Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevention of allergic asthma by vaccination with transgenic rice seed expressing mite allergen: induction of allergen-specific oral tolerance without bystander suppression.

This study tested the feasibility of oral immunotherapy for bronchial asthma using a newly developed subunit vaccine in which a fragment (p45-145) of mite allergen (Der p 1) containing immunodominant human and mouse T cell epitopes was encapsulated in endoplasmic reticulum-derived protein bodies of transgenic (Tg) rice seed. Allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin responses, T cell proliferation, Th1/Th2 cytokine production, airway inflammatory cell infiltration, bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) and lung histology were investigated in allergen-immunized and -challenged mice. Prophylactic oral vaccination with the Tg rice seeds clearly reduced the serum levels of allergen-specific IgE and IgG. Allergen-induced CD4(+) T cell proliferation and production of Th2 cytokines in vitro, infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils and mononuclear cells into the airways and BHR were also inhibited by oral vaccination. The effects of the vaccine were antigen-specific immune response because the levels of specific IgE and IgG in mice immunized with Der f 2 or ovalbumin were not significantly suppressed by oral vaccination with the Der p 1 expressing Tg rice. Thus, the vaccine does not induce nonspecific bystander suppression, which has been a problem with many oral tolerance regimens. These results suggest that our novel vaccine strategy is a promising approach for allergen-specific oral immunotherapy against allergic diseases including bronchial asthma.
Influence of ipratropiumbromide on heart rate and hemodynamics in patients with sinus bradycardia

In 13 patients with sinus bradycardia, heart rate and hemodynamics were recorded before and 3, 30, 60, and 120 minutes following intravenous administration of 0.5 mg ipratropiumbromide (Itrop® by C. H. Boehringer Sohn, Ingelheim, West Germany). Heart rate already started to rise during the injection of ipratropiumbromide. It increased by an average of 78% three minutes following the administration as compared to pretreatment control values. Mean heart rate still was markedly increased by an average of 26% at 120 min following the injection of the drug. This effect of ipratropiumbromide on heart rate was accompanied by an increase in cardiac index while stroke volume decreased due to a decrease in ejection fraction and diastolic filling time.
[Who are the users of emergency contraception?].

INTRODUCTION A user profile is necessary in order to direct future campaigns for emergency contraception (EC). MATERIAL AND METHODS Over a three-month period, 423 women with prescriptions for EC were consecutively entered in the study, which was carried out in four inner-city pharmacies in Copenhagen, Denmark. RESULTS The median age was 24 years (range 13-50 years). Most women (73%) were first-time users of EC. The reason for the current need for EC was most often condom failure (54%) or non-use of any contraceptive method (41%). Only six women (1.4%) reported non-use of contraception because of their knowledge of EC and only four women (0.9%) reported EC as the usual method of contraception. Knowledge about EC more often came from family or friends (51%) and advertising (47%), than from general practitioners (26%) or through sex education in schools (3%). Altogether 282 women (69%) received EC from a doctor in the medical emergency service or a casualty ward. DISCUSSION Overall, EC is used as recommended. Its availability does not seem to reduce the use of safer contraceptive methods. The mandatory sex education in school should include information on EC.
Examining K-8 teachers' perceptions of mandated curriculum change

EXAMINING K-8 TEACHERS' PERCEPTIONS OF MANDATED CURRICULUM CHANGE Sarah Cacciatore, Ed.D. Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations Northern Illinois University, 2016 E-yung Shin, Director The purpose of this mixed-method study was to examine elementary teacher perceptions of mandated curriculum change. In the spring and fall of 2015, Illinois elementary school teachers in a north suburban school district participated in a focus group, an online survey, and follow-up interviews to gather data about teachers' perceptions of the mandated curriculum change process in implementing the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics. The study also sought to find any differences between the perceptions of teachers in kindergarten through fifthgrade classrooms and those who taught in sixththrough eighth-grade classrooms. This study was based on a conceptual framework that included three different theorists, which provided a comprehensive lens to review the data: Knowles's Adult Learning Theory; Fullan's Three-Tier Change Process; and Au, Raphael, and Mooney's Model for Standards-Based Change. Using the combined work of these three theorists, three key overlapping components were validated within this research when implementing a school or district-mandated curriculum change. NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY DE KALB, ILLINOIS
The Case for Combat

This book provides a historical analysis of presidential rhetoric regarding war and examines the similarities, differences, effectiveness, and ethics of the persuasive strategies used by the White House through the history of the nation. In the United States, the decision to use military force typically is made by the president, even though it is actually Congress that has the authority to commit the nation to war. It is also the president's job to inform the American people when that decision has been made—and to attempt to convince the citizens to support their government in the decision to go to war. The book traces the development of the rhetoric used by presidents to convince Americans to go to war, from the earliest days of the nation to the latest conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. After an overview of the governmental issues related to committing to combat, the author evaluates presidential speeches over the course of ten American conflicts to determine how effective—and ethical—presidents have been in communicating with various publics. Taking neither a pro- nor antiwar stance, this text focuses entirely on the period leading up to the announcement of a formal conflict.
Leveraging the employee voice: a multi-level social learning perspective of ethical leadership

Abstract Extending social learning theory to a multi-level perspective, this study proposes a theoretical model that investigates both individual and team-level mechanisms that mediate the effect of ethical leadership on employee voice. Specifically, in terms of an individual-level social learning perspective, we suggest that an ethical leader acts as a prototype of a moral person (i.e. an ethical role model). From a team-level social learning perspective, we propose that, as a moral manager, team ethical leadership will foster an ethical climate within the team which will create a moral context that impacts employees’ behaviors. In both instances, employee voice behaviors will be enhanced through these mechanisms. Evidencing the importance of the interaction between leader behaviors and context for leader effectiveness, we also show that employees are more likely to regard their ethical leaders as ethical role models in a team that highly values ethical conduct (i.e. high in ethical climate). Results obtained from 47 managers and 211 subordinates in China support our theoretical model. The theoretical and practical implications of our findings are also discussed.
On tractable query evaluation for SPARQL

Despite much work within the last decade on foundational properties of SPARQL - the standard query language for RDF data - rather little is known about the exact limits of tractability for this language. In particular, this is the case for SPARQL queries that contain the OPTIONAL-operator, even though it is one of the most intensively studied features of SPARQL. The aim of our work is to provide a more thorough picture of tractable classes of SPARQL queries. In general, SPARQL query evaluation is PSPACE-complete in combined complexity, and it remains PSPACE-hard already for queries containing only the OPTIONAL-operator. To amend this situation, research has focused on "well-designed SPARQL queries" and their recent generalization "weakly well-designed SPARQL queries". For these two fragments the evaluation problem is coNP-complete in the absence of projection and SigmaP2-complete otherwise. Moreover, they have been shown to contain most SPARQL queries asked in practical settings. In this paper, we study tractable classes of weakly well-designed queries in parameterized complexity considering the equivalent formulation as pattern trees. We give a complete characterization of the tractable classes in the case without projection. Moreover, we show a characterization of all tractable classes of simple well-designed pattern trees in the presence of projection.
Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism Modifies Relation of Hyperinsulinemia to Hypertriglyceridemia

The effect of apolipoprotein E polymorphism on the established relationships between glucose tolerance, plasma insulin levels, and plasma lipoprotein concentrations were investigated in a sample of women defined on the basis of apolipoprotein E phenotypes. In women with the apolipoprotein E ε2 allele (n = 22), fasting plasma insulin and glucose and insulin areas under the curve measured during an oral glucose tolerance test were positively correlated with plasma triglyceride levels (0.48 ≤ r ≤ 0.70; P < 0.05). In this group, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and very-low-density lipoprotein triglyceride concentrations were positively correlated with fasting insulin levels, the insulin area, and with the ratio of insulin area to glucose area. In women (n = 24) homozygous for the apolipoprotein E ε3 allele (the most common allele), essentially similar associations were found. In contrast, in women (n = 17) with the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele, no association was found between glucose tolerance, fasting and postglucose plasma insulin levels, and plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels. These results suggest that apolipoprotein E polymorphism substantially modifies the associations between glucose tolerance, plasma insulin levels, and plasma lipoprotein concentrations. Additional analysis of the data revealed that apolipoprotein E polymorphism did not alter the relationships between body fat distribution and fasting insulin and postglucose insulin levels, but no correlation was observed between fatness indexes and glucose tolerance among apolipoprotein E ε2 carriers. Therefore, the mechanisms by which apolipoprotein E polymorphism modifies plasma lipoprotein levels in a hyperinsulinemic state is not by altering the relationship of abdominal obesity to hyperinsulinemia but more likely by modifying the metabolic fate of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in hyperinsulinemic, insulin-resistant subjects.
Estrogen Treatment of Excessively Tall Girls with Marfan Syndrome

ABSTRACT. Five girls with Marfan syndrome were treated with estrogens for reduction of their final heights. Treatment was started at a chronological age of 12.0±0.5 years and height of 173.0±3.1 cm (means ±SEM). Skeletal age was 12.4±0.2 years and Bayley‐Pinneau final height prediction 186.3±1.4 cm. Estrogen treatment for 2.0±0.4 years resulted in final height of 184.1±0.2 cm (p<0.05). The weight increased with 7.8±2.7 kg during the treatment period. The present results indicate that estrogen treatment may be effective in reducing adult height in girls with Marfan syndrome, but that the effect is probably less than that observed in normally tall girls. This may probably be explained by the rather late start of treatment. No immediate effects on aortic root diameters were observed. Estrogen treatment in Marfan syndrome is discussed with regard to beneficial effects, possible side‐effects and optimal age for starting treatment.
Fast approximate delivery of fluence maps for IMRT and VMAT

In this article we provide a method to generate the trade-off between delivery time and fluence map matching quality for dynamically delivered fluence maps. At the heart of our method lies a mathematical programming model that, for a given duration of delivery, optimizes leaf trajectories and dose rates such that the desired fluence map is reproduced as well as possible. We begin with the single fluence map case and then generalize the model and the solution technique to the delivery of sequential fluence maps. The resulting large-scale, non-convex optimization problem was solved using a heuristic approach. We test our method using a prostate case and a head and neck case, and present the resulting trade-off curves. Analysis of the leaf trajectories reveals that short time plans have larger leaf openings in general than longer delivery time plans. Our method allows one to explore the continuum of possibilities between coarse, large segment plans characteristic of direct aperture approaches and narrow field plans produced by sliding window approaches. Exposing this trade-off will allow for an informed choice between plan quality and solution time. Further research is required to speed up the optimization process to make this method clinically implementable.
Longitudinal changes in calcium and vitamin D intakes and relationship to bone mineral density in a prospective population-based study: the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos).

OBJECTIVES Our objective was to study changes in calcium and vitamin D intakes over time, and their cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS We followed 9382 women and men aged ≥25 and 899 aged 16-24, for 10 and 2 years respectively. RESULTS Calcium and vitamin D intakes increased over time in adults, but decreased in women aged 16-18. The increased intakes in adults were largely attributable to the increased use of calcium and/or vitamin D supplements. Both the percentage of supplement users and average dose among users increased over time. There was nevertheless a high prevalence of calcium and vitamin D intake below the estimated average requirement. At baseline, higher calcium and vitamin D intakes were associated with higher total hip and femoral neck BMD in young men, and cumulatively high levels of calcium and vitamin D intakes over time contributed to better BMD maintenance at lumbar spine and hip sites in adult women. CONCLUSIONS Although total intakes, particularly of vitamin D, frequently fell below the Institute of Medicine recommendations despite an increase over time in supplement use, we found some positive associations between total calcium and vitamin D intake and bone health.
Earnings Information and Stock Market Efficiency

This paper examines earnings information and stock market efficiency in Bahrain by taking annual earnings announcement as an event. The study is based on 32 companies listed on Bahrain Bourse. We have used event study methodology and t test. The behaviour of AARs and CAARs are examined for 30 days before and 31 days after the announcement of annual earnings. The results of the study contradict semi-strong form of efficient market hypothesis.
Lack of Association of catechol‐O‐Methyltransferase Gene Polymorphism in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

The COMT gene has been implicated to be involved in the pathogenesis of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and various other psychiatric disorders. COMT enzyme activity is governed by a common genetic polymorphism at codon 158 that results in substantial 3‐ to 4‐fold variation in enzymatic activity [a high‐activity COMT variant (H) and a low activity variant (L)]. This study evaluates the association between OCD and the COMT gene polymorphism. Fifty‐nine OCD patients that were diagnosed according to DSM‐IV criteria and 114 healthy control subjects were included in the study. PCR technique was used for molecular analysis. The genotypic pattern of distribution of the COMT gene (H/H, H/L, and L/L genotypes) was not different between the OCD patients and controls. There were no significant differences among the patients with positive family history for OCD, those with negative family history for OCD, and the controls with respect to allele frequencies of the COMT gene polymorphisms. Patients that were homozygous or heterozygous for the L allele had significantly higher insight scores (i.e., poorer insight) on Y‐BOCS compared to those homozygous for the H allele. We did not find an association between OCD, family history for OCD, and the COMT gene polymorphism. This study suggests that the COMT gene polymorphism is not directly associated with OCD in our patient group. Depression and Anxiety 18:41–45, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Undergraduate Medical Research Programme: A Cross-Sectional Study of Students’ Satisfactions, Perceived Challenges, and Attitudes

Background: Implementing an undergraduate Medical Research Programme (MRP) in medical colleges may not only improve the subsequent career of medical students but also benefit the health system in general. If not designed effectively, however, such a programme could have the opposite impact. Therefore, the quality of a MRP should be evaluated continuously. This study aims to evaluate the MRP from medical students’ perspective. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted from March to April 2014 amongst undergraduate medical students at the College of Medicine, King Saud University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Satisfaction, perceived challenges, and attitudes towards the MRP were evaluated. Results: A total of 154 responses were collected from the students; 81(52.6%) were in the 2nd year and 73 (47.4%) were in the 3rd year of the MRP, 97(63%) were males. The mean ± SD age was 21.5 ± 0.82 years. Overall, most students were satisfied with the MRP (51.3%). The majority of students were of the opinion that there was a shortage of time to complete their work (57.6%) and a lack of motivation to do research (53.3%). Significant differences were found in the satisfaction levels and perceived challenges between students in the 2nd and 3rd year of the MRP (P≤ .013). Discussion: Assessment of medical students’ perspective towards the MRP is an important aspect of the educative process. We recommend more evaluation studies, because they ensure that programmes effectively meet their goals and continue to be improved. A solid MRP is essential and will increase the university’s profile.
Transmission of Brucella melitensis from sheep to lambs

Forty-one pregnant sheep showing positive immune responses to Brucella melitensis in serological or allergic tests were selected from naturally infected flocks and kept in an isolated pen for lambing. The resulting 62 lambs were maintained in the same pen with their dams during lactation. When the lambs were weaned, the dams were slaughtered for bacteriological study and the lambs were reared in a clean pen. Fourteen ewes excreted B melitensis during lactation and 17 were found to be infected postmortem. B melitensis was not isolated from seven lambs (three born to infected dams) which died after birth or from eight seronegative lambs (four born to infected dams) which were slaughtered between two and seven months after weaning. However, one permanently seropositive lamb born to a culture-negative dam was found to be infected when necropsied five months after weaning. The remaining 46 lambs were reared until adulthood and slaughtered at intervals for bacteriological study. Four ewe lambs (two born to culture-negative dams) were found to be infected postmortem, but were negative in immunological tests for B melitensis.
Position-Dependent order effects on the prediction of consumer preferences in repeated choice experiments

ABSTRACT Using stated choice data collected by experimental design with repeated choice tasks, this study developed an approach to quantify the position-dependent order effects on the prediction of preferences and marginal willingness to pay for product attributes. Results showed that repeated choice tasks allow learning to occur. Models with order effect adjustments showed significant improvements in goodness of fit. Attribute-specific polynomial trends showed the best fit among all models, which could possibly be explained by respondents’ familiarity and sensitivity to different product attributes. Repeated-choice experiments have a good potential to capture consumer preferences more accurately than the single-choice design. But order effects need to be taken into account for preferences and market prediction.
Deserving the Spotlight: Health Centers Provide High‐Quality and Cost‐Effective Care

Community health centers were designed to overcome barriers to healthcare and narrow health disparities faced by underserved communities. Given the increased attention health centers are now receiving over expansion efforts, questions over their quality of care and cost-effectiveness must be addressed. This article reviews the relevant literature and documents that health centers improve access for hard-to-reach and underserved populations, provide continuous and high-quality primary care, and reduce the use of costlier providers of care, such as emergency departments and hospitals. The health center model produces substantial benefits for patients, communities, insurers, and governments.
Playing level and playing position differences of anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics in elite junior handball players.

AIM The purpose of the study was to identify the playing level (Under 16: U16, Under 18: U18 and Under 20: U20) and the playing position (Goalkeepers, Backs, Wings, Pivots, Centers) differences of elite junior handball players expressed in the anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics. METHODS The anthropometric characteristics of body height, arm span, hand length, hand width, body mass, adipose tissue percentage, somatotype components and the physical fitness characteristics of ball throwing velocity, sprinting time, standing long jump, aerobic capacity, lower back and hamstring flexibility were measured in a total of sixty (60) handball players all members of the Greek Junior National Teams. RESULTS There were significant (P≤0.05) differences among playing levels regarding hand length, hand width, ball velocity (U18>U16), body mass, ball velocity and standing long jump (U20>U16). Significant differences among playing positions (P≤0.05) were found for body height (Backs>Wings and Centres, Pivots>Wings), arm span (Goalkeepers and Backs>Wings), body mass (Pivots>Wings and Centres) and 5 m sprint time (Pivots>Centres). CONCLUSION The anthropometric differences among playing positions may indicate the advantageous characteristics that the respective position demands, whereas the absence of playing position differences in physical fitness characteristics may indicate training specificity issues that must be addressed cautiously. The anthropometric and physical fitness differences between playing levels may be attributed to developmental maturation and the progressive increase of training intensity.