Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elucidation of Listeria monocytogenesContamination Routes in Cold-Smoked Salmon Processing Plants Detected by DNA-Based Typing Methods

ABSTRACT The contamination routes of Listeria monocytogenes in cold-smoked salmon processing plants were investigated by analyzing 3,585 samples from products (produced in 1995, 1996, 1998, and 1999) and processing environments (samples obtained in 1998 and 1999) of two Danish smokehouses. The level of product contamination in plant I varied from 31 to 85%, and no L. monocytogenes was found on raw fish (30 fish were sampled). In plant II, the levels of both raw fish and product contamination varied from 0 to 25% (16 of 185 raw fish samples and 59 of 1,000 product samples were positive for L. monocytogenes). A total of 429 strains of L. monocytogenes were subsequently compared by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiling, and 55 different RAPD types were found. The RAPD types detected on the products were identical to types found on the processing equipment and in the processing environment, suggesting that contamination of the final product (cold-smoked salmon) in both plants (but primarily in plant I) was due to contamination during processing rather than to contamination from raw fish. However, the possibility that raw fish was an important source of contamination of the processing equipment and environment could not be excluded. Contamination of the product occurred in specific areas (the brining and slicing areas). In plant I, the same RAPD type (RAPD type 12) was found over a 4-year period, indicating that an established in-house flora persisted and was not eliminated by routine hygienic procedures. In plant II, where the prevalence of L. monocytogenes was much lower, no RAPD type persisted over long periods of time, and several differentL. monocytogenes RAPD types were isolated. This indicates that persistent strains may be avoided by rigorous cleaning and sanitation; however, due to the ubiquitous nature of the organism, sporadic contamination occurred. A subset of strains was also typed by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and amplified fragment length polymorphism profiling, and these methods confirmed the type division obtained by RAPD profiling.
Ciliary artery involvement in giant cell arteritis.

THIS condition was first established as a clinical and pathological entity by Horton, Magath, and Brown (1932), who gave it the name temporal arteritis. Although involvement of the temporal arteries is a frequent and often dominant clinical feature, it has long been known that many other arteries may be similarly affected and the term cranial arteritis was suggested from involvement of the branches of the internal and external carotid arteries. Other branches of the aorta may be affected and it has been shown that small arteries are vulnerable as well as larger ones (Crompton, 1959). Frequently there are associated features of a general illness, such as malaise, anorexia, fever, and loss of weight. That the condition is a generalized vascular disease was emphasized by Cooke, Cloake, Govan, and Colbeck (1946) and Heptinstall, Porter, and Barkley (1954) and it is now usually called 'giant cell arteritis', thereby stressing one of its histological features. The ocular complications of giant cell arteritis have been reviewed by Wagener and Hollenhorst (1958), Parsons-Smith (1959), and Simmons and Cogan (1962). Ocular lesions occur in about 40 per cent. of cases, and complete blindness in one or both eyes follows in about 30 per cent. of cases (Meadows, 1965). In some cases the ophthalmoscopic appearance is that of central retinal artery occlusion. In many cases, however, the loss of vision is much greater than would be expected from the fundus appearance, thus suggesting the possibility of optic nerve ischaemia. Meadows (1965) stated that central retinal artery occlusion occurred clinically in only three out of forty cases in which blindness occurred as a result of giant cell arteritis. Blindness can therefore result from occlusion of the central retinal artery or of the posterior ciliary artery system. There have been few reports of the post mortem changes in the visual pathway in giant cell arteritis. Crompton (1959) refers to three cases in the literature with involvement of the ciliary arteries, in addition to his -own case. The purpose of this paper is to present the histological features of a further case and to emphasize the role of ciliary artery occlusion as a cause of blindness in giant cell arteritis, and the importance of considering giant cell arteritis in the differential diagnosis of optic nerve ischaemia in elderly people.
Supervised dictionary learning for action localization

Most of the existing methods that adopt the Implicit Shape Model (ISM) for action localization learn the dictionary (codebook) in an unsupervised manner. In contrast to this, we present a supervised approach to learn a dictionary for action localization. We follow a Hough voting approach for action detection in which the spatio-temporal descriptors extracted from the videos vote for the spatio-temporal location and temporal extent of the action. We propose a framework that enables the incorporation of the localization information into the dictionary learning. More specifically we use the spatial center and temporal extent of the training sequences to learn a discriminative dictionary that maximizes the votes at the spatio-temporal center and extend of the action and minimizes the votes at the background. The above formulation results in a non-convex objective function which we minimize using alternating optimization algorithm. We demonstrate the performance of the algorithm on two publicly available action datasets where we show that the proposed method performs better than the state-of-the-art methods.
Risk of ischemic heart disease in patients with TIA

A prospective study was made of the morbidity and mortality from ischemic heart disease in 390 patients with focal TIA caused by atherosclerotic vascular disease. The 5-year cumulative rate of myocardial infarction or sudden death in these patients was 21.0%, a rate only slightly less than that of fatal or nonfatal cerebral infarction (22.7%). Risk factors including diabetes, angina, and ECG abnormalities were associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality from ischemic heart disease. A major factor associated with these cardiac events was the presence of atherosclerotic obstructive or ulcerative lesions in the carotid arteries. These observations indicate that focal TIA caused by carotid atherosclerosis is a predictor not only of cerebral infarction, but also of serious cardiac disease and death.
Unemployment Fluctuations, Match Quality, and the Wage Cyclicality of New Hires

We revisit the issue of the high cyclicality of wages of new hires. We show that after controlling for composition effects likely involving procyclical upgrading of job match quality, the wages of new hires are no more cyclical than those of existing workers. The key implication is that the sluggish behaviour of wages for existing workers is a better guide to the cyclicality of the marginal cost of labour than is the high measured cyclicality of new hires wages unadjusted for composition effects. Key to our identification is distinguishing between new hires from unemployment versus those who are job changers. We argue that to a reasonable approximation, the wages of the former provide a composition-free estimate of the wage flexibility, while the same is not true for the latter. We then develop a quantitative general equilibrium model with sticky wages via staggered contracting, on-the-job search, and heterogeneous match quality, and show that it can account for both the panel data evidence and aggregate evidence on labour market volatility.
Profiling of rat urinary proteomic patterns associated with drug‐induced nephrotoxicity using CE coupled with MS as a potential model for detection of drug‐induced adverse effects

We have investigated urine obtained from Sprague Dawley rats before and after administration of cis‐Platin, aiming at the definition of biomarkers for drug‐induced cytotoxicity. Rats were treated with 3 or 6 mg/kg cis‐Platin (i.p., single injection) and urine samples were collected before and after drug or saline treatment. Analysis of the low molecular weight proteome (<20 kDa) using capillary‐electrophoresis coupled mass spectrometry allowed us to tentatively identify 34 urinary peptides that show significant differences between control and treated animals, and hence may serve as a potential biomarker for cis‐Platin‐induced nephrotoxicity. These biomarkers were confirmed in a blinded assessment of additional samples. The blinded data also revealed time‐dependency of induced changes. Some of the potential biomarkers could be sequenced. This information revealed great similarity between cis‐Platin‐induced changes and significant changes in the urinary proteome of patients suffering from tubular injury (Fanconi syndrome). Our study strongly suggests that (drug‐induced) nephrotoxicity can be detected with high accuracy in laboratory rodents using urinary proteome analysis. The effects observed are very similar to those seen in corresponding human diseases and similar approaches may be very helpful in evaluating drug‐induced organ damage in preclinical animal models. This study aiming at the definition of biomarkers for drug‐induced cytotoxicity may serve as a proof‐of‐principle for the use of urinary proteomics in assessment of drug‐induced nephrotoxicity.
Diabetic retinopathy: clinical findings and management.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic abnormality in which there is a failure to utilise glucose and hence a state of hyperglycaemia can occur. If hyperglycaemia continues uncontrolled over time, it will lead to significant and widespread pathological changes, including involvement of the retina, brain and kidney. In industrialised countries, approximately 1% of the population is diabetic, and at least another 1% are undiagnosed diabetics. Insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM), accounts for approximately 10– 15% of cases, the remainder being maturity onset or non-insulin dependent diabetics (NIDDM). Diabetes mellitus is an international public health problem with estimated prevalences ranging from 2.0% to 11.7% in studied populations across the world.
Adaptive event-triggered control of networked control systems against randomly occurring nonlinearities

This note deal with H∞ adaptive event-triggered control on a class of networked control systems with randomly occurring nonlinearities. By employing an adaptive controller, the system is against randomly occurring nonlinearities effectively. Based on a Lyapunov functional, the stability criteria are given. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the obtained results.
RECONSTRUCTION OF PARENTAL MICROSATELLITE GENOTYPES REVEALS FEMALE POLYANDRY AND PHILOPATRY IN THE LEMON SHARK, NEGAPRION BREVIROSTRIS

Abstract Because sharks possess an unusual suite of reproductive characteristics, including internal fertilization, sperm storage, relatively low fecundity, and reproductive modes that range from oviparity to viviparity, they can provide important insight into the evolution of mating systems and sexual selection. Yet, to date, few studies have characterized behavioral and genetic mating systems in natural populations of sharks or other elasmobranchs. In this study, highly polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to examine breeding biology of a large coastal shark, the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, at a tropical lagoon nursery. Over six years, 910 lemon sharks were sampled and genotyped. Young were assigned into sibling groups that were then used to reconstruct genotypes of unsampled adults. We assigned 707 of 735 young sharks to one of 45 female genotypes (96.2%), and 485 (66.0%) were assigned to a male genotype. Adult female sharks consistently returned to Bimini on a biennial cycle to give birth. Over 86% of litters had multiple sires. Such high levels of polyandry raise the possibility that polyandry evolved in viviparous sharks to reduce genetic incompatibilities between mother and embryos. We did not find a relationship between relatedness of mates and the number of offspring produced, indicating that inbreeding avoidance was probably not driving pre- or postcopulatory mate choice. Adult male sharks rarely sired more than one litter at Bimini and may mate over a broader geographic area.
Sensory Cilia and Integration of Signal Transduction in Human Health and Disease

The primary cilium is a hallmark of mammalian tissue cells. Recent research has shown that these organelles display unique sets of selected signal transduction modules including receptors, ion channels, effector proteins and transcription factors that relay chemical and physical stimuli from the extracellular environment in order to control basic cellular processes during embryonic and postnatal development, as well as in tissue homeostasis in adulthood. Consequently, defects in building of the cilium or in transport or function of ciliary signal proteins are associated with a series of pathologies, including developmental disorders and cancer. In this review, we highlight recent examples of the mechanisms by which signal components are selectively targeted and transported to the ciliary membrane and we present an overview of the signal transduction pathways associated with primary and motile cilia in vertebrate cells, including platelet‐derived growth factor receptor‐alpha (PDGFRα), hedgehog and Wnt signaling pathways. Finally, we discuss the functions of these cilia‐associated signal transduction pathways and their role in human health and development.
Modeling Strategies for Quantification of In Vivo 18F-AV-1451 Binding in Patients with Tau Pathology

Aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau is a major hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD). In vivo imaging with PET may offer important insights into pathophysiologic mechanisms, diagnosis, and disease progression. We describe different strategies for quantification of 18F-AV-1451 (T807) tau binding, including models with blood sampling and noninvasive alternatives. Methods: Fifteen subjects (4 controls, 6 AD, 3 progressive supranuclear palsy, 2 cortico basal syndrome) underwent 180-min PET with 18F-AV-1451 and arterial blood sampling. Modeling with arterial input functions included 1-, 2-, and 3-tissue-compartment models and the Logan plot. Using the cerebellum as reference region, we applied the simplified reference tissue model 2 and Logan reference plot. Finally, simplified outcome measures were calculated as ratio, with reference to cerebellar concentrations (SUV ratio [SUVR]) and SUVs. Results: Tissue compartment models were not able to describe the kinetics of 18F-AV-1451, with poor fits in 33%–53% of cortical regions and 80% in subcortical areas. In contrast, the Logan plot showed excellent fits and parameter variance (total volume of distribution SE < 5%). Compared with the 180-min arterial-based Logan model, strong agreement was obtained for the Logan reference plot also for a reduced scan time of 100 min (R2 = 0.91) and SUVR 100–120 min (R2 = 0.94), with 80–100 min already representing a reasonable compromise between duration and accuracy (R2 = 0.93). Time–activity curves and kinetic parameters were equal for cortical regions and the cerebellum in control subjects but different in the putamen. Cerebellar total volumes of distribution were higher in controls than patients. For these methods, increased cortical binding was observed for AD patients and to some extent for cortico basal syndrome, but not progressive supranuclear palsy. Conclusion: The Logan plot provided the best estimate of tau binding using arterial input functions. Assuming that the cerebellum is a valid reference region, simplified methods seem to provide robust alternatives for quantification, such as the Logan reference plot with 100-min scan time. Furthermore, SUVRs between target and cerebellar activities obtained from an 80- to 100-min static scan offer promising potential for clinical routine application.
A Note on the Soundness of Difference Propagation

Difference propagation is an algorithm widely used in points-to and alias analysis. To the best of our knowledge, the soundness of the version of the algorithm used for the static analysis of Java programs has not yet been proven. An attempt to do this yields a surprise: when the algorithm is used to compute field sensitive points-to for Java programs, soundness cannot be guaranteed when self-loads (statements of the kind x=x.f) are present. We discuss such a scenario and suggest a modification of the algorithm that is sufficient to prove soundness.
Simulation Method to Improve Hospital Service Quality

This article presents the results of a simulation model designed to reduce patient waiting time in the emergency department of a hospital in the United Arab Emirates. The process-oriented simulation model shows how the resources in the hospital are inter-related. The model depicts the hospital operating system and its performance and management issues with regards to allocation of human and material resources. Based on results of the simulation, optimized response surfaces are developed to explain patient waiting time and the total time a patient spends in the hospital for treatment. Results of the study can be used by hospital management to reduce patient waiting time and improve service quality by using a mix of operational strategies and resource allocations.
Discoid Lateral Meniscus in Children

The discoid lateral meniscus is the most common abnormal meniscal variant in children. It affects the shape and mobility of the menisci, altering the normal mechanical relationships between the articulating surfaces of the knee and predisposing it to injury. The incidence of discoid lateral meniscus is estimated to be 1%–3% in the pediatric population and the condition is bilateral in 10%–20% of patients (Stanitski, 2002). An otherwise asymptomatic knee with an incidentally detected discoid meniscus does not require surgical intervention. However, a discoid lateral meniscus is much more likely to tear, and many children develop pain as well as mechanical symptoms (popping, snapping, locking, or giving way of the knee). Recent improvements in arthroscopic technique have led to greater attempts to stabilize, sculpt, and repair the torn discoid lateral meniscus. This article will review the classification, clinical presentation, diagnostic/imaging studies, and treatment options for a discoid lateral meniscus in children.
Optimal number of secondary users in weighted cooperative spectrum sensing

Cooperative spectrum sensing could significantly improve the sensing performance compared to the single-user spectrum sensing. However, the cost of resources in spectrum sensing will also increase as the number of secondary users in cooperation increases. In this paper, we focus on the optimal number of secondary users in weighted cooperative spectrum sensing considering both the detection probability and resources usage efficiency. Simulation results show that the utility of cognitive radio networks is greatly improved through selecting the optimal number of secondary users in weighted cooperative spectrum sensing.
Google and the scholar: the role of Google in scientists' information-seeking behaviour

Purpose – This paper aims to demonstrate the role that the Google general search engine plays in the information‐seeking behaviour of scientists, particularly physicists and astronomers.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a mixed‐methods study including 56 semi‐structured interviews, a questionnaire survey of 114 respondents (47 per cent response rate) and the use of information‐event cards to collect critical incident data. The study was conducted at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College, London.Findings – The results show that Google is the tool most used for problem‐specific information seeking. The results also show the growing reliance of scientists on general search engines, particularly Google, for finding scholarly articles. Initially, finding scholarly articles was a by‐product of general searching for information rather than focused searches for papers. However, a growing number of articles read by scientists are identified through the Google general searc.
Insight into Phosphatidylinositol-Dependent Membrane Localization of the Innate Immune Adaptor Protein Toll/Interleukin 1 Receptor Domain-Containing Adaptor Protein

The toll/interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP) plays an important role in the toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4, TLR7, and TLR9 signaling pathways. TIRAP anchors to phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) on the plasma membrane and PI (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3) on the endosomal membrane and assists in recruitment of the myeloid differentiation primary response 88 protein to activated TLRs. To date, the structure and mechanism of TIRAP’s membrane association are only partially understood. Here, we modeled an all-residue TIRAP dimer using homology modeling, threading, and protein–protein docking strategies. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that PIP2 creates a stable microdomain in a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer, providing TIRAP with its physiologically relevant orientation. Computed binding free energy values suggest that the affinity of PI-binding domain (PBD) for PIP2 is stronger than that of TIRAP as a whole for PIP2 and that the short PI-binding motif (PBM) contributes to the affinity between PBD and PIP2. Four PIP2 molecules can be accommodated by distinct lysine-rich surfaces on the dimeric PBM. Along with the known PI-binding residues (K15, K16, K31, and K32), additional positively charged residues (K34, K35, and R36) showed strong affinity toward PIP2. Lysine-to-alanine mutations at the PI-binding residues abolished TIRAP’s affinity for PIP2; however, K34, K35, and R36 consistently interacted with PIP2 headgroups through hydrogen bond (H-bond) and electrostatic interactions. TIRAP exhibited a PIP2-analogous intermolecular contact and binding affinity toward PIP3, aided by an H-bond network involving K34, K35, and R36. The present study extends our understanding of TIRAP’s membrane association, which could be helpful in designing peptide decoys to block TLR2-, TLR4-, TLR7-, and TLR9-mediated autoimmune diseases.
Evidencia histórica sobre la génesis y difusión del concepto de "Árncia" en Europa Occidental

The concept of “árnica” is linked to different species of Asteraceae or other plant families. Unknown to the Classic Greeks and Romans it was not cited in the Early Medieval texts. It was first introduced in 1533 by the editor of St. Hildegard’s Physica to name a magical plant species. Arnica montana L. , was described by Linneus in 1753. It was introduced during the 18th century in the medicine for the treatment of inflammation and hematoma, becoming widely used in the 19th and 20th centuries. The nomenclature of Arnica in Western and Central Europe is analyzed in Germanic (German, Walser or Tisch, Mochene) and Romance languages (Francoprovençal, Occitan, French, Italian, Ladino, Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese) and the evolution of the concept in different authors. This allows us to conclude that the use of Arnica is deeply rooted in the Alpine traditions, whereas in the Mediterranean is recent (2nd half of the 18th century), reaching the folk-medicine through physicians and pharmacists.