Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transmission of Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy to Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) by Intracerebral Inoculation

To determine the transmissibility of transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) agent to raccoons and to provide information about clinical course, lesions, and suitability of currently used diagnostic procedures for detection of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in raccoons, 4 raccoon kits were inoculated intracerebrally with a brain suspension from mink experimentally infected with TME. One uninoculated raccoon kit served as a control. All 4 animals in the TME-inoculated group showed clinical signs of neurologic disorder and were euthanized between 21 and 23 weeks postinoculation (PI). Necropsy examinations revealed no gross lesions. Spongiform encephalopathy was observed by light microscopy, and the presence of protease-resistant prion protein (PrPres) was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot techniques. Scrapie-associated fibrils were observed by negative-stain electron microscopy in the brains of 3 of the 4 inoculated raccoons. These findings confirm that TME is experimentally transmissible to raccoons and that diagnostic techniques currently used for TSE in livestock detect prion protein in raccoon tissue. According to previously published data, the incubation period of sheep scrapie in raccoons is 2 years, whereas chronic wasting disease (CWD) had not shown transmission after 3 years of observation. Because incubation periods for the 3 US TSEs (scrapie, TME, and CWD) in raccoons appear to be markedly different, it may be possible to use raccoons for differentiating unknown TSE agents. Retrospective genotyping of raccoons using frozen spleens showed that the raccoon PrP gene is identical to the mink gene at codons 179 and 224. Further studies, such as the incubation periods of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and other isolates of scrapie, CWD, and TME in raccoons, are needed before the model can be further characterized for differentiation of TSE agents.
Evaluation of the ProSpecT Microplate Assay for detection of Campylobacter: a routine laboratory perspective.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the use of the new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the ProSpecT Campylobacter Microplate Assay (Alexon-Trend, Minneapolis, MN, USA), which allows 2-h detection of both Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli antigen directly in stool specimens. METHODS Over 4 months, all stool samples preserved in Cary-Blair medium, or fresh specimens, from non-hospitalized children and HIV-infected patients (adults and children), submitted to our laboratory were evaluated with the ProSpecT Campylobacter Microplate Assay. Results were compared with those obtained by routine culture methods using both a specific medium and a filtration method for the recovery of Campylobacter spp. RESULTS Of the 1205 stool specimens cultured, 101 were found to be positive for either C. jejuni or C. coli, giving an overall recovery rate of 8.38%. Ninety samples were positive by both culture and ProSpecT Campylobacter Microplate Assay, and 11 were positive by culture only, giving a sensitivity of 89.1%. In addition, of 1104 samples negative by culture, 25 were initially positive by ProSpecT Campylobacter Microplate Assay. We found no cross-reaction with other bacterial enteropathogens isolated from stool specimens. These results thus confirm a high specificity (97.7%) for both C. jejuni and C. coli. The positive and negative predictive values found were 78.3% and 99%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in sensitivity and specificity if the stool was fresh or preserved with Cary-Blair medium. CONCLUSION These data suggest that the ProSpecT Campylobacter Microplate Assay is a rapid and easy-to-use test for the detection of both C. jejuni and C. coli in stool specimens. It could be used for patients for whom early antibiotic therapy is needed or for epidemiologic studies.
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Inhibits Vitamin E Succinate-Induced Apoptosis in C3H10T1/2 Cells but Not Harvey ras-Transfected Cells

In this study, the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] on regulation of apoptosis was compared in control C3H10T1/2 mouse fibroblast cells and those transfected with the Harvey ras oncogene. A known apoptotic stimulator, vitamin E succinate (VES), reduced cell number in a time- and dose-dependent manner in both cell types. In an assay for viable cells, there were significantly more C3H10T1/2 cells cotreated with VES and 1,25(OH)2D3 (-5.0 ± 10.5% of vehicle-treated controls) compared to VES alone treated cells (-60.8 ± 5.6%). In contrast, 1,25(OH)2D3 did not change the percentage of viable cells following treatment by VES in ras-transfected cells [-67.3 ± 7.5%, VES alone compared to 57.3 ± 15.7% with VES and 1,25(OH)2D3 ]. Further studies confirmed that 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibited VES-mediated apoptosis (1.27 ± 0.34-fold over vehicle control) compared to VES treatment alone (2.29 ± 0.56-fold increase) in C3H10T1/2 cells, but not in ras-transfected cells [3.07 ± 0.43-fold increase, VES treatment alone; 3.64 ± 0.42-fold increase, VES and 1,25(OH)2D3]. Both C3H10T1/2 and ras-transfected cells treated with VES had increased concentrations of cellular VES with very little change in a-tocopherol, indicating that the cells took up VES intact. In addition, both cell lines contained similar levels of nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR); however, the ras-transfected cells had reduced VDRE transcriptional activity. In conclusion, VES exerts its effect intact and 1,25(OH)2D3 preferentially protects C3H10T1/2 cells, whereas ras-transformed cells were not protected from VES-mediated apoptosis.
Prevalence and growth of pathogens on salad vegetables, fruits and sprouts.

A total of 120 samples, comprising different types of raw vegetables (seven), fruits (three) and sprouts (three) obtained from street vendors, were tested for aerobic plate count, coliform count and various food-borne pathogens. Average aerobic plate counts for salad vegetables, fruits and sprouts were greater than 10(10) cfu/g and 10(9) cfu/g respectively. Pathogens isolated were S. aureus, E. coli, Enterobacter sp. , Klebsiella sp. , S. typhi, Serratia sp. , Providencia sp. and P. aeruginosa. The antibiotic resistant patterns of the isolates revealed P. aeruginosa to be the most antibiotic resistant, E. coli, Salmonella, Enterobacter and P. aeruginosa also showed the presence of plasmids. The model development phase of this study involved 27 growth curves conducted under 9 combinations of temperature and pH in the Brain Heart Infusion Broth. Models for specific growth rate and lag period were developed by response surface modelling using multiple linear regression analysis. The model provides an estimate of bacterial growth in response to any combination of the variables studied within specified ranges. Growth patterns of organisms on vegetable and fruits were also studied at room temperature (32 degrees C) to assess the growth in the actual food environment. Cucumber and watermelon supports the growth of S. aureus and S. typhi, carrot retarded their growth while pineapple did not support the growth.
Effects of Progressive Blood Loss on Coagulation as Measured by Thrombelastography

The effects of progressive blood loss on coagulation were studied in 87 adults (age 23–66 yr) undergoing a variety of operations under general anesthesia. None had preoperative alterations in coagulation or liver function and none were receiving anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication. Whole blood coagulation status was quantitated using thrombelastography (TEG). Blood samples for TEG were obtained 5 min before and 15 min after induction of anesthesia, after each increment of blood loss (EBL) equalling 5% of estimated blood volume (EBV), at the end of surgery, and 2 hr postoperatively. Patients with EBL exceeding 0.15 EBV were given packed red cells and crystalloid solution. Patients with EBL less than 0.15 EBV received only crystalloid. Thrombelastography analysis showed a trend toward increased coagulability with progressive blood loss. Two of four patients with 80% loss of EBV maintained normal to enhanced coagulation status, although the other two developed clinical and thrombelastographic evidence of coagulopathy. Thrombelastography allowed rapid intraoperative diagnosis and specific treatment of loss of platelet activity in the latter two patients. We conclude that during moderate to massive blood loss, use of supplemental fresh frozen plasma and/or platelets should be reserved for patients with documented defects in coagulation. Thrombelastography is useful for the detection and management of coagulation defects associated with intraoperative blood loss.
Predictors of survival after haemorrhagic stroke in a multi-ethnic population: the South London Stroke Register (SLSR)

Objectives: To identify the predictors of long-term survival after haemorrhagic stroke. Methods: Data were collected within the population-based South London Stroke Register covering a multiethnic source population of 271 817 inhabitants (2001) in South London. Death data were collected at post-stroke follow-up. The impact of patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics, ethnic origin, pre-stroke risk factors and acute treatment on long-term survival were investigated. Survival methods included Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox’s proportional hazards model. Results: Between January 1995 and December 2004, a total of 566 patients with first-ever haemorrhagic stroke (395 primary intracerebral haemorrhage; 171 subarachnoid haemorrhage) were registered. Mean age was 62.3 years; 365 (64.5%) were white, 132 (23.3%) were black and 69 (12.2%) were other or unknown ethnic origin; there were 1340 person-years of follow-up. After multivariable adjustment, age (p<0.001) and having diabetes (hazard ratio (HR), 1.69; 95% CI 1.06–2.70) were associated with increased risk of death. Patients with severe stroke (Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <9) had an increased risk of death (HR 6.5; 95% CI 4.68 to 8.90) compared with those with mild stroke (GCS >12). Treatment on a stroke unit reduced the long-term risk of death (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.98). Black patients had a reduced risk of death (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.92) compared with white patients. Conclusions: Age, diabetes, stroke severity and stroke unit care influenced the long-term risk of death after haemorrhagic stroke. An independent survival advantage was observed in black patients. These factors can be utilised for clinical predictions but the cause of the observations in black patients remains unclear.
SEQUENTIAL AUCTIONS AND PRICE ANOMALIES

In sequential auctions objects are sold one by one in separate auctions. These sequential auctions might be organised as sequential first-price, second-price, or English auctions. We will derive equilibrium bidding strategies for these auctions. Theoretical models suggest that prices in sequential auctions with private values or with randomly assigned heterogeneous objects should have no trend. However, empirical research contradicts this result and prices exhibit a declining or increasing trend, which is called declining and increasing price anomaly. We will present a review of these empirical results, as well as different theoretical explanations for these anomalies.
Role of CT angiography for detection of coronary atherosclerosis

As laparoscopic surgery is replacing open surgery, similarly computed tomography angiography is replacing invasive conventional cardiac angiography. In the last century, marvelous efforts in research have improved strategies for cure, diagnosis and prevention of fatal human diseases; however, coronary artery disease, as the most prevalent cause of mortality and morbidity in the world, has remained a great challenge. Due to advancements in technology and research, it has become more simple and robust to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease (CAD) with minimal or no intervention, promising to not only diagnosis at an early stage but potential prevention altogether. While most with obvious CAD can be diagnosed easily and quickly with ECG, those identified as ‘low risk’ require more extensive testing to diagnose or rule out CAD. For example in emergency departments, low-risk patients with chest pain are diagnosed solely depending on history, ECG and blood testing for biomarkers. This approach has resulted in either delayed or miss-diagnosis of Acute coronary syndrome. To prevent this, many emergency departments now use protocols for low-risk heart patients that include cardiac stress tests and/or CT heart imaging. This review provides an overview of the current literature on the value of Computed tomography angiography and discusses how prognostic information obtained with Computed tomography angiography can be used to further integrate the technique into clinical practice.
Dynamic changes in microbiota and mycobiota during spontaneous ‘Vino Santo Trentino’ fermentation

Vino Santo is a sweet wine produced from late harvesting and pressing of Nosiola grapes in a small, well‐defined geographical area in the Italian Alps. We used metagenomics to characterize the dynamics of microbial communities in the products of three wineries, resulting from spontaneous fermentation with almost the same timing and procedure. Comparing fermentation dynamics and grape microbial composition, we show a rapid increase in a small number of wine yeast species, with a parallel decrease in complexity. Despite the application of similar protocols, slight changes in the procedures led to significant differences in the microbiota in the three cases of fermentation: (i) fungal content of the must varied significantly in the different wineries, (ii) Pichia membranifaciens persisted in only one of the wineries, (iii) one fermentation was characterized by the balanced presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Hanseniaspora osmophila during the later phases. We suggest the existence of a highly winery‐specific ‘microbial‐terroir’ contributing significantly to the final product rather than a regional ‘terroir’. Analysis of changes in abundance during fermentation showed evident correlations between different species, suggesting that fermentation is the result of a continuum of interaction between different species and physical–chemical parameters.
Influence of education and occupation on knowledge about diabetes control.

BACKGROUND A global epidemic of diabetes has been predicted during the first quarter of the twenty-first century, with a substantial increase in its prevalence in India. Good management of diabetes is a necessary step towards its control and blood glucose testing forms an integral part of this. This study was undertaken to assess the importance of education and occupation in relation to knowledge about good control of diabetes. METHODS Perception patterns regarding methods for testing blood glucose and metabolic control were assessed by the direct interview method in 793 patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients' knowledge levels were compared for different educational and occupational categories using the Normal test (z-test) and the Student's t-test. RESULTS The difference between the mean ages of men and women diabetics was not significant (p > 0.1). It was found that 46.7% of the subjects were aware of the importance of blood glucose testing. Awareness regarding the importance of microalbuminuria, lipid profile and glycosylated haemoglobin was observed in 24.1%, 15.5% and 7.6% of patients, respectively. A positive impact of education on overall knowledge levels was observed. However, no definite relationship was found between knowledge and occupation. CONCLUSION There was a total lack of knowledge regarding self-care of diabetes in all educational and occupational categories (including patients who were qualified doctors). This calls for an urgent need to create greater public awareness. This study may serve as a guideline for developing an educational package for different subsections of the community.
The doctor-nurse game revisited.

The relationship between the doctor and the nurse is a special one, based on mutual respect and interdependence, steeped in history, and stereotyped in popular culture. The underlying interaction can often be characterized as a game. In 1967 one of us described how doctors and nurses related to one another at that time.1 In this article we address the question of change. From our observations we are convinced that there have been major changes in the doctornurse relationship over the past two decades. To describe these changes we will briefly review the relationship that prevailed in 1967 and contrast it .
Identification and Phylogenetic Relationships of Microsporidia by Riboprinting

ABSTRACT. The SSUrDNA and the ITS of different microsporidia from eight fishes, four insects and a shrimp were amplified and digested with restriction enzymes. The generated riboprints suggest a close evolutionary relationship between Glugea americanus and Spraguea lophii suggesting that Glugea americanus should be renamed Spraguea americanus and that the tissue infected and host origin should be considered of greater taxonomic importance for defining a genus than previously considered. Phylogenetic analysis of the riboprints demonstrates an unidentified microsporidium from a bumper fish (Chloroscombrus chrysurus) is related although not identical to Microgemma oviodea, a parasite from red band fish. We were also able to distinguish between Glugea anomala and Glugea atherinae and Glugea stephani but were not able to differenciate among the latter two. Insects isolates, Nosema costelytrae, N. bombycis, N. trichoplusiae, Nosema sp. and a shrimp isolate, Agmasoma penaei, are not related to the fish isolates.
Skin Care in the NICU Patient: Effects of Wipes versus Cloth and Water on Stratum Corneum Integrity

Background: NICU patients are at risk of skin breakdown due to prematurity, irritant exposure, medical status and stress. There is a need to minimize damage, facilitate skin development and reduce infection risk, but the literature on the effects of skin care practices in NICU patients is limited. Objectives: To test the hypothesis that baby diaper wipes with emollient cleansers and a soft cloth would minimize skin compromise relative to cloth and water. Methods: In 130 NICU infants (gestational age 23–41 weeks, at enrollment 30–51 weeks), measurements of skin condition, i.e., skin erythema, skin rash, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and surface acidity (pH), within the diaper and at diaper and chest control sites were determined daily for 5–14 days using standardized methods. Treatments were randomly assigned based on gestational age and starting skin irritation score: wipe A, wipe B, and the current cloth and water NICU standard of care. Results: Perineal erythema and TEWL were significantly lower for wipes A and B than cloth and water beginning at day 5 for erythema (scores of 1.11 ± 0.05, 1.2 ± 0.05, and 1.4 ± 0.06, respectively) and day 7 for TEWL (28.2 ± 1.6, 28.8 ± 1.6, and 35.2 ± 1.6 g/m2/h, respectively). Wipe B produced a significantly lower skin pH (day 5, 5.47 ± 0.03) than wipe A (5.71 ± 0.03) and cloth and water (5.67 ± 0.04). The starting skin condition, stool total, age and time on current standard impacted the outcomes. Conclusions: Both wipes are appropriate for use on medically stable NICU patients, including both full and preterm infants, and provide more normalized skin condition and barrier function versus the cloth and water standard. Wipe B may facilitate acid mantle development and assist in colonization, infection control and barrier repair. Neonatal skin continues to change for up to 8 weeks postnatally, presumably as it adapts to the dry extra-uterine environment.
Involvement of the Escherichia coli O157:H7(pO157) ecf Operon and Lipid A Myristoyl Transferase Activity in Bacterial Survival in the Bovine Gastrointestinal Tract and Bacterial Persistence in Farm Water Troughs

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an important food-borne pathogen that causes hemorrhagic colitis and the hemolytic-uremic syndrome in humans. Recently, we reported that the pO157 ecf (E. coli attaching and effacing gene-positive conserved fragments) operon is thermoregulated by an intrinsically curved DNA and contains the genes for bacterial surface-associated proteins, including a second copy of lipid A myristoyl transferase, whose chromosomal copy is the lpxM gene product. E. coli O157:H7 survives and persists well in diverse environments from the human and bovine gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) to nutrient-dilute farm water troughs. Transcriptional regulation of the ecf operon by intrinsic DNA curvature and the genetic redundancy of lpxM that is associated with lipid A modification led us to hypothesize that the pO157 ecf operon and lpxM are associated with bacterial survival and persistence in various in vivo and ex vivo environments by optimizing bacterial membrane structure and/or integrity. To test this hypothesis, three isogenic ecf operon and/or lpxM deletion mutants of E. coli O157:H7 ATCC 43894 were constructed and analyzed in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that a double mutant carrying deletions in the ecf and lpxM genes had an altered lipid A structure and membrane fatty acid composition, did not survive passage through the bovine GIT, did not persist well in farm water troughs, had increased susceptibility to a broad spectrum of antibiotics and detergents, and had impaired motility. Electron microscopic analyses showed gross changes in bacterial membrane structure.
Multi-mode redundancy removal

Redundancy removal, i.e., identifying and eliminating redundant logic, is an essential optimization strategy for decreasing design area, reducing critical path delay, and simplifying circuit testability analysis. However, redundancy removal strategies invoke time-consuming proof engines with worst-case exponential behavior. While continual enhancements to heuristics resident in these engines result in large average runtime improvements, inherent intractability still leads to sub-optimal optimization and occasional large runtime outliers. Such outliers are unacceptable in an industrial setting where an outlier compromises design turnaround time. Our work introduces a semi-local optimization algorithm that mitigates the inherent intractability in redundancy removal and eliminates crippling runtime outliers. We further embed this algorithm within a framework that minimizes any negative impact to delay and area metrics. Using the cutting-edge Synopsys® Design Compiler® logic synthesis tool, we demonstrate 1) statistical neutrality in area and timing while achieving consistent runtime improvements on a large set of proprietary circuit designs of varying type and complexity and 2) over 50% runtime improvement on a suite of computationally intractable industrial designs, even when measured at the end of the physical synthesis flow.
A unified session control protocol for IPTV services

IPTV services are being and will continue to be a main driver in the rollout of Next General Networks. In the IPTV functional architecture, Service Control Functions and Content Delivery Control Functions are most important elements in realizing the IPTV services. SIP, RTP and RTSP protocols are commonly used in the IMS-based IPTV. Using many protocols in the implementation makes the system complex and proves less flexible in the integration and creation of new services. Besides, SIP is a session protocol and can, with limited impact on standards, extendable to carry RTSP messages. In this paper, we propose a unified session control protocol based on SIP, which can be used for control of sessions and media in IPTV services. Consequently, new features for services can be developed using the proposed unified session control protocol. For example, when a user interrupts IPTV services, advertisement or recommendation of relevant video can be displayed on the screen.