Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological Significance of the Domestic Black Pig (Sus scrofa) in Maintenance of Bovine Tuberculosis in Sicily

ABSTRACT Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an emerging disease among wild animals in many parts of the world. Wildlife reservoir hosts may thus represent a potential source of infection for livestock and humans. We investigated the role played by the Sicilian black pig, an autochthonous free- or semi-free-ranging domestic pig breed, as a potential source of bTB infection in an area where bTB prevalence in cattle is high. We initially performed a preliminary field study to assess the occurrence of bTB in such animals. We sampled 119 pigs at abattoir and found 6.7% and 3.4% of them to be affected by gross tuberculous-like lesions (TBL) and Mycobacterium bovis culture positive, respectively. We then proceeded to investigate the dissemination and characteristics of lesions in a second field study performed on 100 animals sampled from infected herds. Here, tissues collected at the abattoir were examined macroscopically, microscopically, and by culture tests. Most pigs with TBL showed generalized lesions in both gross and histological examinations (53% and 65.5%, respectively). Head lymph nodes were the most frequently affected in both localized and generalized TB cases observed macroscopically and microscopically. M. bovis was the most frequently isolated etiologic agent. The molecular characterization of isolates from both field studies by spoligotyping and analysis of 12 mycobacterial interspersed repetitive-unit–variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) loci, followed by their comparison to isolates of cattle origin, suggested a potential transmission of mycobacteria from domestic animals to black pigs and vice versa. Our findings, along with ethological, ecological, and management considerations, suggest that the black pig might act as a bTB reservoir in the ecosystem under study. However, additional studies will be necessary to establish the true epidemiological significance of the Sicilian black pig.
Operations strategy and internet purchasing: a contingent model

We examine the operational level strategies of 416 online customers of a leading office supplies retailer with over $2 billion in Internet sales via a mail survey. Our findings identify three distinct operational strategies employed by companies utilizing the Internet for purchasing office supplies. Companies with more clearly defined, explicit strategies are linked with improved transactional performance. More importantly, within strategic group analysis identifies different strategic levers or operational tactics for improving performance.
Scottish female obstetricians' views on elective caesarean section and personal choice for delivery

We have been reminded many times in the medical and lay press about the views of London female obstetricians choosing elective caesarean section for non-medical reasons. This paper asked Scottish female obstetricians for their personal choice regarding delivery and showed that only 15·5% would choose elective caesarean section compared with 31% and 21% in two surveys of London female obstetricians. None of the women in this group who had had a vaginal delivery would choose elective section.
Cuadros depresivos en el postparto en una cohorte de embarazadas: construcción de un modelo causal

Se estudia una cohorte de 125 embarazadas, que fueron seguidas hasta los 2 meses del postparto, encontrandose una incidencia de 22,4% de cuadros depresivos en el puerperio. Se realizo un analisis de regresion logistica multiple, cuya ecuacion final incluyo una variable aislada (insatisfaccion con la relacion de pareja) y dos parejas de variables en interaccion (bajo apoyo social con bajo nivel socio-economico y embarazada de edad adolescente con depresion durante su gestacion). El modelo construido presenta una buena eficiencia global (84,0%), destacando su especificidad (94,9%) por sobre su sensibilidad (46,4%)
Sensitization of G Protein‐Coupled Benzodiazepine Receptors in the Striatum of 6‐Hydroxydopamine‐Lesioned Rats

Abstract: The nonselective benzodiazepine (BZ) agonist diazepam is a potent inhibitor of adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity in the rat striatum. To examine this inhibitory action of diazepam further, its effects were examined in 6‐hydroxydopamine‐lesioned animals, which reportedly exhibit sensitization of the striatal AC pathway. As previously observed, inhibition of AC activity by diazepam was biphasic, with the first phase being receptor‐mediated, whereas the second phase involves a direct action on the enzyme itself. In the presence of NaCl (120 mM), a marked sensitization to the receptor‐mediated inhibitory effect of diazepam on AC activity was observed in striatal membranes of lesioned animals. EC50 values were 10.4 ± 1.1 and 4.8 ± 0.9 nM (p < 0.05) for intact and lesioned striata, respectively. An examination of [3H]diazepam binding revealed a significant increase in the density of binding sites in denervated striata, with no change in affinity. A time‐dependent increase in [α‐32P]GTP labeling of two distinct striatal proteins with apparent molecular masses of 40 and 45 kDa, suggestive of the α subunits of Gi and Gs, respectively, was observed. There was a significant increase in basal [α‐32P]GTP binding to both proteins in lesioned striata. In addition, diazepam stimulated [α‐32P]GTP binding to the 40‐kDa protein, especially in lesioned striata. These data indicate that the sensitization of the receptor‐mediated inhibitory effect of diazepam on AC activity in denervated striata may involve up‐regulation of BZ receptors as well as enhanced functional coupling of these receptors to inhibitory G proteins.
Antigenic specificities of human CD4+ T-cell clones recovered from recurrent genital herpes simplex virus type 2 lesions

Lesions resulting from recurrent genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection are characterized by infiltration of CD4+ lymphocytes. We have investigated the antigenic specificity of 47 HSV-specific CD4+ T-cell clones recovered from the HSV-2 buttock and thigh lesions of five patients. Clones with proliferative responses to recombinant truncated glycoprotein B (gB) or gD of HSV-2 or purified natural gC of HSV-2 comprised a minority of the total number of HSV-specific clones isolated from lesions. The gC2- and gD2-specific CD4+ clones had cytotoxic activity. The approximate locations of the HSV-2 genes encoding HSV-2 type-specific CD4+ antigens have been determined by using HSV-1 x HSV-2 intertypic recombinant virus and include the approximate map regions 0.30 to 0.46, 0.59 to 0.67, 0.67 to 0.73, and 0.82 to 1.0 units. The antigenic specificity of an HLA DQ2-restricted, HSV-2 type-specific T-cell clone was mapped to amino acids 425 to 444 of VP16 of HSV-2 by sequential use of an intertypic recombinant virus containing VP16 of HSV-2 in an HSV-1 background, recombinant VP16 fusion proteins, and synthetic peptides. Each of the remaining four patients also yielded at least one type-specific T-cell clone reactive with an HSV-2 epitope mapping to approximately 0.67 to 0.73 map units. The antigenic specificities of lesion-derived CD4+ T-cell clones are quite diverse and include at least 10 epitopes. Human T-cell clones reactive with gC and VP16 are reported here for the first time.
Interventions to Improve Parental Communication About Sex: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT: The relative effectiveness of interventions to improve parental communication with adolescents about sex is not known. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and methodologic quality of interventions for improving parental communication with adolescents about sex. METHODS: We searched 6 databases: OVID/Medline, PsychInfo, ERIC, Cochrane Review, Communication and Mass Media, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. We included studies published between 1980 and July 2010 in peer-reviewed English-language journals that targeted US parents of adolescents aged 11 to 18 years, used an experimental or quasi-experimental design, included a control group, and had a pretest/posttest design. We abstracted data on multiple communication outcomes defined by the integrative conceptual model (communication frequency, content, skills, intentions, self-efficacy, perceived environmental barriers/facilitators, perceived social norms, attitudes, outcome expectations, knowledge, and beliefs). Methodologic quality was assessed using the 11-item methodologic quality score. RESULTS: Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. Compared with controls, parents who participated in these interventions experienced improvements in multiple communication domains including the frequency, quality, intentions, comfort, and self-efficacy for communicating. We noted no effects on parental attitudes toward communicating or the outcomes they expected to occur as a result of communicating. Four studies were of high quality, 7 were of medium quality, and 1 was of lower quality. CONCLUSIONS: Our review was limited by the lack of standardized measures for assessing parental communication. Still, interventions for improving parent-adolescent sex communication are well designed and have some targeted effects. Wider dissemination could augment efforts by schools, clinicians, and health educators.
Primary aspergilloma of paranasal sinuses in the Sudan. A review of seventeen cases

may be initiated by exceptionally strong inhibitory stimuli being conveyed by the surviving glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, a concept supported by the findings of Kitaiev (1908), who reported that in the dog weak stimulation of the glossopharyngeal nerves inhibited swallowing while stronger stimulation evoked it. In our case simultaneous withdrawal of the nasogastric tube and injection of the contrast medium should be regarded as a strong stimulus, and possibly more effective after a period of sensory deprivation. In cases where central re-education for one reason or another fails, the partly denervated sphincter will in time become fibrous and it is in those cases that myotomy is of most use (Kaplan,
Regional Scalp Block for Postcraniotomy Analgesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND:Up to two-thirds of patients report moderate to severe surgical site pain after craniotomy procedures, and there is understandable reluctance to manage these symptoms with systemic opioids that may impair neurological assessment. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus and evidence concerning alternative analgesia strategies for cranial neurosurgery. Regional scalp block (RSB) is an established technique that involves infiltration of local anesthetic (LA) at well-defined anatomical sites targeting the major sensory innervation of the scalp. However, the efficacy of RSB in reducing postoperative pain remains unclear. In this study, we sought to systematically identify and review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of RSB and synthesize an overall estimate of efficacy in a quantitative meta-analysis. METHODS:Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for all RCTs evaluating the effect of RSB on postoperative pain after craniotomy. Titles, abstracts, and papers were reviewed independently by 2 authors against predefined inclusion criteria. Two authors independently assessed the quality of included studies and extracted data on patient-reported pain scores, other analgesia requirements, and complications of RSB. Pain scores were scaled to a common 0 to 10 interval with higher scores indicating more severe pain. Meta-analysis of the pooled treatment effect was performed with a random-effects inverse-variance weighted model; heterogeneity was quantified with the I2 statistic. RESULTS:The literature search identified 138 unique citations, from which 7 RCTs with a total recruitment of 320 patients met the inclusion criteria. All studies used standard LA drugs (lidocaine, bupivacaine, or ropivacaine); in 3 studies, LA was combined with epinephrine. In 3 studies, RSB was performed preoperatively; in the other 4 studies, it was administered postoperatively after wound closure. No complications attributable to RSB were reported. Meta-analysis found a pooled reduction in pain score at 1 hour postoperatively (N = 5 studies; mean difference, −1.61; 95% confidence interval, −2.06 to −1.15; P < 0.001; I2 = 0%). Subgroup analysis of preoperative RSB showed significant reduction in pain scores at 2, 4, and 6 to 8 hours after surgery whereas postoperative RSB was associated with significant reduction in pain scores at 2, 4, 6 to 8 and 12 hours assessments. There was also an overall reduction in the opioid requirements over the first 24 hours postoperatively, although with significant heterogeneity among the studies (N = 6 studies; standardized mean difference, −0.79; 95% confidence interval, −1.55 to −0.03; P = 0.04; I2 = 86%). CONCLUSION:Published RCTs of RSB are small and of limited methodological quality but meta-analysis shows a consistent finding of reduced postoperative pain. This evidence supports the use of RSB for patients undergoing craniotomy.
Comparative evaluation of two multisensory video surveillance techniques for pedestrian tracking

In this paper we examine two different automated video surveillance techniques for detection and tracking of pedestrians based on fusion of colour and thermal images. The first approach is a novel particle filtering based on Bayesian framework, and the seconf one is an approach based on fusion of shape and appearance cues. The shape and appearance based technique involves a layered two pass scheme, where in the first pass-an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is used to separate infrared images into still background and moving foreground layers. In the second pass: shape cues from the first pass is used to eliminate non-pedestrian moving objects and then appearance cue is used to locate the exact position of pedestrians. Then pedestrians are detected by sequential application of templates at multiple scales. For tracking the pedestrian a graph matching-based algorithm which fueses the shape and appearance information was used. The particle filtering based algorithm on other hand is based on building a scene background model with each pixel represented as a multimodal distribution of colour and thermal images. Then this background model is used to build a particle filter for tracking the pedestrian. The particle filter uses a novel formulation of observation likelihoods The evaluation of the two detection and tracking approaches was done by performing experiments on the thermal and colour dataset from OTCBVS databse.
Chronic dietary oxalate nephropathy after intensive dietary weight loss regimen

Background: Hyperoxaluria has been associated with nephrolithiasis as well as acute and chronic kidney disease. We present a case of end stage renal failure caused by excessive dietary oxalate intake in a dietary weight loss regimen. Case Presentation: A 51-year-old Caucasian male with the past medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, gout, hypertension and morbid obesity was referred to the primary care clinic after being found pale and easily fatigued. The patient had lost 36 kg over a 7-month period by implementing exercise and intense dietary measures that included 6 meals of spinach, kale, berries, and nuts. Physical examination revealed a blood pressure of 188/93 mm Hg with sunken eyes and dry mucus membranes. Laboratory workup was notable for blood urea nitrogen of 122 mg/dL, creatinine of 12 mg/dL, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 4.4 mL/min/1.73m2. Patient denied any history of renal disease or renal stones, or taking herbal products, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antifreeze (ethylene glycol), or any type of "diet pills. " Family history was unremarkable for any renal diseases. After failing intravenous fluid resuscitation, patient was started on maintenance hemodialysis. Abdominal imaging was consistent with chronic renal parenchymal disease with no evidence of nephrolithiasis. Renal biopsy revealed numerous polarized oxalate crystal deposition and diabetic nephropathy class IIA. At this point the patient was instructed to adopt a low oxalate diet. A 24-hour urine collection was remarkable for pH 4.7, citrate <50 mg, and oxalate 46 mg. Importantly, serum oxalate level was undetectable. Repeat renal biopsy 5 months later while patient was still on maintenance hemodialysis revealed persistence of extensive oxalate crystal deposition. Patient has been referred for evaluation for renal transplantation. Conclusions: Clinicians need to maintain a high index of suspicion for dietary hyperoxaluria as a potential etiology for acute or chronic kidney failure, particularly in patients pursuing intensive dietary weight loss intervention
Possible Protective Mechanisms of Heme Oxygenase‐1 in the Brain

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A Cognition-based View of Decision Processes in Complex Social–Ecological Systems

This synthesis paper is intended to provide an overview of individual and collective decision- making processes that might serve as a theoretical foundation for a complexity-based approach to environmental policy design and natural resource management planning. Human activities are the primary drivers of change in the Earth's biosphere today, so efforts to shift the trajectory of social-ecological systems must focus on changes in individual and collective human behavior. Recent advances in understanding the biological basis of thought and memory offer insights of use in designing management and planning processes. The human brain has evolved ways of dealing with complexity and uncertainty, and is particularly attuned to social information. Changes in an individual's schemas, reflecting changes in the patterns of neural connections that are activated by particular stimuli, occur primarily through nonconsious processes in response to experiential learning during repeated exposure to novel situations, ideas, and relationships. Discourse is an important mechanism for schema modification, and thus for behavior change. Through discourse, groups of people construct a shared story—a collective model—that is useful for predicting likely outcomes of actions and events. In effect, good stories are models that filter and organize distributed knowledge about complex situations and relationships in ways that are readily absorbed by human cognitive processes. The importance of discourse supports the view that collaborative approaches are needed to effectively deal with environmental problems and natural resource management challenges. Methods derived from the field of mediation and dispute resolution can help us take advantage of the distinctly human ability to deal with complexity and uncertainty. This cognitive view of decision making supports fundamental elements of resilience management and adaptive co-management, including fostering social learning through the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders, and building trust and increasing links among governance organizations.
Effect of gender on processing threat‐related stimuli in patients with panic disorder: sex does matter

Background: Several studies have shown that female and male subjects process emotions differently. As women appear to be especially sensitive and responsive to negative and threatening stimuli, gender‐specific emotional processing might be an important factor contributing to the increased likelihood of women compared to men to develop anxiety disorders, e.g. panic disorder (PD). Methods: In this study, gender‐specific neural activation during facial emotion processing was investigated in 20 PD patients (12 women, 8 men) by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Overall, significantly stronger activation, encompassing the amygdala, prefrontal, temporal, and occipital cortical areas, basal ganglia, and thalamus, was observed in women than in men during the processing of angry, fearful, or neutral but not happy facial expressions. Additionally, functional connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortical areas and thalamus during the processing of angry facial expressions was significantly stronger in women than in men. Conclusions: These results emphasize gender as an important variable in neural activation patterns of emotional processing and may help to further elucidate the biological substrate of gender‐specific susceptibility for PD. Depression and Anxiety, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Independent Component Analysis Based MIMO Transceiver With Improved Performance In Time Varying Wireless Channels

Independent component analysis (ICA) is a signal processing technique used for un-mixing of the mixed recorded signals. In wireless communication, ICA is mainly used in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems. Most of the existing work regarding the ICA applications in MIMO systems assumed static or quasi static wireless channels. Performance of the ICA algorithms degrades in case of time varying wireless channels and is further degraded if the data block lengths are reduced to get the quasi stationarity. In this paper, we propose an ICA based MIMO transceiver that performs well in time varying wireless channels, even for smaller data blocks. Simulation is performed over quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signals. Results show that the proposed transceiver system outperforms the existing MIMO system utilizing the FastICA and the OBAICA algorithms in both the transceiver systems for time varying wireless channels. Performance improvement is observed for different data blocks lengths and signal to noise ratios (SNRs).
Segmenting images with support vector machines

The aim of this work is to propose an original image segmentation methodology to detect and localise objects or patterns in an image. This new technology has two parts: (a) the main module is a SVM neural network whose goal is the image segmentation in order to detect and localise objects having regular patterns (represented by a block of pixels), and then, (b) a simple morphological processing, to eliminate isolated misclassified pixels. The importance of this methodology is highlighted with the results obtained in the recognition of 2D symbolic codes. Another advantage of our algorithm is its regularity that may be exploited to propose a parallel hardware architecture.
TOWARDS AN INTEROPERABLE ADAPTIVE TUTORING AGENT FOR SIMULATIONS AND SERIOUS GAMES

Computer simulations and digital game based learning systems have to adapt to the experience and knowledge level of the users to exploit their intrinsic motivation for interaction and learning. To facilitate the deployment of intelligent tutoring tools they must follow interoperability standards. The solution approach described in this paper is a distributed intelligent tutoring agent framework. It communicates with the game engines via the High Level Architecture (HLA) with payloads based on the eXperience API (xAPI) and the IEEE Learning Object Model (LOM). This framework adapts the connected simulations to the experience level of the users to keep them in the flow channel. Its application is image interpretation for reconnaissance. This paper describes the overall system architecture and the general adaptation design principles.