Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of variance components with dominance and inbreeding in dairy cattle.

SUMMARY The five variance components in the genetic (co)variance among inbred relatives for a quantitative trait with additive and dominance genetic variation were estimated by equating variances among and within different types of families of inbred cows to their expectations. The data used were milk and fat yields of 85,433 U.S. Holstein cows with inbreeding coefficients of 6.25% or higher. When all five parameters were estimated, unrealistic results were obtained. If all quantitative trait loci are biallelic, genetic (co)variance depends on only four parameters. More realistic estimates were obtained under this assumption. There was a substantial negative covariance among breeding values and dominance effects under inbreeding, and the dominance variance in inbred cows was larger than the dominance variance in the noninbred base population. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Varianzkomponenteneinschätzung bei Dominanz und Inzucht von Milchvieh Die fünf Varianzkomponenten in der genetischen (Ko)Varianz zwischen ingezüchteten Verwandten in einem quantitativen Merkmal wurden geschätzt durch Gleichsetzen von Varianzen zwischen und innerhalb verschiedener Familien von ingezüchteter Kühen zu ihren Erwartungswerten. Das Datenmaterial bestand aus den Milch- und Fettmengen von 85,433 U.S. Holstein Kühen mit Inzuchtkoeffizienten von 6.25% oder höher. Die gleichzeitige Schätzung aller fünf Parameter führte zu unrealistischen Ergebnissen. Wenn an allen Genorten des quantitativen Merkmals nur zwei Allele vorkommen, gehen nur vier Parameter in die genetische (Ko)Varianz ein. Die Schätzwerte, die unter dieser Annahme berechnet wurden, waren plausibler. Eine beträchtliche negative Kovarianz zwischen den Zuchtwerten und den Dominanzwerten bei Inzucht wurde gefunden, und die Dominanzvarianz war unter Inzucht gróßer als in der Basispopulation.
The ability to form biofilm influences Mycobacterium avium invasion and translocation of bronchial epithelial cells

Organisms of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) are widely distributed in the environment, form biofilms in water pipes and potable water tanks, and cause chronic lung infections in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. Pathological studies in patients with pulmonary MAC infection revealed granulomatous inflammation around bronchi and bronchioles. BEAS‐2B human bronchial epithelial cell line was used to study MAC invasion. MAC strain A5 entered polarized BEAS‐2B cells with an efficiency of 0.1 ± 0.03% in 2 h and 11.3 ± 4.0% in 24 h. In contrast, biofilm‐deficient transposon mutants 5G4, 6H9 and 9B5 showed impaired invasion. Bacteria exposed to BEAS‐2B cells for 24 h had greater ability to invade BEAS‐2B cells compared with bacteria incubated in broth. M. avium had no impact on the monolayer transmembrane resistance. Scanning electron microscopy showed that MAC A5 forms aggregates on the surface of BEAS‐2B cell monolayers, and transmission electron microscopy evidenced MAC within vacuoles in BEAS‐2B cells. Cells infected with the 5G4 mutant, however, showed significantly fewer bacteria and no aggregates on the cell surface. Mutants had impaired ability to cause infection in mice, as well. The ability to form biofilm appeared to be associated with the invasiveness of MAC A5.
Cyclic ADP-ribose Enhances Coupling between Voltage-gated Ca2+ Entry and Intracellular Ca2+ Release*

Ca2+ release from intracellular stores can be activated in neurons by influx of Ca2+through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. This process, called Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release, relies on the properties of the ryanodine receptor and represents a mechanism by which Ca2+ influx during neuronal activity can be amplified into large intracellular Ca2+ signals. In a differentiated neuroblastoma cell line, we show that caffeine, a pharmacological activator of the ryanodine receptor, released Ca2+ from intracellular stores in a Ca2+-dependent and ryanodine-sensitive manner. The pyridine nucleotide, cyclic ADP-ribose, thought to be an endogenous modulator of ryanodine receptors also amplified Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release in these neurons. Cyclic ADP-ribose enhanced the total cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels during controlled Ca2+ influx through voltage gated channels, in a concentration-dependent and ryanodine-sensitive manner and also increased the sensitivity with which a small amount of Ca2+ influx could trigger additional release from the ryanodine-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores. Single cell imaging showed that following the Ca2+ influx, cyclic ADP-ribose enhanced the spatial spread of the Ca2+ signal from the edge of the cell into its center. These powerful actions suggest a role for cyclic ADP-ribose in the functional coupling of neuronal depolarization, Ca2+entry, and global intracellular Ca2+ signaling.
CONTRIBUTION OF UTTAR PRADESH TOWARDS INDIAN POTATO

Uttar Pradesh is the largest potato producing state of India. Potato performance in UP has been slightly better than that of India on area, production and productivity fronts. The analysis of the data from 1949-50 to 2004-05 indicated that UP state has been an indicator for the overall potato performance in the country. The decline in annual compound growth rates (ACGRs) of potato productivity in UP from 1980 onward and negative ACGRs of potato productivity from 2000 onward has very serious policy implications for India.
Reporting Adverse Drug Reactions: Evaluations of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Community Pharmacists in UAE

In United Arab Emirates (UAE), the pharmacovigilance (PV) program is in the stage of initiation therefore the success of such a program depends upon the participation of the health care professionals. No study has been found regarding the role of the community pharmacist as a health care provider in monitoring drug safety after marketing. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) toward adverse drug reactions (ADRs ) reporting among community pharmacists (CPs) in Ajman and Sharjah, UAE. Evaluating the baseline KAP of the CPs regarding ADRs reporting can be useful in providing information for the progress of a PV program in UAE. An interview questionnaire was delivered to 300 CPs in Ajman and Sharjah cities. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used for data analysis. Only 4.9% of respondents had good ADRs reporting knowledge, while the majority of pharmacists 93.7% had a positive attitude towards ADRs reporting. Forty four percent of the pharmacists were not alert about ADRs reporting program in UAE. Only 3.6 % of the enrolled pharmacists submitted ADRs report and only 11.2% had good practice score. The results of our study clearly point out that in spite of the community pharmacists positive attitude there was a lack of appropriate knowledge and practice to implement ADRs reporting successfully. The results emphasized the critical need for interventions to support ADRs reporting activity and to maintain CPs positive attitude.
Bending Effects on Highly Birefringent Photonic Crystal Fibers With Low Chromatic Dispersion and Low Confinement Losses

Photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) with elliptical air-holes located in the core area that exhibit high birefringence, low losses, enhanced effective mode area, and low chromatic dispersion across a wide wavelength range have been presented. The effects of bending on birefringence, confinement losses and chromatic dispersion of the fundamental mode of the proposed PCFs have been thoroughly investigated by employing the full vectorial finite element method (FEM). Additionally, localization of higher order modes is presented. Also, effects of angular orientation on bending loss have been reported. Significant improvement on key propagation characteristics of the proposed PCFs are demonstrated by carefully altering the desired air hole diameters and their geometries and the hole-to-hole spacing.
Specialized pediatric palliative home care: a prospective evaluation.

OBJECTIVES In Germany since 2007 children with advanced life-limiting diseases are eligible for Pediatric Palliative Home Care (PPHC), which is provided by newly established specialized PPHC teams. The objective of this study was to evaluate the acceptance and effectiveness of PPHC as perceived by the parents. METHODS Parents of children treated by the PPHC team based at the Munich University Hospital were eligible for this prospective nonrandomized study. The main topics of the two surveys (before and after involvement of the PPHC team) were the assessment of symptom control and quality of life (QoL) in children; and the parents' satisfaction with care, burden of patient care (Häusliche Pflegeskala, home care scale, HPS), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), and QoL (Quality of Life in Life-Threatening Illness-Family Carer Version, QOLLTI-F). RESULTS Of 43 families newly admitted to PPHC between April 2011 and June 2012, 40 were included in the study. The median interval between the first and second interview was 8.0 weeks. The involvement of the PPHC team led to a significant improvement of children's symptoms and QoL (P<0.001) as perceived by the parents; and the parents' own QoL and burden relief significantly increased (QOLLTI-F, P<0.001; 7-point change on a 10-point scale), while their psychological distress and burden significantly decreased (HADS, P<0.001; HPS, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The involvement of specialized PPHC appears to lead to a substantial improvement in QoL of children and their parents, as experienced by the parents, and to lower the burden of home care for the parents of severely ill children.
Acute Pancreatitis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Report of Twenty Cases and a Review of the Literature

The importance of gastrointestinal complications in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been evident since William Osier's description of gastrointestinal crises in erythema exudativum multi-forma in 1895 (46). Thirty-five to forty percent of patients with SLE develop signs or symptoms of gastrointestinal involvement during the course of their illness (6, 17, 26). Nearly 20 percent of these patients complain of abdominal pain at some point and 9.2 percent of Dubois's series of 520 patients presented with abdominal pain as their chief complaint (18). Peritonitis (8, 40, 51, 60), ulceration (36), bowel perforation (15), hemorrhage (15) and motility disturbance (6) are commonly recognized etiologies of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with SLE. While pancreatitis is not mentioned in some reviews of gastrointestinal pathology in SLE (6, 15, 18), Pollak (51) found acute necrotizing pancreatitis in 4 of 14 patients with severe abdominal crisis, 3 of whom died. Since the first reported case by Reifen-stein (52) in 1939, pancreatitis complicating SLE has been reported in 26 patients (8, 10, 11, 14, 22, 23, 25, 27, 35, 42, 44, 51, 52, 54, 61). Patients with SLE may present with gastrointestinal crises (36) including pancreatitis prior to the administration of adrenocorticosteroids. An unresolved issue remains whether SLE, independent of steroid therapy, is a cause of pancreatitis. Reports of patients with pancreatitis prior to the use of steroids (10, 52) or off steroid therapy (44) have suggested that pancreatitis may result as a manifestation of active lupus vasculitis. The importance of vascular (37, 48, 49) and immunologic (39, 64, 65) processes in the development of pancreatitis has been previously emphasized.Corticosteroid therapy per se has also been implicated as a cause of acute pancreatitis (19, 41). Lupus is the most frequent underlying disorder in adults (41) when steroids are implicated as the cause of pancreatitis. No correlation regarding duration of therapy, dosage, or specific corticosteroid preparations has been noted in patients who develop pancreatitis on steroids (11, 19, 41). In view of these unanswered questions, the experience over a 6-year period at The New York Hospital was reviewed. An analysis of 20 cases of clinical pancreatitis associated with SLE is presented in this report.
Hepatitis B vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

AIM To determine the prevalence for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HBV screening and vaccination practices for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS This study is a retrospective, cross-sectional observational study. A retrospective chart review was performed in 500 patients who have been consecutively treated for IBD between September 2008 and January 2013 at the Rush University Medical Center Gastroenterology section. The patients were identified through the electronic medical record with the criteria that they attended the gastroenterology clinic, and that they had a diagnosis of IBD at the time of visit discharge. Once identified, each record was analyzed to determine whether the subject had been infected with HBV in the past, already been vaccinated against HBV, or advised to get vaccinated and followed through with the recommended vaccination. RESULTS About 254 out of 500 patients (51%) had HBV screening ordered. Among those ordered to have screening tests, 86% followed through with HBV serology. Gastroenterology physicians had significantly different screening ratios from each other (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the ratios of HBV screening when IBD specialists were compared to other gastroenterology physicians (0.505 ± 0.023 vs 0.536 ± 0.066, P = 0.66). Of those 220 patients screened, 51% of IBD patients were found not to be immune against HBV. Approximately 50% of gastroenterology physicians recommended HBV vaccinations to their patients in whom serology was negative for antibodies against HBV. IBD specialists recommended vaccinations to a higher percentage of their patients compared to other gastroenterology physicians (0.168 ± 0.019 vs 0.038 ± 0.026, P = 0.015). Present and/or past HBV infection was found in 3.6% of the patients who had serology checked. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) between our study and that reported in previous studies done in Spain (4/220 vs 14/2076 respectively, P = 0.070); and in France (4/220 vs 3/315 respectively, P = 0.159). But, the prevalence of anti-HBcAb in this study was less than that reported in the study in Spain (7/220 vs 155/2076 respectively, P = 0.006); and was not significantly different from that reported in the study in France (7/220 vs 8/315 respectively, P = 0.313). CONCLUSION The prevalence of HBsAg in our IBD patients was not higher than previously reported European studies. Most IBD patients are not routinely screened or vaccinated against HBV at a tertiary referral center in the United States.
How does a millimeter-sized cell find its center?

Microtubules play a central role in centering the nucleus or mitotic in eukaryotic cells. However, despite common use of microtubules for centering, physical mechanisms can vary greatly, and depend on cell size and cell type. In the small fission yeast cells, the nucleus can be centered by pushing forces that are generated when growing microtubules hit the cell boundary. This mechanism may not be possible in larger cells, because the compressive force that microtubules can sustain are limited by buckling, so maximal force decreases with microtubule length. In a well-studied intermediate sized cell, the C. elegans fertilized egg, centrosomes are centered by cortex-attached motors that pull on microtubules. This mechanism is widely assumed to be general for larger cells. However, re-evaluation of classic experiments in a very large cell, the fertilized amphibian egg, argues against such generality. In these large eggs, movement of asters away from a part of the cell boundary that they are touching cannot be mediated by cortical pulling, because the astral microtubules are too short to reach the opposite cell boundary. A century ago, Herlant and Brachet discovered that multiple asters within a single egg center relative to the cell boundary, but also relative to each other. Here, we summarize current understanding of microtubule organization during the first cell cycle in a fertilized Xenopus egg, discuss how microtubule asters move towards the center of this very large cell, and how multiple asters shape and position themselves relative to each other.
Does habit strength moderate the intention–behaviour relationship in the Theory of Planned Behaviour? The case of fruit consumption

The present study examined if habit strength moderated the influence of intention on fruit consumption in a Dutch adult sample (N = 521, 46.3% males, mean age = 34.50, SD = 10.87), using the theoretical relations of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). TPB variables and habit strength were assessed at baseline. Fruit consumption was assessed with a validated questionnaire five weeks later. Three groups were created: low habit strength (n = 180), medium habit strength (n = 185) and high habit strength (n = 156). Confirmatory factor analyses and multi-group path analyses were performed using AMOS 4.0. A good fit was obtained for the overall measurement model and the structural models. Multi-group path analyses showed that intention was a significant predictor of fruit consumption in the low habit (β = 0.36, p < 0.001) and medium habit group (β = 0.30, p < 0.001), but a non-significant predictor in the high habit group (β = 0.05, p = 0.596). Implications for information-based and motivation-based interventions are discussed.
Three-port versus four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Since the first successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy with the establishment of pneumoperitoneum in France by Mouret in 1987, it has become the golden standard for cholecystectomy. Generally techniques with four trocars have been used with surgeons but some of them prefer 3-trocar techniques. Our aim is to compare the clinical outcomes of three- and four-port techniques prospectively. METHODOLOGY Between 1998 and 2003, one hundred and forty-six consecutive patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis in the Medical Faculty of Suleyman Demirel University were randomized to receive either the three-port or the four-port technique. Operative time, (time from the beginning of the insufflation up to the closure of the skin), success rate, visual analogue pain score, analgesia requirements, postoperative hospital stay were compared. RESULTS No differences between the two groups could be found. CONCLUSIONS Three-port technique is safe, effective, and economic but does not reduce the overall pain score and analgesia requirement.
Alternative Energy Sources for Surgical Atrial Ablation

Abstract As less complex modifications of the Maze procedure have been developed, a number of energy sources have been introduced to facilitate the creation of electrically isolating lesions within the atria. These include cryoablation, radiofrequency, microwave, laser, and focused ultrasound. Although each of these sources works slightly differently, the goal of all thermal sources is to heat tissue to a temperature (50°C) above which irreversible electrical isolation occurs. These sources have been utilized both endocardially in arrested heart procedures as well as epicardially in the beating heart setting. There are several obstacles to the use of these sources epicardially, mostly related to the heat sink effect of endocardial blood. Several recent modifications have been introduced that will hopefully increase the efficacy of these sources in beating heart applications. (J Card Surg 2004;19:201‐206)
Problem-Solving Appraisal in the Association of Life Stress and Depression: A South African Study

This study focuses on the role that appraisal of problem-solving skills plays in the relationship of stress to distress. 450 black South African university students completed the Life Experiences Survey, the Problem Solving Inventory, and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Multiple regression analysis indicated a direct effect for problem-solving appraisal on depression, but no support could be found for the stress-buffering effects of problem-solving appraisal.
Pathbase and the MPATH Ontology

Pathbase, the database of mouse histopathology images, was developed as a resource to provide free access to representative images of lesions in background and mutant strains of laboratory mice. When utilized with diagnostic workups or phenotyping of mutant mice, it can provide a “virtual second opinion” for those working without access to groups of experienced pathologists. This is a community resource, and it facilitates the sharing of expertise and data among members of the pathology community worldwide. MPATH—the mouse pathology ontology—was developed alongside Pathbase for the annotation of images and now represents an important resource for the coding of diagnoses, permitting sophisticated data retrieval and computational analysis of mouse phenotypes. In this article, the structure and use of MPATH is discussed, along with current and future challenges for the coding of mutant mouse phenotypes.
Pattern of childhood and adolescent malignancies at a tertiary health institution in South-east Nigeria : A ten year study

Background: Cancer remains a major cause of death in children and adolescents, and differs in adults in nature, distribution and prognosis . A culture of case documentation is lacking in our environment and many cases go unreported. Study objectives: To document the pattern of childhood and adolescent malignancies at a tertiary health institution in south-east Nigeria over a ten year period (January 2004 to December 2013) Methodology: Details of all children and adolescents aged 18 years and below treated for malignancy were extracted from the cancer registry and the records unit of the histopathology department for the period beginning at January 2004 to December 2013 at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria. Information retrieved was verified against the hospital admission register, as well as the medical and histopathology records for all cancer patients over the period of interest. Results: Eighty-five cases of childhood and adolescent malignancy were treated at NAUTH, Nnewi between January2004 and December 2013. Median age of the study population was 9years, with a range of 0.1– 18years, more males (56.50%) than females (43.50%). Commonest tumours were the Lymphomas (11.76%) comprising NonHodgkin’s lymphoma (80%), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (10%) and Large-cell lymphoma (10%), the Leukaemias (11.76%) comprising Acute myeloblastic leukaemia (80%) and Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (20%). Others were Rhabdomyosarcoma (11.76%), Nephroblastoma (11.76%), Retinoblastoma (5.88%), Ovarian tumours (4.71%), the Soft tissue sarcomas-excluding rhabdomyosarcoma (3.53%) and Osteogenic sarcoma (3.35%)’. Conclusion: Study findings suggest that lymphoma, leukaemia, rhabdomyosarcoma and nephroblastoma are the commonest childhood and adolescent malignancies in south-east Nigeria.
The influence of isolation on psychological and physiological variables.

BACKGROUND Human behavior is temporally organized by an endogenous "biological clock," and the alternation between activity and rest is an integral part of this system. Like all other biological functions, the system is only capable of adapting to external stimuli to a limited (and recognizable) extent. HYPOTHESIS In space, astronauts are kept in a relatively isolated and extreme environment. Under these conditions the circadian system is disturbed and specific countermeasures must be invoked in order to avoid negative consequences on sleep, mood and performance. METHOD The results of isolation experiments will be compared with studies in space focusing on the circadian course of variables such as body core temperature, sleep-wake patterns, mood, and performance. RESULTS Subjects in isolation can show disturbances of sleep, mood and vigilance if their biological rhythms run "out of phase. " CONCLUSIONS A strict 24-h time schedule should be kept with regard to environmental, as well as behavioral influences to insure adequate and restful sleep and optimal levels of waking performance and psychological well-being.