Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of PNU157706, a Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, on Rat Epididymal Sperm Maturation and Fertility1

Abstract Sperm entering the epididymis gain progressive motility and fertilizing ability in a process termed maturation. The functional dependence of the epididymis on dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is well established, yet few studies have examined the consequences on the epididymis of inhibiting DHT formation. We have shown that inhibition of both isoforms of 5α-reductase (types 1 and 2), the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, has pronounced effects on epididymal gene expression. In the present study, we investigate whether inhibiting 5α-reductase has consequences on epididymal sperm maturation. Rats were treated with vehicle or 10 mg/kg/day PNU157706, a dual-type inhibitor, for 28 days. Fertility and several key facets of sperm maturation were analyzed. Changes in sperm motility were assessed by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Changes in sperm morphology were assessed by CASA and electron microscopy. The motility of spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis of treated animals showed a significant decrease in both the percentage of motile and progressively motile sperm as well as altered motion parameters. The morphology of cauda epididymal spermatozoa was also adversely affected by the treatment; the most prominent effect was a markedly elevated proportion of sperm that retained their cytoplasmic droplet. Matings with treated males resulted in fewer successful pregnancies and a higher rate of preimplantation loss. Progeny outcome was unaffected. The compromised sperm motility and morphology likely contribute to the subfertility of inhibitor-treated rats. Our results indicate a role for dual 5α-reductase inhibitors in further studies of epididymal physiology and as a potential component of a male contraceptive.
P o S ( H Q L 2 0 1 0 ) 0 7 3 Suppressed B Decays at CDF

Then we discuss the first polarization measurement in a charmless Bs decay in two light vector mesons, Bs→φφ , using 2.9 fb−1of data. An angular analysis of the final state particles allows CDF to determine a longitudinal polarization fraction fL = 0.348±0.041(stat.)±0.021(syst.), which is inconsistent with naïve expectations based on the V-A nature of weak currents and confirms the pattern of lower than expected longitudinal polarization fraction in b→s penguin dominated B → VV decays. Finally, an updated measurement of the ratio of Bs→φφ BR to that of the reference Bs→J/ψφ mode is also presented: BR(Bs→φφ)/BR(Bs→J/ψφ) = [1.78±0.14(stat.)±0.20(syst.)] ·10−2.
An Investigation of Thermal Ratings for High Voltage Cable Joints through the use of 2D and 3D Finite Element Analysis

The operation of power transmission systems requires accurate current ratings for each component within the system. With improvements in computational power, the application of modelling techniques such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has become viable for rating calculations. The influence of modelling assumptions implemented in FEA models for directly buried and force-cooled cable circuits has been previously quantified, but without direct consideration of the joint bay. To provide a rating which covers all potential hotspots requires the ability to model the temperature distribution through a joint bay. With the eventual aim of creating 3D FEA models for water cooled joint bays, this paper reports the development of FEA models for rating joints. By extension of modelling techniques developed previously for rating high voltage cables, a steady state 2D axi-symmetric FEA heat transfer model for a 400 kV cable joint has been developed. This allows examination of the sensitivity of the model to variations in the model parameters. Modelling has been subsequently extended and a 3D FEA model of a single joint built, allowing more realistic representations of the boundary conditions experienced by cable joints in service. Knowledge gained from this process informed the development of a 3D model of an un-cooled straight joint bay. Results confirm that such joint bays are not the limiting factor on circuit rating where sufficient core to core spacing has been provided.
Impact of a training intervention on use of antimicrobials in teaching hospitals.

BACKGROUND Antimicrobials are often used inappropriately in paediatric wards of medical college hospitals in Bangladesh. Most of the antimicrobials are prescribed based on clinical grounds-signs and symptoms. This intervention study assessed the effectiveness of a training intervention on antimicrobials prescribing by physicians in paediatric wards of tertiary care level hospitals. METHODOLOGY This study was conducted at medical college hospitals in Bangladesh during the period from 1998 through 2000. The pre-intervention survey of antimicrobial use was conducted during 1998 in five hospitals. The post-intervention survey was conducted after the interactive training during the succeeding year in three of the original five hospitals, of which one was the intervention hospital and two control hospitals. A total of 3,466 admitted paediatric patients' treatment charts (2,171 in the pre-intervention and 1,295 in the post-intervention surveys) were reviewed. RESULTS The most commonly used antimicrobials were ampicillin, gentamicin, amoxicillin, cloxacillin and ceftriaxone. Appropriate antimicrobial therapy for the most common infectious diseases, pneumonia and diarrhoea, increased by 16.4% and 56.8% respectively in the intervention hospital compared with the two control hospitals and these improvements were significant (p = < 0.001 and p = 0.002, for pneumonia and diarrhoea respectively). CONCLUSIONS An interactive, focussed educational intervention, targeted at physicians, appears to have been effective in improving appropriate antimicrobial prescribing for the most common paediatric infectious diseases in a medical college hospital in Bangladesh.
Microorganisms in respiratory tract of patients diagnosed with atypical pneumonia: results of a research based on the use of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) DNA microarray method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

BACKGROUND Numerous molecular-based tests were applied for the laboratory-based diagnosis of viruses. In this cross-sectional case control study, in addition to bacteria, we aimed to determine respiratory viruses using, for the first time in our country, the Reverse Transcription PCR DNA Microarray method, and we also aimed to evaluate its diagnostic performance. METHODS Respiratory viruses were investigated from nasopharyngeal swabs of 76 patients diagnosed with atypical pneumonia and 64 healthy controls using the CLART Pneumovir (Genomica, Spain) kit and from 10 mL blood samples of the same subjects. M. pneumoniae IgM was detected by ELISA and L. pneumophila IgM and C. pneumoniae IgM by indirect immunofluorescence. Person's chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Our results showed that the specificity (100%) and the positive predictive value (100%) of the CLART Pneumovir kit were high, but its sensitivity (53%), its negative predictive value (64%), and its kappa value (50%) were low. Parainfluenza Virus type 3 and M. pneumoniae were found alone or together as the most common microorganisms while no cases of human bocavirus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, or coronavirus were detected. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that, during the study period, most of our patients had atypical pneumonia due to Parainfluenza Virus type 3 and M. pneumoniae co-infection.
Gender And Teachers ’ Attitude Towards Guidance And Counseling Programmes In Schools

This study investigated teachers’ attitudes towards Guidance and Counseling (GAC) programs. The aim was to establish whether gender has an influence on teachers’ attitudes towards GAC programmes. The study sample comprised of 130 teachers. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Data analysis utilized the Statistical Package for Social Scientists to generate descriptive statistics that included frequencies and percentages and inferential statistics (Chi Square). The findings indicate that generally teachers had positive attitudes towards GAC programms in school. It however emerged that gender has some influence on teachers’ attitudes towards GAC programmes. It was recommended that female teachers be given support by education stakeholders in order for them to offer the needed services in GAC departments and the male teachers to be encouraged to attend the workshops and enroll for GAC courses. The findings, conclusions and recommendations will be useful to the department of GAC, Ministry of Education, policy makers, researchers, practitioners, academicians, professionals and stakeholders in the various fields.
SELF-INTEREST VS PROSOCIAL MOTIVATION 1 Comparing the strengths of self-interest and prosocial motivations

As organizations move towards more group-based work environments, individuals must make more decisions on how much effort they are willing to exert for the benefit of other people. Working for the benefit others inevitably takes away from the resources a person could invest towards his or her own benefit. This paper therefore tries to answer two questions: In what circumstances are people willing to work for the benefit others and how much effort are they willing to exert? Past research on prosocial behavior has not compared people’s willingness to exert effort for others versus for themselves. The goal of this research was to fill this gap by directly comparing the motivating strength of self-interest to that of prosocial motivations. In a series of studies, participants either worked for their own pay or for the payment of another participant (and no benefit to themselves). We found that under conditions in which a level of acceptable effort was not defined and a social cost would be incurred by not helping the other person, participants working on behalf of others exerted more effort (earning another participant more money) compared to participants working for their own pay. We discuss implications for group and workplace incentives.
Motor performance and bodyweight of children and adolescents in Saarland – Status quo

Abstract The motor performance of children and adolescents has been a subject of controversial discussion. As part of a pilot project, 839 schoolchildren from 14 different schools in Saarland were studied and their height, weight and sport motor performance were measured using the German motor performance test DMT 6-18. The results show a slight increase in the number of overweight children compared to reference samples. However, these discrepancies are minor and cannot be judged to be practically relevant because of the weakness of the effects. The average motor test performances of the Saarland schoolchildren were above the average performance of the reference samples in almost all individual performances. There are also hardly any weaker performances in comparison to older studies. The current results for motor performance of Saarland children and adolescents do not, therefore, give any great reason for concern. Further evaluation steps will be needed to clarify the influences that might be associated with adverse characteristics for motor performance (socio-economic status, living situation, leisure behaviour, school performance, etc.).
Cosmophysical Factors in the Fluctuation Amplitude Spectrum of Brownian Motion

Cosmophysical Factors in the Fluctuation Amplitude Spectrum of Brownian Motion Alexander V. Kaminsky∗ and Simon E. Shnoll† ∗Elfi-tech Ltd., Rekhovot, Israel †Department of Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia †Inst. of Theor. and Experim. Biophysics, Russian Acad. of Sci., Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia †Puschino State University, Prospect Nauki 3, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia E-mail: shnoll@mail.ru
EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT APRICOT VARIETIES UNDER CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF SOON VALLEY

Performance of seven apricot varieties (castle Bright, Sarbaghal, Narai, Gold Cort, Badami, NJA-13 and Habi) was evaluated at Horticultural Research Station, Soan Valley, Nowshehra, Khushab, Pakistan during the year 2010 to 2012. At fruit maturity, sensory and physio-chemical analysis was carried out. The results revealed that variety castle Bright topped in fruit colour with maximum prints (8.51) and orange yellow colour which is highly appreciated in local market and matures during second week of May. The data further depicted that maximum points for flavor were attained by three varieties simulataneously i.e. castle bright (8.50), Badami (8.50) and Sarbaghal (7.75) while taste of fruit was bettr in castle Bright and Badami (8.50 each). Castle bright also attained maximum fruit weight (45.75g) and fruit size (1867.67mm 2 ) with minimum flesh stone ratio (5.27%) and more pulp. Maximum TSS was noted in variety Badami (17.25%) followed by Castle bright (17.1%) and Sarbaghal (16.25%). Variety sarbaghal also excelled in fruit yield (39.00 kg/plant) followed by Castle Bright (32.50 kg/plant).
Characterization and Extraction of Rare-Earth Elements from East Kootenay Coalfield Samples , Southeastern British Columbia

Rare-earth elements (REE) make up a group of 17 elements in the periodic table, including 15 lanthanides and 2 chemically similar transition metals, Sc and Y. Using the atomic number, REE are classified as heavy REE and light REE, with elements from Tb to Lu and Y belonging to the former group and La to Gd and Sc belonging to the latter group (Moldoveanu and Papangelakis, 2013; Zhang et al., 2015). With the emergence of new clean energy and defense-related technologies, consumption of rare-earth elements (REE) has increased rapidly (Tse, 2011). For example, it is projected that the demand for Dy, one of the REE, is expected to increase as much as 2600% by 2025 (Standing Committee on Natural Resources, 2014). In addition, traditional rare-earth ore deposits are quickly being depleted and are expected to meet the demand for only the next 15–20 years (Seredin and Dai, 2012). Based on supply and demand, REE are classified as critical elements by the United States and the European Union due to their importance in clean energy and defense applications (United States Department of Energy, 2010; European Commission, 2017). The National Energy Technology Laboratory in the United States has conducted a prospective analysis of coal deposits as a source of REE using the United States Geological Survey coal database, which contains the concentrations of rare-earth elements across United States coalfields (Bryan et al., 2015). Further, the United States Department of Energy has committed US$10 million to several projects researching the techno-economic feasibility of domestic separation technologies of REE from coal and/or its byproducts containing a minimum of 300 ppm total REE and concentrating the REE to a level greater than or equal to 2% (by weight) in processed streams (United States Department of Energy, 2016). There is an indication of the presence of REE in some Canadian coal deposits, especially in British Columbia (BC) coalfields (Goodarzi, 1988; Birk and White, 1991; Goodarzi et al., 2009); however, there is no proper quantification, characterization and extraction analysis currently available for coal deposits in BC or in other coal deposits across Canada. The purpose of this ongoing research is to characterize and quantify the REE and their mode of occurrence in BC coal deposits and in different processing products of coal for possible extraction study. Some of the initial results of the study were reported previously (Kumar et al., 2018). This paper shows the preliminary characterization and extraction results conducted on a sample received from a southeastern BC coal mine.
The Relationships Between Attachment and Intersubjectivity

The relationships between intersubjectivity and attachment are beginning to be explored within the psychoanalytic and developmental literature. We contribute to this comparative effort by exploring the different evolutionary origins of attachment and intersubjectivity. Five interlocking themes are central to this article. First, from an evolutionary perspective, attachment and intersubjectivity serve different functions. The main function of attachment is to seek protection, whereas the main function of intersubjectivity is to communicate, at intuitive and automatic levels, with members of the same species and to facilitate social understanding. Second, to survive in changing and highly competitive environments, an evolutionary strategy emerged among our human ancestors based on developing high levels of cooperation within small bands of hunters and gatherers. In turn, high levels of cooperation and social complexity put selective pressures toward developing effective modes of communication and more complex forms of social understanding (mindreading/ mentalizing/intersubjective abilities). These abilities far surpass mindreading abilities among our closest Great Ape relatives. Third, we provide further evidence for this hypothesis showing that in comparison with other Great Apes, young children show qualitatively different levels of collaboration and altruism. Fourth, we provide an overview of the development of attachment and intersubjective abilities during the first 2 years of life that support the hypothesis of a cooperative origin of intersubjectivity. Fifth,
THE COURSE AND OUTCOME OF PREGNANCY IN WOMEN WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

The offspring ot patients with bronchial asthma has been tor a long time the subject of study with respect to inheritance of the trait. It has been well established that the atopic tendency, in general, is inherited (19). Eor allergic children, allergy was observed to be more frequent in mothers than in fathers, and more of their siblings were affected when the mother rather than the father was allergic (1). Apart from the question ot inheritance ot the general atopic tendency, the literature does not provide consistent information on the reciprocal etfects of pregnancy and bronchial asthma. The asthmatic condition may ameliorate, deteriorate (ir remain unchanged during pregnancy (2, 9, 15, 17). With respect to the course and outcome of pregnancy in asthmatic women, high foetal and neonatal mortalities have been reported, particularly in severe cases of the disease (6, 11). Baird (2) believes that anoxia associated with severe asthma can lead to foetal death or premature labour. Schaefer and Silverman (17), on the other hand, did not observe deleterious effects on pregnancy and could state: "The pregnant
Effects of Processing On the Chemical Composition and Functional Properties of African Locust Bean ( Parkia Biglobosa ) Flour

The effects of boiling and fermentation on the chemical composition and functional properties of African locust bean flours were studied. The seeds were sorted, cleaned and processed into raw, boiled and fermented African locust bean flours. The flours produced were evaluated for proximate, vitamin and functional properties using standard analytical methods. The proximate composition of the samples showed that the flours had a range of moisture, 9.45-10.06%, crude protein, 21.24-22.62%, fat, 10.31-11.32%, ash, 3.00-4.19%, crude fibre, 3.25-3.84%, carbohydrate, 45.80-52.21% and energy, 378.59-388.83 KJ/100g, respectively. The vitamin composition of the flours showed that the vitamin A, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin contents of the samples varied between 3.26-4.91 mg/100g, 3.12-4.78 mg/100g, 2.78-3.83 mg/100g, 0.06-0.13 mg/100g, 0.03-0.08 mg/100g and0.11-0.22 mg /100g, respectively. Also, the functional properties of the flours revealed that the water absorption, oil absorption, foam, swelling and emulsion capacities and bulk density of the samples were significantly (p<0.05) higher in boiled flour compared to the samples fermented for 48 and 72 h, respectively. The proximate, vitamin and functional properties of the flours evaluated showed that the processed African locust bean flours have the potentials to be used as nutritional supplements and functional ingredients in the preparation of seasonings and other food products than the raw sample.
Virulence evaluation of entomopathogenic fungi to subterranean termites, Globitermes sulphureus (INSECTA: ISOPTERA)

Aims: Subterranean termites, Globitermes sulphureus is one of the significant pests for agricultural crops such as coconut and oil palm, and occasionally attacks building structure in Malaysia. Efforts to control subterranean termite infestations depended heavily on liquid termiticide applications. Natural pathogen of termites such as entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) is a promising alternative to chemical control. The objective of this study was to determine the most virulent EPF such as Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces sp. against the subterranean termites, G. sulphureus for the development of bio-insecticide for future use of termite control. Methodology and results: Subterranean termites were collected from mound-building termites found in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). Cultivating, harvesting and counting of conidia of EPF were carried out to prepare the desired concentrations for screening test and bioassays, which were 1×10, 1x10, 1×10 and control. The pathogenicity testing was observed daily within 1 week under laboratory conditions. Screening showed that M. anisopliae was found to be the most virulent compared to B. bassiana and Paecilomyces sp. , achieving 100% mortality within 3-4 days. M. anisopliae was then further tested on termites and it was found that concentration of 1×10 showed the lowest LT50 value, while LC50 of M. anisopliae in 1 day was 2.0151×10. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: It could be concluded that M. anisopliae is the most virulent EPF against termites and the most effective concentration was ±10 followed by strains of B. bassiana and Paecilomyces sp. However, there is limited field evaluation of EPF against termites in Malaysia. Evaluation on the efficiency of M. anisopliae in the field should be conducted so that its efficacy could be proven and marketed.
Sagittal craniosynostosis outcome assessment for two methods and timings of intervention.

A retrospective quantitative analysis of 40 infants who underwent surgery for sagittal craniosynostosis was conducted to determine whether any difference in outcome, with respect to cranial index (cranial width/cranial length x 100), could be associated with either the age at surgery or the extent of the operation. Children < or = 13 months old at surgery and for whom there were archived computed tomography digital data preoperatively, perioperatively, and 1 year postoperatively were studied. For statistical analysis, the operation was classified as either extended strip craniectomy or subtotal calvarectomy, and the age at operation was either < or = 4 months or > 4 months. Twenty-eight patients underwent extended strip craniectomy at a mean age of 5.1 months. Their mean cranial index preoperatively was 67 versus 71 at 1 year postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Of extended strip craniectomy patients, 15 were operated on at age < or = 4 months (mean = 2.9 months) and 13 at age > 4 months (mean = 7.6 months). Mean cranial indices for age at operation groups did not achieve age-appropriate normal range values 1 year postoperatively for either group, and there was no significant difference between the mean percentages of improvement achieved (p = 0.143). Twelve patients underwent subtotal calvarectomy at a mean age of 5.2 months. Their mean cranial index preoperatively was 66 versus 74 at 1 year postoperatively (p < 0.0001). The mean cranial index in this group reached age-appropriate normal range values 1 year postoperatively. The percentage improvement in cranial index 1 year after subtotal calvarectomy was greater than after extended strip craniectomy (p = 0.003). Extended strip craniectomy for sagittal craniosynostosis does not achieve normal cranial width:length proportions, even when performed before 4 months of age. Subtotal calvarectomy for sagittal craniosynostosis does achieve normal cranial width:length proportions in the majority of the children, at least when performed within the first 13 months of life.