Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Campylobacter immunity and quantitative excretion rates in Thai children.

Campylobacter species were isolated from 61 (15%) of 416 Thai children < 5 years old with diarrhea. Although the baseline levels of Campylobacter-specific antibody increased with age, 80.3% of Campylobacter-infected children seroconverted compared with 12.9% of 45 Shigella-infected patients used as controls. The response to acute infection was greatest in the 6- to 12-month-old group. Nonseroconverters had higher initial IgG levels than did seroconverters (P = .001). Quantitative cultures showed a range of 1-8 log10 Campylobacter cfu/g of stool (median, 6.0 log10), and the seroconversion rate was highest in those with the highest Campylobacter excretion. Fecal Campylobacter excretion was inversely related to age (chi 2 for trend, P = .03). These studies indicate that endemic Campylobacter exposure frequently induces seroconversion in young children, whether Campylobacter is isolated as a single pathogen or one of multiple pathogens, and that fecal excretion of the organism is inversely related to the age-related immune response to infection.
The Gold Coast in Transition

Canada's Secretary of State for External Affairs, former president of the UN General Assembly, here writes from years of experience as a key spokesman for the West to explore the problems which the democracies must overcome to win the peace in today's uncertain world. He points the way to solutions in considering the new scale of force in atomic warfare, international coalitions, the mediating role of the UN, and open diplomacy versus secret diplomacy. 136 pages. $2.75
Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage: Implications in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract:This review will focus on published human studies on oxidative stress and DNA damage in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, assessing their role in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Search was performed over PubMed and ScienceDirect databases to identify relevant bibliography, using keywords including “oxidative stress,” “DNA damage,” “IBD,” and “oxidative DNA damage. ” Whether as cause or effect, mechanisms underlying oxidative stress have the potential to condition the course of various pathologies, particularly those driven by inflammatory scenarios. IBDs are chronic inflammatory relapsing conditions. Oxidative stress has been associated with some of the characteristic clinical features exhibited in IBD, namely tissue injury and fibrosis, and also to the ulcerative colitis–associated colorectal cancer. The possible influence of oxidative stress over therapeutic behavior and response, as well as their contribution to the oxidative burden and consequences, is also addressed. Due to the high prevalence and incidence of IBD worldwide, and also to its associated morbidity, complications, and disease and treatment costs, it is of paramount importance to better understand the pathophysiology of these diseases.
Haptoglobin and Free Haemoglobin during Cardiac Surgery—is there a Link to Acute Kidney Injury?

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently observed after cardiac surgery (CS) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Multiple mechanisms underlie this phenomenon, including CPB-dependent haemolysis. Haemoglobin is released during haemolysis, and free haemoglobin (frHb) causes tubular cell injury after exceeding the binding capacity of haptoglobin (Hp). The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of perioperative changes in frHb and Hp levels on the incidence of CS-associated (CSA) AKI. After receiving local ethics committee approval and obtaining informed consent from our patients, we analysed the data pertaining to 154 patients undergoing CPB surgery. We recorded frHb and Hp concentrations pre-, intra- and postoperatively and defined AKI using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification. We observed that frHb levels increased significantly during surgery and then decreased at ten hours thereafter and that Hp levels decreased during surgery and remained at low levels until the first postoperative day. We noted a moderate negative correlation between frHb and Hp levels. AKI was identified in 45.5% of patients; however, there was no significant difference in frHb or Hp levels between patients with and without AKI. We did not observe a relationship between frHb or Hp levels and CSA AKI and thus could not confirm the hypothesis that patients with higher baseline Hp concentrations experience a lower incidence of AKI than patients with lower baseline Hp concentrations.
Seasonal Feeding Specialization on Snails by River Darters (Percina Shumardi) with a Review of Snail Feeding by Other Darter Species

Abstract We report food habits of River Darters (Percina shumardi) in Brushy Creek and the Sipsey Fork Black Warrior River, Alabama. River Darters preyed heavily on pleurocerid snails in both streams. Snail feeding varied widely among sample dates and was highest in October when snails represented nearly 100% of darter food items. Snail feeding declined through the spring, nearly ceasing by May, but increased to high levels again in July when hatchling snails composed about 80% of darter food items. Mean and maximum size of snails eaten increased with darter size, but minimum snail size was not related to darter size, indicating a broadening of prey size for larger darters. Non-snail food items were dominated by chironomid, trichopteran, and ephemeropteran insect larvae; these food items were most commonly eaten during periods of low snail feeding or feeding on hatchling snails. Specialization for snail feeding is suggested for all species in the subgenus Imostoma, including P. shumardi, but this feeding habit is well documented previously only for P. tanasi. Published diet studies for other species of Imostoma, including populations of P. shumardi from elsewhere in its range, did not document snail feeding; most other observations of snail feeding for the group are anecdotal. Few other darters or other fish species are documented to prey heavily on riverine snails. Although the limited amount of published information makes it difficult to assess the degree to which Imostoma as a group relies on snails as a food source, P. shumardi and P. tanasi represent two of the few native fishes that exploit the abundant and diverse pleurocerid snail fauna of eastern North America.
Evaluation of Methods for Ridge and Valley Detection

Ridges and valleys are useful geometric features for image analysis. Different characterizations have been proposed to formalize the intuitive notion of ridge/valley. In this paper, we review their principal characterizations and propose a new one. Subsequently, we evaluate these characterizations with respect to a list of desirable properties and their purpose in the context of representative image analysis tasks.
The diversity of inflectional periphrasis in Persian

Modern Persian conjugation makes use of five periphrastic constructions with typologically divergent properties. This makes the Persian conjugation system an ideal testing ground for theories of inflectional periphrasis, since different types of periphrasis can be compared within the frame of a single grammatical system. We present contrasting analyses of the five constructions within the general framework of a lexicalist constraint-based grammatical architecture (Pollard & Sag 1994) embedding an inferential and realizational view of inflectional morphology (Stump 2001). We argue that the perfect periphrase can only be accounted for by assuming that the periphrase literally fills a cell in the inflectional paradigm, and provide a formal account drawing on using valence for exponence. On the other hand, other periphrastic constructions are best handled by using standard tools of either morphology or syntax. The overall conclusion is that not all constructions that qualify as periphrastic inflection from the point of view of typology should receive the same type of analysis in an explicit formal grammar.
Winning the talent war for women. Sometimes it takes a revolution.

In 1991, Deloitte & Touche got a wake-up call about its efforts to retain women professionals. While it was recruiting almost as many women as men, the company had a much higher turnover rate for women. Many in the firm thought Deloitte was doing everything it could to retain talented women, but when they looked harder, they found otherwise. Most women weren't leaving to raise families; they were leaving after having weighed their unpromising career options in Deloitte's male-dominated culture. CEO Mike Cook led the way in making a business case--not a moral or emotional one--for change. Next, the company held mandatory, two-day, intensive workshops for its 5,000 U.S. managers. Case vignettes and discussions brought out subtle gender-based assumptions about careers and aspirations that had discouraged high-performing women from staying. The workshops were instrumental in convincing a critical mass of partners to join the effort, and the firm began to monitor the progress of women to ensure they received their share of mentoring and premier assignments. Executive compensation became linked to how successfully units implemented a flexible menu of goals. And other policies promoted a better balance between work and life for both men and women. Finally, an external advisory council kept the firm's feet to the fire. Deloitte's gender gap in turnover has now nearly vanished, and the number of women partners and directors is the highest among the Big Five. These cultural changes weren't easy, but they've enabled Deloitte to grow faster than any of its competitors.
Speed control of DC motor using PID controller based on artificial intelligence techniques

The aim of this paper is to design a speed controller of a DC motor by selection of a PID parameters using genetic algorithm (GA) and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). DC motor could be represented by a nonlinear model when nonlinearities such as magnetic saturation are considered. To provide effective control, nonlinearities and uncertainties in the model must be taken into account in the control design. The model of a DC motor is considered as a third order system. And this paper compares three kinds of tuning methods of parameter for PID controller. One is the controller design by the Ziegler and Nichols, second is the controller design by the Genetic Algorithm method and third is the controller design by Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The proposed methods could be applied to the higher order systems.
Accelerated, Parallel, and Proximal Coordinate Descent

We propose a new randomized coordinate descent method for minimizing the sum of convex functions each of which depends on a small number of coordinates only. Our method (APPROX) is simultaneously Accelerated, Parallel, and PROXimal; this is the first time such a method is proposed. In the special case when the number of processors is equal to the number of coordinates, the method converges at the rate $2\bar{\omega}\bar{L} R^2/(k+1)^2 $, where $k$ is the iteration counter, $\bar{\omega}$ is a data-weighted average degree of separability of the loss function, $\bar{L}$ is the average of Lipschitz constants associated with the coordinates and individual functions in the sum, and $R$ is the distance of the initial point from the minimizer. We show that the method can be implemented without the need to perform full-dimensional vector operations, which is the major bottleneck of accelerated coordinate descent. The fact that the method depends on the average degree of separability, and not on the maximum degree.
A Closer Look at the Short-Term Return Reversal

Stock returns unexplained by “fundamentals,” such as cash flow news, are more likely to reverse in the short run than those linked to fundamental news. Making novel use of analyst forecast revisions to measure cash flow news, a simple enhanced reversal strategy generates a risk-adjusted return four times the size of the standard reversal strategy. Importantly, isolating the component of past returns not driven by fundamentals provides a cleaner setting for testing existing theories of short-term reversals. Using this approach, we find that both liquidity shocks and investor sentiment contribute to the observed short-term reversal, but in different ways: Specifically, the reversal profit is attributable to liquidity shocks on the long side because fire sales more likely demand liquidity, and it is attributable to investor sentiment on the short side because short-sale constraints prevent the immediate elimination of overvaluation. This paper was accepted by Brad Barber, finance.
Elementary School Students’ Self-Determination in Physical Education and Attitudes Toward Physical Activity

Motivations for and positive attitudes toward physical activity (PA) developed during childhood are likely to be carried over to adulthood. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between three psychological needs satisfaction, motivational regulations in physical education (PE), and attitudes toward participation in leisure-time PA among upper elementary school students. One thousand and seventy-three students in grades 3-5 anonymously and voluntarily completed three measures, including Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Motivational Regulations, and Attitudes, which were modified from previous works and judged by a panel of experts to ensure the wording of each item was understandable for upper elementary school students. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, composite reliability coefficient, and multilevel confirmatory factor analysis methods. The results indicated that the composite reliability coefficients of the measures were above . 60, ranging from . 62 to . 79. The re.
Individuating Faces and Common Objects Produces Equal Responses in Putative Face-Processing Areas in the Ventral Occipitotemporal Cortex

Controversy surrounds the proposal that specific human cortical regions in the ventral occipitotemporal cortex, commonly called the fusiform face area (FFA) and occipital face area (OFA), are specialized for face processing. Here, we present findings from an fMRI study of identity discrimination of faces and objects that demonstrates the FFA and OFA are equally responsive to processing stimuli at the level of individuals (i.e., individuation), be they human faces or non-face objects. The FFA and OFA were defined via a passive viewing task as regions that produced greater activation to faces relative to non-face stimuli within the middle fusiform gyrus and inferior occipital gyrus. In the individuation task, participants judged whether sequentially presented images of faces, diverse objects, or wristwatches depicted the identical or a different exemplar. All three stimulus types produced equivalent BOLD activation within the FFA and OFA; that is, there was no face-specific or face-preferential processing. Critically, individuation processing did not eliminate an object superiority effect relative to faces within a region more closely linked to object processing in the lateral occipital complex (LOC), suggesting that individuation processes are reasonably specific to the FFA and OFA. Taken together, these findings challenge the prevailing view that the FFA and OFA are face-specific processing regions, demonstrating instead that they function to individuate – i.e., identify specific individuals – within a category. These findings have significant implications for understanding the function of brain regions widely believed to play an important role in social cognition.
Characterization of slaughtered and non-slaughtered goat meat using low frequency

This research investigates the possibility of differentiating slaughtered and non-slaughtered goat meat using capacitor. The use of dielectric spectra to discriminate slaughtered and non-slaughtered meat in goat muscle during postmortem period was evaluated. The changes in dielectric properties during meat ageing were analyzed in terms of permittivity for each meat test. For these purposes, the capacitance was measured from 10 Hz to 500 Hz perpendicular to muscle fiber directions. The measured values were used to calculate the dielectric constant of meat at various time intervals. Significant differences in dielectric properties between slaughtered and non-slaughtered tissue was observed in the experimental Results. Thus, the dielectric properties can be used to differentiate between slaughtered and non-slaughtered meat.
Atopic Dermatitis: Impact on the Quality of Life of Patients and Their Partners

Background: The impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on the patient’s quality of life is relatively well known. However, the influence on the patient’s spouse has never been studied. Objective: To evaluate the impact of AD on the quality of life, sleeping and sexual life of patients and their partners. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients and their partners completed a number of questionnaires asking about their general health and their quality of life [Short Form 12, Epworth, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)] and completed an idiosyncratic measure asking about their sexual functioning. AD severity was clinician rated using Scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD). Results: A total of 266 patients were included. The mean DLQI score was 8.8. The physical and mental composite 12 scores were 50.7 and 39.5, respectively. These 3 scores were significantly related to SCORAD. A decrease in sexual desire due to AD was noted in 57.5% of patients. The quality of life of partners did not appear to be particularly impaired, but 36.5% reported that the appearance of eczema had an impact on their sex life. Conclusion: The influence of AD on sex life is significant both for the patients and their partners.
Child Development Proofreading Instructions

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Investigating the relationship between stroke and obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We aimed to prospectively determine whether the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with recent stroke was significantly different from that of a sex- and age-matched control group with no major medical problems. METHODS We prospectively performed overnight polysomnography in 24 patients with a recent stroke (13 men and 11 women; mean age [+/- SD], 64.6 +/- 10.4 years) and 27 subjects without stroke (13 men and 14 women; mean age, 61.6 +/- 8.8 years). Patients with either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke were entered into this study. Polysomnographic evaluations were performed within approximately 2 to 5 weeks after each patient's stroke. RESULTS Obstructive sleep apnea was found in 10 of 13 men with stroke (77%) and in only 3 of 13 male subjects without stroke (23%) (P=.0169). Seven of 11 women with stroke (64%) had obstructive sleep apnea, while only 2 of 14 female subjects without stroke (14%) had obstructive sleep apnea (P=.0168). For men with stroke, the mean apnea/hypopnea index (+/- SE) was 21.5 +/- 4.2 events per hour, while for male subjects without stroke it was 4.8 +/- 1.8 events per hour (P=.0014). For women with stroke the mean apnea/hypopnea index was 31.6 +/- 8.8 events per hour, while for female subjects without stroke it was 2.9 +/- 1.6 events per hour (P=.0024). The 4-year mortality for patients with stroke was 20.8%. All patients with stroke who died had obstructive sleep apnea. CONCLUSIONS Patients with stroke have an increased incidence of obstructive sleep apnea compared with normal sex- and age-matched control subjects. Hypoxia and hemodynamic responses to obstructive sleep apnea may have predisposed these patients to stroke.
Development of a safe live Leishmania vaccine line by gene replacement.

Vaccination with live Leishmania major has been shown to yield effective immunization in humans; however, this has been discontinued because of problems associated with virulence of the available vaccine lines. To circumvent this, we tested the ability of a dhfr-ts- null mutant of L. major, obtained by gene targeting, to infect and then to vaccinate mice against challenge with virulent L. major. Survival and replication of dhfr-ts- in macrophages in vitro were dependent upon thymidine, with parasites differentiating into amastigotes prior to destruction. dhfr-ts- parasites persisted in BALB/c mice for up to 2 months, declining with a half-life of 2-3 days. Nonetheless, dhfr-ts- was incapable of causing disease in both susceptible and immunodeficient (nu/nu) BALB/c mice. Animal infectivity could be partially restored by thymidine supplementation. When inoculated by the i.v. , s.c. , or i.m. routes into mice, dhfr-ts- could elicit substantial resistance to a subsequent challenge with virulent L. major. Thus, Leishmania bearing auxotrophic gene knockouts can be safe and induce protective immunity. Potentially, dhfr-ts- could be used as a platform for delivery of immunogens relevant to other diseases.
Testing covariates of Type 2 diabetes-cognition associations in older adults: moderating or mediating effects?

OBJECTIVE The general goal of this study was to advance our understanding of Type 2 diabetes (T2D)-cognition relationships in older adults by linking and testing comprehensive sets of potential moderators, potential mediators, and multiple cognitive outcomes. METHOD We identified in the literature 13 health-related (but T2D-distal) potential covariates, representing four informal domains (i.e., biological vitality, personal affect, subjective health, lifestyle activities). Cross-sectional data from the Victoria Longitudinal Study (age range = 53-90 years; n = 41 T2D and n = 458 control participants) were used. We first examined whether any of the 13 potential covariates influenced T2D-cognition associations, as measured by a comprehensive neuropsychological battery (15 measures). Next, using standard regression-based moderator and mediator analyses, we systematically tested whether the identified covariates would significantly alter observed T2D-cognition relationships. RESULTS Six potential covariates were found to be sensitive to T2D associations with performance on seven cognitive measures. Three factors (systolic blood pressure, gait-balance composite, subjective health) were significant mediators. Each mediated multiple cognitive outcomes, especially measures of neurocognitive speed, executive functioning, and episodic memory. CONCLUSIONS Our findings offer a relatively comprehensive perspective of T2D-related cognitive deficits, comorbidities, and modulating influences. The implications for future research reach across several fields of study and application. These include (1) neuropsychological research on neural and biological bases of T2D-related cognitive decline, (2) clinical research on intervention and treatment strategies, and (3) larger-scale longitudinal studies examining the potential multilateral and dynamic relationships among T2D status, related comorbidities, and cognitive outcomes.