Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Producers' Opinions on What Makes Demonstrations Effective

Despite the widespread and long-standing use of demonstration sites in Extension, there is little empirical evidence to inform how best to design them. We report data from 513 producers in three regions of Indiana whom we surveyed about sources of information for farm management decisions, the usefulness of demonstrations, and preferences and factors that influence their attendance at demonstrations. In general, respondents had positive opinions about demonstration events and high levels of agreement regarding their usefulness. Lack of awareness of demonstrations was the greatest single factor leading to nonattendance. We provide recommendations for organizing demonstration events based on the preferences of producers we surveyed.
Gabapentin to Pregabalin Therapy Transition: A Pharmacokinetic Simulation

The objective of this modeling study was to assess different dosage regimens that might be used to guide clinicians in transitioning patients from gabapentin to pregabalin therapy when such a transition is clinically warranted. Two different gabapentin to pregabalin transition designs were simulated based on their respective population pharmacokinetic profiles. The first design involved immediate discontinuation of gabapentin therapy with initiation of pregabalin therapy at the next scheduled dose period. The second design featured a gradual transition involving coadministration of 50% of the gabapentin dosage and 50% of the desired pregabalin dosage for 4 days, followed by discontinuation of gabapentin and fully targeted dosages of pregabalin. Both transition designs were studied at 3 dosage levels: gabapentin 900 mg/d to pregabalin 150 mg/d, gabapentin 1800 mg/d to pregabalin 300 mg/d, and gabapentin 3600 mg/d to pregabalin 600 mg/d. Overall drug exposure achieved during the 2 transition designs was the sum of the gabapentin and pregabalin concentrations, expressed as pregabalin-equivalent concentrations. The pharmacokinetic simulations show that during the transition period in both designs, predicted pregabalin-equivalent concentrations did not depart from those calculated during periods of steady-state gabapentin or pregabalin monotherapy. Transition from gabapentin to pregabalin was seamless and rapid, with predicted pregabalin-equivalent concentrations highly comparable with plasma pregabalin concentrations within 1 day of pregabalin initiation in the immediate discontinuation model and within 1 day of gabapentin cessation in the gradual discontinuation model. These data suggest that transitioning patients from gabapentin to pregabalin could theoretically be achieved by either of the 2 approaches assessed.
The Low-Dose ACTH Test Does Not Identify Mild Insufficiency of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Children with Inadequate Stress Response

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate retrospectively the sensitivity of published cortisol cut-off points of the low-dose ACTH test (LDAT) in children with proven mild hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis insufficiency. Patients and Methods: The HPA axis of 11 pediatric patients (age range: 5.5-14.5 yr) with established mild HPA axis insufficiency was reinvestigated with the LDAT. The sensitivity of the LDAT was calculated on the basis of published stimulated cortisol cut-off points. Results: The LDAT showed both a significantly higher cortisol peak and a greater cortisol rise compared with the ITT (both P<0.01). The LDAT yielded a low sensitivity of 9-55 % using published cortisol cut-off points as references. Conclusion: Using published cortisol cut-off points, the LDAT showed a poor sensitivity to detect mild HPA axis insufficiency. We cannot recommend the use of the LDAT as a screening test of HPA axis impairment in such children.
Modeling Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos: A Review

This paper reviews the major developments of modeling techniques applied to nonlinear dynamics and chaos. Model representations, parameter estimation techniques, data requirements, and model validation are some of the key topics that are covered in this paper, which surveys slightly over two decades since the pioneering papers on the subject appeared in the literature.
M-tree as an index structure for time series data

A very effective method for fast retrieval in time series data is to map each data sequence into a small set of multidimensional rectangles in feature space, then these rectangles can be readily indexed using traditional multidimensional index trees, like R*-tree. This paper describes the use of another multidimensional index tree, M-tree, for fast retrieval in wavelet transformed time series and compares its performance to that of R*-tree as an index structure for this transformed time series representation.
Characterization of bijective discretized rotations by Gaussian integers

A discretized rotation is the composition of an Euclidean rotation with a rounding operation. It is well known that not all discretized rotations are bijective: e.g. two distinct points may have the same image by a given discretized rotation. Nevertheless, for a certain subset of rotation angles, the discretized rotations are bijective. In the regular square grid, the bijective discretized rotations have been fully characterized by Nouvel and Remila (IWCIA'2005). We provide a simple proof that uses the arithmetical properties of Gaussian integers.
Skin cancer knowledge and sun protection behavior among nursing students.

AIM The objective of this study was to determine skin cancer knowledge and sun protection behavior among nursing students. METHODS A total of 1178 nursing students in the Aegean Region of Turkey took part in this descriptive study. A score for knowledge on protection against skin cancer and a score for protective behavior against skin cancer were calculated. RESULTS In this study, first year students sunbathed more in the middle of the day than fourth year students, and their knowledge of skin cancer was lower. No statistical difference was determined for protective behavior between the two groups. The knowledge levels and protective behavior of first year students were alarmingly low, but the average scores for knowledge and behavior of the fourth year university students were higher. The knowledge levels of the fourth year students were average but their protective behavior was insufficient. It was found that the knowledge levels and the levels of protective behavior of light-skinned students were higher. CONCLUSION This study revealed that the knowledge levels and protective behavior of first year nursing students against the harmful effects of the sun and for protection against skin cancer were alarmingly low. It also showed that the knowledge levels of the fourth year nursing students were average, but that their protective behavior was very insufficient. These findings suggest that it is of extreme importance to acquire knowledge and behavior for protection against skin cancers in the education of nursing students.
Customer interaction and innovation in Creative-Intensive Business Services : a framework for exploring co-innovation in advertising agency-client relationships

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to understand clients’ involvement in the innovation of creative-intensive business services, namely advertising services. Research shows that agency–client relationships are critical to campaign creativity, customer satisfaction and agency performance, but little evidence exists on collaboration with clients for agency’s innovation. In order to fill this gap, a framework is developed for the analysis of agency-client co-innovation by integrating studies on customer involvement, service innovation and relationship marketing. This is followed by an exploratory case study of an Italian successful agency aimed at getting insights into clients’ role and involvement in its innovation processes.
Insurance company as dominant shareholder and financial performance in for-profit hospitals

ABSTRACT Ownership of hospitals matters with respect to financial performance, but the literature on this topic is scarce and largely focussed on for-profit versus non-for-profit hospitals. In contrast, this paper focusses on the for-profit hospital and, specifically, on the insurance companies as hospital dominant shareholders with respect to other types of shareholders. Arguments from the ownership and strategic management literatures are used from a theoretical point of view. Specifically, this paper analyses empirically the effects of insurance companies as controlling shareholders on the financial performance of unlisted, private, for-profit hospitals (179) in Spain from 2005 to 2012. The results show that the hospitals with insurance companies as controlling shareholders are less profitable and have a lower operating margin than do those controlled by banks, firms, or individuals/families. The lower performance might be explained by rent seeking by insurance companies as dominant shareholders because they could apply pressure to reduce the prices of the services provided by the hospitals to the insurers.
Early Versus Delayed Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy For Acute Cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the gold standard for the management of acute cholecystitis but controversy surrounds the timings of the surgery. Studies are available favouring both early and delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The objective of this study was to compare early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. METHODS This quasi-experimental study included 180 patients irrespective of their age and sex presented at department of Surgery, Lahore General Hospital between January to December 2014 with a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis were assigned randomly to early laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 24 h of admission or to initial conservative treatment followed by delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 6-12 weeks later. RESULTS The mean operating time was 64.32 min vs. 58.24 min in the delayed group, conversion rate (early 15.5% vs. delayed 14.4%). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 1.67 days in the earlier group and 4.38 days in the delayed group. Overall mortality was zero. CONCLUSIONS Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is safe, offering economic benefit of much shorter hospital stay and quick recovery.
ADULT CASES OF ONYCHOMYCOSIS

Vol. 5 (6D) n June 2005 BACKGROUND (CASE 1) A 41-year-old woman presented with no complaints of pain, but she was concerned about discoloration of her toenails. She has a black belt in karate and works as a karate teacher. She works out in her bare feet and is embarrassed by the condition of her toenails. She had approximately 25% to 30% distal involvement in her toenail, with no other nail involvement (Figure 1A). The nail was not particularly thickened, just discolored.
Goal Realization Path Model of Local Malaysian Franchisees: the Mediating Role of Attitude andSubjective Norm

This empirical study examines the goal realization path model comprising of direct effects of plan enactment, subjective norm and attitudes on the goal realization and the indirect effects of goal desire, goal intention, implementation desire, implementation intention on goal realization. It also investigates the mediating effects of attitude and subjective norms on certain linkages. By employing the quantitative research design, this study uses the samples comprising of 400 local food franchise outlets in eight states in Malaysia (Johore Bharu, Klang Valley, Ipoh, Penang, Kota Bharu, Kuala Trengganu, Kucing and Kota Kinabalu). Data were obtained through self-administrated questionnaires.Out of the total 400 responses, only 122 data were usable for further analysis (31% response rate). This study analyses the data using Partial Least Square (PLS-SEM). The study found three direct predictors of goal realization, six significant paths and two significant mediating roles of attitude and subjective norm. This study is a new empirical findings for the franchising business sector.This empirical study on the determinants of goal realization of franchisee using the survey method to contribute towards a better understanding of the owners’ motivation for realizing their organization's goal.Manager of a franchise can now comprehend better desire implementation factors that influence their company goal realization.
Sertraline in the treatment of minor depression in nursing home residents: a pilot study

‘Minor’ depression affects up to 50% of residents in long‐term care facilities and is associated with considerable discomfort, disability and risk of morbidity. Despite the prevalence of this problem, few studies addressing the treatment of these patients have been conducted. In an open clinical trial, 12 nursing home residents who met the DSM‐IV description for minor depressive disorder were treated with sertraline for 6 weeks. Adverse effects and clinical response were monitored. All residents tolerated their medication without any significant side‐effects. At the completion of the study, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Global Assessment Scale change scores both indicated significant improvement and 75% of the residents met criteria for ‘remission’. This preliminary study provides evidence that nursing home residents with minor depression tolerated treatment with sertraline and improved clinically. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Religion and Mental Health: Aspects of the Relation between Religious Measures and Positive and Negative Mental Health

Studies concerning the relationship between religion and mental health have provided substantial evidence for the existence of a positive relationship. Nevertheless, it remains largely unclear which aspects of both religion and mental health take part in this relationship. The present study uses multiple measures of religion and of mental health to obtain a more refined view of this relationship. The results show the importance of distinguishing between if a person believes (inclusion vs. exclusion of transcendence) and how a person believes (literal vs. symbolic). Religious persons who have a symbolic attitude towards religion scored higher on positive aspects of mental health (well-being). No significant results were found for negative mental health (psychological distress).
School-Wide Effects of Implementing Response to Intervention in Virginia Middle Schools

The purpose of this study was to measure the association between school-wide student achievement on the English and mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) tests and the degree of implementation and length of time implementing Response to Intervention (RTI) in Virginia middle schools. Recognizing that RTI is a complex process (Fuchs & Deshler, 2007; Mellard, Frey, & Woods, 2012; Mellard, McKnight, & Jordan, 2010; VanDerHeyden, Witt, & Barnett, 2005), some middle schools may experience uneven degrees of implementation in their attempts to adopt the RTI model (Mellard, Frey, & Woods, 2012). Principals serving grades 6 through 8 exclusively in Virginia were surveyed using an adapted version of the Self Assessment of Problem Solving Implementation (Castillo, J., Batsche, G., Curtis, M., Stockslage, K., March, A., & Minch, D., 2010), a Likert-like scale, to determine the degree of RTI implementation and the length of time the school had been implementing RTI. The school’s implementation score and the number of years the schools had been implementing RTI were regressed against the school’s school-wide scaled scores on the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in English and mathematics. Analysis of the association between Response to Intervention implementation levels and the number of years a school had implemented Response to Intervention failed to reveal significant findings on student achievement in reading. RTI implementation levels showed a significant negative association with mathematics SOL scaled scores in the participating middle schools.
Postpartum smoking relapse and becoming a mother.

PURPOSE To propose an innovative, theoretically-derived conceptual framework for studies of postpartum smoking relapse including concepts of smoking abstinence self-efficacy and becoming a mother. METHODS Presentation of an existing research paradigm followed by evidence from intervention research and studies of factors associated with postpartum smoking behavior, leading to a new approach to postpartum smoking relapse. FINDINGS Effectiveness of current interventions to prevent relapse is limited. Variables associated with becoming a mother are missing from studies of postpartum smoking relapse. CONCLUSIONS Context-specific variables that influence a woman's progression through the stages of becoming a mother might include protective or risk factors that should be incorporated into the design of postpartum smoking relapse studies.
Protective Roles of CX3CR1-Mediated Signals in Toxin A-Induced Enteritis through the Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression

The injection of Clostridium difficile toxin A into the ileal loops caused fluid accumulation with the destruction of intestinal epithelial structure and the recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. Concomitantly, intraileal gene expression of CX3CL1/fractalkine (FKN) and its receptor, CX3CR1, was enhanced. When treated with toxin A in a similar manner, CX3CR1-deficient (CX3CR1−/−) mice exhibited exaggerated fluid accumulation, histopathological alterations, and neutrophil recruitment, but not macrophage infiltration. Mice reconstituted with CX3CR1−/− mouse-derived bone marrow cells exhibited exacerbated toxin A-induced enteritis, indicating that the lack of the CX3CR1 gene for hematopoietic cells aggravated toxin A-induced enteritis. A heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inhibitor, tin-protoporphyrin-IX, markedly increased fluid accumulation in toxin A-treated wild-type mice, indicating the protective roles of HO-1 in this situation. HO-1 expression was detected mainly in F4/80-positive cells expressing CX3CR1, and CX3CR1−/− mice failed to increase HO-1 expression after toxin A treatment. Moreover, CX3CL1/FKN induced HO-1 gene expression by isolated lamina propria-derived macrophages or a mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, through the activation of the ERK signal pathway. Thus, CX3CL1/FKN could induce CX3CR1-expressing macrophages to express HO-1, thereby ameliorating toxin A-induced enteritis.
Androgen action on human skin – from basic research to clinical significance

Abstract: Androgens affect several functions of the human skin, such as sebaceous gland growth and differentiation, hair growth, epidermal barrier homeostasis and wound healing. Their effects are mediated by binding to nuclear androgen receptors. Androgen activation and deactivation are mainly intracellular events. They differ from cell type to cell type and between cells at different locations. The major circulating androgens, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and androstenedione, are predominantly produced in the adrenal glands, and testosterone and 5α‐dihydrotestosterone are mainly synthesized in the gonads. Testosterone in women and 5α‐dihydrotestosterone in both genders are also synthesized in the skin. Skin cells express all androgen metabolizing enzymes required for the independent cutaneous synthesis of androgens and the development of hyperandrogenism‐associated conditions and diseases, such as seborrhea, acne, hirsutism and androgenetic alopecia. The major thrust of drug design for the treatment of androgen‐associated disorders has been directed against several levels of androgen function and metabolism. Partial effectiveness has only been achieved either by androgen depletion, inhibition of androgen metabolism or blockade of the androgen receptor.
Interaction of Fcp1 Phosphatase with Elongating RNA Polymerase II Holoenzyme, Enzymatic Mechanism of Action, and Genetic Interaction with Elongator*

Fcp1 de-phosphorylates the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) C-terminal domain (CTD) in vitro, and mutation of the yeast FCP1 gene results in global transcription defects and increased CTD phosphorylation levels in vivo. Here we show that the Fcp1 protein associates with elongating RNAPII holoenzyme in vitro. Our data suggest that the association of Fcp1 with elongating polymerase results in CTD de-phosphorylation when the native ternary RNAPII0-DNA-RNA complex is disrupted. Surprisingly, highly purified yeast Fcp1 dephosphorylates serine 5 but not serine 2 of the RNAPII CTD repeat. Only free RNAPII0(Ser-5) and not RNAPII0-DNA-RNA ternary complexes act as a good substrate in the Fcp1 CTD de-phosphorylation reaction. In contrast, TFIIH CTD kinase has a pronounced preference for RNAPII incorporated into a ternary complex. Interestingly, the Fcp1 reaction mechanism appears to entail phosphoryl transfer from RNAPII0 directly to Fcp1. Elongator fails to affect the phosphatase activity of Fcp1 in vitro, but genetic evidence points to a functional overlap between Elongator and Fcp1 in vivo. Genetic interactions between Elongator and a number of other transcription factors are also reported. Together, these results shed new light on mechanisms that drive the transcription cycle and point to a role for Fcp1 in the recycling of RNAPII after dissociation from active genes.
Hypoxia Signaling Cascade for Erythropoietin Production in Hepatocytes

ABSTRACT Erythropoietin (Epo) is produced in the kidney and liver in a hypoxia-inducible manner via the activation of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) to maintain oxygen homeostasis. Accelerating Epo production in hepatocytes is one plausible therapeutic strategy for treating anemia caused by kidney diseases. To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of hepatic Epo production, we analyzed mouse lines harboring liver-specific deletions of genes encoding HIF-prolyl-hydroxylase isoforms (PHD1, PHD2, and PHD3) that mediate the inactivation of HIF1α and HIF2α under normal oxygen conditions. The loss of all PHD isoforms results in both polycythemia, which is caused by Epo overproduction, and fatty livers. We found that deleting any combination of two PHD isoforms induces polycythemia without steatosis complications, whereas the deletion of a single isoform induces no apparent phenotype. Polycythemia is prevented by the loss of either HIF2α or the hepatocyte-specific Epo gene enhancer (EpoHE). Chromatin analyses show that the histones around EpoHE dissociate from the nucleosome structure after HIF2α activation. HIF2α also induces the expression of HIF3α, which is involved in the attenuation of Epo production. These results demonstrate that the total amount of PHD activity is more important than the specific function of each isoform for hepatic Epo expression regulated by a PHD-HIF2α-EpoHE cascade in vivo.
Suppression of chemical mutagen-induced sos response by allylbenzen from Asiasarum heterotropoides in the Salmonella typhimurium ta1535/psk1002 umu test

A methanol extract from Asiasarum heterotropoides showed a suppressive effect of the SOS-including activity on the mutagen 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f ]quinoline (MeIQ) in the Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 umu test. The methanol extract was re-extracted with chloroform, butanol, and water. The chloroform fraction showed a suppressive effect. Suppressive compounds in the chloroform fraction were isolated by silica gel column chromatography and identified as methyleugenol (1), elemicin (2), and γ-asaron (3) by GC/MS, IR, and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. These compounds suppressed the MeIQ-induced SOS response in the umu test. Gene expression was suppressed 52.2, 61.8, and 71.6% at a concentration of 0.1 mM, respectively. The ID50 values (50% inhibition dose) of these compounds were 0.080, 0.028, and 0.013 mM, respectively. On the other hand, Compounds 1–3 showed weak suppressive effect of the SOS-inducing activity on activated MeIQ. These results indicate that the inhibition of the SOS-inducing activity on MeIQ, which was caused by Compound 1–3 was due to the inhibition of metabolic activity by S9.