Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overview of the Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella Recovered from U.S. Poultry Processing Plants

The objectives of this study were to analyze the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing on Salmonella isolated from poultry carcass and parts rinsates using a scoring system for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to deter-mine whether the resistance of Salmonella to selected antimicrobials critically or highly important to human medicine changed from 2017 to 2019. Samples were collected from 26 plants in the United States, analyzed for the presence of Salmonella, and tested for susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials (n=734 for 8 antimicrobials; n=597 for 4 antimicrobials). The multidrug resistance (MDR) scores and AMR scores remained the same over time (P>0.05); however, MDR and AMR differed (P<0.0001) by serogroup and serogroup-by-year interactions. Most notably, MDR—and AMR for 7 out of the 12 antimicrobials—was greater (P<0.05) in serogroup C1 than other serogroups and/or lower (P<0.05) in serogroup D1 than other serogroups. The effect year-by-serogroup was also significant for MDR (P<0.0001) and—for 8 out of the 12 antimicrobials—AMR (P<0.05); differences (P<0.05) across years were identified in serogroup C1, B, and C2 but were highly variable. Resistance to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone,“highest priority critically important antimicrobials”to human medicine, were not different (P>0.05) across years, but there were significant (P<0.05) serogroup and serogroup-by-year effects for ceftriaxone resistance. Interestingly, gentamicin resistance across years differed (P<0.05) in serogroup B and C. Overall, mean Salmonella MDR and AMR scores were stable from year to year, but shifts in AMR in Salmonella serogroups across years were identified, emphasizing the need to continue monitoring AMR in Salmonella isolated from poultry products in the interest of food safety and human health.
Identification of affine dynamical systems from a single trajectory

For dynamical systems of the form ẋ = Ax + c, henceforth called affine systems, we study the problem of determining system parameters A, c from data derived from a single trajectory. We establish necessary and sufficient conditions for identifiability of parameters from either a full trajectory or a set of discrete data points sampled from a single trajectory, expressed as geometrical conditions on the trajectory. We describe conditions under which the system has an equilibrium point and examine the problem of identifiability of the equilibrium point from data. We briefly examine the analytical upper and lower bounds for the maximal permissible uncertainty that will guarantee an inverse with specified qualitative properties of the resulting system (e.g., stability, spirality, and so on). Finally, we illustrate an application of the theory to parameter estimation for a class of nonlinear systems consisting of linear-in-parameters systems and demonstrate that affine approximations can yield more accurate estimates of parameter values than those based on finite differences.
Local is lekker! The Search for an Appropriate Food Identity for the Free State Province, South Africa

The objective of this paper was to establish a food identity for one of South Africa’s least visited provinces, the Free State Province. Twenty-nine qualitative responses were obtained via structured interviews from tourism government and tourism association employees, local restaurateurs, local food and drink producers, local residents and a local historian. Key findings indicate that the Free State’s food identity can be described as hearty, comfort food cooked from ingredients typically found in the Free State, using recipes and preparation techniques passed on from generation to generation in Basotho and Afrikaner families. Meat and beer emerged as fundamental local items to be focussed on and promoted. Implications of the study include local tourism stakeholders gaining knowledge of which food items to promote as Free State food. The study shows that food tourism can assist in growing the tourism sector in the Free State, the development of a food tourism route and lead to the creation of a new tourism brand focussing on typical Free State food. Key literature contributions of this study include closing a literature gap by further studying food tourism in South Africa and establishing a determination process of authentic food identities for any destination.
Gene expression of α1‐6 fucosyltransferase in human hepatoma tissues: A possible implication for increased fucosylation of α‐fetoprotein

The α1‐6 fucosylated α‐fetoprotein (AFP) present in serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been employed for the differential clinical diagnosis of HCC from chronic liver diseases. The molecular mechanism by which this alteration occurs, however, remains largely unknown. To address this issue, we purified GDP‐l ‐Fuc:N‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucosaminide α1‐6 fucosyltransferase (α1‐6 FucT), an enzyme involved in the α1‐6 fucosylation of N‐glycans from porcine brain, as well as from a human gastric cancer cell line, and cloned their genes. In this study, levels of α1‐6 FucT mRNA expression and the activity of this enzyme for 12 human HCC tissues were examined and compared with that in surrounding tissues and normal livers. The mean ± SD for α1‐6 FucT activity was 78 ± 41 pmol/h/mg in normal control liver, 202 ± 127 pmol/h/mg in adjacent uninvolved liver tissues (chronic hepatitis: 181 ± 106 pmol/h/mg; liver cirrhosis: 233 ± 164 pmol/h/mg), and 195 ± 72 pmol/h/mg in HCC tissues. The mRNA expression of α1‐6 FucT was also enhanced in proportion to enzymatic activity except for a few cases, suggesting that α1‐6 FucT expression is increased in chronic liver diseases, especially liver cirrhosis. Transfection of α1‐6 FucT gene into cultured rat hepatocytes markedly increased α1‐6 FucT activity and led to an increase in lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) binding proteins in both cell lysates and condition media. When the α1‐6 FucT gene was transfected into a human HCC cell line, Hep3B, which originally showed low levels of α1‐6 FucT expression, α1‐6–fucosylated AFP was dramatically increased in the condition media. Collectively, these results suggest that the enhancement of α1‐6 FucT expression increased the fucosylation of several proteins, including AFP, and that the level of α1‐6–fucosylated AFP in patients with HCC was in part caused by up‐regulation of the α1‐6 FucT gene expression.
Probing binary neutron star mergers in dense environments using afterglow counterparts

The only binary neutron star merger gravitational wave event with detected electromagnetic counterparts recorded to date is GRB170817A. This merger occurred in a rarefied medium with a density smaller than 10−3 − 10−2 cm−3. Since kicks are imparted to neutron star binaries upon formation, and due to their long delay times before merger, such low-density circum-merger media are generally expected. However, there is some indirect evidence for fast-merging or low-kick binaries, which would coalesce in denser environments. Nonetheless, present astronomical data are largely inconclusive on the possibility of these high-density mergers. We describe a method to directly probe this hypothetical population of high-density mergers through multi-messenger observations of binary neutron star merger afterglows, exploiting the high sensitivity of these signals to the density of the merger environment. This method is based on a sample of merger afterglows that has yet to be collected. Its constraining power is large, even with a small sample of events. We discuss the method’s limitations and applicability. In the upcoming era of third-generation gravitational wave detectors, this method’s potential will be fully realized as it will allow us to probe mergers that occurred soon after the peak of cosmic star formation, provided the follow-up campaigns are able to locate the sources.
Increased frequency of ESR1 mutation in metastatic breast cancer by dosing selective estrogen receptor modulator followed by aromatase inhibitor

In several recent studies on metastatic breast cancer (MBC), ligand binding domain mutations of the estrogen receptor, which is coded by the ESR1 gene, were induced by long-term endocrine therapy and resulted in acquired endocrine therapy resistance and poor outcomes. Knowledge of the association between the development of ESR1 mutation and the clinicopathologic features may guide the decision-making process of metastatic breast cancer treatment, including endocrine therapy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the development of ESR1 mutation and the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with MBC. To evaluate the association between the development of ESR1 mutation and clinicopathologic features, a cohort of 22 patients with MBC were retrospectively analyzed using next generation sequencing. In 14 of 22 patients, four mutations were detected on the metastatic site, including Tyr537Ser, Glu542Asp, Leu536Arg and Arg548Cys. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the duration of aromatase inhibitor and selective estrogen receptor modulator treatment, as well as the age of treatment initiation for early-stage breast cancer, were significantly associated with the development of ESR1 mutation. ESR1 mutation was identified in all five patients who received selective estrogen receptor modulators in the adjuvant setting followed by aromatase inhibitors in the metastatic setting, as well as in two of the three patients who received no selective estrogen receptor modulators in adjuvant setting followed by aromatase inhibitors in the metastatic setting. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that administrating adjuvant selective estrogen receptor modulator followed by aromatase inhibitor for metastasis may increase the frequency of ESR1 mutation.
Effects of Continuous Exposure to 100% CO2 or a Combination of 100% CO2 and its Gradual Reduction to 0% on Ethylene Production in Japanese Persimmon 'Tonewase' Fruit

Immature and mature Japanese persimmon 'Tonewase' fruit were treated with 1) 100% CO2 for 24 hr (control) or 2) 100% CO2 for 17 hr and gradual reduction to 0% CO2 for 7 hr (combination treatment) to remove their astringency ; a third group was left untreated. The levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and ACC synthase and ACC oxidase activities in their extracts were analyzed. The effects of adding catechin and bovine serum (BSA) separately to the extraction medium on the enzyme activities were also determined. 1. The ACC content in immature untreated and control fruit rapidly increased during storage at 20°C, whereas that in fruits exposed to the combination treatment remained low during storage. Mature treated fruits responded similarly to the immature treated ones. 2. The ACC synthase activity of immature fruit exposed to the combination treatment remained very low compared to the untreated and control fruit. The ACC synthase activity of immature fruit was significantly inhibited by the combination treatment compared to that of mature fruit. 3. The ACC oxidase activity in both immature and mature fruit was less inhibited by the combination treatment, compared to ACC synthase activity. 4. The ACC synthase activity was inhibited by the addition of catechin in the extraction medium but it was promoted by the addition of BSA. These results indicate that the inhibition of ethylene evolution by Japanese persimmon 'Tonewase' with 100% CO2 for 24 hr or the combination treatment in which CO2 is reduced to 0% may be attributed to the blockage of S-adenosylmethionine conversion to ACC.
Abstract LB-158: MEDI4736: Delivering effective blockade of immunosupression to enhance tumour rejection: Monoclonal antibody discovery and preclinical development

Cancerous cells emerge within the body following accumulation of deleterious genetic mutations. These mutations alter the phenotype of a cancer cell marking it as distinct from the surrounding host; an immunological state termed “altered self”. These cells, like other non-self entities such as viruses and bacteria, are recognised by the immune system and marked for destruction, a process known as “immune surveillance”. B7-H1 expression by tumour cells is believed to aid tumours in evading detection and elimination by the immune system. B7-H1 functions in this respect via several alternative mechanisms including driving exhaustion and anergy of tumour infiltrating T lymphocytes, stimulating secretion of immune repressive cytokines into the tumour micro-environment, stimulating repressive regulatory T cell function and protecting B7-H1 expressing tumour cells from lysis by tumour cell specific cytotoxic T cells. Using hybridoma technology and high throughput screening MedImmune has identified a series of fully human antibodies specific for human B7-H1. Further characterisation of these antibodies led to the identification of a single high affinity antibody, MEDI 4736, with the ability to relieve B7-H1 mediated suppression of T cell activation in vitro and to enhance sub-optimal T cell activation in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. In vitro testing shows that MEDI 4736 does not trigger non-specific cytokine release in whole blood, and is only able to activate T cells in the context of an active T cell receptor signal. A surrogate anti-mouse B7-H1 antibody shows significant anti-tumour activity in a syngeneic model when dosed in combination with chemotherapy. Similarly MEDI 4736 is able to inhibit tumour growth in a novel in vivo xenograft model, via a mechanism that is dependent on the presence of tumour specific human T cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-158. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-158
Application of dexmedetomidine for lung injury in elderly patients undergoing one-lung ventilation

Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on lung injury, the oxygenation index and perioperative pulmonary complications in elderly patients who underwent thoracotomy with one-lung ventilation (OLV). Material and methods A total of 120 elderly patients with lung cancer were included in the present study. According to the random number table method, these patients were randomly divided into two groups: group D and group C. Patients in group D were intravenously pumped with 0.5 μg/kg/h of DEX before anesthesia. The infusion was completed within 15 min, and anesthesia was induced by venous injection. Patients in group C were pumped with equal volumes of normal saline. Results At T2 and T3, compared with group C, group D had a significant decrease in cardiac index, mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure (p < 0.05). At T2, T3 and T4, compared with group C, group D had a significant increase in pH and PaO2 (p < 0.05). At T2, T3 and T4, compared with group C, group D had a significant decrease in Qs/Qt (p < 0.05). At T6, compared with group C, group D had a significant decrease in the supernatant of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 6 (p < 0.05). At T5, compared with group C, group D had a significant decrease in Visual Analogue Scale score (p < 0.05), and a significant increase in Ramsay Sedation Scale score (p < 0.05), and the number of respiratory and cardiovascular events also decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusions In elderly patients, dexmedetomidine can reduce Qs/Qt and increase PaO2 during OLV in surgery. It can reduce lung injury. Moreover, DEX reduced respiratory and cardiovascular complications in the perioperative period.
The Study on Thematic Progression Patterns in Economic Journalistic Texts from China Daily

Thematic Structure theory is one of the most important methods for analyzing texts. Based on the research of thematic structure, Danes proposed the concept of thematic progression pattern. Linguists at home and abroad have used thematic progression patterns to study various types of discourse. However, the research on the theme and thematic progression patterns of economic journalistic texts is rare. Based on this, This paper selects three articles of economic news from China Daily and uses quantitative method. Thematic progression patterns (TP patterns) used in economic journalistic texts and the frequency of occurrence of each thematic progression pattern (TP pattern) were analyzed in this paper. The aim of this paper is to help readers to understand economic journalistic texts, grasp the author's intention and discourse mechanism.
Plasticity in age and size at metamorphosis in Rana temporaria - comparison of high and low latitude populations

Effects of different combinations of stressors (viz. temperature, food level) on growth, developmental and survival rates of Rana temporaria tadpoles from two geographically widely (, 1500 km) separated populations were studied in a common garden experiment. In both populations, low temperature and low food level lead to lowered growth rates and delayed metamorphosis, whereas high temperature and high food level had the opposite effect. Tadpoles from north metamorphosed earlier and exhibited higher growth rates than tadpoles from south, suggesting local adaptation to shorter growth period and cooler ambient temperature in north. Size at metamorphosis did not differ between the two populations, but when the differences in metamorphic age were accounted for, then the tadpoles from north were larger than those from south. These results suggest considerable adaptive genetic differentiation in growth rates, size and timing of metamorphosis between northern and southern R. temporaria populations. In both populations, high food levels tended to reduce tadpole survival rates and there was a negative correlation between growth and survival rates across different treatments in both populations. In general, tadpoles from north experienced high mortality rates in high food level - low temperature treatments, whereas southern tadpoles experienced high mortality in high food level-high temperature treatments. This suggest that there may be genetic differences among different populations as how they would be influenced by high nutrient loads, such as brought along for example by fertilization of forest or agricultural soils.
Mass-Marking Reveals Emerging Self Regulation of the Chinook Salmon Population in Lake Huron

Abstract All Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha stocked in Lake Huron during 2000–2003 were marked with oxytetracycline (OTC), fin clips, or a combination thereof to determine the relative contributions of natural reproduction and stocking to recruitment. Oxytetracycline administered in feed proved to be an effective, low-cost method of marking spring fingerling Chinook salmon. Vertebrae proved to be suitable tissue for OTC detection, meeting standards for accuracy and reproducibility. Vertebrae were not suitable as aging structures, perhaps due to the slow somatic growth of Lake Huron's Chinook salmon during this study. Based on lakewide recoveries from recreational and commercial fisheries, we estimated that nearly 80% of Chinook salmon from the marked year-classes were from natural reproduction. Wild-origin Chinook salmon constituted 96% of open-water samples from Georgian Bay; 82, 80, and 68% of those from the central, southern, and northern portions of the main basin; and 64% of those from the N.
Forest Succession and Grazing in William Cameron Park, an Urban Natural Area in Waco, Texas

Abstract William Cameron Park is a 166 ha civic park located at the confluence of the Brazos and Bosque Rivers in Waco, Texas. During the pre-settlement period (first contact—1849), an oak-red cedar forest flourished on the ridge-top. In the early settlement phase (1849–1910), villagers cleared much of the ridge-top for logging and later for grazing. During the late settlement period (1910–present-day), vegetative cover increased markedly after the dedication of Cameron Park released ridge-top pastures. This release event resulted in delayed and differential regeneration of forest cover, first in Juniperus spp. and then in broadleaved species. Regeneration of deciduous species not only occurred after that of Juniperus spp. but initially followed historic fence-lines. Broadleaf species moved into the interiors of former pastures only within the last few decades, first in species such as Ulmus crassifolia and Quercus sinuata and later in Fraxinus texensis. The oldest ridge-top trees were Quercus fusiformis, whose size and canopy shape indicated that early settlers frequently left them to act as shade trees within pastures. Though invasion by exotic species is a management concern, historic sources reported that exotic plants, such as Ligustrum spp. were uncommon in the early 20th century. Current successional trends indicate that invasive species and anthropogenic pressures will prevent the forest's vegetation from returning to a historic species distribution.
Sodium carbonate treatment of fibres to improve mechanical and water absorption characteristics of short bamboo natural fibres reinforced polyester composite

The effect of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) treatment of short bamboo fibres on mechanical properties and water absorption character of polyester composite is investigated. Treatment time and Na2CO3 concentration were optimised to 6 h and 5 wt-% respectively. Microscopy of the treated fibres showed a significant change in surface texture whereas; FTIR suggested the removal of amorphous compounds from the fibres that resulted in enhanced interfacial bonding between fibres and the polyester matrix. Removal of amorphous compounds was also confirmed by TGA where material loss for untreated fibres was 15% higher than the treated fibres. Composites were prepared using 10, 20 and 30 wt-% of treated and untreated fibres. Good interfacial bonding, achieved by the fibre treatment, enhanced the strength (∼24 MPa),( decreased the impact energy (from ∼36×10−3 KJ/m2 to ∼33×10−3 KJ/m2) and improved the water absorption resistance (∼2%) in case of 20 wt-% fibres composite.
Broadband Dielectric Properties of Ex Vivo Bovine Liver Tissue Characterized at Ablative Temperatures

Objective: To investigate the thermal and frequency dependence of dielectric properties of ex vivo liver tissue – relative permittivity and effective conductivity – over the frequency range 500 MHz to 6 GHz and temperatures ranging from 20 to 130 °C. Methods: We measured the dielectric properties of fresh ex vivo bovine liver tissue using the open-ended coaxial probe method (n = 15 samples). Numerical optimization techniques were utilized to obtain parametric models for characterizing changes in broadband dielectric properties as a function of temperature and thermal isoeffective dose. The effect of heating tissue at rates over the range 6.4–16.9 °C/min was studied. The measured dielectric properties were used in simulations of microwave ablation to assess changes in simulated antenna return loss compared to experimental measurements. Results: Across all frequencies, both relative permittivity and effective conductivity dropped sharply over the temperature range 89 – 107 °C. Below 91 °C, the slope of the effective conductivity changes from positive values at lower frequencies (0.5–1.64 GHz) to negative values at higher frequencies (1.64–6 GHz). The maximum achieved correlation values between transient reflection coefficients from measurements and simulations ranged between 0.83 – 0.89 and 0.68 – 0.91, respectively, when using temperature-dependent and thermal-dose dependent dielectric property parameterizations. Conclusion: We have presented experimental measurements and parametric models for characterizing changes in dielectric properties of bovine liver tissue at ablative temperatures. Significance: The presented dielectric property models will contribute to the development of ablation systems operating at frequencies other than 2.45 GHz, as well as broadband techniques for monitoring growth of microwave ablation zones.