Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An outbreak of diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome from Escherichia coli O157:H7 in fresh-pressed apple cider.

OBJECTIVE Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes hemorrhagic colitis and the hemolytic uremic syndrome. In the fall of 1991, an outbreak of E coli O157:H7 infections in southeastern Massachusetts provided an opportunity to identify transmission by a seemingly unlikely vehicle. DESIGN Case-control study to determine the vehicle of infection. New England cider producers were surveyed to assess production practices and determined the survival time of E coli O157:H7 organisms in apple cider. RESULTS Illness was significantly associated with drinking one brand of apple cider. Thirteen (72%) of 18 patients but only 16 (33%) of 49 controls reported drinking apple cider in the week before illness began (odds ratio [OR], 8.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8 to 39.7). Among those who drank cider, 12 (92%) of 13 patients compared with two (13%) of 16 controls drank cider from cider mill A (lower 95% CI, 2.9; P < .01). This mill pressed cider in a manner similar to that used by other small cider producers: apples were not washed, cider was not pasteurized, and no preservatives were added. In the laboratory, E coli O157:H7 organisms survived for 20 days in unpreserved refrigerated apple cider. Addition of sodium benzoate 0.1% reduced survival to less than 7 days. CONCLUSIONS Fresh-pressed, unpreserved apple cider can transmit E coli O157:H7 organisms, which cause severe infections. Risk of transmission can be reduced by washing and brushing apples before pressing, and preserving cider with sodium benzoate. Consumers can reduce their risk by only drinking cider made from apples that have been washed and brushed.
Policy interventions in response to below-replacement fertility.

This paper discusses policy interventions in response to below-replacement fertility. It is noted that due to the rising concerns about very low fertility rates interest in policy proposals aimed at reversing the downward trend of fertility was kindled. Such policies aiming to raise fertility had typically involved complex packages of provisions that varied widely from country to country and had been subject to frequent adjustment. Overall it is noted that the social pronatalist and contemporary pronatalist policies have failed to adequately indicate the bewildering variety of specific measures that have in fact been adopted often half-heartedly but sometimes with greater vigor under each rubric in virtually all countries. Moreover in looking at the various policy packages it should be remembered that the absence or presence of explicit pronatalist objectives and the stridency or tentativeness with which such objectives if any are articulated are very poor predictors either of the scope and generosity of the various services made available to the population under each of the above headings.
Effects of Brief, Clustered Versus Dispersed Hypoxic Episodes on Systemic and Ocular Growth Factors in a Rat Model of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy

Oxygen fluctuation patterns in preterm infants who develop retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are varied and poorly represented in animal models. We examined the hypothesis that clustered (CL) episodes of hypoxia during hyperoxia results in a more severe form of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) than dispersed episodes. Rat pups were exposed to alternating cycles of 1) 50% O2 with three CL episodes of 12% O2 every 6 h; or 2) 50% O2 with one episode of 12% O2 every 2 h, for 7 (P7) or 14 (P14) days postnatal age. Pups were killed after hyperoxia, or placed in room air (RA) until P21. RA littermates were killed at P7, P14, and P21. Systemic and ocular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and growth hormone were examined. All hyperoxia-exposed retinas had evidence of neovascularization. Animals in the CL group had a more severe form of OIR at P21 evidenced by vascular tufts, leaky vessels, retinal hemorrhage, and vascular overgrowth. These characteristics were associated with low body weight; high systemic and ocular VEGF; and low systemic and high ocular sVEGFR-1 and IGF-I. These data suggest that preterm infants who experience CL fluctuations in Pao2 during supplemental O2 therapy are at a higher risk for severe ROP.
Endothelium‐dependent vasorelaxation induced by L‐carnitine in isolated aorta from normotensive and hypertensive rats

The aim of this work was to investigate the mechanism of the vasodilatory effect induced by L‐carnitine. Relaxation produced by L‐carnitine was studied in rat aortic rings with and without functional endothelium, pre‐contracted with phenylephrine by adding cumulative doses of L‐carnitine (10−7 to 10−3 M). The relaxation evoked by L‐carnitine reached higher values in aortic rings from spontaneously hypertensive rats than those obtained in arteries from normotensive rats; no relaxation was produced in de‐endothelialized arteries. However, in the presence of NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine (3 × 10−5 M, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), Ro 68070 (10−4 M, a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor‐thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptor antagonist) or ICI 192605 (10−5 M, a thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist) the relaxant response to L‐carnitine was significantly inhibited. These results show that L‐carnitine induced endothelium‐dependent relaxation in the rat aorta and the mechanism of this relaxation appeared to be mostly mediated by endothelial production of nitric oxide but also could involve prevention of the action of cyclooxygenase endothelial products acting on the thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptor.
RTMS induces brief events of muscle atonia in patients with narcolepsy.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with narcolepsy. DESIGN Using rTMS, three patients with narcolepsy and cataplexy were investigated with and without their anticataplectic medication. rTMS of the motor cortex was performed at an intensity of 110% of resting motor threshold, a frequency of 20 Hz, and a duration of 2s. EMG activity was recorded for both the right and left first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI). Eight healthy controls were also investigated under the same conditions. SETTING The study was carried out in the sleep laboratory of the Neurology Department (University of Aachen). PATIENTS One female and two male patients with narcolepsy/cataplexy. INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS In three narcoleptic patients, after three days of not taking their usual anticataplectic medication, rTMS of the motorcortex induced an interruption of voluntary EMG activity in the FDI. EMG reduction lasted from 0.6 to 3.5s and was more pronounced in the hand contralateral to the stimulated hemisphere. This result was not observed in these patients when taking their regular medication nor in the normal controls. Stimulation of other cortical areas, as well as stimulation of the peripheral nervous system, did not induce muscle weakness episodes. CONCLUSIONS We postulate that rTMS of the descending voluntary motor pathway triggers muscle atonia similar to cataplexy by indirectly activating the mechanisms responsible for the generation of muscle atonia during REM sleep and cataplexy. We conclude that rTMS, in the future, might prove to be a useful addition to the diagnostic repertoire for narcolepsy.
Diverse patterns of neuroendocrine activity in maltreated children

Cortisol regulation was investigated in a sample of school-aged maltreated (n = 175) and demographically comparable low-income nonmaltreated (n = 209) children in the context of a day camp research program. Overall group differences between maltreated and nonmaltreated children were not found for average morning or average afternoon cortisol levels. However, significant variations were found that were based on the subtypes of maltreatment that the children had experienced. Maltreated children who had been both physically and sexually abused (as well as neglected or emotionally maltreated) exhibited substantial elevations in morning cortisol levels; children who had high (>1 SD) cortisol levels in both the morning and afternoon were also overrepresented in the multiple abuse group. Developmental timing of maltreatment did not account for these group differences, whereas the severity of sexual abuse was implicated. In contrast to the multiple abuse group, a subgroup of physically abused children showed evidence of a trend toward lower morning cortisol relative to nonmaltreated children with a significantly smaller decrease in cortisol levels from morning to afternoon. The findings are discussed in terms of the diversity of atypical cortisol regulation patterns that are exhibited among maltreated children.
Comparison of benazepril-amlodipine and captopril-thiazide combinations in the management of mild-to-moderate hypertension.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and tolerability of benazepril 10 mg + amlodipine 5 mg combination (BZ+AM) versus captopril 50 mg + hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg (CP+HT) combination. MATERIAL 405 outpatients with mild-to-moderate arterial hypertension not adequately controlled by a monotherapy with ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers or diuretics entered this multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study. METHOD After a 2-week placebo run-in, 397 patients with sitting diastolic (D) blood pressure (BP) > 95 mmHg and/or sitting systolic (S) BP > 160 mmHg were randomized to receive either BZ+AM (201 patients) or CP+HT (196 patients) once daily for 12 weeks. Main outcome measure was sitting DBP and SBP values at the end of active treatment. The response rate was defined as the proportion of patients with either a final sitting DBP < 90 mmHg or decreased by at least 10 mmHg or a sitting SBP < 150 mmHg or decreased by at least 20 mmHg from baseline. RESULTS The DBP and SBP values obtained with BZ+AM were, respectively, 2.7 and 3.7 mmHg lower than those obtained with CP+HT (both p < 0.001 vs. CP+HT). The response rate in the BZ+AM group (94.8%) was better than that observed in the CP+HT group (86.0%, p = 0.004). The incidence of adverse events was similar with the 2 treatment regimens (17.9% for both). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest a higher antihypertensive efficacy of the fixed combination BZ 10 mg+AM 5 mg as compared with CP 50 mg+HT 25 mg.
Onchocerca ochengi: epidemiological evidence of cross-protection against Onchocerca volvulus in man

In North Cameroon, the vector of Onchocerca volvulus (causative agent of human onchocerciasis) also transmits 2 filariae of animals: O. ochengi from cattle and O. ramachandrini from wart hogs. In order to assess the qualitative and quantitative roles of these ‘animal filariae’ in the epidemiology of O. volvulus, the transmission of the 3 parasites was measured in 2 villages and related to the endemicity of human onchocerciasis. In Galim, a cattle-farming Guinea savanna village where wild animals are rare, the overwhelming majority of all filarial infections found in the Simulium damnosum s.l. vectors throughout the year were O. ochengi (89%). The remaining infections were mainly O. volvulus (10·5%), and a few O. ramachandrini (0·5%). In Karna, a crop-farming Sudan savanna village where cattle are rare, but wild animals common, flies were also more frequently infected with animal filariae than with the human parasite. In the dry season, when nomadic cattle are present, 54% of all infections were O. ochengi, 36% O. volvulus and 10% O. ramachindrini. In the rainy season, when the cattle move away, flies were mainly infected with O. ramachandrini (52% of all infections) and secondly with O. volvulus (48%). In Karna, the relationship between the Annual Transmission Potential (ATP) of O. volvulus and its prevalence in the human population conformed to other onchocerciasis foci, in that a moderate ATP led to hyperendemic onchocerciasis. In Galim, however, a 7-fold higher O. volvulus-ATP (caused by a very high biting rate of the flies) contrasted with a strikingly low endemicity of onchocerciasis. Since, at the same time, in Galim the transmission of O. ochengi (measured on man) was very high (15000 L3/fly collector/year), we hypothesize that the reduced endemicity of onchocerciasis in Galim is due to ‘natural heterologous vaccination’ by the large annual number of O. ochengi-L3, inoculated into man by anthropo-boophilic S. damnosum s.l. The importance of micro-epidemiology for the understanding of the interlinkage of human and animal onchocerciasis is discussed.
Karyosystematics and molecular taxonomy of the anomalous blue butterflies (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from the Balkan Peninsula

Abstract The Balkan Peninsula represents one of the hottest biodiversity spots in Europe. However, the invertebrate fauna of this region is still insufficiently investigated, even in respect of such well-studied organisms as Lepidoptera. Here we use a combination of chromosomal, molecular and morphological markers to rearrange the group of so-called anomalous blue butterflies (also known as ‘brown complex’ of the subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, [1822] and as the Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) admetus (Esper, 1783) species group) and to reveal its cryptic taxonomic structure. We demonstrate that Polyommatus aroaniensis (Brown, 1976) is not as widespread in the Balkans as was previously thought. In fact, it has a dot-like distribution range restricted to the Peloponnese Peninsula in South Greece. Polyommatus orphicus Kolev, 2005 is not as closely related to the Turkish species Polyommatus dantchenkoi (Lukhtanov & Wiemers, 2003) as was supposed earlier. Instead, it is a Balkan endemic represented by two subspecies: Polyommatus orphicus orphicus (Bulgaria) and Polyommatus orphicus eleniae Coutsis & De Prins, 2005 (Northern Greece). Polyommatus ripartii (Freyer, 1830) is represented in the Balkans by an endemic subspecies Polyommatus ripartii pelopi. The traditionally recognized Polyommatus admetus (Esper, 1783) is shown to be a heterogeneous complex and is divided into Polyommatus admetus sensu stricto (the Balkans and west Turkey) and Polyommatus yeranyani (Dantchenko & Lukhtanov, 2005) (east Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran). Polyommatus nephohiptamenos (Brown & Coutsis, 1978) is confirmed to be a species with a dot-like distribution range in Northern Greece. Finally, from Central Greece (Timfristos and Parnassos mountains) we describe Polyommatus timfristos Lukhtanov, Vishnevskaya & Shapoval, sp. n. which differs by its haploid chromosome number (n=38) from the closely related and morphologically similar Polyommatus aroaniensis (n=47-48) and Polyommatus orphicus (n=41-42). We provide chromosomal evidence for three separate south Balkan Pleistocene refugia (Peloponnesse, Central Greece and Northern Greece/South Bulgaria) and stress the biogeographic importance of Central Greece as a place of diversification. Then we argue that the data obtained have direct implications for butterfly karyology, taxonomy, biogeography and conservation.
The management of ascites in cirrhosis: Report on the consensus conference of the international Ascites club

Ascites is a common complication of cirrhosis, and heralds a new phase of hepatic decompensation in the progression of the cirrhotic process. The development of ascites carries a significant worsening of the prognosis. It is important to diagnose noncirrhotic causes of ascites such as malignancy, tuberculosis, and pancreatic ascites since these occur with increased frequency in patients with liver disease. The International Ascites Club, representing the spectrum of clinical practice from North America to Europe, have developed guidelines by consensus in the management of cirrhotic ascites from the early ascitic stage to the stage of refractory ascites. Mild to moderate ascites should be managed by modest salt restriction and diuretic therapy with spironolactone or an equivalent in the first instance. Diuretics should be added in a stepwise fashion while maintaining sodium restriction. Gross ascites should be treated with therapeutic paracentesis followed by colloid volume expansion, and diuretic therapy. Refractory ascites is managed by repeated large volume paracentesis or insertion of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPS). Successful placement of TIPS results in improved renal function, sodium excretion, and general well‐being of the patient but without proven survival benefits. Clinicians caring for these patients should be aware of the potential complications of each treatment modality and be prepared to discontinue diuretics or not proceed with TIPS placement should complications or contraindications develop. Liver transplantation should be considered for all ascitic patients, and this should preferably be performed prior to the development of renal dysfunction to prevent further compromise of their prognosis.
Sport Spectator Preferences : What is Their Favourite TV-Sport Programme?

Sport spectators have the choice between different kinds of sport broadcasts e.g. live versus recorded, full length versus highlights, or free-to-air-TV versus pay-TV. All these choices represent different business and revenues models for sport event organisers having an economic impact on these organisations. They have to fi nd the most successful kind of sport broadcast for their sport event. That is why they require knowledge about spectator preferences. Hence, the research question of this paper is: What are the spectator preferences for different kinds of sport broadcasts on television?
Progressive brain metabolic changes under deep brain stimulation of subthalamic nucleus in parkinsonian rats

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an efficient neurosurgical treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease. Non‐invasive metabolic neuroimaging during the course of DBS in animal models may contribute to our understanding of its action mechanisms. Here, DBS was adapted to in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 11.7 T in the rat to follow metabolic changes in main basal ganglia structures, the striatum, and the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr). Measurements were repeated OFF and ON acute and subchronic (7 days) STN‐DBS in control and parkinsonian (6‐hydroxydopamine lesion) conditions. Acute DBS reversed the increases in glutamate, glutamine, and GABA levels induced by the dopamine lesion in the striatum but not in the SNr. Subchronic DBS normalized GABA in both the striatum and SNr, and glutamate in the striatum. Taurine levels were markedly decreased under subchronic DBS in the striatum and SNr in both lesioned and unlesioned rats. Microdialysis in the striatum further showed that extracellular taurine was increased. These data reveal that STN‐DBS has duration‐dependent metabolic effects in the basal ganglia, consistent with development of adaptive mechanisms. In addition to counteracting defects induced by the dopamine lesion, prolonged DBS has proper effects independent of the pathological condition.
A RECEPTOR ASSAY FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF TSH RECEPTOR ANTIBODIES IN UNEXTRACTED SERUM

A receptor assay for TSH receptor antibodies is described in which unextracted serum, detergent solubilised TSH receptors and 125I‐labelled TSH are used. The assay was rapid and reproducible with coefficients of inter‐assay variation of 12·3%, 2·1 and 2·6% at mean inhibition of TSH binding values of 11, 53, and 79 respectively. Assay sensitivity could be increased by reducing the volume of receptors used but some increase in the scatter of values obtained with individual normal sera was also observed. Comparison of human and porcine TSH receptor preparations indicated that porcine tissue gave greater sensitivity. Analysis of different groups of patients and normal subjects (n= 21) showed the absence of detectable TSH receptor antibody activity in 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 10 with multinodular goitre and 12 with Hashimoto's disease. However the antibody was readily detectable in 28 out of 28 GRAVES' patients (treated and untreated) who were hyperthyroid at the time of assay.
On estimation with missing data

The maximum likelihood estimation of the mean and covariance of a normal random vector X, based on a sequence of independently and identically distributed observations {X1, X2,. , XN} with possibly missing components in Xi for some i is examined. It is shown that a systematic procedure can be obtained via the general theory of the E-M (Expectation and Maximization) algorithm (Ref. 3). A numerical example is discussed.
Wind farm strategic investment considering forecast errors penalties in a nodal prices market

In this work, we determine the optimal investment strategy of a wind producer in a local prices environment, taking into account the penalties for real-time imbalances. We assume these imbal- ances come from forecast errors on the considered renewable production only. To do so, we solve a bilevel optimization problem. The upper level problem corresponds to the revenue of the con- sidered producer, and the lower level problems correspond to the market clearings, taking place a day ahead of operations and on real-time. Indeed, we consider that imbalances penalties cor- respond to real-time prices such as is done in the American market PJM. Indeed, in a local prices framework, using real-time prices is a simple way to recover the financial amounts corresponding to the imbalances in power.
Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a marker of severe lupus nephritis in children

Introduction More than 60% of children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop lupus nephritis (LN). Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a protein secreted by leukocytes during inflammation and is overexpressed in the kidneys following ischemic and nephrotoxic damage. Aim To study urinary and serum NGAL in children with SLE and investigate their possible role as markers of renal involvement. Methods Urinary and serum levels of NGAL were assessed in 33 children with active SLE (22 with and 11 without LN) and compared to 15 matched controls. Results Children with SLE had elevated urinary NGAL as compared to controls (P < 0.001). Levels of urinary NGAL were higher in patients with LN than those without LN (P < 0.001). In patients with LN, serum levels of NGAL were not significantly different from controls (P = 0.4) and urinary NGAL correlated with the renal score of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (r = 0.5, P = 0.02) but not with serum NGAL (P = 0.5). Urinary NGAL was significantly predictive of class III and IV LN (P = 0.005) with 91% sensitivity and 70% specificity to levels ≥10.07 ng/mg creatinine. Conclusions Urinary NGAL is a sensitive marker of proliferative nephritis in juvenile SLE.
Functionally-based screening criteria for hearing-critical jobs based on the Hearing in Noise Test

Effective communication is a crucial requirement in many workplaces to ensure safe and effective operations. Often, critical verbal communications are carried out in noise, which can be very challenging, particularly for individuals with hearing loss. Diagnostic measures of hearing, such as the audiogram, are not adequate to make accurate predictions of speech intelligibility in real-world environments for specific workers, and thus are not generally suitable as a basis for making employment decisions. Instead, the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) has been identified and validated for use in predicting speech intelligibility in a wide range of communication environments. The approach to validation of the HINT takes into account the expected voice level of the talker, the communication distance between the talker and the listener, and a statistical model of speech intelligibility in real-world occupational noises. For each hearing-critical task, a HINT screening threshold score is derived upon specification of the minimum level of performance required of the workers. The HINT is available in several languages, so the tools developed are applicable in a wide range of settings, including multilingual workplaces.