Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study on the Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Elementary School Students at a District (Silvana) In Urmia, West Azerbaijan

Background & Aims: According to the increasing rate of intestinal parasitic infection in rural areas compared to urban areas, this study deals with the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in elementary school students in Silvana rural district. Material and Methods: 350 students of both sexes were selected randomly. All samples were studied with routine parasitology methods, such as wet mount method and formalin – ether concentration. Microscopic examination of Enterobius vermicularis and Taenia saginata eggs carried out with 10 and 40 lenses. Results: The study showed that the total prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections is 52%, And prevalence of protozoan infections (50.57%) is more than helminthes infection (Oxyuris 24.9%, Ascaris 0.28%, Hymenolepis nana 1.14%). Relative frequencies of intestinal protozoan were as follows: Giardia lamblelia (37.57%), Entamoeaba coli (26.86%), Iodamoeba butchlii (8%), Blastocystis hominis (4.28%). The study showed a significant opposite correlation between mother’s education and prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in subjects (P- value = 0.03). Conclusion: The result of the present study indicated the high prevalence of protozoan infections and Oxyuriasis in this area. Other
Identification of Residues Important for Agonist Recognition and Activation in GPR40*

GPR40 was formerly an orphan G protein-coupled receptor whose endogenous ligands have recently been identified as free fatty acids (FFAs). The receptor, now named FFA receptor 1, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and is a drug target because of its role in FFA-mediated enhancement of glucose-stimulated insulin release. Guided by molecular modeling, we investigated the molecular determinants contributing to binding of linoleic acid, a C18 polyunsaturated FFA, and GW9508, a synthetic small molecule agonist. Twelve residues within the putative GPR40-binding pocket including hydrophilic/positively charged, aromatic, and hydrophobic residues were identified and were subjected to site-directed mutagenesis. Our results suggest that linoleic acid and GW9508 are anchored on their carboxylate groups by Arg183, Asn244, and Arg258. Moreover, His86, Tyr91, and His137 may contribute to aromatic and/or hydrophobic interactions with GW9508 that are not present, or relatively weak, with linoleic acid. The anchor residues, as well as the residues Tyr12, Tyr91, His137, and Leu186, appear to be important for receptor activation also. Interestingly, His137 and particularly His86 may interact with GW9508 in a manner dependent on its protonation status. The greater number of putative interactions between GPR40 and GW9508 compared with linoleic acid may explain the higher potency of GW9508.
Application of direct plaque assay for detection and enumeration of bacteriophages of Bacteroides fragilis from contaminated-water samples

The direct double-agar-layer plaque assay for the detection and enumeration of specific bacteriophages of Bacteroides fragilis from contaminated-water samples was performed. Several factors that affect the methods, such as conditions of the bacterial culture, composition of the assay medium, addition of divalent cations, and decontamination techniques applied to the sample, were evaluated. The results obtained show that the direct assay technique proved to be more efficient than the most-probable-number technique. A higher recovery of bacteriophages was obtained from 17 of 24 samples with the direct assay. The two methods only showed similar results from samples with a low degree of pollution.
Effectiveness of leader-member exchange (LMX) in the Saudi workplace context during times of organisational change : an investigation of LMX roles and their potential to enhance employee outcomes

Successful adaptation to organisational changes may start with individuals’ successful adaptation to change at the task level. This study suggests that the success of employees’ adaptation to task change may depend on the quality of the relationships between them and their managers. Within the broad area of organisational leadership, leader-member exchange (LMX) theory has evolved into one of the more interesting and useful approaches for studying hypothesised linkages between the exchange relationships between employees and their managers, and employee outcomes. The current research adopts an integrative model which is based on a review of the body of literature relevant to LMX, leadership behaviour, and employees’ work-related behaviour and attitudes. The literature review revealed a dearth of rigorous academic research using the leader-member exchange (LMX) approach in the Saudi organisational context, and the need to validate a model of the exchange relationships based on this approach in this context, specifically during times of organisational change. The research contributes to the current body of knowledge by bridging this gap in the previous literature, conducting the research in King Abdul Aziz University (KAU) using the LMX approach. The research design was largely derived from the Methodological Fit Concept for Mature Theory (Edmondson & McManus, 2007). For the purpose of testing the mediation hypotheses, the employees’ data was analysed at descriptive and explanatory levels using the macro introduced by Preacher and Hayes (2008a) for Multiple Mediation Analysis. The most exciting results of the current research are regarding the employees’ evaluation of LMX overall, and that the values for LMX dimensions were high. Interestingly this has been supported by the employees’ views about the significant effect of multidimensional LMX, firstly as mediator and then regarding the independent influence of its dimensions in predicting task change-supportive behaviours and attitudes in the Saudi organisational change context. Based on these results, the research suggests areas and tools for development related to the criteria and mediator variables that need more attention from KAU management.
Staphylococcus aureus Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Causes Necrotizing Pneumonia

The Staphylococcus aureus Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a pore-forming toxin secreted by strains epidemiologically associated with the current outbreak of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and with the often-lethal necrotizing pneumonia. To investigate the role of PVL in pulmonary disease, we tested the pathogenicity of clinical isolates, isogenic PVL-negative and PVL-positive S. aureus strains, as well as purified PVL, in a mouse acute pneumonia model. Here we show that PVL is sufficient to cause pneumonia and that the expression of this leukotoxin induces global changes in transcriptional levels of genes encoding secreted and cell wall–anchored staphylococcal proteins, including the lung inflammatory factor staphylococcal protein A (Spa).
The Contributions of Practice Pattern, Musical Training, and Development to Motor Sequence Learning

and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy complies with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. The overall goal of the present thesis was to look at a selection of factors that affect fine motor sequence learning both within and across days of practice. The objective of study 1 was to examine factors related to motor training, specifically how practice pattern (or organization of practice) affects learning and transfer of multiple motor sequences. The objective of studies 2 and 3 was to investigate factors related to individual characteristics, specifically musical experience and development (i.e. age). First, findings from all three papers support the progression of sequence learning across time, characterized by rapid within-session improvements and slower incremental improvements across days of practice. Importantly, findings have shown that both adults and children show consolidation, defined as significant improvements in or maintenance of performance between the last block of practice on the initial practice session and the first block on the second session, after a period of rest of 24 hours with no additional practice. Second, a robust dissociation was found between the two behavioural measures used to assess learning, accuracy and response synchronization. Learning of the stimulus-response association, or finger-stimulus mapping, appeared to be a fast process, as significant improvements on the accuracy measure were often rapid and occurred within the first blocks of practice on day 1. This process seemed to require more effortful processing and attention initially; however, once the stimulus-response association was acquired, it seemed to be resistant to interference and transferrable to a novel sequence. iv In contrast, learning of the sensorimotor integration and timing elements of the task appeared to be a slower and more difficult process to learn, as significant improvements on this measure persisted across days of practice. This more procedural process seemed to be under less cognitive control, be more susceptible to interference, and rely more heavily on ongoing practice. Finally, results from studies 2 and 3 provide new evidence that there may be a sensitive period in childhood where enriched motor training, through musical practice, results in long-lasting benefits for motor performance later in life. v Acknowledgments
Clinical Analysis and Management of Gestational Trophoblastic Diseases: A 90 Cases Study

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify the incidence, diagnosis, therapeutic and histological particularities of molar pregnancies and to evaluate our management of gestational trophoblastic tumors (GTT) according to the recommendations of FIGO. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 90 patients who were diagnosed with molar pregnancy from January 1991 to December 2007. After remission, post molar pregnancy surveillance was continued for one year. Patients whose condition required chemotherapy for GTT were attributed a FIGO/WHO score. Results: Molar pregnancy occurred in 90 women. The frequency of molar pregnancy was 1 per 1124 pregnancies. The mean age was 32.21 years. Molar pregnancies were more frequent in pauciparous patients (52.24%). At diagnosis, the median gestational age was 13 weeks. The main presenting symptom was metrorrhagia (90%). Treatment consisted in uterine evacuation by suction curettage. Histological findings were complete mole in 66.66% of the cases and partial mole in 33.33% of the cases. 81 patients (90%) achieved remission without chemotherapy and 9 patients (10%) had FIGO stage I GTT. They achieved remission with a monochemotherapy. Conclusion: The practice of ultrasonography in the first trimester of pregnancy allows an early diagnosis of molar pregnancy and an adequate treatment and follow-up.
The obstacle problem for a class of hypoelliptic ultraparabolic equations

We study the obstacle problem for a class of degenerate parabolic operators with continuous coefficients. This problem arises in the Black–Scholes framework when considering path-dependent American options. We prove the existence of a unique strong solution u to the Cauchy and Cauchy–Dirichlet problems, under rather general assumptions on the obstacle function. We also show that u is a solution in the viscosity sense.
A novel 12-bit current-steering DAC with two reference currents

This paper proposes a new architecture of 12-bit current-steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with novel biasing scheme. In the proposed DAC, two 6-bit binary-weighted current source arrays are designed with two reference currents. The technique allows significant area savings without impairing static accuracy. The paper also presents a method to generate dual reference currents, whose design is compact and consumes low static power. The active area of the 12-bit DAC is 0.36mm2 approximately. This chip was fabricated by a standard 0. 18μm CMOS technology, and consumes 38mW at 180MS/s update rate with 1.8V supply voltage.
The Expressed Emotion of Mothers of Children with Fragile X Syndrome.

A review of the literature revealed that mothers with children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) face many challenges, including managing their child’s behavior which is a defining characteristic of children with FXS (Epstein, Riley, & Sobesky, 2002). Parents and professionals have become increasingly aware through research and everyday experiences that children with FXS are often overly sensitive to multiple stimuli (Hagerman, 1999; Hagerman & Hagerman, 2002; Miller et al., 1999). This overstimulation often leads to behavioral challenges that are characterized by tantrums, angry outbursts, and other forms of aggression. Additionally, mothers of children with FXS have their own personal challenges that come with carrying the premutation of the FMR1 gene. Many factors associated with this maternal genetic status include a heightened risk for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), compromised self-concepts, and the possibility of giving birth to another child with FXS (Sherman, 2002). The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the expressed emotion of mothers of children with FXS and the behavioral and sensory characteristics of their children. Expressed Emotion is a construct of the familial emotional climate in which a parent (or close relative) expresses emotional involvement, hostility and/or criticism about their child (McCarty & Weisz, 2002). The primary way to measure expressed emotion is the Five Minute Speech Sample (FMSS) (Magana-Amato, 1993) which is coded through a non-scripted monologue by one of the parents. Adapted from a longer iii interview process, the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI), FMSS is coded for content and tone of the parents’ speech sample for criticisms, emotional over-involvement, relationship status, and positive expressions (Wamboldt, O'Connor, Wamboldt, Gavin, & Klinnert, 2000). The FMSS provides a novel way of looking at the mother-child dyad in the FXS community and provide information to guide intervention for new mothers with young children with FXS. Without pathologizing the mothers of children with FXS, the findings of this study provides insight into the relationship between the expressed emotion of mothers and the behavioral and sensory characteristics of children with FXS that could lead to valuable intervention strategies developed by parents and professionals.
A combination strategy based brain–computer interface for two-dimensional movement control

Objective. Two-dimensional (2D) movement control is an important issue in brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) research because being able to move, for example, a cursor with the brain will enable patients with motor disabilities to control their environment. However, it is still a challenge to continuously control 2D movement with a non-invasive BCI system. In this paper, we developed a 2D cursor control with motor imagery BCI tasks allowing users to move a cursor to any position by using a combination strategy. With this strategy, a user can combine multiple motor imagery tasks, alternatively or simultaneously, to control 2D movements. Approach. After a training session, six participants took part in the first control strategy experiment (the center-out experiment) to verify the effectiveness of the cursor control. Three of the six participants performed an additional experiment, in which they were required to move the cursor to hit five targets in a given sequence. Main results. The average hit rate was more than 95.6 % ? > and the trajectories were close to the shortest path. The average hit rate was more than 95.6% and the trajectories were close to the shortest path in the center-out experiment. In the additional experiment, three participants achieved a 100% hit rate with a short trajectory. Significance. The results demonstrated that users were able to effectively control the 2D movement using the proposed strategy. The present system may be used as a tool to interact with the external world.
Phosphatidic Acid Is a Potent And Selective Inhibitor of Protein Phosphatase 1 and an Inhibitor of Ceramide-mediated Responses*

In the present study, we report that phosphatidic acid (PA) functions as a novel, potent, and selective inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). The catalytic subunit of PP1α was inhibited by PA dose-dependently in a noncompetitive manner with a K i value of 80 nm. The inhibition by PA was specific to PP1 as PA failed to inhibit protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) or PP2B. Furthermore, PA was the most effective and potent inhibitor of PP1 compared with other phospholipids. Because we recently showed that ceramides activated PP1, we next examined the effects of PA on ceramide stimulation of PP1. PA inhibited both basal and ceramide-stimulated PP1 activities, and ceramide showed potent and stereoselective activation of PP1 in the presence of PA. Next, the effects of PA on ceramide-induced responses were examined. Molt-4 cells took up PA dose- and time-dependently such that by 1 and 3 h, uptake of PA was 0.37 and 0.65% of total PA added, respectively. PA at 30 μm and calyculin A at 10 nm (an inhibitor of PP1 and PP2A at low concentrations), but not okadaic acid at 10 nm (a PP2A inhibitor at low concentrations) prevented poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase proteolysis induced by C6-ceramide. Moreover, the combination of PA with okadaic acid prevented retinoblastoma gene product dephosphorylation induced by C6-ceramide. These data suggest that PA functions as a specific regulator of PP1 and may reverse or counteract those effects of ceramide that are mediated by PP1, such as apoptosis and retinoblastoma gene product dephosphorylation.
Re-evaluating Dissociations between Implicit and Explicit Category Learning: An Event-related fMRI Study

Recent fMRI studies have found that distinct neural systems may mediate perceptual category learning under implicit and explicit learning conditions. In these previous studies, however, different stimulus-encoding processes may have been associated with implicit versus explicit learning. The present design was aimed at decoupling the influence of these factors on the recruitment of alternate neural systems. Consistent with previous reports, following incidental learning in a dot-pattern classification task, participants showed decreased neural activity in occipital visual cortex (extrastriate region V3, BA 19) in response to novel exemplars of a studied category compared to members of a foil category, but did not show this decreased neural activity following explicit learning. Crucially, however, our results show that this pattern was primarily modulated by aspects of the stimulus-encoding instructions provided at the time of study. In particular, when participants in an implicit learning condition were encouraged to evaluate the overall shape and configuration of the stimuli during study, we failed to find the pattern of brain activity that has been taken to be a signature of implicit learning, suggesting that activity in this area does not uniquely reflect implicit memory for perceptual categories but instead may reflect aspects of processing or perceptual encoding strategies.
Functional Connectivity Abnormalities of Brain Regions with Structural Deficits in Young Adult Male Smokers

Smoking is one of the most prevalent dependence disorders. Previous studies have detected structural and functional deficits in smokers. However, few studies focused on the changes of resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the brain regions with structural deficits in young adult smokers. Twenty-six young adult smokers and 26 well-matched healthy non-smokers participated in our study. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and RSFC were employed to investigate the structural and functional changes in young adult smokers. Compared with healthy non-smokers, young smokers showed increased gray matter (GM) volume in the left putamen and decreased GM volume in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Moreover, GM volume in the left ACC has a negative correlation trend with pack-years and GM volume in the left putamen was positively correlated with pack-years. The left ACC and putamen with abnormal volumes were chosen as the regions of interest (ROIs) for the RSFC analysis. We found that smokers showed increased RSFC between the left ACC and right amygdala and between the left putamen and right anterior insula. We revealed structural and functional deficits within the frontostriatal circuits in young smokers, which may shed new insights into the neural mechanisms of smoking.
Prevalence of Dental Caries and Oral Hygiene Practice in School Children of Bhaktapur , Nepal

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries and oral health practice of school children of 5-15 years of Bhaktapur, Nepal. Methods: Three hundred and forty school children were examined for decayed, missing and filled teeth. Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) in permanent teeth and decayed and filled teeth (dft) in primary teeth were calculated. Then the DMFT index and dft index were calculated. Results: In total study population, the mean DMFT index was 0.28 ±0.37 whereas mean dft index was 1.21 ±2.28. It was observed that dft index was higher in males compared to females but there was no significant difference was found. For the DMFT index, it was significantly higher in females compared to males (p<0.01). Conclusion: High prevalence of dental caries was found among the children of age group 4-15 years. The dft index was higher in male whereas DMFT index was higher in female.
Exploratory study of factors associated with adverse clinical features in patients presenting with non-fatal drug overdose/self-poisoning to the ambulance service

Aim To investigate the factors associated with adverse clinical features presented by drug overdose/self-poisoning patients and the treatments provided. Methods Historical patient records collected over 3 months from ambulance crews attending non-fatal overdoses/self-poisoning incidents were reviewed. Logistic regression was used to investigate predictors of adverse clinical features (reduced consciousness, obstructed airway, hypotension or bradycardia, hypoglycaemia) and treatment. Results Of 22 728 calls attended to over 3 months, 585 (rate 26/1000 calls) were classified as overdose or self-poisoning. In the 585 patients identified, paracetamol-containing drugs were most commonly involved (31.5%). At least one adverse clinical feature occurred in 103 (17.7%) patients, with higher odds in men and opiate overdose or illegal drugs. Older patients and patients with reduced consciousness were more likely to receive oxygen. The latter also had a greater chance of receiving saline. Conclusion Non-fatal overdose/self-poisoning accounted for 2.6% of patients attended by an ambulance. Gender, illegal drugs or opiates were important predictors of adverse clinical features. The treatments most often provided to patients were oxygen and saline.