Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical and pharmacokinetic effects of regional or general anaesthesia on intravenous regional limb perfusion with amikacin in horses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Antimicrobial i.v. regional limb perfusion (IV-RLP) is clinically performed on anaesthetised or sedated horses with or without regional anaesthesia. To date, no scientific data are available on the clinical and pharmacokinetic effects of these anaesthetic protocols on antimicrobial IV-RLP, which is believed to result in better tourniquet efficiency due to decreased movement. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of regional or general anaesthesia on the clinical and synovial pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin administered by IV-RLP to horses. STUDY DESIGN Experimental crossover study. METHODS Eight healthy horses received 4 treatments of amikacin IV-RLP in a randomised, blinded, crossover design: standing sedation without regional anaesthesia (CNT); standing sedation with i.v. regional anaesthesia; standing sedation with perineural regional anaesthesia (PNA); or general anaesthesia. Synovial fluid amikacin concentrations were measured over 24 h and regional pharmacokinetic parameters calculated. Heart and respiratory rates, visual analogue scale of discomfort, number of times the limb was lifted and number of additional sedations administered were recorded. Analysis of variance crossover analysis was applied with significance level at P < 0.05. RESULTS Amikacin concentrations and regional pharmacokinetic parameters did not differ significantly among treatments. Visual analogue scores (mean ± s.d.) were significantly lower with PNA (19 ± 15) vs. i.v. regional anaesthesia (69 ± 36) or CNT (81 ± 13; P < 0.001). Significantly less lifting of the limb (mean ± s.d.) occurred with PNA (20 ± 20) vs. CNT (54 ± 22; P < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Perineural regional anaesthesia before IV-RLP was most effective in providing comfort to standing, sedated horses without significantly affecting the regional pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin. High variability of synovial amikacin concentrations was present. The use of general anaesthesia for IV-RLP is not justified based on this study.
The Association Between Vulvovaginal Atrophy Symptoms and Quality of Life Among Postmenopausal Women in the United States and Western Europe.

BACKGROUND Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a condition associated with decreased estrogenization of the vaginal tissue, which can result in vaginal dryness, irritation, and dyspareunia. This study quantified the burden associated with VVA symptoms across the United States and Europe and compared this burden with other chronic conditions. METHODS Data were analyzed from the International Women's Health Study, a cross-sectional Internet survey of women aged 40-75 years in the United States and Europe. All postmenopausal women aged 40-75 years were included in the analyses (Germany n=970, Spain n=294, France n=1054, Italy n=387, United Kingdom n=1096, United States n=3267). VVA symptom severity (none, mild, moderate, severe) was assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale and included in general linear models to predict EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) quality of life scores. RESULTS The prevalence of VVA symptoms varied between 40.00% (Germany) and 54.42% (Spain), with half of women reporting their symptoms as either moderate or severe. Pooling data from all countries together, each incremental level of severity (none through severe) was associated with a significant decrement in EQ-5D scores (none=0.84 vs. mild=0.81 vs. moderate=0.79 vs. severe=0.74; p<0.05). The decrements in EQ-5D scores associated with moderate to severe VVA symptoms were comparable to those observed in other serious conditions including arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome. CONCLUSIONS VVA symptoms are associated with clinically meaningful decrements in quality of life that may be comparable to serious conditions such as arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome. Improved management of VVA symptoms may be required to alleviate the impact of VVA on the quality of life of affected women.
Mathematics Performance and Metacognitive Behaviors During Task Resolution and the Self-Concept of Students with and without Learning Disabilities in Secondary Education

In this article, we examined the relationship between mathematics performance and metacognitive behaviors during task resolution and the selfconcept of students with and without learning disabilities in secondary education. These variables were explored in boys and girls without SEN (N= 139) and those with SEN, either in inclusive (N= 32) or special classes (N=11). In the group of students without learning disabilities in secondary education, some relationships were found between mathematics performance and metacognitive behaviors during task resolution. Self-concept, especially scholastic competence and social acceptance showed significant relationships with performance and the metacognitive measures and measures of self-concept also showed significant inter-correlation, resulting in a recognizable pattern in this group. In the groups with SEN, however, the performance was lower and neither concurred with the estimation of how well the problem was solved, nor with calibration and general metacognition. Although a correlation was found between performance and problem representation, other correlations were zero or even negative, indicating that the overall pattern was not very coherent. The inter-correlations between the metacognitive variables and measures of self-concept were generally not significant. These results question the validity of the metacognitive measures, and suggest that an approach using questionnaires may work for a group of children without difficulties, but appear less appropriate for boys and girls with SEN.
Psychometric Properties of a 36-Item Version of the “Stress Management Competency Indicator Tool”

The development of supervisors’ behaviours has been proposed as an innovative approach for the reduction of employees’ work stress. The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) developed the “Stress Management Competency Indicator Tool” (SMCIT), designed to be used within a learning and development intervention. However, its psychometric properties have never been evaluated, and the length of the questionnaire (66 items) limits its practical applicability. We developed a brief 36-item version of the questionnaire, assessed its psychometric properties and studied the relationship with the employees’ psychosocial work environment. 353 employees filled in the brief SMCIT and the “Stress Management Indicator Tool”. The latter is a self-report questionnaire developed by the UK HSE, measuring workers’ perceptions of seven dimensions of the psychosocial work environment that if not properly managed can lead to harm. Data were analysed with structural equation modelling and multiple regressions. The results confirmed the factorial structure of the brief SMCIT questionnaire and mainly supported the convergent validity and internal consistency of the scales. Furthermore, with few exceptions, the relations hypothesized between supervisors’ competencies and the psychosocial work environment were confirmed, supporting the criterion validity of the revised questionnaire and the UK HSE framework. We conclude that the brief 36-item version of the SMCIT represents an important step toward the development of interventions directed at supervisors and we discuss the practical implications for work stress prevention.
Direct numerical simulation of turbulent flow over a modeled riblet covered surface

An immersed boundary technique is used to model a riblet covered surface on one wall of a channel bounding fully developed turbulent flow. The conjecture that the beneficial drag reduction effect of riblets is a result of the damping of cross-flow velocity fluctuations is then examined. This possibility has been discussed by others but is unverified. The damping effect is explicitly modelled by applying a cross-flow damping force field in elongated streamwise zones with a height and spacing corresponding to the riblet crests. The same trends are observed in the turbulence profiles above both riblet and damped surfaces, thus supporting cross-flow damping as a beneficial mechanism. It is found in the examples presented that the effect of the riblets on the mean flow field quantities (mean velocity profile, velocity fluctuations, Reynolds shear stress, and low–speed sreak spacing) is small. The riblests cause a relatively small drag reduction of about 4%, a figure that is in rough agreement with experiments and other computations. The simulations also suggest a mechanism for the observed displacement of the turbulence quantities away from the wall. The immersed boundary technique used to model the riblets consists of creating an externally imposed spatially localized body force which opposes the flow velocity and creates a riblet-like surface. For unstead viscous flow the calculation of the force is done with a feedback scheme in which the velocity is used to iteratively determine the desired value. In particular, the surface body force is determined by the relation f(xs, t) = α ∫ t0 U(xs,t′)dt′ + βU(xs, t) for surface points xs, velocity U time t and negative constants α and β. All simulations are done with a spectral code in a single computational domain without any mapping of the mesh. The combination of the immersed boundary and spectral techniques can potentially be used to solve other problems having complex geometry and flow physics.
A cross-device interaction style for mobiles and surfaces

Natural forms of interaction have evolved for personal devices that we carry with us (mobiles) as well as for shared interactive displays around us (surfaces) but interaction across the two remains cumbersome in practice. We propose a novel cross-device interaction style for mobiles and surfaces that uses the mobile for tangible input on the surface in a stylus-like fashion. Building on the direct manipulation that we can perform on either device, it facilitates fluid and seamless interaction spanning across device boundaries. We provide a characterization of the combined interaction style in terms of input, output, and contextual attributes, and demonstrate its versatility by implementation of a range of novel interaction techniques for mobile devices on interactive surfaces.
Combining the Principal Components Method with Di erent Learning Algorithms

Principal components PCO s analysis is an unsupervised projection method that computes linear combinations of the original at tributes that are constructed to explain maximally the variance We show that the method is useful as a pre processing step for various learning algorithms Adding PCO s as new attributes results in decrease of error rate for a signi cant number of data sets for C decision tree learner instance based learner and naive Bayes classi ers It the case of C the decrease of error rate can be achieved without an increase of decision tree complexity Replacement of attributes with PCO s results in increase of accuracy only for naive Bayes classi er
Dental Sealants: Knowledge, Value, Opinion, and Practice among Dental Professionals of Bathinda City, India

Objective. The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge, value, opinion, and practice regarding use of dental sealants among private dental practitioners in Bathinda City, Punjab, India. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among all private dental practitioners in Bathinda City, Punjab. A self-administered structured questionnaire consisting of 28 items was used to assess their knowledge, value, opinion, and practice regarding dental sealants. One-way analysis of variance, independent sample t-test, and multivariate regression analysis were utilized for statistical analysis. Confidence level and level of significance were set at 95% and 5%, respectively. Results. The mean scores for knowledge, value, opinion, and practice were 41.8 ± 3.7, 18.7 ± 2.8, 18.1 ± 1.4, and 12.9 ± 2.3, respectively. Analysis revealed that qualification was statistically significant among all dependent variables (P ≤ 0.05); work experience was significantly associated with both knowledge and opinion means scores (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion. The results suggest that dental practitioners had sufficient knowledge about dental sealants. They also acknowledge the importance of use of dental sealants. Practice of dental sealants in clinics was found adequate but they were not following the specific guidelines and standardized procedures.
On greedy network formation

Greedy navigability is a central issue in the theory of networks. However, the exogenous nature of network models do not allow for describing how greedy routable-networks emerge in reality. In turn, network formation games focus on the very emergence proess, but the applied shortest-path based cost functions exclude navigational aspects. This paper takes a frst step towards incorporating both emergence (missing in algorithmic network models) and greedy navigability (missing in network formation games) into a single framework, and proposes the Greedy Network Formation Game. Our first contribution is the game definition, where we assume a hidden metric space underneath the network, and, instead of usual shortest path metric, we use the length of greedy paths as the measure of communiation cost between players. Our main finding is that greedy-routable small worlds do not emerge on constant dimensional Eulidean grids. This simply means that the emergence of topologies on which w eunderstood the priniples of greedy forwarding cannot be explained endogenously. We also present a very brief outlook on how the situation hanges in the hyperbolic space.
Degenerate target sites mediate rapid primed CRISPR adaptation

Significance Bacteria are constantly exposed to foreign elements, such as bacteriophages and plasmids. The CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats–CRISPR associated) adaptive immune systems provide heritable sequence-specific protection against these invaders. To develop immunity, bacteria add segments of foreign nucleic acid to their CRISPR memory. However, phage and plasmid mutants can evade CRISPR-Cas recognition by altering their targeted sequence. CRISPR-Cas responds to evasion by quickly generating immunity by acquiring new pieces of invader genome. We determined that this rapid generation of resistance is promiscuous, with recognition of highly diverged or related elements eliciting new immunity. Our results demonstrate that CRISPR-Cas systems are more robust than previously thought and, not only have a highly specific resistance memory, but also have a broad ability to identify divergent genetic elements. Prokaryotes encode adaptive immune systems, called CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats–CRISPR associated), to provide resistance against mobile invaders, such as viruses and plasmids. Host immunity is based on incorporation of invader DNA sequences in a memory locus (CRISPR), the formation of guide RNAs from this locus, and the degradation of cognate invader DNA (protospacer). Invaders can escape type I-E CRISPR-Cas immunity in Escherichia coli K12 by making point mutations in the seed region of the protospacer or its adjacent motif (PAM), but hosts quickly restore immunity by integrating new spacers in a positive-feedback process termed “priming. ” Here, by using a randomized protospacer and PAM library and high-throughput plasmid loss assays, we provide a systematic analysis of the constraints of both direct interference and subsequent priming in E. coli. We have defined a high-resolution genetic map of direct interference by Cascade and Cas3, which includes five positions of the protospacer at 6-nt intervals that readily tolerate mutations. Importantly, we show that priming is an extremely robust process capable of using degenerate target regions, with up to 13 mutations throughout the PAM and protospacer region. Priming is influenced by the number of mismatches, their position, and is nucleotide dependent. Our findings imply that even outdated spacers containing many mismatches can induce a rapid primed CRISPR response against diversified or related invaders, giving microbes an advantage in the coevolutionary arms race with their invaders.
Normal Organizational Wrongdoing: A Critical Analysis of Theories of Misconduct in and by Organizations

Preface Introduction 1. The Normal Organizational Wrongdoing Perspective 2. Definitions, Theory Development, and Method 3. A Rational Choice 4. The Cultural Embeddedness Account 5. Behavioral Decision Theory 6. The Administrative System Account 7. Situational Social Influence 8. The Power Structure Account 9. Accidental Wrongdoing 10. The Social Control of Organizational Wrongdoing Conclusion
Teachers’ Pedagogical Mathematical Awareness in Swedish Early Childhood Education

ABSTRACT Revised guidelines for Swedish early childhood education that emphasize mathematics content and competencies in more detail than before raise the question of the status of pedagogical mathematical awareness among Swedish early childhood teachers. The purpose of this study is to give an overview of teachers’ current pedagogical mathematical awareness. A questionnaire was distributed to 147 teachers, asking them to respond to their habits of working with mathematics. The survey is based on theoretical conjectures of teacher professionality (pedagogical content knowledge), integrated with the idea of developmental pedagogy. Results from the questionnaire show that teachers account for mathematics as learning content but limitations are discerned concerning teachers’ awareness of spatial aspects of mathematics and problematization of mathematical content in goal-oriented manners. The results also point out areas for further stimulation in teacher training.
Interdisciplinary Team Communication Among Forensic Nurses and Rape Victim Advocates

Victim advocates and forensic nurses provide integrated care to address the complex legal, medical, and mental health needs of rape survivors. Research suggests that conflict exists between nurses and advocates, but it remains unknown how their communication patterns contribute to or resolve these conflicts. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach, the current study interviewed 24 nurses and advocates from a Midwest organization to better understand team communication patterns when addressing conflicts. The findings suggest that most nurses communicate concerns directly while advocates avoid direct communication. Factors that influenced direct and indirect communication and their implications for practice will be discussed.
Minor introns are embedded molecular switches regulated by highly unstable U6atac snRNA

Eukaryotes have two types of spliceosomes, comprised of either major (U1, U2, U4, U5, U6) or minor (U11, U12, U4atac, U6atac; <1%) snRNPs. The high conservation of minor introns, typically one amidst many major introns in several hundred genes, despite their poor splicing, has been a long-standing enigma. Here, we discovered that the low abundance minor spliceosome’s catalytic snRNP, U6atac, is strikingly unstable (t½<2 hr). We show that U6atac level depends on both RNA polymerases II and III and can be rapidly increased by cell stress-activated kinase p38MAPK, which stabilizes it, enhancing mRNA expression of hundreds of minor intron-containing genes that are otherwise suppressed by limiting U6atac. Furthermore, p38MAPK-dependent U6atac modulation can control minor intron-containing tumor suppressor PTEN expression and cytokine production. We propose that minor introns are embedded molecular switches regulated by U6atac abundance, providing a novel post-transcriptional gene expression mechanism and a rationale for the minor spliceosome’s evolutionary conservation. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.00780. 001
The Murine CAR Homolog Is a Receptor for Coxsackie B Viruses and Adenoviruses

ABSTRACT Complementary DNA clones encoding the murine homolog (mCAR) of the human coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) were isolated. Nonpermissive CHO cells transfected with mCAR cDNA became susceptible to infection by coxsackieviruses B3 and B4 and showed increased susceptibility to adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. These results indicate that the same receptor is responsible for virus interactions with both murine and human cells. Analysis of receptor expression in human and murine tissues should be useful in defining factors governing virus tropism in vivo.
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Perceived Community Environment and Physical Activity Involvement in a Northern-rural Aboriginal Community

Background: Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Ample evidence shows that regular physical activity (PA) plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. Evidence is beginning to emerge linking PA to the physical environment but little is known about the relationship between remote rural environments and PA involvement in Aboriginal peoples. This study's purpose was to investigate the relationship between perceptions of the environment and PA and walking patterns in Aboriginal adults in order to inform the planning and implementation of community-relevant PA interventions.
Second-Generation Transnationalism and Roots Migration: Cross-Border Lives

Contents: Foreword Introduction: social affiliations and ethnicity in the context of second-generation transnationalism Transnational childhoods: growing up in transnational families Transnational continuities, ethnic reification and local ties Transnational discontinuities: developing local attachments Transnational realizations and relocation to the homeland: roots migration Conclusion: individual trajectories of transnationalism and integration Bibliography Index.
Bacterial Over-Expression and Purification of the 3′phosphoadenosine 5′phosphosulfate (PAPS) Reductase Domain of Human FAD Synthase: Functional Characterization and Homology Modeling

FAD synthase (FADS, EC 2.7.7.2) is a key enzyme in the metabolic pathway that converts riboflavin into the redox cofactor, FAD. Human FADS is organized in two domains: -the 3′phosphoadenosine 5′phosphosulfate (PAPS) reductase domain, similar to yeast Fad1p, at the C-terminus, and -the resembling molybdopterin-binding domain at the N-terminus. To understand whether the PAPS reductase domain of hFADS is sufficient to catalyze FAD synthesis, per se, and to investigate the role of the molybdopterin-binding domain, a soluble “truncated” form of hFADS lacking the N-terminal domain (Δ1-328-hFADS) has been over-produced and purified to homogeneity as a recombinant His-tagged protein. The recombinant Δ1-328-hFADS binds one mole of FAD product very tightly as the wild-type enzyme. Under turnover conditions, it catalyzes FAD assembly from ATP and FMN and, at a much lower rate, FAD pyrophosphorolytic hydrolysis. The Δ1-328-hFADS enzyme shows a slight, but not significant, change of Km values (0.24 and 6.23 μM for FMN and ATP, respectively) and of kcat (4.2 × 10−2 s−1) compared to wild-type protein in the forward direction. These results demonstrate that the molybdopterin-binding domain is not strictly required for catalysis. Its regulatory role is discussed in light of changes in divalent cations sensitivity of the Δ1-328-hFADS versus wild-type protein.