Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Thermal Stress on Haematological Parameters and Enzymatic Activities in Two Breeds of Goat after Thermal Stress

The influence of thermal stress (heat and cold stress) on haematological parameters and some enzyme activities were studied in Beetal and Toggenberg goats. A total of 36 healthy adult (2–4 years of age) female Beetal and Toggenberg goats were selected. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activities. Haemoglobin concentrations were found significantly higher (P<0.01) in all seasons, whereas, significantly higher (P<0.01) PCV was found in summer and autumn; ESR in summer season only in Toggenberg as compared to those of Beetal goat. In between three different seasons, irrespective of breed, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) values were significantly higher (P<0.01) in summer followed by autumn and winter season whereas alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was significantly higher (P<0.01) in winter than those of other two seasons. In between the breeds, significantly higher (P<0.01) enzyme activities (AST, ALT and ALP) were found in Toggenberg goats in all seasons as compared to Beetal. When the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values were considered separately in Beetal and Toggenberg goats in different seasons, significantly higher (P<0.01) activities were found in summer followed by autumn than those of winter season in both the breeds.
Comparison of diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in a county-wide sample.

OBJECTIVE To examine teacher-reported prevalence rates for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) based on DSM-III-R and DSM-IV in the same population. METHOD Teachers completed questionnaires in which they rated all their students on all DSM-III-R and DSM-IV symptoms for disruptive behavior disorders except for seven conduct disorder symptoms but including seven symptoms screening for anxiety or depression. This constituted all children in kindergarten through fifth grade in a middle Tennessee county during the 1993-1994 academic year (16 schools, 398 teachers, and 8,258 children). Also included were questions about the children's diagnosis of ADHD, treatment with stimulants, and the presence of behavior or academic problems. RESULTS The prevalence rates were 7.3% for ADHD (DSM-III-R); 11.4% for ADHD, total (TOT); 5.4% for ADHD, inattentive type (AD); 2.4% for ADHD, hyperactive-impulsive type (HI); and 3.6% for ADHD, combined type (CT). Factor analysis identified five factors: opposition/defiance-conduct, inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, anxiety/depression, and stealing-truancy. The rates of problems differed mostly between ADHD-AD and ADHD-HI (40% versus 80%) for behavior and (75% versus 23%) for academics. Few (15% to 40%) had an ADHD diagnosis or stimulant treatment (21% to 32%). CONCLUSION DSM-IV criteria are likely to increase the prevalence of this disorder in comparison with DSM-III-R rates, but they may better characterize its heterogeneity.
The use of an asynchronous learning network for senior house officers in emergency medicine

Full-shift working by senior house officers (SHOs) is well recognised as a definite constraint to effective group learning, as it is practically impossible to gather all team members together for teaching sessions at any given time. Provision of a robust weekly teaching programme is further compromised in units where relatively few doctors participate in the rota in any case. Although practical skills tuition will always demand an intensive, hands-on learning environment, teaching in relation to case-based discussion, clinical problem solving and other group activities may well be suited to more innovative methods.
Effects of beta-lactam antibiotics on proliferating eucaryotic cells

Most fungal toxins interact specifically with well-defined target structures, thereby reaching very high selectivity for the cell type attacked (17). The susceptibility of bacteria to beta-lactam antibiotics, as an example, is due to a number of penicillin-binding proteins on the bacterial plasma membrane. The eucaryotic cell lacks such target structures. Its insusceptibility to beta-lactams seems to be a logical consequence. Accordingly, beta-lactams are generally considered to be remarkably nontoxic in humans, with most of their side effects believed to be immune mediated (6, 10). Clinical and experimental observations shed some doubt on this belief. In this minireview, recent evidence that beta-lactam antibiotics can act on cultured eucaryotic cells is reviewed and an evaluation is made concerning potential clinical impact.
In situ swimming and feeding behavior of eight co-occurring hydromedusae

The morphology, swimming kinematics and prey selection of hydromedusae have been shown to be closely related to hydromedusan foraging mode. In order to confirm this link, we examined the in situ foraging behavior of hydromedusae by video-recording and quantifying the in situ swimming activity and tentacle-extension behavior of 8 co-occurring hydromedusae from the waters surrounding Friday Harbor, Washington. The cruising-predatory medusae Aequorea victoria, Mitrocoma cellularia, Phialidium grega- rium, and Eutonina indicans spent a greater proportion of their time swimming (on average from 74.1 to 92.1%) than the ambush-predatory medusae Aglantha digitale, Sarsia sp. , Leuckartiara sp. , and Stomotoca atra (on average from 19.5 to 47.0%). In addition, the cruising-predatory medusae were observed with their tentacles extended almost continuously, regardless of whether they were swimming or drifting. In contrast, the ambush-predatory medusae drifted with their tentacles extended but contracted their tentacles when swim- ming. These patterns indicate that cruising-predatory me- dusae can feed while either swimming or drifting, whereas the ambush-predatory medusae feed while drifting but not while swimming. Thus, swimming plays a distinctly different role within the behavioral repertoire of each of these medu- san foraging modes. Furthermore, the swimming activity and tentacle-extension behavior we observed were consistent with strategies that optimized feeding by each of the predator
HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE ISTHMUS AND UTERUS OF TURKEY HENS MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO

In the current study, total of (10) indigenous adult turkey hens (Meleagris gallopavo) aged about(45-55) weeks, these birds purchased from local supplier in Diala city, Iraq were kept under normal conditions (outdoor) and allowed to access feed and water ad-libitum for two weeks. The mucosal folds of isthmus are in longitudinal orientation, branched into primary and secondary folds but are shorter and not prominent as those of the magnum lined by an epithelium composed of simple columnar epithelium. The mucosal folds of the uterus are longer, narrower, branched into primary and secondary folds arranged in numerous leaf-like lamellae appearance, lined with ciliated pseudo stratified columnar epithelium.
Botulinum Toxin Treatment for Slipping Rib Syndrome: A Case Report

Background:Slipping rib syndrome (SRS) is a musculoskeletal cause of severe and recurrent thoracic or abdominal pain. The etiology of SRS is unknown, it seems to arise from costal hypermobility with a tendency of one of the ribs (usually from 8th to 10th but also 11th and 12th have been described) to slip under the superior adjacent rib. Its prevalence is underestimated because SRS is mainly a clinical diagnosis, frequently missed. The critical aspect of the diagnosis is knowledge of the condition itself, which, when lacking, often results in the patient being referred to many different specialists and exposed to unnecessary and costly investigations. The management of the condition includes conservative techniques such as manipulation, localized anesthetic, and steroid or anesthetic nerve block. However, where conservative therapy fails, surgical treatment, with excision of the rib, may be performed. Methods:In this paper we describe the case of a patient with persistent and debilitating flank pain who, after many investigations, was diagnosed with SRS. Results:The usual conservative treatment failed, after which we treated the patient with injections of incobotulinumtoxin A into muscles inserting on the inferior side of the rib cage (quadratus lumborum muscle, muscle transversus abdomini, abdominal external oblique muscle, and recto abdomini) achieving a complete relief from pain. Conclusions:To our knowledge botulinum toxin has never been proposed before for the treatment of SRS. We believe that it should be considered as a therapeutic option, especially where other medical treatments have failed or as an intermediate step before surgical intervention.
Magnetic resonance imaging for assessment of cerebrovascular reactivity in cerebral small vessel disease: A systematic review

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) pathophysiology is poorly understood. Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) impairment may play a role, but evidence to date is mainly indirect. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows investigation of CVR directly in the tissues affected by SVD. We systematically reviewed the use of MRI to measure CVR in subjects with SVD. Five studies (total n = 155 SVD subjects, 84 controls) provided relevant data. The studies included different types of patients. Each study used blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) MRI to assess CVR but a different vasoactive stimulus and method of calculating CVR. CVR decreased with increasing white matter hyperintensities in two studies (n = 17, 11%) and in the presence of microbleeds in another. Three studies (n = 138, 89%) found no association of CVR with white matter hyperintensities. No studies provided tissue-specific CVR values. CVR decreased with age in three studies, and with female gender and increasing diastolic blood pressure in one study. Safety and tolerability data were limited. Larger studies using CVR appear to be feasible and are needed, preferably with more standardized methods, to determine if specific clinical or radiological features of SVD are more or less associated with impaired CVR.
Cognition, MRS Neurometabolites, and MRI Volumetrics in Non-Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Preliminary Data

Objective:To correlate cognitive dysfunction with structural and neurometabolic brain findings in patients with non-neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (non-NPSLE). Background:Over 25% of non-NPSLE patients have cognitive dysfunction, but the cerebral basis of this observation is not well understood. Method:Seven patients with non-NPSLE and seven control subjects were given a series of neuropsychological tests and neuroimaging with magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Analyses of cognitive function and structural and neurometabolic measures of the brain were performed. Results:Compared with controls, the non-NPSLE patients were significantly impaired on a global cognitive impairment index (CII). No significant differences between the groups were found in choline/creatine (Ch/Cr), N-acetylaspartic acid/Cr, or hippocampal volumes. Ch/Cr was highly associated with CII across the sample. Conclusions:This is the first study to correlate cognitive impairment with an increase in Ch/Cr ratio among patients with SLE. These results, although preliminary, suggest that changes in cerebral white matter may be important in determining the subtle cognitive impairment that may occur in patients with SLE, even in the absence of neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Clinical response and miR-29b predictive significance in older AML patients treated with a 10-day schedule of decitabine

A phase II clinical trial with single-agent decitabine was conducted in older patients (≥60 years) with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who were not candidates for or who refused intensive chemotherapy. Subjects received low-dose decitabine at 20 mg/m2 i.v. over 1 h on days 1 to 10. Fifty-three subjects enrolled with a median age of 74 years (range, 60–85). Nineteen (36%) had antecedent hematologic disorder or therapy-related AML; 16 had complex karyotypes (≥3 abnormalities). The complete remission rate was 47% (n = 25), achieved after a median of three cycles of therapy. Nine additional subjects had no morphologic evidence of disease with incomplete count recovery, for an overall response rate of 64% (n = 34). Complete remission was achieved in 52% of subjects presenting with normal karyotype and in 50% of those with complex karyotypes. Median overall and disease-free survival durations were 55 and 46 weeks, respectively. Death within 30 days of initiation of treatment occurred in one subject (2%), death within 8 weeks in 15% of subjects. Given the DNA hypomethylating effect of decitabine, we examined the relationship of clinical response and pretreatment level of miR-29b, previously shown to target DNA methyltransferases. Higher levels of miR-29b were associated with clinical response (P = 0.02). In conclusion, this schedule of decitabine was highly active and well tolerated in this poor-risk cohort of older AML patients. Levels of miR-29b should be validated as a predictive factor for stratification of older AML patients to decitabine treatment.
Performance analysis of 3G-1X EVDO high data rate system

The 3G-1X EVDO (Evolution Data Only) standard has been recently finalized by the 3GPP2 (3G Partnership Project 2) and published by the Telecommunications Industry Association as IS-856 (Interim Standard). This system allows data rates of up to 2.4 Mbit/s in 1.25 MHz bandwidth compatible with the frequency plan, of second and third generation systems based on IS-95 and IS-2000. Expected to be launched throughout the world in the near future, this system is capable of substantially enhancing end-user wireless data experience by providing high speed "always on" connectivity in a wide area mobile environment. In this paper we investigate various aspects of 3G-1X EVDO system performance through simulations and analysis. Link level simulator is used to evaluate rate assignment in different fading environments. Long-range prediction of fast fading is used to model operation of the 3G-1X EVDO mobile terminal. System level performance with multiple users in the sector is simulated using realistic assumptions of RF environment and mobility mix. Scheduler operation is included into system level simulation. We further propose a methodology for semianalytical evaluation of packet data sector throughput under assumption of bursty traffic. In this approach, an additional criterion is introduced to establish acceptable operating point for the system. By placing a restriction on a minimum tolerable user throughput (maximum allowed delay), we demonstrate a methodology for evaluating sector throughput in a consistent manner. This methodology ties together minimum performance guarantees for individual users and applications with maximum achievable system level performance and capacity. In this paper we present results demonstrating how the 3G-1X EVDO system capacity depends upon data traffic statistics and user requirements. The notion of system fairness, which is closely related to individual user performance guarantees, is also discussed with respect to 3G-1X EVDO performance.
Polymorphism, crystal nucleation and growth in the phase-field crystal model in 2D and 3D

We apply a simple dynamical density functional theory, the phase-field crystal (PFC) model of overdamped conservative dynamics, to address polymorphism, crystal nucleation, and crystal growth in the diffusion-controlled limit. We refine the phase diagram for 3D, and determine the line free energy in 2D and the height of the nucleation barrier in 2D and 3D for homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation by solving the respective Euler–Lagrange (EL) equations. We demonstrate that, in the PFC model, the body-centered cubic (bcc), the face-centered cubic (fcc), and the hexagonal close-packed structures (hcp) compete, while the simple cubic structure is unstable, and that phase preference can be tuned by changing the model parameters: close to the critical point the bcc structure is stable, while far from the critical point the fcc prevails, with an hcp stability domain in between. We note that with increasing distance from the critical point the equilibrium shapes vary from the sphere to specific faceted shapes: rhombic dodecahedron (bcc), truncated octahedron (fcc), and hexagonal prism (hcp). Solving the equation of motion of the PFC model supplied with conserved noise, solidification starts with the nucleation of an amorphous precursor phase, into which the stable crystalline phase nucleates. The growth rate is found to be time dependent and anisotropic; this anisotropy depends on the driving force. We show that due to the diffusion-controlled growth mechanism, which is especially relevant for crystal aggregation in colloidal systems, dendritic growth structures evolve in large-scale isothermal single-component PFC simulations. An oscillatory effective pair potential resembling those for model glass formers has been evaluated from structural data of the amorphous phase obtained by instantaneous quenching. Finally, we present results for eutectic solidification in a binary PFC model.
Practitioner pre-adoption perceptions of Electronic Medical Record systems

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to propose and test a theoretical model on pre-adoption views of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems by Canadian medical practitioners. An empirical investigation was conducted with a sample of Canadian practitioners not currently using EMRs to identify relevant factors favouring or deterring adoption. The results show that positive performance and effort expectancies help while perceived psychological risk hinders adoption in the view of Canadian medical practitioners who are not yet using EMRs. Overall, this study contributes to understanding practitioners’ views on the potential adoption of EMRs with the purpose of increasing the success of this novel eHealth tool.
Sustainable microfinancing: improving microenterprise's traditional measures of success

Microfinance has over three decades of experience serving the needs of the poor on earth. Unfortunately, academia and the secular world are divided on its effectiveness to lift the impoverished from the bottom of the economic pyramid. India is the focus of this paper, but measures of microfinance success are essentially universal. This paper examines the metrics used to evaluate programs and their benefit to India's poor. Current estimates find 2.8 billion people survive on less than $2 per day. Subsistence living impacts nutrition, shelter, sanitation, transportation and access to healthcare and education. India's caste system creates discrimination and overpopulation causes high unemployment. Women's rights and empowerment become major issues in the developing world, as well as the status of orphans. The literature review covers case studies, outcomes, and best practices that have evolved to help the under-privileged. Can government and non-government organizations stimulate the economy of the poor? Will teaching job, life and entrepreneurial skills elevate standards of living? Ultimately, it is the poor who must lift themselves from poverty with incentives, education and motivation. This Study by: Stephen R Watson Entitled: SUSTAINABLE MICROFINANCING: IMPROVING MICROENTERPRISE'S TRADITIONAL MEASURES OF SUCCESS has been approved as meeting the research paper requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts. S\l. \ \tS" \ Date " /t--· j Dr. Rodney Dieser, chair 3
Immunity to viral infections among medical students in London

EDITOR, - Those responsible for students' health (for example, occupational health departments) frequently seek advice about immunity to viral infections among medical students. We therefore tested serum obtained between 1988 and 1990 from 199 first year students at the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals (St Thomas's campus) for antibodies to measles, mumps, rubella, herpes simplex, varicella zoster, and hepatitis A viruses and to cytomegalovirus. The table gives the techniques used and results obtained. The prevalence of antibodies to rubella virus among our female students (99%) confirms the success of …
on Negotiation and Group Decision-Making Outcomes The Communication Orientation Model : Explaining the Diverse Effects of Sight , Sound , and Synchronicity

Two quantitative meta-analyses examined how the presence of visual channels, vocal channels, and synchronicity influences the quality of outcomes in negotiations and group decision making. A qualitative review of the literature found that the effects of communication channels vary widely and that existing theories do not sufficiently account for these contradictory findings. To parsimoniously encompass the full range of existing data, the authors created the communication orientation model, which proposes that the impact of communication channels is shaped by communicators’ orientations to cooperate or not. Two meta-analyses—conducted separately for negotiations and decision making—provide strong support for this model. Overall, the presence of communication channels (a) increased the achievement of high-quality outcomes for communicators with a neutral orientation, (b) did not affect the outcomes for communicators with a cooperative orientation, but (c) hurt communicators’ outcomes with a noncooperative orientation. Tests of cross-cultural differences in each meta-analysis further supported the model: for those with a neutral orientation, the beneficial effects of communication channels were weaker within East Asian cultures (i.e., Interdependent and therefore more predisposed towards cooperation) than within Western cultures (i.e., Independent).
Astral microtubules physically redistribute cortical actin filaments to the incipient contractile ring

Prior to cell cleavage, cytokinetic proteins are recruited into the nascent actomyosin contractile ring, paving the way for formation of a functional cleavage furrow. Interactions between spindle microtubules and the cell cortex may play a critical role in this recruitment, since microtubules have been shown to affect distribution and activation of cytokinetic proteins within the cortex. However, direct evidence for physical interaction between microtubules and the cortex has been lacking. Here, we probed the physical connection between astral microtubules and cortical actin filaments, by micromanipulating the fluorescently tagged cytoskeleton in living spermatocytes of the grasshopper Melanoplus femurrubrum. When microtubules were tugged with a microneedle, they in turn pulled on cortical actin filaments, interrupting the filaments' journey toward the equator. Further displacement of the actin dragged the cell membrane inward, demonstrating that the cortical actin network physically linked spindle microtubules to the cell membrane. Regional disruption of the connection by breaking spindle microtubules prevented actin accumulation in a segment of the ring, which locally inhibited furrowing. We propose a model in which dynamic astral microtubules physically redistribute cortical actin into the incipient contractile ring. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc