Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Food Insecurity and Educational Attainment at the University of Arkansas

​ 3 Introduction​ 4 Purpose​ 5 Literature Review​ 6 Methodology​ 10 Results​ 15 Discussion​ 27 Limitations​ 31 Conclusion​ 32 References 34 Appendix A: Survey Questions​ 37 Appendix B: U.S. Household Food Security Survey ​ 41 Appendix C: Frequency Tables​ 43 Appendix D: Descriptive Statistics​ 47 Appendix E: Cross Tabulation Tables​ 48 FOOD INSECURITY AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 3 Abstract This study explores the relationship between food insecurity and educational attainment among Fulbright College of Arts and Science graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. A quantitative descriptive survey design was used to collect data on this subject. Arkansas is one the most food insecure states in the country. Existing data suggests a strong correlation between food insecurity and low educational attainment among students in community college settings. However, little empirical research has been conducted to test the relationship between food insecurity and educational attainment among four­year college students. This study investigates that relationship at the University of Arkansas. Surveys were sent to 7152 students; 473 students completed the survey, six of the completed surveys were omitted from analysis due to being extreme outliers. Approximately 40% of the participants were considered to be food insecure based on a series of questions adapted from the USDA’s ​U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module: Short Form​. The results suggest a negative correlation between food insecurity and educational attainment among the students who completed the survey. The results had a strong statistical significance. Policy and practice implications are discussed.This study explores the relationship between food insecurity and educational attainment among Fulbright College of Arts and Science graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. A quantitative descriptive survey design was used to collect data on this subject. Arkansas is one the most food insecure states in the country. Existing data suggests a strong correlation between food insecurity and low educational attainment among students in community college settings. However, little empirical research has been conducted to test the relationship between food insecurity and educational attainment among four­year college students. This study investigates that relationship at the University of Arkansas. Surveys were sent to 7152 students; 473 students completed the survey, six of the completed surveys were omitted from analysis due to being extreme outliers. Approximately 40% of the participants were considered to be food insecure based on a series of questions adapted from the USDA’s ​U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module: Short Form​. The results suggest a negative correlation between food insecurity and educational attainment among the students who completed the survey. The results had a strong statistical significance. Policy and practice implications are discussed.
Pharmacological Agents to Decrease New Episodes of Recurrent Lower Urinary Tract Infections in Postmenopausal Women. A Systematic Review

Objectives The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate and summarize pharmacological interventions evaluated in randomized clinical trials designed to prevent recurrent episodes of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in postmenopausal women. Methods Excerpta Medica dataBASE, Pubmed, Medline, and Cochrane Library were accessed to search for nonexperimental drugs evaluated in randomized clinical trials published in peer reviewed journals from January 1, 1970, to August 1, 2015, to reduce the number of recurrent UTIs in postmenopausal women. Results A systematic search yielded 9 articles that met eligibility criteria. Five articles involved the use of systemic or vaginal estrogen therapy and the remainder used oral antibiotics, lactobacilli, or a combination of interventions. Antibiotics were the most efficacious therapy but with a higher incidence of systemic side effects. Oral lactobacillus was noninferior to sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim with a safer profile in 1 small study. Vaginal estrogen appeared to be inferior to continuous oral antibiotic suppression; however, use of multiple formulations of both treatment options precludes meta-analysis. Oral estrogen use did not decrease UTI recurrence and resulted in local and systemic side effects in up to nearly 30% of the patients. Conclusions This review supports the use of antibiotic suppression, vaginal estrogen, and oral lactobacillus for prevention of recurrent UTIs in postmenopausal women. However, the overall dearth of data suggests that this is an important but understudied population. Because the effectiveness and safety of available treatments are not well understood, they should be used with caution in older populations, pending further study.
Genetic analysis of microsatellite markers for salt stress in two contrasting maize parental lines and their RIL population

Abstract Salt stress considerably hinders the growth and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.). Identification of salt tolerant genotypes and integration of alternative molecular markers have important roles in enhancing breeding processes. In this study, 3308 maize expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from salt stress-related libraries were assembled to mine repetitive sequences for development of applicable markers. In this core EST data, 208 simple and 18 non-simple repetitive regions were detected in 312 contigs and 1121 singletons. The di-nucleotide repeats were the most abundant type and accounted for 79.3%, followed by tri (19.7%), and tetra-nucleotide (1%). Among 59 EST-simple sequence repeats (SSRs), a total of 55 were screened for polymorphism between F35 (salt sensitive) and F63 (salt tolerant) parents and 48 out of 55 were detected as monomorphic. Significantly, seven of them (12.7%) were found to be polymorphic and were used for genotyping of 158 F5 derived recombinant inbred maize lines, and four of them were located on chromosome 1 and 3. Using in silico mapping, 44 out of 59 EST-SSR markers were mapped on 10 maize chromosomes. Analysis of sequence homology revealed different functional groups such as: membrane transport, cell defense, cell division, signaling components, photosynthesis and cell metabolism. These EST-SSRs might be used as new functional molecular markers in the diversity analysis, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and comparative genomic studies in maize in the future.
Compounds from an unbiased chemical screen reverse both ER-to-Golgi trafficking defects and mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease models

SUMMARY α-Synuclein (α-syn) is a small lipid-binding protein involved in vesicle trafficking whose function is poorly characterized. It is of great interest to human biology and medicine because α-syn dysfunction is associated with several neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). We previously created a yeast model of α-syn pathobiology, which established vesicle trafficking as a process that is particularly sensitive to α-syn expression. We also uncovered a core group of proteins with diverse activities related to α-syn toxicity that is conserved from yeast to mammalian neurons. Here, we report that a yeast strain expressing a somewhat higher level of α-syn also exhibits strong defects in mitochondrial function. Unlike our previous strain, genetic suppression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi trafficking alone does not suppress α-syn toxicity in this strain. In an effort to identify individual compounds that could simultaneously rescue these apparently disparate pathological effects of α-syn, we screened a library of 115,000 compounds. We identified a class of small molecules that reduced α-syn toxicity at micromolar concentrations in this higher toxicity strain. These compounds reduced the formation of α-syn foci, re-established ER-to-Golgi trafficking and ameliorated α-syn-mediated damage to mitochondria. They also corrected the toxicity of α-syn in nematode neurons and in primary rat neuronal midbrain cultures. Remarkably, the compounds also protected neurons against rotenone-induced toxicity, which has been used to model the mitochondrial defects associated with PD in humans. That single compounds are capable of rescuing the diverse toxicities of α-syn in yeast and neurons suggests that they are acting on deeply rooted biological processes that connect these toxicities and have been conserved for a billion years of eukaryotic evolution. Thus, it seems possible to develop novel therapeutic strategies to simultaneously target the multiple pathological features of PD.
Basic nutrition knowledge of recent medical graduates entering a pediatric residency program

Abstract Objective: This study assesses the basic nutritional knowledge of fourth year medical/osteopathic school graduates entering a pediatric residency program and compares the knowledge of the medical students to that of the patients and parents who completed the same survey previously. Methods: Medical and osteopathic school graduates entering a pediatric residency program completed an 18-question nutrition survey during resident orientation in June of 2011 and 2012. Results: The incoming interns averaged answering 52% of the questions correctly. Interns did better than both groups but the only statistically significant difference was between the interns and the non-eating disorder adolescents and their parents (p<0.001). Conclusion: Incoming residents to a pediatric residency program appear to be deficient in basic nutritional knowledge. With the ever increasing burden of obesity and its associated co-morbidities on society, it is imperative that medical education focuses on preparing physicians to appropriately counsel all populations on proper nutrition.
Interprofessional education: does recent literature from rural settings offer insights into what really matters?

As rural health staff of different disciplines often know one another and share workplace facilities, rural areas are well suited to the implementation of interprofessional education (IPE) strategies. Details of such strategies are often shared in journal articles so that educators can learn from and build on the experiences of others. A common theme in the apparent success of rural interprofessional initiatives concerns collaborative relationships among educators. However, do readers of journals see the full picture of the collaborative relationships among educators of different disciplines as they plan and implement strategies?
Surface expression of influenza virus neuraminidase, an amino-terminally anchored viral membrane glycoprotein, in polarized epithelial cells

We have investigated the site of surface expression of the neuraminidase (NA) glycoprotein of influenza A virus, which, in contrast to the hemagglutinin, is bound to membranes by hydrophobic residues near the NH2-terminus. Madin-Darby canine kidney or primary African green monkey kidney cells infected with influenza A/WSN/33 virus and subsequently labeled with monoclonal antibody to the NA and then with a colloidal gold- or ferritin-conjugated second antibody exhibited specific labeling of apical surfaces. Using simian virus 40 late expression vectors, we also studied the surface expression of the complete NA gene (SNC) and a truncated NA gene (SN10) in either primary or a polarized continuous line (MA104) of African green monkey kidney cells. The polypeptides encoded by the cloned NA cDNAs were expressed on the surface of both cell types. Analysis of [3H]mannose-labeled polypeptides from recombinant virus-infected MA104 cells showed that the products of cloned NA cDNA comigrated with glycosylated NA from influenza virus-infected cells. Both the complete and the truncated glycoproteins were found to be preferentially expressed on apical plasma membranes, as detected by immunogold labeling. These results indicate that the NA polypeptide contains structural features capable of directing the transport of the protein to apical cell surfaces and the first 10 amino-terminal residues of the NA polypeptide are not involved in this process.
An Empirical Analysis of the Effects of the Dodd-Frank Act on Determinants of Credit Ratings

We study the effects of the Dodd-Frank Act (“Dodd-Frank”) on determinants of credit ratings. We predict that the increase in regulatory oversight and litigation risk prompted by Dodd-Frank, as well as requirements for improved disclosures and governance, motivated credit rating agencies (CRAs) to increase the weight on firm-specific, quantitative fundamental information in making rating decisions. We find that CRAs place a higher weight on firm-specific fundamentals in determining ratings, and the power of the fundamentals in explaining credit rating variation increases significantly after the passage of Dodd-Frank. Additionally, we find that the greater reliance on firm fundamentals at least partially drives the improvement in credit ratings’ ability to predict future defaults. Finally, we show that Dodd-Frank has an incremental effect beyond the financial crisis on the determinants of credit ratings. Our results are robust to a battery of sensitivity analyses. Collectively, our evidence suggests that Dodd-Frank incentivizes CRAs to use more quantitative information in making rating decisions, which in turn helps improve credit rating quality.
Community perspectives of coal seam gas development during two phases of industry activity: construction and post-construction

This research investigates a rural community’s perceptions of their future at two time-points during a major onshore gas project in the Surat Basin, Australia. The study site is a region in southern Queensland economically centred on agriculture. Using qualitative methods, the research found that the construction phase was dominated by residents’ concerns about the future and uncertainty about how community well-being might be affected. By the end of the construction phase, there were emerging signs of adjustment and adaptation to change. Factors such as a developing sense of collective efficacy, previous experience with the resources sector, a return to prior levels of acquaintanceship density and recognition of social and economic benefits may have contributed to this adjustment, although landowners remained concerned about water and the future of their farms.
Skills Training to Support Patients considering place of End-Of-Life Care: A Randomized Control Trial

The effect of a program to train clinicians to support patients making decisions about place of end-of-life care was evaluated. In all, 88 oncology and/or palliative care nursing and allied health providers from three Ontario health networks were randomly assigned to an education or control condition. Quality of decision support provided to standardized patients was measured before and after training, as were participants’ perceptions about the acceptability of the training program and their intentions to engage in patient decision support. Compared to controls, intervention group members improved the quality of decision support provided and were more likely to address a wider range of decision-making needs. Intervention group members scored higher on a knowledge test of decision support than controls and rated the components as acceptable. Improvements in the quality of decision support can be made by providing training and practical tools such as a patient decision aid.
Trade Openness and Inclusive Economic Growth: Poverty Reduction through the Growth – Unemployment Linkage

This paper investigates the relationship between trade and poverty reduction through the channels of economic growth and employment. Two econometric models are utilized to analyze these interconnected linkages for Jordan during the 1980–2014 period. The first model, which is based on a theoretical framework developed for this purpose, estimates the impact of trade, among other factors, on economic growth by applying heteroskedasticity-corrected OLS estimation method. We further, extended the analysis by employing the second model on the basis of OKun’s Law to examine the effect of economic growth on unemployment. The findings of the study suggest that external factors are the major contributors to growth, especially workers’ remittances, followed by external trade and then FDI inflows. But the achieved growth has not been sufficiently reflected on unemployment reduction and poverty alleviation, due to the inflated government, fast population growth combined with the flux of foreign labor and refugees.
Live animal measurement of carcass traits: estimation of genetic parameters for beef cattle.

Ultrasound measurements by trained and accredited sonographers on 9,232 Angus, Hereford, and Polled Hereford cattle at an average age of 450 d were used to estimate genetic and environmental (co)variances for weight at scanning (Wt), longissimus muscle area (LMA), longissimus muscle area adjusted to a constant weight of 400 kg (LMAawt), and fat depths at the rump and 12/13 rib sites. Estimated kilograms (ESMkg) and percentage of saleable meat yield (ESM%) were also calculated and analyzed. Subjective muscle scores, available for 2,488 animals, were also included in the analysis. Estimated heritabilities were 46% for Wt, 21% for LMA and LMAawt, 37% for rump fat, 30% for rib fat, 15% for muscle score, 44% for ESMkg, and 36% for ESM%. The two measurements, LMA and LMAawt, had high genetic (.82) and environmental (.91) correlations. The two fat depths were also highly correlated (.86 genetic; .67 environmental). Weight at scanning was moderately correlated with LMA (.45 genetic; .41 environmental). Differences between breeds could not be detected, but some variation in parameter estimates between data sets of the same breed was observed. Environmental correlations between fat depths or muscle score and Wt were approximately . 3; genetic correlations were . 07 to . 12. Subjective muscle score had marginally higher genetic correlations with LMA than with LMAawt (.22 vs .08) but similar environmental correlations (.31 vs .27). Results show that carcass traits measured by ultrasound and predictions of meat yield have genetic variability, are moderately heritable, and that genetic progress based on genetic evaluation by mixed-model analysis can be made.
The ‘big spenders’ of the steppe: sex-specific maternal allocation and twinning in the saiga antelope

In polygynous mammals, males generally benefit more from extra allocation of maternal resources than females. However, limitations to sex-specific allocation are usually ignored. We propose the ‘allocation constraint’ hypothesis, whereby maternal resource allocation is more likely to follow life-history predictions in single sex litters than in mixed sex litters, due to limitations in prenatal resource targeting. Consequently, for polygynous species, males in mixed litters are likely to receive suboptimal maternal investment, which may have a negative effect on lifetime reproductive success. We test this hypothesis for the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica), a highly polygynous species with the highest level of maternal allocation reported among ungulates. At such high reproductive output levels, the limitations on additional investment in males are likely to be particularly acute. However, we demonstrate high levels of sexual dimorphism in both late-stage foetuses and newborn calves, including within the same litter. Male twins with a brother tended to be heavier than those with a sister. This may be due to allocation constraints or differences in maternal quality. We conclude that an explicit focus on potential constraints can enhance the progress in the field of sex-specific maternal allocation in polytocous species.
Nonionic low‐osmolar contrast media have no impact on major adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing coronary stenting with appropriate antiplatelet therapy

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of two nonionic low‐osmolar monomers (iopamidol and iopromide) and one ionic low‐osmolar dimeric contrast medium (ioxaglate) on 30‐day major adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing coronary interventions involving the use of new‐generation stents and appropriate antiplatelet agents. Thirteen hundred and eight patients treated with stent implantation were randomized to receive ioxaglate (438 patients), iopamidol (442 patients), or iopromide (428 patients). Most of them (55%) had an acute coronary syndrome. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were used in 37% of cases. All of the patients were on aspirin and ticlopidine for 1 month after the procedure. There was no significant between‐group difference in the incidence of the primary composite endpoint of major adverse cardiac events 30 days after stenting (ioxaglate 3.6%; iopamidol 2.3%; iopromide 4.2%; P = 0.27). Adverse drug reactions were more frequent in the ioxaglate group (4.6% vs. 1.1% vs. 0.5%; P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that intracoronary thrombus (P = 0.002), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.01), and postprocedure minimum lumen diameter (P = 0.04) independently correlated with an adverse outcome after 1 month. In conclusion, no significant differences in 30‐day major ischemic complications were observed in this unselected population of patients undergoing coronary stenting who received ioxaglate, iopamidol, or iopromide. These data seem to suggest that the use of nonionic low‐osmolar contrast media does not adversely affect stent patency. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2003;60:477–482. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Airway Management in Pierre Robin Sequence: Patterns of Practice

Objectives To report survey results from American Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Association members on the practice patterns of airway obstruction management in patients with Pierre Robin sequence. Design A 10-question online survey was sent and the data were reviewed. Setting Online survey of members of the American Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Association. Patients Surveys assessed management patterns of patients with Pierre Robin sequence whom a surgeon member of the American Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Association treated for airway obstruction. Interventions The survey comprised data on management strategies for airway obstruction in Pierre Robin sequence, including tracheostomy, tongue-lip adhesion, mandibular distraction, and treatments that falls in the “other” category. Results A total of 87 American Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Association members completed the survey. Respondents' results were analyzed as a whole and by individual subspecialty: plastic surgery (n = 33), oromaxillofacial surgery (n = 21), and otolaryngology (n = 29). Although most of the surgeons were trained to manage airway obstruction in Pierre Robin sequence patients using tracheostomy (47%, n = 39) and tongue-lip adhesion (31%, n = 26), 48% reported a current preference for mandibular distraction (n = 40). Of surgeons who preferred to manage Pierre Robin sequence with tongue-lip adhesion (n = 23), 65% were trained to do so (n = 15). Surgeons preferring mandibular distraction (n = 40) and tracheostomy (n = 14) more often reported they were trained to manage Pierre Robin sequence with tracheostomy. Conclusions Currently there are various practice patterns for the management of airway obstruction in Pierre Robin sequence. Training habits and subspecialty category may influence a surgeon's preference in patients who fail conservative therapy. Treatment guidelines are lacking and may require significant collaboration among centers and subspecialties to develop a more standardized approach to a challenging clinical entity.