Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Weed seed viability in composted beef cattle feedlot manure.

Manure composting has gained increased acceptance by the beef cattle (Bos taurus) feedlot industry in southern Alberta, Canada. Unlike fresh manure, compost is often promoted as being "weed-free. " Studies were conducted with five weed species in 1997 and thirteen in 1999 to examine the effect of feedlot manure composting on weed seed viability. Weed seeds were buried in open-air compost windrows and recovered at various times during the thermophilic phase of composting. Windrow temperature and water contents were also measured. Germinability was zero for all composted weed seeds at all sampling times in 1997. However, some seeds remained viable (positive tetrazolium test denoting respiration) on Day 70. In 1999, only one of the thirteen species retained germinability on Day 21 and only two species had respiring seeds on Day 42. Time-viability relationships during composting were defined by exponential decay models. Lethal temperatures to eliminate viability was species-dependent. In 1999, four weed species were killed in the initial 7 d of composting at a lethal temperature of 39 degrees C while temperatures of > 60 degrees C were required for two species. Regression analysis on weed seed viability versus windrow temperature resulted in significant R2 values, which showed that only 17 to 29% of the variation in viability was accounted for by temperature. The lack of definitive relationships between temperature and weed seed viability demonstrated that factors other than temperature may play a role in eliminating weed seeds during composting.
Scheduled Out-Patient Endoscopy and Lack of Compliance in a Minority Serving Tertiary Institution

Introduction:Lack of adherence to appointments wastes resources and portends a poorer outcome for patients. The authors sought to determine whether the type of scheduled endoscopic procedures affect compliance. Methods:The authors reviewed the final endoscopy schedule from January 2010 to August 2010 in an inner city teaching hospital that serves a predominantly African American population. The final schedule only includes patients who did not cancel, reschedule or notify the facility of their inability to adhere to their care plan up to 24 hours before their procedures. All patients had face to face consultation with gastroenterologists or surgeons before scheduling. The authors identified patients who did not show up for their procedures. They used Poisson regression models to calculate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results:Of 2183 patients who were scheduled for outpatient endoscopy, 400 (18.3%) patients were scheduled for Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD), 1,335 (61.2%) for colonoscopy and 448 (20.5%) for both EGD and colonoscopy. The rate of noncompliance was 17.5%, 22.8% and 22.1%, respectively. When compared with those scheduled for only EGD, patients scheduled for colonoscopy alone (RR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.13–1.92) and patients scheduled for both EGD and colonoscopy (RR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.01–1.84) were less likely to show up for their procedures. Conclusions:This study suggests a high rate of noncompliance with scheduled out-patient endoscopy, particularly for colonoscopy. Because this may be a contributing factor to colorectal cancer disparities, increased community outreach on colorectal cancer education is needed and may help to reduce noncompliance.
Robust Invariant Controllers for Constrained Linear Systems

A state-feedback eigenstructure assignment method is described for providing a robust solution to some linear regulation problems under constraints on the state or on the input vector. The main result is that if the initial state vector belongs to a particular bounded set, the trajectories emanating from it will respect the constraints in a robust way, that is even if the system dynamics are slightly perturbed.
Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms among German students: prevalence, characteristics, and associations to somatic complaints, sleep, quality of life, and childhood abdominal pain

Objectives Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder in the general population, and is linked to considerable impairments in daily functioning. Little is known about the prevalence of IBS symptoms among students. This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of IBS, sex differences, associations to other somatic complaints and sleep, quality of life (QoL), and childhood abdominal pain in a German university student population. Methods Using an Internet-based questionnaire, we assessed IBS criteria (according to Rome III), health complaints, health-related QoL (12-item short-form), healthcare-seeking behavior, absenteeism from classes, and subjective attributions in a sample of 2399 university students (mean age: 24.16 years; 1701 female and 696 male students). Results The prevalence of IBS-like symptoms was 18.1% with a significant difference between male (15.2%) and female (21.0%) students. Logistic regression models showed that being long-term student doubles the risk for having IBS [adjusted Odds ratio (OR)=2.16], as did the presence of other health problems: recurrent backaches (adjusted OR=2.15), troubles falling asleep (adjusted OR=1.52), and recurrent abdominal pain during childhood (adjusted OR=2.01). The IBS group had significant impairment on 12-item short-form physical and mental dimensions compared with asymptomatic students. Approximately 60% of participants fulfilling IBS criteria never consulted a physician. Male students attributed their symptoms significantly more to nutrition than female students did, who attributed their symptoms significantly more often to stress and anxiety. Conclusion IBS is a common syndrome among German university students and goes along with impaired health-related QoL. According to our data, students reporting recurrent abdominal pain in childhood are especially at risk for IBS.
Properties of an oscillator slaved to a periodically interrogated atomic resonator

In advanced atomic resonators, such as those using a fountain of cold cesium atoms or an ensemble of stored ions, the atomic medium is interrogated periodically, and the control signal of the slaved oscillator is updated at equally spaced time intervals. We analyze the properties of the output frequency of these frequency standards. We establish the equations that describe the time behavior of this frequency. We give the stability condition and the transient response of the frequency feedback loop, the response to systematic frequency changes of the free running oscillator, the frequency stability for given free-running oscillator noise and given optical detection noise, and the limitation of the frequency stability by down-conversion of the intrinsic oscillator frequency noise (Dick effect). We point out that a second integration in the feedback loop may not improve significantly the rejection of slow perturbations, unless a condition relative to the timing of the atom-field interaction is verified.
Growth inhibition of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by progesterone is associated with cell differentiation and phosphorylation of Akt protein

Progesterone inhibits the proliferation of normal breast epithelial cells in vivo as well as breast cancer cells in vitro. The molecular mechanisms of this inhibition are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the capacity of progesterone to induce apoptosis and to alter the activity of a key regulator of cell growth and differentiation, the Akt protein. We show here that (i) growth inhibition of breast cancer cells by progesterone is due to the induction of cell differentiation and not to apoptosis; (ii) progesterone activates the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway as shown by the increase in the phosphorylation of Akt protein; (iii) inhibiting PI3-kinase/Akt pathway with LY294002 causes stimulation of apoptosis; and (v) progesterone enhances LY294002 induced-growth inhibition and apoptosis. These results suggest that progesterone may protect breast cancer cells from apoptosis by altering PI3-kinase activity and that MCF-7 cells become more sensitive to progesterone and die by apoptosis upon inhibition of the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway.
Longitudinal diffusion changes following postoperative delirium in older people without dementia

Objective: To investigate the effect of postoperative delirium on longitudinal brain microstructural changes, as measured by diffusion tensor imaging. Methods: We studied a subset of the larger Successful Aging after Elective Surgery (SAGES) study cohort of older adults (≥70 years) without dementia undergoing elective surgery: 113 participants who had diffusion tensor imaging before and 1 year after surgery. Postoperative delirium severity and occurrence were assessed during the hospital stay using the Confusion Assessment Method and a validated chart review method. We investigated the association of delirium severity and occurrence with longitudinal diffusion changes across 1 year, adjusting for age, sex, vascular comorbidity, and baseline cognitive performance. We also assessed the association between changes in diffusion and cognitive performance across the 1-year follow-up period, adjusting for age, sex, education, and baseline cognitive performance. Results: Postoperative delirium occurred in 25 participants (22%). Delirium severity and occurrence were associated with longitudinal diffusion changes in the periventricular, frontal, and temporal white matter. Diffusion changes were also associated with changes in cognitive performance across 1 year, although the cognitive changes did not show significant association with delirium severity or occurrence. Conclusions: Our study raises the possibility that delirium has an effect on the development of brain microstructural abnormalities, which may reflect brain changes underlying cognitive trajectories. Future studies are warranted to clarify whether delirium is the driving factor of the observed changes or rather a correlate of a vulnerable brain that is at high risk for neurodegenerative processes.
Gay and Bisexual American Men in South Korea Who Reported Testing HIV Negative

Gay and Bisexual American Men in South Korea Who Reported Testing HIV Negative by Tony L. Sessoms MPA/HSA, University of San Francisco, 2004 BA, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 2001 AAS, Durham Technical Community College, 1999 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy Administration Walden University June 2015 Abstract Gay and bisexual men in the United States and South Korea have some of the highest HIV rates in their countries, and both have the fewest sex education programs and policies for gay and bisexual males in secondary and postsecondary school systems. Consequently, many South Koreans do not view HIV as a South Korean problem, and with American gay and bisexual men living in this type of environment, their HIV sexual protection knowledge and practices may be compromised. The purpose of this study wasGay and bisexual men in the United States and South Korea have some of the highest HIV rates in their countries, and both have the fewest sex education programs and policies for gay and bisexual males in secondary and postsecondary school systems. Consequently, many South Koreans do not view HIV as a South Korean problem, and with American gay and bisexual men living in this type of environment, their HIV sexual protection knowledge and practices may be compromised. The purpose of this study was to gain more understanding and insight into the sex education experiences and sexual practices of gay and bisexual American men living in a large city in South Korea, to determine how they perceived their sex education experiences from the American school system. The theoretical framework was based on Husserl and Heidegger’s theory of intentionality. A phenomenological method was employed, utilizing a purposeful and criterion sample of 6 gay and bisexual American men who experienced sex education in the American school system and reported testing HIV negative on their last HIV tests. Data were analyzed and coded to identify categories and themes. The findings revealed that the participants who experienced heterosexual-focused sex education did not find it useful to them as gay men. The implications of these findings for positive social change are to inform policy makers and education leaders of how gay and bisexual American men perceived their sex education experiences and of the value of providing diverse, comprehensive sex education in the school system as it relates to knowledge about HIV and HIV prevention, not only for gay and bisexual males but for all American students as a tool to reduce or prevent new HIV cases. Gay and Bisexual American Men in South Korea Who Reported Testing HIV Negative by Tony L. Sessoms MPA/HSA, University of San Francisco, 2004 BA, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 2001 AAS, Durham Technical Community College, 1999 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy Administration
Electromechanical transition in quantum dots

The strong coupling between electronic transport in a single-level quantum dot and a capacitively coupled nano-mechanical oscillator may lead to a transition towards a mechanically-bistable and blocked-current state. Its observation is at reach in carbon-nanotube state-of-art experiments. In a recent publication [Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 206802 (2015)] we have shown that this transition is characterized by pronounced signatures on the oscillator mechanical properties: the susceptibility, the displacement fluctuation spectrum and the ring-down time. These properties are extracted from transport measurements, however the relation between the mechanical quantities and the electronic signal is not always straightforward. Moreover the dependence of the same quantities on temperature, bias or gate voltage, and external dissipation has not been studied. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap and provide a detailed description of the transition. Specifically we find: (i) The relation between the current-noise and the displacement spectrum. (ii) The peculiar behavior of the gate-voltage dependence of these spectra at the transition. (iii) The robustness of the transition towards the effect of external fluctuations and dissipation.
Different risk factors for the maximum and the mean carotid intima-media thickness in hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography has been widely used for the noninvasive assessment of atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients. But, there are two major methods of carotid ultrasonography: one including plaque and the other excluding plaque. METHODS The subjects were 112 hemodialysis patients (58 men and 54 women) with a mean age of 55.8 +/- 13.0 years. The maximum intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery (including plaque) was measured as an index of arterial wall thickening and atheroma formation, while the mean IMT (without plaque) was measured as an index of arterial wall thickening. In addition the value of (maximum-mean) IMT was calculated as an index of atheroma formation. Therefore, the independent risk factors associated with the maximum IMT, mean IMT, and (maximum-mean) IMT were investigated by stepwise multiple regression analysis. RESULTS The independent risk factors associated with the maximum IMT were age, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) (R = 0.569, p < 0.0001), while factors associated with the mean IMT were age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, intact PTH, and lipoprotein (a) (R = 0.602, p < 0.0001). The independent risk factors associated with the (maximum-mean) IMT were age, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and intact PTH (R = 0.515, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that risk factors for the maximum IMT and mean IMT are somewhat different in hemodialysis patients.
Rapid Improvement in Pain Management: The Veterans Health Administration and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Collaborative

BackgroundPoor pain management persists in health care. Although common practice errors in pain management have been identified and standards and guidelines for pain management have been published, improvement has been modest. With the goal of rapid improvement in pain management, a joint Collaborative (Veterans Health Administration and Institute for Healthcare Improvement) was conducted from May 2000 to January 2001. ObjectiveTo improve delivery of pain management to VHA patients and to compare team process and patient report data on key goals from selected study units. MethodsCharts were reviewed for outcome and process measures. Measures included changes in percentage of patients with (1) moderate to severe pain, (2) documentation of a pain assessment, (3) documentation of a pain care plan, and (4) documentation that the patient received pain education. ResultsSeventy teams from 22 Veteran's Integrated Service Networks throughout the U.S. participated. Moderate or severe pain on study units dropped from 24% to 17%; pain assessment increased from 75% to 85%; pain care plans for patients with at least mild pain increased from 58% to 78%; and number of patients provided with pain educational materials increased from 35% to 62%. DiscussionSignificant progress toward the target goals was reported during the Collaborative period. This improvement needs to be viewed in the context of a VHA system-wide effort to improve pain management. Data suggest that a program of team formation, goal identification, testing and adaptation of recommended system changes, sharing and feedback of process and outcome information can produce significant change in pain management in a major health care organization.
Doppler-Ultrasound and computed tomography correlation for quantification of carotid stenosis

Carotid disease is a major cause of cerebrovascular events. Risk is proportional to the extent and severity of atherosclerosis. Aim of this study was to assess the correlation between 64-multi-detector-row computed-tomography angiography (MDCTA) and Doppler ultrasound peak-systolic-velocity (DUS-PSV) in the quantification of stenosis. 116 consecutive patients were included; it was calculated the degree of carotid stenosis with the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) method using MDCTA and DUS-PSV. MDCTA measurements of stenosis ranged from 35% to 95% (mean 67±16%). DUS-PSV ranged from 102 to 600 cm/s (mean 262±112 cm/s). A moderate correlation ( r 2 = 0.427) was found between MDCTA-NASCET stenosis and PSV values. At ROC curve analysis, PSV could significantly discriminate between stenoses ≥70% and 70% stenosis of MDCTA.
Reducing cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes.

Mortality from cardiovascular disease is increased by a factor of two to three in persons with diabetes as compared with the general population.1 Cardiovascular disease develops earlier in the presence of diabetes and occurs as often in diabetic women as in diabetic men. To reduce this increased risk, a multifactorial approach to the management of type 2 diabetes has been advocated. The American Diabetes Association, for example, recommends not only good glycemic control but also identification and aggressive treatment of associated cardiovascular risk factors, with more stringent target levels for lipids and blood pressure than those recommended for the general .
Knowledge Level and Incidence of Sexual Harassment in Sports: Views of Ghanaian Female University Athletes

This paper is the first part of a study that investigated the issue of sexual harassment in university sports in Ghana. Specifically this paper sought to find out female university athletes’ views on knowledge of sexual harassment and their experiences of it. Descriptive survey research design was used to conduct the study. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select One Hundred and Sixty-Seven (167) female respondents for the study. The instrument used in gathering data was a questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on Sexual Harassment Against Female University Athletes in Ghana (QSHAFUAGH)” structured and developed by the researchers. The QSHAFUAGH was validated by two jurors in the field of physical education and sport, from Ghana and Nigeria and was tested for reliability using Split-half method. A reliability correlation coefficient of . 91r was obtained from the reliability testing. In all, one research question and two research hypotheses were formulated, answered and tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance. Data collected were analyzed using percentages and chi-square (x2) statistical method. The findings from the study showed that; sexual harassment against female university athletes is relatively high in Ghana; female university athletes are highly knowledgeable on what constitutes sexual harassment; and the mass media is the leading source of information on sexual harassment among female athletes. Based on these findings, the study recommends that: the focus of sexual harassment education should shift from knowledge to empowerment; management of the various universities should provide the right environment, avenues or channels for female athletes to report acts of harassment perpetrated against them in the course of their participation in sports on campus without fear of victimization; and some sanctions should be instituted by management of the various universities and GUSA on perpetrators of sexual harassment against female university athletes. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2015. v5n3p121
Comparing Spatial Maps of Human Population-Genetic Variation Using Procrustes Analysis

Recent applications of principal components analysis (PCA) and multidimensional scaling (MDS) in human population genetics have found that "statistical maps" based on the genotypes in population-genetic samples often resemble geographic maps of the underlying sampling locations. To provide formal tests of these qualitative observations, we describe a Procrustes analysis approach for quantitatively assessing the similarity of population-genetic and geographic maps. We confirm in two scenarios, one using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from Europe and one using SNP data worldwide, that a measurably high level of concordance exists between statistical maps of population-genetic variation and geographic maps of sampling locations. Two other examples illustrate the versatility of the Procrustes approach in population-genetic applications, verifying the concordance of SNP analyses using PCA and MDS, and showing that statistical maps of worldwide copy-number variants (CNVs) accord with statistical maps of SNP variation, especially when CNV analysis is limited to samples with the highest-quality data. As statistical maps with PCA and MDS have become increasingly common for use in summarizing population relationships, our examples highlight the potential of Procrustes-based quantitative comparisons for interpreting the results in these maps.
Investigation on the effect of crude palm oil (CPO) on the cutting forces, surface roughness and tool wear in turning SS304

Knowledge of the performance of cutting fluids in machining process is important in order to improve the efficiency of any machining process. The objective of this work is to compare the performance of CPO to commercially available cutting fluid which is Solkut 2140 cutting fluid in terms of cutting forces, surface roughness of the workpiece and tool wear in turning process by using coated carbide insert as cutting tool and AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel as workpiece material. In general, the results indicated that CPO performed better than Solkut 2140 in reducing the cutting forces, improving the surface finish and reducing the tool wear. CPO has been used as a cutting fluid in this work because it provides the desirable quality for boundary lubrication, biodegradable, less toxic and vast resources.