Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dorsolumbar epidural analgesia in water buffalo: anaesthetic assessment and anatomical studies

Anesthesia of the flank region of ten native buffaloes was accomplished through the dorsolumber epidural technique by using two different doses (4ml and 5ml) from anesthetic mixture containing xylazine hydrochloride (2%) and lidocaine hydrochloride (2%). Computed tomography and gross dissection were done for the thoraco-lumber region to show the special structures in this area. The results showed that, the anaesthetized area and the duration of analgesia in both sides of the flank region were wider and more prolonged at dose 5 ml than at 4 ml from the mixture. The CT showed that the epidural space at the lumbar region is enlarged and the widest part found at the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae. There is no inter-arcuate space between the last two thoracic vertebrae while the space was found between the last thoracic and the first lumbar vertebrae and continues between all lumbar vertebrae. Grossly, the last thoracic and first lumbar spinal nerve rootlets are nearly centered on the intervertebral discs between the last thoracic and the first lumbar vertebrae and between the first and the second lumbar vertebrae respectively. The second, the third, the fourth and the fifth lumbar spinal nerve rootlets are displaced cranially to extent, which the rootlets of the second and third lumbar spinal nerves are nearly located in the caudal portion of the canal of the second and third lumbar vertebrae respectively. Furthermore, the fourth lumbar spinal nerve rootlets are nearly located in the central part of the canal of the fourth lumbar vertebra, while the fifth lumbar spinal nerve rootlets appeared in the cranial portion of the canal of the fifth lumbar vertebra. The study illustrated that dorsolumber epidural anesthesia was easy to perform in buffaloes and consume low dose from anesthetic drug which save cost, time and effort. Moreover, adding of xylazine hydrochloride to the local anesthetic will promote its anesthetic properties in addition to the sedative effect needed in such conditions.
Innovation, R&D and Technology Transfer: Policies towards a Regional Innovation System. The Case of Lombardy

The evolution of Lombardy's economic structure and international position led the regional government to build up a network of public and private stakeholders in the effort of promoting the creation of new knowledge and supporting innovation at local level. In this article a technology picture of the region and the main policy actions undertaken in recent years in Lombardy to promote a nest of linkages within actors, moving along the approach of regional innovation systems are presented.
The effect of performance management on the organizational results of a bank

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the impact and workings of a new performance management system in a branch of a national bank.Design/methodology/approach – Performance data of the branch, before and after introducing a new performance management system, were collected and the results of actions taken by managers in the commercial divisions of this bank, to improve performance management, and the results of their responsibility areas were observed.Findings – The striking issue in this case study is the different effects the introduction of the new performance management system had in the two commercial divisions of the bank branch. However, only the Private Clients division improved its results significantly while those of the Business Clients division only improved slightly. After analysis, it turned out that this difference was due to the way the new system was used. The divisional manager of the Business Clients division paid virtually no attention to the behavioural factors of importance to the s.
The Role of House Prices in the Monetary Transmission Mechanism Across European Countries

This paper provides a discussion of the ‘housing market’ channels of the monetary transmission mechanism and offers some evidence of institutional differences in the European housing and mortgage markets. Using a number of Vector Autoregressive models, estimated individually for nine European countries over the pre‐EMU period, we find that house prices are significantly affected by interest rate shocks. The relative role of these interest‐rate‐induced fluctuations in house prices for private consumption is then investigated. We show that house prices may enhance the effects of interest rate shocks on consumer spending in those economies where housing and mortgage markets are relatively more developed and competitive.
Abnormalities of islet B-cell function, insulin action, and fat distribution in women with histories of gestational diabetes: relationship to obesity.

Although obese women with histories of gestational diabetes mellitus (former GDM) are highly predisposed to develop noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), lean former GDM women are less predisposed. To explore reasons for this difference, we performed measures of islet B-cell function and insulin action in eight lean former GDM women [ideal body weight (IBW), 107 +/- 2% (mean +/- SEM)], 11 obese former GDM (IBW, 161 +/- 11%), and 19 normal women subjects who were individually pair-matched to former GDM for % IBW and age. The first phase (0-10 min) insulin secretory response to iv glucose was significantly lower in both lean and obese former GDM compared to that in normal women (3,480 +/- 548% vs. 8,234 +/- 1,337% basal . min and 3,444 +/- 682 vs. 10,251 +/- 2,465). The second phase (10-60 min) insulin response to glucose was also significantly lower in lean former GDM women and tended to be lower in obese former GDM women compared to that in their respective controls. Insulin action was assessed by the insulin sensitivity index (SI) using Bergman's minimal modeling technique. SI values in lean former GDM women were similar to those in their controls (4.42 +/- 1.3 X 10(-4) ml min-1 microU-1 vs. 5.19 +/- 1.2 X 10(-4). In contrast, SI values in obese former GDM women were significantly lower than those in their controls (0.77 +/- 0.28 X 10(-4) vs. 2.04 +/- 0.43 X 10(-4). To assess whether differences in fat distribution and fat cell size were associated with these differences in insulin sensitivity, the waist to thigh circumference ratio, the waist to hip ratio, and abdominal fat cell diameter were measured. All three were significantly greater in the obese former GDM women than in controls. Thus, an abnormal central distribution of adiposity appears to be associated with the insulin action defect in obese former GDM women. We conclude that both lean and obese former GDM women have insulin secretion defects. Although a modest insulin action defect in lean former GDM women may have been missed by this technique, only in the obese former GDM women, who have a higher risk for future NIDDM, was an insulin action defect demonstrable. Thus, impairments of both insulin secretion and insulin action may be necessary to cause a marked predisposition toward NIDDM.
Understanding Travel Behaviour in Avalanche Terrain: A New Approach

To date, most studies of the human dimensions of decision-making in avalanche terrain has focused on two areas - post-accident analysis using accident reports/interviews and, the devel- opment of tools as decision forcing aids. While both methods inform our study of decision-making, each has limitations with respect to construct validity (Are we actually measuring what we think we are measuring? i.e. decisions) and, the role the decision tools play with respect to forcing vs. enhancing decisions. We present an alternate method for understanding decision-making in avalanche terrain. Our pro- ject combines GPS tracking and logbook surveys of backcountry skiers as a method to describe and quantify travel practices in concert with group decision-making dynamics, and demographic data of participants during daily excursions into winter backcountry. Data gathering for this small pilot project took place during winter 2012/2013. We will present findings that shed light on real time decision- making while traveling in potential avalanche terrain and small group decision-making practice.
Prosody as an Interactional Resource: Turn-projection and Overlap

One aim of current research into talk-in-interaction is to identify the resources that enable recipients to monitor the course of a turn in progress in order to project its upcoming completion. This issue is addressed through analysis of instances of overlapping talk, focusing on their design—that is, their particular prosodic and other linguistic characteristics; their placement—in other words, where precisely they occur in relation to the turn being overlapped; and the subsequent behavior of the coparticipants. Phonetic analysis is combined with interactional techniques developed within Conversation Analysis, to warrant the relevance of categories by reference to the behavior of the participants themselves. As French and Local (1983) found, for an incoming to be treated as turn-competitive, it has to be designed with relatively high pitch and loud volume. These turn-competitive incomings are positioned within the turn in progress, and before the final major accent. By contrast, overlapping incomings positioned after the major accent are not designed as or treated as turn-competitive. On the basis of this analysis, we can define transition relevance place (TRP) as the space between the TRP-projecting accent of the current turn and the onset of the next turn. TRP-projecting accents are identifiable on independent grounds, being phonetically distinct from non-TRP-projecting accents. They thus provide a robust resource for participants to monitor the upcoming completion of the turn.
Effects of climatic conditions on the biting density and relative abundance of Simulium damnosum complex in a rural Nigerian farm settlement.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE The effect of climatic conditions on the biting density and relative abundance of Simulium damnosum complex at Adani, Nigeria, from August 2010-January 2011 was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS The classical method of collecting blackflies for a period of 11 hours using human attractants was employed in the study. Monthly climatic data, such as rainfall, relative humidity and temperature were collected for the period of study. RESULTS Rainfall, relative humidity, temperature, harmattan (cold, dry wind) and deforestation were observed to affect the biting density and relative abundance of blackflies at the site. A total of 548 female adult blackflies were collected. The biting density of the flies ranged from 0.5 Flies/Man/Hour (FMH) in December to 5.5 FMH in January. The relative abundance of the flies ranged from 21 in December to 243 in January. Regression analysis showed that temperature and relative humidity had a positive correlation with relative abundance of Simulium damnosum complex (y=-0.0006x+5.593, r=0.0519) and (y=-0.1213x+78.794, r=0.505), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The risk of getting infected with Onchocerca volvulus increased during the dry season with its associated weather conditions.
Spatial patterns of protein expression in focal infections of human cytomegalovirus

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a medically significant human pathogen that infects a wide range of cell and tissue types. During infection, HCMV activates a variety of signal transduction pathways that induce profound changes in cellular processes and dramatically affect cellular gene expression patterns. To better define how these virus‐host interactions affect the local microenvironment and influence the spatial and temporal spread of HCMV, we initiated HCMV focal infections on normal human dermal fibroblast monolayers and monitored viral gene expression patterns and infection spread over 45 days. To establish baseline temporal measurements of HCMV infection and spread in cell monolayers, we characterized the influence of three experimental variables on viral gene expression: cell plating density, the presence of serum, and neutralization of cellular antiviral responses with an antibody against interferon‐β. We found that high cell plating density or the inclusion of serum correlated with enhanced HCMV infection spread. Dramatic differences in the expression pattern of the viral immediate early 2 (IE2) gene were observed under these conditions as compared to low plating density or the absence of serum. In the latter case round, uniform foci were observed with a clear wave of IE2 expression visible in advance of a late stage viral protein, envelope glycoprotein B. By contrast, larger irregular foci with arms of IE2 expression were observed in the presence of serum. Addition of the antibody had little effect on the rate of spread, which is consistent with the knowledge that HCMV represses antiviral responses during infection. This experimental system provides a useful means to visualize and quantify complex virus‐host interactions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Health service pricing reforms in Kenya

In December 1989, the Government of Kenya implemented cost sharing reforms in a substantial portion of public health facilities. In September 1990 the Government suspended registration fees for out‐patient treatments, but reintroduced them in April 1992 after a lapse of a 20‐month period. Assesses the effects of these policy changes on demand for out‐patient services using a small data set from a rural district in central Kenya. Finds that, although medical services are inelastic with respect to user charges, cost sharing led to a significant reduction in out‐patient attendance: demand for out‐patient care declined by about 40 per cent. Consistent with this finding, suspension of registration fees in 1990 is associated with a 30 per cent increase in attendance. This increase occurred despite the retention of fees for diagnostic services. By March 1991, seven months after the suspension of fees, service demand had recovered remarkably and was only about 20 per cent below its original level. Further, finds that patients are more sensitive to fees for diagnostic services than they are to registration fees.
Impact of work-related factors, lifestyle, and work ability on sickness absence among Dutch construction workers.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the relative contribution of individual characteristics, lifestyle factors, work-related risk factors, and work ability on the occurrence of short (<2 weeks), moderate (2-12 weeks), and long (>12 weeks) durations of sickness absence. METHODS Altogether 5867 Dutch construction workers with complete sick leave registration were followed from the day of their medical examination in 2005 until the end of 2006. The main outcome of the study was the duration of sickness absence, as registered by an occupational health service. Independent variables consisted of individual characteristics, lifestyle factors, work-related factors, and the work ability index. We used Poisson regression analyses with repeated occurrence of sick leave to calculate rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals of independent variables for the three categories of sick leave duration. RESULTS Predictors for sick leave lasting 2-12 weeks and >12 weeks were: older age, obesity, smoking, manual materials handling, lack of job control, lung restriction, and a less than excellent work ability. For most predictors, higher RR values were observed with a longer duration of sickness absence. Obesity, smoking, manual materials handling, and lack of job control remained important risk factors for moderate and long durations of sick leave after adjusting for the strong effects of work ability on sickness absence. The highest population-attributable fractions were observed for: age over 50 years (18%), manual materials handling (20%), and good (18%), moderate (28%), and poor (2%) work ability. CONCLUSION This study suggests that a variety of preventive measures targeted at smoking, obesity, physical load, psychosocial work factors as well as work ability will contribute to a reduction in the occurrence of sick leave.
Adoption of e-Payment Systems : A Review of Literature

E-payment system is increasingly becoming a daring means of payments in today’s business world. This is due to its efficiency, convenience and timeliness. It is a payment system that is continuously being embraced and adopted in the financial system of both developed and developing countries with a view to simplify and ease payments in business transactions. As a result, many studies were conducted around the globe by scholars on epayment adoption. It is based on this that this research paper looks at the available past literature on e-payment adoption across the world, with a view to highlight the scope, methodology and Information System (IS) models used by previous researchers so as to identify research gaps and recommend such for future studies. The study employed an extensive literature search on e-payment adoption with the aid of Google Scholar for those recent studies between the years 2010-2015. To facilitate the understanding of the issue under study, previous studies were analysed based on scope-geographical location of the study, theories/models adopted and methodology used. Finally, the paper has identified the patterns of previous researches with regards to these three items and further highlights and recommends key areas in which future research should delve on.
The efficacy and safety of the left lateral position for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Background/Aim: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is typically performed in prone position. In cases of difficulty in prone position, ERCP can be performed in left lateral position. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of left lateral position for ERCP compared with those of prone position. Patients and Methods: Between August 2015 and March 2016, a total of 62 patients with native papilla who underwent ERCP were randomly assigned to undergo the procedure in left lateral position (n = 31) or prone position (n = 31). The outcomes of procedures were compared between the two groups. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the demographic data, indications for ERCP, comorbidities, anticoagulation agents, the types and doses of sedative agents, and procedural durations. The rates of technical success and adverse events were similar (96.8 and 40%, respectively, in left lateral group and 100 and 32.3%, respectively, in prone group). The rates of unintentional pancreatic duct (PD) cannulation and the acquisition of pancreatograms in left lateral group were significantly greater than those in prone group (9/30, 30.0% vs. 3/31, 9.7%, P = 0.046; 7/30, 23.3% vs. 1/31, 3.2%, P = 0.020, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis (6/30, 20% vs. 5/31, 16.1%, P = 0.694). Conclusion: The left lateral position for ERCP can be as effective and safe as prone position. Due to increased rates of unintended PD cannulation and contrast injection, the initial use of left lateral position may be limited to cases that exhibit difficulty in prone position.
MODIFIED ETHANOL INJECTION METHOD FOR LIPOSOMES CONTAINING β-SITOSTEROL β-D-GLUCOSIDE

A modified ethanol injection method for liposomes containing soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC), cholesterol (Ch), β-sitosterol β-D-glucoside (Sit-G) and oleic acid (OA) was developed, that can produce homogeneous unilamellar liposomes without the use of sonication and dialysis. In this method, water is poured into a concentrated lipid-ethanol solution and then ethanol is removed in an evaporator. Dilution with water causes spontaneous formation of small and homogenous unilamellar vesicles from micellar aggregate. The size of liposomes can be controlled by the ratio of ethanol to water. OA and Sit-G were distributed at the surface of liposomes and were recognized by Concanavalin A, respectively. This easy and quick method for preparation of liposomes may be applicable in many areas.
Expanding Insights on the Diversity Climate–Performance Link: The Role of Workgroup Discrimination and Group Size

The present study extends knowledge of the performance consequences of workgroup diversity climate. Building upon Kopelman, Brief, and Guzzo's () climate model of productivity, we introduce workgroup discrimination as a behavioral mediator that explains the positive effects of diversity climate on workgroup performance. In addition, we investigate group size as a moderator upon which this mediated relationship depends. We test these moderated-mediated propositions using a split-sample design and data from 248 military workgroups comprising 8,707 respondents. Findings from structural equation modeling reveal that diversity climate is consistently positively related to workgroup performance and that this relationship is mediated by discrimination. Results yield a pattern of moderated mediation, in that the indirect relationship between workgroup diversity climate (through perceptions of workgroup discrimination) and group performance was more pronounced in larger than in smaller workgroups. These results illustrate that discrimination and group size represent key factors in determining how a diversity climate is associated with group performance and, thus, have significant implications for research and pra
Contingent valuation : a critical assessment

Part 1 Contingent valuation-based estimates of non-use value - an overview and outlook: on contingent valuation measurement of non-use values, P.A. Diamond and J.A. Hausman. Part 2 Empirical studies - examining the properties of contingent valuation-based measures of non-use value: does contingent valuation measure preferences? experimental evidence, P.A. Diamond et al measuring natural resource damages with contingent valuation - tests of validity and reliability, W. Desvousges et al issues in the contingent valuation of environmental goods - methodologies for data collection and analysis, D.L. McFadden and G.K. Leonard exploring a budget context for contingent valuation estimates, M.A. Kemp and C. Maxwell where do the numbers come from? how people respond to contingent valuation questions, D.A. Schkade and J.W. Payne review and analysis of recent state-of-the-art contingent valuation studies, W.J. Mead. Part 3 User damages in the case of an oil spill - a reference for total damages: assessing use value losses caused by natural resource injury, J.A. Hausman et al. Part 4 Theoretical issues - economic and legal problems using contingent valuation-based measures of non-use value: contingent valuation of the nonuse value of natural resources - implications for public policy and the liability system, S. Shavell some legal and regulatory aspects of contingent valuation, J.F. Daum is sympathy an economic value? philosophy, economics and the contingent valuation method, P.R. Milgrom. Part 5 Discussion of papers presented at the outlook symposium - an assessment and outlook for contingent valuation: panel discussion, A. Randall et al. Part 6 Perspectives - issues raised at the symposium: contingent valuation - a view of the conference and associated research, C.R. Plott and K.J. Arrow contingent valuation of non-use values - observations and questions, K.J. Arrow.