Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Naturally Occurring Seafood Toxins

AbstractIncidents of illness reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the period 1978–1987 were limited to ciguatera, scombroid fish poisoning (SFP), and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Natural intoxications are both highly regional and species associated, and toxins are present in seafood at the time of capture.Ciguatera is a sometimes severe disease caused by consuming certain species of fish, usually island or reef, from tropical, subtropical, and other (temperate) waters, and was responsible for about half of all reported outbreaks to the CDC. Treatments are largely supportive, and mortality is usually low. Controls based on regulation of fishing or marketling of dangerous species, supported by testing suspect fish and educating consumers, sports fishers and health professionals, are recommended.SFP caused nearly the same number of outbreaks as ciguatera, but was much more widespread. Tuna, mahimahi and bluefish are implicated as the major cause of SFP. The disease is generally mild a.
Maintaining perpetual synchrony in HeLa S3 culture

HeLa S3 cells in suspension culture are resynchronized in each successive generation by exposure to 0.25mM thymidine. The resynchronization approach appears to be superior to single‐ and double‐block techniques because the period of effective inhibition of DNA synthesis is significantly shortened. Gram quantities of highly synchronous viable cells have been produced on a daily basis.
An epidemic CC1-MRSA-IV clone yields false-negative test results in molecular MRSA identification assays: a note of caution, Austria, Germany, Ireland, 2020

We investigated why a clinical meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolate yielded false-negative results with some commercial PCR tests for MRSA detection. We found that an epidemic European CC1-MRSA-IV clone generally exhibits this behaviour. The failure of the assays was attributable to a large insertion in the orfX/SCCmec integration site. To ensure the reliability of molecular MRSA tests, it is vital to monitor emergence of new SCCmec types and junction sites.
Effects of smoking on hemoglobin and erythrocytes sedimentation rate and its association with ABO blood groups

Context: “Smoking causes variation in different parameters of blood like hemoglobin (Hb) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). ” Continuous exposure to carbon monoxide leads to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin, an inactive form of Hb with no oxygen-carrying capacity; carboxyhemoglobin also leads to shifting in the Hb dissociation curve on the left side, causing a reduction in the ability of Hb to deliver oxygen to the tissue. Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of cigarette smoking on Hb and ESR between smokers and nonsmokers and its association with ABO blood groups. Settings and Design: A total of 100 subjects which included 50 smokers and 50 age-matched nonsmoker controls were included in this study. Material and Methods: 5 ml of venous blood was collected by venipuncture method and Hb was measured by cyanmethhemoglobin method, ESR by Westergren's method, and ABO blood grouping by slide method. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical software SPSS version 20 (SPSS, Chicago, Illinois) was used. Student's t test was performed for parametric numerical data and Chi-square test was performed for nonparametric categorical data. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean Hb was 16.83 g/dL in smokers and 14.42 g/dL in nonsmokers. The mean ESR was 5.36 mm in smokers and 3.96 mm in nonsmokers. Conclusions: A significant increase was seen in Hb and ESR in smokers when compared to nonsmokers. No significant association was seen between the ABO blood groups among smokers and nonsmokers.
Sunlight Doubles Aboveground Carbon Loss in a Seasonally Dry Woodland in Patagonia

Photodegradation of aboveground senescent plant material (plant litter) due to exposure to solar radiation has been identified as a dominant control on carbon (C) loss in semi-arid ecosystems [1], upturning traditional models of C cycling based only on available moisture and litter quality. In addition to the photochemical mineralization of organic matter [1, 2], sunlight alters the chemistry of cell walls in plant litter [3, 4], making them more susceptible to subsequent biotic degradation [5-7]. Nevertheless, the interactive effects of sunlight exposure, climate seasonality, and biotic decomposition on C turnover remain unresolved in terrestrial ecosystems. We show here that exposure to sunlight accelerated litter decomposition in a Patagonian woodland with a marked dry summer season. Controls on initial decomposition varied seasonally from direct photochemical mineralization in the dry summer to biotic degradation in the wet winter. By manipulating sunlight received by plant litter using spectral filters that attenuated ultraviolet and short-wave visible light, we demonstrate that direct photodegradation and its legacy, associated with increased microbial access to labile carbohydrates, are responsible for the acceleration of aboveground C turnover in this Mediterranean-type climate. Across plant species and over a 2-year period, litter exposed to the full solar spectrum decomposed twice as fast as litter that received attenuated sunlight. Changes in vegetation cover or biodiversity due to projected increased drought and dry season length [8] will likely exacerbate C losses from aboveground litter due to sunlight exposure, negatively impacting the C balance in ecosystems that are particularly vulnerable to global change [9].
Factors Affecting Eating Out in Restaurants: A Study on Customers of Dhaka City

Eating out in restaurants is becoming a part of lifestyle among Bangladeshi citizens. While the popularity of eating out is increasing, parallelly, the number of restaurants has been rising at an astounding speed. Given the potential of the restaurant business in the country, this study investigates the reasons for which customers choose a particular restaurant to eat out and whether those reasons vary across demographic variables. Our study shows ambiance and quality of food are the top two factors that customers consider to choose a restaurant for eating out. It also shows that customers do not usually care much about menu variety, food presentation, and value-added deals. We found differences in preference exist among these factors across gender and age and showed the influence of gender and age on the frequency of visit and purpose of the visit. The findings of this study provide major implications for the marketers and entrepreneurs which we articulate at the end.
Opioids, testosterone and suicide

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 54(9) community affected. For example, social media misinformation causing alarm has been documented in relation to Covid-19 (www.gov.sg/article/ factually-clarifications-on-falsehoodsposted-by-str-on-covid-19-situation and www.bbc.com/news/technology51510196). Accordingly, there is a role for public service announcements and emergency education to inform the populace about the mental health risks of exposure to sensationalised media coverage (Thompson et al., 2019). This is relevant to both those individuals with a pre-existing mental illness and those with no current or past significant mental health problems. However, limitation of exposure to coverage does not directly affect the predominance of such existential threat themes in public discourse. Availability cascades, negativity bias, dominance and social contagion usefully inform psychological aspects of the media management of disasters. While limiting individual exposure to media coverage of disasters is necessary, it does not entirely counteract public awareness of threats. Communication by emergency management personnel of an authoritative, appropriate level of risk for the hazard is essential, as well as specific public health warnings about the risks of exposure to sensationalised media coverage impacting negatively on mental health (Thompson et al., 2019). This should inform the development of mental-health-informed media guidelines for reporting for disasters/threats analogous to those for suicide (www.ranzcp.org/news-policy/ policy-and-advocacy/position-statements/suicide-reporting-in-the-media). Research on the effects of disaster media coverage – especially social media – on individual and population mental health, as well as the mechanisms underlying these effects, is needed to develop effective interventions, especially given the increasing frequency of reporting of disaster events in Australia and abroad (Thompson et al., 2019).
Distribution of Na+ and K+ Currents in Soma, Axons and Growth Cones of Leech Retzius Neurones in Culture

1. 1. Leech Retzius neurones were isolated by a new technique which allowed investigation of macroscopic currents over the surface of the cell body and the axons using loose patch-clamp. The distribution of ion current densities was measured for neurones that had just been removed from the CNS, and for cultured cells in which neurite outgrowth had begun. To standardize the mapping procedure, the same patch electrode was used at various sites along the neurone. 2. 2. Immediately after isolation of the cell, rapidly activating and inactivating Na+ currents were recorded from distal segments of the axons, but not from the soma or the proximal segment. Na+ currents were isolated by using patch electrodes containing tetraethylammonium (TEA+) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) to block K+ channels and Cd2+ to block calcium channels. Na+ currents in all regions of the neurone where they could be recorded were similar in their voltage dependence and kinetics. The Na+ current density was highest at the broken tips of the axon stumps. 3. 3. Neurites began to extend from the broken axon tips approximately 30min after isolation. Newly grown processes showed a high density of Na+ currents at their growth cones. After 2 days in culture the current densities became more uniformly distributed and Na+ currents could then be recorded in the soma and proximal axon segments. 4. 4. In agreement with earlier studies made with conventional two-electrode voltage-clamp, three principal K+ currents were detected in Retzius cells: a rapidly activating and inactivatingA-type current blocked by 4-AP (IA); a more slowly activating and inactivating delayed K+ current blocked by TEA+ (IK1); and a Ca2+-activated K+ current (IC). Immediately after isolation of the Retzius cell, both rapid A-type and slow delayed K+ currents were distributed more uniformly than Na+ currents over the soma and axons. In their voltage sensitivities and kinetics, these two K+ currents were markedly different from each other; their characteristics were, however, constant in different regions of the cell. 5. 5. Ca2+ currents were too small to be measured directly during depolarizing pulses. However, tail currents were large enough to demonstrate the presence of Ca2+ channels in the proximal segment of the axon and in the soma; the currents were not sufficiently large to resolve their spatial distribution. 6. 6. It is concluded that ion channels are present in newly grown membranes and that the density of Na+ channels is highest in the tips of distal axon stumps from which outgrowth begins. By contrast, K+ currents are distributed more uniformly along the neurone.
Long-term Reproduction (1984–2013), Nestling Diet, and Eggshell Thickness of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in Yellowstone National Park

Abstract Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) were extirpated from Yellowstone National Park (YNP) by 1970 as a result of widespread use of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) throughout North America from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. DDT, and its primary metabolite DDE (dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethylene), caused eggshell thinning and impaired reproduction in Peregrine Falcons and other raptors. Restoration of Yellowstone’s Peregrine Falcon population began with nationwide restrictions placed on the use of DDT in 1972, coupled with the release of 36 captive-raised juveniles in YNP and the dispersal of 644 captive-raised juvenile Peregrine Falcons released within 260 km of YNP. We monitored Peregrine Falcon reestablishment and reproductive success in YNP (nesting success, productivity, and brood size) from 1984–2013. Productivity was defined as the number of young reaching ≥28 d per territorial pair. Brood size referred to the number of young reaching ≥28 d per successful pair. From 2010–2013, we collected and analyzed prey remains and eggshell fragments from nine Peregrine Falcon territories across YNP. We documented a substantial increase in the number of occupied territories from one in 1984 to 32 by 2007, as well as high nesting success (74%), productivity (1.62 young/territorial pair), and brood size (2.18 young/successful pair) during 1984–2013. Nesting success, productivity, and brood size were at or above the target values identified by U.S.F.W. S. and those found for the Rocky Mountain/Great Plains region during the 2003 national survey. Peregrine Falcon eggshells collected at the nine eyries were 4% thinner than pre-1947 measurements (pre-DDT) and presumably indicate low DDE concentrations. Prey remains were dominated by birds (97% of individuals), mostly terrestrial species (63%) including American Robins (Turdus migratorius), Franklin’s Gulls (Leucophaeus pipixcan), and Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currucoides).
Ultrasonography of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries: B-mode imaging

Abstract The most common type of stroke, i.e. ischemic stroke, is a great challenge for contemporary medicine as it poses both diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. Atherosclerosis, which is rapidly beginning to affect more and more social groups, is the main cause of cerebrovascular accidents. Atherosclerosis is currently defined as a generalized, dynamic and heterogeneous inflammatory and immune process affecting arterial walls. Atherosclerotic plaque is the emanation of this disease. As the paradigm of the diagnosis of atherosclerosis has changed, it has become crucial to properly identify plaque instability within the carotid arteries by evaluating parameters and phenomena that signify a developing cascade of complications, eventually leading to stroke. Irrespective of the ultrasound technique employed, proper morphological evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque, involving observation of its echogenicity, i.e. subjective analysis of its structure, with the classification to Gray-Weale–Nicolaides types as well as assessment of the integrity of its surface, makes it possible to roughly evaluate plaque morphology and thereby its stability. This enables treatment planning and therapy monitoring. This evaluation should be a prelude to further diagnostic work-up, which involves non-invasive examinations that enable unambiguous assessment of plaque stability. These examinations include contrast-enhanced ultrasound to assess progression or recession of inflammation, which presents as plaque neovascularization, or shear wave elastography to objectively define tissue stiffness, and thereby its mineralization.
A Mean-Field Theory for Learning the Schönberg Measure of Radial Basis Functions

We develop and analyze a projected particle Langevin optimization method to learn the distribution in the Schonberg integral representation of the radial basis functions from training samples. More specifically, we characterize a distributionally robust optimization method with respect to the Wasserstein distance to optimize the distribution in the Schonberg integral representation. To provide theoretical performance guarantees, we analyze the scaling limits of a projected particle online (stochastic) optimization method in the mean-field regime. In particular, we prove that in the scaling limits, the empirical measure of the Langevin particles converges to the law of a reflected Ito diffusion-drift process. Moreover, the drift is also a function of the law of the underlying process. Using Ito lemma for semi-martingales and Grisanov's change of measure for the Wiener processes, we then derive a Mckean-Vlasov type partial differential equation (PDE) with Robin boundary conditions that describes the evolution of the empirical measure of the projected Langevin particles in the mean-field regime. In addition, we establish the existence and uniqueness of the steady-state solutions of the derived PDE in the weak sense. We apply our learning approach to train radial kernels in the kernel locally sensitive hash (LSH) functions, where the training data-set is generated via a $k$-mean clustering method on a small subset of data-base. We subsequently apply our kernel LSH with a trained kernel for image retrieval task on MNIST data-set, and demonstrate the efficacy of our kernel learning approach. We also apply our kernel learning approach in conjunction with the kernel support vector machines (SVMs) for classification of benchmark data-sets.
A hypermorphic IκBα mutation is associated with autosomal dominant anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and T cell immunodeficiency

X-linked anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency (XL-EDA-ID) is caused by hypomorphic mutations in the gene encoding NEMO/IKKgamma, the regulatory subunit of the IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex. IKK normally phosphorylates the IkappaB-inhibitors of NF-kappaB at specific serine residues, thereby promoting their ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome. This allows NF-kappaB complexes to translocate into the nucleus where they activate their target genes. Here, we describe an autosomal-dominant (AD) form of EDA-ID associated with a heterozygous missense mutation at serine 32 of IkappaBalpha. This mutation is gain-of-function, as it enhances the inhibitory capacity of IkappaBalpha by preventing its phosphorylation and degradation, and results in impaired NF-kappaB activation. The developmental, immunologic, and infectious phenotypes associated with hypomorphic NEMO and hypermorphic IKBA mutations largely overlap and include EDA, impaired cellular responses to ligands of TIR (TLR-ligands, IL-1beta, and IL-18), and TNFR (TNF-alpha, LTalpha1/beta2, and CD154) superfamily members and severe bacterial diseases. However, AD-EDA-ID but not XL-EDA-ID is associated with a severe and unique T cell immunodeficiency. Despite a marked blood lymphocytosis, there are no detectable memory T cells in vivo, and naive T cells do not respond to CD3-TCR activation in vitro. Our report highlights both the diversity of genotypes associated with EDA-ID and the diversity of immunologic phenotypes associated with mutations in different components of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway.
Pesticides and Pesticide Mixtures Induce Neurotoxicity: Potentiation of Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress

Several epidemiological studies have suggested a role for environmental chemicals in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Endosulfan (an organochlorine) and zineb (zinc-ethylene-bisdithiocarbamate) are used as pesticides on a variety of crops worldwide and pose potential health risks to humans and animals. Both endosulfan and zineb are known to affect nervous system. Because the dopaminergic system continues to develop postnatally, we hypothesized that developmental exposure to endosulfan or zineb alone or in combination would result in alteration of nigrostrial neurotransmitters and would render the nigrostrial dopamine system more susceptible to chemical challenge later in life. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the effects of endosulfan and zineb individually and in combination on dopaminergic or cholinergic pathways in vivo, (2) to investigate the effects of exposure to endosulfan, zineb and their mixtures administered in early life (during brain development) on subsequent exposure to these pesticides on the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems, in vivo, (3) to investigate the mechanism(s) of induction of neuronal cell death caused by these pesticides using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in culture, (4) to define the role of oxidative stress in pesticide-induced neuronal cell death in vitro. Male C57Bl/6 mice of 7-9 months old exposed to zineb (50 and 100 mg/kg), endosulfan (1.55, 3.1 and 6.2 mg/kg) and their mixtures every other day over a 2-week period exhibited higher levels of dopamine accumulation in the striatum. Both pesticidetreated groups displayed significantly lower norepinephrine levels in the striatum (ρ ≤ 0.05) than the controls. The developmental exposure to zineb, endosulfan and their combination enhanced the vulnerability to subsequent neurotoxic challenges occurring later in life. Thus, C57BL/6 mice exposed to zineb, endosulfan and their mixtures as juveniles (postnatal days 5 to 19) and re-exposed at 8 months of age showed a significant depletion of striatal dopamine, to 22%, 16%, and 35% of control, respectively. Acetylcholinesterase activity in the cerebral cortex was found to be significantly increased in all pesticide treated groups. Mice given mixtures of
Profile of Auto-antibodies (Disease Related and Other) in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Background: Type 1 diabetes is associated with several disease-related and other organ-specific autoimmune disorders. Data related to various auto-antibodies in Type 1 diabetes in India is limited. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, 92 subjects with T1DM (33 males, 59 females) were evaluated for T1DM related antibodies (autoantibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD), autoantibodies to protein tyrosine phosphatise (anti-IA2), anti-islet cell antibody (ICA), insulin autoantibody (IAA), anti-Zinc Transporter(ZnT8) and other organ specific auto antibodies like anti–thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (TgAb), IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase (IgA anti-tTG), anti-21-hydroxylase, and anti-ovarian antibody (in females). Results: Anti-GAD, IA-2, islet cell antibody, insulin autoantibodies (IAA), ZnT8 antibody were present in 79.3%, 32.6%, 61.9%, 63%, and 20.65% subjects, respectively. Only 2.2% patients with Type 1 diabetes were antibody negative. At least one antibody was found in 97.8% and at least two antibodies in 67.3%. The presence of anti-TPO, anti-thyroglobulin, IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase, anti 21-hydroxylase were found in 51%, 25%, 22.8%, and 2.1%, respectively. Anti-ovarian antibody was absent in all females of our study population. The duration of diabetes positively correlated with the number of T1DM specific antibody and also with GAD antibody positivity. Anti TPO positivity correlated with the age of onset of T1DM, but not with the duration of disease or presence of other T1DM specific autoantibody. Conclusions: T1DM is associated with a high prevalence of autoantibodies and antibody negative T1DM is rare. The association with other organ specific antibody (especially thyroid and adrenal glands) and celiac disease is also substantial, which reinforces the importance of regular thyroid and celiac disease screening in T1DM subjects. The duration of diabetes positively correlated with number of T1DM specific antibodies.
Publish/Subscribe Middleware for Robotics: Requirements and State of the Art

Autonomous robotic systems become more complex and based on a distributed architecture since the introduction of the multi{agent paradigm. To tackle the increased complexity of such systems, researchers have started to apply software engineering tools in designing and integrating the modules that compose a modern robotics apparatus. Heterogeneity and e–ciency are only two of the key issues in choosing or developing the integration technology for multi{robot systems. In this work, we propose the publish/subscribe model as the proper communication model in this ﬂeld, we describe the issues related to the use of such kind of middleware in autonomous robotics, and we provide a compared analysis of the publish/subscribe middleware currently used in robotics applications