Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THERMAL INACTIVATION STUDIES WITH VARIOLA VIRUS

In recent years, considerable interest has been manifested in the thermal inactivation of animal viruses (Friedman and De Berry, 1959; LehmannGrube and Syverton, 1959; Youngner, 1957; Woese, 1960). Apart from the practical aspects, studies of the temperature sensitivity of virus particles offer a natural step in the analysis of their physicochemical properties (Gard and Maal0e, 1959) and, as such, may enhance our knowledge of the component parts of virus, namely, protein and nucleic acid. The reaction characterizing the thermal inactivation of animal viruses usually follows first-order kinetics, but in some cases it has been found that the inactivation process proceeds in a two-component fashion (Bachrach et al., 1957; Kaplan, 1958). The characteristic features *of animal virus thermal inactivations has been summarized by Woese (1960); the kinetics of the process at low temperatures involve one component; at high temperatures two components are manifested, each of first-order, with differentvalues for the heat of activation of the processes. Studies with vaccinia virus, however, indicate that the shape of the inactivation curve at high temperatures may be of either one or two components, depending on the nature of the virus preparation or condition of virus storage prior to heating (Woodroofe, 1960). It appears, therefore, that the complexity of thermal inactivation of animal viruses is compounded further by certain pretreatment conditions of the virus. Although variola virus is antigenically related to vaccinia virus, and may be assayed by a comparable, quantitative method (the inoculation of the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated eggs), little is known of the reaction of variola virus to heat inactivation. This report describes an attempt to characterize the thermal inactivation of variola virus and to determine the influence of certain factors on the reaction, i.e., suspending media, dilution of virus, and condition of virus storage. MATERIALS AND METHODS
GABA(B)-receptor mediation of the inhibitory effect of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid on intestinal motility in mice.

The effect of acutely administered gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and GHB receptor antagonist, NCS-382, on the propulsive activity in the mouse small intestine was assessed by measuring the transit of an orally administered, non absorbable marker. Both GHB (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg; i.p.) and NCS-382 (0, 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg; i.p.) induced a dose-dependent inhibition (up to 50-60%) of the marker transit. Pretreatment with the GABA(B) receptor antagonist, SCH 50911 (100 mg/kg; i.p.), resulted in the blockade of the inhibiting effect of both GHB and NCS-382. These results suggest that the constipating effect of GHB and NCS-382 are secondary to stimulation of the GABA(B) receptor.
Ovarian cancer incidence trends in relation to changing patterns of menopausal hormone therapy use in the United States.

PURPOSE After a report from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in 2002, a precipitous decline in menopausal hormonal therapy (MHT) use in the United States was linked to a decline in breast cancer incidence rates. Given that MHT use is also associated with increased ovarian cancer risk, we tested whether ovarian cancer incidence rates changed after 2002. METHODS Using the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries database (1995 to 2008; N = 171,142 incident ovarian cancers), we applied standard analytic approaches and age-period-cohort (APC) models to estimate ovarian cancer incidence rate changes before (1995 to 2002) and after (2003 to 2008) the WHI report. RESULTS Among women age ≥ 50 years, age-standardized ovarian cancer incidence declined by 0.8% per year (95% CI, -1.8% to -0.5% per year) before the WHI announcement; after the WHI report, the rate declined by 2.4% per year (95% CI, -2.5% to -2.2% per year). APC models confirmed an accelerated decline in ovarian cancer incidence after the WHI report, adjusted for age and birth cohort effects. This sudden change was notable among women most likely to have used MHT (ie, women age 50 to 69 years, white women, and residents of regions with highest MHT prescription frequency). The largest changes were found for the endometrioid histologic subtype. CONCLUSION After a marked reduction in MHT use around 2002, ovarian cancer incidence rates demonstrated an accelerated decline, with the largest changes for endometrioid carcinomas. This strong temporal association, although not proving a causal role of hormones in ovarian carcinogenesis, suggests that future analytic research supporting cancer control efforts should clarify the role of hormonal exposures on the development and behavior of subtypes of ovarian cancer.
The Relationship Between Equity Dependence and Environmental Performance

How does a corporation’s dependence on its shareholders affect the sustainability of its commitment to environmental performance? Although the literature has investigated how the financial markets respond to environmental and green initiatives, it has yet to examine the relationship between a firm’s commitment to the environment and its dependence on the equity markets. In this research, we explore the relationship between equity dependence and environmental performance and find equity dependence is significantly related to corporations’ environmental concerns but not their environmental strengths.
In vivo caries formation in enamel following argon laser irradiation and combined fluoride and argon laser treatment: a clinical pilot study.

OBJECTIVE This in vivo pilot study investigated the role of argon laser irradiation and combined fluoride and argon laser treatment in accelerated natural caries development in sound enamel surfaces beneath plaque-retentive orthodontic bands. METHOD AND MATERIALS Five patients (3 female, 2 male, ages 19 to 28 years) requiring tooth extraction prior to orthodontic treatment, participated in the study. Buccal surfaces were treated with either: (1) argon laser (250 mW for 10 seconds, ARGO-MOD); (2) topical fluoride (0.5% fluoride ion, Thera-Flur-N) followed by argon lasing; or (3) no treatment (control). Orthodontic bands with plaque-retentive slots on buccal surfaces were placed on the teeth slated for extraction (n = 14). Following a minimum of 5 weeks of intraoral exposure, the teeth were extracted for laboratory analysis. The teeth underwent serial longitudinal sectioning (12 sections per tooth). The sections were imbibed in water, and lesion depths were determined with each section, using polarized light microscopy. Comparisons were made among treatment groups (analysis of variance, Duncan's multiple range test for paired samples). RESULTS Mean lesion depths were: 261 +/- 24 microm for the no treatment control group (n = 84 sections); 147 +/- 18 microm for the argon laser group (n = 24 sections); and 99 +/- 12 microm for the fluoride and argon laser group (n = 60 sections). Both the argon laser (44%) and the fluoride and argon laser groups (62%) had significant lesion depth reductions compared to controls. The addition of fluoride treatment prior to argon lasing resulted in a 32% reduction in lesion depth compared to argon laser treatment alone. CONCLUSIONS Within this clinical pilot study, in vivo natural caries formation was affected significantly by a single exposure to low fluence argon laser irradiation. Topical fluoride treatment in combination with argon lasing provided an even greater degree of resistance against in vivo enamel caries development. A simple technique for reducing the caries susceptibility of enamel may be a clinical reality.
Effect of diet on the fatty acid pattern of milk from dairy cows

Twelve dairy cows 130 days in milk were sorted by milk production and body weight and assigned to three feeding regimens in a 3 × 3 Latin-square design, in order to study the effects of diet on milk fatty acid (FA) composition. The cows were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) consisting of corn silage (60%) and concentrate (40%) on dry matter basis, or grazed pasture, without (P) or with 5 kg·d -1 concentrate as a supplement (SP). Supplemented grazing dairy cows produced signif- icantly more milk than the cows on the TMR and P diets (P < 0.05). The supplementation of grazing dairy cows with a low fat concentrate did not significantly affect the milk fat FA profile. The pasture diet, with a supplement or not, decreased the concentration of saturated FA (P < 0.05) and increased the concentration of unsaturated FA (P < 0.05), of milk fat as compared to the TMR diet. The reduc- tion in medium-chain FA was offset in large part by increases in long-chain FA (mainly oleic acid). The concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (P < 0.05) and trans-vaccenic acid were higher (P < 0.05) in the milk fat from the grazing cows. The results showed substantial variation among individual cows within treatments on milk fat content of CLA. Significant correlations were found for individual cow's milk fat CLA content across diets. Overall, this study indicates that the con- centration of CLA in milk fat is enhanced by the dietary intake of pasture and that moderate low fat concentrate supplementation of grazing dairy cows increases performance without compromising the FA profile of milk fat. conjugated linoleic acid / dairy cow / fatty acid / milk fat / pasture / total mixed ration
Frequency of Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings of Tuberculous Spondylitis in a Tertiary care Hospital of South India

Tuberculous (TB) spondylitis is one of the commonest presentations of skeletal TB causing considerable morbidity due to its potential of causing deformity and neurological sequelae. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the diagnostic modality of choice to detect early TB and to know the extent of the disease. The objective of this study was to find out the frequency and pattern of various lesions of TB spondylitis on MRI. This was a prospective study in patients diagnosed as TB spondylitis. Axial and sagittal T1 weighted, T2 weighted and contrast enhanced T1weighted images were studied. The frequency and pattern of different lesions of TB spondylitis causing abnormal signals in spinal and paraspinal areas was analysed. A slight female preponderance was seen with 52% females versus 48% males. Maximum cases were in 20 to 40 years age group. Most common region of involvement was thoracic vertebrae(38%) followed by cervical vertebrae. (24%). Contiguous vertebral involvement was seen in 94% cases, disc involvement in 68% cases, paraspinal involvement in 76%, epidural involvement in 74% cases posterior element involvement in 18 % cases, and deformity in 14 % of the cases. About 76% discs showed peripheral pattern of enhancement. MRI features of Spinal TB are contiguous involvement of 2 vertebrae along with disc involvement, skip lesions and paraspinal collections. It also gives important information of involvement of spinal cord and extent of the disease. Hence early detection can lead to prompt treatment and can prevent complications.
Pointwise Regularity Exponents and Market Cross-Correlations

The multifractional Brownian motion is a locally dependent Gaussian nonstationary process, whose flexibility in describing complex phenomena justifies its use in financial dynamics modeling. Assuming it as a model of stock indexes, we estimate the pointwise regularity function for the Dow Jones Ind. Avg., the Footsie 100 and the Nikkei 225. We also analyze the pairwise cross-correlation of the functions themselves and compare them with the pairwise cross-correlation of log variations.
Motivations for choosing librarianship as a second career among students at the University of British Columbia and the University of Hong Kong

The pathway to a career in the Library and Information Science field is rarely straightforward and unidirectional, but is often multi-faceted, with many circuitous detours along the way. There has been an increasing number of second-career in LIS emerging from many other non-LIS-related professions over the years. Many of these newcomers have made significant contributions to the LIS profession as they transfer their years of professional experiences, expertise, knowledge and skills from their former careers into the field. The purpose of this paper is to understand the perceptions and perspectives of the LIS students, and the various factors that influenced these midlife graduate students to consider switching from their current occupations to LIS as a second career.
Quality factor enhancement in lamb wave resonators utilizing AlN plates with convex edges

A novel Lamb wave resonator utilizing an aluminum nitride (AlN) plate with convex edges to enhance the quality factor (Q) is demonstrated for the first time. The finite element analysis (FEA) simulation results show that the mechanical energy can be more efficiently confined in the center of the AlN Lamb wave resonator by using the convex edges instead of the flat edges. Specifically, the measured frequency response for a 491.8-MHz AlN Lamb wave resonator with convex edges yields a Q of 3,280 which represents a 2.6× enhancement in Q over a 517.9-MHz AlN Lamb wave resonator with flat edges. Moreover, a 419.3-MHz Lamb wave resonator on an AlN/SiO2 composite plate with convex edges yields a Q of 4,792, representing a 3.8× increase in Q.
Cuing Effect of "All of the above" on the Reliability and Validity of Multiple-Choice Test Items

It is generally acknowledged that alternatives such as none of the above and all of the above should be used sparingly in multiple-choice (MC) items. But the effect that all of the above has on the reliability and validity of an MC item is unclear This study compared the results of a single-response (SRa) item format that included all of the above as the correct response to a multiple-response (MR) item format that required examinees to select all of the available alternatives for a correct response. A crossover design was used to compare the effect of formats on student performance while item content, scoring method, and student ability levels remained constant. Results indicated that the SRa format greatly distorted examinee performance by elevating their scores because examinees who recognized two or more alternatives as being correct were cued to select all of the above. In addition, the SRafornat significantly reduced the reliability and concurrent validity of examinee scores. In summary, the MR format was found to be superior Based upon new empirical evidence, this study recommends that whenever an educator wishes to evaluate student understanding of an issue that has multiple facts, the SRa format should be avoided and the MR format should be used instead.
Meta‐analysis of the correlation between IL‐6 –174 G/C polymorphism and polycystic ovarian syndrome

The correlation between interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) gene polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been reported, but the conclusions are controversial. The present study was aimed to evaluate the association between IL‐6 −174 G/C polymorphism and susceptibility of PCOS by meta‐analysis.
Cancer–infection interface in children after transplantation: posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder and Epstein-Barr virus infection

Purpose of reviewTo summarize the association between posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), which is the most frequent cause of posttransplantation tumors in children, and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection. Recent findingsMost PTLD cases present as proliferation of EBV-infected B cells, because EBV-naive patients have no EBV-specific cytotoxic lymphocytes to control the infected cells. The monitoring of EBV loads in whole blood, as well as in plasma by PCR, represents a useful method for early diagnosis and timely treatment. A program of EBV control by molecular EBV monitoring coupled with lymphocyte phenotype analysis is recommended. Pre-emptive reduced immunosuppression may prevent PTLD, and improved therapeutic options may also contribute to milder PTLD phenotype and improved clinical course. SummaryA recent trend is that PTLD incidence and high-grade histological findings have decreased because of appropriate immunosuppressive maintenance doses, monitoring of EBV, and preemptive treatment. More sensitive, specific tools for the detection of EBV replication and prophylactic methods are required to establish a definitive strategy for the prevention of PTLD after transplantation.
Increased Hepatic Fibrinogen Bβ-gene Transcription Is not enough to Increase Plasma Fibrinogen Levels

Summary The fibrinogen Aα, Bβ, and γ polypeptides are encoded by three separate genes, which are arranged in the order γ-α-β. In order to study the biosynthesis of fibrinogen in vivo we generated a line of transgenic mice carrying extra copies of the fibrinogen β-gene. To clone the mouse fibrinogen Bβ-chain gene, a mouse 129 Sv/Ev genomic cosmid library was screened, using the mouse fibrinogen Aα-, Bγ-chain cDNA. A clone containing the complete fibrinogen Bβ-chain gene including approximately 11-kb of the natural promoter region was identified and subsequently microinjected into mice. Southern blot analysis identified a founder that carried additional copies of the fibrinogen Bβ-chain gene. Transgenic offspring of this founder were interbred and heterozygous and homozygous transgenic mice were obtained. Northern blot analysis demonstrated approximately a 3-fold increase in fibrinogen Bβ mRNA in heterozygous mice as compared to wild-type, whereas homozygous transgenic mice showed approximately a 9-fold increase. The levels of the Aα and γ mRNAs in transgenic homozygous mice were not changed as compared to those in wild-type mice. Fibrinogen levels in plasma were not significantly increased in transgenic mice as compared to wild-type mice. These results indicate that: additional copies of the fibrinogen Bβ-chain gene lead to increased levels of the Bβ-chain mRNA in the liver; the increased levels of Bβ-chain mRNA in homozygous overexpression mice do not change the transcription levels of the two other fibrinogen mRNAs in vivo; the absence of an increased plasma fibrinogen level in the transgenic mice indicates that this level is not regulated solely by transcription of the Bβ-chain gene.
Low-Power Low-Noise CTIA Readout Integrated Circuit Design for Thermal Imaging Applications

This paper targets the design of a high dynamic range lowpower, low-noise pixel readout integrated circuit (ROIC) that handles the infrared (IR) detector’s output signal of the uncooled thermal IR camera. Throughout the paper, both the optics and the IR detector modules of the IR camera are modeled using the analogue hardware description language (AHDL) to enable extracting the proper input signal required for the ROIC design. A capacitive trans-impedance amplifier (CTIA) is selected for design as a column level ROIC. The core of the CTIA is designed for minimum power consumption by operation in the sub-threshold region. In addition, a design of correlated double sampling (CDS) technique is applied to the CTIA to minimize the noise and the offset levels. The presented CTIA design achieves a power consumption of 5. 2μW and root mean square (RMS) output noise of 6. 9μV. All the circuits were implemented in 0. 13μm CMOS process technology. The design rule check (DRC), layout versus schematic (LVS), parasitic extraction (PE), Process-voltage-temperature (PVT) analysis and post-layout simulation are performed for all designed circuits. The postlayout simulation results illustrate enhancement of the power consumption and noise performance compared to other published ROIC designs. Finally, a new widening dynamic range (WDR) technique is applied to the CTIA with the CDS circuit designs to increase the dynamic range (DR).
Frail Institutionalized Older Persons: A Comprehensive Review on Physical Exercise, Physical Fitness, Activities of Daily Living, and Quality-of-Life

The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review on training outcomes influencing physical fitness, activity of daily living performance, and quality-of-life in institutionalized older people. We reviewed 27 studies on older people (age, ≥70 yrs) in long-term care facilities and nursing homes. Our ultimate goal was to propose criteria for an evidence-based exercise protocol aimed at improving physical fitness, activity of daily living performance, and quality-of-life of frail institutionalized older people. The interventions, described in the reviewed studies that showed strong or very strong effect sizes were used to form an exercise prescription. The conclusion is that there is firm evidence for training effects on physical fitness, functional performance, activity of daily living performance, and quality-of-life. The training should contain a combination of progressive resistance training, balance training, and functional training. The proposed intensity is moderate to high, assessed on a 0-10 scale for muscle strengthening activities. The training frequency was three times a week, and the total duration was at least 10 wks.
Differentiating Tower of Hanoi Performance: Interactive Effects of Psychopathic Tendencies, Impulsive Response Styles, and Modality

Previous research has demonstrated that performance on the computerized Tower of Hanoi is lower than performance on the manual Tower of Hanoi. The present study was conducted to elucidate potential factors that contribute to performance differences across modalities. Personality characteristics related to psychopathy and impulsive response styles were hypothesized to be correlates of poor performance on the computerized version of the Tower of Hanoi, which is a problem-solving task that requires working memory, planning, and inhibition. Eighty-four college students from a mid-sized university participated. Participants were grouped as low, middle, or high psychopathy based on their total scores on the Psychopathic Personality Inventory. A 2 (Modality) × 3 (Psychopathy) analysis of covariance, controlling for visuospatial working memory, yielded a significant interaction, in which the high psychopathy group did not differ in performance across modality, whereas the low and middle psychopathy groups performed more poorly on the computerized version. Subsequent analyses on reaction time and accuracy for the computerized modality indicated that a reflective, methodical approach to the computerized task was more productively utilized in the low psychopathy group, whereas the fast and accurate approach was more productively utilized in the high psychopathy group. These results suggest that individuals with elevated psychopathic tendencies within a normal population are not necessarily deficient in problem-solving performance on the Tower of Hanoi. Impulsive responding is associated with poor performance in the computerized version of the Tower of Hanoi, irrespective of psychopathic tendencies. Caution should be exercised in interpreting scores on the computerized Tower of Hanoi because the psychometric properties required for comparability with the manual version have not been sufficiently demonstrated.