Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Has Active Immunization Against Gonadotrophin‐Releasing Hormone any Effect on Testis Innervation in the Pig? – An Immunohistochemical Study

The innervation of porcine testes was studied in intact animals and in boars undergoing active immunization against gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) by means of immunohistochemistry using antibodies to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine β‐hydroxylase (DβH), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), synaptosome‐associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP‐25) and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5). Moreover, the distribution of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors in clusters of Leydig cells was also investigated. To identify these cells easily, either the NADPH‐diaphorase histochemical technique or the Mayer counter‐staining procedure was applied. Differences in the distribution pattern and relative density of particular subsets of intratesticular nerve fibres were observed in immunized boars as compared to those found in the intact animals. In the testes of non‐treated animals, only single TH‐immunoreactive (TH‐IR) nerve fibres were observed. However, many DβH‐IR nerve terminals surrounded blood vessels in the tunica albuginea and parenchyma. Very scarce VIP‐IR nerves occurred only in the tunica albuginea, mainly in close vicinity to blood vessels. Immunoreactivity to NPY occurred in single nerve fibres. Immunoreactivity to SNAP‐25 and PGP 9.5 was found in single nerve fibres distributed mainly in the tunica albuginea. The interstitial cells were heavily stained for LH‐receptors and NADPH‐diaphorase. In the testes of immunized animals, only single TH‐IR nerve fibres, scattered mainly in the tunica albuginea, were observed. Some TH‐IR nerve terminals were also encountered in the parenchyma of the organ, where they were always associated with blood vessels. DβH‐IR nerve fibres formed a dense network distributed throughout the testis in association with the capsule, vasculature and interstitium. Some fibres were observed to run between seminiferous tubules. VIP‐IR nerve fibres were located in the neighbourhood of blood vessels in the tunica albuginea and parenchyma. Only single VIP‐IR nerves were found between seminiferous tubules. Numerous NPY‐IR nerve fibres occurred in the tunica albuginea and parenchyma of the organ. SNAP‐25‐IR and PGP 9.5‐IR nerve terminals formed a dense network distributed throughout the testis and many fibres were observed between seminiferous tubules. Interstitial cells were very weakly stained for LH receptors or NADPH‐diaphorase.
Isolation of Bacteroides Ureolyticus from the Equine Endometrium

not be completely eliminated by hydrogen peroxide in methanol incubation. Occasional diffuse background staining was also detected. However, none of the background staining caused confusion in interpretation when appropriate negative control antiserum was compared to Coxiella-specific serum, and careful morphologic examination was performed. We have adapted this technique for routine screening of ovine and caprine placental tissue from abortions. An immunoperoxidase technique applicable to paraffin sections for definitive detection of Coxiella burnetii in placental tissues can contribute to a rapid diagnosis while eliminating the source of laboratory infections from airborne dissemination of the rickettsiae present in fresh tissues. In addition, sample submission is convenient, and retrospective studies of stored specimens are possible. Definitive and rapid diagnosis of Coxiella-induced abortion will facilitate identification of infected dams in commercial and experimental flocks, thereby contributing significantly to prevention of Zoonotic transmission. Acknowledgements. We thank Victor Tobias, Antonia DeNubilo, and Carole Hoch in the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for technical support. We would also like to thank Drs. Brad C. Barr, CVDLS, Davis, CA; Alan Bosemworth, NSDA/ADL, Reno, NV; and Barbara M. Daft, CVDLS, San Bernardino, CA, for submission of case material.
Biomechanical Properties of Commonly Used Autogenous Transplants in the Surgical Treatment of Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical properties of commonly used autogenous transplants for the surgical stabilization of chronic lateral ankle instability. We dissected the transplants (peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, Achilles and plantaris tendon, periosteal flap, fascia, corium) and the anterior talofibular ligament from 13 fresh anatomic specimens. After laser-assisted measurement of the transplant diameter, we assessed their biomechanical properties with a universal testing device. Biomechanical stability of the peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, and Achilles tendons was significantly higher than the other transplants. The stability parameters of the periosteal flap were in the range of the anterior talofibular ligament but inferior to the tendons. The application of a transplant with low biomechanical stability, such as the periostal flap, requires more postoperative immobilization as in a strong orthosis or cast.
Expected Utility Theory with Bounded Probability Nets ∗

This paper develops an extension of expected utility theory by introducing various restrictions; e.g., probabilities have only decimal (or binary) fractions of finite depths not greater than a given constant, the preference relation in question may be incomplete. The basic idea is separation between measurement of utility for pure alternatives and extension to lotteries involving more risks such as plans for future events. These are formulated in an axiomatic manner. When no depth restrictions are given on permissible probabilities, the axioms determine a complete preference relation uniquely, which may be regarded as the classical EU theory. When a finite restriction is given, there are multiple preference relations compatible with the axioms, including incomparability on some lotteries. We exemplify the Alleis-Kahneman-Tversky anomaly within our theory. We also connect the measurement process in our theory to the satisficing/aspiration argument due to H. Simon. JEL Classification Numbers: C72, C79, C91
The impact of switching frequency on PWM AC drive efficiency

The number of ac drives present in the power systems of most industrial facilities has shown a significant increase in the past 3 decades, taking an important percentage of the total power demand. Two options to produce energy savings on these drives is the use of an optimized flux level, and the operation with reduced switching frequency. Paper reports the development of a complete loss model for vector controlled low-voltage ac drives, which includes all converter and motor loss components. Using this loss model, an algorithm is implemented to run detailed loss evaluations in the entire constant-torque zone. Four ac drives of 4 kW, 11 kW, 55 kW and 110 kW are evaluated considering switching frequencies of 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz and 8 kHz. Results confirm that reducing the switching frequency from 8 kHz to 2 kHz produce interesting power savings, while keeping a low level of harmonic content and a safe operation of the ac drive.
HIV/AIDS KNOWLEDGE, WOMEN’S EDUCATION, EPIDEMIC SEVERITY AND PROTECTIVE SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES

Summary. A fundamental public health strategy to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS is to increase levels of awareness and knowledge about the disease. Although knowledge about HIV/AIDS and protective sexual behaviour are linked theoretically, relatively little is known about their empirical relationship. Using Demographic and Health Survey data from 23 low- and middle-income countries, this study used multilevel logistic regression models: to examine cross-national variability in the relationship between HIV/AIDS knowledge and protective behaviour (condom use and restricted sex); to investigate the moderating influences of women’s educational attainment on this relationship; and to test the extent to which severity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic accounts for cross-national variability in the association between HIV/AIDS knowledge and protective behaviour. There was an association between increased knowledge of HIV/AIDS and condom use that varied in strength and form cross-nationally. This cross-national variation was accounted for partially by the socioeconomic characteristics of women resident in the study countries and between-country differences in the severity of the HIV epidemic. While education modified the association between HIV/AIDS knowledge and protective behaviour – stronger associations at lower levels of education – epidemic severity exerted a stronger influence on behaviour than any other characteristic. Finally, this study indicates that protective sexual practices are disturbingly low. In eight of 23 countries, overall levels of condom use to prevent STDs and HIV/AIDS were less than 5·0%. Waiting for the spread of HIV/AIDS infection to change sexual practices in low- and middle-income countries will result in dramatic unnecessary suffering.
Stable isotopes of captive cetaceans (killer whales and bottlenose dolphins)

SUMMARY There is currently a great deal of interest in using stable isotope methods to investigate diet, trophic level and migration in wild cetaceans. In order to correctly interpret the results stemming from these methods, it is crucial to understand how diet isotopic values are reflected in consumer tissues. In this study, we investigated patterns of isotopic discrimination between diet and blood constituents of two species of cetaceans (killer whale, Orcinus orca, and bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus) fed controlled diets over 308 and 312 days, respectively. Diet discrimination factors (Δ; mean ± s.d.) for plasma were estimated to Δ13C=2.3±0.6‰ and Δ15N=1.8±0.3‰, respectively, for both species and to Δ13C=2.7±0.3‰ and Δ15N=0.5±0.1‰ for red blood cells. Delipidation did not have a significant effect on carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of blood constituents, confirming that cetacean blood does not serve as a reservoir of lipids. In contrast, carbon isotopic values were higher in delipidated samples of blubber, liver and muscle from killer whales. The potential for conflict between fisheries and cetaceans has heightened the need for trophic information about these taxa. These results provide the first published stable isotope incorporation data for cetaceans, which are essential if conclusions are to be drawn on issues concerning trophic structures, carbon sources and diet reconstruction.
Effect of Antioxidants, Amino Acids and Plant Growth Regulators on in vitro Propagation of Rosa centifolia.

BACKGROUND Rosa centifoliais commercially propagated by asexual means but in vitro propagation ensure the production of disease free and healthy plants and browning of explants creates hurdle in their multiplication. OBJECTIVES The aim was to reduce oxidative browning of shoots of R. centifolia in MS medium during in vitro propagation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Axillary buds of R. centifolia were sterilized with 70% ethyl alcohol for 4 min and 5% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min followed by three washing with sterilized double distilled water. In order to control oxidative browning, Ascorbic acid (100 mg.L-1), citric acid (100 mg.L-1) and activated charcoal (3 g.L-1) were used while to control withering of shoots, different concentrations (3.0 mg.L-1, 6.0 mg.L-1, 9.0 mg.L-1) of either glutamine, asparagine and proline were put into trial. Different concentrations of Benzyl aminopurine (BAP) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) were used for in vitro shoot and root formation. RESULTS Minimum browning percentage (20%) was achieved in the presence of activated charcoal (3.0 g.L-1) and pretreatment of explants with running tap water. Asparagin (9.0 mg.L-1) produced maximum shooting (93%), minimum withering (6.67%), and it took longer period (27 days) for shoots to wither. BAP (3.0 mg.L-1) + NAA (0.5 mg.L-1) was produced the highest number of shoots (1.63), in a shortest periods (9 days). For root production, NAA (1.5 mg.L-1) + BAP (0.5 mg.L-1) reduced the time to 11 days with maximum number of roots (4.33) and root length (4.20 cm). CONCLUSIONS The supplement of activated charcoal (3.0 g.L-1), a sparagin (9.0 mg.L-1) and combination of BAP and NAA in the MS medium is effective for in vitro propagation of R. centifolia.
Acetylator phenotype in Iraqi patients with discoid lupus erythematosus.

1Department of Pharmacology; 3Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq (Correspondence to R.A. Najim: rafidnajim@yahoo.com). 2Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Al Nahreen University, Baghdad, Iraq. Received: 09/03/04; accepted: 14/06/04 ABSTRACT The study was designed to determine the acetylator status in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and compare it to a matched group of healthy volunteers. Disease severity was determined using the revised American College of Rheumatology criteria for classification and the SLE disease activity index. After an overnight fast, each participant received a single oral dose of 100 mg dapsone. After 3 hours, plasma dapsone/monoacetyldapsone ratio was determined. In the control group, frequency of slow acetylators was 73.3%; frequency of rapid acetylators was 26.7%. In SLE patients, frequency of slow acetylators was 78.0%; frequency of rapid acetylators was 12.0%. However, 8.0% were non-acetylators (monoacetyldapsone not detected in plasma). There was no association between acetylator status and severity of SLE.
Bonding versus bridging social capital and their associations with self rated health: a multilevel analysis of 40 US communities

Study objective: Few studies have distinguished between the effects of different forms of social capital on health. This study distinguished between the health effects of summary measures tapping into the constructs of community bonding and community bridging social capital. Design: A multilevel logistic regression analysis of community bonding and community bridging social capital in relation to individual self rated fair/poor health. Setting: 40 US communities. Participants: Within community samples of adults (n = 24 835), surveyed by telephone in 2000–2001. Main results: Adjusting for community sociodemographic and socioeconomic composition and community level income and age, the odds ratio of reporting fair or poor health was lower for each 1-standard deviation (SD) higher community bonding social capital (OR = 0.86; 95% = 0.80 to 0.92) and each 1-SD higher community bridging social capital (OR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.88 to 1.02). The addition of indicators for individual level bonding and bridging social capital and social trust slightly attenuated the associations for community bonding social capital (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.84 to 0.97) and community bridging social capital (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.89 to 1.03). Individual level high formal bonding social capital, trust in members of one’s race/ethnicity, and generalised social trust were each significantly and inversely related to fair/poor health. Furthermore, significant cross level interactions of community social capital with individual race/ethnicity were seen, including weaker inverse associations between community bonding social capital and fair/poor health among black persons compared with white persons. Conclusions: These results suggest modest protective effects of community bonding and community bridging social capital on health. Interventions and policies that leverage community bonding and bridging social capital might serve as means of population health improvement.
Chromatic discrimination losses in multiple sclerosis patients with and without optic neuritis using the Cambridge Colour Test

We assessed chromatic discrimination in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients both with (ON) and without (no ON) a history of optic neuritis using the Cambridge color test (CCT). Our goal was to determine the magnitude and chromatic axes of any color vision losses in both patient groups, and to evaluate age-related changes in chromatic discrimination in both patient groups compared to normals. Using the CCT, we measured chromatic discrimination along the protan, deutan and tritan axes in 35 patients with MS (17 ON eyes) and 74 age matched controls. Color thresholds for both patient groups were significantly higher than controls' along the protan and tritan axes (p < 0.001). In addition, the ON and no-ON groups differed significantly along all three-color axes (p < 0.001). MS patients presented a progressive color discrimination impairment with age (along the deutan and tritan axes) that was almost two times faster than controls, even in the absence of ON. These findings suggest that demyelinating diseases reduce sensitivity to color vision in both red-green and blue-yellow axes, implying impairment in both parvocellular and koniocellular visual pathways. The CCT is a useful tool to help characterize vision losses in MS, and the relationship between these losses and degree of optic nerve involvement.
The Mediating Effect of Brand Trust Between Online Customer Reviews and Willingness to Buy

This research investigates how online customer reviews affect consumer decision-making willingness to buy during their first purchase of services or products. By using brand trust as a mediating variable in the relationship between online customers' reviews and consumers' willingness to buy, data was collected through a quasi-experiment approach, and analysed using structural equation modelling. 240 returns were used in this study a response rate of approximately 70%. The findings demonstrated that the "reliability dimension" of brand trust has a mediating effect on online customer reviews' valence to willingness to buy, while the "intentionality dimension" had little effect. Furthermore, the findings also suggested that online customer reviews generated by in-group and out-group reviewers have little effect on purchasing decisions when viewing the reviews from an independent source. These results suggest that marketers should focus more on managing negative online customer reviews that have a damaging effect on brand trust.
Septic diabetic foot is not necessarily an indication for amputation.

UNLABELLED Management of the septic foot is a challenge in diabetic patients, and this condition often progresses to amputation in an effort to alleviate otherwise incurable infection. We designed and followed a protocol for the management of the septic diabetic foot and, after 2 years (May 2004 through June 2006), we analyzed the data related to 31 septic feet of 139 patients. The treatment protocol consisted of blood glucose control, intravenous antibiotic therapy, controlling comorbidities, revascularization, ulcer drainage and irrigation, systematic debridement, dressing changes and wound care, and amputation if necessary. The outcomes of interest were amputation and limb salvage. The analyses showed that frequent drainage and debridement, along with revascularization when indicated and possible, resulted in 4 (12.9%) major (below-the-knee) amputations and 3 transmetatarsal amputations. Of the 7 amputations, 3 were associated with ischemia, 4 with neuropathy, and 1 with neuropathy and ischemia. In follow-up, 1 patient with a prior history of septic diabetic foot required major amputation. Based on these findings, it is concluded that the septic diabetic foot is not necessarily an indication for amputation, and aggressive management by means of metabolic and surgical care can lead to a favorable outcome. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE 2.
Studies on the effect of unilateral and bilateral castration on plasma testosterone and LH levels in the bull.

was taken from indwelling jugular cannulae at 30 min intervals for 48 hr, a testis being removed under local anaesthesia (Lignocaine, Pharmaceutical Man. Co.) from each animal after 24 hr. Testosterone concentrations in plasma were measured by the radioimmunoassay method of Haynes, Hafs, Waters, Manns & Riley (1975) and LH concentrations by the radioimmunological procedure described by Oxender, Hafs & Edgerton (1972). One bull had no detectable testosterone after unilateral castration and was not included in the analysis.
Internet Users' Privacy Concerns and Beliefs About Government Surveillance: An Exploratory Study of Differences Between Italy and the United States

The study examines differences in individualâ€™s privacy concerns and beliefs about government surveillance in Italy and the United States. By incorporating aspects of multiple cultural theories, we argue that for both countries, the userâ€™s decision to conduct e-commerce transactions on the Internet is influenced by privacy concerns, perceived need for government surveillance that would secure the Internet environment from fraud, crime and terrorism, and balancing concerns about government intrusion. An empirical model was tested using LISREL structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis. The results support the hypotheses with regard to direction and relative magnitude of the relationships. Italians exhibit lower Internet privacy concerns than individuals in the U.S., lower perceived need for government surveillance, and higher concerns about government intrusion. The relationships among the model constructs are also different across the two countries. Implications of the findings and directions for future work are discussed.
Color confinement and dual superconductivity of the vacuum. III

It is demonstrated that monopole condensation in the confined phase of SU(2) and SU(3) gauge theories is independent of the specific Abelian projection used to define the monopoles. Hence the dual excitations which condense in the vacuum to produce confinement must have magnetic U(1) charge in all the Abelian projections. Some physical implications of this result are discussed.
Valence-band physics and the optical properties of GaN epilayers grown onto sapphire with wurtzite symmetry.

We report on a quantitative analysis of the band gap of hexagonal GaN epilayers in terms of the joint contributions of the actual wurtzite symmetry on the one hand and of residual strain fields on the other hand. This investigation leads to revision of the previous modelings based on quasicubic descriptions of the valence-band physics and gives ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{1}$=10\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 meV, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{2}$=6.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 meV, and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{3}$=5.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 meV. Last we propose a set of deformation potentials for the hexagonal GaN semiconductor.
Reliability-aware DAG scheduling with primary-backup in cloud computing

Cloud computing environments facilitate applications by providing virtualised resources that can be provisioned dynamically. The efficient scheduling of application tasks is critical to achieve high performance in cloud computing systems. To schedule precedence graphs in a more realistic cloud computing environments, we introduce a new scheduling model that considers the contention for communication not only processors resource but also network interface, what's more it is more suitable for fault-tolerant scheduling. Another novel idea proposed in this paper is taken primary-backup replication to duplicate all tasks and get an optimal scheduling solution. Our algorithms have a low time complexity, and drastically improve reliability by replication mechanism and reliability estimation. Experimental results fully demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed algorithms, which lead to efficient execution schemes while guaranteeing a prescribed level of fault tolerance.