Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protection of the bovine fetus from bovine viral diarrhoea virus by means of a new inactivated vaccine

A model is described for the validation of vaccines designed to protect the bovine fetus from bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). The fetopathic nature of the challenge strain of virus was confirmed and the method used to test a commercial vaccine (Bovidec) developed from a Compton prototype. Heifers were vaccinated two or three times about the time of impregnation and challenged when they were between 25 and 80 days of gestation. There was no evidence of a viraemia in the heifers after the challenge, or of infection with BVDV of 13 liveborn calves or two aborted fetuses.
Management and Treatment Outcome of Pouch-Vaginal Fistulas Following Restorative Proctocolectomy

AbstractPURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the outcome of surgical management of pouch-vaginal fistulas in females who had undergone restorative proctocolectomy. METHODS: This study was designed as a retrospective chart review of females treated for pouch-vaginal fistulas from 1983 to 2000. All patients were followed up using our prospective pouch registry, with additional data collected by interview or mailed questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixty females were identified (mean age, 33.3 ± 1.3 years), of whom 33 had their initial restorative proctocolectomy done at our institution. Preoperative diagnosis was ulcerative colitis (88 percent), indeterminate colitis (10 percent), and familial adenomatous polyposis (2 percent). Average time to pouch-vaginal fistula following restorative proctocolectomy was 21 months (range, 1–132 months). Postoperative pelvic sepsis had occurred in 17 (28 percent) patients. Primary treatment modalities included the following: local repairs (n = 46, 77 percent), the majority of which were ileal advancement flaps; redo restorative proctocolectomy (n = 6, 10 percent); and pouch excision (n = 5, 8 percent). Initial healing was achieved in 20 patients. An additional 11 patients with recurrences healed after repeat procedures. The overall healing rate was 52 percent at 49.4 ± 3.8 months follow-up. Pouch failure was the eventual outcome in 13 (22 percent) patients and 16 (27 percent) patients had persistent pouch-vaginal fistula. A delayed diagnosis of Crohn’s disease was made in 24 patients. Crohn’s disease patients had lower success rates following ileal advancement flaps compared with the non-Crohn’s group (25 vs. 48 percent, respectively), much lower overall healing rates of their pouch-vaginal fistulas (17 vs. 75 percent, respectively), and a higher incidence of pouch failure (33 vs. 14 percent, respectively). CONCLUSION: Pouch-vaginal fistulas are a difficult problem in females following restorative proctocolectomy. However, local repair can be successful with good functional outcomes. Redo restorative proctocolectomy may also achieve healing if local repairs are not possible or have failed. A delayed diagnosis of Crohn’s disease results in worse treatment outcome and higher pouch failure rates.
Learning Outcomes and Affective Factors of Blended Learning of English for Library Science

English for Library Science is an essential course for students to command comprehensive scope of library knowledge. This chapter aims to compare the learning outcomes, gender differences, and affective factors in the environments of blended and traditional learning. Around 1000 participants from one university were randomly selected to answer questions in questionnaires. It was found that (1) the pass rates under blended learning increased compared with traditional multimedia learning and the dropout rates under blended learning decreased compared with multimedia learning; (2) males and females did not show any significant differences in learning outcomes; (3) affective factors under blended learning were significantly more favorable than those under multimedia learning; and (4) under the blended learning model, male motivation was significantly higher than female; male attitude was significantly more favorable than female; males held higher self-esteem than females. However, male anxiety was significantly less than female. Reasons for the findings, as well as future research directions, were also explored.
End-user involvement in health technology assessment (HTA) development: A way to increase impact

Objectives: A mechanism to increase the influence of Health Technology Assessments (HTAs) on hospital policy decisions was developed. Methods: We describe the process and results of an experiment in which a local in-hospital HTA unit was created to provide sound evidence on technology acquisition issues, and to formulate locally appropriate policy recommendations. The Unit consists of a small technical staff that accesses and synthesizes the evidence incorporating local health and economic data, and a Policy Committee that develops policy recommendations based on this evidence. It represents administration, health-care professionals, patients, and representatives of the clinical disciplines affected by each issue. The level of success of the Unit was independently evaluated. Results: To date, 16 reports have been completed, each within 2–4 months. Five recommended unrestricted use, seven recommended rejection, and four recommended very limited use of the technology in question. All have been incorporated into hospital policy. Budget impact is estimated at approximately $3 million of savings per year. Conclusions: This local in-house HTA agency has had a major impact on the adoption of new technology. Probable reasons for success are (i) relevance (selection of topics by administration with on-site production of HTAs allowing them to incorporate local data and reflect local needs), (ii) timeliness, and (iii) formulation of policy reflecting community values by a local representative committee. Because over one third of all health-care costs are incurred in the hospital, diffusion of this model could have a significant effect on the quantity and quality of health-care spending.
Attitudes to seat belt wearing and related safety features in two cities in China

The study aimed to establish characteristics of vehicles, occupants, seat belt and vehicle safety features for the Chinese cities of Nanjing and Zhoushan in order to interpret previously observed low seat belt wearing rates, particularly of passengers. Convenience interview surveys, stratified by vehicle and occupant type, of 2280 motor vehicle users were conducted in 2006 and 2007. Most participants (74.4%) were male, particularly drivers. Over half the occupants surveyed were aged 30–39 years. Drivers had relatively new vehicles and less driving experience compared with more motorised countries. Seat belts in most front seating positions and in half of the rear seats were fitted and functional. Where fitted, reasons for ‘never wearing’ were mostly ‘feeling trapped and uncomfortable’; inconsistent wearers were influenced by ‘habit development, trip length, speed, comfort and enforcement’. Public awareness of the safety benefits of seat belts, strong enforcement and retrofitting are necessary to overcome these barriers as achieved by past and present best practice.
A Rule Based Morphological Analyzer and A Morphological Disambiguator for Kazakh Language

Morphological analysis is a very critical issue especially for natural language processing related tasks on agglutinative languages. This study gives the implementation details of a rule-based morphological analyzer of Kazakh language which is an agglutinative language. A detailed computational analysis of Kazakh language morphology such as formalization of alter- nation and morphotactic rules for Kazakh language is worked out in order to create the morphological analyzer. In the implementation of the morphological analyzer, alternation and morphotactic rules of Kazakh language are represented by two-level morphology rules and Foma finite state compiler is employed. This is the first detailed computational analysis of Kazakh language from morphological view. A word can have more than one morphological parse but only one of its morphological parses is valid in a given sentence. A morphological disambiguator disambiguates words by selecting one of possible parses of words. In this paper, we also present a transformation-based morphological disambiguator for Kazakh language and it is a variation of Brill tagger.
Human Biodistribution and Dosimetry of the D2/3 Agonist 11C-N-Propylnorapomorphine (11C-NPA) Determined from PET

We measured the whole-body distribution of intravenously injected 11C-N-propylnorapomorphine (11C-NPA), a dopamine agonist PET tracer, in human subjects and determined the resulting absorbed radiation doses. Methods: Six subjects (3 women, 3 men) were injected with 11C-NPA (nominal dose, 370 MBq). A total of 9 consecutive whole-body PET scans were obtained for each subject. In addition, time–activity curves for 12 organs were determined, and residence times were computed for each subject. Dosimetry was determined for the various body organs and the whole body. Results: The average NPA whole-body radiation dose was 3.17 × 10−3 mSv per MBq of injected 11C-NPA. The organ receiving the highest dose was the gallbladder wall, with an average of 2.81 × 10−2 mSv·MBq−1. Conclusion: On the basis of averaged dosimetry results, an administration of less than 1,780 MBq (<48 mCi) of 11C-NPA yields an organ dose of under 50 mSv (5 rem) to all organs.
Interpretation of Velocity Profiles of the Mantle

The purpose of this note is to demonstrate that recent VP and V, profiles are consistent with finite strain extrapolations of reasonable mineralogies. The difference in the size of the discontinuities in the Vp and V, profiles is due to the relative pressure insensitivity of shear velocity in spin el structures. Most of the structure in the upper mantle can be attributed to the collapse of forsterite rich olivine to the fJ spine! and then the 'Y spine! structures. The 640-km discontinuity on the basis of recent work appears to be due to the disproportionation of 'Y spin el to a mixture of magnesiowustite (Mg, Fe)O and stishovite. The present results indicate that this postspinel phase in the lower mantle is enriched in SiO, relative to the upper mantle. The 640-km discontinuity is therefore a chemical as well as a phase boundary.
A gradient relationship between low birth weight and IQ at age 6 years.

OBJECTIVE To test for a suspected adverse effect of low birth weight (< or = 2500 g) on IQ at age 6 years in two socioeconomically disparate populations. DESIGN Nonconcurrent prospective study. SETTING An urban, predominantly disadvantaged population and a suburban middle-class population in southeastern Michigan. PARTICIPANTS Low-birth-weight (N = 473) and normal-birth-weight (N = 350) subjects, randomly selected from the 1983 through the 1985 newborn lists of two major hospitals, one serving an urban and the other a suburban population. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised to measure IQ. RESULTS The mean full-scale IQ of low-birth-weight children was 4.9 points lower than that of normal-birth-weight children, controlling for population site, maternal IQ, maternal education, and race (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.0 to 6.8). There was no evidence of low-birth-weight interaction with population site, and the same IQ difference was detected in both populations. In the urban population, low birth weight was associated with an increased risk for IQ below 85 (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.7). In the suburban population, low birth weight was associated with an increased risk for IQ below 100 (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.4). A gradient relationship with full-scale IQ was observed, with the largest deficit in those born weighing 1500 g or less, an intermediate deficit in those born weighing 1501 through 2000 g, and the least pronounced deficit in those born weighing 2001 through 2500 g. CONCLUSIONS The overall effect of low birth weight represents an increase of approximately 10% of low-birth-weight children with an IQ of more than 1 SD below the population's mean. Children born weighing 2000 g or less bore the major burden of the IQ deficits.
Relationship Skills in the Labor and Marriage Markets

This paper examines the role of relationship skills in determining life cycle outcomes in education, labor and marriage markets. We posit a two-factor model with human capital and "relationship" or "partnering" skill. Relationship skill is understood in our framework as the ability to maintain long-term relationships, both in the formal job market and the home sector. Using a Mincer-Jovanovic (1981) framework and evidence on job and marital separations in the PSID, we argue that relationship skills are naturally modeled as an individual fixed factor that increases the durability of relationships in multiple sectors. Next, we use data from the Occupational Information Network to extract and develop a common factor from measures of non-cognitive skills that reduce divorce and job loss likelihood conditional on partners' wages and education. In both empirical and numerical analysis, we show that this factor operates differently in the market and home sectors. It is highly complementary in the market sector but fairly substitutable in the home sector: that is, stability of marriage depends most strongly on at least one partner being endowed with strong partnering skills. It therefore stands in contrast to measures of more general human capital, such as educational attainment that are highly complementary inputs into marriage. To explore the quantitative implications of relationship skill, we use the PSID to develop and estimate a two-factor life cycle model of schooling, job search and marriage that allows us to test the importance of partnering skills, including their implications for optimal schooling and occupational decisions, and the joint distribution of relationship skills and human capital in the population.
Effect of Self-leadership Recognized by Newly-employed Nurses on Job Satisfaction: Mediating Effect of Organizational Commitment

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc/3.0), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Effect of Self-leadership Recognized by Newly-employed Nurses on Job Satisfaction: Mediating Effect of Organizational Commitment Choi, Yeon Hee · Kim, Hyeon Mi College of Nursing, Kyungpook National University, Daegu Department of Nursing, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea
Discrepancies in the Viewpoints of Different German Health Care Providers on Palliative Care

In many countries with highly developed health care systems, significant improvements in end-of-life care are strongly recommended. Up to the present, the assessment of perceived deficits predominantly reflects the point of view of experts in the palliative and hospice movement, with very little being known about the perspective of other professionals. The aim of this study was to assess the points of view of a wide range of different health care providers who treated or interacted with palliative care patients. The authors subsequently performed 597 semistructured telephone interviews with a wide range of German health care professionals. Overall, the assessment of the current situation was better than expected, although statistically significant differences existed among the groups surveyed. However, there is an unquestionable need for improvement, although opinions regarding the extent of these deficits depend significantly on the individual respondents’ roles and professional orientation.
Flow cytometry of human semen: a preliminary study of a non-invasive method for the detection of spermatogenetic defects.

BACKGROUND The pathway of spermatogenesis involves the conversion of diploid stem cells (spermatogonia) to tetraploid primary spermatocytes, followed by meiosis and two cell divisions, first forming diploid secondary spermatocytes and then haploid round spermatids. Differentiation of round spermatids results in spermatozoa containing condensed chromatin. It has long been known that semen from patients with non-obstructive azoospermia or oligospermia contains small numbers of immature germinal cells. In this article, a flow cytometric procedure is described for assessing defects in spermatogenesis by identifying the ploidy of those immature cells. METHODS Cells in semen samples from 44 infertile patients and 14 controls were stained with propidium iodide, which displays red fluorescence when intercalated between bases in double-stranded DNA. The resulting cell suspension was examined by quantitative flow cytometry, with excitation by laser light (488 nm) and red fluorescence recorded on a logarithmic scale to allow easy differentiation between intensities of tetraploid, diploid and haploid round spermatids, and spermatozoa containing condensed chromatin. RESULTS The flow cytometric method differentiated between cases of 'Sertoli cell-only' syndrome (complete absence of tetraploid and haploid cells) and cases where spermatogenesis was blocked in meiosis or in spermiogenesis. Flow cytometric histograms from semen samples from normozoospermic, oligozoospermic and azoospermic patients fell into patterns that correlated well with the results obtained from testis histology findings. CONCLUSIONS The method described may serve as a simple, non-invasive and reliable assay to help clinicians counsel patients with severe male infertility before referring them for testicular surgery to locate spermatozoa for ICSI.
Cyclotides as a basis for drug design

Introduction: Cyclotides are plant-made defence proteins with a head-to-tail cyclic backbone combined with a conserved, six cystine knot. They have a range of biological activities, including uterotonic and anti-HIV activity, which have attracted attention to their potential pharmaceutical applications. Furthermore, their unique structures and high stability make them appealing as peptide-based templates for drug design applications. Methods have been developed for their production, including solid phase peptide synthesis as well as recombinant methods. Areas covered: This article reviews the recent literature associated with therapeutic applications of naturally occurring and synthetically modified cyclotides. It includes applications of cyclotides and cyclotide-like molecules as peptide-based drug leads and diagnostic agents. Expert opinion: The ultra-stable cyclotides are promising templates for drug development applications and are currently being assessed for the potential breadth of their applications. For synthetic versions of cyclotides to enter human clinical trials further studies to examine their biopharmaceutical properties and toxicities are required. However, several promising proof-of-concept studies have established that pharmaceutically relevant bioactive peptide sequences can be grafted into cyclotide frameworks and thereby stabilised, while maintaining biological activity. These studies include examples directed at cancer, cardiovascular disease and infectious diseases. Solid phase peptide synthesis has been the preferred approach for making pharmaceutically modified cyclotides so far, but promising progress is being made in biological approaches to cyclotide production.
Prognostic impact of ploidy level in carcinoma of the cervix

THE SINGLE CELL DNA CONTENT WAS ANALYZED BY USE of flow cytometry in cervical carcinoma. The study included 171 patients, Stages Ib-III. The ploidy level was calculated as a DNA index by comparison with diploid lymphocytes. Accordingly, the tumors were divided into two groups with DNA index below and above 1.5. This division proved to be important to the recurrence frequency. In all stages investigated, a statistically significant higher recurrence frequency was found in the group with DNA index above 1,5. The same relation applied concerning the survival It is concluded that the DNA distribution is an important prognostic factor in cervical carcinoma.
Infantile hypophosphatasia: disappointing results of treatment

Hypophosphatasia is a rare autosomal recessive condition caused by deficiency of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). Other alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes (intestinal, placental and germ cell) are unaffected. The condition is characterized by defective bone mineralization, leading to rickets or osteomalacia. The classification of hypophosphatasia is closely linked to age at first presentation and may be divided into perinatal (lethal), infantile, childhood and adult forms. The infantile form is defined as cases that become clinically apparent before the age of 6 mo (1), and affected individuals have a more profound underlying enzyme deficiency than with the childhood and adult forms (2). The prognosis in the infantile form is poor, with more than 50% of patients dying during the first year. Several forms of treatment have been tried in infantile hypophosphatasia, but none is of proven value. Recently, a patient has been reported who appeared to benefit from calcitonin injections, to control hypercalcemia, and then chlorothiazide treatment to increase reclamation of filtered calcium (3). The authors hypothesized that chlorthiazide might also have a beneficial impact on bone mineralization with intervention improving the balance between bone formation and breakdown in the disorder. Bisphosphonates might also help to address the discrepancy between bone formation and breakdown by reducing bone resorption (4). We report a child who died despite treatment with all three of these agents.
A theoretical study of random segregation of minicircles in trypanosomatids

The kinetoplast (k) DNA network of trypanosomatids is made up of approximately 50 maxicircles and in the order of 104 minicircles. It has been proposed, based on various observations and experiments, that the minicircles are randomly segregated between daughter cells when the parent cell divides. In this paper, this random segregation hypothesis is theoretically tested in a population dynamics model to see if it can account for the observed phenomena. The hypothesis is shown to successfully explain, in Leishmania tarentolae, the observation that there are a few major and many minor minicircles, the fluctuations of minicircle class copy numbers over time, the loss of non–essential minicircle classes, the long survival times of a few of these classes and that these classes are likely to be the major classes within the population. Implications of the model are examined for trypanosomids in general, leading to several predictions. The model predicts variation in network size within a population, variation in the average network size and large–scale changes in class copy number over long time–scales, an evolutionary pressure towards larger network sizes, the selective advantage of non–random over random segregation, very strong selection for the amplified class in Crithidia fasciculata if its minicircles undergo random segregation and that Trypanosoma brucei may use sexual reproduction to maintain its viability.