Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seroprevalence of Q fever among human and animal in Iran; A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Q fever is a main zoonotic disease around the world. The aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the overall seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii among human and animal population in Iran. Methods Major national and international databases were searched from 2005 up to August 2016. We extracted the prevalence of Q fever antibodies (IgG) as the main primary outcome. We reported the prevalence of the seropositivity as point and 95% confidence intervals. Results The overall seroprevalence of IgG phase I and II antibodies of Q fever in human was 19.80% (95% CI: 16.35–23.25%) and 32.86% (95% CI: 23.80–41.92%), respectively. The herd and individual prevalence of C. burnetii antibody in goat were 93.42% (95% CI: 80.23–100.00) and 31.97% (95% CI: 20.96–42.98%), respectively. The herd and individual prevalence of Q fever antibody in sheep's were 96.07% (95% CI: 89.11–100.00%) and 24.66% (95% CI: 19.81–29.51%), respectively. The herd and individual prevalence of C. burnetii antibody in cattle were 41.37% (95% CI: 17.88–64.86%) and 13.30% (95% CI: 2.98–23.62%), respectively. Individual seropositivity of Q fever in camel and dog were 28.26% (95% CI: 21.47–35.05) and 0.55% (0.03–2.68), respectively. Conclusion Seroprevalence of Q fever among human and domestic animals is considerable. Preventative planning and control of C. burnetii infections in Iran is necessary. Active surveillance and further research studies are recommended, to more clearly define the epidemiology and importance of C. burnetii infections in animals and people in Iran.
On the Role of Structural Breaks in Identifying the Dynamic Conditional Linkages between Stock and Commodity Markets

As the nexus between Islamic financial market indexes and energy commodities becomes more global, the question of whether any specific shock considerations are still relevant that might affect this relationship arises. In order to answer it, our paper examines this question by testing the dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) betwee the Qatar Exchange Al Rayan Islamic Index and two energy commodities (crude oil and natural gas) by including structural breaks in the DCC-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) model, as introduced by Engle in "Dynamic conditional correlation: a simple class of multivariate GARCH models" (2002), over the period from March 15, 2011 to December 25, 2014. Our findings reveal that the volatility of commodity returns is strongly correlated to that of the Al Rayan Islamic Index, and the volatility persistence decreases by its lowest amount after incorporating structural breaks. Interesting implications emerge from this paper for both policy makers and portfolio risk managers.
DOES SUKUK FINANCING PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH? AN EMPHASIS ON THE MAJOR ISSUING COUNTRIES

For the past few decades, Islamic finance has imposed itself as a viable alternative / complementary system to the long existing conventional financial system. Nevertheless, recent research has claimed that Islamic finance as it is currently practice, does not promote economic growth. Hence, the objective of this study is to empirically test this claim, by examining the potential effect of Islamic finance in the specific form of Sukuk issuance on the economic growth represented by three proxies, namely, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross Capital Formation (GDP) and trade activities. The data covers not only GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), but also other countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Singapore, China, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), The Gambia and France. The data were collected from the Islamic Finance Information Services (IFIS) and the World Bank databases, and were subsequently analysed through Toda and Yamamoto Granger Non Causality test. Accordingly, the findings indicated that the Sukuk issuance had an influence on the GDP and GCF only when all the countries were pulled together, otherwise no effect was identified for Saudi Arabia and the GCC. Keywords: Islamic Finance, Sukuk , Economic Growth, Financial Development, Saudi Arabia.
Does trade liberalization harm the environment

Events such as the NAFTA and the completion of the Uruguay Round have raised concern over the impact of trade liberalization on the environment. It is believed that less stringent environmental standards in developing countries will give them a comparative advantage in pollution-intensive goods. Using single equation models, existing empirical studies have found either no relationship between environment and trade flows, or a positive relationship between trade liberalization and the environment. This paper develops a simultaneous-equations model to estimate this relationship, directly incorporating the effects of openness on growth of income, and of income growth on environmental damage. A two-good trade model with endogenous factor supply is estimated using pooled provincial data on Chinese water pollution from 1987-1995. Estimation of this model reveals that trade liberalization directly aggravates environmental damage via its influence on the terms of trade, but indirectly mitigates it via its effect on income growth. Simulations suggest that trade reform during the period may have had a net beneficial impact on emissions growth.
'Alone with my pain - it can't be explained, it has to be experienced'. A Norwegian in-depth interview study of pain in nursing home residents.

BACKGROUND Nursing home residents often have pain as their everyday experiences and experience pain in silence. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of how nursing home residents experienced pain and how it influenced their lives and daily living. DESIGN The present study applied a descriptive design. Fifteen residents from nursing homes were recruited among the participants in a larger quantitative study who reported having pain. METHODS A qualitative method using in-depth interviews was used. The data were analysed applying Kvale's method of interpretive analysis. RESULTS Two dimensions of pain were identified: physical pain and pain as suffering. These are described in relation to factors that influence the intensity and the consequences of pain experiences. CONCLUSIONS Physical pain may be relieved by various means of pain management. The residents experienced pain as suffering because pain management was not timely, inappropriate, or insufficient and also because of the nature of their social situation in nursing homes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Caregivers in nursing homes need to understand how it feels for residents to live with pain, to be interested in and aware of their needs and finally to know how to respond to their pain and suffering.
Polar Auxin Transport Is Essential for Medial versus Lateral Tissue Specification and Vascular-Mediated Valve Outgrowth in Arabidopsis Gynoecia1[W]

Polar transport of the plant hormone auxin in female reproductive organ primordia establishes positional cues for medial versus lateral tissue specification and induces lateral domain outgrowth. Although it is generally accepted that auxin is important for the patterning of the female reproductive organ, the gynoecium, the flow as well as the temporal and spatial actions of auxin have been difficult to show during early gynoecial development. The primordium of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) gynoecium is composed of two congenitally fused, laterally positioned carpel primordia bisected by two medially positioned meristematic regions that give rise to apical and internal tissues, including the ovules. This organization makes the gynoecium one of the most complex plant structures, and as such, the regulation of its development has remained largely elusive. By determining the spatiotemporal expression of auxin response reporters and localization of PINFORMED (PIN) auxin efflux carriers, we have been able to create a map of the auxin flow during the earliest stages of gynoecial primordium initiation and outgrowth. We show that transient disruption of polar auxin transport (PAT) results in ectopic auxin responses, broadened expression domains of medial tissue markers, and disturbed lateral preprocambium initiation. Based on these results, we propose a new model of auxin-mediated gynoecial patterning, suggesting that valve outgrowth depends on PIN1-mediated lateral auxin maxima as well as subsequent internal auxin drainage and provascular formation, whereas the growth of the medial domains is less dependent on correct PAT. In addition, PAT is required to prevent the lateral domains, at least in the apical portion of the gynoecial primordium, from obtaining medial fates.
Cytoskeletal and Adhesive Structural Polarizations Accompany IL-13-induced Human Macrophage Fusion

During the inflammatory response to an implanted biomaterial, monocytes undergo a striking phenotypic progression of differentiation into macrophages, which may subsequently fuse to form foreign body giant cells (FBGCs). Taking advantage of an in vitro system of cytokine-induced FBGC formation together with the optical slicing capabilities of a confocal microscope, we investigated the cytoskeletal reorganization and adhesive structure development during this dramatic morphological progression. Human monocytes demonstrated diffuse cytoplasmic staining of adhesive structural proteins. Punctate filamentous (F)-actin structures appeared along the ventral cell membrane of macrophages and were identified as the core of podosome adhesive structures by the distinctive ring staining of vinculin, talin, and paxillin around the F-actin. Cytokine-induced FBGCs were characterized by a restriction of podosomes to the extreme periphery of the ventral cell surface. Although macrophages and FBGC contained equivalent amounts of F-actin, significantly more F-actin was located within 1 μm of the ventral plasma membrane in FBGCs compared to macrophages. Taken together, these results provide new information on the dynamic cytoskeletal reorganization and adhesive structure development that occur during phenotypic progression from human monocytes to macrophages to FBGC. Furthermore, they suggest the acquisition of functional specializations on FBGC formation, which may enhance our understanding of chronic inflammatory processes.
Figure‐Ground Segregation at Contours: a Neural Mechanism in the Visual Cortex of the Alert Monkey

An important task of vision is the segregation of figure and ground in situations of spatial occlusion. Psychophysical evidence suggests that the depth order at contours is defined early in visual processing. We have analysed this process in the visual cortex of the alert monkey. The animals were trained on a visual fixation task which reinforced foveal viewing. During periods of active visual fixation, we recorded the responses of single neurons in striate and prestriate cortex (areas V1, V2, and V3/V3A). The stimuli mimicked situations of spatial occlusion, usually a uniform light (or dark) rectangle overlaying a grating texture of opposite contrast. The direction of figure and ground at the borders of these rectangles was defined by the direction of the terminating grating lines (occlusion cues). Neuronal responses were analysed with respect to figure‐ground direction and contrast polarity at such contours. Striate neurons often failed to respond to such stimuli, or were selective for contrast polarity; others were non‐selective. Some neurons preferred a certain combination of figure‐ground direction and contrast polarity. These neurons were rare both in striate and prestriate cortex. The majority of neurons signalled figure‐ground direction independent of contrast polarity. These neurons were only found in prestriate cortex. We explain these responses in terms of a model which also explains neuronal signals of illusory contours. These results suggest that occlusion cues are used at an early level of processing to segregate figure and ground at contours.
SWP5, a Spore Wall Protein, Interacts with Polar Tube Proteins in the Parasitic Microsporidian Nosema bombycis

ABSTRACT Microsporidia are a group of eukaryotic intracellular parasites that infect almost all vertebrates and invertebrates. The microsporidian invasion process involves the extrusion of a unique polar tube into host cells. Both the spore wall and the polar tube play an important role in microsporidian pathogenesis. So far, five spore wall proteins (SWP1, SWP2, Enp1, Enp2, and EcCDA) from Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Encephalitozoon cuniculi and five spore wall proteins (SWP32, SWP30, SWP26, SWP25, and NbSWP5) from the silkworm pathogen Nosema bombycis have been identified. Here we report the identification and characterization of a spore wall protein (SWP5) with a molecular mass of 20.3 kDa in N. bombycis. This protein has low sequence similarity to other eukaryotic proteins. Immunolocalization analysis showed SWP5 localized to the exospore and the region of the polar tube in mature spores. Immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and immunofluorescence analyses revealed that SWP5 interacts with the polar tube proteins PTP2 and PTP3. Anti-SWP5 serum pretreatment of mature spores significantly decreased their polar tube extrusion rate. Taken together, our results show that SWP5 is a spore wall protein localized to the spore wall and that it interacts with the polar tube, may play an important role in supporting the structural integrity of the spore wall, and potentially modulates the course of infection of N. bombycis.
The prevalence of enterobiasis in children attending mobile health clinic of Huachiew Chalermprakiet University.

A cross sectional survey of Enterobius vermicularis was carried out in 808 children in the Bangkok metropolis and nearby provinces. This was accomplished in a mobile health clinic from Huachiew Chalermprakiet University provided for communities in the areas during April 1999 to May 2000. Children 5-10 years of age were investigated for infestation of Enterobius vermicularis. Diagnosis was done by means of the transparent tape swab technique to recover eggs in the perianal region for examination under a light microscope. The average infection rate in children was 21.91%. The highest infection rate (38.59%) was found in Ang Thong Province, while the lowest one (11.66%) was found in Chonburi Province. The rate of infection seemed to relate to household environmental factors. The infection rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in agricultural areas and areas farthest from urban Bangkok. Industrial and urban areas had the lower rates of infection. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the incidence of infection between males and females.
Shifting Landscapes: The Impact of Centralized and Decentralized Nursing Station Models on the Efficiency of Care

Objective: The focus of this research was to analyze the impact of decentralized and centralized hospital design layouts on the delivery of efficient care and the resultant level of caregiver satisfaction. Background: An interdisciplinary team conducted a multiphased pre- and postoccupancy evaluation of a cardiovascular service line in an academic hospital that moved from a centralized to decentralized model. This study examined the impact of walkability, room usage, allocation of time, and visibility to better understand efficiency in the care environment. Method: A mixed-methods data collection approach was utilized, which included pedometer measurements of staff walking distances, room usage data, time studies in patient rooms and nurses’ stations, visibility counts, and staff questionnaires yielding qualitative and quantitative results. Results: Overall, the data comparing the centralized and decentralized models yielded mixed results. This study’s centralized design was rated significantly higher in its ability to support teamwork and efficient patient care with decreased staff walking distances. The decentralized unit design was found to positively influence proximity to patients in a larger design footprint and contribute to increased visits to and time spent in patient rooms. Conclusion: Among the factors contributing to caregiver efficiency and satisfaction are nursing station design, an integrated team approach, and the overall physical layout of the space on walkability, allocation of caregiver time, and visibility. However, unit design alone does not solely impact efficiency, suggesting that designers must consider the broader implications of a culture of care and processes.
GDNF is regulated in an activity‐dependent manner in rat skeletal muscle

Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is produced by skeletal muscle and affects peripheral motor neurons. Elevated expression of GDNF in skeletal muscle leads to hyperinnervation of neuromuscular junctions, whereas postnatal administration of GDNF causes synaptic remodeling at the neuromuscular junction. Studies have demonstrated that altered physical activity causes changes in the neuromuscular junction. However, the role played by GDNF in this process in not known. The objective of this study was to determine whether changes in neuromuscular activity cause altered GDNF content in rat skeletal muscle. Following 4 weeks of walk‐training on a treadmill, or 2 weeks of hindlimb unloading, soleus, gastrocnemius, and pectoralis major were removed and analyzed for GDNF content by enzyme‐linked immunosorbant assay. Results indicated that walk‐training is associated with increased GDNF content. Skeletal muscle from hindlimb‐unloaded animals showed a decrease in GDNF in soleus and gastrocnemius, and an increase in pectoralis major. The altered production of GDNF may be responsible for activity‐dependent remodeling of the neuromuscular junction and may aid in recovery from injury and disease. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 206–211, 2002
Policy entrepreneurs and problem framing: The case of climate change

Policy entrepreneurs are energetic actors who work with others in and around policymaking venues to promote significant policy change. After several decades of study, we know a lot about what policy entrepreneurs do, and how to assess their effectiveness in given policymaking contexts. Here, we review common practices of policy entrepreneurs, emphasising their problem framing activities and their role in catalysing large-scale behavioural change related to climate change. We then review what policy entrepreneurs operating in various locations and at different levels of government have begun doing to tackle the climate change challenge. Like others, we contend that policy entrepreneurs will play a vital role in future efforts to address climate change. We conclude by discussing opportunities for new research on policy entrepreneurship, policymaking processes and the diffusion of policy innovations relating to climate change.
Three-channel micro-macro bilateral control system with scaling of control gains

Bilateral control robots are one of the master-slave teleoperation robots. The Bilateral control robot achieves communication of force sensation between master system and slave system. As one of the bilateral control systems, a three-channel bilateral control system was proposed. The three-channel bilateral control system has only three communication channels and the position information is transmitted only from master system to slave system. Moreover, there are micro-macro bilateral control systems that are one of the applications of bilateral control system. The micro-macro bilateral control system consists of master and slave system, the sizes of that systems are different. Therefore the system contains scaling factors of information. This paper proposes a three-channel micro-macro bilateral control system with scaling of control gains. The proposed method is designed based on reproducibility and operationality that are one of evaluation indices of bilateral control systems. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed by analysis and experiment.
Dedicated funding for leasing and sharing research and test facilities and its impact on innovation, follow-on financing and growth of biotech start-ups: the Mibiton case

Abstract There is a wide gap between the need for science-based start-ups to purchase or gain access to test equipment and the willingness of investors to provide the necessary funding for that. Most science-based start-ups, and in particular young biotech firms, do not have the resources needed to buy or lease the expensive facilities they need to validate their research results. Investors are reluctant to provide additional capital to these high-tech start-ups in order to acquire state-of-the-art testing equipment. Without owning or having access to the research equipment, these start-ups cannot demonstrate their scientific results effectively and are unable to seize the claims and opportunities flowing from their disclosures. Because they often lack collateral, a track record, stable cash flow and/or operational profits, science-based start-ups have to find alternative sources and channels of finance. A new government-backed funding scheme to hire and purchase and/or share research equipment, called Mibiton, was developed for the Dutch biotechnology sector to address this problem. We examine the motivation to join and participate in the Mibiton scheme, look into its (dis)advantages and evaluate its additionalities through an exploratory study among its investees. The main findings are that an active investment fund providing relatively small investments, with competitive interest rates, makes start-ups more proactive, allowing them to accelerate product development and market testing in their time-to-market race. Mibiton’s investments make the start-up firms more professional, better prepared financially and, with their claims tested and validated, more future-proof. The affiliation with the Mibiton scheme also sends out a strong quality signal to the venture capital community, hereby increasing the likelihood that the start-ups will succeed in obtaining additional funding in the future.
Subjective Reports Versus Objective Measurement of Sleep Latency and Sleep Duration in Pregnancy

This study compared self-reported sleep latency (SL) and total sleep time (TST) to objective measures on polysomnography (PSG) during pregnancy. Thirty-three women in the third trimester (T3) of pregnancy, 16 women in the first trimester (T1) of pregnancy, and 15 non-pregnant women underwent overnight PSG, and shortly after awakening reported their perceived SL and TST. Results showed that, on average, the T3 group slightly overestimated their TSTs, whereas the T1 and non-pregnant groups underestimated TSTs when compared with objective measurement. All groups overestimated SL, and perceived SL was closest to the first epoch of 10 min of uninterrupted sleep or the first epoch of slow-wave sleep, rather than the first epoch of sleep (the current definition used for diagnostic sleep studies). The wide variation in discrepancies between estimation and PSG measurement for both TST and SL shows that self-reports made by both pregnant and non-pregnant women tend to be unreliable, which has important implications both clinically and for the many studies based on self-reported sleep patterns in pregnancy.