Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IL-6 572 C/G, 190 C/T, and 174 G/C Gene Polymorphisms in Children's Malnutrition

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to establish the correlations between the polymorphisms of the genes interleukin-6 (IL-6) 572, 190, and 174 in children's malnutrition. Methods: We assessed 283 hospitalized children and divided them into 2 groups: group I (control) included 110 patients with normal nutritional status, median (range) age 10.90 (1–18) years; and group II consisted of 173 malnourished patients, median (range) age 10.70 (1–18) years. Results: The 2 groups underwent IL-6 572 cytosine allele (C)/guanine allele (G), 190 C/thymine allele (T), and 174 G/C polymorphism testing, measurement of anthropometric indicators (mid-upper arm circumference and tricipital skinfold thickness [TST]), and paraclinical evaluation (protein, albumin). We observed that the GG and CG genotypes were more frequent in malnourished children for the IL-6 174 gene (P = 0.0001), whereas the CT heterozygous genotype was more frequent in the malnourished group for the IL-6 190 gene (P = 0.003). Body mass index (BMI), middle upper arm circumference (MUAC), TST, and low serum albumin levels correlated with the GG and CG genotypes of the IL-6 572 and IL-6 174 genes, and with the CT genotype of the IL-6 190 gene, in children with malnutrition, whereas the IL-6 190 TT genotype was a protective factor for malnutrition (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: Malnutrition is more frequently associated in children with IL-6 174 G allele carriers (GG and CG genotypes), whereas IL-6 190 TT genotype has a protective function. In malnourished children, the IL-6 572/190/174 GG/CT/CG, GG/CT/GG, GG/CC/GG, and GG/CC/CG combined genotypes are more frequent.
The effects of selected ankle appliances on postural control.

OBJECTIVE Although ankle braces supposedly protect the ankle by providing mechanical support of the joint and enhancing proprioceptive input, their proprioceptive effects are unclear. Measuring the center of pressure during posture provides a reasonably well-controlled evaluation of proprioceptive input at the ankle. We, therefore, compared the changes in the center of pressure resulting from wearing ankle braces and wearing no brace (control). DESIGN AND SETTING Center-of-pressure variables were measured during a one-legged modified Romberg test with six variations. The six test conditions systematically altered the three sensory modalities that control posture: visual input, vestibular input, and proprioceptive input. Subjects performed three 16-second trials of each Romberg variation for each brace condition. SUBJECTS Twenty-four male volunteers (age = 18 to 26 yr) with no history of ankle injuries in the past 5 years and no difficulty with balance. MEASUREMENTS Center of pressure, transmitted through the bottom of the foot, was monitored during each trial and transformed into total distance traveled, anterior-posterior (AP) position, and medial-lateral (ML) position. RESULTS Average AP and ML center-of-pressure positions were increased only during brace wearing when all sensory modalities were functioning normally (control condition). Total center-of-pressure distance was the same for all three brace conditions. CONCLUSIONS Our results do not support or refute the concept that bracing enhances proprioception. The fact that subjects relocated their center of pressure only during the control condition is perplexing. If braces were to enhance proprioception, one would expect to see lower average ML and average AP center-of-pressure values when comparing the braced with the unbraced conditions. Alternatively, the relocated position may represent a more stable position resulting from enhanced proprioception.
Role of magnesium in preventing post-operative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVE To assess the role of 3 days of magnesium infusion after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in preventing postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) & National Institute of Heart Diseases (NIHD), Rawalpindi, from July 2006 to June 2007. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, non-blinded. METHODS All patients undergoing isolated, initial CABG surgery, and having sinus rhythm before surgery were alternatively randomized into the study or the control group. The exclusion criteria included: history of AF, implanted pacemaker, myocardial infarction postoperatively, use of left ventricular assist devices and renal failure. The patients in the study group received 10 mmol of magnesium sulphate (2.47 gm) dissolved in 100 ml of saline solution infused intravenously over 4 hours, for 3 days. The end point was development of AF for at least 15 minutes or more, or if an episode of AF had to be treated because of symptoms. RESULTS A total of 220 patients were included in the study, 110 in each group. The incidence of AF was 9% in patients who received the three days of magnesium infusion. The patients without magnesium had an AF incidence of 23% (p < 0.001). The hospital stay was also less in the treated group (p = 0.055). CONCLUSION A 3-days postoperative infusion of magnesium is safe and effective in reduction of possibly life-threatening AF, in patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass surgery.
A Mid-Range Theory of Control and Coordination in Service Triads

The increased frequency of the adoption of service‐based business models by manufacturers, such as solution provision, has given rise to service triads. While there is consensus that actors in service triads are relationally and performatively interdependent, less is understood about how service triads are controlled and coordinated. In this study, we use an inductive case‐based approach to build an understanding about the roles, approaches, and contextual factors that influence how service triads are controlled and coordinated. We collected and analyzed data from nine companies forming three service triads, each comprising a customer, a manufacturer of an asset, and a service supplier. We synthesized our findings in a theoretical framework, where we show that first, both, control and coordination, are present in service triads rather than just control as previously posited. Second, controlling and coordinating service triads is not a single actor's responsibility but rather a collective effort shared by two or three actors. Third, we uncovered four contingent factors that influence the dynamics of how service triads are controlled and coordinated: the customer's risk exposure due to the offering's failure, the substitutability of the offering, the contractual safeguards, and the relationship closeness.
Hypothyroid Patients Encoding Combined MCT10 and DIO2 Gene Polymorphisms May Prefer L-T3 + L-T4 Combination Treatment – Data Using a Blind, Randomized, Clinical Study

Objectives: In previous studies, around half of all hypothyroid patients preferred levo-thyroxine (L-T4) + levo-triiodothyronine (L-T3) combination therapy, 25% preferred T4, and 25% had no preference. The reason for this is yet to be explored. Methods: A total of 45 overtly autoimmune, hypothyroid patients – now euthyroid on ≥6 months’ L-T4 therapy – participated in a prospective, double-blind, cross-over study. The patients were randomized into 2 groups of either 3 continuous months’ L-T4 therapy followed by 3 months’ combination therapy or vice versa. In all periods, 50 μg L-T4 was blindly replaced by either (identical) 50 μg L-T4 or by 20 μg T3. L-T4 was hereafter adjusted to obtain normal serum TSH values. We investigated 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the type II iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO2) gene (rs225014 (Thr92Ala), rs225015, and rs12885300 (ORFa-Gly3Asp)) and 1 SNP on the cellular membrane transport-facilitating monocarboxylate transporter (MCT10) gene (rs17606253), and asked in which of the 2 treatment periods patients felt better (i.e., which treatment was preferred). Results: 27 out of 45 patients (60%) preferred the combination therapy. Two polymorphisms (rs225014 (DIO2, Thr92Ala) and rs17606253 (MCT10)) were combined yielding 3 groups: none vs. 1 of 2 vs. both SNPs present, and 42 vs. 63 vs. 100% of our patients in the 3 groups preferred the combined treatment (Jongheere-Terpstra trend test, p = 0.009). Conclusion: The present study indicates that the combination of polymorphisms in DIO2 (rs225014) and MCT10 (rs17606253) enhances hypothyroid patients’ preference for L-T4 + L-T3 replacement therapy. In the future, combination therapy may be restricted or may be even recommended to individuals harbouring certain polymorphisms.
Homicide, suicide and CSF 5‐HIAA

ABSTRACT– Concentrations of 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl glycol (HMPG) in lumbar spinal fluid were measured by mass fragmentography in 16 men convicted for criminal homicide, 22 men who had attempted suicide, and 39 healthy male control subjects. Those men who had killed a sexual partner, and those who had attempted suicide, had lower levels of the serotonin metabolite, 5‐HIAA in spinal fluid than the controls. It is suggested that low levels of 5‐HIAA in spinal fluid reflect a disorder of serotonin turnover, which makes the individual more prone to acts of violence in states of emotional turmoil.
Board of directors characteristics, governance disclosure and information asymmetry between managers and investors

In this study, we extend the existing literature on voluntary disclosure by investigating the impact of governance disclosure on information asymmetry. Results show a negative (positive) association between share price volatility (Tobin’s Q) and the extent of governance disclosure. The same relationship is observed for Board size and Audit committee size. This suggests that governance disclosure may serve as a complement of a firm’s governance mechanisms in reducing stock market asymmetry, especially in a country like Canada where legal protection of investors is high. In other words, voluntary disclosure about corporate governance is more likely to be perceived as credible in an effective governance regime. Finally, it appears that firms take into account ultimate costs and benefits to shareholders when determining the governance disclosure.
Diversity of Bacterial Endosymbionts of Environmental Acanthamoeba Isolates

ABSTRACT Free-living amoebae are frequent hosts for bacterial endosymbionts. In this study, the symbionts of eight novel environmental Acanthamoeba strains isolated from different locations worldwide were characterized. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that they were related to one of four evolutionary lineages of amoeba symbionts recognized previously. This study provides evidence for the existence of only a small number of phylogenetically well-separated groups of obligate intracellular endosymbionts of acanthamoebae with global distribution.
Influential Factors in Freeway Crash Response and Clearance Times by Emergency Management Services in Peak Periods

Objective. Various factors influence the time performance of emergency management personnel when a freeway traffic crash occurs. The proper identification and prioritization of factors that contribute to emergency management services' response times and clearance times result in better usage of taxpayer resources. Method. Use of a proportional hazard-based Cox-regression model analyzed statewide, peak-period, traffic crash data from 1999 Ohio logs. These data included time performance measures of emergency management services. Results. Traffic crash severity had the most effect on response times. Those crashes involving injuries or fatalities had up to 20% less emergency management service response times than “property damage only” crashes. Environmental factors such as weather or roadway conditions had minimal effect on response times to traffic crashes. Day of week, urban or rural area, off or opposing-lane crash location, number of vehicles involved, heavy vehicle involvement, and response time significantly affected clearance time and the resulting total time during peak periods. Conclusions. By assessing resources currently dedicated to insignificant factors, emergency management services can further improve response times to those casualties that crucially need emergency services. By accurately identifying and deciphering traffic crash severity from initial field reports, services can further improve. Moreover, improvements in crash severity prediction reduce “false alarms” for emergency services. The improvements reduce the probability of a very short response time for a property damage only crash in which initial reports implied a very severe injury. By focusing on factors that significantly reduce traffic crash clearance times on freeways in peak periods, more reductions in average delay experienced by freeway users, in fuel consumption, and in motor vehicle emissions can occur.
Prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Surgical Site Infection in a Tertiary Care Centre

SSI have been responsible for increasing cost of treatment due to prolong hospital stay as well as high morbidity and mortality related to surgical operation and continue to be major problem even in hospital with most Morden facility and standard protocols of preoperative preparation and antibiotic prophylaxis (Lilani et al., 2005). Incidence of SSI in India ranges from 4.04% to 30% (More et al., 2015).
Investigation and clinical application of a novel axial pattern flap for nasal and facial reconstruction in the dog.

OBJECTIVE To describe the vascular supply to a facial skin flap based at the commissure of the lip in the dog and report on its use in four dogs. STUDY DESIGN Experimental and prospective clinical study. Animals Five canine cadavers and four client-owned dogs. METHODS In the cadavers, the ventral aspect of the zygomatic arch, the ventral margin of the caudal mandible and the wing of the atlas were marked as anatomical boundaries of a skin flap that was elevated from the subcutaneous tissues to the level of the medial canthus of the eye. Methylene blue dye and barium sulphate solution were independently infused through a common carotid (three dogs) or facial artery (two dogs) catheter. Distribution of dye throughout the harvested skin was assessed subjectively. After contrast infusion the flap was excised and radiographed. The technique was used to reconstruct large facial or nasal defects in four dogs after tumour or skin lesion excision. RESULTS Cadaver dissections and contrast studies clearly demonstrated three direct cutaneous arteries, the superior and inferior labial arteries and the angularis oris artery, arborising within the base of the flap. A separate direct cutaneous branch of the angularis oris artery was identified. An arterial plexus was identified within the distal flap, within which this artery communicates with the transverse facial artery and a cutaneous branch of the masseteric artery. Dye infusion caused discolouration of the elevated skin and vasculature within the flap. The flap survived in all clinical cases with marginal distal necrosis in one dog. CONCLUSIONS The complex facial flap described is perfused by three direct cutaneous arteries and functions reliably in clinical cases.
Evaluating Citizen e-Satisfaction from e-Government Services: A Case of Pakistan

Citizen satisfaction is a critical and decisive factor for persistent use of e-Government services as it can substantially impact on failure or success of e-Government projects. Main hurdle for e-government planners and practitioners in Pakistan is to find out the key determinants of e-satisfaction of their citizens. This article actually tries to identify the major factors that drive Pakistani citizen’s e-Satisfaction while using Punjab Province Portal (http://www.punjab.gov.pk/) in Pakistan. After extensive relevant literature review we formulated 7 hypotheses and distinguished 7 different determinants namely trust, accessibility, awareness of e-services, quality of e-services, computer anxiety, customer expectations and security/privacy. A sample of survey data from 200 employees in 8 universities in different cities of Punjab Province of Pakistan was gathered to perform data analysis. Several key outcomes based on multiple linear regression and factor analysis were exhibited. These final results would help to understand the degree of satisfaction of Pakistani citizens. E-governmental policy-makers and practitioners both would be benefitted by this analysis and results of these determinants of e-satisfaction. Some recommendations and implications of our findings were also addressed at the end.
Biochemical Consequences of Type 2 Adenovirus and Simian Virus 40 Double Infections of African Green Monkey Kidney Cells

African green monkey kidney (AGMK) cells were nonpermissive hosts for type 2 adenovirus although the restriction was not complete; when only 3 plaque-forming units/cell was employed as the inoculum, the viral yield was about 0.1% of the maximum virus produced when simian virus 40 (SV40) enhanced adenovirus multiplication. The viral yield of cells infected only with type 2 adenovirus increased as the multiplicity of infection was increased. Type 2 adenovirus could infect almost all AGMK cells in culture; adenovirus-specific early proteins and DNA were synthesized in most cells, but small amounts of late proteins were made in relatively few cells. Even when cells were infected with both SV40 and adenovirus, only about 50% were permissive for synthesis of adenovirus capsid proteins. Approximately the same quantity of adenovirus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was synthesized in the restricted as in the SV40-enhanced infection. However, in cells infected with SV40 and type 2 adenovirus, replication of SV40 DNA was blocked, multiplication of SV40 was accordingly inhibited, and synthesis of host DNA was not stimulated. To enhance propagation of type 2 adenovirus, synthesis of an early SV40 protein was essential; 50 μg of cycloheximide per ml prevented the SV40-induced enhancement of adenovirus multiplication, whereas 5 × 10−6m 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine did not abrogate the enhancing phenomenon.
Viability of Trichomonas vaginalis in Transport Medium

ABSTRACT The ability of Amies gel agar transport medium to maintain the viability of Trichomonas vaginalis was determined by comparing transported vaginal specimens to specimens immediately inoculated into culture medium. The prevalence of trichomonosis in the study population was 26% (68 of 260 women). The immediate inoculation method detected infections in 64 of 68 infected women (sensitivity of 94.1%). The transport method detected 62 of 68 infections (sensitivity of 91.2%). There was no significant difference between the two methods.
Kin‐cohort analysis of LRRK2‐G2019S penetrance in Parkinson's disease

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) represents a degenerative disorder characterized by the development of higherorder visual deficit. PCA may result from heterogeneous pathologies that make up tauopathies. An increasing number of mutations in the tau gene (microtubule-associated protein tau [MAPT]) causes a wide spectrum of clinical presentations known as frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome-17 (FTDP-17). Symptomatology usually involves executive dysfunction and altered personality and behavior, with patients displaying parkinsonian features. We describe the case of a woman with PCA who further developed asymmetric motor signs. A mutation in the MAPT gene was detected, and a diagnosis of FTDP-17 was formulated. To our knowledge, this is the very first report of a patient suffering from FTDP-17 diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy.
N-acetyltransferase 1 polymorphism and bladder cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

Objective This meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the association between an N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) gene polymorphism and bladder cancer risk. Methods PubMed® and EMBASE databases were searched to identify studies that examined the effect of the NAT1*10 allele on the risk of bladder cancer. Results Eleven case–control studies, which included 3311 bladder cancer cases and 3906 control subjects, met the inclusion criteria. The pooled analyses based on all studies showed that there was no significant difference in the NAT1*10 allele between bladder cancer cases and controls (odds ratios [OR] 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81, 1.10). When stratifying for race, the results were similar among Caucasians (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.81, 1.12) and Asians (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.48, 1.56). No statistical association was found between the NAT1*10 allele and bladder cancer risk upon stratification for smoking status and study design. Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that there was no association between the NAT1*10 allele and bladder cancer risk. Further research should focus on other potentially functional genetic polymorphisms.
EFFECTS OF TRAINING ON EMPLOYEE JOB SATISFACTION AND ACHIEVEMENT: ‘TRAIN TO GAIN’ EVIDENCE FROM MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES IN TURKEY

This study analyzes how the formal training services that companies offer affect their employees’ job satisfaction and achievement levels that consequently increase organizations’ productivity-based gains. Training is distinguished between organizational support for training, employee enthusiasm in training and employee satisfaction with training while achievement motivation and perceived job satisfaction respectively refer to direct and indirect contributions of training. Survey-based data sets were collected from a semi-randomized sample covering 307 employees from various departments of 34 private businesses operating in Turkey’ manufacturing sectors. Findings from regression analysis, strongly support the validity of ‘train to gain’ strategy that as businesses invest in employee training activities, their trained employees’ job satisfaction and achievement motivation levels increase. The study underlines that, as a human resource management practice, employee training is an efficient way for businesses to accomplish their purposes. Together with demographic characteristics, overall results put forward some insights for both researchers and practitioners.
Identifying Anomalous Reports of Putatively Extinct Species and Why It Matters

Abstract: As species become very rare and approach extinction, purported sightings can stir controversy, especially when scarce management resources are at stake. We used quantitative methods to identify reports that do not fit prior sighting patterns. We also examined the effects of including records that meet different evidentiary standards on quantitative extinction assessments for four charismatic bird species that might be extinct: Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis), Ivory‐billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), Nukupu`u (Hemignathus lucidus), and O`ahu `Alauahio (Paroreomyza maculata). For all four species the probability of there being a valid sighting today, given the past pattern of verified sightings, was estimated to be very low. The estimates of extinction dates and the chance of new sightings, however, differed considerably depending on the criteria used for data inclusion. When a historical sighting record lacked long periods without sightings, the likelihood of new sightings declined quickly with time since the last confirmed sighting. For species with this type of historical record, therefore, new reports should meet an especially high burden of proof to be acceptable. Such quantitative models could be incorporated into the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List criteria to set evidentiary standards required for unconfirmed sightings of “possibly extinct” species and to standardize extinction assessments across species.