Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reducing zoonotic and internal parasite burdens in pigs using a pig confinement system

Aim: This study was designed to validate the effectiveness of the pig confinement system (PCS) in reducing the prevalence of zoonotic and internal parasite burdens in pigs. Materials and Methods: Ten PCS households were selected together with 10 households practising traditional scavenging systems. Five pigs were monitored per household every 3 months for 15 months and blood and feces collected. Pigs received a single dose of oxfendazole at 30 mg/kg at baseline. Qualitative fecal examinations for intestinal parasite stages were performed, and serum was tested for antibodies to cysticercus of Taenia solium, Trichinella spp. , and Toxoplasma gondii. Results: Based on fecal examination, the prevalence of pigs positive for parasite eggs was reduced in PCS pigs over consecutive samplings (Ascaris suum [14.3% to 0%], Trichuris suis [46.9% to 8.3%], Strongyle-type eggs [81.6% to 8.3%], Physocephalus spp. [6.1% to 0%], and Metastrongylus apri [20.8% to 0%]) compared with increases in the number of pigs positive for parasite eggs in non-PCS pigs (T. suis [20-61.5%], Strongyle-type [60.4-80.8%], Physocephalus spp. [8.3-15.4%], and M. apri [20.8-34.6%]) and little change in pigs positive for A. suum (18.8-19.2%). While the prevalence of pigs with antibodies against to cysticerci of T. solium reduced in PCS pigs from 18% to 14%, the prevalence in non-PCS pigs increased from 42% to 52%. Antibodies to Trichinella were not detected, but the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies increased from 6% to 10% in PCS pigs and from 7% to 24% in non-PCS pigs. Conclusion: These data demonstrate the potential of a PCS to reduce the prevalence of pigs infected with zoonotic and internal parasites and thus the risk to human and pig health.
Free energy landscape of protein folding in water: Explicit vs. implicit solvent

The Generalized Born (GB) continuum solvent model is arguably the most widely used implicit solvent model in protein folding and protein structure prediction simulations; however, it still remains an open question on how well the model behaves in these large‐scale simulations. The current study uses the β‐hairpin from C‐terminus of protein G as an example to explore the folding free energy landscape with various GB models, and the results are compared to the explicit solvent simulations and experiments. All free energy landscapes are obtained from extensive conformation space sampling with a highly parallel replica exchange method. Because solvation model parameters are strongly coupled with force fields, five different force field/solvation model combinations are examined and compared in this study, namely the explicit solvent model: OPLSAA/SPC model, and the implicit solvent models: OPLSAA/SGB (Surface GB), AMBER94/GBSA (GB with Solvent Accessible Surface Area), AMBER96/GBSA, and AMBER99/GBSA. Surprisingly, we find that the free energy landscapes from implicit solvent models are quite different from that of the explicit solvent model. Except for AMBER96/GBSA, all other implicit solvent models find the lowest free energy state not the native state. All implicit solvent models show erroneous salt‐bridge effects between charged residues, particularly in OPLSAA/SGB model, where the overly strong salt‐bridge effect results in an overweighting of a non‐native structure with one hydrophobic residue F52 expelled from the hydrophobic core in order to make better salt bridges. On the other hand, both AMBER94/GBSA and AMBER99/GBSA models turn the β‐hairpin in to an α‐helix, and the α‐helical content is much higher than the previously reported α‐helices in an explicit solvent simulation with AMBER94 (AMBER94/TIP3P). Only AMBER96/GBSA shows a reasonable free energy landscape with the lowest free energy structure the native one despite an erroneous salt‐bridge between D47 and K50. Detailed results on free energy contour maps, lowest free energy structures, distribution of native contacts, α‐helical content during the folding process, NOE comparison with NMR, and temperature dependences are reported and discussed for all five models. Proteins 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New performance measure in Cricket

Measuring individual performance of players in Cricket is vital for team selection. The number runs scored by batsmen and wickets taken by bowlers serve as a natural way of quantifying the performance of a cricketer. Traditionally the batsmen and bowlers are rated on their batting or bowling average respectively. However in a game like cricket, it is always important the situation in which one scores the runs or claims a wicket. Scoring runs against a strong bowling line-up or taking wickets against a team with strong batting lineup deserves more credit. A player’s average is not able to capture this aspect of the game. In this paper we present a refined method to quantify the ‘quality’ of runs scored by a batsman or wickets taken by a bowler. A new performance measure for batsman takes into account bowling average of bowler i.e. quality of bowlers he is facing and similarly performance measure for bowler takes into account the batting average of batsman i.e. quality of batsman he is bowling to. Aggregate of individual performance of batsman against each bowler is taken as total performance index of the batsman. And aggregate of individual performance of bowler against each batsman is taken as total performance index of the bowler. Player’s ranking can be done on the basis of the total performance index of each player.
Brief work-integrated learning opportunities and first-year university students’ perceptions of employability and academic performance

Universities are attempting to respond to recent changes in the employment sector in order to ensure graduates are job ready. One approach for preparing students for the evolving employment sector is to expose them to work-integrated learning experiences during their undergraduate degree. Traditionally, work-integrated learning experiences have been offered toward the end of students’ degrees, but there might be value in offering such opportunities as students’ transition into university. The aim of this study was to explore the outcomes of brief work-integrated learning experiences on first-year university students. A series of paired samples t-tests showed significant differences in students’ (N = 28, Mage = 18.89 years) perceptions of employability and academic performance following exposure to 10-hours of job shadowing. The outcomes from the study suggest that students might benefit from work-integrated learning experiences in their foundation year of university. Implications for educators, universities, and the employment sector are highlighted.
Computer assisted evaluation of retinal vessels tortuosity in Fabry disease

Purpose: Fabry Disease (FD) is a rare X‐linked metabolic disorder characterized by diffuse deposition of sphingolipids in many tissues. Retinal vessel tortuosity is a common ocular manifestation in FD and may represent a useful marker for the disease. Unfortunately its clinical evaluation is poorly reproducibile and alternative means of evaluation may be of interest. We tested a new semi‐automatic software measuring retinal vessel tortuosity from eye fundus digital images in a group of FD patients.
Expressional Analysis of MSX1 (Human) Revealed its Role in Sagittal Jaw Relationship.

INTRODUCTION Abnormal skeletal jaw relationships is an important factor causing difficulty in speech, mastication, sleep and social interaction, thus affect the overall well being of an individual. AIM The present study was an attempt to decipher the role of human MSX1 in terms of sagittal jaw relationship by employing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety-eight case subjects belonging to North India with skeletal Class II and Class III jaw relationships were selected. Further, thirty-five control subjects of the same region having Class I skeletal and dental relationships (normal Jaw relationships) with good alignment of all teeth were enrolled. MSX1 gene sequencing was performed using the subjects' blood samples. Multiple sequence alignment was performed to find Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP's). Nine SNP's were obtained of which seven were reported and two novels. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi square test to compare genotype differences between case and control groups. RESULTS SNP rs186861426 was found to be significantly associated in Class I subjects (p-value=0.02). The sequencing results suggested that individuals having changes from G (guanosine) with A (adenine) genotype had approximately seven times low risk for developing Class II division 1 malocclusion as compared to those alleles having GG genotype and therefore, allele 'A' position on chromosome 4 (rs186861426) seems to have a protective role. CONCLUSION The study unfolds an important relationship between MSX1 gene and Class II division 1 malocclusion and Class I normal skeletal relationships. The study tried to interpret the role of human MSX1 and extend the gene pool responsible for the skeletal anomalies related to development of abnormal upper and lower jaws.
Using historical narrative as a tool for organizational analysis : a twenty-five year history of the Center for International Education.

^Tvill °. RICAL NARRATIVE AS A TOOL FOR ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS: A TWENTY-FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION KATHERINE G. PFEIFFER, B.A., BARNARD COLLEGE M.Ed., SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY Ed.D. , UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor David R. Evans The purpose behind this study was twofold: (1) to argue the value of historical narrative as an alternative mode for organizational analysis, particularly for non-traditional , educational organizations; and, (2) to illustrate this by developing a twenty-five year, thematic narrative of the Center for International Education (CIE) . The historical research hinged upon the following two part question: (1) How has the Center for International Education responded to the challenges of maintaining multicultural, participatory and experiential learning and program management over 25 years of change? And, (2) How can these responses inform other organizations facing the challenges of maintaining innovation and renewal? Part I of this study includes the methodology and rationale used for collecting and organizing the historical data. This methodology was derived from critical organizational theory and applied to the revisionist historiographer's medium of the narrative. Four issues were
Identification and Characterization of a G Protein-binding Cluster in α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors*

Background: α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that bind intracellular signaling proteins. Results: A mutation in the M3-M4 loop of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor abolishes Gαq activation of intracellular calcium stores. Conclusion: α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors functionally couple G proteins. Significance: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors engage metabotropic-signaling responses. α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play an important role in synaptic transmission and inflammation. In response to ligands, this receptor channel opens to conduct cations into the cell but desensitizes rapidly. In recent studies we show that α7 nAChRs bind signaling proteins such as heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins). Here, we demonstrate that direct coupling of α7 nAChRs to G proteins enables a downstream calcium signaling response that can persist beyond the expected time course of channel activation. This process depends on a G protein-binding cluster (GPBC) in the M3-M4 loop of the receptor. A mutation of the GPBC in the α7 nAChR (α7345–348A) abolishes interaction with Gαq as well as Gβγ while having no effect on receptor synthesis, cell-surface trafficking, or α-bungarotoxin binding. Expression of α7345–348A, however, did significantly attenuate the α7 nAChR-induced Gαq calcium signaling response as evidenced by a decrease in PLC-β activation and IP3R-mediated calcium store release in the presence of the α7 selective agonist choline. Taken together, the data provides new evidence for the existence of a GPBC in nAChRs serving to promote intracellular signaling.
In Vitro Cultivation of a Zoonotic Babesia sp. Isolated from Eastern Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

ABSTRACT A Babesia sp. found in eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, is the same organism that caused human babesiosis in Missouri and Kentucky, on the basis of morphology and identical small-subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences. Continuous cultures of the rabbit parasite were established from infected blood samples collected from two cottontail rabbits livetrapped on Nantucket Island. HL-1 medium or minimal essential medium alpha medium supplemented with 20% human serum best supported in vitro propagation of the parasite in human or cottontail erythrocytes, respectively. Parasite growth was not sustained in domestic-rabbit erythrocytes or in medium supplemented with domestic-rabbit serum. The cultured parasites were morphologically indistinguishable from the Kentucky human isolate. Transmission electron microscopy revealed similar fine structures of the parasite regardless of the host erythrocyte utilized in the cultures. Two continuous lines of the zoonotic Babesia sp. were established and confirmed to share identical SSU rRNA gene sequences with each other and with the Missouri and Kentucky human Babesia isolates.
Non-orthogonal rate-2 space-frequency block code on MIMO-OFDM systems

Space-time block coding is one of the widely used schemes to increase robustness and performance of wireless physical layer links. However, code orthogonality limits its data throughput thus reducing spectral efficiency. In this paper, non-orthogonal rate-2 space-time and space-frequency block codes are implemented in MIMO-OFDM systems in order to increase spectral efficiency while compromising orthogonal full diversity gains. A computationally efficient soft QRD-M MIMO symbol detection algorithm is used for both space-time and space-frequency block coding approaches. A 4/spl times/2 MIMO system was simulated to verify the implementation concept and demonstrate its performance. The simulation results shows that the performance gap between space-time and space-frequency approach is minimal as long as the bandwidth of the space-frequency block coding depth is within the coherence bandwidth of the channel.
Gonadal Steroid Induction of Kisspeptin Peptide Expression in the Rostral Periventricular Area of the Third Ventricle During Postnatal Development in the Male Mouse

Kisspeptin and its G‐protein coupled receptor Gpr54 are essential for the pubertal activation of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) neurones, with Gpr54 mutation or deletion resulting in failed puberty and infertility in humans and mice. The number of kisspeptin‐immunoreactive neurones in the rostral periventricular area of the third ventricle (RP3V) increases during pubertal development in concert with the appearance of kisspeptin appositions with GnRH neurones in the mouse rostral preoptic area. We recently demonstrated that the pubertal increase in RP3V kisspeptin neuronal number in females is dependent upon circulating oestradiol levels. The present experiments investigated the potential role of gonadal steroids in the induction of kisspeptin expression in the RP3V during pubertal development in the male mouse. Using immunocytochemistry (ICC), we show that gonadectomy of male pups at postnatal day (P) 20 resulted in a 60–70% reduction in the number of kisspeptin immunoreactive (IR) neurones within the RP3V of P45 mice (P < 0.05) compared to sham‐treated littermates. We established a profile of circulating testosterone levels during postnatal development in male mice and found that circulating testosterone was low throughout early postnatal development and increased from P35–40 to reach adult levels. Treatment of P20‐gonadectomised male mice with 17β‐oestradiol or testosterone from P38–45 restored kisspeptin‐IR neurone number in the RP3V to intact control levels (P > 0.05). Using double‐label ICC, we demonstrate that the majority of RP3V kisspeptin neurones express androgen receptors and oestrogen receptor α, indicating that RP3V kisspeptin neurones in the male mouse are equipped to respond to both androgen and oestrogen signals. These results indicate that, as in females, gonadal steroids are essential for the increase in kisspeptin immunoreactive cell number that occurs in the RP3V during pubertal development in the male mouse.
Functional and Genetic Characterization of the (Methyl)ammonium Uptake Carrier of Corynebacterium glutamicum(*)

Under nitrogen starvation conditions, Corynebacterium glutamicum was found to take up methylammonium at a rate of 20 ± 5 nmol•min•(mg dry weight). The specific activity of this uptake was 10-fold lower when growing the cells under sufficient nitrogen supply, indicating a tight regulation on the expression level. The methylammonium uptake showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an K of 44 ± 7 μM and was completely inhibited by the addition of 10 μM ammonium. This finding and the fact that methylammonium was not metabolized by C. glutamicum strongly suggests that the uptake carrier actually represents an ammonium uptake system. Methylammonium uptake was strictly dependent on the membrane potential. From the pH optimum and the accumulation of methylammonium in equilibrium, it could be deduced that only one net charge is transported and, thus, that methylammonium is taken up in its protonated form via an uniport mechanism. The amt gene encoding the (methyl)ammonium uptake system was isolated and characterized. The predicted gene product of amt consists of 452 amino acids (M = 47,699) and shows 26-33% identity to ammonium transporter proteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana. According to the hydrophobicity profile, it is an integral membrane protein containing 10 or 11 membrane-spanning segments.
Internationalization of Higher Education Institutions in Latvia and Turkey: Its Management and Development during the Last Decade.

This paper aims at examining internationalization in higher education in two countries: Latvia and Turkey. The analysis is based on three dimensions of internationalization: institutional, organizational, and educational. Recently, under the influence of global processes, the internationalization takes form through the perspectives of three ideologies: idealism, instrumentalism, and educationalism. Institutional internationalization in both countries is mainly based on Bologna Process in European perspective. In other words, Bologna Process is to employ education for other purposes than education, that is, European identity. It is therefore that internationalization of higher education in both countries refers to the ideology of instrumentalism, as in many other member countries. This study reveals that both countries need a strategic planning of internationalization that also responds their own needs, while the countries are not alike in details. It may be predicted that many other member states are in the same position. Therefore, the comparative analysis points to the need for bilateral working bodies in exchange of experience and knowledge in order to develop a better understanding of internationalization for both individual states and for Bologna Process as a whole. Such studies can be done by academics as a complementary to the work of governing bodies.
Differential ligand‐dependent interactions between the AF‐2 activating domain of nuclear receptors and the putative transcriptional intermediary factors mSUG1 and TIF1.

Using a yeast two‐hybrid system we report the isolation of a novel mouse protein, mSUG1, that interacts with retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR alpha) both in yeast cells and in vitro in a ligand‐ and AF‐2 activating domain (AF‐2 AD)‐dependent manner and show that it is a structural and functional homologue of the essential yeast protein SUG1. mSUG1 also efficiently interacts with other nuclear receptors, including oestrogen (ER), thyroid hormone (TR), Vitamin D3 (VDR) and retinoid X (RXR) receptors. By comparing the interaction properties of these receptors with mSUG1 and TIF1, we demonstrate that: (i) RXR alpha efficiently interacts with TIF1, but not with mSUG1, whereas TR alpha interacts much more efficiently with mSUG1 than with TIF1, and RAR alpha, VDR and ER efficiently interact with mSUG1 and TIF1; (ii) the amphipathic alpha‐helix core of the AF‐2 AD is differentially involved in interactions of RAR alpha with mSUG1 and TIF1; (iii) the AF‐2 AD cores of RAR alpha and ER are similarly involved in their interaction with TIF1, but not with mSUG1. Thus, the interaction interfaces between the different receptors and either mSUG1 or TIF1 may vary depending on the nature of the receptor and the putative mediator of its AF‐2 function. We discuss the possibility that mSUG1 and TIF1 may mediate the transcriptional activity of the AF‐2 of nuclear receptors through different mechanisms.
Use of minimally invasive parathyroidectomy techniques in sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism: systematic review

Abstract The past two decades have seen rapidly changing attitudes towards the surgical management of primary hyperparathyroidism. Advances in localisation techniques and confidence with endoscopy have led to the development of numerous minimally invasive parathyroidectomy approaches, including open minimal incision and endoscopic and video-assisted parathyroidectomy. This paper systematically reviews the evidence for these methods to determine: (1) whether these new, minimally invasive techniques are comparable to conventional bilateral neck exploration methods in terms of success and complication rate; and (2) if they are comparable, which technique is likely to be best for cosmesis, patient safety and patient satisfaction. A search of the Medline, Cochrane Reviews and Scopus databases was conducted, using a defined list of search parameters. Abstracts were compared against inclusion and exclusion criteria, before the full text was sought and analysed for data. The evidence from each study was then assessed, based on study quality, and a recommendation made based on the level of evidence available. There is level 1b evidence that minimally invasive surgery is comparable to bilateral neck exploration in terms of efficacy and complication rates. This paper recommends that the treatment of choice for solitary adenoma (in most healthcare centres) should be open minimal incision parathyroidectomy, due to advantages in operative duration, learning curve and cost-effectiveness.