Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum concentration of some acute phase proteins in naturally occurring canine babesiosis: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND Serum concentrations of acute phase proteins can provide valuable diagnostic information in the detection, prognosis, or monitoring of disease. Information available on the acute phase response in naturally occurring canine babesiosis is limited. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this investigation was to retrospectively evaluate serum concentrations of haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, and ceruloplasmin in dogs naturally infected with Babesia canis. METHODS Haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, and ceruloplasmin concentrations were measured in serum samples from dogs with uncomplicated (n = 6) and complicated (n = 1) babesiosis and compared with 6 healthy dogs. RESULTS Serum C-reactive protein and ceruloplasmin concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with babesiosis; however, serum haptoglobin concentration was significantly lower compared with control dogs (P <.01). CONCLUSIONS Results of this study suggest that acute phase protein concentrations could be beneficial in the diagnosis and determination of the severity of babesiosis in dogs.
Optimizing cryopreservation of human testicular tissue: comparison of protocols with glycerol, propanediol and dimethylsulphoxide as cryoprotectants.

BACKGROUND Cryopreservation of testicular tissue is an option in fertility preservation for pre-pubertal boys who will lose spermatogenic cells as a result of chemotherapy. We compared three different protocols and cryoprotectants in cryopreservation of testicular tissue. METHODS Testicular tissue obtained from 16 infertile men was evaluated by light microscopy(LM), immunostaining against MAGE-A4, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and organ culture. Seminiferous tubules (1312) from non-frozen (n = 16) and frozen-thawed samples (n = 34) were studied following cryopreservation using protocols with either 1,2-propanediol (PrOH), glycerol or dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) as cryoprotectants. RESULTS Normal structure was seen in 86 +/- 6% (mean +/- SD) of the fresh tissue. After freezing with DMSO, 70 +/- 6% and after PrOH, 37+/-3% of the tubules were judged to be good. When glycerol was used, the structure of the basal compartment of the tubules was severely damaged. The ultrastructure of the cryopreserved samples as revealed by TEM and MAGE-positive spermatogonia confirmed the findings. Cryopreserved Leydig cells maintained their morphology and ability to release testosterone in culture. CONCLUSION DMSO as a cryoprotectant (at a 0.7 mol/l concentration) proved to maintain the structure of testicular tissue, especially spermatogonia, after cryopreservation better than PrOH or glycerol.
Murine Immune Responses to Liver-Stage Antigen 1 Protein FMP011, a Malaria Vaccine Candidate, Delivered with Adjuvant AS01B or AS02A

ABSTRACT Liver-stage antigen 1 (LSA1) is expressed by Plasmodium falciparum only during the intrahepatic cell stage of the parasite's development. Immunoepidemiological studies in regions where malaria is endemic suggested an association between the level of LSA1-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and susceptibility to clinical malaria. A recombinant LSA1 protein, FMP011, has been manufactured as a preerythrocytic vaccine to induce an immune response that would have the effect of controlling parasitemia and disease in humans. To evaluate the immunogenicity of FMP011, we analyzed the immune response of three inbred strains of mice to antigen immunization using two different adjuvant formulations, AS01B and AS02A. We report here the ability of BALB/c and A/J mice, but not C57BL/6J mice, to mount FMP011-specific humoral (antibody titer) and cellular (gamma interferon [IFN-γ] production) responses following immunization with FMP011 formulated in AS01B or AS02A. Immunization of BALB/c and A/J mice with FMP011/AS01B induced more antigen-specific IFN-γ-producing splenocytes than immunization with FMP011/AS02A. A slightly higher titer of antibody was induced using AS02A than AS01B in both strains. C57BL/6J mice did not respond with any detectable FMP011-specific IFN-γ splenocytes or antibody when immunized with FMP011 in AS01B or AS02A. Intracellular staining of cells isolated from FMP011/AS01B-immunized BALB/c mice indicated that CD4+ cells, but not CD8+ cells, were the main IFN-γ-producing splenocyte. However, inclusion of blocking anti-CD4+ antibody during the in vitro restimulation ELISpot analysis failed to completely abolish IFN-γ production, indicating that while CD4+ T cells were the major source of IFN-γ, other cell types also were involved.
The Effects of Thiopental and Propofol on Cell Swelling Induced by Oxygen/Glucose Deprivation in the CA1 Pyramidal Cell Layer of Rat Hippocampal Slices

Cellular swelling has been implicated as an early process after cerebral ischemia. We compared the effects of two commonly used IV anesthetics, thiopental and propofol, on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell swelling induced by oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro. Experiments were performed in rat hippocampal slices. Cell swelling in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer was evaluated by determining light transmittance (LT) change through the slices and by histopathological examination. For LT experiments, OGD was induced for 10 min by superfusing slices with glucose-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid equilibrated with 95% nitrogen and 5% CO2. Thiopental and propofol were present 10 min before and during the period of OGD. The results showed that thiopental (100 and 400 &mgr;M), but not propofol (40 and 160 &mgr;M), significantly prolonged latency to the peak of LT increase after the onset of OGD. Consistent with the LT experiments, histopathological examination revealed that thiopental, but not propofol, attenuated CA1 pyramidal cell expansion and the gap diminution between CA1 pyramidal cells induced by OGD. These results suggest that thiopental, but not propofol, reduces the neuronal cell swelling caused by OGD. Whether the reduction of cell swelling is related to reduction in cell injury caused by OGD remains to be investigated.
Composite Tissue Allotransplantation and Reconstructive Surgery: First Clinical Applications

ObjectiveTo review the first clinical cases of composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) for reconstructive surgery and to discuss the outcome of and indications for these procedures in the context of chronic immunosuppression. Summary Background DataThe first human hand transplant was performed in 1998. This procedure, as well as other composite tissue transplants, offers the potential for correcting untreatable large tissue defects. However, concerns remain regarding obligatory chronic immunosuppression and long-term functional results. MethodsAll the CTAs performed in humans that have been published or documented were reviewed. The preexisting clinical conditions and surgical procedures and the immunosuppressive therapy are described. The functional results and the complications or side effects of the treatment are detailed. ResultsVascularized tendons (two cases), vascularized femoral diaphyses (three cases), knees (five cases), hands (four bilateral and seven unilateral cases), larynx (one case), and nonvascularized peripheral nerves (seven cases) have been transplanted in humans in the past decade. Rejection was prevented in most cases without difficulty. Early results are encouraging, particularly for hand and larynx transplants, but will need to be evaluated in the long term and in a larger number of patients. ConclusionsCTA holds great potential for reconstructive surgery but is at present restricted by the risks of chronic immunosuppression and uncertain long-term results.
The four classes of endogenous murine leukemia virus: structural relationships and potential for recombination

The process by which leukemogenic viruses are generated during the lifetime of certain strains of mice is poorly understood. We have therefore set out to define all the murine leukemia virus-related endogenous proviruses of HRS/J mice. We have cloned 34 different proviral fragments and their flanking cellular sequences. These have been characterized by restriction enzyme analysis, by fingerprinting in vitro-synthesized RNA, and by DNA sequencing. We conclude that all the proviruses can be assigned into one of four different classes: the previously characterized ecotropic, xenotropic, and polytropic viruses, as well as a new class we have termed modified polytropic viruses. The xenotropic, polytropic, and modified polytropic classes are closely related to one another, but as a group they differ considerably from the ecotropic class. Sequence analyses show that both polytropic and modified polytropic sequences can contribute env sequences to recombinant viruses.
Force feedback control for haptic walking system

In recent years, high-precision works in a distant place have been enabled by using bilateral control systems. The surrounding environment of the space that the human live is shape suitable for how to get around of the human. For example, it is stairs. However, the wheel movement is general in a distant place. Therefore a walking-sensation feedback control system is proposed for a remote operation of the bipedalism in this paper. When a biped-type slave system done remote control walks, haptic information is fed back to an operator by using the proposed control system. Therefore operability is improved. Besides a proposed control system in this paper is positioned as the beginning of the research for the realization of a walkingsensation feedback system. Finally, the viability of the proposed control system is confirmed by experimental results.
Rheological, mechanical, and bioadhesive behavior of hydrogels to optimize skin delivery systems

Background: Hydrogels are widely used for cutaneous formulations; thereby comparing the bioadhesive properties of polymers with a view to prolong the residence time of topical drugs on the skin would be very useful to design novel topical drug delivery systems. Aim: The objective of this study was to correlate data from rheological studies and texture profile analysis, with bioadhesion on the skin. Methods: Polyacrylic acid polymers used were carbomer homopolymer type A (C971) and type B (C974), and polycarbophil (PP) dispersed in water at various concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0%, w/v). Rheological, texture, and bioadhesive properties were determined to compare the hydrogels. Results: Rheological analysis showed that all samples exhibited pseudoplastic behavior with thixotropy. Texture profile analysis showed that compressibility, hardness, and adhesiveness of the hydrogels were dependent on the polymer concentration, and the cohesion values were high. Bioadhesion of C974 and PP at 0.5 and 2% was of the same magnitude, while all samples of C971 had lower values. The bioadhesion of 5% C974 was the highest, while that 5% PP was lower, possibly because PP showed the greatest hardness and this rigidity may decrease the interaction of the polymer with the skin. Conclusion: A comprehensive comparative rheological and textural analyses of several polymers for topical systems were undertaken in terms of their bioadhesion. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that these polymers can be used for optimization of drug delivery systems on the skin.
Hypoxic ventilatory response and arterial desaturation during heavy work.

Arterial desaturation in athletes during intense exercise has been reported by several authors, yet the etiology of this phenomenon remains obscure. Inadequate pulmonary ventilation, due to a blunted respiratory drive, has been implicated as a factor. To investigate the relationship between the ventilatory response to hypoxia, exercise ventilation, and arterial desaturation, 12 healthy male subjects [age, 23.8 +/- 3.6 yr; height, 181.6 +/- 5.6 cm; weight, 73.7 +/- 6.2 kg; and maximal O2 uptake (VO2max), 63.0 +/- 2.2 ml.kg-1 min-1] performed a 5-min treadmill test at 100% of VO2max, during which arterial blood samples and ventilatory data were collected every 15 s. Alveolar PO2 (PAO2) was determined using the ideal gas equation. On a separate occasion the ventilatory response to isocapnic hypoxia was measured. Arterial PO2 decreased by an average of 29 Torr during the test, associated with arterial desaturation [arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) 92.0%]. PAO2 was maintained; however, alveolar-arterial gas pressure difference increased progressively to greater than 40 Torr. Minimal hypocapnia was observed, despite marked metabolic acidosis. There was no significant correlation observed between hypoxic drives and ventilation-to-O2 uptake ratio or SaO2 (r = 0.1 and 0.06, respectively, P = NS). These data support the conclusions that hypoxic drives are not related to maximal exercise ventilation or to the development of arterial desaturation during maximal exercise.
Britain’s Older Employees in Decline, 1990–2006: A Panel Analysis of Pay

Older employees’ wages and earnings declined over the period 1991–2006, when compared with younger employees. The overall fall in relative wages was about 18 per cent, and for relative earnings 21 per cent. The article argues that this change was predictable in view of the pressures of ‘globalization’ resulting in increased competition, and intensified technological and organizational change, for many employers from the 1990s onward. The relative fall in older female and male employees’ pay had set in by the mid-1990s and it proceeded over the whole period to 2006.
Verification of Exception Control Flows and Handlers Based on Architectural Scenarios

The use of exception handling mechanisms to develop robust software systems in a non-systematic manner can be a source of many design faults. This paper presents a rigorous development approach based on formal methods, which allows to systematise the verification of the system's abnormal behaviour at the architectural level. Our solution is based on the specification and verification of architectural scenarios, which describe both exception control flows and exception handlers involving architectural elements (components and connectors). We also adopt an architectural abstraction for guiding the internal structure of the architectural elements. The verification process is conducted using the ProB model checker, which combines the use of set-theory (B-Method) and a process algebra (CSP). The feasibility of our approach was evaluated by a case study from the financial domain.
Impact of adaptive servo‐ventilation on cardiovascular function and prognosis in heart failure patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and sleep‐disordered breathing

Effective pharmacotherapy for heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) is still unclear. Sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) causes cardiovascular dysfunction, giving rise to factors involved in HFpEF. However, it remains unclear whether adaptive servo‐ventilation (ASV) improves cardiovascular function and long‐term prognosis of patients with HFpEF and SDB.
Food security in Papua New Guinea : the need to go beyond ‘business case CSR'

Purpose - To canvass the views of villagers from a remote region of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on: (i) food security issues in their community, and (ii) their level of satisfaction with food security initiatives provided by the extractive company that operated on their land. Design/methodology/approach - Qualitative design: Data gathered through 14 semi-structured, face-to-face interviews and a discussion forum with 20 villagers from Pawa. Purposive sampling. Snow-balling method of recruitment. Findings - Food security was identified as a growing concern among the villagers, who also expressed dissatisfaction with the food security projects offered through the CSR program offered by the company operating on their land. Communication problems between company and community, and lack of trust were evident. Research limitations/implications - Research limitations/implications Possibility of self-selection bias among participants. The perspective of the company was under-represented. - Practical implications The study highlights the need for CSR practitioners to be mindful of the importance of effective communication with local communities. - Originality/value The study bridges a research gap in the field of CSR in developing countries, as food security as a CSR issue in PNG communities is under-researched. The study contributes to a better understanding of company-community relations in PNG, and how these relations can be improved through a more normative approach to CSR. It also highlights the importance of empowering host communities through meaningful dialogue.
Extraction Sockets and Implantation of Hydroxyapatites With Membrane Barriers A Histologic Study

The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effect on extraction socket healing when an absorbable hydroxyapatite (AH) and a nonabsorbable anorganic bovine bone mineral (ABB) covered with either an acellular dermal matrix allograft (ADMA) or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane barrier were left exposed to the oral cavity. Following tooth extraction, a total of 16 sockets in 15 patients with deficient buccal plates of ≥5 mm were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups: 1) AH covered with ADMA, 2) AH covered with an ePTFE membrane, 3) ABB covered with ADMA, and 4) ABB covered with an ePTFE membrane. Primary coverage was not attempted or obtained in any of the 16 treated sockets. Six to 8 months postextraction at the time of implant placement, histologic cores of the treatment sites were obtained. These cores were processed, stained with Stevenel’s blue/van Gieson’s picro fuchsin, and histomorphometrically analyzed. Vital bone, connective tissue and marrow, and residual graft particles were reported as a percentage of the total core. The mean vital bone was 34.5% (AH with ADMA), 41.7% (ABB with ADMA), 27.6% (ePTFE and AH), and 17.8% (ePTFE and ABB). The average percentage of vital bone in the 8 sockets covered with ADAMA was 38% compared with an average percentage vital bone of 22% in the 8 sockets covered with ePTFE membrane barriers. Because of the small number of specimens in the 4 groups, statistical analysis was not possible. However, in this pilot study, ADMA-covered sites resulted in more vital bone present 6 to 8 months postsocket treatment than obtained in the ePTFE-covered sites regardless of bone replacement materials used. Further research is warranted to see if these results show a similar difference in bone-to-implant contact after implant placement.
The Schizosaccharomyces pombe fusion gene hal3 encodes three distinct activities

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hal3 and Vhs3 are moonlighting proteins, forming an atypical heterotrimeric decarboxylase (PPCDC) required for CoA biosynthesis, and regulating cation homeostasis by inhibition of the Ppz1 phosphatase. The Schizosaccharomyces pombe ORF SPAC15E1.04 (renamed as Sp hal3) encodes a protein whose amino‐terminal half is similar to Sc Hal3 whereas its carboxyl‐terminal half is related to thymidylate synthase (TS). We show that Sp Hal3 and/or its N‐terminal domain retain the ability to bind to and modestly inhibit in vitro S. cerevisiae Ppz1 as well as its S. pombe homolog Pzh1, and also exhibit PPCDC activity in vitro and provide PPCDC function in vivo, indicating that Sp Hal3 is a monogenic PPCDC in fission yeast. Whereas the Sp Hal3 N‐terminal domain partially mimics Sc Hal3 functions, the entire protein and its carboxyl‐terminal domain rescue the S. cerevisiae cdc21 mutant, thus proving TS function. Additionally, we show that the 70 kDa Sp Hal3 protein is not proteolytically processed under diverse forms of stress and that, as predicted, Sp hal3 is an essential gene. Therefore, Sp hal3 represents a fusion event that joined three different functional activities in the same gene. The possible advantage derived from this surprising combination of essential proteins is discussed.
Microbial Dioxygenase Gene Population Shifts during Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Biodegradation

ABSTRACT The degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by bacteria has been widely studied. While many pure cultures have been isolated and characterized for their ability to grow on PAHs, limited information is available on the diversity of microbes involved in PAH degradation in the environment. We have designed generic PCR primers targeting the gene fragment encoding the Rieske iron sulfur center common to all PAH dioxygenase enzymes. These Rieske primers were employed to track dioxygenase gene population shifts in soil enrichment cultures following exposure to naphthalene, phenanthrene, or pyrene. PAH degradation was monitored by gas chromatograph with flame ionization detection. DNA was extracted from the enrichment cultures following PAH degradation. 16S rRNA and Rieske gene fragments were PCR amplified from DNA extracted from each enrichment culture and an unamended treatment. The PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Molecular monitoring of the enrichment cultures before and after PAH degradation using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene libraries suggests that specific phylotypes of bacteria were associated with the degradation of each PAH. Sequencing of the cloned Rieske gene fragments showed that different suites of genes were present in soil microbe populations under each enrichment culture condition. Many of the Rieske gene fragment sequences fell into clades which are distinct from the reference dioxygenase gene sequences used to design the PCR primers. The ability to profile not only the bacterial community but also the dioxygenases which they encode provides a powerful tool for both assessing bioremediation potential in the environment and for the discovery of novel dioxygenase genes.
Attack of the Clones and the Politics of Star Wars

I N MAY 2002, REVIE\X! ERS and critics m the Cannes Film Festival expressed cons iderable interest in what they described as the unusually high amount of political content in the films screening both in and out of competition: a prime American example of such films being Michael Moore's BozdingjorColumbine, a satiric commentaly on American gun culture and foreign policy. ' No attention was pa id , however, to the political content of another American film screening at Cannes and almost s imultaneously released theatrically across North America: George Lucas's Attack of the Clones. Regarded, it seems, both at the Festival and elsewhere, as significant largely for its special visual effects and above all as a test case for digital movie-making and p rojection.2 Attack of the Clones should also have received major attention as a rarity in content: a mainstream American blockbuster with an intensely political focus. Clones
Nigerian Social Studies Pre-service Teachers’ Attitudes and Readiness for Digital Technologies in Teaching and Learning

This study investigated pre-service teachers’ attitudes and readiness to use digital technologies in Social Studies classroom. A total of three hundred (300) Social Studies students from six colleges of education in Southwest, Nigeria were administered with a questionnaire. Data collected were analysis with descriptive statistic- frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The quantitative data were complimented with 12 focus group discussions. The study revealed that while majority of pre-service Social Studies teachers reported limited access to digital technology in the colleges, they still display a relatively high access through personal efforts such as purchase and use of modems, android phones etc. The study also revealed that the pre-service Social Studies teachers had positive attitude toward digital technology and high level of readiness to integrate it into the teaching. It was concluded that digital technology has become an unavoidable intervention for effective teaching and preparation of pre-service teachers for effective and more productive professional performance. Keywords: Digital technology, Attitude, Readiness, Pre-service teachers, Social Studies.