Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Prevalence of Motor Neurone Disease in the Province of Alberta

Abstract: Using data from the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, the prevalence of motor neurone disease (MND) was estimated for the Province of Alberta, Canada. Between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1995, 208 cases of MND (125 males, 83 females) were identified from physician billing records giving a period prevalence of 7.38 (8.9 for males, 5.9 for females) per 100,000 population. On prevalence day, July 1, 1995, there were 171 cases (103 males, 68 females) of MND giving a point prevalence estimate of 6.07 (7.3 for males, 4.8 for females) per 100,000 population. Males were more likely to be diagnosed (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.1, 2.1) with MND and there was an increased risk of receiving a diagnosis with increasing age (χ2 trend = 281, p < 0.001). The mean age of the cases was 59.2 years (58.5 for males, 60.3 for females) and did not differ significantly between the sexes. Geographically, there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence across regions of the Province. During the study period, 28% of the cases had died (30% of males, 25% of females). The prevalence of MND in Alberta, is among the highest reported in the literature and requires additional investigation to verify these estimates and identify possible causative factors.
Modeling Total-Dose Effects for a Low-Dropout Voltage Regulator

Total ionizing dose effects in a low-dropout voltage regulator are explained based on experimental data and circuit simulations. Transistor gain degradation is shown to be the dominant cause of the circuit degradation at lower dose rates. In addition, collector-to-emitter leakage current in one of the NPN transistors of the bandgap reference part of the circuit is responsible for increasing the postirradiation output voltage at high dose rates. Parametric changes in the bandgap, differential amplifier, and output pass transistor circuit blocks are identified that are responsible for various aspects of the observed circuit degradation. The different annealing characteristics of oxide-trap and interface-trap charge are responsible for the complex postirradiation recovery of the output voltage
Governance and Profitability Around the World

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of governance environments upon aggregate dividend yield and earnings per share for developed and emerging stock markets over the time period January 1995 to December 2002. Using an augmented version of the dividend growth model and allowing for the control of risk factors, we find that governance environments have a significant influence upon dividend yield and earnings per share. The results have policy implications for government policy setters as improvements to governance environments may induce portfolio equity inflow, which is increasingly being seen as a driving force for economic growth.
Glucocorticoids Increase In Vitro and In Vivo Activities of Antibiotics against Chlamydophila pneumoniae

ABSTRACT The in vitro and in vivo antichlamydial activities of dexamethasone and beclomethasone alone and in combination with an antibiotic were tested. In vitro, dexamethasone and beclomethasone decreased the number of inclusion-forming units versus the control number (P < 0.001). The combination of glucocorticoids with azithromycin, telithromycin, or levofloxacin was more active than antibiotics used alone (P < 0.001). The combination, tested in a murine Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection model, produced similar results.
A Look at Some Important Factors in Assessing Readiness for School

Previous articles in the Journal cited by the author have argued that some children either have insufficient intelligence or lack readiness for first-grade work, despite an appropriate chronological age. Retainment or delayed entry have been suggested as remedies. Gredler presents arguments and supporting data which seriously question these otherwise reasonable assertions. Those concerned at this time of year with decisions of retainment or delayed entry should find this article thought-provoking. — G.M.S. There has been an increased interest in the learning disabled child and the need for sophisticated diagnosis and remediation. However, many still believe that manipulation of the entrance age to school and grade retention will solve the problems of children retarded in reading. The efficacy of these approaches is analyzed. There is a need to examine the excessively high failure rate found in the primary grades and reconceptualize the factors involved in such failure.
Governing Explorative R&D Alliances: Searching for Effective Strategies

Although firms increasingly rely on interfirm collaboration to explore new technological opportunities, few studies have examined the ways in which this collaboration form is governed. In this paper, we attempt to increase our understanding of governing explorative R&D alliances. First, we argue that explorative R&D alliances are likely to face substantial risks of opportunistic behavior and high coordination costs. Second, applying insights from the alliance literature, we identify formal governance mechanisms as effective tools to mitigate the risk of opportunistic behavior as well as coordination costs. However, relying on insights from the new product development literature, we argue that such formal governance mechanisms may hamper exploring new technological opportunities. Third, we propose and develop alternative strategies, facilitating the governance of explorative R&D alliances: 1) relying on embedded relationships in which heterogeneity is maintained and 2) balancing formal and relational governance. To conclude, we emphasize the importance of longitudinal, multi-level research to study the characteristics and dynamics of different governance mechanisms within interfirm collaboration.
Efficacy of different anthelmintic preparations against gastrointestinal parasitic infestation in sheep.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of six different commercial anthelmintics preparations against naturally occurring gastrointestinal parasitic infestation in sheep was conducted from July to August, 2006 in the Veterinary clinics in collaboration with Department of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Department of Pharmacology and Department of Physiology of of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated through determination of parasitological, body weight gain and haematological findings. The study involved a total of 35 sheep of which naturally infected by parasite. Infected sheep were blood and faecal sampled on day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of study. Pre and post-treatment EPG (eggs per gram) values were recorded and efficacies compared. Results showed that a combination of triclabendazole and levamisole (Endex) in oral form gave the overall highest (p<0.01 and p<0.05) curative rate against the parasites (Strongyles spp., Paramphistomum spp. and Bunustomum spp.) studied.
Effect of fresh milk on the production of hepatic tumors in rats by dimethylaminoazobenzene.

The prevalence of primary cancer of the liver in Africa and in certain parts of Asia is a problem that should attract increasing attention. In a series of papers Berman (1, 2, 3) describes its frequency and pathology amongst the Bantu in South Africa, and in discussing the possible etiological factors (4) draws attention to its coincidence with cirrhosis. He enumerates a number of other conditions (helminthiasis, malaria, schistosomiasis, hemochromatosis, alcohol) that may perhaps be responsible for those changes in the liver to which some races seem more susceptible than others. None of these factors, however, is present in all the communities where primary liver cancer is prevalent. The question of racial susceptibility was investigated by Kennaway (16), who analyzed the data concerning the incidence of primary liver cancer amongst Negroes in America and Africa; for since the former are descendants of the West African Negroes they might have the same racial susceptibilities. But the scanty data available did not indicate that the incidence of primary liver cancer amongst American Negroes differs from that among the white people in America, and if this is so the very high incidence in African Negroes cannot be of purely racial character. In Africa some extrinsic factor may be involved. This extrinsic factor could be related to one of the agents described by Berman as provoking cirrhosis of the liver, but none of these was found to be consistently connected with the occurrence of liver tumors. A second possibility is that materials are present in the food of peoples liable to liver cancer that may evoke the development of these tumors; or substances are absent that may prevent the formation of such neoplasms. Investigations concerning the first possibility are in progress. With regard to the second, experiments with hepatic tumors induced by p-dimethylaminoazobenzene seemed suitable, as it has been shown that these growths are affected by modifications in the diet. Yeast and liver (19-21), both of which are rich in vitamins of the B complex, and chemically pure substances, riboflavin and casein (13, 17), separately or in combination, were found effective in preventing tumor formation. It seems that the quantitative relations of these substances to other vitamins, e.g., biotin, which is "procarcinogenic," (7, 27), play a determining role (8). It has, however, been questioned whether the prevention of neoplasms by yeast is connected with its vitamin content, and it was suggested that p-dimethylaminoazobenzene becomes adsorbed on yeast residues and so escapes resorption from the alimentary canal (14). Hydrogenated cocoanut oil also was found effective in preventing the formation of liver tumors by p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (18). With regard to dietary factors that may influence the development of hepatic neoplasms in human subjects, it was of interest to investigate widely used foodstuffs, and the present experiments are concerned with the effect of fresh milk on the production of tumors in the liver of rats.
Virulence Gene profiling in Salmonella Typhimurium Isolated from Fecal Samples of Domestic and Wild Animals

The virulence gene profile of twelve (12) Salmonella isolates obtained from faecal samples of animal origin, including livestock, primates and emu, was determined. All Salmonella isolates were identified by biochemical tests. Genus specific PCR further confirmed the Salmonella isolates revealing the expected bands of 496 bp. All isolates on serotyping were found to be Salmonella Typhimurium with antigenic structure 4,2:i:1,2. These Salmonella isolates were screened for different virulence-associated genes by PCR-based procedures. All the isolates were positive for ssaQ, hilA, prgH and fljB genes. The mgtC gene was present in varying frequencies in isolates from different animal species with an overall frequency of 75%. By conventional PCR, it was demonstrated that the four genes, as indicators for salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs), were present in all strains, independently of the host species and outcome of infection.
One Report: Integrated Reporting for a Sustainable Strategy

Foreword. Acknowledgments. Introduction. Notes. Chapter 1 What Is One Report? The Meaning of One Report. Novo Nordisk: An Early Adopter of One Report. Rhetoric and Design in Natura's 2008 Annual Report. The Urgent Need for One Report. Notes. Chapter 2 United Technologies Corporation's First IntegratedReport. UTC's First One Report. A Brief History of Corporate Reporting at UTC. More on the 2008 Report. UTC's Half-Century of Corporate Reporting. Notes. Chapter 3 The State of Financial Reporting Today. Background on Financial Reporting. Complexity. Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). Auditing. Notes. Chapter 4 The State of Nonfinancial Reporting Today. A Typology of Nonfinancial Information. Intangible Assets. Intangible Assets at Infosys. Key Performance Indicators. Environmental, Social and Governance Metrics. Assurance on Nonfinancial Information. Notes. Chapter 5 Sustainable Strategies for a SustainableSociety. Sustainability at Ricoh. Corporate Social Responsibility. Sustainability. Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Sustainable Strategies Require Integrated Reporting. Corporate Reporting at Ricoh. Notes. Chapter 6 It's Time for One Report. The Case for One Report. One Report for a Sustainable Strategy for a SustainableSociety. The Time Is Now. Objections to One Report. The Bottom Line. Notes. Chapter 7 The Internet and Integrated Reporting. A Web-based Perspective on One Report. The Essential Elements of Web-based Integrated Reporting. Web 3.0 and Integrated Reporting. Notes. Chapter 8 Integrated Reporting for a SustainableSociety. Companies Must Take Responsibility. Innovation. Support from the Investment Community. Development of Standards. Legislation and Regulation. Support from Civil Society. Notes. Appendix A: Companies and Organizations with URLs. Appendix B: Acronyms. Index.
The relation between standing balance and walking function in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

To establish and compare the relationship between standing balance and walking performance, eight children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CF) and 16 non‐disabled, age‐ and sex‐matched children were studied. The results showed that the children with CP had worse static balance stability in various sensory environments and dynamic balance (rhythmic shifting ability) than the non‐disabled children. Moreover, the children with CP walked at a slower speed but at a greater physiological cost than the non‐disabled children. In the children with CP, dynamic balance significantly correlated with walking function. It is suggested that rhythmic weight‐shift training should be encouraged to improve the walking performance of children with CP.
Growth and enterotoxin production of Bacillus cereus in cow, goat, and sheep milk

The aim of this study was to compare Bacillus cereus growth rates and diarrhoeal enterotoxin production in raw and pasteurized goat, sheep, and cow milk in terms of storage conditions. Milk samples were inoculated with B. cereus (CCM 2010), which produces diarrhoeal enterotoxins. Enterotoxin production was tested by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), and the count of B. cereus was determined by the plate method. With raw cow milk, B. cereus growth and enterotoxin production can be completely suppressed; in raw goat and sheep milk, enterotoxin was produced at 22 °C. In pasteurized cow, goat, and sheep milk, the B. cereus count increased under all storage conditions, with more rapid growth being observed at 15 °C (sheep milk) and 22 °C (cow and goat milk). Enterotoxin presence was detected at 15 °C and 22 °C, and with pasteurized cow milk also at 8 °C. Our model experiments have determined that B. cereus multiplication and subsequent enterotoxin production depend on storage temperature and milk type.
Establishing the flow cytometric assessment of myeloid cells in kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury

Polychromatic flow cytometry is a powerful tool for assessing populations of cells in the kidney through times of homeostasis, disease and tissue remodeling. In particular, macrophages have been identified as having central roles in these three settings. However, because of the plasticity of myeloid cells it has been difficult to define a specific immunophenotype for these cells in the kidney. This study developed a gating strategy for identifying and assessing monocyte and macrophage subpopulations, along with neutrophils and epithelial cells in the healthy kidney and following ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in mice, using antibodies against CD45, CD11b, CD11c, Ly6C, Ly6G, F4/80, CSF‐1R (CD115), MHC class II, mannose receptor (MR or CD206), an alternatively activated macrophage marker, and the epithelial cell adhesion marker (EpCAM or CD326). Backgating analysis and assessment of autofluorescence was used to extend the knowledge of various cell types and the changes that occur in the kidney at various time‐points post‐IR injury. In addition, the impact of enzymatic digestion of kidneys on cell surface markers and cell viability was assessed. Comparisons of kidney myeloid populations were also made with those in the spleen. These results provide a useful reference for future analyses of therapies aimed at modulating inflammation and enhancing endogenous remodeling following kidney injury. © 2013 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
DO SELF-REPORTED HEALTH INDICATORS PREDICT MORTALITY? EVIDENCE FROM MATLAB, BANGLADESH

Summary In order to understand current and changing patterns of population health, there is a clear need for high-quality health indicators. The World Health Organization Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE) survey platform and the International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health in developing countries (INDEPTH) generated data for this study. A total of 4300 people aged 50 years or older were selected randomly from the Matlab Health and Demographic Surveillance System of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. The health indicators derived from these survey data are self-rated general health, overall health state, quality of life and disability levels. The outcome of the study is mortality over a 2-year follow-up since the survey. Among the four health indicators, only self-rated health was significantly associated with subsequent mortality irrespective of sex: those who reported bad health had higher mortality than those who reported good health, even after controlling for socio-demographic factors. For all other three health indicators, such associations exist but are significant only for males, while for females it is significant only for ‘quality of life’.
Micellar formulations of Crizotinib and Dasatinib in the management of glioblastoma multiforme

Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) defies the currently practiced management of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery and hence, it is associated with a high fatality rate with a median survival of 14.6 months. In our previous work investigating different tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), we established that a combination of Crizotinib and Dasatinib exerted the most potent effect on different GBM cell lines. In this work, to improve targeted therapy at the site of the tumour and avoid systemic toxicity, we exploited the enhanced permeability and retention effect by designing micellar formulations of these two TKIs. Crizotinib and Dasatinib were successfully encapsulated in poly(styrene-co-maleic acid) (SMA) micelles which were then evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics, anti-proliferative effect, mode of cell death, efficacy in spheroid models, effect on cell signalling, antiangiogenic potential and in vivo anticancer activity. Our results showed that this combination had induced a potent anti-proliferative effect in four GBM cell lines grown as a monolayer and as a spheroid. The combination was also efficacious in in vitro models of angiogenesis and vascular mimicry. In vivo data showed the enhanced activity of the micellar TKIs compared to free drugs. In conclusion, we proved that micellar formulations of Crizotinib and Dasatinib carry promising in vitro and in vivo efficacy that warrant further investigation.
Utilizing Relay Points to Improve the Truckload Driving Job

We propose a relay point based approach on a highway transportation network to obtain robust solutions for the truck driver turnover and driver retention problem. We exploit the characteristics of the driver routing problem and truckload freight moved over a highway transportation network and introduce a new approach to route drivers over shorter distances and to move trailers continuously while considering important performance measures as related to the truck driver, transportation carrier, and customer. The amount of time drivers spend driving and the time spent at home are exploited to determine a balance between driver home time and driver pay. A mixed integer quadratic program is introduced to determine where relay points should be more optimally located to exchange equipment, perform equipment maintenance, access resting facilities, etc. while considering important costs related to transporting truckload freight. The intention is to propose a method to improve the truckload driving job but not at the expense of the transportation carrier and customer. We discuss some of the desirable characteristics of this approach and also investigate the solutions via a numerical case study.
The Dual Actions of Morin as a Hypouricemic Agent: Uricosuric Effect and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity

Hyperuricemia is associated with a number of pathological conditions such as gout. Lowering of elevated uric acid level in the blood could be achieved by xanthine oxidase inhibitors and inhibitors of renal urate reabsorption. Some natural compounds isolated from herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine have been previously demonstrated to possess xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities. In the present investigation morin (3, 5, 7, 2’, 4’-pentahydroxyflavone), which occurs in the twigs of Morus alba L . documented in traditional Chinese medicinal literature to treat conditions akin to gout, was demonstrated to exert potent inhibitory action on urate uptake in rat renal brush border membrane vesicles indicating that this compound acts on the kidney to inhibit urate reabsorption. Lineweaver-Burk transformation of the inhibition kinetics data demonstrated that the inhibition of urate uptake was of a competitive type with a Ki value of 17.4 µM. In addition, morin was also demonstrated to be an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase. Lineweaver-Burk analysis of the enzyme kinetics indicated that the mode of inhibition was of a mixed type, with Ki and Kies values being 7.9 µM and 35.1 µM respectively. Using an oxonate-induced hyperuricemic rat model, morin was indeed shown to exhibit an in vivo uricosuric action which could explain, in part at least, the observed hypouricemic effect of morin in these rats. The potential application of this compound in the treatment of conditions associated with hyperuricemia was discussed.
Effect of Microelements , Amino and Humic Acids on Growth , Flowering and Fruiting of Some Mango Cultivars

This investigation was carried out during two successive seasons 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 on 6 years old trees of two mango cultivars Keitt and Ewais. The trees were grown in sandy soil under drip irrigation system. Treatments of fertilization were: T1: 0.5 g/l Tradecorp AZll, T2: 0.5 g/l Tradecorp AZll + 40 cm/tree Helpstar, T3: 3cm/l Delfan, T4: 3cm/l Delfan + 40 cm/tree Helpstar, T5: 3cm/l Aton AZ plus, T6: 3cm/l Aton AZ plus + 40 cm/tree Helpstar, T7: 40cm/tree Helpstar, T8: control [water spraying]. The results indicated that Kiett and Ewais mango cultivars that sprayed by 1⁄2 g/l Tradecorp AZll with 40 cm/tree Helpstar soil supplementation produced the highest number of growth cycle comparing with other treatments used in the two seasons. Also, Kiett mango cultivar sprayed by 1⁄2 g/l Tradecorp AZll only or in combined with 40cm/tree Helpstar produced the lowest malformation percentage in the two seasons. Spraying Keitt mango cv. by 3cm/l Aton AZ plus + 40cm/tree Helpstar increased retained fruits percentage in the two seasons. Moreover, spraying 1⁄2 g/l Tradecorp AZll + soil supplementation by 40 cm/tree Helpstar significantly increased yield per tree of both cultivars during the study. Adding 40cm/tree Helpstar as soil supplementation only or with spraying 0.5g/l Tradecorp AZll improved weight, length, width, size, firmness of Keitt and Ewais mango fruits, in the two seasons. On the other hand, spraying 0.5g/l Tradecorp AZll with 40 cm/tree Helpstar soil supplementation on Ewais fruits gave the highest TSS and total sugar fruit content and the lowest acidity content comparing with other interactions used in both seasons.