Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aphasia Burden to Hospitalised Acute Stroke Patients: Need for an Early Rehabilitation Programme

Background/Purpose The aim of our study is to evaluate the frequency of aphasia and to describe the characteristics of aphasics among a large sample of acute stroke patients in Italy. Methods Out of the 11 572 stroke patients hospitalised within 48 h from stroke onset, included in the PROSIT study, we selected 9594 alert cases for the estimation of aphasia frequency. The presence of aphasia was accepted when registered in the clinical records at the first neurological examination. All patients/caregivers underwent to a 2-year telephone follow-up evaluation. Results Twenty-eight per cent of alert acute stroke patients had aphasia, which was associated with arm and/or limb weakness in 74% of cases. In our series, aphasia was more frequent in females than males, in patients older than 75 years and was associated with more severe stroke. Aphasics, compared with nonaphasics, died more frequently. Aphasia was also significantly associated with residual poststroke disability. Conclusions This is the first study considering the frequency of aphasia in a wide population of hospitalised acute stroke patients. The presence of aphasia is more common in patients with severe stroke and contributes to residual disability. Our findings should be considered for setting early specific rehabilitation programmes.
Effects of Strict Blood Pressure Control by a Long-Acting Calcium Channel Blocker on Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Urinary Albumin Excretion Rate in Japanese Hypertensive Patients

Strong adherence to antihypertensive therapy has been shown to reduce the frequency of cardiovascular events by strictly controlling blood pressure. Although calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are among the most popular antihypertensive drugs in Japan, few trials have been conducted using high CCB doses in Japanese patients. In this study, we administered amlodipine 5 mg or 10 mg to patients with hypertension in order to compare the efficacy and tolerability of low and high doses, and measured two surrogate markers of hypertensive target organ damage, i.e., brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) as a risk marker of cardiac overload and microalbuminuria as a measure of renal damage. Seventy-two patients were randomly assigned to either amlodipine 5 mg (n=35) or 10 mg (n=37) dose groups. The latter group achieved greater reductions in clinic as well as both morning and evening home BP levels without an increase in pulse rate (the differences between the two groups in clinic/morning/evening systolic BP were 4.7/4.7/5.4 mmHg, and for diastolic BP they were 4.2/3.6/3.8 mmHg). Reductions in BNP and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UAR) levels were significantly correlated with the reductions in systolic BP levels (BNP, clinic/morning BP: r=0.256, p=0.030/r=0.330, p=0.005; UAR, clinic BP: r=0.316, p=0.007). In conclusion, the higher dose (10 mg) of amlodipine induced greater reductions in all BP levels than did the lower dose, without increasing the pulse rate. These additional reductions were significantly correlated with reductions in hypertensive cardiac overload, as evaluated by BNP levels, and a reduction in renal damage, as evaluated by microalbuminuria levels. Moreover, a reduction in the microalbuminuria may have occurred concomitant with a reduction in clinic systolic BP level.
Using Values to Communicate Agricultural Science: An Elaboration Likelihood Model Approach

This study looks at how pre-existing values influence audience processing of scientific information about GMOs, and how that may affect the audience’s interpretation of the message regardless of the communicator’s credibility or trustworthiness. Results show that attitude accessibility, agricultural identity, and in some cases, a biospheric value orientation were the most important predictors for a number of constructs related to GMO attitudes. Agricultural identity did not correlate with other value orientations, yet was the strongest predictor of many related attitudes. These results support previous ELM research and emphasize the complex nature of science and persuasive communication.
Technological Forecasting & Social Change

EBSCO Host ® and Scopus ® databases are descriptively analysed, with results synthesized across current research trends. Findings suggest social media is seen as enabler and driver of innovation, with behavioural and resource based perspectives being the most popular theoretical lens used by researchers. The originality of the paper is rooted in the comprehensive search and systematic review of studies in the discourse, which have not been uni ﬁ ed to date. Implications for advancement of knowledge are embedded in the purpo-sefully proposed theoretical, contextual and methodological perspectives, providing future research directions for exploring social media capability in innovation management.
Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of the Natural Chromosome-Encoded Class A β-Lactamase from Pseudomonas luteola

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas luteola (formerly classified as CDC group Ve-1 and named Chryseomonas luteola) is an unusual pathogen implicated in rare but serious infections in humans. A novel β-lactamase gene, blaLUT-1, was cloned from the whole-cell DNA of the P. luteola clinical isolate LAM, which had a weak narrow-spectrum β-lactam-resistant phenotype, and expressed in Escherichia coli. This gene encoded LUT-1, a 296-amino-acid Ambler class A β-lactamase with a pI of 6 and a theoretical molecular mass of 28.9 kDa. The catalytic efficiency of this enzyme was higher for cephalothin, cefuroxime, and cefotaxime than for penicillins. It was found to be 49% to 59% identical to other Ambler class A β-lactamases from Burkholderia sp. (PenA to PenL), Ralstonia eutropha (REUT), Citrobacter sedlakii (SED-1), Serratia fonticola (FONA and SFC-1), Klebsiella sp. (KPC and OXY), and CTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamases. No gene homologous to the regulatory ampR genes of class A β-lactamases was found in the vicinity of the blaLUT-1 gene. The entire blaLUT-1 coding region was amplified by PCR and sequenced in five other genetically unrelated P. luteola strains (including the P. luteola type strain). A new variant of blaLUT-1 was found for each strain. These genes (named blaLUT-2 to blaLUT-6) had nucleotide sequences 98.1 to 99.5% identical to that of blaLUT-1 and differing from this gene by two to four nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms. The blaLUT gene was located on a 700- to 800-kb chromosomal I-CeuI fragment, the precise size of this fragment depending on the P. luteola strain.
Time Discounting, Ambiguity Aversion, and Preferences for Future Environmental Policies: Evidence from Discrete Choice Experiments

Designing efficient environmental policies requires knowledge about households' preference parameters for their intertemporal decisions. By conducting an original Internet-based survey using Japanese participants (n=2,906) and a follow-up survey (n=1,407), we examine how people evaluate pro-environmental policies depending on their individual attributes. The discount rates for environmental outcomes are estimated by using a discrete choice experiment. We show that participants' discount rates in environmental policy choices are on average negative and future-biased. Those who are more ambiguity-averse and patient for money concerns, and anticipate more rapid increases in future temperatures are more willing to incur present-day tax burdens to ensure future environmental improvements. These results are highly robust against alternative estimation models and stable when using the follow-up survey data obtained 21 months later.
Evaluation of potential RNA‐interference‐target genes to control cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcuidae)

RNA interference (RNAi) of vital insect genes is a potential tool for targeted pest control. However, selection of the right target genes is a challenge because the RNAi efficacy is known to vary among insect species. Cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis, is a phloem‐feeding economically important crop pest. We evaluated the RNAi of 2 vital genes, Bursicon (PsBur) and V‐ATPase (PsV‐ATPase) as potential targets in P. solenopsis for its control. PCR fragments of PsBur and PsV‐ATPase were amplified using cDNA synthesized from the total RNA. The PCR amplicons were cloned into Potato virus X (PVX) to develop recombinant PVX for the inoculation of Nicotiana tabacum plants for bioassays with healthy P. solenopsis. Reverse‐transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was used to validate the expression of transgenes in the recombinant‐PVX‐inoculated plants (treated), and suppression of the target genes in the mealybugs exposed to them. The RT‐PCR confirmed the expression of transgenes in the treated plants. Mealybug individuals on treated plants either died or showed physical deformities. Further, the population of mealybug was significantly reduced by feeding on N. tabacum expressing RNAi triggers against PsBur and PsV‐ATPase. The results conclude that RNAi is activated in P. solenopsis by feeding on N. tabacum expressing RNAi triggering elements of PsBur and PsV‐ATPase genes through recombinant PVX vector. Further, V‐ATPase and Bursicon genes are potential targets for RNAi‐mediated control of P. solenopsis.
Disempowering Democracy: Local Representation in Community and Carbon Forestry in Africa

All major agencies intervening in community-based and carbon forestry – such as international development agencies, conservation institutions, and national governments – state that their interventions must engage local participation in decision making. All say they aim to represent local people in the design and implementation of their interventions. In practice, decision-making processes are rarely 'free', barely 'prior' poorly 'informative' and seldom seek any form of democratic 'consent' or even 'consultation'. Through case studies of representation processes in forestry programs in the Congo Basin region, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda, this special issue shows how forestry interventions weaken local democracy. We show that participatory and 'free, prior and informed consent' processes rarely reflect local needs and aspirations, they are rarely democratic and they do not permit participants to make significant decisions – such as whether or how the project will take place. The intervening agents' choices of local partners are based on expedience, naive notions of who can speak for local people, anti-government and pro-market ideologies informed by a comfort with expert rule. Although elected local governments are present in all cases in this special issue, they are systematically circumvented. Instead, project committees, non-governmental organizations, customary authorities, and local forestry department offices are recognized as 'representatives' while technical project objectives are favored over democratic representation.
Applications of Artificial Neural Networks in Economics and Finance

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are a powerful technique for multivariate dependence analysis. Originally inspired by neuroscience, ANNs are becoming an increasingly attractive analytic tool for applications in the area of economics and finance due to the flexible solutions they offer. The purpose of this chapter is to present such important applications with an emphasis on recent research trends. The contributions are grouped as follows: ANNs (1) for prediction, (2) for classification, and (3) for modelling. The chapter concludes with the future trends in the ANNs research in economics and finance.
Helical macrofiber formation in Bacillus subtilis: inhibition by penicillin G

The folding process required for helical macrofiber formation after the outgrowth of Bacillus subtilis spores was found to be blocked by very low concentrations of penicillin G (1 to 3 ng/ml). Under such conditions, growth and septation without cell separation resulted in characteristic disorganized multicellular structures. Higher concentrations (4 and 10 ng/ml) were needed to inhibit spore outgrowth and vegetative growth, respectively.
Investigation of Influenza Virus Polymerase Activity in Pig Cells

ABSTRACT Reassortant influenza viruses with combinations of avian, human, and/or swine genomic segments have been detected frequently in pigs. As a consequence, pigs have been accused of being a “mixing vessel” for influenza viruses. This implies that pig cells support transcription and replication of avian influenza viruses, in contrast to human cells, in which most avian influenza virus polymerases display limited activity. Although influenza virus polymerase activity has been studied in human and avian cells for many years by use of a minigenome assay, similar investigations in pig cells have not been reported. We developed the first minigenome assay for pig cells and compared the activities of polymerases of avian or human influenza virus origin in pig, human, and avian cells. We also investigated in pig cells the consequences of some known mammalian host range determinants that enhance influenza virus polymerase activity in human cells, such as PB2 mutations E627K, D701N, G590S/Q591R, and T271A. The two typical avian influenza virus polymerases used in this study were poorly active in pig cells, similar to what is seen in human cells, and mutations that adapt the avian influenza virus polymerase for human cells also increased activity in pig cells. In contrast, a different pattern was observed in avian cells. Finally, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 polymerase activity was tested because this subtype has been reported to replicate only poorly in pigs. H5N1 polymerase was active in swine cells, suggesting that other barriers restrict these viruses from becoming endemic in pigs.
Dual channel authentication in cryptography using quantum stratagem

A quantum digital authentication scheme based on hash function is proposed in this paper. The security of the quantum protocol lies on the existence of quantum one way function by fundamental quantum principle. The practical difficulties in quantum control and quantum computation made quantum protocol hard to implement. Lack of authentication made the quantum protocol vulnerable to hackers. By introducing two level quantum system, authentications can be achieved with the help of hash function. To guarantee the authenticity, hash codes are split in to two parts and exchange of code is made through two quantum channels. This scheme uses a programmable polarizer ensuring the quantum one way function and removing the practical difficulties of quantum control and quantum computation. The proposed scheme presents a novel method to construct secure quantum authentication for future communication.
Percutaneous absorption of gold sodium thiosulfate used for patch testing

Contact allergy to gold has been shown to be correlated to wearing of golden jewellery as well as to the presence of dental gold. The prerequisite for sensitization and elicitation of an allergic contact dermatitis to gold is ionization and percutaneous absorption of the allergen. The present study was undertaken with the aim to demonstrate gold in blood after an occlusive patch testing with gold sodium thiosulfate (GSTS). Patients were patch tested with GSTS 0.5, 2.0 and 5.0% in petrolatum. Venous blood was sampled before testing as well as on day 3 (D3) or day 7 (D7). Blood gold levels were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In all 66 patients, the blood level of gold was significantly higher in the 2nd blood sample than in the 1st (median 0.34 versus 0.03 µg/l). The increase was similar in patients allergic and not allergic to gold. There was no difference between gold levels on D3 and on D7 after epicutaneous application. Presumably, other allergens may also be taken up in blood during patch testing.
Polydatin ameliorates injury to the small intestine induced by hemorrhagic shock via SIRT3 activation-mediated mitochondrial protection

ABSTRACT Background: Previously, we demonstrated that sirtuin (SIRT)1 plays vital roles in the small intestine (SI), protecting against severe hemorrhagic shock (HS), and that polydatin (PD) can attenuate SI injury via SIRT1 activation. Objective: To explore the role of SIRT3 and mitochondria in SI injury after HS, and explore SIRT3 as a therapeutic target of PD in HS. Methods: An H2O2-induced model of oxidative stress and an HS model were created in IEC-6 cells and Sprague–Dawley rats, respectively. Protein content and activity of SIRT1/3 and SOD2, acetylated-SOD2 level, and mitochondrial morphology/function were determined. Results: Expression and activity of SIRT1/3 were reduced in SI tissue and IEC-6 cells after HS or oxidative stress, accompanied by an increased acetylated-SOD2 level and damaged mitochondria. Treatment with PD or resveratrol restored SIRT1/3 activity considerably, restored SIRT1/3 expression slightly, and reduced acetylated-SOD2 levels, which lead to elevated SOD2 activity and ameliorated mitochondrial function. The addition of 3-TYP (SIRT3 inhibitor) partially blocked the mitochondrial-protective effects of PD, but did not affect increased SIRT1 activity. Conclusions: The SIRT3–SOD2 signaling pathway is involved in mitochondrial dysfunction induced by HS. PD attenuates mitochondrial dysfunction via activation of the SIRT3–SOD2 pathway, and may be a new approach for HS treatment.
Shape from focus using statistics methods

Shape from focus technique can be used in the computer monocular vision, which is widely applied in the smart transportation. In this study, we proposed a novel directional statistics based focus measure for shape from focus computation. We first compute the standard deviation σ and the mean value μ in the directional neighborhood. Then use the σ/μ as the focus measure to estimate the shape. The proposed method has the virtue of noise insensitive. The results have demonstrated the robustness and feasibility of the proposed technique.
A previously undescribed ostreid herpes virus 1 (OsHV-1) genotype detected in the pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, in Ireland

SUMMARY Significant mortalities of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, have been reported worldwide since the 1950s. The impact these re-occurring mortality events have had on the C. gigas industry has highlighted the necessity to determine the factors that may be causing these mortalities. This study investigated the possible role of ostreid herpes virus (OsHV-1) in C. gigas mortalities over 2 successive summers at 2 study areas in Ireland. A single sample of adult C. gigas, which had been experiencing mortalities at one of the sites was screened. Successive cohorts of C. gigas spat obtained from a hatchery outside Ireland was relayed to both sites in 2003 and in 2004. Spat were screened each year prior to relaying. Samples were collected every 2 weeks and mortality counts were recorded and observed at both sites. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and subsequent sequencing indicated that a previously undocumented variant genotype of OsHV-1 was present in the single cohort of adult C. gigas and in seed and juveniles at both sites, in both years. Analysis suggests that the Irish OsHV-1 μvar variant genotype is closely related to OsHV-1 μvar, first described in France in 2008.
Effect of prefrontal cortex inactivation on behavioral and neurochemical abnormalities in rats with excitotoxic lesions of the entorhinal cortex

Morphological studies report reductions in the volume of medial temporal lobe structures and the prefrontal cortex in subjects with schizophrenia. The present study was performed to clarify the role of prefrontal–temporo–limbic system in the manifestation of psychosis, using entorhinal cortical lesion rats as a vulnerability animal model. Quinolinic acid (lesion group) or phosphate buffer (sham group) was infused into the left entorhinal cortex (EC) of male Wistar rats. On the 28th postoperative day, methamphetamine (MAP; 1 mg/kg, i.p.)‐induced dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) and the basolateral amygdala (BLA), as well as locomotor activity and prepulse inhibition (PPI), was measured following microinfusion of lidocaine or the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Lesions of the EC resulted in enhancement of MAP‐induced DA release in the NAC and BLA. Further analysis revealed that the enhancement by EC lesions of MAP‐induce DA release in the NAC was particularly evident in the lidocaine‐infused rats. EC lesions also enhanced MAP‐induced locomotor activity, especially in the lidocaine‐treated animals. By contrast, infusion of lidocaine into mPFC attenuated MAP‐induced DA release in the BLA, irrespective of the lesion status. Both EC lesions and lidocaine infusion disrupted PPI. These results indicate that inactivation of the mPFC, as well as structural abnormalities in the EC, leads to dysregulation of DAergic neurotransmissions in the limbic regions. The implications of these findings in relation to the neural basis for psychosis vulnerability are discussed. Synapse 61:391‐400, © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Survival of the Fittest and the Sexiest: Evolutionary Origins of Adolescent Bullying

The central idea of evolutionary psychology theory (EPT) is that species evolve to carry or exhibit certain traits/behaviors because these characteristics increase their ability to survive and reproduce. Proponents of EPT propose that bullying emerges from evolutionary development, providing an adaptive edge for gaining better sexual opportunities and physical protection, and promoting mental health. This study examines adolescent bullying behaviors via the lens of EPT. Questionnaires were administered to 135 adolescents, ages 13 to 16, from one secondary school in metro Vancouver, British Columbia. Participants were categorized into one of four groups (bullies, victims, bully/victims, or bystanders) according to their involvement in bullying interactions as measured by the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire. Four dependent variables were examined: depression, self-esteem, social status, and social anxiety. Results indicate that bullies had the most positive scores on mental health measures and held the highest social rank in the school environment, with significant differences limited to comparisons between bullies and bully/victims. These results lend support to the hypothesis that youth bullying is derived from evolutionary development. Implications for approaching anti-bullying strategies in schools and directions for future studies are discussed.
p38 MAPK Regulates Cavitation and Tight Junction Function in the Mouse Blastocyst

Blastocyst formation is essential for implantation and maintenance of pregnancy and is dependent on the expression and coordinated function of a series of proteins involved in establishing and maintaining the trans-trophectoderm ion gradient that enables blastocyst expansion. These consist of Na/K-ATPase, adherens junctions, tight junctions (TJ) and aquaporins (AQP). While their role in supporting blastocyst formation is established, the intracellular signaling pathways that coordinate their function is unclear. The p38 MAPK pathway plays a role in regulating these proteins in other cell types and is required for embryo development at the 8–16 cell stage, but its role has not been investigated in the blastocyst. Hypothesis p38 MAPK regulates blastocyst formation by regulating blastocyst formation gene expression and function. Methods Embryos were cultured from the early blastocyst stage for 12 h or 24 h in the presence of a potent and specific p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB 220025. Blastocyst expansion, hatching, gene family expression and localization, TJ function and apoptosis levels were analyzed. Results Inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway reduced blastocyst expansion and hatching, increased tight junction permeability, affected TJP1 localization, reduced Aqp3 expression, and induced a significant increase in apoptosis. Conclusion The p38 MAPK pathway coordinates the overall events that regulate blastocyst formation.