Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ESBL-producing Escherichia coli: a molecular study on bacterial relatedness and resistance genes in isolates from the period 2006-2014

(3! Ágrip(.(5! Acknowledgments(.(7! Table(of(contents(.(8! List(of(figures(.(11! List(of(tables(.(11! List(of(abbreviations(.(12! 1! Introduction(.(13! 1.1! The(Pathogens(.(13! 1.1.1! Escherichia)coli)infections! 13! 1.1.2! Outbreaks! 14! 1.1.2.1! Hospital! 14! 1.1.2.2! Community! 14! 1.1.3! Diagnosis! 14! 1.2! Antibiotic(resistance(. (15! 1.2.1! Extended@spectrum! β@lactamases! 15! 1.2.2! Phenotypic! detection! of! ESBL@producing! bacteria! 16! 1.2. 3! ESBL! genotyping! 16! 1.2. 4! Infection! control! measures! 16! 1.2. 5! Prevalence! of! ESBL! production! in! Iceland! 17! 1.3! Typing(of(E. %coli(. (17! 1.3.1! Phylogenetic! groups! 17! 1.3.2! PFGE! for! outbreak! investigations! 19! 1.3.3! MLST! 20! 1.4! Previous(studies(on(ESBLIproducing(organisms(in(Iceland(. (21! 2! Objectives(. (23! 3! Materials(and(methods(. (24! 3.1! Study(setting(. (24! 3.2! Bacterial(cultures(and(susceptibility(tests(. (24! 3.3! Building(the(database(. (25!
Combining ability analysis of fruit yield and morphological traits in greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Golabadi, M. , Golkar, P. and Eghtedary, A. -R. 2015. Combining ability analysis of fruit yield and morphological traits in greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 377-385. Knowledge about the genetic control of the different quantitative characters related to fruit yield and its components is still insufficient in greenhouse cucumbers. This information is useful in planning breeding programs in this economically important crop. In this study, the genetics of morphological traits and fruit yield was investigated using a 9×9 full diallel population of cucumbers for the greenhouse market. Data were collected on internode length, leaf length, leaf width, fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruits per plant, yield per fruit and yield per plant. Variance components showed that both the additive and the dominant gene effects played significant roles in the genetic control of the traits studied. Genetic control of internode length, leaf width and number of fruits per plant was accomplished by additive effects. The significant mean squares of reciprocal crosses for all of the studied traits suggested that maternal inheritance also played an important role in the inheritance of these traits. Significant general combining ability for fruit yield revealed that both selection and hybridization methods would lead to desirable genetic improvements in cucumber through accumulation of desirable alleles from parents in the target genotype, but that hybridization would be preferred.
Desktop versus immersive virtual environments: effects on spatial learning

ABSTRACT Although immersive virtual reality is attractive to users, we know relatively little about whether higher immersion levels increase or decrease spatial learning outcomes. In addition, questions remain about how different approaches to travel within a virtual environment affect spatial learning. In this paper, we investigated the role of immersion (desktop computer versus HTC Vive) and teleportation in spatial learning. Results showed few differences between conditions, favoring, if anything, the desktop environment. There seems to be no advantage of using continuous travel over teleportation, or using the Vive with teleportation compared to a desktop computer. Discussing the results, we look critically at the experimental design, identify potentially confounding variables, and suggest avenues for future research.
Understanding the interrelationships among mass balance, meteorology, discharge and surface velocity on Chhota Shigri Glacier over 2002–2019 using in situ measurements

Abstract The Himalayan glaciers contribute significantly to regional water resources. However, limited field observations restrict our understanding of glacier dynamics and behaviour. Here, we investigated the long-term in situ mass balance, meteorology, ice velocity and discharge of the Chhota Shigri Glacier. The mean annual glacier-wide mass balance was negative, −0.46 ± 0.40 m w.e. a−1 for the period 2002–2019 corresponding to a cumulative wastage of −7.87 m w.e. Winter mass balance was 1.15 m w.e. a−1 and summer mass balance was −1.35 m w.e. a−1 over 2009–2019. Surface ice velocity has decreased on average by 25–42% in the lower and middle ablation zone (below 4700 m a.s.l.) since 2003; however, no substantial change was observed at higher altitudes. The decrease in velocity suggests that the glacier is adjusting its flow in response to negative mass balance. The summer discharge begins to rise from May and peaks in July, with a contribution of 43%, followed by 38% and 19% in August and September, respectively. The discharge pattern closely follows the air temperature. The long-term observation on the ‘Chhota Shigri – a benchmark glacier’, shows a mass wastage which corresponds to the slowdown of the glacier in the past two decades.
Obstructive urolithiasis in buffalo calves: a study on pattern of occurrence, aetiology, age, clinical symptoms and condition of bladder and urethra.

Obstructive urolithiasis is the retention of urine subsequent to lodgement of calculi anywhere in the urinary conduct. Male buffalo calves are most frequently presented to the polyclinic, I.V. R.I. , with the retention of urine in the peak winter due to the decline in water intake and deficiency of vitamin A. Rupture of the urinary bladder or urethra, uraemia and death are observed as the most common sequel to obstructive urolithiasis especially in buffalo calves. Though it has been found that calves below the 6th month of age are most commonly affected, in this study most reported cases were 3 and 4 months old. Rupture of the bladder was found to occur after the 3rd day of retention of urine but it was also seen before 3rd day in those cases in which frusemide was given by quacks. Buffalo calves with retention of urine for 6 days or more are presented in the fewest numbers due to the death caused by uraemia after rupture of the bladder. Urethral rupture is the worst sequel, occurring in those cases where the calculi are lodged in the glans penis.
Reassembling Religion in Roman Italy

This book examines the ways in which lived religion in Roman Italy involved personal and communal experiences of the religious agency generated when ritualised activities caused human and more-than-human things to become bundled together into relational assemblages. Drawing upon broadly posthumanist and new materialist theories concerning the thingliness of things, it sets out to re-evaluate the role of the material world within Roman religion and to offer new perspectives on the formation of multi-scalar forms of ancient religious knowledge. It explores what happens when a materially-informed approach is systematically applied to the investigation of typical questions about Roman religion such as: What did Romans understand ‘religion’ to mean? What did religious experiences allow people to understand about the material world and their own place within it? How were experiences of ritual connected with shared beliefs or concepts about the relationship between the mortal and divine worlds? How was divinity constructed and perceived? To answer these questions it gathers and evaluates archaeological evidence associated with a series of case studies. Each of these focuses on a key component of the ritualised assemblages shown to have produced Roman religious agency – place, objects, bodies, and divinity – and centres on an examination of experiences of lived religion as it related to the contexts of monumentalised sanctuaries, cult instruments used in public sacrifice, anatomical votive offerings, cult images and the qualities of divinity, and magic as a situationally specific form of religious knowledge. By breaking down and then reconstructing the ritualised assemblages that generated and sustained Roman religion, this book makes the case for adopting a material approach to the study of ancient lived religion.
An assessment of annual procedure volumes and therapy adoption of transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale in four European countries

Introduction Patent foramen ovale closure reduces recurrence of cryptogenic ischaemic stroke compared to anti-platelet therapy. Our goal was to determine procedure volumes and closure utilisation as a proportion of candidates in four large European countries. Patients and methods National statistics were obtained for Germany, England, France, and Italy for the last available five years (2014–2018). Eligibility was aligned to the enrolment criteria of pivotal trials and current consensus documents. Stroke and transient ischaemic attack incidences were obtained from epidemiological registries and claims data. The eligible candidate pool for analysis included current year candidates plus untreated patients from the prior two years. Absolute strokes avoided assumed the hazard ratio for ischaemic stroke recurrence from a recent meta-analysis. Results In 2018, closure incidence rates were 5.64, 0.53, 2.94 and 5.26 per 100,000 in Germany, England, France and Italy, respectively. This reflects five-year increases of 128% in Germany, 462% in France and 36% in Italy (p < 0.05 for all), and a decline of 37% in England. The proportions of treated patients versus candidates for the combined stroke and transient ischaemic attack pool were 55%, 30%, 80%, and 6%, respectively. Discussion Patent foramen ovale closure volumes increased after the 2017 announcement of positive trial results but still differ substantially across large European countries. If all closure candidates in 2018 with prior ischaemic stroke were treated, the resulting absolute reduction of recurrent ischaemic strokes, compared to anti-platelet therapy alone, would be between 782 and 2295 across the four countries over five years. Conclusion Many eligible patients at risk for a recurrent cryptogenic event might remain untreated due to regional practice variations.
Foot pad health in Lohmann Selected Leghorn and Lohmann Brown laying hens kept in different housing systems with modified perch design

In zwei Legedurchgangen wurde der Fusballenstatus von Lohmann Selected Leghorn (LSL) und Lohmann Brown (LB) Legehennen erfasst, die in einem modifizierten Kleingruppenhaltungssystem (Eurovent (EV) 625a-EU (MSG)) mit (vier) Sitzstangen auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen, einem modifizierten augestalteten Kafig (EV 625A-EU (MFC) mit zwei Sitzstangen), in denen die hintere oder vordere Sitzstange erhoht war, einem Kleingruppenhaltungssystem (EV 625a-EU (SG) mit vier Sitzstangen auf einer Ebene) sowie ausgestalteten Kafigen (EV 625A-EU (FC), Aviplus (AP) mit zwei Sitzstangen auf einer Ebene) gehalten wurden. Hyperkeratosen und Epithellasionen wurden bei insgesamt 576 Hennen (432 LSL, 144 LB) makroskopisch erfasst und hinsichtlich ihres Schweregrades klassifiziert. Im ersten Legedurchgang wurden 69 Sohlen- und 68 Zehenballen histologisch untersucht. Makroskopisch wurden hauptsachlich geringgradige Hyperkeratosen festgestellt. Epithellasionen traten in allen Haltungssystemen auf. Ein positiver Einfluss der modifizierten Sitzstangenanordnung konnte auf einige Merkmale des Fusballenstatus ermittelt werden. Alle histologischen Praparate waren von hyperkeratotischen Veranderungen betroffen. Wahrend Sohlenballen vorwiegend geringgradige Hyperkeratosen aufwiesen, zeigten Zehenballen vornehmlich mittelgradige Veranderungen. Hochgradige Hyperkeratosen wurden bei Legehennen aus den Haltungssystemen FC, MFC, SG und MSG beobachtet. Erosionen und Ulzerationen traten in Sohlenballenproben von Hennen aus den Systemen SG und MSG auf. Perivaskulare Infiltrationen von Lymphozyten konnten in fast allen Fusballenpraparaten festgestellt werden.
In vitro and in vivo anti-plasmodial activities of senna occidentalis roots extracts against plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium berghei

xviii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background information . 1 1.2 Statement of the problem . 4 1.3 Justification for the study . 4 1.4 Research questions . 6 1.5 Hypotheses . 6 1.6 Objectives of the study . 6 1.6. 1 General objective . 6 1.6. 2 Specific objectives. 7 1.7 Significance of the study . 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 8 2.1 Classification of malaria parasites . 8 2.2 General Life cycle of plasmodium species . 8 2.2.1 Vertebrate phase of Plasmodium life cycle . 9 2.2.2 Invertebrate phase of Plasmodium life cycle . 11
The complexity of respiratory disease associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection: From immunopathogenesis to respiratory therapy

Covid‐19, a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection, may present with polymorphic symptomatology and subclinical, neurological, gastrointestinal, dermatological, renal and severe acute respiratory manifestations. The diffuse alveolar damage caused by the disease presents with fibrin deposition, oedema, lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate, destruction of epithelial cells, hyaline membrane formation and occasional angiogenesis formation of microthrombi. A common radiological finding is bilateral ground glass opacity, present even in mild cases. Severe cases occur mainly among the elderly and individuals with underlying comorbidities. Here, we provide an overview of the pathophysiology of the disease associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, interaction of the virus with the immune system, and subsequent dysfunctional immune response, essential for progression of Covid‐19. We also discuss the role of the nervous system as a possible aggravating agent of the respiratory condition and propose a protocol for airway management based on the pathophysiological and immunological characteristics of the disease. Finally, we highlight the implications of such approaches for future therapeutic intervention.
Evaluation of probiotic potentials of Lactobacillus isolated from traditional fermented foods of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India

&NA; The current study deals with isolation of Lactobacillus species from naturally fermented foods of Garo Hills region of Meghalaya and to characterize the selected isolates for exploring their probiotic potentials. Out of eight selected isolates, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (K4E) and Lactobacillus helveticus (K14) were found to tolerate pH 2 and pH 3 for 1.5 and 3 h. Lactobacillus fermentum (K16) could survive efficiently at 0.5% bile salts after 1.5 and 3 h and reduced cholesterol efficiently (60.64%) as compared with the other isolates. The isolates K4E and L. fermentum (K7) exhibited the highest cell surface hydrophobicity (69.95 and 60.13%, respectively). L. rhamnosus (K4E) strain displayed highest antioxidant activity and L. helveticus (K14) exhibited the highest autoaggregation (81.32%) and proteolytic activity (0.67). Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of selected isolates were also observed by using Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method and antimicrobial activity was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Psuedomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. Further, the evolutionary relatedness between the Lactobacillus isolates was signified by a DNA alignment programme, multiple alignment using fast fourier transform v6.864. The present study affirms their potential for exploitation in the development of novel functional fermented foods as probiotics for the betterment of human health in north-eastern region of India.
Similarity identification in gene expression patterns as a new approach in phenotype classification

Stratifying healthy and malignant phenotypes and identifying their biological states using high-throughput molecular data has been the focus of many computational approaches during the last decade. Using multivariate changes in expression of genes within biological pathways, as fingerprints of complex phenotypes, we developed a new methodology for Similarity Identification in Gene expressioN (SIGN). In this approach, we use centroid classifier to identify phenotype of each biological sample. To obtain similarity of a given biological sample with classes of phenotypes, we defined a new distance measure, transcriptional similarity coefficient (TSC) which captures similarity of gene expression patterns between a biological pathway in two samples or populations. We showed that TSC, as an interpretable and stable distance measure in SIGN, captures all oncogenic hallmarks for breast cancer even with low sample size, by comparing healthy and patient tumor samples in the largest breast cancer dataset. In this study, we demonstrate that SIGN is a flexible, yet robust approach for classification based on transcriptomics data. Comparing early and late relapses within each molecular subtypes of breast cancer, our method enabled subtype-specific stratification of breast cancer patients into groups with significantly different survival. Moreover, we used SIGN to classify with more than 99% specificity the site of extraction of healthy and tumor samples from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. We showed that SIGN also enables robust identification of hematopoietic stem cell and progenitors within the hematopoietic hierarchy. We further explored chemical perturbation data in the Connectivity Map (CMAP) database and showed that SIGN was able to classify seven classes of drugs based on their mechanism of action. In conclusion, we showed that SIGN can be used to achieve interpretable and robust transcriptomic-based classification of healthy and malignant samples, as well as drugs based on their known mechanism of action, supporting the generalizability and relevance of the method for the analysis of gene expression profiles.
Influence of feeding methods during early lay in broiler breeder hens

Skip-a-day (SAD) feed restriction is a common industry technique that is often used from 2 wk of age until 5% egg production in broiler breeders. Due to reproductive issues associated with fasting in mammals, the 24 h fast associated with SAD feeding is thought to be detrimental to reproduction in broiler breeders. The current study examines the effects of using an everyday (ED) feeding program to improve long term reproduction. Pullets were weighed weekly and fed on a SAD basis in rearing. At 20 weeks of age, pullets and cockerels were moved into laying facilities. From 21 to 26.5 wk, 15 of the 30 experimental pens (35 hens and 4 roosters per pen) were provided ED feeding while the remaining 15 pens continued on SAD feeding until 8% egg production. At 27 wk (8% egg production), all hens were placed on ED feeding until 65 wk. Blood samples were taken every four wk starting at 26 wk. Overall, the mean bird weights were significantly different; however, the coefficients of variation of bird weight were not significantly different between the two treatments. Estradiol was significantly elevated in SAD fed hens at 30 wk, progesterone was significantly depressed in the SAD hens at wk 30 and 34, and total T3 was depressed in SAD fed hens at 26 wk. Birds that were provided ED feeding have a hen-day egg production of 171 eggs versus 155 eggs from the SAD birds. These results suggest that SAD feeding after light stimulation reduces reproductive potential in broiler breeder hens. (
Effect of interfacial viscosities on droplet migration at low surfactant concentrations

Abstract In this paper, we theoretically investigate the migration of a surfactant covered droplet in a Poiseuille flow by including the surface viscosities of the droplet. We employ a regular perturbation expansion for low surface Péclet numbers and solve the problem up to a second-order approximation. We represent the drop surface as a two-dimensional homogeneous fluid using the Bousinessq–Scriven law and employ Lamb's general solution to represent the velocity fields inside and outside the droplet. We obtain an expression for the cross-stream migration velocity of the droplet, where the surface viscosities are captured by the Bousinessq numbers for surface shear and surface dilatation. We elucidate the influence of the surface viscosities on the migration characteristics of the droplet and the surfactant redistribution on the droplet surface. Our study sheds light on the importance of including the droplet surface viscosities to accurately predict the migration characteristics of the droplet.
Gastrointestinal Microbial Flora in Wild and Captive Olive Baboons ( Papio a nubis )

Background: Vertebrate gut microbiota plays essential roles in host biology, including immune regulation, energy acquisition, vitamin synthesis and disease risk. There are however several other pathogenic microorganisms found in the gut and are transmissible by fecal oral route. About 60% of all human diseases and approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. Due to an observed increase in conflicts and interactions between human and nonhuman primates, both are at risk of pathogen transfer and infection. Methods: This study was conducted on 50 captive baboons and 67 wild baboons. Stool samples were collected and cultured and species identification of each isolate was done by the use of Analytical Profile Indexing tool. Results: Species of Gram-positive cocci, Gram-positive and Gram-negative rods were identified, with more isolates being obtained from wild than captive baboon fecal samples. Unlike the Gram-negative rods, the captive baboons harbored more Gram-positive cocci and Gram-positive rods than the wild baboons. Escherichia coli was the most dominant isolate and was collected in more than 50% of the samples from both groups of animals. Of the Gram-positive cocci and Gram-positive rods, Aerococcus viridans, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus firmus were found to be the most common isolates in both groups of animals. Conclusion: Though the wild and captive baboons harbor different gastrointestinal bacteria, similarities do occur. The wild baboons have a richer microbial diversity as compared to the captive baboons.
The Relationship between the Timing of a Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Duration of Training, and Levels of Self-Efficacy with Patient-Centered Interviewing Skills

ABSTRACT There are conflicting findings about the role that timing plays in the administration of self-efficacy questionnaires and the relationships between self-efficacy scores, training, and subsequent demonstration of skills. The current study examined self-efficacy in the context of a training program to educate residents in patient-centered communication skills. Previous research indicates that providers who use patient-centered skills have higher patient satisfaction ratings and their patients show improved physical and psychological health outcomes. 163 residents conducted patient-centered interviews with standardized patients. One group rated their self-efficacy before the interview (n = 85, 52%) and the other group rated it after the interview (n = 78, 48%). Researchers used a validated content analysis coding scheme to measure patient-centered skills in the interviews. There was no significant difference in self-efficacy scores obtained before or after the interview or in the relationship between self-efficacy and objectively coded patient-centered skills in either group. Self-efficacy also did not mediate the relationship between training in patient-centered skills and significantly improved performance of the skills. The findings suggest that timing of self-efficacy questionnaire does not influence subsequent self-efficacy ratings and that demonstrated PCI skills and perceived self-efficacy ratings increase significantly with training. Results imply that self-efficacy requires further study before it can be used as a surrogate for skills performance.