Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamics and Potentiality of Postgraduate Students Regarding Lifelong Learning: A Greek Case.

Abstract The purpose of this article is to contribute to a gradually expanding discussion on the role of lifelong learning in the personal and professional lives of individuals, as well as on the socioeconomic trends and practices in the global context. It presents the results of a survey carried out with a structured questionnaire on postgraduate students in social and economic sciences in a Greek university, in order to explore their views, perceptions and attitudes regarding lifelong learning; it also explores the way in which these factors guide their ideological commitment of lifelong learners, as well as their corresponding dynamics and potentiality. The definition of these determinants would significantly enable the effective implementation of lifelong learning by contributing to a wider range of interventions, varying from planning activities to eventually influencing the socioeconomic environment and transforming relevant national and supranational strategies Keywords : lifelong learning; adult learning; postgraduate studies; professional development; social qualities
Development and duration of mumps fluorescent antibodies in various immunoglobulin fractions of human serum.

The indirect immunofluorescence technique was successfully adapted to the detection and titration of mumps virus antibodies in human sera. The curve of antibody development and duration for 3 months following the onset of clinical disease was measured with fluorescein-labeled antisera prepared against the IgG, IgA and IgM fractions as well as the whole human GG, and was compared with neutralizing antibodies. Antibodies in the whole GG and the IgG fraction were present in high titer at the time of onset and persisted unchanged for at least 3 months. IgM antibodies also developed rapidly to somewhat lower titers but declined steadily and were rarely detectable 50 days after the disease. Limited observations on the curve of IgA antibodies indicated that they too are transient and decline during the first month after infection. Neutralizing antibodies in these same individuals developed slowly and to relatively lower titers but persisted for the duration of the study. The specificity of reactions with labeled antisera for various fractions of GG was confirmed by treatment with 2-ME followed by density gradient centrifugation. The FA response of individuals receiving live, attenuated mumps virus vaccine was measured using conjugates prepared against IgM and whole GG and was found to correspond closely to that measured by the neutralization technique. The extent of subclinical infection and immunity among 48 ward contacts of cases in an institution was determined by testing paired serum specimens which had been collected at an interval of 36 days. Thirty-one per cent were found to be serologically immune. Twenty-five per cent remained susceptible and 43% experienced subclinical infection. Reactions between antibodies in sera of patients convalescent from mumps and antigens prepared with parainfluenza viruses of types 1, 2 and 3 were prominent with fluorescein-labeled antisera against whole GG but were completely eliminated when anti-IgM serum was employed. This rapid and highly specific diagnostic procedure has the added significance that a positive reaction in even a single serum specimen proves that the individual has experienced infection during the past few weeks.
Pathophysiological Effects of Pancreatic Sympathetic Denervation in Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis in Dogs

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the greater splanchnic nerve (GSN) transection on the pathophysiological process of acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). Methods The dogs were divided into a sham operation (SO) group, ANP group, and ANP with bilateral GSN transection (GSNT) group. Dogs in the GSNT group underwent bilateral GSNT immediately after ANP induction. The levels of serum pancreatic amylase (AMY), calcium, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HCRP), tumor necrosis factor &agr; (TNF-&agr;), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and neutrophile granulocyte (NEU) counts were monitored dynamically, and the pathological examinations of the pancreas was performed at postoperative day 7. Results All the parameters among the 3 groups showed no differences before the experiment (P > 0.05). At different postoperative times, the NEU count and serum AMY, TNF-&agr;, HCRP, and IL-10 were significantly increased; however, the serum calcium had decreased in the ANP group versus SO (P < 0.05). The postoperative serum IL-10 and calcium levels were higher, and TNF-&agr;, HCRP, and NEU counts were lower in the GSNT group compared with those in the ANP group (P < 0.05); as for AMY, no significant difference was found between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The pancreas pathological scoring of the GSNT group was lower versus the ANP group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Greater splanchnic nerve transection can alleviate development of pathophysiological processes in ANP.
Modelling of Nutrient Emissions in River Systems – MONERIS – Methods and Background

MONERIS is a semi-empirical, conceptual model, which has gained international acceptance as a robust meso- to macro scale model for nutrient emissions. MONERIS is used to calculate nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) emissions into surface waters, in-stream retention, and resulting loads, on a river catchment scale. This paper provides the first (i) comprehensive overview of the model structure (both the original elements and the new additions), (ii) depiction of the algorithms used for all pathways, and for retention in surface waters, and (iii) illustration of the monthly disaggregation of emissions and the implementation of measures. The model can be used for different climatic conditions, long term historical studies, and for future development scenarios. The minimum validated spatial resolution is 50 km2, with a temporal resolution of yearly or monthly time steps. The model considers seven emission pathways (atmospheric deposition on surface waters, overland flow, erosion, tile drainage, groundwater, emissions from sealed urban areas, and point sources), and six emission sources (natural background, fertilizer application, nitrogen atmospheric deposition on arable land and other areas, urban sources, and point sources); and these are calculated separately for different land-uses. The pathway and source-related approach is a prerequisite for the implementation of measures to reduce non-point and point-source emissions. Therefore, we have modified MONERIS by the addition of a “management alternative” tool which can identify the potential effectiveness of nutrient reduction measures. MONERIS is an appropriate tool for addressing the scientific and political aspects of river basin management in support of a good surface water quality. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of dronedarone versus amiodarone, propafenone, and sotalol in patients with atrial fibrillation: results for Serbia.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that dronedarone is associated with significantly fewer adverse effects and treatment discontinuations, and a trend toward reduced all-cause mortality, compared with amiodarone. Introduction of dronedarone in clinical practice is limited by its higher cost than amiodarone, propafenone, and sotalol. AIM To estimate cost-effectiveness of dronedarone versus amiodarone, propafenone, and sotalol in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS We constructed a Markov model, which was then simulated by Monte Carlo simulation using 1,000 virtual patients. Costs and outcomes were estimated from the societal perspective and discounted at 3% annually. A lifetime horizon and three-month cycle length were used. The main outcome measurement was the number of years spent without stroke. Values of transition probabilities and therapy outcomes were estimated from available literature. The prices of health services and drugs were obtained from the Republic Institute for Health Insurance Tariff Book and Drug List A and from the drug developer. RESULTS Cost-effectiveness shows that the dronedarone treatment option has the most advantageous relationship, where, for one year without a stroke, the total cost is €1,779.23. In the case of the amiodarone therapy option, for one year without a stroke €3,845.10 is needed, for propafenone €4,674.20, while for sotalol the sum is €14,973.89. Estimated annual costs for patients with first-detected AF in Serbia were €610. CONCLUSIONS The results of our model indicate that dronedarone is a cost-effective therapy compared with amiodarone, propafenone, and sotalol in patients with AF, if the outcome measurement is the number of years spent without stroke.
Gender differences in alcohol impairment of simulated driving performance and driving-related skills.

AIMS Considerable laboratory research indicates that moderate doses of alcohol impair a broad range of skilled activities related to driving performance in young adults. Although laboratory studies show that the intensity of impairment is generally dependent on the blood alcohol concentration, some reviews of this literature suggest that women might be more sensitive to the impairing effects of alcohol than men. The present study tested this hypothesis. METHODS Drawing on data from previous experiments in our laboratory, we compared men and women in terms of the degree to which a challenge dose of alcohol (0.65 g/kg) impaired their simulated driving performance and measures of three separate behavioral and cognitive functions important to driving performance: motor coordination, speed of information processing and information-processing capacity. RESULTS Alcohol significantly impaired all aspects of performance. Moreover, women displayed greater impairment than men on all behavioral tests and also reported higher levels of subjective intoxication compared with men. CONCLUSIONS Both biological and social-cultural factors have been implicated in gender differences in the behavioral responses to alcohol. The current evidence of heightened sensitivity to alcohol in women highlights the need for better understanding the biological and environmental factors underlying this gender difference.
RENAL PROTECTIV ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE ( ANACARDIACEAE ) STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Earlier studies from our laboratory have indic Anacardium occidentale (AO) leaves in experimental ty induced diabetes in rats had been shown to be asso morphological changes in the kidney. Therefore, in carried out studies on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced typ treated with Anacardium occidentale on the functional kidneys. Albino rats were divided into 7 groups (n = hexane extract of Anacardium occidentale leaf by gava and insulin (5 IU/kg). Renal ultrastructure was studie Bowman’s capsule, distribution and total area occupied positive structures. AO at the dose of 300 mg/kg/day, sho 0.05) of blood glucose level, total protein excreted, glyco Anacardium treatment, initiated 3 days after diabetes ind renal structure and other metabolic disturbances mo initiated two weeks after. Histopathological study significantly reduced accumulation of mucopolysacchar animals. The extract of AO at the dose of 300 mg/kg h normal rats. The present study demonstrates the effica (hexane extract) in reducing diabetes-induced functional the kidneys.
Primates. Comparative Anatomy and Taxonomy. Vol. 6, Catarrhini, Cercopithecoidea, Cercopithecinae

With Volume Six, Osman Hill's Primates definitively achieves monumental status. Subtitled, Comparative Anatomy and Taxonomy, the author clearly invites attention from these disciplines. The present review will attempt to examine some of the "fall-out," the functional aspects of the primates which the author has generously included in this and previous volumes. It can be stated at once that this aspect of Primates is exceedingly valuable, in that behavioral and physiological phenomena can be seen to peculiar advantage in the context of a formal and systematic presentation. In his introduction to Ruch's Bibliographia Primatologica (1941) the late Dr. John F. Fulton enunciated the proposition "if not man, then the monkey," and expressed the conviction that primate biology in the future would become even more intimately bound up with teaching and research in the medical sciences. The 25 years that have elapsed have seen this wisdom and foresight vindicated to the point that the appearance of these volumes of Osman Hill is exceedingly timely. Functional studies of the primates in their own right and as paradigms of man began with the work of van Herwerden and Hubrecht at the turn of the century. A strong school associated with the names of Corner, Edgar Allen and Hartman sought to elucidate the nature of the sex cycle of the primate. An equally notable school was founded by Fulton himself in the use of primates for neurophysiological research. Meanwhile Yerkes, Zuckerman and the Sukhumi school inaugurated studies of primate behavior. Poliomyelitis made the use of primates mandatory for the laboratory study of infectious disease, and in numerous ways the advance of medicine is now firmly linked with the use of primate norms. Hill's Primates thus properly goes beyond the interests of those who might wish to establish the identity of a monkey pelt or the provenance of a fragment of mandible. In retrospect, the first volumes of the series were devoted to the exotica of the Order: to forms like Tarsius which appear infrequently in western laboratories or zoos, but which, because of their zoological position have excited interest and controversy; to Galago, whose afficianados have generally been private collectors. Examples of the Strepsorhini and Haplorhini (Volumes I and II) can generally be seen in the larger zoos. Volumes III-V cover the Infraorder Platyrrhini, the New World monkeys: marmosets, howlers and spiders. Once rather neglected as biological material, the former, at least, is beginning to appear in laboratory colonies. The present volume is a general introduction, first, to the Infraorder Catarrhini,
Hyperhomocysteinemia and Changed Plasma Thiol Redox Status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract Reduced and total homocysteine, cysteine, glutathione and cysteinylglycine in plasma were investigated in 19 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in 29 healthy subjects. The purpose was to examine the influence of pro-oxidant activity caused by the lung disease on the metabolism of homocysteine and other plasma thiols. We observed a decreased concentration of reduced glutathione and a decreased ratio of reduced/total glutathione in the patients compared to the healthy individuals, which supports the hypothesis of an association between free radicals and pathogenesis in some lung diseases. We also observed an increased total plasma homocysteine. The influence of a possible extracellular pro-oxidant activity on the concentration of total plasma homocysteine is discussed.
Neck Circumference and Leg Length as Surrogate Markers of Coronary Artery Disease - Simplifying Cardiac Risk Stratification.

INTRODUCTION Coronary angiography is the gold standard for quantification of coronary atherosclerosis. But, being invasive, it has inherent complications. Hence, we examined the accuracy of prediction of coronary angiography using simple anthropometric indices. AIM To identify a patient friendly method to predict coronary artery disease using simple anthropometric parameters, by testing their correlation with coronary artery disease severity scoring system. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study on patients undergoing elective coronary angiography. A total of 48 patients were included in the study. Neck circumference and leg length of the patients were noted. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was quantified using Jenkin's scoring system. Mean and standard deviation for each continuous variable was calculated. The correlation between Jenkins' score, neck circumference and leg length was tested. The data analysis was done using IBM-SPSS software. RESULTS Mean leg length among the study population was 88.70 cm (±2.51 cm) among males, 79.04 cm (±4.32 cm) among females and 83.66 cm (±3.26 cm) overall. Mean neck circumference was 36.87 cm (±4.37 cm) among males, 36.04 cm (±3.65 cm) among females and 36.44 cm (±3.99 cm) when combined together. There was no correlation of Jenkin's scores with leg length. But, there was significant correlation between Jenkin's scores and neck circumference. CONCLUSION Neck circumference can be used as a simple and effective tool and is better than leg length for risk stratification of patients with coronary heart disease.
Lethal Effect of a Heterologous Murein Hydrolase on Penicillin-Treated Streptococcus sanguis

Nine strains of Streptococcus sanguis exhibited tolerance to benzylpenicillin: the growth of each strain was susceptible to penicillin with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 0.1 μg/ml or lower, but the bacteriolytic and bactericidal effects were limited in each case. The tolerance of these bacteria was also reflected in the large discrepancies between the minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations for benzylpenicillin. The hypothesis that a natural deficiency of endogenous murein hydrolase (autolysin) in this species accounts for the penicillin tolerance was tested by using a heterologous murein hydrolase, the C-phage-associated lysin. In seven of the strains, addition of the lysin to the culture together with penicillin or other cell wall inhibitors resulted in lysis and rapid loss of viability. The enzyme alone did not appreciably affect normally growing cultures. The irreversible effects of penicillin plus lysin were drastically reduced in the presence of the bacteriostatic agents chloramphenicol and cerulenin. Speculations based on experiments are presented for the mechanisms by which penicillin treatment sensitizes these bacteria to an exogenous lytic enzyme. Similar phenomena requiring cooperation of host factors and penicillin may occur during infection, since somewhat similar although less pronounced results were obtained by addition of human lysozyme to penicillin-treated S. sanguis.
Evaporative Water Loss in Superficial to Full Thickness Burns

IntroductionIncreased evaporative water loss (EWL) in burn patients leads to dehydration and hypothermia. Early clinical studies performed with outdated hygrometers suggested a 17 to 75 times increased EWL in burns with contradicting results for the different burn depths.Our study proposals were: (1) obtain reliable data of the EWL of all burn depths, (2) compare these results with findings from earlier studies, (3) evaluate the usefulness of the EWL in differentiating between superficial and deep partial thickness burns, (4) determine the effect of Biobrane on the EWL of superficial partial thickness burns in vivo, and (5) evaluate the effect of the sterile incision foil Opraflex on the EWL in split skin graft donor sites. MethodsWe measured the EWL of all burn depths in 28 patients under stable and recorded conditions regarding room temperature and humidity with a modern digital evaporimeter (Tewameter TM 300). For the first time in vivo, we also determined the effect of Biobrane on the EWL of burns and evaluated the EWL in split skin graft donor sites covered with Opraflex. ResultsThe EWL in all burn depths was significantly increased (P < 0.001) compared with unburned skin. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the EWL of superficial compared with deep partial thickness burns, whereas full thickness burns had a significantly lower EWL (P < 0.05) compared with superficial and deep partial thickness burns. Biobrane significantly reduced the EWL (P < 0.05) of superficial partial thickness burns. The EWL of Opraflex covered skin graft donor sites was significantly reduced compared with uncovered donor sites (P < 0.05). ConclusionsOur data suggest that the actual EWL in burns is approximately 3 times higher in full thickness burns and approximately 4 times higher in superficial and deep partial thickness burns compared with normal skin and therefore much lower than suggested previously.Because there was no significant difference in the EWL of superficial compared with deep partial thickness burns, the EWL cannot be used to differentiate between these burn depths.Biosynthetic wound dressings can significantly reduce the EWL of superficial partial thickness burns and sterile incision foil protects split skin graft donor sites from an increased EWL.
Phytotoxic effects of salinity, imazethapyr, and chlorimuron on selected weed species

Abstract Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effect of salinity, imazethapyr, and chlorimuron on weed growth. Five species, barnyardgrass, common cocklebur, ivyleaf morningglory, common purslane, and yellow nutsedge, were grown in potting soil and irrigated with nonsaline (EC ∼ 2 dS m−1) or sulfate-dominated saline (EC ∼ 7 dS m−1) nutrient solution. Plants were treated after emergence with imazethapyr (Pursuit formulation) at 70 g ae ha−1 or chlorimuron ethyl (Classic formulation) at 8.8 g ai ha−1. Results indicated that irrigation with saline water had no overall effect on the growth or survival of most tested weed species. Growth of yellow nutsedge (maximum height and stem diameter) was reduced for plants irrigated with saline water. Observed growth and survival trends in saline and nonsaline treatments were consistent with information on the herbicide label. Complete control of common purslane was not achieved by either chlorimuron or imazethapyr. Growth and survival of ivyleaf morningglory and yellow nutsedge were greater when plants were treated with imazethapyr than when treated with chlorimuron, whereas for barnyardgrass, growth and survival were significantly greater when plants were treated with chlorimuron. Both herbicides affected common cocklebur growth and survival in a similar way. For all tested species, most surviving plants were not vigorous and would not be highly competitive with crop plants. The results of these experiments suggest that weed control information mentioned on the labels for these herbicide formulations will not require modification for moderately saline soils. Nomenclature: Chlorimuron; imazethapyr; yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L. CYPES; barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. ECHCG; ivyleaf morningglory, Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq. IPOHE; common purslane, Portulaca oleracea L. POROL; common cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. XANST.