Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic hepatitis delta virus infection in Van region of eastern Turkey.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Hepatitis delta virus infection is an important cause of liver morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Eastern Turkey, hepatitis B virus infection is the major cause of chronic liver diseases. We aimed to research the role of hepatitis delta virus infection in chronic liver diseases related to hepatitis B virus infection in the Van region of Eastern Turkey. METHODS Serological markers of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis delta virus infection [HBsAg, HbeAg, Anti-HBe and Anti- hepatitis delta virus total (IgM+IgG)] were determined by ELISA test in patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Serum hepatitis B virus DNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in chronic hepatitis B patients. RESULTS Hepatitis delta virus infection was detected in 5% (7/138) of asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers, in 16% (24/148) of chronic hepatitis B patients and in 45% (34/75) of cirrhotic hepatitis B virus patients. hepatitis delta virus infection showed a three-fold increase in chronic hepatitis (p<0.01) and nine-fold increase in cirrhosis (p<0.001) compared to hepatitis delta virus carriers. Also, it was three times more frequent in cirrhosis (p<0.001) compared to chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis delta virus infection was equally distributed between sexes in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, whereas chronic hepatitis B virus infection alone was three times more frequent in males (p<0.001). Mean ages of hepatitis delta virus carriers, chronic hepatitis D and hepatitis delta virus cirrhosis patients were 30.7+/-8 (14-65), 36+/-13 (19-70) and 44 +/-16 (25-55), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The higher prevalence of hepatitis delta virus infection in more severe form of hepatitis B virus infection suggests that hepatitis delta virus infection increases the severity of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in the Van region. hepatitis delta virus infection remains a second major cause of chronic liver diseases in Eastern Turkey in spite of its decreasing prevalence in Western countries and in Western Turkey.
Gymnastics

Abstract Research to date has demonstrated the importance of running speed and an accurate take‐off on gymnastics vaulting performance (Krug et al., 1998; Bohne et al., 2000). Current training practice for gymnastics vaulting is to stereotype the 15‐25m run‐ups to the board, which assumes that a fast and reliable approach is best controlled predominantly without visual feedback. Incidences where gymnasts make errors during their run‐ups, often landing onto the back of the board, occur frequently, even at the international level. The standard deviation method (e.g. Lee et al., 1982) for identifying visual regulation in long jump run‐ups was employed in this first exploration of gymnastics vaulting to examine whether visual regulation processes are utilised. Secondly, the question of how a small number of gymnasts can run fast during the approach and perform more difficult vaults was addressed. Five elite female gymnasts aged 13‐15 years performed five round‐off entry vaults. One panning 50 Hz video camera recorded each trial from an elevated platform to evaluate the approach step, hurdle, and round‐off characteristics, whilst two 250 Hz cameras recorded vaulting performance. Two qualified judges viewed each vaulting trial and provided a performance score. A precursor for a fast take‐off from the board when vaulting is to utilise vision early to control the approach kinematics (p = 0.02). High take‐off velocity was directly related to judge's score (p = 0.03). Coaches need to supplement gymnasts’ vault training to include exercises that improve the gymnasts’ ability to visually regulate their gait pattern whilst running.
The role of psychological empowerment in climate-protective consumer behaviour

Purpose This paper aims to address the role of psychological empowerment in proenvironmental consumer behaviour, focussing on climate protection. Design/methodology/approach Study 1 analyses the interaction of the effects of psychological empowerment and personal norms on two environmental behaviours with a sample of 600 individuals drawn form a representative online panel of the Australian population. Study 2 addresses the reinforcing influence of empowerment with a quasi-experimental design comparing 300 consumers of green electricity with 300 conventional electricity clients. Findings Psychological empowerment moderates the effects of personal norms on climate-protective consumer behaviour in a value-belief-norm (VBN) framework. Personal norms have a stronger influence for consumers experiencing high psychological empowerment than for disempowered feeling consumers. Furthermore, psychological empowerment experienced as an outcome of actual proenvironmental behaviour mediates the relationship between prior climate protection and future climate-protective intentions. Research limitations/implications Future research should focus on the experimental manipulation of psychological empowerment with communicational claims, studying how perceived empowerment can be enhanced. Practical implications To promote climate friendly products and behaviours, marketers should use communication claims aimed at enhancing consumer’s subjective experience of empowerment. Social implications Public policy aimed at climate protection should focus on consumer education increasing consumers’ awareness of their potential influence. Originality/value Psychological empowerment has not been studied previously as either an antecedent or outcome of proenvironmental behaviour. This is the first study to show that psychological empowerment moderates normative influences on climate-protective consumer behaviour. This research further reveals a novel behavioural reinforcement process, in which psychological empowerment intervenes as a behavioural outcome as well as an antecedent of climate-protective consumer behaviour. Findings contribute to the development of the VBN framework as well as to the consumer-empowerment perspective on proenvironmental behaviour.
Infinitive im R̥gveda: Formen, Funktion, Diachronie

Being an in-depth study of the syntax and semantics of infinitives in Early Vedic, this book gives a comprehensive account of the various types of infinitive use attested. Furthermore, heuristics are given for identifying infinitives in ancient languages. Durch eine sorgfaltige Untersuchung ihrer syntaktischen und semantischen Eigenschaften eroffnet dieses Buch einen neuen Blick auf die Kategorie Infinitiv im fruhen Vedisch. Daruber hinaus zeigt sie neue Wege zur Identifizierung und Analyse syntaktischer Kategorien in Altsprachen auf.
Developmental neuropathology and the precursors of schizophrenia

Changes in the manifestation of vulnerability to schizophrenia across the life‐span may hold important clues about aetiology. They may also illustrate some general principles about the nature of neurodevelopmental processes. Within the framework of a neural diathesis‐stress model, we review findings on the precursors of schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder. The findings suggest that there are critical developmental periods for the manifestation of dysfunction and that, within certain domains of behaviour, there is a temporal disjunction between the onset of the neuropathology and its expression. It also appears that the diathesis for schizophrenia involves polymorphic behavioural expression, such that it can be manifested in multiple domains — motoric, cognitive and socio‐emotional. Taken together, the data on the longitudinal course of schizophrenia indicate that the expression of the diathesis is moderated by central nervous system maturational processes. One putative moderating system, the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis, is discussed, and implications for preventive intervention are explored.
Provenance variation in pod, seed and seedling traints of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb., Central Himalaya, India

Seeds collected from 19 different altitudinal sources ranging from 120 to 1130m were evaluated for pod/seed morphology, seed weight, seed germination and seedling growth in nursery and also in field trial. Considerable morphological and physiological variations between provenances for all the pod and seed traits including germination, plant height and collar diameter were found among the seed sources. Among various parameters, seed weight and plant height were most heritable traits, followed by genetic advance and genetic gain. Characters those showed greater genetic influence can be directly screened/selected for the improvement of this potential tree species in Central Himalaya, India for raising quality plating material. Key words: Dalbergia sissoo ; morphological characters; seed source; heritability; genetic variation. DOI: 10.4038/tare.v11i0. 1786 Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension Vol.11 2008 pp39-44
An Overview of the “Triangle Method” for Estimating Surface Evapotranspiration and Soil Moisture from Satellite Imagery

An overview of the ‘triangle’ method for estimating soil surface wetness and evapotranspiration fraction from satellite imagery is presented here. The method is insensitive to initial atmospheric and surface conditions, net radiation and atmospheric correction, yet can yield accuracies comparable to other methods. We describe the method first from the standpoint of the how the triangle is observed as obtained from aircraft and satellite image data and then show how the triangle can be created from a land surface model. By superimposing the model triangle over the observed one, pixel values from the image are determined for all points within the triangle. We further show how the stretched (or ‘universal’) triangle can be used to interpret pixel configurations within the triangle, showing how the temporal trajectories of points uniquely describe patterns of land use change. Finally, we conclude the paper with a brief assessment of the method's limitations.
PENGARUH EFEKTIVITAS OTOMATISASI, SISTEM KONTROL TENAGA PENJUAL DAN KEPUASAN ATAS WILAYAH PENJUALAN TERHADAP KINERJA TENAGA PENJUAL UNTUK MENINGKATKAN EFEKTIVITAS PENJUALAN ORGANISASI ( Studi Pada Perusahaan Distributor Farmasi Kotamadya Banjarmasin )

This study analyzed the effectiveness of automation factors, system control of sales and satisfaction of sales area which affect the sales’ performance to sales’ organization effectiveness (large pharmacy) in Banjarmasin. The sampling technique was divided into three phases, namely stratified, proportional, and purposive sampling. There were 120 subjects involved in the study. They are the head of branch, sales supervisors, sales personnel from pharmaceutical distribution company whose products are categorized as medicinal products and consumer goods. The analysis for the study used Structural Equation Model (SEM) in AMOS 20 program.The results of data analysis shows that the study supports five hypotheses and rejects two other hypotheses. The study also confirms a statistically significant relationship of the effectiveness of automation, system control of sales and satisfaction of sales area to the sales’ performance, as well as significant influence of sales’ performance and system control of sales to the effectiveness of sales’ organization. In addition, it is statistically found that the effectiveness of sales automation and satisfaction of sales area do not affect the sales’ organization effectiveness.The implication of this research to prepare personal in charge as coordinator of sales automation effectiveness and key performance indicator as guidance to measure the control which has been done and the discussion of sales territory alignment between sales supervisor and sales force.
Central corneal thickness and biomechanical changes after clear corneal phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE To evaluate central corneal thickness (CCT) and ocular biomechanical properties in patients before and after clear corneal phacoemulsification. METHODS Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc), and Goldmann-correlated IOP (IOPg) were measured with the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA; Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments) in 36 consecutive patients (47 eyes) who underwent clear corneal phacoemulsification. Central corneal thickness was measured with the Pentacam (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH). All measurements were performed prior to surgery and at follow-up at 1, 7, and 30 days postoperatively. RESULTS Central corneal thickness was higher at 1 and 7 days compared to preoperatively (P<.05) but not at 30 days. Corneal hysteresis was lower at 1 day than preoperatively (P<.05) but not at 7 and 30 days. Corneal resistance factor was lower at 1, 7, and 30 days compared to preoperatively (P<.05). Corneal-compensated IOP was slightly lower at 1, 7, and 30 days compared to preoperatively, but was not statistically significant (P>.05). Goldmann-correlated IOP was statistically significantly lower at 1 and 7 days than preoperatively (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS Clear corneal phacoemulsification led to a change in ocular biomechanical properties. The increase in CCT after phacoemulsification was followed by a reduction in CRF and CH. Mean IOPcc was similar before and after phacoemulsification, indicating that IOPcc may be a more accurate indicator of true IOP than IOPg.
Intersectin: The Crossroad between Vesicle Exocytosis and Endocytosis

Intersectins (ITSNs) are a family of highly conserved proteins with orthologs from nematodes to mammals. In vertebrates, ITSNs are encoded by two genes (itsn1 and itsn2), which act as scaffolds that were initially discovered as proteins involved in endocytosis. Further investigation demonstrated that ITSN1 is also implicated in several other processes including regulated exocytosis, thereby suggesting a role for ITSN1 in the coupling between exocytosis and endocytosis in excitatory cells. Despite a high degree of conservation amongst orthologs, ITSN function is not so well preserved as they have acquired new properties during evolution. In this review, we will discuss the role of ITSN1 and its orthologs in exo- and endocytosis, in particular in neurons and neuroendocrine cells.
Family instability and school readiness in the United Kingdom

I investigate the prevalence of family instability in the United Kingdom and its association with children's school readiness at age 5. Data are from three sweeps of the Millennium Cohort Study (2001–2007). Family instability is measured by mother's self-report of union status changes since her child's birth. Outcome measures include mother assessments of child behavior and standardized scores on cognitive assessments. Maternal education and household income explained the association of family instability with children's emotional behavior and nonverbal ability, but conduct problems and verbal ability remained associated with family instability after accounting for explanatory factors. Compared to children born to married parents, the verbal ability of children born to cohabiting parents was less affected by later family structure change.
Diabetic patients treated with abciximab and intracoronary stenting

Diabetic patients are at greater risk for restenosis, recurrent ischemia, and complications following angioplasty than are their nondiabetic counterparts. This is a retrospective study identifying diabetic patients who were treated with abciximab and intracoronary stenting during the period of January 1997 to December 1999. Abciximab was administered to 268 of 707 diabetic patients who received intracoronary stents from 1997 to 1999. The abciximab group contained a higher number of patients with severe ventricular dysfunction and high‐grade lesions. Primary endpoints of all‐cause mortality, same‐vessel revascularization, CABG, TVR, and postprocedural myocardial infarction were similar for both groups. The abciximab group had reduced rates of readmission for cardiac reasons during all follow‐up periods. The trends toward improvement of mortality, surgical or percutaneous revascularization, and cardiac readmissions suggest the effect of abciximab may provide benefit for up to 9 months for higher‐risk diabetic patients. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2002;55:321–325. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A descriptive epidemiology of leisure-time physical activity in Brazil, 1996-1997.

OBJECTIVES To describe the prevalence, frequency, type, motivation for, and demographic and socioeconomic distribution of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among adults in Brazil. METHODS The data source for our study was the Brazilian Living Standards Measurement Survey (LSMS) (Pesquisa sobre Padrões de Vida), which was conducted in 1996 and 1997. This survey studied a multistage stratified probabilistic sample of 4 893 households, which included 11 033 persons who were 20 years of age or older. The surveyed households were selected in the two most populous Brazilian regions, the Northeast and the Southeast, where in total 70% of all Brazilians live. The selected persons responded to a series of questions concerning their leisure-time physical activities. RESULTS Only 13% of the Brazilians surveyed reported performing at least a minimum of 30 minutes of LTPA on one or more days of the week, and only 3.3% reported doing the recommended minimum of 30 minutes on 5 or more days of the week. In younger age groups, men were more active than were women. However, this difference sharply decreased with increasing age, and by the age range of 40 to 45 years the prevalence of LTPA was similarly low in both genders. Men reported engaging in more team sports, and women reported more walking/jogging activities, but walking/jogging was relatively more common in both genders when physical activity was performed on 5 or more days of the week. Recreation was by far the leading reason given by men to engage in LTPA, while recreation, health concerns, and even esthetic concerns were all relevant for women. In both genders, health concerns tended to be relatively more important for those exercising more days of the week. Also in both genders, increasing age was associated with more frequent LTPA, more walking/jogging than team sports, and more health concerns reasons than reasons related to recreation. Among both men and women there was a strong association between LTPA and socioeconomic status, measured either by income or schooling, independent of age, region, and urban or rural place of residence. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of adult LTPA in Brazil was much lower than the levels that have been reported for developed countries. However, the demographic and social distribution of LTPA in Brazil followed a pattern similar to the one usually observed in developed nations, where men tend to be more active than women, increasing age limits LTPA, and higher socioeconomic status is associated with more LTPA. Our data will provide a baseline to evaluate the impact on LTPA of "Agita Brasil" ("Move, Brazil"), an initiative to encourage physical activity that was implemented in the country after 1997.
Hyalinizing spindle cell tumor with giant rosettes arising in the lung: Report of a case with FUS‐CREB3L2 fusion transcripts

Hyalinizing spindle cell tumor with giant rosettes (HSCT) is a very uncommon mesenchymal tumor that has similar morphological and biological features to the low‐grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS). Lung involvement of HSCT is extremely rare, and only one case has been reported in the English‐language literature. Reported herein is a case of primary pulmonary HSCT that had FUS‐CREB3L2 fusion transcripts, a product of characteristic chromosomal abnormality t(7;16)(q33;p11) of HSCT and LGFMS. The patient was a 50‐year‐old woman who had a large solitary mass in the lung. Histologically, it was composed of bland spindle cells with variable cellularity deposited in a densely hyalinized stroma alternating with myxoid areas. Characteristic collagen rosettes were scattered in the cellular areas. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay using formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue detected FUS‐CREB3L2 fusion transcripts. Despite its bland morphology, it is known as low‐grade sarcoma and its recognition in the lung would be helpful for accurate diagnosis and proper management of this rare tumor. RT‐PCR for detection of FUS‐CREB3L2 fusion transcripts is a useful method for differential diagnosis of primary pulmonary HSCT.
Fertility, Reproduction and Postnatal Survival in Mice Chronically Exposed to Halothane

Reproductive studies were performed in Swiss/ICR micechronically exposed to subanesthetic and anesthetic concentrations of halothane. Male and female mice were treated five or seven days a week for nine weeks prior to mating; exposure of females was continued daily throughout pregnancy. Halothane exposures were 0.025, 0.1, 0.4, 1.2, and 4.0 MAC hours per day. No adverse effect on reproduction was observed at the lowest two exposure levels studied. Exposures to 0.4 MAC hour per day or more were associated with decreased maternal weight gain, fetal length and weight, and early postnatal weight gain. Pregnancy rate, implantation rate, and number of live fetuses per litter were significantly decreased at 1.2 MAC hours per day. The percentage of resorptions or fetuses dead in utero was not increased, and postnatal survival of offspring was unaltered. Subsequent matings between untreated females and males exposed to halothane, 1.2 MAC hours per day for 17 weeks, resulted in normal reproductive performance; this suggests that the adverse reproductive changes observed when both males and females were posed represented a primary effect on females. The least exposure at which effects were seen is approximately 40 times greater than the level of human occupational exposure in unscavenged operating rooms.
Neurophysiological correlates of inhibitory control in adults with ADHD revealed by iterative independent component analysis

In this study, an improved method of iterative independent component analysis (iICA) on single-trial brain responses was employed to investigate neural mechanisms underlying inhibitory control deficits in adults with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Specially recorded data during a continuous performance task from 10 ADHD and 11 healthy control subjects were analyzed. Behavioral measures showed that the inconsistency in response speed were significantly greater in adults with ADHD compared to control subjects (p = 0.009). ERP data revealed ADHD group compared to healthy controls had a significant increase in N2 amplitudes while P3 amplitudes' decreased particularly for shorter inter-stimulus intervals. Furthermore, N2 amplitude correlated with the number of ADHD symptoms. These results confirm the utility of the iICA method in discrimination between adults with ADHD and healthy comparison controls and strongly suggest that this method can be used for further evaluation of cognitive functioning.
Glucose: a simple molecule that is not simple to quantify.

Small increments in blood glucose substantially increase the risk of developing diabetes mellitus; but preanalytical and analytical variables, such as the absence of harmonization for glucose assays, make it difficult to correctly apply these epidemiological insights to individual patients. Harmonization can be improved if 3 variables are addressed: changing proficiency test grading from consensus based to accuracy based, effectively controlling glycolysis, and taking into account the time of day blood was collected. The continuous and graded quantitative relationship of fasting glucose measurements to the risk of developing diabetes was well documented recently by Tirosh et al.(1). They found an increased risk of type 2 diabetes across quintiles of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentrations within the newly defined reference range, <5.55 mmol/L (<100 mg/dL). For example, a person with an FPG between 4.83 and 5.00 mmol/L (87 and 90 mg/dL) has an age-adjusted risk of developing diabetes that is 1.81 times that of a person with an FPG <4.55 mmol/L (82 mg/dL; 95% CI 1.16–2.83). Thus, a difference as small as 0.28 mmol/L (5 mg/dL) nearly doubles the risk. Higher concentrations of FPG …