Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of infection with mixed Eimeria species on hematology and immune responses following Newcastle disease and infectious bursal disease booster vaccination in broilers

Background: Coccidiosis is an important parasitic disease of chickens, causing high mortality and morbidity. This morbidity is believed to be correlated with altered population dynamics of blood cells and immunocompromisation. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of mixed Eimeria species (viz., tenella, maxima, acervulina and necatrix) infection on hematology and immune responses following Newcastle disease (ND) and infectious bursal disease (IBD) booster vaccination in broilers. Animals and methods: One-day-old broiler chicks (Hubbard; n = 200) were divided into two equal groups A and B. On day 16, group A was infected orally with Eimeria species (7 × 104 sporulated oocysts), whereas group B served as control. Both groups were analyzed for hematological parameters on post-infection days 6–8. Sera from both groups were analyzed for antibody titers against ND and IBD vaccines. On day 8 post-infection, lymphoid organs were also examined. Results: Significantly lower (P < 0.05) levels of plasma proteins, globular volume, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total erythrocytes, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were found in infected chickens compared with non-infected control chickens. In addition, the infected group exhibited significantly increased (P < 0.05) numbers of different leukocytes. Infected chickens also showed significantly lower antibody titers against ND and IBD with decreased relative organ weights of all lymphoid organs except spleen. Conclusion and recommendations: Mixed species of Eimeria adversely affected the hematology and immune efficiency of broilers. Thus, inexpensive immune potentiators and hemotonics along with appropriate anti-coccidial medications are suggested to avoid the complications and subsequent economic losses.
Mid- to long-term factors influencing functional status of people affected by lower-limb amputation associated with hemiparesis due to stroke

Purpose: In people with lower-limb amputation and hemiparesis, prognostic factors of rehabilitation outcomes were investigated at hospital discharge. This study aims to identify which factors influence functional outcomes at mid- to long-term follow-up. Methods: Follow-up observational study on forty-four people (68 ± 9 years old) with unilateral amputation for vascular disease, temporally preceding or following hemiparesis due to stroke (26 patients prior amputation; 18 patients prior stroke), was performed. Barthel Index (BI) and Locomotor Capabilities Index (LCI) scores were recorded at discharge from the rehabilitation hospital and 3.4 years later. Use of the prosthesis was also recorded. Results: At the follow-up, BI and LCI scores had significantly decreased (10 and 13%, respectively). Contralaterality of the impairment was the main prognostic factor for reduced functional status (p = 0.025) and prosthesis abandonment (p = 0.028, OR = 4.4), especially for women (OR = 8). Severity of hemiparesis affected the BI score (p < 0.01) and level of amputation the LCI score (p < 0.01). Conclusions: At the light of the observed decrement of functional status after discharge, particular attention should be paid to the patients more exposed to the risk of worsening and/or prosthesis abandon, such as women with contralateral impairment. The results of this study may assist rehabilitation teams in performing a more specific and effective long-term rehabilitative interventions. Implications for Rehabilitation After discharge, the functional status of people with lower-limb amputation and hemiparesis decreases. This result suggests to carry out frequent clinical follow-up and, as necessary, further rehabilitative/prosthetic interventions. 66% of the people with dual disability are prosthetic user after about 3.4 years. This data encourage the rehabilitative team to maximize the efforts during the postacute rehabilitative program. During rehabilitation, particularly attention should be deserved to women with contralateral impairment that are more exposed to the risk of prosthesis abandonment. People who had a Locomotor Capability Index score >20 at discharge continued to use prosthesis at follow-up: this threshold should be taken into account during rehabilitation.
Developmental Expression and Gene Regulation of Insulin-like 3 Receptor RXFP2 in Mouse Male Reproductive Organs1

Abstract The mutations of testicular insulin-like 3 (INSL3) hormone or its receptor RXFP2 cause cryptorchidism in male mice. Here we have examined Rxfp2 gene expression at different stages of embryonic and postnatal mouse development in male reproductive tissues employing quantitative RT-PCR and several RXFP2-specific antibodies directed toward different parts of the RXFP2 protein. Receptor expression was markedly increased after birth and was readily detectable in the epididymis, Leydig cells, and germ cells of the testis. The strongest expression was detected in adult mouse cremaster muscle. INSL3 treatment increased cell proliferation of embryonic gubernacular and TM3 embryonic Leydig cells, implicating active INSL3-mediated autocrine signaling in these cells and identifying TM3 as a novel in vitro model to study the effects of RXFP2 signaling. We generated Tg(Rxfp2-cre)Aia (Rxfp2-iCre) transgenic mice expressing improved Cre recombinase (iCre) under the control of the 2.4-kb mouse Rxfp2 promoter. The iCre was expressed in the gubernacular ligament at E14.5, indicating that this promoter is able to drive Rxfp2 gene expression during transabdominal testis descent. We demonstrated that the transcription factor Sox9, a known male sex determination factor, is expressed in mouse embryonic gubernacula and upregulated human, but not mouse, promoter luciferase reporter constructs. In conclusion, we have determined the developmental expression profile of INSL3 receptor employing newly characterized RXFP2 antisera and a novel Rxfp2-iCre transgenic mouse model. We determined the promoter region capable of providing the gubernacular-specific expression of Rxfp2. Analysis of RXFP2 promoter identified SOX9 as a new transcriptional enhancer of human gene expression.
Calcific Tendinopathy of the Shoulder

Abstract This review article presents the current knowledge on the epidemiology and the pathogenesis of calcific tendinopathy of the shoulder and discusses the clinical presentation in relation to the stage of the disease process and the appearance of the calcific deposits. The outcome and the available treatment modalities for this common shoulder disorder are also examined, emphasizing the technique of percutaneous lavage and aspiration under ultrasound guidance.
Valuation of Universal Policies with a Smoothing Scheme: The Chinese Case

Universal life insurance contracts, which usually have the so-called cliquet syle interest rate guarantees, are quite popular in China. These contracts often include other options such as the surrender option. This paper attempts to valuate these policies using the risk-neutral pricing method of financial mathematics. The framework in which the fair value of these policies is priced in a stochastic interest rate environment is presented. We analyze the guaranteed interest rate option and the surrender option separately. The values of embedded options are derived using the Least Square Monte Carlo approach. Using the calibrated parameters, we find out that the stochastic interest rate assumption affects the valuation considerably in comparison to the constant interest rate. Additionally, the volatility of assets and the smoothing mechanism are important for valuing the policyholder s' claim.
140-nm Quasi-Continuous Fast Sweep Using SSG-DBR Lasers

We demonstrate a single-mode and fast wavelength swept light source by employing superstructure-grating distributed Bragg reflector (SSG-DBR) lasers for use in optical frequency-domain reflectometry optical coherence tomography. A noteworthy feature is that our laser employs a thermal drift compensator (TDC). By utilizing the TDC, we achieved a fast wavelength sweep without any unexpected mode hopping. We newly designed and fabricated SSG-DBR lasers covering the following four wavelength bands: 1496-1529, 1529-1564, 1564-1601, and 1601-1639 nm. We achieved a stable operation for the whole wavelength range. A wide wavelength tuning of 143 nm was achieved within 1.4 ms. A single-mode, wide, and fast wavelength sweep was demonstrated.
Cardiac‐Specific Disruption of Bin1 in Mice Enables a Model of Stress‐ and Age‐Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Non‐compensated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) leading to death from heart failure is rising rapidly in developed countries due to aging demographics, and there is a need for informative preclinical models to guide the development of effective therapeutic strategies to prevent or delay disease onset. In this study, we describe a novel model of heart failure based on cardiac‐specific deletion of the prototypical mammalian BAR adapter‐encoding gene Bin1, a modifier of age‐associated disease. Bin1 deletion during embryonic development causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and neonatal lethality, but there is little information on how Bin1 affects cardiac function in adult animals. Here we report that cardiomyocyte‐specific loss of Bin1 causes age‐associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) beginning by 8–10 months of age. Echocardiographic analysis showed that Bin1 loss caused a 45% reduction in ejection fraction during aging. Younger animals rapidly developed DCM if cardiac pressure overload was created by transverse aortic constriction. Heterozygotes exhibited an intermediate phenotype indicating Bin1 is haplo‐insufficient to sustain normal heart function. Bin1 loss increased left ventricle (LV) volume and diameter during aging, but it did not alter LV volume or diameter in hearts from heterozygous mice nor did it affect LV mass. Bin1 loss increased interstitial fibrosis and mislocalization of the voltage‐dependent calcium channel Cav1.2, and the lipid raft scaffold protein caveolin‐3, which normally complexes with Bin1 and Cav1.2 in cardiomyocyte membranes. Our findings show how cardiac deficiency in Bin1 function causes age‐ and stress‐associated heart failure, and they establish a new preclinical model of this terminal cardiac disease. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2541–2551, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recurrent 3D-2D Dual Learning for Large-Pose Facial Landmark Detection

Despite remarkable progress of face analysis techniques, detecting landmarks on large-pose faces is still difficult due to self-occlusion, subtle landmark difference and incomplete information. To address these challenging issues, we introduce a novel recurrent 3D-2D dual learning model that alternatively performs 2D-based 3D face model refinement and 3D-to-2D projection based 2D landmark refinement to reliably reason about self-occluded landmarks, precisely capture the subtle landmark displacement and accurately detect landmarks even in presence of extremely large poses. The proposed model presents the first loop-closed learning framework that effectively exploits the informative feedback from the 3D-2D learning and its dual 2D-3D refinement tasks in a recurrent manner. Benefiting from these two mutual-boosting steps, our proposed model demonstrates appealing robustness to large poses (up to profile pose) and outstanding ability to capture fine-scale landmark displacement compared with existing 3D models. It achieves new state-of-the-art on the challenging AFLW benchmark. Moreover, our proposed model introduces a new architectural design that economically utilizes intermediate features and achieves 4× faster speed than its deep learning based counterparts.
Design of UWB pulses based on B-splines

The paper discusses the construction of UWB pulses on the basis of B-splines under the following conditions: (i) the B-splines are time-limited piecewise polynomials; (ii) the pulses are rectangular when their order is one and they converge to band-limited functions at the limit that their order tends to infinity; (iii) an analog circuit and a fast digital filter exist for the generation of B-splines. A constrained minimization technique is proposed for designing pulses so as to comply with the FCC spectral mask and satisfy basic requirements for UWB pulses.
The Vesicular Monoamine Transporter

The vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) is a membrane-embedded protein that transports monoamine neurotransmitter molecules into intraneuronal storage vesicles to allow subsequent release into the synapse.1,2 By accumulating both newly synthesized neurotransmitter molecules and freshly returned neurotransmitter molecules from the synapse, VMAT function plays a critical role in the signaling process between monoamine neurons. The VMAT exists in 2 distinct forms: VMAT1 and VMAT2.3
A Chain Routing Algorithm Based on Traffic Prediction in Wireless Sensor Networks

As a representative of chain-based protocol in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), EEPB is an elegant solution on energy efficiency. However, in the latter part of the operation of the network, there is still a big problem: reserving energy of the node frequently presents the incapacity of directly communicating with the base station, at the same time capacity of data acquisition and transmission as normal nodes. If these nodes were selected as LEADER nodes, that will accelerate the death process and unevenness of energy consumption distribution among nodes.This paper proposed a chain routing algorithm based ontraffic prediction model (CRTP). The novel algorithmdesigns a threshold judgment method through introducing the traffic prediction model in the process of election of LEADER node. The process can be dynamically adjusted according to the flow forecasting. Therefore, this algorithm lets the energy consumption tend-ing to keep at same level. Simulation results show that CRTP has superior performance over EEPB in terms of balanced network energy consumption and the prolonged network life.
A general theory of the distribution of gene frequencies - II. Non-overlapping generations

The distribution of gene frequency at a single locus in a population of diploid individuals with two sexes, subject to mutation, non-random mating and phenotypic selection, is obtained in the case where all the population dies at the same time and is replaced by a new generation. The distribution is similar to that obtained by Wright with a correction due to the non-randomness of the mating.
Screening for epigenetically masked genes in colorectal cancer Using 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine, microarray and gene expression profile.

AIM Unearthing of silenced genes in colorectal cancer (CRC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Oligonucleotide microarray was used in order to find changes in gene expression in five CRC cell lines before and after 5-aza-2'-Deoxycitidine treatment. Up-regulated genes were integrated with expression profile of matched colorectal tissue samples. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were used to further analyze candidates using 15 CRC cell lines and 23 paired samples. RESULTS After applying study selection criteria for 68 genes obtained from integrated arrays, we identified 16 genes; apoptosis-stimulating of p53 protein 1(ASPP1) and Scavenger receptor class A, member 5 (SCARA5) were selected for further analysis. Methylation was only identified for SCARA5 in 20% of the cell lines and in 17% of tumor the samples. Down expression of SCARA5 was observed in CRC cell lines and in tumor samples compared to normal (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION Genome-wide screening identifies genes potentially affected by methylation in CRC. SCARA5 may have a role in tumorigenesis in CRC.
Perception of child vulnerability among mothers of former premature infants.

OBJECTIVES Parents of premature infants often perceive their infants as medically vulnerable. High parental perception of child vulnerability (PPCV) is associated with disproportionately high health care utilization. The objectives of this study were to determine whether higher PPCV is correlated with worse developmental outcome in premature infants at 1-year adjusted age and to identify factors, present at neonatal discharge, that predict high PPCV. METHODS This prospective cohort study assessed mothers of 116 premature infants who were </=32 weeks' gestation and required supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. At neonatal discharge, mothers completed the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Impact on Family Scale, Life Orientation Test, General Health Survey, and Medical Outcomes Study social support survey. At 1-year adjusted age, child development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, and mothers completed the Vulnerable Child Scale, a 16-item self-report measure of PPCV. Chart review was performed to determine the presence or absence of specific indicators of medical vulnerability at 1-year adjusted age. RESULTS Mean infant gestational age and birth weight were 26.5 +/- 2.5 weeks and 894 +/- 287 g. A total of 69% of mothers were white, and 78% were high school graduates. Higher PPCV (lower Vulnerable Child Scale score) was correlated with lower scores on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Composite and Bayley Psychomotor Developmental Index but not on the Bayley Mental Developmental Index. After controlling for the presence of 1 or more indicators of medical vulnerability, higher PPCV was still correlated with lower adaptive development. This correlation was stronger in the group of children with no indicators of medical vulnerability. In univariate analyses, higher PPCV was predicted by nonfirstborn status; longer neonatal hospitalization; higher maternal anxiety and depression; greater impact of the illness on the family; and lower maternal optimism, life satisfaction, and social support. PPCV was not associated with maternal age, education, marital status, income, or ethnicity or with child gender, gestational age, birth weight, or length of mechanical ventilation. A linear regression model containing all variables significant at the univariate level explained 29% of the variance in PPCV. Maternal anxiety was the only variable that was statistically significant in the full model. CONCLUSIONS Higher PPCV is associated with worse developmental outcome in premature infants at 1-year adjusted age. Maternal anxiety at neonatal discharge predicts later high PPCV. Interventions to prevent or decrease PPCV in premature infants should be targeted at parents who are more anxious at hospital discharge.
Correlation of Seminal Parameters with Serum Lipid Profile and Sex Hormones

The phospholipids and fatty acid composition of sperm are altered under the influence of serum lipids on impaired seminal parameters in infertile men. We studied the correlation of the serum lipid profile and sex hormone results of a group of infertile men with sperm characteristics of 18 infertile men. Semen samples were collected and analyzed. Serum fasted and post-meal glucose levels, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglyceride, FSH, LH, and testosterone measurements were performed. The increased serum VLDL, total triglyceride, and testosterone values were significantly correlated with decreased sperm motility. Serum FSH values were also inversely correlated with normal sperm morphology. The increased VLDL impaired seminal parameters; additionally, increased triglycerides may have deleterious effects on spermatogenesis. Deterioration is related with increased serum VLDL and triglyceride levels.
Reconstitution of Lethally Irradiated Adult Mice with Dominant Negative TGF-β Type II Receptor-Transduced Bone Marrow Leads to Myeloid Expansion and Inflammatory Disease1

TGF-β regulation of immune homeostasis has been investigated in the context of cytokine knockout (TGF-β null) mice, in which particular TGF-β isoforms are disrupted throughout the entire organism, as well as in B and T cell-specific transgenic models, but to date the immunoregulatory effects of TGF-β have not been addressed in the context of an in vivo mouse model in which multi-isoform TGF-β signaling is abrogated in multiple leukocyte lineages while leaving nonhemopoietic tissue unaffected. Here we report the development of a murine model of TGF-β insensitivity limited to the hemopoietic tissue of adult wild-type C57BL/6 mice based on retroviral-mediated gene transfer of a dominant negative TGF-β type II receptor targeting murine bone marrow. Unlike the lymphoproliferative syndrome observed in TGF-β1-deficient mice, the disruption of TGF-β signaling in bone marrow-derived cells leads to dramatic expansion of myeloid cells, primarily monocytes/macrophages, and is associated with cachexia and mortality in lethally irradiated mice reconstituted with dominant negative receptor-transduced bone marrow. Surprisingly, there was a notable absence of T cell expansion in affected animals despite the observed differentiation of most cells in the T cell compartment to a memory phenotype. These results indicate not only that TGF-β acts as a negative regulator of immune function, but that lack of functional TGF-β signaling in the myeloid compartment of adult mice may trigger suppression of lymphocytes, which would otherwise proliferate when rendered insensitive to TGF-β.
Helicobacter pylori, ghrelin, and obesity.

Nwokolo et al have demonstrated that following eradication of Helicobacter pylori from asymptomatic patients, plasma ghrelin “increases profoundly” ( Gut 2003; 52 :637–40). Although we find these results interesting, we cannot agree with the conclusion that this may be causally linked to epidemiological observations of the rising incidence of obesity and oesophageal adenocarcinoma in Western populations. In particular, the present study in fact demonstrates that after H pylori eradication, ghrelin merely returns to levels detected in non-obese control patients using the same hormone assay.1 It would seem likely that H pylori infection, leading to oxyntic gland atrophy,2 is associated with at most a mild suppression of plasma ghrelin, which recovers after treatment. This seems unlikely to have a profound effect on calorie intake, particularly as obese patients have a lower mean plasma ghrelin concentration than matched non-obese controls.1 While it is possible, although unproven, that the …
Thinking outside the executive functions box: Theory of mind and pragmatic abilities in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

An endophenotype for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is executive functioning. In the autism and developmental literature executive dysfunctions has also been linked to theory of mind (ToM) and pragmatic language use. The central question of this review is whether deficits in ToM and pragmatic language use are common in AD/HD. AD/HD seems to be associated with pragmatic deficits, but not with ToM deficits. In this review we address how this pattern of findings might facilitate the understanding of the commonalities and differences between executive functioning, ToM, and pragmatic abilities. Based on the reviewed studies we conclude that ToM is not likely to be a potential endophenotype for AD/HD, while it is too early to draw such a conclusion for pragmatic language use.