Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A solvent‐based fixative for electron microscopy to improve retention and visualization of the intestinal mucus blanket for probiotics studies

Samples of pig small intestine, cecum, and large intestine were prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), concentrating on mucus blanket retention and visualization. Samples were fixed using three aqueous‐based fixatives which included a standard glutaraldehyde fixative alone as the control and the standard fixative formulation with either ruthenium red or alcian blue added and using one solvent‐based fixative, osmium tetroxide dissolved in FC‐72 (a degreasing fluorocarbon solvent produced by 3M Canada, Inc.), which had been successfully used by Sims et al. [(1991) Biotech. Histochem. , 66:173–180] to preserve tracheal mucus of nonhuman mammals. Pig intestine samples prepared using the solvent‐based fixative retained a contiguous mucus blanket, while the aqueous‐based treatments retained only patchy or fibrous remnants to a degree depending on fixative composition and intestinal site. We conclude that preparation of the pig intestinal mucus layer using the solvent‐based fixative suggested by Sims et al. (1991) preserves the mucus blanket in its entirety and gives superior results to aqueous‐based fixatives containing the standard additives ruthenium red and alcian blue. We recommend that this anhydrous fixation, which requires only a slight modification from standard conditions, be adopted when mucus layer retention and visualization is important, as in the field of probiotics. Overcoming this major technical obstacle will now allow electron microscopy (EM) to once again provide new in situ information in this reemerging field. Microsc. Res. Tech. 36:390–399, 1997. Published 1997 by Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Effect of Genital Tract Infections on HIV-1 Shedding in the Genital Tract: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This article reviews the effect of genital tract infections and associated clinical conditions on the detection and concentration of HIV-1 shedding in the genital tract. A search of the PubMed, Embase, and AIDSearch databases was conducted. Meta-analysis was performed on those studies that reported the effect of genital tract infections on the detection of HIV-1 shedding. Thirty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The odds of HIV-1 detection in the genital tract were increased most substantially by urethritis (OR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.1–8.6) and cervicitis (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4–5.2). The odds of HIV-1 detection were also increased significantly in the presence of cervical discharge or mucopus (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2–2.7), gonorrhoea (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2–2.7), chlamydial infection (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.1), and vulvovaginal candidiasis (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3–2.4). Other infections and clinical conditions were found to have no significant effect on the detection of HIV-1, although HSV-2 shedding was found to increase the concentration of HIV-1 shedding, and genital ulcer disease was found to increase the odds of HIV-1 detection significantly after excluding one biased study (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2–4.9). This analysis shows that infections that are associated with significant increases in leukocyte concentrations in the genital tract are also associated with significant increases in HIV-1 shedding. These infections are likely to be particularly important in promoting the sexual transmission and mother-to-child intrapartum transmission of HIV-1, and should therefore be the focus of HIV prevention strategies.
Screening a novel class of anticoagulants for multi-organ toxicity using Fischer 344 rats: involvement of clinical and anatomic pathologists in the early drug development process.

BACKGROUND Veterinary clinical and anatomic pathologists play a critical role in assessing the safety of new molecules. The process for evaluation of candidate molecules in drug discovery may vary markedly, depending on the unique characteristics of the compound class. OBJECTIVES The goal of this report is to describe the evaluation process for assessing the potential toxicity of 2 anticoagulant compounds that were representative of molecules tested in early screening studies in Fisher rats, and to use these studies as an example of the strategic approach used by veterinary pathologists in pharmaceutical safety assessment. METHODS Groups of 3 rats were given vehicle alone or one of several doses of compound A or B by oral gavage daily for 4 consecutive days. Survival; clinical signs; body and organ weight measurements; hematologic, coagulation, and clinical biochemical testing; and gross and histologic findings at necropsy were assessed. Transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize unique findings in the liver of rats treated with compound B. RESULTS Both compounds caused dose-dependent prolongation of the prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin clotting time (TCT). Hepatobiliary and intestinal toxicity were identified by alterations in serum chemistry data, and by histopathologic findings. Electron microscopy and tissue inorganic phosphorus analysis revealed phospholipidosis in rats treated with compound B. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacologically mediated or "on target" effects for these molecules were characterized by dose-progressive prolongation of the PT, APTT, and TCT. Nonpharmacologically mediated or "off-target" toxicity consisted of hepatoxicity and enterotoxicity. These liabilities required that scientists alter the original molecular scaffold to reach the desired therapeutic target and minimize toxicity.
Psychometric properties of the hearing handicap questionnaire: a Kannada (South-Indian) translation

Abstract Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the Hearing Handicap Questionnaire (HHQ) in Kannada (a South-Indian language) among adults with hearing loss. Design: The study involved a cross-sectional survey design. Participants provided demographic details and completed the Kannada and English (original) version of the HHQ questionnaire. To evaluate test-retest reliability, ∼50% of the participants completed the Kannada version for the second time after 15 days. Study sample: The sample comprised 103 adults with hearing loss recruited from local audiology clinics. Results: Exploratory factor analysis indicated a one-factor structure, which explained 71% of the variance in Kannada-HHQ scores. The internal consistency measured with Cronbach’s alpha was 0.96. The test-retest reliability correlations of the Kannada version with the English and with the same Kannada version re-administered after 15 days were 0.96 and 0.91, respectively. Convergent validity of the scale was confirmed by significant correlations with the Participation Scale and the Assessment of Quality of Life scales. Discriminant validity was found to be low as all the Kannada-HHQ questions were highly correlated with each other (r> 0.60). No floor and ceiling effects were identified. Conclusions: The psychometric properties of the Kannada-HHQ scale are considered to be adequate for clinical or research use.
Effects of 2,4-Dichlorophenol, a Metabolite of a Genetically Engineered Bacterium, and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetate on Some Microorganism-Mediated Ecological Processes in Soil

A genetically engineered microorganism, Pseudomonas putida PPO301(pRO103), and the plasmidless parent strain, PPO301, were added at approximately 107 CFU/g of soil amended with 500 ppm of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D) (500 μg/g). The degradation of 2,4-D and the accumulation of a single metabolite, identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry as 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), occurred only in soil inoculated with PPO301(pRO103), wherein 2,4-DCP accumulated to >70 ppm for 5 weeks and the concentration of 2,4-D was reduced to <100 ppm. Coincident with the accumulation of 2,4-DCP was a >400-fold decline in the numbers of fungal propagules and a marked reduction in the rate of CO2 evolution, whereas 2,4-D did not depress either fungal propagules or respiration of the soil microbiota. 2,4-DCP did not appear to depress the numbers of total heterotrophic, sporeforming, or chitin-utilizing bacteria. In vitro and in situ assays conducted with 2,4-DCP and fungal isolates from the soil demonstrated that 2,4-DCP was toxic to fungal propagules at concentrations below those detected in the soil.
Thyroid function within the normal range and the risk of depression: a population-based cohort study.

CONTEXT Overt hypo- and hyperthyroidism are associated with an increased risk of depression. Little is known about the effects of variation in thyroid function within the normal range on the risk of depression. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to examine the association between normal-range thyroid function and the risk of depression. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This was a cohort study in 1503 Dutch men and women, aged 70.6 (7.3) (mean [SD]) years. At baseline, serum TSH, thyroperoxidase antibody levels, and depressive symptoms [Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)] were assessed. A CES-D of 16 or greater is indicative of a depressive disorder. During follow-up (mean 8.0 y), participants were continuously monitored for the occurrence of incident depressive syndromes (n = 156). RESULTS Cross-sectionally, persons in the lowest TSH tertile (0.3-1.0 mU/L) had more depressive symptoms [CES-D score (mean): 7.95 vs 6.63, P = . 014] as well as an increased risk of a CES-D of 16 or greater [10.7% vs 5.0%, odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 2.22 (1.18-4.17)], compared with persons in the highest normal range TSH tertile (1.6-4.0 mU/L). In the prospective analyses, persons in the lowest TSH tertile who were depression free at baseline had a higher risk of incident depressive syndromes [12.3% vs 7.6%, odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.85 (1.10-3.11)]. Thyroid autoimmunity (thyroperoxidase antibody positivity) was not associated with CES-D scores or incident depressive syndromes. CONCLUSIONS Elderly persons with low-normal TSH levels have more concurrent depressive symptoms as well as a substantially increased risk of developing a depressive syndrome in the subsequent years. This study identifies low-normal TSH as an important risk factor for depression in the elderly.
Inflation Targeting and Monetary Policy in Ghana

An inflation-targeting regime has been in place in Ghana since 2007, but compared to other inflation-targeting countries it has been conspicuously unsuccessful. Since 2013 inflation has persistently exceeded the announced target by four percentage points or more, despite the target never falling below a relatively unambitious 8% per annum. We investigate whether the poor conduct of monetary policy is responsible for this outcome, and find that is not. Monetary policy reaction functions are similar to those estimated for countries with successful monetary policies, and interest rates respond in the theoretically recommended way to inflation shocks.
Pluripotent Stem Cells Engrafted into the Normal or Lesioned Adult Rat Spinal Cord Are Restricted to a Glial Lineage

Proliferating populations of undifferentiated neural stem cells were isolated from the embryonic day 14 rat cerebral cortex or the adult rat subventricular zone. These cells were pluripotent through multiple passages, retaining the ability to differentiate in vitro into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Two weeks to 2 months after engraftment of undifferentiated, BrdU-labeled stem cells into the normal adult spinal cord, large numbers of surviving cells were seen. The majority of the cells differentiated with astrocytic phenotype, although some oligodendrocytes and undifferentiated, nestin-positive cells were detected; NeuN-positive neurons were not seen. Labeled cells were also engrafted into the contused adult rat spinal cord (moderate NYU Impactor injury), either into the lesion cavity or into the white or gray matter both rostral and caudal to the injury epicenter. Up to 2 months postgrafting, the majority of cells either differentiated into GFAP-positive astrocytes or remained nestin positive. No BrdU-positive neurons or oligodendrocytes were observed. These results show robust survival of engrafted stem cells, but a differentiated phenotype restricted to glial lineages. We suggest that in vitro induction prior to transplantation will be necessary for these cells to differentiate into neurons or large numbers of oligodendrocytes.
Behavioural signs of depression and apoptosis in the limbic system following myocardial infarction: effects of sertraline

Abstract Depression is diagnosed in 15–30% of patients following myocardial infarction (MI) and this may also be observed in the rat. We measured the effects of the antidepressant sertraline on behavioural and biochemical events following MI in a rat model. Following surgery, MI rats and sham controls were treated with sertraline (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline. Subgroups of rats were tested for behavioural depression 14 days after surgery. Apoptosis was estimated in other rats by measuring caspase-3 activity and TUNEL positive cells (3 days after surgery) in limbic structures (amygdale, hippocampus, hypothalamus, frontal and prefrontal cortices). Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was measured 14 days after surgery. Behavioural signs of depression (decreased sucrose intake and forced swimming time) were found in saline-treated MI rats but not in sertraline-treated rats. Compared with controls, caspase-3 activity and TUNEL positive cells were significantly increased in most limbic structures of MI rats. High prefrontal Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in MI rats correlated with low forced swimming time. Apoptosis was not found in sertraline-treated MI rats. These results establish the bases of a rat model of depression following MI and show for the first time that a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor prevents both behavioural and biochemical markers in this model.
An Empirical Analysis of the U.S. Import Demand for Nuts

The U.S. is one of the world’s major producers and importers of nuts, with 9% average increase in imports in the last decade (1996-2016). Given that nuts account for, on average, 18% of the U.S. total imports of fruits, it is important to empirically analyze and better understand the U.S. demand for nuts. This study estimates import elasticities of demand using an Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) and quarterly data reported by the USCIS for the period of 1996-2016. The parameter estimates of the AIDS model were employed to estimate the elasticities of demand for coconuts, brazil nuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, chestnuts, and pistachios. Other nuts as pecans and peanuts are included in the category “other”. Additional adjustments were made to the empirical model in order to account for seasonality and trend, as well as to provide necessary remedies for serial correlation and endogeneity. Our results revealed that all Marshallian own-price elasticities had the expected negative signs and in absolute terms were greater than one indicating that the U.S. demand for these nuts was price-elastic for the period analyzed. The Hicksian cross-price elasticities indicated both complementary relationships and substitutability between the selected nut types.
Characterizing Non-Industrial Private Forest Landowners' Forest Management Engagement and Advice Sources

Abstract Non-industrial private forestland (NIPF) owners have options for engagement by following management strategies that reduce wildfire risk on their forestlands. Forest management engagement is a broad term with underlying categories and management implications. To better understand these categories, we examine interview data on the engagement of forest landowners from a case study of private forestland owner perspectives in northeast Oregon, USA. NIPF landowners outline two types of forest management engagement, one for property and one for community-focused forestland management. NIPF owners describe actions for engagement in public forestland management and how these actions differ from engagement in private management. Additionally, NIPF owners establish barriers to engagement in both public and private forestland management. Our findings can be used to better identify unengaged private forestland owners in the U.S. West, informing the design and implementation of extension and outreach for NIPF owners.
Activated natural killer T cells induce liver injury by Fas and tumor necrosis factor-alpha during alcohol consumption.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Chronic alcohol abuse induces liver injury and increases the severity of viral hepatitis, but the precise mechanisms responsible are not well understood. In particular, little is known about the role of natural killer T cells in alcohol-induced liver injury. Natural killer T cells are mediators of important regulator and effector functions making use of Fas and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in apoptosis induction. This report analyzes the role of natural killer T cells, Fas, and TNF-alpha in a model of chronic alcohol consumption. METHODS Mice fed alcohol by intragastric tube were assayed for serum alanine aminotransferase values, liver histology, and liver mononuclear cells before and after activation of natural killer T cells by ligand alpha-galactosylceramide. RESULTS In alcohol-consuming animals, liver natural killer T cells increase, and further activation by alpha-galactosylceramide causes lethal liver injury. This is explained by alcohol-induced hepatocyte sensitization to cell-mediated lysis, which develops concomitant to increased cytolytic activity of natural killer T cells. Natural killer T cell-mediated apoptosis proceeds by the Fas pathway, and Fas is essential for alcohol-associated liver injury. TNF-alpha plays an additional role as a defect in TNF receptor-1 inhibits alcohol-associated liver injury. Alcohol-fed natural killer T cell-deficient Jalpha281(-/-) mice express a delay in alcohol-induced liver injury. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol consumption induces an increase of natural killer T cells in the liver and a high sensitivity of hepatocytes to cell-mediated lysis. Stimulation of natural killer T cells during alcohol consumption induces serious liver injury by a mechanism that involves concomitant signals by Fas and tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 on alcohol-stressed hepatocytes.
How inclusive is inclusive recycling? Recyclers’ perspectives on a cross-sector partnership in Santiago de Chile

ABSTRACT Inclusive recycling is the inspiring slogan of a project relying on a cross-sector (public–private–civil society) partnership implemented in Latin America with the objective to improve the socioeconomic conditions of recyclers. Through a qualitative study in Santiago de Chile, this paper seeks to understand how inclusive inclusive recycling is, by assessing how organised recyclers perceive the goals, the process, and the outcomes of this project. The main findings converge in observing a general low inclusion of recyclers, but they also enable to decompose the notion of inclusion into three dimensions: “inclusive goals” refers to the extent to which the goals of the recyclers are taken into account when designing the collaboration project; “inclusive process” refers to the extent to which recyclers are involved in the process of implementing the project; and “inclusive outcomes” refers to the capacity of the partnership to acknowledge the achievements of recyclers organisations before (and during) the project and to take into account the ongoing local dynamics when evaluating the project. These findings contribute to better understand the position and challenges of recyclers in this type of partnership and more generally to shed light on the potential power imbalance in waste management cross-sector partnerships.
CFHTLenS: the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey – imaging data and catalogue products

We present data products from the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS). CFHTLenS is based on the Wide component of the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey (CFHTLS). It encompasses 154 deg^2 of deep, optical, high-quality, sub-arcsecond imaging data in the five optical filters u*g′r′i′z′. The scientific aims of the CFHTLenS team are weak gravitational lensing studies supported by photometric redshift estimates for the galaxies. This paper presents our data processing of the complete CFHTLenS data set. We were able to obtain a data set with very good image quality and high-quality astrometric and photometric calibration. Our external astrometric accuracy is between 60 and 70 mas with respect to Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data, and the internal alignment in all filters is around 30 mas. Our average photometric calibration shows a dispersion of the order of 0.01–0.03 mag for g′r′i′z′ and about 0.04 mag for u* with respect to SDSS sources down to i_(SDSS) ≤ 21. We demonstrate in accompanying papers that our data meet necessary requirements to fully exploit the survey for weak gravitational lensing analyses in connection with photometric redshift studies. In the spirit of the CFHTLS, all our data products are released to the astronomical community via the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre at http://www.cadc-ccda.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc. ca/community/CFHTLens/query.html. We give a description and how-to manuals of the public products which include image pixel data, source catalogues with photometric redshift estimates and all relevant quantities to perform weak lensing studies.
Patient Activation and Health Literacy as Predictors of Health Information Use in a General Sample of Dutch Health Care Consumers

In demand-led health care systems, consumers are expected to play an informed, active role in health care decisions by making use of health information. The ability to seek and use this information depends on specific knowledge, skills, and self-confidence. In this study, the authors validated a translated instrument to measure patient activation (Dutch PAM-13) in a general sample of Dutch health care consumers. Furthermore, the authors examined the relative contribution of patient activation and functional health literacy to the seeking and use of health information in The Netherlands. The mean patient activation score in the Dutch sample was higher for younger health care consumers and for those with a higher education, higher income, and better self-reported general and mental health status. More activated consumers were more likely to seek and use health information. Patient activation proved to be a stronger predictor for seeking and using health information than functional health literacy.
Personality Traits and Portfolio Tilts Towards Value and Size

We show that personality traits are related to an investor’s preferences for value versus growth stocks and for small capitalization stocks versus large capitalization stocks. We have detailed personality trait data and official register holdings of stocks for 710 individuals in Finland. The results show that more extravagant individuals tend towards large capitalization growth stocks; more impulsive people tend towards small capitalization growth stocks; more sentimental investors tend towards small capitalization value stocks; and more social investors tend towards small capitalization stocks with a tilt towards value. The results are consistent when looking at the portfolio characteristics across investors, over time, when using aggregate portfolios of investors with similar personality traits, and both widely held and non-widely held stocks.