Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum concentrations of IGF-I in postpartum beef cows.

Four experiments assessed changes in serum IGF-I under various physiologic conditions in postpartum cows. In Exp. 1, anestrous suckled cows (n = 25) were infused for 6 d with either saline or glucose at two different infusion rates. In Exp. 2, anestrous cows (n = 29) received either a saline (weaned and suckled controls) or 3 g/d phlorizin (weaned phlorizin) infusion for 3 d. Calves from the weaned groups were removed from 15 h before and throughout infusions. In Exp. 3, cycling suckled cows (n = 20) received prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) when the 5-d saline or phlorizin infusion began. In Exp. 4, suckled cows (n = 20) had ad libitum access to feed or received 50% of control feed consumption from 30 to 40 d postpartum. Increasing glucose availability (Exp. 1) increased (P less than .05) serum IGF-I by 30 to 35%. IGF-I remained stable after weaning (Exp. 2) in phlorizin-infused cows (128.8 +/- 12.7 ng/ml), but increased (P less than .05) by 3 d after calf removal in weaned control cows (152.2 +/- 7.5 ng/ml). IGF-I also remained stable in phlorizin-infused cows following PGF2 alpha injection (Exp. 3), but increased in control cows by 2 d after PGF2 alpha (156.8 +/- 18.3 on d 2 vs. 133.7 +/- 9.8 ng/ml pre-injection; P less than .05) and remained elevated (P less than .05) during the periovulatory period. In cows receiving restricted feed intake (Exp. 4), IGF-I decreased by approximately 50% within 4 d of feed restriction (71.3 +/- 9.4 vs 137.4 +/- 16.6 ng/ml; P less than .05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
CHROMagar Orientation Medium Reduces Urine Culture Workload

ABSTRACT Microbiology laboratories continually strive to streamline and improve their urine culture algorithms because of the high volumes of urine specimens they receive and the modest numbers of those specimens that are ultimately considered clinically significant. In the current study, we quantitatively measured the impact of the introduction of CHROMagar Orientation (CO) medium into routine use in two hospital laboratories and compared it to conventional culture on blood and MacConkey agars. Based on data extracted from our Laboratory Information System from 2006 to 2011, the use of CO medium resulted in a 28% reduction in workload for additional procedures such as Gram stains, subcultures, identification panels, agglutination tests, and biochemical tests. The average number of workload units (one workload unit equals 1 min of hands-on labor) per urine specimen was significantly reduced (P < 0.0001; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5326 to 1.047) from 2.67 in 2006 (preimplementation of CO medium) to 1.88 in 2011 (postimplementation of CO medium). We conclude that the use of CO medium streamlined the urine culture process and increased bench throughput by reducing both workload and turnaround time in our laboratories.
Thoracic Manifestation of Myeloperoxidase-Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (MPO-ANCA)-Related Disease: CT Findings in 51 Patients

Objective To assess the pulmonary CT findings of patients with serum evidence of the myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA). Methods The pulmonary CT scans of 62 patients with serum evidence of MPO-ANCA (51 with microscopic polyangiitis, 11 with Churg-Strauss syndrome) were retrospectively assessed with regard to parenchymal, pleural, and mediastinal abnormalities. Results On the CT scans, abnormal findings were seen in 51 of the patients (82%, n = 62). Of the patients, the CT findings consisted of ground-glass attenuation in 48 of the patients (94%, n = 51), consolidation in 40 (78%), and thickening of bronchovascular bundles in 26 (51%). Pathologically, these findings corresponded to alveolar hemorrhages, interstitial chronic inflammation in the alveolar septa, vasculitis, or fibrosis. These abnormalities were predominantly seen in peripheral lung parenchyma (n = 37). Conclusion The CT findings in patients with MPO-ANCA consisted mainly of ground-glass attenuation and consolidation in the peripheral lung. These findings, although nonspecific, are considered as pulmonary involvement in patients with MPO-ANCA.
Terminology for contractions of muscles during shortening, while isometric, and during lengthening.

Communication among scientists must be clear and concise to avoid ambiguity and misinterpretations. The selection of words must be based on accepted definitions. The fields of biomechanics, muscle physiology, and exercise science have had a particularly difficult time with terminology, arising from the complexity of muscle contractions and by the use of inappropriate terminology by scientists. The dictionary definition of the verb "contract," specifically for the case of muscle, is "to undergo an increase in tension, or force, and become shorter. " Under all circumstances, an activated muscle generates force, but an activated muscle generating force does not invariably shorten! During the 1920s and 1930s, investigators recognized that the interaction between the force generated by the muscle and the load on the muscle results in either shortening, no length change (isometric), or lengthening of the muscle. The recognition that muscles perform three different types of "contractions" required that contraction be redefined as "to undergo activation and generate force. " Modifiers of contraction are then needed to clarify the lack of movement or the directionality of movement. Despite the contradiction, for 75 years the lack of movement has been termed an "isometric contraction. " The directionality of the movement is then best described by the adjectives "shortening" and "lengthening. " The definitions of "concentric" as "having the same center" and of "eccentric" as "not having the same center" are consistent with hypertrophy, or remodeling of the heart muscle, but are inappropriate to describe the contractions of skeletal muscles.
Modulation of the Pharmacological and Biochemical Actions of Leiurus quinquestriatus (L.q) Scorpion Venom by Exposure to Gamma Radiation

Back ground This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of gamma radiation (1.5 KGy & 3 KGy) on L.q scorpion venom. This was carried out by studying the toxicological, biochemical & immunological properties of the venom before and after exposure to gamma radiation. Material and methods Animals, venom, antivenin, gamma radiation, 125I. Results Data revealed that the toxicity of irradiated venom (1.5 KGy & 3 KGy) decreased as compared to that of the native one. LD50 of irradiated venom were 3.5 mg/kg & 7.5 mg/kg respectively while, that of the native venom was (0.39 mg/kg). Moreover, the distribution of 125I-labeled L.q venom was studied in male Swiss mice tissue using chloramine-T method by being injected intravenously. At various time intervals, urine and blood were collected and the animals were sacrificed. Brain, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, intestine, bone and muscle were isolated in order to determine the radioactivity content. The highest contents of 125I-labeled L.q venom were found in the liver and kidney that were quickly excreted into the urinary tract. Trial to label irradiated (1.5 & 3 KGy) L.q venom was unsuccessful due to its decomposition. For that reason the utilization of the labeled irradiated L.q venom is of no meaning. In immunodiffusion technique, both irradiated and native venoms exhibited prominent precipitin bands indicating high concentration of specific antibodies against polyvalent antivenin with venom. Furthermore, the effect of half the LD50 of native or irradiated (1.5 KGy) L.q venom was studied on the activities of certain enzymes: ASAT, ALAT, LDH, CPK, CPK-MB, and the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and the oxidative stress biomarkers (plasma MDA & blood GSH). Biochemical measurements showed that scorpion venom envenomation caused significant (p < 0.05) elevation in serum ASAT, ALAT, LDH, CPK as well as CPK-MB activities, blood GSH level while, caused significant (p < 0.05) reduction in triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol. In contrast, the 1.5 KGy gamma irradiated L.q venom showed no alterations except in HDL-cholesterol that significantly decreased compared to that of the non-envenomated normal rats. Conclusion These results indicated that 1.5 KGy gamma irradiation of venom offer an effective method for reducing the toxic effect of venom.
A 1.1-GHz CMOS fractional-N frequency synthesizer with a 3-b third-order /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ modulator

A 1.1-GHz fractional-N frequency synthesizer is implemented in 0.5-/spl mu/m CMOS employing a 3-b third-order /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ modulator. The in-band phase noise of -92 dBc/Hz at 10-kHz offset with a spur of less than -95 dBc is measured at 900.03 MHz with a phase detector frequency of 7.994 MHz and a loop bandwidth of 40 kHz. Having less than 1-Hz frequency resolution and agile switching speed, the proposed system meets the requirements of most RF applications including multislot GSM, AMPS, IS-95, and PDC.
Sazonalidade, abundância e biomassa de insetos de solo em uma reserva de Cerrado

Sazonalidade, abundância e biomassa de insetos de solo em uma reserva de Cerrado. Caracterizamos os insetos de solo em termos de sazonalidade e biomassa em uma fitofisionomia de cerrado (vereda) proxima a Uberlândia, MG. Os insetos foram coletados com armadilhas do tipo pitfall. Depois da selecao e organizacao dos dados, os individuos foram pesados para obter sua biomassa (gramas de peso seco). A ordem Hymenoptera foi a mais numerosa, seguida de Coleoptera, sugerindo que fatores como socialidade e variacoes sazonais podem justificar a abundância encontrada nestas ordens. A ordem Orthoptera apresentou a maior biomassa. A variacao nas taxas de biomassa pode ter ocorrido devido a substituicao de especies ao longo do ano ou entao pelo tipo de especies amostradas. Fatores climaticos foram responsaveis principalmente por um aumento do numero de insetos durante a estacao seca. A variacao observada entre as estacoes seca e chuvosa pode ser uma resposta comportamental para exploracao de recursos de superficie ou uma resposta a umidade disponivel.
A 5–8 Gb/s low-power transmitter with 2-tap pre-emphasis based on toggling serialization

We demonstrate a low-power wireline transmitter with 2-tap pre-emphasis in which serialization is achieved by toggling serializer with data transition information extracted from parallel input data. This novel technique of serialization provides significantly reduced power consumption since it does not need the short pulse generation block required in the conventional serializer. In addition, the same data transition information can be directly used for implementing 2-tap pre-emphasize and, consequently, the need for the additional serializer required in the conventional pre-emphasis circuits can be eliminated, resulting in further reduced power consumption. A prototype transmitter realized in 65nm CMOS technology achieves energy efficiencies of 0.202 pJ/bit at 5 Gb/s and 0.3 pJ/bit at 8 Gb/s for 150 mVpp,d output voltage swing without pre-emphasis, and 0.252 pJ/bit at 5 Gb/s and 0.333 pJ/bit at 8 Gb/s with 2-tap pre-emphasis providing 6-dB equalization gain. To the best of our knowledge, these are the lowest energy efficiencies achieved for wireline transmitters realized in 65nm CMOS technology.
Frequency of hepatitis B, C, and HIV viruses among blood donors in Libya

Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV infections represent a global public health problem. Transmission of these viruses occurs via blood and blood products transfusion and by sexual contact. The infections caused by the three viruses are not curable even with the latest available treatments. Effective vaccine is available only for HBV. (Published: 14 December 2010) Citation: Libyan J Med 2010, 5 : 5333 - DOI: 10.3402/ljm.v5i0. 5333
Designing Multicomponent Distillation Columns Based On Geometric Pinch Analysis

A design approach for multicomponent distillation columns is presented. Based on a geometric analysis of pinch point solutions of composition profiles, the approach provides a suite of accurate and efficient methods for determining minimum reflux, the number of stages and the optimum feed-tray location. Tangent pinches are taken into account in the design. The approach applies to ideal, nonideal and azeotropic mixtures with no restrictions on the number of components. It is demonstrated with applications to column design and column sequencing for multicomponent azeotropic distillation.
A qualitative description of successful aging through different decades of older adulthood

ABSTRACT Objective: To qualitatively examine factors that contribute to successful aging during different decades of older adulthood. Methods: Fundamental qualitative description was adopted as the methodological framework. Through purposeful sampling, 42 community dwelling older adults (mean age = 79.6 years, age range = 65–97 years; 19 males) were recruited. Focus groups (6) segmented by decade of life were conducted with participants 65–74 (n = 17) and 75–84 (n = 17) years of age. Semi-structured interviews (16) were conducted with four participants from each decade, as well as participants 85 years of age and older (n = 8). Data analyses were conducted independently for each decade of life and included inductive analysis of textual data through continuous comparisons of meaning units. Results: Three primary themes related to successful aging were identified across all decades of older adulthood: (1) staying healthy (secondary themes: genetics and lifestyle choices), (2) maintaining an active engagement in life (secondary themes: social engagement and cognitive engagement), and (3) keeping a positive outlook on life. Participants in specific decades of older adulthood identified three additional secondary themes related to maintaining an active engagement in life: finances (65–74 and 85+ years), social support (75+ years), and successful marriage (75+ years). Similarly, only adults 65–84 years of age identified a secondary theme for keeping a positive outlook on life: acceptance and adaptation. Conclusion: Primary themes related to successful aging were agreed upon by participants in all decades of older adulthood, while age-based differences existed among secondary themes. Thus, what it means to age successfully may be age-dependent.
Explaining the intended continuance level of telecommuting

In this study, we demonstrate and enhance the applicability of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to the explanation of the intended continuance level of telecommuting. The results of a survey of 101 current telecommuters provide strong support for the proposed theoretical developments. Overall, the model explains 49.2% of the variance in telecommuters' intended level of telecommuting continuance. Despite a negative moderating effect of habit, attitude maintains a significant effect on intention. Subjective norms also continue to exert a moderate effect on intention.
Laparoscopic surgery for large benign ovarian cysts.

OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility and surgical outcome of laparoscopic surgery among women with large benign ovarian cysts. METHODS We conducted a prospective study applying laparoscopic surgery among women with ovarian cysts whose maximum diameter was > or = 10 cm and radiologic and laboratory features suggestive of benign disease. Patients' demographics, clinical and ultrasound features, CA-125 values, surgical procedures, operative and post-operative complications, estimated amount of blood loss (EBL), operative time, conversion to laparotomy and the pathologic findings were recorded. RESULTS Thirty-three consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic surgery over 7 years. The mean (range) age and body mass index were 45.2 (17-73 years) and 30 (21-42), respectively. Laparoscopic surgery was successful in 31 (93.9%) patients. The procedure was converted to laparotomy in 2 patients secondary to adhesions. There were no operative or post-operative complications. The mean (range) operative time, EBL and hospital stay were 82 (45-125 min), 89 (20-250 mL) and 0.94 (0-4 days), respectively. Twenty-three (70%) patients were discharged home the day of the surgery. The surgical procedures performed were: unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (SO) (n=16), bilateral SO (n=4), ovarian cystectomy (n=2) and laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy and bilateral SO (n=9). The cysts were extracted after aspiration through the vagina (n=11), lower quadrant incision (n=5) or the umbilical incision (n=15). Pathologic findings included serous cystadenoma (n=11), mucinous cystadenoma (n=6), dermoid (n=6), endometriosis (n=5), benign epithelial-lined cyst (n=3) and borderline ovarian tumors (n=2). CONCLUSION Laparoscopy is feasible and safe for women with large ovarian cysts with benign features and results in a short hospital stay.
Expression of telomerase activity in cholesteatoma otitis media

Telomerase maintains the length of telomeres in immortal cells and is also often associated with cell proliferation. Cholesteatoma epithelium is characterized by a dysregulation with hyperproliferative growth. The study evaluated the telomerase activity in cholesteatoma and normal retro-auricular skin to discover the relationship between telomerase expression and clinical findings. Twenty-two samples of cholesteatoma and 15 samples of retro-auricular skin were obtained from patients undergoing middle-ear surgery. The telomerase activity was detected by the telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay method. Seventeen of the 22 (77.3 per cent) cholesteatoma cases expressed telomerase activity, whereas none of the 15 retro-auricular normal skin (0 per cent) detected telomerase activity. There was no significant difference between telomerase expressions and clinical findings, including hearing level, duration of disease, and the degree of extension (p>0.05). The high expression of telomerase in cholesteatoma suggests that the activation of telomerase may be related to the proliferative nature of cholesteatoma.
Goal importance within planned behaviour theory as 'the' predictor of study behaviour in college.

BACKGROUND The theory of planned behaviour has been rarely used for the explanation of student study behaviour and achievement. Although successful, the theory has been criticised for not including important cognitions, so goal importance was added in the present study. Goal importance refers to the weight-importance an individual assigns towards achieving a specific goal (Hollenbeck & Williams, 1987). AIMS The purpose of Study 1 was to explain the study behaviour habits of first year college students, using a) Ajzen and Madden's (1986) theory of planned behaviour, and b) planned behaviour with the addition of goal importance. The purpose of Study 2 was to replicate the findings of Study 1. SAMPLES The sample of Study 1 included 149 first year students of an American College located in northern Greece. Study 2 included 85 first year students of the same institution. METHODS The students in Study 1 were given a questionnaire four weeks prior to the end of the spring 1998 semester, and those in Study 2 in the autumn of 1998, including all elements of the theory of planned behaviour and goal importance. The data were modelled using Covariance Structural Modelling (CSM) and EQS 5.7b (Bentler, 1998). RESULTS The planned behaviour model was not well supported in Study 1 providing a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of.83. However, when goal importance was included in the equation, the resulting structural model produced a CFI of.94. The final structural model of Study 1 was re-tested with the sample of Study 2 and produced a CFI =. 95. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that goal importance is the causal agent in directing all elements necessary to achieve high levels of study behaviour. Future studies should examine the role of goal importance with other behaviours as well.
Welfare Costs of Long-Run Temperature Shifts

This article makes a contribution towards understanding the impact of temperature fluctuations on the economy and financial markets. We present a long-run risks model with temperature related natural disasters. The model simultaneously matches observed temperature and consumption growth dynamics, and key features of financial markets data. We use this model to evaluate the role of temperature in determining asset prices, and to compute utility-based welfare costs as well as dollar costs of insuring against temperature fluctuations. We find that the temperature related utility-costs are about 0.78% of consumption, and the total dollar costs of completely insuring against temperature variation are 2.46% of world GDP. If we allow for temperature-triggered natural disasters to impact growth, insuring against temperature variation raise to 5.47% of world GDP. We show that the same features, long-run risks and recursive-preferences, that account for the risk-free rate and the equity premium puzzles also imply that temperature-related economic costs are important. Our model implies that a rise in global temperature lowers equity valuations and raises risk premiums.
Thermodynamics of fission products in UO2 ± x

The stabilities of selected fission products—Xe, Cs, and Sr—are investigated as a function of non-stoichiometry x in UO2 ± x. In particular, density functional theory (DFT) is used to calculate the incorporation and solution energies of these fission products at the anion and cation vacancy sites, at the divacancy, and at the bound Schottky defect. In order to reproduce the correct insulating state of UO2, the DFT calculations are performed using spin polarization and with the Hubbard U term. In general, higher charge defects are more soluble in the fuel matrix and the solubility of fission products increases as the hyperstoichiometry increases. The solubility of fission product oxides is also explored. Cs2O is observed as a second stable phase and SrO is found to be soluble in the UO2 matrix for all stoichiometries. These observations mirror experimentally observed phenomena.
A Review of Questionnaire Measures for Assessing the Social Climate in Prisons and Forensic Psychiatric Hospitals

Significant time and resources are devoted to the monitoring of social climate in secure settings. However, if these efforts are to help (rather than hinder) attempts to improve the functioning of such units, the monitoring of social climate must be based on sound psychometric methods. The aim of this review was to determine what questionnaires exist to measure the social climate in secure settings and what evidence exists regarding their psychometric properties. Twelve questionnaire-based measures of social climate were identified. The Essen Climate Evaluation Schema has received the most consistent empirical support, but this questionnaire does not provide as much of an in-depth, detailed insight into social climate as that provided by other social climate questionnaires. Although more extensive measures of climate exist, they have not yet received sufficient validation to justify their routine use in practice. Nevertheless, there is growing evidence that some questionnaire-based measures can provide a reliable and valid assessment of the social climate in secure settings, which has important clinical and theoretical implications.