Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence of Hydatid cyst disease in food animals slaughtered at Sokoto Central Abattoir, Sokoto State, Nigeria -

An abattoir based study was conducted to determine the incidence of hydatid cyst disease in cattle, camel, sheep and goats, over a one year period (Oct 2003- Sept 2004). Forty six thousand two hundred and twenty three (46223) cattle; 3545 camel; 16345 sheep and 14134 goats were examined at post mortem for evidence of hydatid cyst lesions. Incidences of 34 (0.07%), 318 (8.97%), 23 (0.14%) and 4 (0.03%) were found for cattle, camel, sheep and goats, respectively. Locations of the cyst lesions in the examined animals shows liver was the most predominant site in cattle 21(61.76%), sheep 18(78.26%) and goats 3(75.0%). For camels, lungs showed the most number of CE lesions 291(91.51%). Overall, the least number of hydatid cyst lesions were observed in the heart. There was significant association (p < 0.001) between the species of animals and infection. The public health importance of the disease and the findings were discussed.
CpeR is an activator required for expression of the phycoerythrin operon (cpeBA)
 in the cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon and is encoded in the phycoerythrin
 linker‐polypeptide operon (cpeCDESTR)

In the cyanobacteria, phycobilisomes are assembled from (αβ)6 hexamers of the coloured phycobili‐ proteins, allophycocyanin, phycocyanin and phy‐coerythrin (PE). The precise architecture of the phycobilisome is determined by the various colourless linker proteins that bind to the biliprotein hexamers. Genes for β and α subunits of PE make up one operon (cpeBA), whereas genes for PE‐associated linker polypeptides are in a second operon. In the chromatically adapting cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon green light is required for the transcription of both cpeBA and the operon encoding the PE‐associated linkers (cpeCDE). From the genome of F. diplosiphon we have identified an open reading frame, cpeR, which, when expressed from a shuttle plasmid, is capable of suppressing various mutations that cause a decrease in PE synthesis. The introduction of a shuttle plasmid bearing cpeR+ into wild‐ type F. diplosiphon caused PE expression in red light. Fremyella diplosiphon cpeR−, created by in vitro mutagenesis and in vivo homologous recombination, is fully PE and, in this strain, cpeCDE is transcribed normally whereas the transcript from cpeBA is undetectable. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of cDNA showed that cpeR is transcribed as part of the cpeCDE operon on an extended transcript. As CpeR is an activator required for expression of the cpeBA operon, we propose that at the onset of green light the operons cpeCDESTR and cpeBA are expressed in series as a genetic cascade.
Erreurs de mesure sur les variables économiques et financières

La presence d’erreurs sur les variables biaise l’estimateur des moindres carres ordinaires (MCO). Nous presentons deux nouveaux estimateurs robustes en presence d’erreurs de mesure. Ces estimateurs ont la qualite d’etre beaucoup moins erratiques que leurs homologues classiques : les estimateurs de Durbin et de Pal. Ces nouveaux estimateurs sont bases sur les moments echantillonnaux d’ordre superieur a deux. Ces estimateurs peuvent etre consideres comme des types speciaux d’estimateurs a variables instrumentales, ou les instruments contiennent les variables explicatives elevees a des puissances particulieres. La performance de ces nouveaux estimateurs est evaluee a partir d’une enquete canadienne sur les finances des consommateurs. Des simulations de Monte Carlo sont egalement effectuees et elles demontrent que les biais presentes par nos nouveaux estimateurs sont moindres que ceux associes a l’estimateur des moindres carres ordinaires. Les estimateurs developpes dans cet article participent de la nature des estimateurs de la methode des moments generalises (GMM) dont la popularite ne cesse de grandir. L’econometrie financiere pourrait grandement beneficier de nos nouveaux estimateurs en les appliquant a des modeles fort connus, tel le CAPM ou le portefeuille du marche, qui est a la base de la verification empirique de ce modele, est empreint d’erreurs de mesure importantes. Les mesures de la prime de risque qui lui sont associees pourraient donc etre corrigees a l’aide de nos estimateurs, cela dans le cadre de la methode des GMM. Enfin, nous presentons une application financiere ou nous appliquons un des estimateurs afin d’estimer le beta de marche, celui-ci entrant dans la formule du cout moyen du capital (WACC) que nous avons calcule et compare a la methode classique des MCO. Dans cette nouvelle application, nous trouvons que l’estimation du parametre augmente significativement, ce qui est en accord avec certains faits empiriques.
Acute activation of eNOS by statins involves scavenger receptor‐B1, G protein subunit Gi, phospholipase C and calcium influx

Background and purpose: Statins (HMG CoA reductase inhibitors) have beneficial effects independent of reducing cholesterol synthesis and this includes their ability to acutely activate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). The mechanism by which this occurs is largely unknown and thus we characterized the pathways by which statins activate NOS, including involvement of scavenger receptor‐B1 (SR‐B1), which is expressed in endothelial cells and maintains cholesterol concentrations.
National trends in the office-based prescription of schedule II opioids.

OBJECTIVE To investigate national trends and patterns in opioid prescription within office-based medical practice. METHOD An analysis is presented of 1995-2010 data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, focusing on overall and stratified trends in the percentage of medical visits involving prescriptions for Schedule II opioids. Among visits with opioid prescriptions in 2003-2010, first-time visits were also compared to return visits, and visits in which pain was the primary complaint were compared to visits with other primary complaints. RESULTS Among all office visits, the percentage with an opioid prescription increased from 0.65% in 1995-1998 to 2.63% in 2007-2010 (odds ratio [OR] = 8.01; 95% CI, 4.96-12.94). During the study period (1995-2010), opioid prescriptions significantly increased in visits by male patients (OR = 6.54; 95% CI, 3.21-13.31); female patients (OR = 9.38; 95% CI, 6.70-13.14); and patients aged 18-35 years (OR = 5.82; 95% CI, 2.59-13.10), 36-64 years (OR = 8.30; 95% CI, 4.63-14.86), and ≥ 65 years (OR = 8.85; 95% CI, 6.13-12.77), but not ≤ 17 years (OR = 1.52; 95% CI, 0.50-4.63). Prescriptions for opioids also significantly increased in visits by patients with clinical depression (OR = 9.96; 95% CI, 5.45-18.21) or anxiety (OR = 10.99; 95% CI, 5.02-24.06) diagnoses. However, a significant decline occurred in opioid prescriptions in visits among patients with substance use diagnoses (OR = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.00-3.30). The number of opioid prescriptions rose faster among patients making a first visit (OR = 23.36; 95% CI, 11.82-46.17) versus a return visit (OR = 7.26; 95% CI, 4.38-12.03). CONCLUSIONS A substantial increase occurred between 1995 and 2010 in opioid prescriptions in office-based medical visits, especially in visits by middle-aged and older adults and by patients making their first visit to the treating physician. These trends suggest that physicians have pursued greater pain control despite potential risks of nonmedical use of prescription opioids.
Miller-Fisher syndrome associated with Campylobacter jejuni bearing lipopolysaccharide molecules that mimic human ganglioside GD3

A Campylobacter jejuni strain of serotype O:10 was isolated from a patient who had Miller-Fisher syndrome. In its biochemical reactions and cellular morphology, the isolate was characteristic of typical C. jejuni. Antibodies against extracted lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were detected by passive hemagglutination in the acute- and convalescent-phase patient sera. By sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting with the O:10 antiserum, it was demonstrated that the strain possessed both low- and high-molecular-weight molecules. Chemical analysis of the LPS revealed that the core oligosaccharide has a terminal trisaccharide epitope consisting of two molecules of sialic acid linked to galactose, a structure reflecting the terminal region of human ganglioside GD3. As this trisaccharide is also present in LPS cores of serotype O:19 strains from patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome but not in cores of nonneuropathic C. jejuni, a possible role for the trisaccharide in the etiology of neuropathies is indicated, and a difference for distinguishing neuropathic strains from nonneuropathic strains may be the presence of a sialyltransferase required for the synthesis of this trisaccharide.
Round Muscle Profiling and Tenderness Markers in Beef

Introduction Lack of consistent tenderness is a major quality problem that significantly impacts the profitability of the beef industry. Conservative estimates indicate tenderness defects cost the beef industry over $216,000,000 annually (Morgan, 1995). Consumers rate tenderness as the top sensory trait considered when they are making purchasing decisions (Mennecke et al., 2007), and are willing to pay a premium in order to purchase a consistently tender product (Boleman et al., 1997; Miller et al., 2001; Platter et al., 2005).
A Comparison of Different Classification Techniques to Determine the Change Causes in Hotelling's T2 Control Chart

To detect out‐of control situations using multivariate control charts is relatively easy. However, the determination of the change causes is more difficult. In the last years the application of classification techniques to analyze the out‐of‐control signals has been proposed. These proposals include increasingly sophisticated methods but it is not clear, if there is one, which is the most powerful. In this paper we have simulated different scenarios varying the correlation structure and shift type, to test the performance of Linear Discriminant Analysis, Classification Trees, Neural Networks and Boosting Trees with the main aim to analyze whether or not using more complex classification methods is worthy. Results show that although the performance of different methods depends on the correlation structure and the class of change, under the more feasible situations Boosting shows the best performance. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Justifications for the Probation Sanction Among Residents of Virginia--Cool or Un-Cool?

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Sociology & Criminal Justice at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@odu.edu. Repository Citation Payne, Brian K. ; Gainey, Randy R. ; Triplett, Ruth A. ; and Danner, Mona J. E. , "Justifications for the Probation Sanction Among Residents of Virginia--Cool or Un-Cool? " (2003). Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications. Paper 1. http://digitalcommons.odu.edu/sociology_criminaljustice_fac_pubs/1
Transport phenomena in membranes.

The realization that many elementary biological processes occur at membrane-like structures has led to renewed interest in the theory of molecular transport through membranes. Coupling phenomena in membranes, some of which are very complex, can now be rationally described with the aid of the thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The investigation of theoretical membrane models has proved a valuable complement to the thermodynamic method.
Psychosocial and ergonomic survey of office and field jobs in a utility company

Introduction. The effect of different kinds of work on the psychosocial assessment of workers under the same management and organizational environment is investigated. Methods. A voluntary assessment in a utility company was carried out using the short version of the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire (CoPsoQ) on two occasions, 1.5 years apart. Initially, 25 office workers (11 men and 14 women) participated, while 14 of those workers (8 women and 6 men) participated in the second assessment together with 32 field workers. The sewage, water treatment and maintenance workers, totaling 32 men, also participated in a field ergonomics assessment using the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries field work ergonomic checklist. Results. The longitudinal outlook was fairly stable, with sustained severe scores in many CoPsoQ subscales and intensification of severity of workers’ control over work and esteem for men. A significantly higher esteem score resulted for field rather than office workers. Workers subjected to foul odors showed similar severity of psychosocial factors. Discussion. For most psychosocial dimensions, the organizational design and management system in place, as well as the overall cultural environment in which it operates, create a much stronger and more decisive impact than job-specific factors.
Association of TNF-α and CCL5 with response to interferon-based therapy in patients with HCV 1 genotype

Aim of the study To evaluate the role of potential genetic predictors –308G/A TNF-α and –403G/A CCL5 in treatment for HCV 1 genotype. Material and methods Treatment results of 130 patients with chronic hepatitis C 1 genotype according to different genotypes of IL28B, CCL5, and TNF-α were analysed using multiple logistic regression. Results IL28B genotypes CC/CT/TT were found in 27 (20.8%), 74 (56.9%), and 29 (22.3%) patients. Genotypes GG/GA/AA of –308G/A TNF-α were revealed in 98 (75.4%), 30 (23.1%), and 2 (1.5%) patients. Genotypes GG/GA/AA of –403G/A CCL5 were revealed in 86 (66.2%), 39 (30%), and 5 (3.8%) patients, respectively. The previously known effect of IL28B was observed. IL28B TT genotype decreased end of treatment response (EOTR) rates by a factor of 29.0 (95% CI: 6.4-183). The combination of CCL5 GG and IL28B CT genotypes increased the risk of failure to achieve EOTR by a factor of 28.5 (95% CI: 7.2-160). Genotypes GA and AA of TNF-α (–308) G/A SNP increased the risk of relapse in patients who achieved EOTR (OR = 9.4; 95% CI: 2.4-48). Conclusions Practitioners may benefit from using these predictors when considering indications for the antiviral therapy and deciding on the treatment regimen.
Decline in the prevalence of neural tube defects following folic acid fortification and its cost-benefit in South Africa.

BACKGROUND In October 2003 South Africa embarked on a program of folic acid fortification of staple foods. We measured the change in prevalence of NTDs before and after fortification and assessed the cost benefit of this primary health care intervention. METHODS Since the beginning of 2002 an ecological study was conducted among 12 public hospitals in four provinces of South Africa. NTDs as well as other birth defect rates were reported before and after fortification. Mortality data were also collected from two independent sources. RESULTS This study shows a significant decline in the prevalence of NTDs following folic acid fortification in South Africa. A decline of 30.5% was observed, from 1.41 to 0.98 per 1,000 births (RR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.49-0.98; p = .0379). The cost benefit ratio in averting NTDs was 46 to 1. Spina bifida showed a significant decline of 41.6% compared to 10.9% for anencephaly. Additionally, oro-facial clefts showed no significant decline (5.7%). An independent perinatal mortality surveillance system also shows a significant decline (65.9%) in NTD perinatal deaths, and in NTD infant mortality (38.8%). CONCLUSIONS The decrease in NTD rates postfortification is consistent with decreases observed in other countries that have fortified their food supplies. This is the first time this has been observed in a predominantly African population. The economic benefit flowing from the prevention of NTDs greatly exceeds the costs of implementing folic acid fortification.
Genome Analysis Phylogenomic Analysis of the Receptor-Like Proteins of Rice and Arabidopsis 1 [ w ]

The tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Cf-9 resistance gene encodes the first characterized member of the plant receptor-like protein (RLP) family. Other RLPs such as CLAVATA2 and TOO MANY MOUTHS are known to regulate development. The domain structure of RLPs consists of extracellular leucine-rich repeats, a transmembrane helix, and a short cytoplasmic region. Here, we identify 90 RLPs in rice (Oryza sativa) and compare them with functionally characterized RLPs from different plant species and with 56 Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) RLPs, including the downy mildew resistance protein RPP27. Many RLPs cluster into four distinct superclades, three of which include RLPs known to be involved in plant defense. Sequence comparisons reveal diagnostic amino acid residues that may specify different molecular functions in different RLP subtypes. This analysis of rice RLPs thus identified at least 73 candidate resistance genes and four genes potentially involved in development. Due to the synteny between rice and other Gramineae, this analysis should provide valuable tools for experimental studies in rice and other cereals.
Use of Tissue Oxygenation Index and Fractional Tissue Oxygen Extraction as Non-Invasive Parameters for Cerebral Oxygenation

Objective: To evaluate the relation between cerebral tissue oxygenation index (TOI), measured with spatially resolved spectroscopy (SRS), and the different oxygenation parameters. To evaluate the relation between a new parameter named fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE) and the cerebral fractional oxygen extraction (FOE). Methods: Six newborn piglets were measured at 33, 35, and 37°C and in hypocapnia. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), haemoglobin (Hb), peripheral oxygen saturation (S<sub>a</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and P<sub>a</sub>CO<sub>2</sub> were measured at each step. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by injection of coloured microspheres into the left atrium. Jugular bulb oxygen saturation (JVS), cerebral arterial and venous oxygen content (C<sub>a</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and C<sub>v</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and FOE were calculated. TOI of the brain was calculated and FTOE was introduced as (S<sub>a</sub>O<sub>2</sub> – TOI)/S<sub>a</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. The correlation was calculated with an ANCOVA test. Results: There was a positive correlation (R = 0.4 and p = 0.011) between TOI and JVS. No correlation was found with CBF, MABP or Hb. There was a positive correlation between P<sub>a</sub>CO<sub>2</sub> and cerebral TOI (R = 0.24 and p = 0.03). FTOE correlated well with FOE (R = 0.4 and p = 0.016) and there was a negative correlation between FTOE and P<sub>a</sub>CO<sub>2</sub> (R = 0.24, p = 0.03). Conclusion: The measurement of TOI and FTOE by SRS correlated well with the cerebral venous saturation and FOE, respectively.
Strand-Specific RNA Synthesis Defects in a Poliovirus with a Mutation in Protein 3A

ABSTRACT Substitution of a methionine residue at position 79 in poliovirus protein 3A with valine or threonine caused defective viral RNA synthesis, manifested as delayed onset and reduced yield of viral RNA, in HeLa cells transfected with a luciferase-containing replicon. Viruses containing these same mutations produced small or minute plaques that generated revertants upon further passage, with either wild-type 3A sequences or additional nearby compensating mutations. Translation and polyprotein processing were not affected by the mutations, and 3AB proteins containing the altered amino acids at position 79 showed no detectable loss of membrane-binding activity. Analysis of individual steps of viral RNA synthesis in HeLa cell extracts that support translation and replication of viral RNA showed that VPg uridylylation and negative-strand RNA synthesis occurred normally from mutant viral RNA; however, positive-strand RNA synthesis was specifically reduced. The data suggest that a function of viral protein 3A is required for positive-strand RNA synthesis but not for production of negative strands.
A Monoclonal Antibody to the Human Platelet Glycoprotein II b/III a Complex Induces Platelet Activation

Summary The platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex functions as the receptor for fibrinogen on activated platelets. The effects of two anti-GPIIb/IIIa monoclonal antibodies on platelet function were studied. These antibodies, 6C9 and C17, recognized different epitopes, which were exclusively present on the undissociated GPIIb/IIIa complex. Whereas C17 inhibited the binding of fibrinogen to platelets and platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or collagen, 6C9 caused irreversible aggregation of platelets, both in the presence and absence of extracellular fibrinogen. When incubated with unstirred (nonaggregating) platelets, 6C9 induced release of alpha and dense granule-constituents as well as binding of 125I-fibrinogen to platelets. The latter was evidently mediated in part by platelet-derived ADP, since it was inhibited to a large extent by apyrase, the ADP-hydrolyzing enzyme. F(ab’)2 fragments of 6C9 did not induce platelet-release reactions but caused (slow) aggregation of platelets in the presence of extracellular fibrinogen. These results indicate that binding of an antibody to a specific site on the platelet GPIIb/IIIa complex may cause fibrinogen-mediated aggregation. The Fc part of the platelet-bound antibody appears to be involved in the induction of platelet release.
DNA Methylation-mediated Repression of miR-941 Enhances Lysine (K)-specific Demethylase 6B Expression in Hepatoma Cells*

Background: Recent research has uncovered tumor suppressive and oncogenic potential of miRNAs. Results: miR-941 expression is regulated by DNA methylation, and is an important regulator of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by directly targeting KDM6B in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Conclusion: miR-941 may play an important role in suppressing tumor growth and metastasis in HCC. Significance: miR-941 may provide a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to play important roles in carcinogenesis. However, their underlying mechanisms of action in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that epigenetic silencing of miRNAs through tumor suppression by CpG island hypermethylation may be a common hallmark of human tumors. Here, we demonstrated that miR-941 was significantly down-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines and was generally hypermethylated in HCC. The overexpression of miR-941 suppressed in vitro cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibited the metastasis of HCC cells in vivo. Furthermore, the histone demethylase KDM6B (lysine (K)-specific demethylase 6B) was identified as a direct target of miR-941 and was negatively regulated by miR-941. The ectopic expression of KDM6B abrogated the phenotypic changes induced by miR-941 in HCC cells. We demonstrated that miR-941 and KDM6B regulated the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process and affected cell migratory/invasive properties.