Of the 29 tumors, 11 were classified as hard and 18 as soft. The FA values of fibroblastic meningiomas were significantly higher than those of meningothelial meningiomas (p = 0.002). The FA values of hard tumors were significantly higher than those of soft tumors (p = 0.0003). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the FA value was a significant independent predictor of tumor consistency (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS The FA value calculated from preoperative MR DT imaging predicts meningioma consistency.
Oral contraceptive use has no adverse effect on the prognosis of breast cancer

This study evaluates the possible effect of OC use on the prognosis of established breast cancer. Three hundred forty‐seven patients with primary invasive breast carcinoma age 50 and under treated from 1971 to 1981 are included in this study. There were 112 OC Users (U) and 235 Non‐Users (NU). Separate retrospective analysis were done for a group of 154 patients (59 U and 95 NU) under age 35 (Group A) and for 193 patients (53 U and 140 NU) age 35 to 50 (Group B), in order to pay particular attention to relationship of duration, recency and latency of OC usage. Both subsets of U and NU presented similar clinical characteristics regarding menstrual, reproductive, family history, histology, receptor status. Users presented with a similar extent of disease as Non‐Users. No significant differences were found between U and NU in disease‐free interval (Gr A p = .41; Gr B p = .81), metastatic period (Gr A p = .66; Gr B p = .41) or survival (Gr A p = .54; Gr B p = .79), either alone or when adjusted for extent of node involvement. Users of less than two years (78 patients) had a similar survival (Gr A = .54; Gr B p = .36) as those of longer duration (33 patients). Recent OC users within a year of diagnosis had a similar survival as other users who stopped the pills more than one year (Gr A p = .86; Gr B p = .14). No significant differences were noticed in survival between the patients who began the use 10 years or more before diagnosis from those beginning more recently (Gr A p = .82; Gr B p = .69). Our data suggests no adverse effect of OC on the outcome of breast cancer, regardless the duration of use, latency or recency period.
Binding of spermine and ifenprodil to a purified, soluble regulatory domain of the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor

The binding of spermine and ifenprodil to the amino terminal regulatory (R) domain of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor was studied using purified regulatory domains of the NR1, NR2A and NR2B subunits, termed NR1‐R, NR2A‐R and NR2B‐R. The R domains were over‐expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to near homogeneity. The Kd values for binding of [14C]spermine to NR1‐R, NR2A‐R and NR2B‐R were 19, 140, and 33 μM, respectively. [3H]Ifenprodil bound to NR1‐R (Kd, 0.18 μM) and NR2B‐R (Kd, 0.21 μM), but not to NR2A‐R at the concentrations tested (0.1–0.8 μM). These Kd values were confirmed by circular dichroism measurements. The Kd values reflected their effective concentrations at intact NR1/NR2A and NR1/NR2B receptors. The results suggest that effects of spermine and ifenprodil on NMDA receptors occur through binding to the regulatory domains of the NR1, NR2A and NR2B subunits. The binding capacity of spermine or ifenprodil to a mixture of NR1‐R and NR2A‐R or NR1‐R and NR2B‐R was additive with that of each individual R domain. Binding of spermine to NR1‐R and NR2B‐R was not inhibited by ifenprodil and vice versa, indicating that the binding sites for spermine and ifenprodil on NR1‐R and NR2B‐R are distinct.
Regulatory effects of T cell lymphokines on cytokine gene expression in monocytes.

Hematopoiesis is regulated by colony-stimulating factors (CSF) and many other cytokines. T helper cell and monocyte/macrophage interactions that take place in the immune response, resulting in the production of many cytokines, probably can influence inducible hematopoiesis. We investigated the effect of the T helper cell-derived lymphokines IL-2, IL-3, GM-CSF, and IFN-gamma, on the expression of cytokine genes in monocytes and compared this to LPS-induced cytokine gene expression in monocytes. To avoid inadvertent activation of monocytes, cells were purified by elutriation and cultured under serum-free, LPS-free, and nonadherent conditions. Similar to LPS, IL-2, IL-3, and GM-CSF induced the expression of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and IL-1-RA genes in monocytes, but with some differences in the amount and kinetics of cytokine mRNA accumulation. Unlike LPS, IL-2, IL-3, and GM-CSF did not induce G-CSF and GM-CSF gene expression in monocytes. GM-CSF and IL-3 were the only inducers capable of expressing the M-CSF gene in monocytes. IL-2, IL-3, and GM-CSF showed no effect on the IL-10 gene while IFN-gamma appeared to have no effect on any of the cytokine genes studied in monocytes. These data indicate that in the immune response expression of the proinflammatory cytokine genes, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha, can occur and that autoregulatory control mechanisms, like the expression of IL-1-RA gene, are also activated. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pilot study of a fall risk management program for middle aged and older adults with MS.

OBJECTIVE To present the outcomes of a pilot study of "Safe at Home BAASE", a fall risk management program designed for middle-aged and older adults with multiple sclerosis. METHODS Thirty people with multiple sclerosis (mean age = 56.7 +/- 7.4) started the manualized program that was delivered by an occupational therapist over six-two hour sessions. A pre/post intervention design with a set of 6 outcome tools was used to evaluate the extent to which the program increased knowledge of fall risk factors, increased knowledge and skills to manage falls and falls risk, and promoted changes in behavior to reduce personal fall risk. RESULTS Significant improvements were observed across all tools for participants attending > or = 5:6 program sessions as well as participants attending < or = 4 sessions, although some instruments exhibited poor internal consistency in this sample. Participants reported knowledge gains and using new fall prevention and management strategies after attending the program. CONCLUSION "Safe at Home BAASE" appears to have potential to foster changes in knowledge, skills and behavior associated with reduced personal fall risk. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Findings suggest that additional research is needed on fall-related assessment tools for this population before a large scale controlled investigation of the intervention can be pursued.
Investigation of the induction of antibodies against Crandell-Rees feline kidney cell lysates and feline renal cell lysates after parenteral administration of vaccines against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia in cats.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether administration of Crandell-Rees feline kidney (CRFK) cell lysates or vaccines against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (FVRCP vaccines) that likely contain CRFK cell proteins induces antibodies against CRFK cell or feline renal cell (FRC) lysates in cats. ANIMALS 14 eight-week-old cats. PROCEDURE Before and after the study, renal biopsy specimens were obtained from each cat for histologic evaluation. Each of 4 FVRCP vaccines was administered to 2 cats at weeks 0, 3, 6, and 50. Between weeks 0 and 50, another 3 pairs of cats received 11 CRFK cell lysate inoculations SC (10, 50, or 50 microg mixed with alum). Clinicopathologic evaluations and ELISAs to detect serum antibodies against CRFK cell or FRC lysates were performed at intervals. RESULTS Cats had no antibodies against CRFK cell or FRC lysates initially. All cats administered CRFK cell lysate had detectable antibodies against CRFK cell or FRC lysates on multiple occasions. Of 6 cats vaccinated parenterally, 5 had detectable antibodies against CRFK cell lysate at least once, but all 6 had detectable antibodies against FRC lysate on multiple occasions. Cats administered an intranasal-intraocular vaccine did not develop detectable antibodies against either lysate. Important clinicopathologic or histologic abnormalities were not detected during the study. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Parenteral administration of vaccines containing viruses likely grown on CRFK cells induced antibodies against CRFK cell and FRC lysates in cats. Hypersensitization with CRFK cell proteins did not result in renal disease in cats during the 56-week study.
Analysis of bacterial contamination in fresh and finished meat products and their molecular identification

Fresh and packaged food safety, especially of meat products has become a major issue because of microbial contamination. In the present study, an attempt has been made to isolate bacteria from fresh and packaged meat products from various sources and locations. The isolated bacterial samples were identified by Phenotypic, biochemical and molecular characterization. The veracity of the contamination does not depend only on the microbial quality but also on the physical factors such as handling of the meat products. The findings suggest that, to maintain the safety norms there is more need of new and advanced handling methods which would avoid bacterial cross contaminations in meat and meat products. Although less contamination was found in finished products, it also needs to be sterilized with bacterial resistant packaging.
Systematic review of power mobility outcomes for infants, children and adolescents with mobility limitations

Objective: To summarize and critically appraise the evidence related to power mobility use in children (18 years or younger) with mobility limitations. Data sources: Searches were performed in 12 electronic databases along with hand searching for articles published in English to September 2012 and updated February 2014. Review methods: The search was restricted to quantitative studies including at least one child with a mobility limitation and measuring an outcome related to power mobility device use. Articles were appraised using American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) criteria for group and single-subject designs. The PRISMA statement was followed with inclusion criteria set a priori. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles. AACPDM quality ratings were completed for levels I-III studies. Results: Of 259 titles, 29 articles met inclusion criteria, describing 28 primary research studies. One study, rated as strong level II evidence, supported positive impact of power mobility on overall development as well as independent mobility. Another study, rated as moderate level III evidence, supported positive impact on self-initiated movement. Remaining studies, rated evidence levels IV and V, provided support for a positive impact on a broad range of outcomes from to International Classification of Functioning (ICF) components of body structure and function, activity and participation. Some studies suggest that environmental factors may be influential in successful power mobility use and skill development. Conclusion: The body of evidence supporting outcomes for children using power mobility is primarily descriptive rather than experimental in nature, suggesting research in this area is in its infancy.
A genetic study of facial clefting in Northern England

A family study is reported of 500 facial cleft index cases, attendees for plastic surgery review at hospitals in northern England. Cases displaying malformation syndromes (29 cases, 5.8% of series) were excluded from analysis, after which CL ± P and CP pedigree data were examined for evidence of polygenic inheritance. The frequencies of affected among parents, aunts and uncles, and first cousins of 324 CL ± P index cases are respectively 21, 6 and 4 times the population incidence. The sex ratio among index cases increases with severity of defect. Both of these findings are in good agreement with the polygenic mode of inheritance favored for this condition. The frequencies of affected among parents, aunts and uncles, and first cousins of 147 CP index cases are respectively 30, 5, and 9 times the population incidence. Since syndrome‐associated clefts have been excluded from analysis, this elevated incidence in first cousins favors the suggestion that multiple genetic forms of CP may exist.