Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do farming exposures cause or prevent asthma? Results from a study of adult Norwegian farmers

Background: A protective effect of endotoxin exposure on atopy and asthma in farmers’ children has been postulated. Studies of adult farmers have shown conflicting results but often lack exposure data. The prevalence of asthma in farmers with different exposure levels to microbial agents and irritant gases was compared. Methods: Atopy was defined as a positive response to multiple radioallergosorbent tests (RAST) with a panel of 10 common respiratory allergens, and asthma was ascertained by a questionnaire using a stratified sample (n = 2169) of a farming population from south-eastern Norway. Exposure of farmers to total dust, fungal spores, bacteria, endotoxins, and ammonia was assessed by exposure measurements. Results: The prevalence of asthma was 3.7% for physician diagnosed asthma and 2.7% for current asthma. The prevalence of atopy was 14%, but most asthmatic subjects were non-atopic (80%). Compared with farmers without livestock, (1) asthma was significantly higher in cattle farmers (ORadj 1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.8) and pig farmers (ORadj 1.6, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.5), (2) non-atopic asthma was significantly higher in pig farmers (ORadj 2.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.3) and in farmers with two or more types of livestock (ORadj 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.3), and (3) atopic asthma was less common in farmers with two or more types of livestock (ORadj 0.32, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.97). Exposure to endotoxins, fungal spores, and ammonia was positively associated with non-atopic asthma and negatively associated with atopic asthma. No associations were found with atopy. Conclusions: Exposure to endotoxins and fungal spores appears to have a protective effect on atopic asthma but may induce non-atopic asthma in farmers.
High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among elite Spanish athletes the importance of outdoor training adaptation.

INTRODUCTION The discovery of vitamin D muscle receptors in the last few years suggested a significant role in muscle tissue, pointing out athletes as a special group. Specific data are scarce. AIM The main aim of the current paper was to provide, for the first time, comparable data about vitamin D status in elite Spanish athletes by sport, age, season and training environment. METHODS Four hundred and eight elite athletes with a mean age of 22.8 ± 8.4 years were recruited from the High-performance sport centre in Barcelona for this cross-sectional study. Athletes from 34 different sports modalities were analysed. Data were available for vitamin D status, training environment, seasonality and number of medical visits. All data were analysed using SPSS version 18.0. RESULTS Mean 25(OH)D of all athletes was 56.7 ± 23.4 nmol/L. Approximately 82% of the athletes were below the optimal levels, (< 75nmol/l), 45% had moderate deficient levels (< 50 nmol/L) and 6% had severe deficiency (< 27.5 nmol/L). We have observed a steady increase in 25(OH)D concentrations with increasing age (p < 0.01) Highest levels were observed in those subjects training outdoors compared with those training indoor (p.
The Sociolinguistic Environment of a Bilingual School: A Case Study Introduction

Abstract Currently, much of the literature on school reform and renewal cites the need to look at reform from the level of the school as unit. Therefore, it is necessary to study programs such as bilingual programs in the context of the larger school environment in which they exist. The larger school context can greatly impact what goes on in bilingual classrooms within the school. This study reports the results of a case study of a school that labels itself as a “bilingual school”. The study examines and describes language use in bilingual classrooms in the school and language use in the larger school environment outside of the classroom. The study asserts that if bilingual programs are to be places where children truly become bilingual and biliterate, then the environment outside of the classroom must encourage and support the use of two languages with the same enthusiasm as the environment inside bilingual classrooms. Further, each language must have the same status outside the classroom in a bilingual.
The Effect of Conservation Tillage and Cover Crop Residue on Beneficial Arthropods and Weed Seed Predation in Acorn Squash

Abstract Conservation tillage combined with cover crops or mulching may enhance natural enemy activity in agroecosystems by reducing soil disturbance and increasing habitat structural complexity. In particular, weed seed predation can increase with vegetation cover and reduced tillage, indicating that mulches may improve the quality of the habitat for weed seed foraging. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of tillage and mulching for conservation biological control in cucurbit fields. The effects of mulch and reduced tillage on arthropods and rates of weed seed loss from arenas were examined in field trials on sandy soils in 2014 and 2015. Experimental factors included tillage and cover crop, each with two levels: strip-tillage or full-tillage, and cover crop mulch (rye residue) or no cover crop mulch (unmulched). Arthropod abundance on the crop foliage was not affected by tillage or cover crops. Contrary to expectations, epigeal natural enemies of insects and rates of weed seed removal either did not respond to treatments or were greater in full-tilled plots and plots without mulch. Our study demonstrates the potential importance of weed seed predators in reducing weed seedbanks in vegetable agroecosystems, and suggests that early-season tillage may not be detrimental to epigeal predator assemblages.
3-D mapping of permeable structures affecting a deep granite basement using isotropic 3C VSP data

SUMMARY This paper illustrates the efficiency of vertical seismic profiling (VSP) for the investigation of dipping and hydraulically conductive structures affecting a granitic basement covered by sediments. A three-component (3C) VSP data set has been acquired in the GPK1 and EPS1 wells of the Soultz-sous-Forets enhanced geothermal system (EGS) located within the Upper Rhine Graben (URG). Our study focuses on the isotropic processing of profiles acquired with vertical vibrator P and their subsequent interpretation. Mainly P–S converted reflections are identified from the analysis of the 3C records. These P–S conversions occur on steep permeable faults that are positioned in space by traveltime modelling. These faults cut the granite basement in several hectometric-scale blocks, and represent the main fluid paths between the boreholes. These faults are thought to be inherited from late Variscan and Alpine deformation periods, reactivated by the current stress field. When properly processed and interpreted, VSP allow the scale gap between surface and borehole data to be bridged.
The Role of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations in Mammalian Aging

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) accumulates both base-substitution mutations and deletions with aging in several tissues in mammals. Here, we examine the evidence supporting a causative role for mtDNA mutations in mammalian aging. We describe and compare human diseases and mouse models associated with mitochondrial genome instability. We also discuss potential mechanisms for the generation of these mutations and the means by which they may mediate their pathological consequences. Strategies for slowing the accumulation and attenuating the effects of mtDNA mutations are discussed.
Inhibitory effects of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor ONO-4817 on morphological alterations in chlorhexidine gluconate-induced peritoneal sclerosis rats.

BACKGROUND The activity of gelatinase, matrix metalloproteinase-2, in effluent was increased in peritoneal dialysis patients with encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) and in chlorhexidine gluconate-induced peritoneal sclerosing (PS) animal models. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (ONO-4817), an anticancer agent with anti-angiogenesis and anti-infiltration effects, on the development of peritoneal fibrosis in chlorhexidine gluconate-induced PS rats. METHODS Forty-five Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats were intraperitoneally injected with saline as control (n = 15) or with chlorhexidine gluconate (CH) (1.5 ml/100 g) in the CH group (n = 15). ONO-4817 (5 mg/rat) was administered intravenously to CH rats (the ONO-4817 group, n = 15) from initiation to the end of the study. After 22 days of ONO-4817 administration, the rats were sacrificed and the parietal peritoneum was harvested. The gene expressions of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and type I collagen in the peritoneum were analysed by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Peritoneal tissues were also evaluated immunohistologically. RESULTS ONO-4817 significantly inhibited thickening of the submesothelial layer and accumulation of type I collagen in the peritoneum. ONO-4817 also prevented increases of the number of macrophages and blood vessels. The expressions of TGF-beta, alpha-SMA and type I collagen in the peritoneum were markedly suppressed in ONO-4817-treated rats. CONCLUSION It appears that the administration of the MMP inhibitor ONO-4817 might be a new approach to the amelioration of PS.
Resolving Cross-Layer Conflict Between Overlay Routing and Traffic Engineering

Overlay routing is known to cause undesired instability in a network by operating in a selfish manner. The objectives of overlay routing, such as optimizing end-to-end latency, are often in conflict with the objectives of traffic engineering (TE) in the native layer, which is concerned about balancing load. In our paper, we build on past research that has investigated the recurring noncooperative interaction between overlay routing and traffic engineering, and develop strategies that improve the routing performance of a particular layer with incomplete information about the other layer. In our strategies, one layer acts as a leader that predicts the follower's reaction and undertakes countermeasures to prevent future deterioration in performance. Specifically, we propose two classes of strategies-friendly or hostile-for each layer. By simulating under different network characteristics, we show that these preemptive strategies achieve near-optimal performance for the leader and increase the overall stability of the network. Furthermore, we observe that the best performance for a particular layer is achieved only when the goals of the other layer are completely violated, thereby motivating a higher level of selfishness.
Flexible coordination of service interaction patterns

Service-oriented computing is meant to support loose relationships between organisations: Collaboration procedures on the application-level translate to interaction processes via Web Services. Service composition deals with the specification and enforcent of such processes. Its main focus is on service <i>orchestration</i> where workflow managent is utilised for proactive coordination. In such an approach, coordination process and interaction logic are usually captured in the same workflow - which leads to deficiencies in recognising the possible impact of operational coordination on the interaction logic. In this paper, we claim that the choice of coordination alternatives impacts the quality of the composed service and has to be customised to each specific service case. As a consequence, we outline a solution that is based on <i>service interaction patterns</i> where the paradigms of patterns and idioms are applied to interaction procedures and orchestration processes. This allows studying a) reusable interaction patterns typical for service relationships and b) for each pattern a range of possible coordination idioms. Finally, we sketch a technique that refines the service logic based on analysis of its interaction patterns and utilisation of suitable coordination idioms selected by rules in terms of changing service context.
Modeling of the Dynamics Adsorption of Phenol from an Aqueous Solution on Activated Carbon Produced from Olive Stones

A continuous fixed bed study was carried out by using granular activated carbon produced from olive stone for the removal of phenol from aqueous solution. The effects of initial phenol concentration (40-250 mg/l), feed flow rate (2.2-8.4 ml/min) and activated carbon bed depth (5-20 cm) on the breakthrough characteristics of the adsorption system were determined. The obtained results showed that the adsorption capacity increases with the bed depth and the initial concentration and it decreases at higher flow rate. Three models namely Clark, Thomas, and Yoon - Nelson were employed to predict the breakthrough curves and to determine the characteristic parameters of the column useful for column design. These models fitted well the adsorption data with coefficient of correlation R2>0.9 at different conditions. The activated carbon from olive stone was shown to be suitable adsorbent for adsorption of phenol using fixed bed adsorption.
Pilot-Aided Equalization with a Constrained Noise-Estimation Filter

In this paper we focus on a single carrier pilot-assisted transmission scheme where one pilot symbol is periodically inserted in the transmitted sequence on a time-division multiplexing basis. A new equalization scheme, where the knowledge of pilot symbols is exploited by the equalizer to generate an estimate of the noise affecting the symbol to be detected, is introduced and analyzed. The criterion used to compute the equalizer coefficients is the minimization of the mean-square error (MSE). The main new result of our analysis is that the optimal pilot aided equalizer (PAE) can be decomposed as the cascade of an unconstrained minimum MSE (MMSE) linear equalizer (LE) and a data- aided noise estimation filter. This result completes and extends the noise-predictive view of decision feedback equalization to general data-aided equalization. The PAE is compared here to the MMSE- LE and to the MSE decision feedback equalizer on two frequency selective wireless channels.
'Asians cannot wear turbans in the scrum': explorations of racist discourse within professional rugby league.

Since sport is accorded such a significant position within national popular culture, it assumes corresponding importance in producing, reproducing and challenging racial myths. This paper explores how dominant notions of black physicality are embedded in sports practice and how such assumptions may be challenged. To do this we shall offer a critique of existing literature and, importantly, draw on empirical evidence from a recent study of the nature and extent of racism in rugby league. Together these allow us to explore tacit racism, that which is hidden and normalized by language and culture. At the heart of this are stereotypes of 'race' and racial qualities, created by white hegemonic culture with their significance perpetuated by society, including the people who experience the stereotyping. These cultural productions maintain inequalities even after the caricatures they portray may have changed. We examine how these historically specific images are formed and justified (and thereby normalized) and h.
Value Implications of IT Outsourcing Contextual Characteristics

This paper examines the financial benefits of IT outsourcing of 335 firms between the years 1990 and 2003. We find IT outsourcing to affect both ex ante (announcement day stock market returns) and ex post measures of firm performance (return on sales, return on assets, growth rate, selling, general, and administrative expenses and market valuation). Using a transaction cost economics frame, we argue and find support for the argument that contextual effects (e.g., selective sourcing, IT asset specificity, onsite vs. offsite and domestic vs. offshoring) have a significant impact on firm performance. We employ several tests of robustness including controls for size, industry, and self selection.
Human Cytomegalovirus Inhibits Apoptosis by Proteasome-Mediated Degradation of Bax at Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondrion Contacts

ABSTRACT Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes the UL37 exon 1 protein (pUL37x1), which is the potent viral mitochondrion-localized inhibitor of apoptosis (vMIA), to increase survival of infected cells. HCMV vMIA traffics from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to ER subdomains, which are physically linked to mitochondria known as mitochondrion-associated membranes (MAM), and to mitochondria. The antiapoptotic function of vMIA is thought to primarily result from its ability to inhibit Bax-mediated permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). Here, we establish that vMIA retargets Bax to the MAM as well as to the OMM from immediate early through late times of infection. However, MAM localization of Bax results in its increased ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. Surprisingly, HCMV infection does not increase OMM-associated degradation (OMMAD) of Bax, even though the ER and mitochondria are physically connected at the MAM. It was recently found that lipid rafts at the plasma membrane can connect extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways and can serve as sites of apoptosome assembly. In transfected permissive human fibroblasts, vMIA mediates, through its cholesterol affinity, association of Bax and apoptosome components with MAM lipid rafts. While Bax association with MAM lipid rafts was detected in HCMV-infected cells, association of apoptosome components was not. These results establish that Bax recruitment to the MAM and its MAM-associated degradation (MAMAD) are a newly described antiapoptotic mechanism used by HCMV infection to increase cell survival for its growth.
National athletic trainers' association position statement: skin diseases.

OBJECTIVE To present recommendations for the prevention, education, and management of skin infections in athletes. BACKGROUND Trauma, environmental factors, and infectious agents act together to continually attack the integrity of the skin. Close quarters combined with general poor hygiene practices make athletes particularly vulnerable to contracting skin diseases. An understanding of basic prophylactic measures, clinical features, and swift management of common skin diseases is essential for certified athletic trainers to aid in preventing the spread of infectious agents. RECOMMENDATIONS These guidelines are intended to provide relevant information on skin infections and to give specific recommendations for certified athletic trainers and others participating in athletic health care.
Nurses' feelings and thoughts about using physical restraints on hospitalized older patients.

AIM To explore nurses' feelings and thoughts about physically restraining older hospitalized patients. BACKGROUND The use of physical restraints is still highly prevalent in hospitals; furthermore, older patients are most likely to be so restrained. Studies in acute care settings have focused mainly on nurses' knowledge, attitudes, or practice concerning physical restraints, on physical restraint reduction programmes, on nurses' perceptions about the use of physical restraints, or on elderly patients' experiences with physical restraints. To the best of our knowledge no studies have been conducted on hospital nurses' feelings and thoughts about the use of physical restraints in Taiwan. DESIGN AND METHODS A qualitative approach was used to understand this phenomenon. Semi-structured interviews were carried out, from August 2002 to March 2003, with 12 nurses working in three hospitals. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim; content analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS Nurses reported a variety of emotional responses regarding the use of physical restraints, including sadness, guilt, conflicts, retribution, absence of feelings, security, and pity for the restrained older people. Rationalization, sharing with colleagues, and compensating behaviours were ways that nurses used to manage their negative feelings. CONCLUSIONS Most nurses had negative feelings towards the use of physical restraints. Among these nurses there was a struggle between patients' autonomy and the practice of care. However, other nurses said they had 'no feelings' or 'feeling of security' while using physical restraints. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The findings of this study may contribute to filling the gaps in nursing knowledge, to improving protocols for physical restraint use in hospitals, and may also assist nurse managers to create a supportive practice environment. It is recommended that in-service training programmes should cover misconceptions regarding physical restraint use, ethical issues and how to cope with feelings while using physical restraints.
Studies of the Pattern Recognition Molecule H-ficolin

Background: H-ficolin is a pattern recognition molecule of the human innate immune system. Results: The ligand specificity of H-ficolin is explored, and a purification procedure is developed. Conclusion: H-ficolin binds to patterns of acetyl groups and activates complement upon binding. Significance: The findings expand and emphasize the differences of the specificities of the three human ficolins (H-, L-, and M-ficolin). Ficolins are pattern recognition molecules of the innate immune system. H-ficolin is found in plasma associated with mannan-binding lectin-associated serine proteases (MASPs). When H-ficolin binds to microorganisms the MASPs are activated, which in turn activate the complement system. H-ficolin is the most abundant ficolin in humans, yet its ligand binding characteristics and biological role remain obscure. We examined the binding of H-ficolin to Aerococcus viridans as well as to a more defined artificial target, i.e. acetylated bovine serum albumin. A strict dependence for calcium ions and inhibition at high NaCl concentration was found. The binding to acetylated bovine serum albumin was inhibited by acetylsalicylic acid and sodium acetate as well as by N-acetylated glucosamine and galactosamine (GlcNAc and GalNAc) and glycine (GlyNAc). The binding to A. viridans was sensitive to the same compounds, but, importantly, higher concentrations were needed for inhibition. N-Acetylated cysteine was also inhibitory, but this inhibition was parallel with reduction in the oligomerization of H-ficolin and thus represents structural changes of the molecule. Based on our findings, we developed a procedure for the purification of H-ficolin from serum, involving PEG precipitation, affinity chromatography on Sepharose derivatized with acetylated serum albumin, ion exchange chromatography, and gel permeation chromatography. The purified H-ficolin was observed to elute at 700 kDa, similar to what we find for H-ficolin in whole serum. MASP-2 was co-purified with H-ficolin, and the purified H-ficolin·MASP-2 complex could activate complement as measured by cleavage of complement factor C4. This study extends our knowledge of the specificity of this pattern recognition molecule, and the purified product will enable further studies.
ournal of C osmology and A stroparticle hysics Constraining the WMAP9 bispectrum and trispectrum with needlets

We develop a needlet approach to estimate the amplitude of general (includ-ing non-separable) bispectra and trispectra in the cosmic microwave background, and apply this to the WMAP 9-year data. We obtain estimates for the ‘orthogonal’ bispectrum mode, yielding results which are consistent with the WMAP 7-year data. We do not observe the frequency-dependence suggested by the WMAP team’s analysis of the 9-year data. We present 1- σ constraints on the ‘local’ trispectrum shape g NL / 10 5 = − 4 . 1 ± 2 . 3, the ‘ c 1’ equilateral model g c 1 NL / 10 6 = − 0 . 8 ± 2 . 9, and the constant model g constNL / 10 6 = − 0 . 2 ± 1 . 8, together with a 95% conﬁdence-level upper bound on the multiﬁeld local parameter τ NL < 22000. We estimate the bias on these parameters produced by point sources. The techniques developed in this paper should prove useful for other datasets such as Planck.