Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uterus preserving vaginal surgery versus vaginal hysterectomy for correction of female pelvic organ prolapse.

AIM The objective of this study is to evaluate uterus preserving vaginal procedure of cervical amputation with uterosacral ligament plication (modified Manchester operation) and compare it to vaginal hysterectomy regard recurrence rate, duration of surgery, blood loses, intra and post-operative complications, duration of hospital stay. METHODS Consecutive women with pelvic organ prolapse who underwent either vaginal hyste-rectomy or a modified Manchester procedure were included. Assessments were made preoperatively and at 1-year follow-up, including physical examination with pelvic organ prolapse quantification standardized questionnaires. RESULTS 66 patients were included in the study with a one year follow-up. We found no significant difference in: recurrence of POP and reintervention (recurrence with required treatment n (%): 3(10) vs. 5(15), p=0.28) and hospital stay (mean±SD days: 5±2 vs. 7±2, p=0.97). Significant less blood loses (250±210 ml. vs. 360±230 ml.) and shorter operation time (67±20 min. vs 102±22 min.) in modified Manchester group, but significant more urinary retention (cases: 8 vs 6) in modified Manchester group. The overall functional outcome was acceptable for both procedures. CONCLUSIONS We found an excellent performance of both procedures regarding recurrences and intra and post-operative complications. A high degree of acceptance-satisfaction shows the modified Manchester operation and is good option for the treatment of uterine prolapse in younger women who wish to keep their uterus and in all cases of genital prolapse with elongation of uterine cervix (when there is not other uterine pathology). Shorter operation time and lower blood lose are another factors for stronger recommendation of the modified Manchester operation for patients with concomitant diseases and/or older age patients with elevated risk from anesthesia and/or surgery.
Eighths, Sixteenths and Market Depth: Changes in Tick Size and Liquidity Provision on the Nyse

Using limit order data provided by the NYSE, we investigate the impact of reducing the minimum tick size on the liquidity of the market. While both spreads and depths (quoted and on the limit order book) declined after the NYSE's change from eighths to sixteenths, depth declined throughout the entire limit order book as well. The combined effect of smaller spreads and reduced cumulative limit order book depth has made liquidity demanders trading small orders better off; however, traders who submitted larger orders in lower volume stocks did not benefit, especially if those stocks were low priced.
The Impact of Institutional Ownership and Dividend Policy on Stock Returns and Volatility: Evidence from Egypt

This paper examines the effect of institutional ownership on stock volatility, returns, and dividend policy in Egypt. It also investigates the impact of dividend policy on the direction of the relation between institutional ownership and stock volatility and returns. Our main results show that private institutional ownership has significant and positive effect on stock volatility while it has no effect on returns. We find that private institutional ownership has negative effect on dividend payout ratio. Finally, we show that private institutional ownership significantly increases volatility for non-dividend paying stocks only because these stocks are more subject to institutional herding than dividend paying stocks.
Analysis of the composition of Brazilian propolis extracts by chromatography and evaluation of their in vitro activity against gram-positive bacteria

Brazilian propolis from Sao Paulo state was submitted to extraction using several solvents, resulting in extracts with different composition. These extracts were submitted to Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Bioauthographic analysis of the TLC plates identified fractions with inhibitory activity, which were then analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). In vitro assays, commonly used to evaluate the activity of propolis against Gram-positive bacteria, were compared to determine which rendered the most consistent results. The bactericidal activity of these extracts were analysed by Serial Dilution in Tubes and Agar Plate Diffusion. Serial Dilution in Tubes obtained the most consistent results, with the Minimal Bactericidal Concentration of the extracts ranging between 2.5 and 20.0 mg/mL, for the species of Gram-positive bacteria tested. The results of the Agar Plate Diffusion were directly proportional to the hydro-solubility of the extracts and did not evaluate their bactericidal activity correctly. The bactericidal activity of this sample of propolis was due to the combined effect of several components that were identified by HPLC and were best extracted using 50% ethanol as a solvent.
Atomic Scale Simulation of Dislocation Loops Formation in Thin Foil under High Energy Electron Irradiation

Using a personnel computer, we have simulated the diffusion and agglomeration of point defects in thin foil under high energy electron irradiation. The physical model has been developed by using the Monte Carlo technique. Four types of reactions are assumed to take place: di-interstitial creation by agglomeration of two free interstitials, vacancy-interstitial annihilation, interstitial trapping by dislocation loops and interstitial annihilation on the sample surfaces. In the simulation only interstitials are mobile and extended defects are assumed to be interstitial type. We have calculated the concentration of point defects, extended defects and the size of the latter. We compared them to the results of the Chemical Reaction Rate Theory (CRRT). It has been found that the dislocation loops are distributed in the center of material leaving areas denuded close to the surface and the loops radius is also strongly dependent on the location of the defect in thin foil with respect to the results of experimental and CRRT. To explain the origin of these phenomena we have exploited the spatial distribution of vacancies close to free surfaces and around dislocation loops. These types of informations are totally missing in the CRRT and experimental.
SmcR and Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein Coactivate Vibrio vulnificus vvpE Encoding Elastase through the RpoS-dependent Promoter in a Synergistic Manner*

The putative virulence factors of Vibrio vulnificus include an elastase, the gene product of vvpE. We previously demonstrated that vvpE expression is differentially directed by two different promoters in a growth phase-dependent manner. The activity of the stationaryphase promoter (promoter S (PS)) is dependent on RpoS and is also under the positive control of cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP). In this study, primer extension analyses revealed that SmcR, the Vibrio harveyi LuxR homolog, is also involved in the regulation of vvpE transcription by activating PS. Although the influence of CRP on PS is mediated by SmcR, the level of PS activity observed when CRP and SmcR function together was found to be greater than the sum of the PS activities achieved by each activator alone. Western blot analyses demonstrated that the cellular levels of RpoS, CRP, and SmcR were not significantly affected by one other, indicating that CRP and SmcR function cooperatively to activate PS rather than sequentially in a regulatory cascade. The binding sites for CRP and SmcR were mapped based on a deletion analysis of the vvpE promoter region and confirmed by in vitro DNase I protection assays. The binding sites for CRP and SmcR were juxtapositioned and centered 220 and 198 bp upstream of the transcription start site of PS, respectively. Accordingly, these results reveal that CRP and SmcR function synergistically to coactivate the expression of vvpE by the RpoS-dependent promoter (PS) and that the activators exert their effect by directly binding to the promoter in the stationary phase.
Data cleaning approaches in Web2.0 VGI application

As the web provide a more flexible and sophisticated platform for information dissemination and exchanging, the idea that allow user to add and upload geospatial-related data in GIS-enabled online site to promote the geographic information sharing in public is becoming a new research topic in GIS. There are some real-world websites already partially implement VGI thought like wikimapia.org and openstreetmap.org, but considered the new characteristics of VGI data, there needs some new methods especially data cleaning approaches in the process of handling VGI data to make the non-professional user generated data into applicable information. The features of VGI data are as follows: since general users can add and change data, the stored data should be updated frequently, result in an abundant and keep updated geographic dataset; data acquired by non-professionals with non-professional equipment, so there is no guarantee of quality about the data; contributors are spontaneous, the density of data will be unpredictable, data distribution will be uneven and inconsistent. These characteristics brought challenges for VGI data management, New data cleaning methods must be used to solve problems like data clutter, . Data cleaning, including the merge, delete, correct operations on geographical features to make it into a effective and consistent form, in general, merge and delete operation can be achieved automatically, the correct operation require some human user's interaction to complete. Spatial information as well as attribute information must be taken into account in the geographic data cleaning like duplicated points finding and repeated description merging, on this basis, we will discuss several data cleaning methods for VGI data and their experiment result as well as some possible application environments in using these methods.
Multiplicity of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections in Lymphoid Tissue

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected splenocytes in humans were recently shown to harbor three to four proviruses per cell on average (A. Jung et al., Nature 418:144, 2002). However, the mechanisms that lead to such extensive multiple infections are not understood. Here, we find by using mathematical analysis that two mechanisms quantitatively capture the distribution of proviral genomes in HIV-1-infected splenocytes, one where multiple genomes are acquired one at a time in a series of sequential infectious contacts of a target cell with free virions and infected cells, and the other where cell-to-cell transmission of multiple virions or genomes results from a single infectious contact of a target cell with an infected cell. The two mechanisms imply different genetic diversities of proviruses within an infected cell and therefore different rates of emergence of drug resistance via recombination.
The Effects of Psychological Empowerment on Job Satisfaction and Job Performance of Tourist Guides

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of psychological empowerment (PE) on job satisfaction and job performance of the tourist guides. It was tried to determine whether psychological empowerment and its dimensions effect guides' satisfaction and performance level. In order to reach the aim, the questionnaire form was developed and applied to 381 tourist guides in Turkey. The study's results showed that psychological empowerment, job satisfaction and job performance were positively correlated and, empowerment affected both satisfaction and performance level of guides. It was determined that the meaning dimension of psychological empowerment was the most effective factor which increases job satisfaction whereas the impact dimension affected job performance of the guides positively.
Lack of Cerebrospinal Fluid Pleocytosis in Young Infants With Enterovirus Infections of the Central Nervous System

Objectives: To identify factors associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis among infants aged 90 days or younger with enterovirus (EV) infections of the central nervous system (CNS). Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study performed at an urban academic children's hospital. Patients aged 90 days or younger with a positive CSF EV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result obtained during the EV seasons from 2000 to 2006 were included. Patients with concomitant serious bacterial illness or herpes simplex virus infection were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with CSF pleocytosis. Results: A total of 159 patients had a positive CSF EV PCR test result during the study period; 5 (3.1%) were excluded for concurrent serious bacterial infection. The median CSF white blood cell (WBC) count was 110/&mgr;L (interquartile range, 11-311/&mgr;L). Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis was present in 109 patients (71%). The proportion of infants with CSF pleocytosis accompanying EV CNS infections increased with age; CSF pleocytosis was present in 59%, 74%, and 90% of infants aged 0 to 28, 29 to 56, and 57 to 90 days, respectively (P = 0.007). Age and peripheral WBC count were independently associated with CSF pleocytosis. Conclusions: Among infants with EV CNS infections, the absence of CSF pleocytosis is related to younger age and lower peripheral WBC counts, perhaps reflecting the decreased ability of younger infants to mount a robust inflammatory response to EV infection. Thus, CSF EV PCR testing may be warranted in select patients without CSF pleocytosis.
Social Networks of Women with Undefined Musculoskeletal Disorder

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate social integration among, and the availability of social support for, female patients with undefined musculoskeletal disorder compared to women with coronary heart disease. The aim was to elucidate the importance of a clear diagnosis for the social network relationships of these female patients. For the measurement of social support two instruments were used: an abbreviated version of the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction and a condensed version of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List. After adjustment for age, marital and employment status, significant differences can be recognized between the two groups of patients: MSD-patients interact with fewer people and receive less emotional support. Implications for social work practice and issues for future research are presented.
A Comparison of CEO Pay-Performance Sensitivity in Privately-Held and Public Firms

In this paper we study CEO contract design employing a unique dataset on privately-held and public firm CEO annual compensation over the period 1999–2011. We first show that CEOs in public firms are paid 30% more than CEOs in comparable privately-held firms. We further show that both private and public firm CEO pays are positively and significantly related to firm accounting performance, and that the pay–performance link is much weaker in privately-held firms. We then show that the above findings are robust to accounting for firms' self-selection into being privately-held, and a number of important differences between privately-held and public firms, including CEO ownership, employee stock ownership, stock liquidity, discipline from the takeover market, and the availability of different performance measures. Overall, our results support the view that concentrated ownership substitutes for CEO performance-based compensation contracts.
ICOS regulates the pool of group 2 innate lymphoid cells under homeostatic and inflammatory conditions in mice

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are innate effectors playing an important role in the defense against helminthic infections and in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation. Cytokines have been identified as the major stimuli driving ILC2 activation and expansion. Conversely, it is unclear whether costimulatory molecules contribute to regulation of ILC2 functions. ILC2s display high expression of inducible T‐cell costimulator (ICOS), which belongs to the CD28 superfamily, and which has been shown to control late effector T‐cell functions, and is of utmost importance for the humoral immune response. However, the biological function of ICOS expression on ILC2s is unknown. Here, we show that ICOS signaling in mice regulates ILC2 homeostasis independently of T cells and B cells, by promoting proliferation and accumulation of mature ILC2s in lung and intestine. In a model of IL‐33‐induced airway inflammation, ICOS controls ILC2 activation and eosinophil infiltration in the lung. Our data identify a role of ICOS in innate immunity and indicate that not only cytokines, but also costimulatory pathways such as those involving ICOS, can contribute to regulate the ILC2 pool. Thus, ICOS costimulation blockade, which is currently under clinical evaluation for inhibiting the humoral immune response, could also target innate inflammatory circuits.
Sodium nitroprusside enhanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation improves survival with good neurological function in a porcine model of prolonged cardiac arrest*

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-“enhanced” cardiopulmonary resuscitation (SNPeCPR) on 24-hr survival rates compared to standard CPR in animals after cardiac arrest. SNPeCPR consists of large intravenous SNP bolus doses during CPR enhanced by active compression-decompression CPR, an inspiratory impedance threshold device (ITD), and abdominal binding (AB). The combination of active compression-decompression CPR+ITD+AB without SNP will be called “enhanced” or eCPR. Design: Randomized, blinded, animal study. Setting: Preclinical animal laboratory. Subjects: Twenty-four female farm pigs (30 ± 1 kg). Interventions: Isoflurane anesthetized and intubated pigs were randomized after 8 mins of untreated ventricular fibrillation to receive either standard CPR (n = 8), SNPeCPR (n = 8), or eCPR (n = 8) for 25 mins followed by defibrillation. Measurements and Main Results: The primary end point was carotid blood flow during CPR and 24-hr survival with good neurologic function defined as an overall performance category score of ≤2 (1 = normal, 5 = brain dead or dead). Secondary end points included hemodynamics and end-tidal CO2. SNPeCPR significantly improved carotid blood flow and 24-hr survival rates with good neurologic function compared to standard CPR or eCPR (six of eight vs. zero of eight vs. one of eight, p < .05). The improved survival rates were associated with higher coronary perfusion pressure and ETco2 during CPR. Conclusion: In pigs, SNPeCPR significantly improved hemodynamics, resuscitation rates, and 24-hr survival rates with good neurologic function after cardiac arrest when compared with standard CPR or eCPR alone.
Atrial fibrillation practice patterns among cardiac electrophysiologists and cardiologists.

BACKGROUND Treatment paradigms for atrial fibrillation (AF) are highly variable. This study explores the management practices for AF between general cardiologists and electrophysiologists in an academic institution. METHODS One hundred and eighty eight patients with AF who had primary outpatient evaluation by either a cardiologist (n = 94) or electrophysiologist (n = 94) in 2008 were selected from the Northwestern electronic medical record and included in the study. Chart review was used to determine the type of therapy, methods of monitoring AF, antiarrhythmic drug use patterns and outcome. RESULTS Patients seen by cardiologists vs. electrophysiologists were older (70.3 ± 11.8 vs. 65.3 ± 10.3, p = 0.002) and had more diabetes (21.3% vs. 10.6%, p = 0.046), renal disease (29.0% vs. 9.2%, p = 0.001) and coronary artery disease (40.4% vs. 23.4%, p = 0.01). A rate control strategy was used more often (80.9% vs. 54.3%, p < 0.001), and antiarrhythmics were prescribed less (10.6% vs. 31.9%, p < 0.001) by cardiologists than electrophysiologists. Antiarrhythmic choices were amiodarone (33.3%), sotalol (20.0%), flecainide (13.3%), propafenone (13.3%), and dofetilide (23.3%) for electrophysiologists, and were limited to amiodarone (80%) and sotalol (20%) for cardiologists. After a mean follow-up of 14.0 ± 11.6 and 12.8 ± 11.1 months (p = 0.44) for patients managed by cardiologists and electrophysiologists, mortality was 13.8% and 6.4% (p = 0.09), respectively. Long-term ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring was used more frequently by electrophysiologists (74.4%) than by cardiologists (55.6%, p = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS Practice patterns for treatment of AF significantly differ between electrophysiologists and cardiologists. Understanding specialist treatment patterns will help optimize individualized therapy for treatment of AF.
A Reevaluation of Assessment Center Construct-Related Validity

Recent Monte Carlo research (Lance, Woehr, & Meade, 2007) has questioned the primary analytical tool used to assess the construct-related validity of assessment center post-exercise dimension ratings (PEDRs) – a confirmatory factor analysis of a multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) matrix. By utilizing a hybrid of Monte Carlo data generation and univariate generalizability theory, we examined three primary sources of variance (i.e., persons, dimensions, and exercises) and their interactions in 23 previously published assessment center MTMM matrices. Overall, the person, dimension, and person by dimension effects accounted for a combined 34.06% of variance in assessment center PEDRs (16.83%, 4.02%, and 13.21%, respectively). However, the largest single effect came from the person by exercise interaction (21.83%). Implications and suggestions for future assessment center research and design are discussed.
XRCC 1 Arg 194 Trp and ADPRT Val 762 Ala Genotypes in Cases and Controls and Their Association with Gastric Cancer Risk

Cancer has been one of the leading causes of death among Chinese adults (He et al., 2005). According to GLOBOCAN 2008, gastric cancer with an estimated age standardized rate of 29.9 per 100,000 (315,843 cases) ranks the second in terms of incidence among all cancer types in China, behind only lung cancer, and the estimated age standardized mortality rate reaches up to 22.3 per 100,000 (231,193 deaths), only lower than that for lung and liver cancers (Ferlay et al., 2010). Due to dramatic improvements in the social-economic environment, lifestyle, nutrition, education and health care system, there are remarkable declines in the incidence and especially mortality of gastric cancer in the last thirty years (Yang 2006). However, despite the declining incidence and mortality of gastric cancer in China, it remains a major health problem because of its poor prognosis and the aging of the population(Schottenfeld et al., 2006; Yang 2006). DNA bears indispensable inheritance information in human beings and its damage is critical to carcinogenesis (Hoeijmakers, 2001). At least four major pathways of DNA repair have been described that operate on specific types of damaged DNA, including base excision repair (BER), mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair, and