Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Controlling the particle size of amorphous iron nanoparticles

A method for controlling the particle size of amorphous iron, which was prepared by the sonication of iron pentacarbonyl [Fe(CO)_5], is reported in this paper. The sonolysis was performed on neat Fe(CO)_5 and its solutions in decane whose concentrations were 4 M, 1 M, and 0.25 M. The iron nanoparticles were subjected to TEM (Transmission Electron Micrograph), ESR (Electron Spin Resonance), TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis), DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimctry), and Quantum Design SQUID magnetization measurement. The measured properties demonstrated a strong dependence on the concentration of the solution, e.g., particle size.
Air Pollution and Respiratory-Related Restricted Activity Days in Tunisia

This paper focuses on the assessment of the air pollution and morbidity relationship in Tunisia. Air pollution is measured by ozone air concentration and the morbidity is measured by the number of respiratory-related restricted activity days during the 2-week period prior to the interview. Socioeconomic data are also collected in order to adjust for any confounding covariates. Our sample is composed by 407 Tunisian respondents; 44.7% are women, the average age is 35.2, near 69% are living in a house built after 1980, and 27.8% have reported at least one day of respiratory-related restricted activity. The model consists on the regression of the number of respiratory-related restricted activity days on the air quality measure and the socioeconomic covariates. In order to correct for zero-inflation and heterogeneity, we estimate several models (Poisson, negative binomial, zero inflated Poisson, Poisson hurdle, negative binomial hurdle and finite mixture Poisson models). Bootstrapping and post-stratification techniques are used in order to correct for any sample bias. According to the Akaike information criteria, the hurdle negative binomial model has the greatest goodness of fit. The main result indicates that, after adjusting for socioeconomic data, the ozone concentration increases the probability of positive number of restricted activity days. Keywords—Bootstrapping, hurdle negbin model, overdispersion, ozone concentration, respiratory-related restricted activity days.
Intellectual Capital and Value Creation : Evidence from the Portuguese Banking Industry

Intellectual capital has been described as intangible assets that may be used as a source of sustainable competitive advantage. However, intellectual capital components have to interact, to create value. Previous studies demonstrate that intellectual capital is positively and significantly associated with organizational performance. Our aim is to consolidate these findings, examining the inter-relationships and the interaction effects among intellectual capital components and organizational performance, in the Portuguese banking context.
Diagnostic tools for Toscana virus infection

Toscana virus (TOSV; Phlebovirus, Bunyaviridae) is an important etiological agent of acute meningitis and meningoencephalitis in Mediterranean countries. Laboratory diagnosis has been carried out in serological studies using ELISA, immunofluorescence and/or neutralization tests that are not influenced by the virus viability; however, in the acute phase of the infection, nucleic acid amplification techniques are the methods of choice to diagnose viral meningitis from cerebrospinal fluid samples. Molecular methods are rapid and sensitive and, unlike traditional methods, such as virus isolation by cell culture, they are not influenced by the viability of the virus in the clinical specimen; however, the RNA integrity is crucial for the success of these methods. Real-time PCR is the most important molecular method used in laboratories worldwide, since it is less time-consuming and it reduces the risk of contamination. Therefore, a sensitive real-time PCR has been developed for diagnosis of suspected cases of TOSV infection either autochthonous and/or imported, since a new lineage of TOSV, divergent from the Italian prototype, has recently been reported in Spain.
First Detection and Genotyping of Human-Associated Microsporidia in Pigeons from Urban Parks

ABSTRACT Microsporidia are ubiquitous opportunistic parasites in nature infecting all animal phyla, and the zoonotic potential of this parasitosis is under discussion. Fecal samples from 124 pigeons from seven parks of Murcia (Spain) were analyzed. Thirty-six of them (29.0%) showed structures compatible with microsporidia spores by staining methods. The DNA isolated from 26 fecal samples (20.9%) of microsporidia-positive pigeons was amplified with specific primers for the four most frequent human microsporidia. Twelve pigeons were positive for only Enterocytozoon bieneusi (9.7%), 5 for Encephalitozoon intestinalis (4%), and one for Encephalitozoon hellem (0.8%). Coinfections were detected in eight additional pigeons: E. bieneusi and E. hellem were detected in six animals (4.8%); E. bieneusi was associated with E. intestinalis in one case (0.8%); and E. hellem and E. intestinalis coexisted in one pigeon. No positive samples for Encephalitozoon cuniculi were detected. The internally transcribed spacer genotype could be completed for one E. hellem-positive pigeon; the result was identical to the genotype A1 previously characterized in an E. hellem Spanish strain of human origin. To our knowledge, this is the first time that human-related microsporidia have been identified in urban park pigeons. Moreover, we can conclude that there is no barrier to microsporidia transmission between park pigeons and humans for E. intestinalis and E. hellem. This study is of environmental and sanitary interest, because children and elderly people constitute the main visitors of parks and they are populations at risk for microsporidiosis. It should also contribute to the better design of appropriate prophylactic measures for populations at risk for opportunistic infections.
Rapid identification of Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Bemisia tabaci (MEAM1 and MED) and tomato-infecting criniviruses in whiteflies and in tomato leaves by real-time reverse transcription-PCR assay.

The whiteflies Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera Aleyrodidae) are harmful pests of vegetable and ornamental crops in many countries. Also, they are vectors of emergent viruses on tomato including the criniviruses (Closteroviridae genus Crinivirus) Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and Tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV). Since different vectors are involved in the transmission of both viruses (ToCV is transmitted by B. tabaci, Trialeurodes abutiloneus and T. vaporariorum while TICV is transmitted only by T. vaporariorum), and they induce similar symptoms on tomato plants, a sensitive and specific diagnosis method is desirable. In addition, a rapid discriminating method of the vectors is essential for monitoring and control activities and epidemiological studies. For these reasons, a combined protocol based on one-step multiplex real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR has been developed for the identification of T. vaporariorum, two invasive species of the complex B. tabaci (MEAM1 and MED) and for the specific detection of ToCV and TICV in whiteflies and plants.
Topology of Surfaces Modelling Bridges and Tunnels in 3 D-GIS Early Draft

Bridges and tunnels are semantically meaningful objects in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), playing an important role in terms of reachability between locations. From a topological point of view, bridges and tunnels on surfaces are captured by the notion of a handle. In this paper, we extend an existing axiomatic characterization of 3D surfaces, which guarantees consistency between geometry and topology, to the case of handles. Furthermore, we present a method which verifies the occurrence of handles in surfaces, thereby contributing to the semantic-topological consistency in GIS. We close the gap between the global topological definition of handles in surfaces and the local definition of semantical handle objects in GIS – tunnels, bridges, arcades. Our method bases on a classification of cycles in two types. We give an efficient algorithm for discriminating both using standard methods from graph theory. This classification in addition contributes to the correctness of editing operations in GIS.
The role of neuroinflammation and amyloid in cognitive impairment in an APP/PS1 transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Both amyloid deposition and neuroinflammation appear in the early course of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the progression of neuroinflammation and its relationship with amyloid deposition and behavioral changes have not been fully elucidated. A better understanding the role of neuroinflammation in AD might extend our current knowledge to therapeutic intervention possibilities.
On dynamics of parvoviral replication protein NS1

Niskanen, Einari A. On Dynamics of Parvoviral Replication Protein NS1 Jyvaskyla: University of Jyvaskyla, 2010, 81 p. (Jyvaskyla Studies in Biological and Environmental Science ISSN 1456-9701; 210) ISBN 978-951-39-3922-9 (PDF), 978-951-39-3921-2 (nid.) Yhteenveto: Parvovirusten replikaatioproteiini NS1:n dynamiikka Diss. Members of the family Parvoviridae are small, non-enveloped viruses. Their DNA genome is unique among the viruses in being both single-stranded and linear. Viruses of the genus Parvovirus, belonging to the vertebrate infecting subfamily Parvovirinae, have only two genes in their genome: one for the capsid proteins (VP1 and VP2) and the other for non-structural proteins (NS1 and NS2). Their small protein capsids are formed from 60 copies of VP proteins. The capsid protects the viral genome outside the cell and enables cellular entry. Parvoviruses replicate in the nucleus of the host cell, exploiting the host replication machinery. However, the genome replication is dependent on the function of NS1 – a multifunctional nuclear phosphoprotein with helicase, ATPase, transcriptional regulation, sequence-specific DNA recognition, and siteand strand-specific nicking functions. In this thesis, the canine parvovirus (CPV), a member of the genus Parvovirus, was used to investigate changes that occur in nuclear organization during parvovirus infection and to elucidate the mechanisms behind the dynamics of the replication protein NS1. Most of the studies were done using fluorescent fusion proteins in arguably the most relevant context: living cells. In case of the multifunctional NS1 protein, this setup has the advantage of obviating the need to know all interacting partners in order to study its dynamics. At the same time, however, the unambiguous interpretation of the results is challenging. CPV infection was observed to induce massive reorganization in the host nucleus, including marginalization of the chromatin. In addition, the dynamics of the NS1 protein was concluded to depend on its ability to bind and hydrolyze ATP and on the integrity of the predicted DNA-binding regions in the N-terminal and helicase domains. Moreover, NS1 was hypothesized to utilizing both the N-terminal and helicase domains in non-specific binding of a double-stranded DNA. This suggests a functional similarity between NS1 and the papillomavirus replication proteins.
The palliative care needs of people with intellectual disabilities: a case study.

This article describes a case study that aimed to consider the unique needs of a client who has intellectual disabilities and a terminal illness. Data collection included semi-structured interviews with the client and professionals involved in his care. Five broad sets of themes emerged from these interviews. Although these are not unique to the rapidly evolving field of palliative care, they are less familiar within the specialism of intellectual disabilities, i.e. difficulties and delays around diagnosing the illness, consent issues, conflicts between the carers and the family, truth-telling, and the need for professional support. Professionals who work with a person with intellectual disabilities and a terminal illness need to be aware that special issues may arise. The effects of potential problems with comprehension and communication need to be assessed individually. A close collaboration between all professionals, carers, family and the client, and the mutual sharing of expertise, is essential to ensure the best possible care.
An improved micro‐method for obtaining chromosome preparations from individual haemopoietic colonies

A robust method for obtaining chromosome preparations from individual haemopoietic colonies in semi‐solid media is described. The accumulation of metaphases and the hypotonic treatment of cells were carried out in the culture dish and individual colonies were transferred onto poly‐l‐lysine‐treated slides and fixed stepwise prior to staining. The technique produced high yields of well‐spread metaphases facilitating clonal cytogenetic analysis.
Elective tracheostomy is an alternative treatment in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and CPAP failure

Conclusions. Elective tracheostomy with custom-made tubes was tolerated in a majority of patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), as it reduced daytime symptoms and served as a link to other treatments. Objectives. To evaluate the tolerability of elective tracheostomy and changes in excessive daytime sleepiness and nocturnal oxygen desaturations (ODI) in patients with severe OSAS and obesity. Patients and methods. The medical records of 10 patients, median age 53.5 years (range 31–77), BMI 36 kg/m2 (31–50), ODI 81 (55–126) during a 5-year period were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were failure of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), acceptance of tracheostomy, excessive daytime sleepiness and ODI > 50. All patients received a custom-made tube. Sleep apnoea recordings and questionnaires with Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) were performed before and after tracheostomy. Results. Eight of 10 patients tolerated the tube for more than 6 months. The ESS score was reduced from median 18 (range 8–23) to 5 (0–7) and the ODI values from 81 (55–126) to 13 (1–87). Two patients insisted on decannulation because they had nocturnal breathing problems, two underwent palatal surgery and were decannulated, and five still have their tubes. Severe cough, sputum infections and stoma granuloma were seen in all patients.
A cognitive neuropsychological case study of anomia. Implications for psychological models of word retrieval.

The case of a neurological patient with severe anomic word-finding difficulties is reported. A detailed cognitive neuropsychological investigation of the patient's ability to name objects to confrontation was carried out in an attempt to determine where his cognitive deficits might lie. In contrast to the findings of recent case studies of word-finding difficulty (e.g., Howard and Orchard-Lisle, 1984), it was observed that the patient seemed to have a clear understanding of the items that he was trying to name, suggesting that his problems in word-finding were not semantically based. Indeed, the patient would often generate partial phonological information about the sought-after word, indicating that he had a specific target in mind, and this was reminiscent of 'tip-of-the-tongue' states in normal word-finding. A difficulty in retrieving complete phonological forms of words is considered as the probable locus of his anomia. A distinction is made between semantically-based and phonologically-based anomias.
Correlates of Generalized Anxiety and Panic Attacks in Dystonia and Parkinson Disease

ObjectiveTo determine prevalences of generalized anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and panic disorder in primary dystonia (n = 28) and Parkinson disease (n = 28) and to explore their clinical correlates. BackgroundWe previously identified increases in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition generalized anxiety in dystonia and panic attacks in Parkinson disease. MethodStructured Clinical Interview (SCID) ascertainment of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition, revised, disorders. ResultsGeneralized anxiety disorder was more common in dystonia while panic disorder was more common in Parkinson disease (P = 0.0018). Generalized anxiety developed more commonly after dystonia onset (i.e., secondary generalized anxiety) while panic attacks developed more commonly after Parkinson disease onset (P = 0.0132). Specific life prevalences were: generalized anxiety disorder, 7 subjects (25.0%) in dystonia versus 0 subjects (0.0%) in Parkinson disease; generalized anxiety, 11 (39.3%) versus 0 (0.0%); panic disorder, 2 (7.1%) versus 7 (25.0%); and panic attacks, 2 (7.1%) versus 9 (32.1%). Exploratory analysis in Parkinson disease indicated a relationship of panic disorder (P = 0.027) and secondary panic attacks (P = 0.0009) to motor block frequency. There were nonsignificant trends toward associations of secondary generalized anxiety with lower Mini Mental Status Examination scores (P = 0.058), and of secondary panic attacks with presence of a depressive disorder (P = 0.077). Depressive comorbidity rates are also presented. ConclusionsThese findings suggest relations of generalized anxiety with reduced pallidal inhibition of thalamofrontotemporal projections, and panic attacks with locus coeruleus dysfunction.
Rural Landscape, Production and Human Consumption: Past, Present and Future.

Abstract Production and consumption of food and in a rural area over the last 400 years were reconstructed for a parish in south east Sweden. This was based on a number of different data sources, including historical maps and official demographic and agricultural statistics. Changes in population (and thus consumption) and the production from arable land and livestock were calculated and used to provide an estimate of the area's supply and demand over time, and of the historical sustainability of the area. Overall food productivity was remarkably constant over time, at approximately 0.04 kgC m−2 y−1, despite recent changes in population size and the area of cultivated land. The empirical results from the past and the present, together with the future land changes due to shoreline displacement were used to predict the situation in the future. These final estimates can be used in the assessment of risk for exposure to contaminated food for the future population in the area.
Altered white matter structure in the visual system following early monocular enucleation

Partial visual deprivation from early monocular enucleation (the surgical removal of one eye within the first few years of life) results in a number of long‐term morphological adaptations in adult cortical and subcortical visual, auditory, and multisensory brain regions. In this study, we investigated whether early monocular enucleation also results in the altered development of white matter structure. Diffusion tensor imaging and probabilistic tractography were performed to assess potential differences in visual system white matter in adult participants who had undergone early monocular enucleation compared to binocularly intact controls. To examine the microstructural properties of these tracts, mean diffusion parameters including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were extracted bilaterally. Asymmetries opposite to those observed in controls were found for FA, MD, and RD in the optic radiations, the projections from primary visual cortex (V1) to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), and the interhemispheric V1 projections of early monocular enucleation participants. Early monocular enucleation was also associated with significantly lower FA bidirectionally in the interhemispheric V1 projections. These differences were consistently greater for the tracts contralateral to the enucleated eye, and are consistent with the asymmetric LGN volumes and optic tract diameters previously demonstrated in this group of participants. Overall, these results indicate that early monocular enucleation has long‐term effects on white matter structure in the visual pathway that results in reduced fiber organization in tracts contralateral to the enucleated eye. Hum Brain Mapp 39:133–144, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Protection Against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Renal Oxidative Stress by Amifostine: The Role of Antioxidative Mechanisms

Cyclophosphamide, an alkylating compound used in chemotheraphy, is metabolized into active metabolites that form reactive oxygen species. Reactive oxygen species can modify the components of both healthy and neoplastic cells in circumstances of decreased antioxidative abilities. That leads to the dysfunction of organs, including the kidneys. Therefore, drugs like amifostine, which protect healthy cells against reactive oxygen species, may be applied during cyclophosphamide therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of amifostine on the antioxidative system of the kidneys of rats that were exposed to cyclophosphamide. Intraperitoneal administration of cyclophosphamide was found to decrease the activity of the kidney's antioxidative enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, gluthatione reductase, and catalase. Amifostine, however, caused an increase in the activity of these enzymes. The administration of amifostine with cyclophosphamide partially prevented changes in the activities of the examined enzymes observed after cyclophosphamide injection. Cyclophosphamide also evoked a decrease in the levels of nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as reduced gluthatione, vitamin C, and vitamin E as well as the total antioxidant status. The administration of amifostine together with cyclophosphamide prevented changes in the concentration of evaluated nonenzymatic antioxidative parameters, increasing values of their concentration to the values in the control group. Changes in the kidneys' antioxidative abilities during detoxification from cyclophosphamide were accompanied by intensified lipid peroxidation, which was manifested by an increase in the concentration of malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal. Amifostine caused the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in the kidneys of control and cyclophosphamide-treated rats. In conclusion, our results suggest that amifostine significantly protects kidney antioxidant parameters from changes caused by cyclophosphamide treatment and, in consequence, prevents oxidative stress and phospholipid peroxidative damage. Thus, amifostine prevents renal injury and dysfunction.
Long-Term and Short-Term Dynamics of Microtus epiroticus: A Yoccoz-Birkeland Model

We study the discrete version of a dynamical system given by a model proposed by Yoccoz and Birkeland to describe the evolution in time of the population $N(t)$ of Microtus epiroticus (voles) on the Svalbard Islands. We prove that this model always has an attractor $\Lambda$ which is trivial for most of the parameter values tested but that for certain parameter values exhibits sensitivity to initial conditions. This means that, up to the validity of the model and for these particular parameter values, the behavior in time $t$ of the population $N(t)$ of Microtus epiroticus is concentrated in the attractor and varies unpredictably. This is in concordance with the experimental data collected by several researchers. In particular, for some specific choice of parameters, sustained by numerical simulations, the system is transitive and has positive order-2 Kolmogorov entropy, implying that the system presents chaos. For this choice of parameters we give numerical evidence of the existence of homoclinic points .