Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Online Hemodiafiltration on Infections: Results from the CONvective TRAnsport STudy

Background Hemodialysis (HD) patients have a high risk of infections. The uremic milieu has a negative impact on several immune responses. Online hemodiafiltration (HDF) may reduce the risk of infections by ameliorating the uremic milieu through enhanced clearance of middle molecules. Since there are few data on infectious outcomes in HDF, we compared the effects of HDF with low-flux HD on the incidence and type of infections. Patients and Methods We used data of the 714 HD patients (age 64 ±14, 62% men, 25% Diabetes Mellitus, 7% catheters) participating in the CONvective TRAnsport STudy (CONTRAST), a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of HDF as compared to low-flux HD. The events were adjudicated by an independent event committee. The risk of infectious events was compared with Cox regression for repeated events and Cox proportional hazard models. The distributions of types of infection were compared between the groups. Results Thirty one percent of the patients suffered from one or more infections leading to hospitalization during the study (median follow-up 1.96 years). The risk for infections during the entire follow-up did not differ significantly between treatment arms (HDF 198 and HD 169 infections in 800 and 798 person-years respectively, hazard ratio HDF vs. HD 1.09 (0.88–1.34), P = 0.42. No difference was found in the occurrence of the first infectious event (either fatal, non-fatal or type specific). Of all infections, respiratory infections (25% in HDF, 28% in HD) were most common, followed by skin/musculoskeletal infections (21% in HDF, 13% in HD). Conclusions HDF as compared to HD did not result in a reduced risk of infections, larger studies are needed to confirm our findings. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00205556
Social networks for survival among working children in Addis Ababa

In this article, we examine the social networks that enable working children on the streets of Addis Ababa to cope and exercise agency under adverse circumstances. Based on qualitative interviews with 45 children, we explore how they take part in new and existing social networks. We analyse the work of social networks and explain how they help the individual child to attain physical and economic security, secure living quarters, food supply, and formal and informal schooling. Finally, we discuss to what extent the networks can be considered as social capital for the children.
What influences the relationship between customer satisfaction and repurchase intention? Investigating the effects of adjusted expectations and customer loyalty

This study examines how loyalty influences the relationship between customer satisfaction (CS) and repurchase intention (RPI). Considering the effect of time, the study introduces adjusted expectations, which are expectations updated after consumption experience. The present study investigates the role of adjusted expectations in the CS–RPI link. With structural-equation analysis, the proposed model was tested in the family-restaurant setting. The results show that adjusted expectations can mediate the effect of CS on RPI. The results also indicate that processes underlying the CS–RPI link are different between low-loyalty and high-loyalty customers. Specifically, the transient route, which reflects the indirect path from CS to RPI via adjusted expectations, has a greater impact for nonloyals than for loyals. On the other hand, the chronic route, which represents the direct path from CS to RPI, has a greater impact for loyals than for nonloyals. CS is found to have no direct influence on RPI for low-loyalty customers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Maternal effects in vulnerability to eye‐parasites and correlations between behavior and parasitism in juvenile Arctic charr

Abstract Hatchery‐reared fish show high mortalities after release to the wild environment. Explanations for this include potentially predetermined genetics, behavioral, and physiological acclimation to fish farm environments, and increased vulnerability to predation and parasitism in the wild. We studied vulnerability to Diplostomum spp. parasites (load of eye flukes in the lenses), immune defense (relative spleen size) and antipredator behaviors (approaches toward predator odor, freezing, and swimming activity) in hatchery‐reared juvenile Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) using a nested mating design. Fish were exposed to eye‐fluke larvae via the incoming water at the hatchery. Fish size was positively associated with parasite load, but we did not find any relationship between relative spleen size and parasitism. The offspring of different females showed significant variation in their parasite load within sires, implying a dam effect in the vulnerability to parasites. However, the family background did not have any effect on spleen size. In the mean sire level over dams, the fish from the bolder (actively swimming) families in the predator trials suffered higher loads of eye flukes than those from more cautiously behaving families. Thus, the results indicate potentially maternally inherited differences in vulnerability to eye‐fluke parasites, and that the vulnerability to parasites and behavioral activity are positively associated with each other at the sire level. This could lead to artificial and unintentional selection for increased vulnerability to both parasitism and predation if these traits are favored in fish farm environments.
Trauma-hemorrhagic shock-induced red blood cell damage leads to decreased microcirculatory blood flow*

Objective:To test the hypothesis that trauma-hemorrhagic shock (T/HS)-induced changes in red blood cells (RBC) contribute to the reduction of blood flow in distant organs. Design:Laboratory study. Setting:Academic medical center laboratory. Subjects:Specific pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 250 and 350 g. Interventions:Rats were transfused with trauma-sham shock (T/SS), or T/HS whole blood, or RBC-depleted blood (blood with the RBC removed and consisting of white blood cells and plasma). Measurements and Main Results:Cardiac output and organ blood flow were measured by the radioactive microsphere technique. RBC tissue trapping, deformability, and RBC aggregation and adhesion were studied. Measurements of RBC adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and plasma fibrinogen were performed. Exchange transfusion with T/SS blood did not alter cardiac output or organ blood flow. However, cardiac output and blood flow in several organs were decreased when T/HS whole blood was used and RBCs were trapped in the organs that evidenced decreased blood flow. T/HS also increased RBC aggregation and adhesion, and decreased deformability. The ability of T/HS exchange transfusion to decrease microcirculatory blood flow did not appear to be due to plasma factors or non-RBC elements (i.e., white blood cell), because organ blood flow was not reduced after exchange transfusion with T/HS RBC-depleted blood. Likewise, neither decreased RBC ATP nor increased plasma fibrinogen explained the T/HS-induced changes that were observed. There was no change in fibrinogen levels during or after shock. Although there was a transient decrease in T/HS erythrocyte ATP levels during the early shock period, in contrast to RBC function, the ATP levels had returned to normal with resuscitation. Conclusions:T/HS induces significant changes in RBC functions and the injection of T/HS, but not T/SS, RBC leads to decreased organ blood flow. These findings confirm the hypothesis that T/HS-induced RBC alterations will directly cause organ hypoperfusion and suggest that T/HS-induced RBC damage contributes to this process. Thus, T/HS-induced changes in RBC function may contribute to the development of shock-induced multiple organ failure.
Some Effects of Vocabulary and Communication Task on the Understanding and Use of Vague Probability Expressions

How is the understanding and use of vague probability expressions affected by the availability of other expressions and the particular communication task involved? As represented by membership functions the meanings of core terms were not affected by the presence or absence of modified or anchor expressions. However, the core terms rated best at each presented probability in the baseline condition were rated lower in the presence of modified or anchor expressions. The effects of communication task were substantial, in that membership functions were more frequently monotonic, broader, and located closer to the center of the probability interval for expressions that were received and evaluated than for ones that were selected
A Study of Student-Lecturer Interaction in Communication and Study Skills Classes at the University of Botswana

This thesis examines classroom talk amongst students and lecturers at the University of Botswana (UB). It aims to find out whether or not classroom interaction can help to develop students’ oral skills in Communication and Study Skills (CSS) classes at UB. The mixed methods approach was used and three research instruments were explained as follows; twenty-seven classroom observations and systematic observations were used amongst nine lecturers who offered CSS to first year students. In addition, there were two phases of lecturer interviews and one phase of students’ interviews. All three research instruments were used to analyse the classroom discourse quantitatively and qualitatively. Using the Initiation, Response, Feedback (IRF) analytical tool and the Sociocultural Theory (SCT), it was found out that generally, a combination of the lecturers’ initiation and their feedback of the interaction were high as illustrated by 62%, indicating that the lecturers dominated classroom talk. Nine (9) CSS lesson extracts were used to analyse the classroom discourse qualitatively. From the nine lecturers observed, nine lesson extracts were analysed using one of the teaching transactions. The findings revealed that the lecturers teaching style contributed to the quality of classroom interaction. Secondly, the length of the teaching strands indicated the quality of classroom talk. All students and lecturers’ interviewed had mixed views about the quality of classroom interaction. They all felt that there was need for effective spoken interaction and that students were passive during classroom interaction. The findings from this thesis act as an eye-opener regarding how interaction takes place in the CSS classrooms. Furthermore, since this is a pioneering study on classroom interaction at UB, it will act as a referral point for future studies within the institution and other institutions of higher learning in Botswana.
Bifurcation Analysis of the 1D and 2D Generalized swift-Hohenberg equation

In this paper, bifurcation of the generalized Swift–Hohenberg equation is considered. We first study the bifurcation of the generalized Swift–Hohenberg equation in one spatial dimension with three kinds of boundary conditions. With the help of Liapunov–Schmidt reduction, the original equation is transformed to the reduced system, and then the bifurcation analysis is carried out. Secondly, bifurcation of the generalized Swift–Hohenberg equation in two spatial dimensions with periodic boundary conditions is also considered, using the perturbation method, asymptotic expressions of the nontrivial solutions bifurcated from the trivial solution are obtained. Moreover, the stability of the bifurcated solutions is discussed.
First Year Accounting Students’ Perceptions of Blended Learning

The purpose of this study is to use student-related variables to examine their impact on students’ perception of the integration of face-to-face and blended learning experience and students’ learning outcomes. This study uses survey questionnaires at the beginning and end of semester. The data analysis consists of (1) a paired sample t-test and (2) a partial least squares model to analyze the effect of student-related variables on student perceptions on the integration of blended learning at the beginning and end of semester and their learning outcomes, over the three year study period. Students’ perceptions at the outset were found to be important in their view of the subject and the learning experience they will enjoy. The learning experience throughout the semester affects the students’ perceptions on blended learning at the end of the semester and their perceived performance in both mid and final exams. No relationship was found between prior accounting knowledge and blended learning however a positive relationship was found between prior computer knowledge and blended learning. This study provides empirical evidence of the benefits of adopting blended learning in a first year accounting subject. These findings have implications for accounting educators who can use this knowledge to motivate students to engage in blended learning and improve their learning outcome irrespective of their prior knowledge.
Chromogranin A, chromogranin B and secretogranin II mRNAs in the pituitary and adrenal glands of various mammals. Regulation of chromogranin A, chromogranin B and secretogranin II mRNA levels by estrogen.

BACKGROUND The chromogranin/secretogranin (Cg/Sg) acidic proteins are widely distributed in vertebrate species. They are thought to play a role in hormone packaging within secretory granules, in hormone secretion, and serve as prohormones for various proteolytic cleavage products. The genes for most members of the Cg/Sg family have been cloned, so hybridization analysis can be used to analyze the distribution and regulation of Cg/Sg mRNAs in various vertebrate species. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The method of in situ hybridization was used to localize chromogranin A, chromogranin B, and secretogranin II in adrenal and pituitary tissues from laboratory animals and from humans in order to analyze the distribution of various Cg/Sg mRNAs in these tissues. To gain some insight into the regulation and possible functions of specific Cg/Sg members, female rats were ovariectomized for different periods with and without estrogen replacement and the pituitaries were subsequently analyzed by in situ hybridization and Northern hybridization analyses. Combined ISH and immunohistochemistry were used to localize the specific cell types in normal rat pituitary that expressed the mRNA for chromogranin A, chromogranin B, and secretogranin II. RESULTS All three Cg/Sg mRNAs were detected in pituitary and adrenal tissues of rats, mice, dogs, monkeys, and humans. Combined in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry using rat pituitary revealed that the glycoprotein hormone-secreting cells expressed all three Cg/Sg mRNAs in approximately equal amounts. Ovariectomy followed by estrogen replacement resulted in decreased levels of CgA and SgII mRNAs. In contrast, the level of CgB mRNA, that was not changed by ovariectomy, was increased after estrogen treatment, probably secondary to prolactin cell hyperplasia. CONCLUSIONS The three principal Cg/Sg mRNAs are present in the adrenal and pituitary of various vertebrates. Estrogen plays a significant role in regulating the mRNA levels of different Cgs/Sgs suggesting functional and regulatory differences in Cg/Sg proteins.
Cutting Edge: SHARPIN Is Required for Optimal NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multimeric protein complex that is assembled in response to a wide array of pathogens and danger-associated molecular patterns. Despite the ability of NLRP3 to respond to diverse cues, the mechanisms controlling the assembly of this complex are contested. Recently published studies showed that HOIL-1, a member of the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex, contributes to activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. SHARPIN, along with HOIP and HOIL-1, constitute the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. In this study, we examined whether SHARPIN is required for the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Using Sharpincpdm macrophages (deficient in SHARPIN expression), we demonstrate that SHARPIN is required for optimal activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by both canonical and noncanonical stimuli. Furthermore, Sharpincpdm macrophages had dramatic defects on both the NF-κB and MAPK pathways, suggesting a role in transcriptional priming of the NLRP3 inflammasome. In conclusion, our study identified SHARPIN as a novel regulator of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
The Spectra of T Dwarfs. II. Red Optical Data

We present 6300-10100 Å spectra for a sample of 13 T dwarfs observed using LRIS mountedtpdel 99 on the Keck I 10 m Telescope. A variety of features are identified and analyzed, including pressure-broadened K I and Na I doublets; narrow Cs I and Rb I lines; weak CaH, CrH, and FeH bands; strong H2O absorption; and a possible weak CH4 band. Hα emission is detected in three of the T dwarfs, strong in the previously reported active T dwarf 2MASS 1237+6526 and weak in SDSS 1254-0122 and 2MASS 1047+2124. None of the T dwarfs exhibit Li I absorption. Guided by the evolution of optical spectral features with near-infrared spectral type, we derive a parallel optical classification scheme, focusing on spectral types T5 to T8, anchored to select spectral standards. We find general agreement between optical and near-infrared types for nearly all the T dwarfs so far observed, including two earlier type T dwarfs, within our classification uncertainties (~1 subtype). These results suggest that competing gravity and temperature effects compensate for each other over the 0.6-2.5 μm spectral region. We identify one possible means of disentangling these effects by comparing the strength of the K I red wing to the 9250 Å H2O band. One of our objects, 2MASS 0937+2931, exhibits a peculiar spectrum with a substantial red slope and relatively strong FeH absorption, both consequences of a metal-deficient atmosphere. On the basis of its near-infrared properties and substantial space motion, this object may be a thick disk or halo brown dwarf.
It ain’t easy eating greens: Evidence of bias toward vegetarians and vegans from both source and target

Vegetarianism and veganism are increasingly prevalent in Western countries, yet anecdotal expressions of negativity toward vegetarians and vegans are common. We empirically tested whether bias exists toward vegetarians and vegans. In Study 1 omnivores evaluated vegetarians and vegans equivalently or more negatively than several common prejudice target groups (e.g., Blacks). Bias was heightened among those higher in right-wing ideologies, explained by heightened perceptions of vegetarian/vegan threat. Vegans (vs. vegetarians) and male (vs. female) vegetarians/vegans were evaluated more negatively overall. In Study 2 omnivores evaluated vegetarians and vegans more negatively than several nutritional outgroups (e.g., gluten intolerants) and evaluated vegan/vegetarians motivated by animal rights or environmental concerns (vs. health) especially negatively. In Study 3, vegetarians and especially vegans reported experiencing negativity stemming from their diets. Empirically documenting antivegetarian/vegan bias adds to a growing literature finding bias toward benign yet social norm-challenging others.
Nonthermal Inactivation of Cronobacter sakazakii in Infant Formula Milk: A Review

Up-to-date, nonthermal technologies and combinations of them, in accordance with the “hurdle technology” concept, are being applied by different research groups in response to calls by the International Food and Human Health Organizations (ESPGHAN, 2004; FAO/WHO, 2006, 2008) for alternatives to thermal control of Cronobacter sakazakii in reconstituted powdered infant formula milk. This review highlights (i) current knowledge on the application of nonthermal technologies to control C. sakazakii in infant formula milk and (ii) the importance of the application of nonthermal technologies for the control of C. sakazakii as part of the development of strategies in the context of improving food safety and quality of this product.
Making News, Making the Economy: Technological Changes and Financial Pressures in Brazil

Media convergence and growing financial pressure on the journalistic field have triggered significant changes in newsmaking cultures across the world. This article examines the challenges of media convergence in the newsroom of Valor Econômico, the main economic newspaper in Brazil. In particular, it explores how the introduction in 2013 of Valor Pro, a real time news service oriented to the financial market, changed newsmaking practices at Valor Econômico. The introduction of Valor Pro meant that journalists from the whole newsroom had to report news simultaneously for three platforms: the real time service, the online website and the printed paper. This shift not only intensified journalists’ workloads and altered the manufacture of news, but also increased financial pressure on the paper’s agenda. I argue that this shift – from producing news for the public towards producing news for the market – cannot be explained solely with reference to traditional political economic factors such as ideological decisions at editorial level and the structural properties of the Brazilian media sphere. Instead, drawing on resources from cultural sociology and from science and technology studies, I provide a richer explanation that acknowledges the impact of technological innovation, the shifting nature of news values, and the agency of journalists themselves. This article elaborates on seven months of ethnographic fieldwork in Valor Econômico’s newsroom in São Paulo between 2013 and 2015 and contributes to the literature on cultural sociology, media studies and science and technology studies.
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Autoregressive modeling for fading channel simulation

Autoregressive stochastic models for the computer simulation of correlated Rayleigh fading processes are investigated. The unavoidable numerical difficulties inherent in this method are elucidated and a simple heuristic approach is adopted to enable the synthesis of accurately correlated, bandlimited Rayleigh variates. Startup procedures are presented, which allow autoregressive simulators to produce stationary channel gain samples from the first output sample. Performance comparisons are then made with popular fading generation techniques to demonstrate the merits of the approach. The general applicability of the method is demonstrated by examples involving the accurate synthesis of nonisotropic fading channel models.