Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Halogen species record Antarctic sea ice extent over glacial–interglacial periods

Abstract. Sea ice is an integral part of the earth's climate system because it affects planetary albedo, sea-surface salinity, and the atmosphere–ocean exchange of reactive gases and aerosols. Bromine and iodine chemistry is active at polar sea ice margins with the occurrence of bromine explosions and the biological production of organoiodine from sea ice algae. Satellite measurements demonstrate that concentrations of bromine oxide (BrO) and iodine oxide (IO) decrease over sea ice toward the Antarctic interior. Here we present speciation measurements of bromine and iodine in the TALDICE (TALos Dome Ice CorE) ice core (159°11' E, 72°49' S; 2315 m a.s.l.) spanning the last 215 ky. The Talos Dome ice core is located 250 km inland and is sensitive to marine air masses intruding onto the Antarctic Plateau. Talos Dome bromide (Br−) is positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with sodium (Na). Based on the Br−/Na seawater ratio, bromide is depleted in the ice during glacial periods and enriched during interglacial periods. Total iodine, consisting of iodide (I−) and iodate (IO3−), peaks during glacials with lower values during interglacial periods. Although IO3− is considered the most stable iodine species in the atmosphere it was only observed in the TALDICE record during glacial maxima. Sea ice dynamics are arguably the primary driver of halogen fluxes over glacial–interglacial timescales, by altering the distance between the sea ice edge and the Antarctic plateau and by altering the surface area of sea ice available to algal colonization. Based on our results we propose the use of both halogens for examining Antarctic variability of past sea ice extent.
Facilitating emergent literacy: efficacy of a model that partners speech-language pathologists and educators.

PURPOSE This study examined the efficacy of a professional development program for early childhood educators that facilitated emergent literacy skills in preschoolers. The program, led by a speech-language pathologist, focused on teaching alphabet knowledge, print concepts, sound awareness, and decontextualized oral language within naturally occurring classroom interactions. METHOD Twenty educators were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Educators each recruited 3 to 4 children from their classrooms to participate. The experimental group participated in 18 hr of group training and 3 individual coaching sessions with a speech-language pathologist. The effects of intervention were examined in 30 min of videotaped interaction, including storybook reading and a post-story writing activity. RESULTS At posttest, educators in the experimental group used a higher rate of utterances that included print/sound references and decontextualized language than the control group. Similarly, the children in the experimental group used a significantly higher rate of utterances that included print/sound references and decontextualized language compared to the control group. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that professional development provided by a speech-language pathologist can yield short-term changes in the facilitation of emergent literacy skills in early childhood settings. Future research is needed to determine the impact of this program on the children's long-term development of conventional literacy skills.
Revisiting the Link between Job Satisfaction and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Basic Psychological Needs

The link between job satisfaction and life satisfaction has been extensively explored in the relevant literature. However, the great majority of past research has been carried out using cross-sectional analyses, and almost exclusively in the Western world. Moreover, the underlying psychological mechanisms explaining the link are not yet completely understood. Thus, we report the first research to date which uses both cross-sectional and longitudinal data among workers in Chile—a fast-developing Latin American economy—and which aims to tackle previous limitations. Three studies consistently support a positive link between the constructs. Study 1 (N = 636) found that higher job satisfaction predicted higher life satisfaction both contemporaneously and longitudinally, and vice versa, above and beyond several key control variables. Study 2 (N = 725) and Study 3 (N = 703) replicated Study 1 results, but tested for the first time the role of satisfaction of basic psychological needs (as stated by self-determination theory) in the job–life satisfaction link. This is the most novel contribution of our paper. Key implications not only for individual quality of life, but also for companies' human resource practices emerge from our findings.
Prognosis of Chronic or Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Children

Background: Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) or recurrent abdominal pain is common in childhood and is rarely associated with organic disease. With modern diagnostic technology, new organic abnormalities are found in children with CAP. Thus far a causal relation between these abnormalities and CAP has not been established. The additional prognostic value of extensive testing of children with CAP is a subject of debate. Objectives: To investigate how often abdominal pain persists in children with CAP and to investigate whether medical tests such as laboratory tests, imaging, and endoscopy have additional prognostic value to history taking and clinical examination. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO for prospective cohort studies published from 1960 until October 2005. The most common medical key words for CAP were used in our search strategy. The methodological quality of studies was determined. Clinical heterogeneity between studies was analyzed. The percentages of children with abdominal pain after follow-up were pooled. Results: The search yielded 2620 citations, of which 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. In total, 1331 children were followed up for 5 years (median, range 1–29 years). In total, 29.1% (95% CI 28.1–30.2) of patients with CAP had abdominal pain after follow-up. The prognosis of CAP diagnosed clinically was similar to that diagnosed after additional medical testing. Conclusions: CAP persisted in 29.1% (95% CI 28.1–30.2) of children. In the absence of alarming symptoms, additional diagnostic testing did not influence the prognosis of CAP.
Inhibins Tune the Thymocyte Selection Process by Regulating Thymic Stromal Cell Differentiation

Inhibins and Activins are members of the TGF-β superfamily that regulate the differentiation of several cell types. These ligands were initially identified as hormones that regulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis; however, increasing evidence has demonstrated that they are key regulators in the immune system. We have previously demonstrated that Inhibins are the main Activin ligands expressed in the murine thymus and that they regulate thymocyte differentiation, promoting the DN3-DN4 transition and the selection of SP thymocytes. As Inhibins are mainly produced by thymic stromal cells, which also express Activin receptors and Smad proteins, we hypothesized that Inhibins might play a role in stromal cell differentiation and function. Here, we demonstrate that, in the absence of Inhibins, thymic conventional dendritic cells display reduced levels of MHC Class II (MHCII) and CD86. In addition, the ratio between cTECs and mTECs was affected, indicating that mTEC differentiation was favoured and cTEC diminished in the absence of Inhibins. These changes appeared to impact thymocyte selection leading to a decreased selection of CD4SP thymocytes and increased generation of natural regulatory T cells. These findings demonstrate that Inhibins tune the T cell selection process by regulating both thymocyte and stromal cell differentiation.
Lipid Composition in the Classification of Nocardiae and Mycobacteria

Ninety-six strains of aerobic actinomycetes with a type IV cell wall (major amounts of meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose, and galactose) were analyzed for the presence of mycolic acids and nocardomycolic acids. The method used was comparatively simple and permits the separation of these organisms into two groups: the mycobacteria and the nocardiae. In general, strains received as mycobacteria contained mycolic acids, confirming the generic assignment made by other methods. On the basis of nocardomycolic acid content, Mycobacterium brevicale, M. rhodochrous, and M. thamnopheos should be placed in the genus Nocardia, and on the basis of mycolic acid content, strains recently isolated from bovine farcy should be placed in the genus Mycobacterium. Nocardia farcinica should be considered a nomen dubium and N. asteroides should be considered the type species of the genus.
The Use of EDGAR Filings by Investors

ABSTRACT Using data from the Security and Exchange Commission's Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval (EDGAR) server log, the authors examine the consumption of financial information in filings from 2003 to 2012. The EDGAR filings represent a first-source database for investors doing fundamental research on stock valuations. The magnitude of daily EDGAR requests for 10-Ks is surprisingly low and shows only a small difference between firms with and without publicly traded equity. The average publicly traded firm has their annual report requested only 28.4 total times by investors immediately after the 10-K filing. The lack of annual report requests suggests that investors generally are not doing fundamental research on stocks.
Long-term adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy for up to 5 years in lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B

Background Large clinical studies assessing long-term adefovir dipivoxil salvage monotherapy in patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are lacking, particularly in patients positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). We assessed the efficacy and resistance profile of adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy for up to 5 years in a large cohort of Korean patients with lamivudine-resistant CHB. Methods A total of 320 patients (81.3% HBeAg-positive; 100% genotype C) with confirmed genotypic lamivudine-resistant CHB were switched to adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg once daily. Liver function tests and HBV DNA were monitored every 3 months. Genotypic resistance to adefovir dipivoxil was performed in patients with detectable HBV DNA. Results The overall cumulative virological response rate at 5 years of adefovir dipivoxil therapy was 48.8%. The virological response rate was significantly higher in HBeAg-negative patients (62.0% versus 45.9%; P=0.010). Most cases of virological response (131/134, 97.8%) occurred within the first 36 months of therapy. The 5-year cumulative probability of genotypic resistance and virological breakthrough was 65.6% and 61.8%, respectively. Predictive factors for a virological response included baseline HBeAg seronegativity, HBV DNA≤8 log10 copies/ml and achievement of an on-treatment initial virological response. Conclusions Adefovir dipivoxil salvage monotherapy for lamivudine-resistant CHB resulted in a modest cumulative virological response rate at 5 years, which was associated with progressive antiviral resistance. Consequently, adefovir monotherapy is not preferable as a first-line strategy for lamivudine resistance where combination lamivudine plus adefovir dipivoxil therapy is available.
Organization of corticothalamic projections from parietal cortex in cat

Corticothalamic projections from areas 5a, 5b, and 7 of cat parietal cortex were studied with autoradiographic techniques. Each cortical area was identified by its cytoarchitectural characteristics and the patterns of termination were related to the thalamic nuclear groups. Injections of 3H‐leucine in cortical area 5a were associated with terminal labeling primarily in the spinal recipient zone of the ventral lateral nucleus (VLsp) and the medial division of the posterior group (POm). The corticothalamic projections of area 5a are loosely topographically organized; medial parts of 5a project heavily to rostral and lateral parts of VLsp and sparsely to POm, while lateral parts of 5a project to more medial and caudal parts of VLsp and heavily to POm. Cortical area 5b projects primarily to the rostral portions of the lateral posterior nucleus (LP). These projections also appear to be topographically organized. The part of area 5b on the marginal gyrus projects to more ventral parts of rostral LP, while area 5b on the middle suprasylvian gyrus projects to more dorsal and lateral parts of rostral LP. Cortical area 7 projects to LP and the pulvinar (Pul). Rostral parts of area 7 project heavily to dorsal and lateral parts of LP and lightly to Pul; more caudal portions of area 7 project relatively more heavily to Pul. The reticular, central lateral, and paracentral nuclei also receive projections, especially from the suprasylvian gyrus. The results are discussed with regard to putative sensory response characteristics of these cortical areas and to general thalamocortical organization.
A Security Framework for Mobile Health Applications

Recent trends indicate a steady rise in cyber attacks targeting the healthcare industry and patient data. Security is one of the most vital requirements for any device that utilizes medical data. Mobile applications within healthcare are becoming increasingly popular, and users presume these applications are secure. However, a lack of security cognizance among developers and a rush to market have introduced a plethora of security vulnerabilities in mobile health applications. Our initial research showed that health-related mobile applications contain numerous vulnerabilities for attackers to potentially obtain medical data. In this paper, we propose a security framework for mobile applications in healthcare to address common security vulnerabilities that appear during the application development process. Our goal is to maintain an expected level of user functionality and ensure personal health information is secure when using a mobile application.
Efficacy of epidural lidocaine combined with tramadol or neostigmine on perineal analgesia in the horse.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Short duration of analgesia is among the limitations of a single epidural injection with lidocaine in horses. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of epidural lidocaine in combination with either tramadol or neostigmine for perineal analgesia in horses. METHODS Epidural catheters were placed in 6 saddle horses that then were given 3 treatments: 2% lidocaine (0.2 mg/kg bwt) alone, 2% lidocaine (0.2 mg/kg bwt) plus tramadol (0.5 mg/kg bwt), and 2% lidocaine (0.2 mg/kg bwt) plus neostigmine (1.0 μg/kg bwt). The order of treatments was randomised. Haemodynamic variables, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, analgesia, motor block and behaviour scores were compared among the 3 treatments. These parameters were determined before drug administration (baseline), at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 min, and every 30 min thereafter until loss of analgesia. RESULTS Duration of analgesia was longer with lidocaine plus tramadol (210 ± 12 min) compared with lidocaine plus neostigmine (150 ± 35 min) or lidocaine alone (70 ± 12 min; P<0.05). All treatments produced mild or moderate motor block without behavioural changes. Other adverse effects were not observed in any of the horses. CONCLUSION AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE Further studies are required to demonstrate whether tramadol or neostigmine have a role in the management of post operative pain when coadministered with lidocaine.
Abdominal muscle activity during the abdominal hollowing manoeuvre in the four point kneeling and prone positions.

This study investigated the pattern of recruitment of the abdominal muscles during the abdominal hollowing manoeuvre (AHM), in four point kneeling and prone. Muscle activity was detected and recorded by surface electromyography (EMG), in 20 healthy subjects, 8 male and 12 female, aged between 19 and 30 during both maximal activity, and the AHM. The degree of activation during hollowing was expressed as a percentage of maximal. There was activity in the internal abdominal oblique (IO) during all hollowing manoeuvres, in both starting positions, whilst only two subjects showed any activity in rectus abdominis (RA). Simultaneous activity in IO and EO occurred both in four point kneeling (45% of the subjects) and especially in prone (75% of the subjects). Across both positions IO activity was significantly greater than EO. There was no significant difference in EO or IO activity comparing across positions. These results suggest that the AHM when performed in four point kneeling and prone always activates IO and rarely activates RA, whilst elimination of activity in EO is more difficult to achieve, particularly in prone. Isolated activity in the deep abdominal muscles may not always be achievable in these starting positions.
Discrimination between Scrapie and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Sheep by Molecular Size, Immunoreactivity, and Glycoprofile of Prion Protein

ABSTRACT A procedure for discrimination between scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in sheep is of importance for establishing whether BSE has entered the sheep population. Since BSE has not yet been found in sheep at the farm level, such discrimination procedures can be developed only with experimental sheep BSE. Two distinctive molecular features of the prion protein (PrP)—molecular size and glycosylation profile—in proteinase K digests of brain stem tissue from sheep were used here; upon Western blotting, these features led to an unequivocal discrimination among natural scrapie, experimental scrapie, and experimental BSE. The higher electrophoretic mobility of PrP in sheep BSE could be best observed after deglycosylation treatment with N-glycosidase F. A simpler method for confirmation of this size difference involved comparison of the ratios for the binding of two monoclonal antibodies: P4 and 66.94b4. Based on epitope mapping studies with P4 and peptides, it appeared that N-terminal amino acid sequence WGQGGSH was intact only in sheep scrapie digests. Another feature typical for PrP in sheep BSE was the large fraction of diglycosylated PrP (70% or more). These data were obtained for a large group of positive sheep, consisting of 7 sheep with experimental BSE infection (genotypes: six ARQ/ARQ and one AHQ/AHQ), 48 sheep naturally infected with scrapie (six different genotypes), and 3 sheep with primary experimental scrapie infection. Routine tests of slaughter material serve well for the initial detection of both BSE and scrapie. With Western blotting as a rapid follow-up test, a 66.94b4/P4 antibody binding ratio above 1.5 is a practical indicator for serious suspicion of BSE infection in sheep.
The Effect of Very Low Birth Weight and Social Risk on Neurocognitive Abilities at School Age

We tested the hypothesis that very low birth weight (VLBW > 1.5 kg) children would have significantly poorer neurocognitive abilities at school age than would normal birth weight full-term age mates, that differences would persist after control for neurologic impairment and social risk, and that VLBW would interact with social risk. Two hundred forty-nine VLBW children and a randomly selected sample of 363 normal birth weight age mates born 1977 through 1979 were tested at 8 years. A neurologic examination and tests of intelligence, language, speech, reading, mathematics, spelling, visual and fine motor abilities, and behavior were performed. Twenty-four (10%) VLBW had a major neurologic abnormality compared with none of the controls. VLBW had significantly poorer scores on all tests, with the exception of speech and the total behavior score. These differences persisted among VLBW children without major neurologic abnormality, with the exception of social competence, reading, and spelling. Even normal IQ, neurologically normal VLBW had significantly poorer scores than did controls in expressive language, memory, visuomotor, and fine motor function, and measures of hyperactivity. When social risk was controlled in multiple regression analyses, VLBW still had an adverse effect on all outcome measures with the exception of speech. Social risk was, however, the major determinant of outcome. We found an interaction between VLBW and social risk only in verbal IQ and in the opposite direction than hypothesized.
Reliability of Performance of Elite Olympic Weightlifters

&NA; McGuigan, M.A., and M.K. Kane. Reliability of performance of elite olympic weightlifters. J. Strength Cond. Res. 18(3):650–653. 2004. —There are no published data on the reliability of competitive strength performance, even though it has a pronounced effect on athletes’ medal prospects and the ability of coaches and athletes to identify factors that affect competitive performance. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the reliability of elite olympic weightlifters over a series of international weightlifting meets. We obtained official results of international competitions over an 18‐month period from 1999 until the 2000 Olympic Games at the International Weightlifting Federation website. The measure of reliability was the typical within‐athlete variation, derived as the coefficient of variation (CV) by 2‐way analysis of variance of log‐transformed weights lifted for the snatch, clean and jerk, and total. The results of this analysis were (a) within‐athlete variations were as follows: snatch, 2.7% (95% likely range, 2.4–3.2%); clean and jerk, 2.3% (1.7–3.6%); total weight lifted, 2.5% (2.2–2.9%); (b) men and women: the variation was higher for the women compared with the men in both snatch (ratio of CV, 1.4) and clean and jerk (ratio of CV, 1.5), and for the total weight lifted (ratio of CV, 1.3); and (c) the top 5 athletes were almost always more reliable than the bottom‐half athletes. Recent work has shown that the smallest worthwhile performance is about half the within‐athlete variation, so coaches and sport scientists should focus on enhancements of as little as 1.2% in total weight lifted for elite olympic weightlifters.
Electrophysiological Actions of Diphenylhydantoin on Rabbit Atria: DEPENDENCE ON STIMULATION FREQUENCY, POTASSIUM, AND SODIUM

Isolated rabbit left atrial preparations were perfused with Tyrode's solutions containing 1 to 10 μg/ml (4 × 10−6−4 × 10−5M) diphenylhydantoin (DPH), 2.6−5.6 mM K+, and 154−308 mM Na+. Steady-state transmembrane resting and action potentials were recorded from these preparations with glass microelectrodes at stimulation rates ranging from 0.2 to 3/sec. DPH had little or no effect on the relationship between extracellular [K+] and membrane resting potential. Action potential overshoot was generally decreased by 5 and 10 μg/ml DPH and increased by 1 μg/ml DPH at stimulation rates of 2 and 3/sec in the presence of increased [K+]. DPH and increased [K+] acted synergistically to shorten action potential duration (measured at 50% repolarization). The effect of DPH on phase 0 of the action potential (measured as action potential rise time between 10 and 50% and 50 and 90% depolarization) was markedly dependent upon drug concentration, extracellular [K+] and stimulation rate. The lowest concentration of DPH (1 μg/ml) usually shortened action potential rise time, particularly when it had been prolonged by increasing extracellular [K+]. Conversely, the highest concentration of DPH (10 μg/ml) and increased [K+] acted synergistically to prolong action potential rise time (i.e., decrease depolarization rate). When present, the depressant effect of DPH on membrane depolarization was rapidly antagonized by increasing extracellular [Na+]. It is proposed that DPH may either enhance or depress (like quinidine) membrane activity in atrial tissue, and that both the direction and magnitude of effect are strongly dependent upon drug concentration, ionic milieu, and heart rate.