Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity and specificity of repeated test results from a commercial milk enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in dairy cattle.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of results of initial and repeated milk ELISAs (at 6- or 12-month intervals) to detect cows that were shedding Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (ie, were infectious) and to evaluate factors influencing the probability that the results of a repeated milk ELISA would be positive for an infectious cow if the results of the initial milk ELISA were negative. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. ANIMALS 3,145 dairy cows from 32 herds. PROCEDURES Herds from the 3 Maritime provinces in Canada (Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia), participating in a Dairy Herd Improvement program, and that had undergone a prior Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis awareness project were selected for the study. Sample collection occurred between April 2009 and March 2011 with milk and fecal samples collected from all lactating cows in study herds every 6 months. Herds completing < 3 herd visits with collection of individual cow fecal or milk samples, within this sampling timeframe, were excluded from analyses. Fecal samples were cultured in liquid medium and a cow was defined as infectious if ≥ 1 sample was culture positive (reference test). A milk ELISA (index test) was completed with a commercial kit, following manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS For a 6-month test interval, sensitivities of the milk ELISA to detect infectious cows were 22.0% and 32.6% for initial and combined initial and repeated tests (parallel interpretation), respectively. Specificity of the initial ELISA was 99.6% and was 99.2% for combined tests. For a 12-month test interval, sensitivities of the milk ELISA to detect infectious cows were 25.6% and 45.3% for initial and combined initial and repeated tests (parallel interpretation), respectively. Specificity of the initial ELISA was 99.6% and was 98.9% for combined tests. In infectious cows, magnitude of the initial negative ELISA result was a positive predictor for a positive repeated ELISA result. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of a repeated milk ELISA improved detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis infectious cows, with minimal loss of specificity. A 12-month test interval provided a greater increase in sensitivity, relative to an initial test, than did a 6-month interval. Infectious cows with an initial negative milk ELISA result close to the cutoff for a positive test were more likely to have positive results on a repeated ELISA. Repeated testing improved detection of infectious cows and reduced risk of misclassification compared with a single ELISA result.
Psychological or physiological

Objective: To assess the effects of spinal cord injury (SCI) on perceived health-related quality of life (QOL). Background: SCI is physically disabling, socially handicapping, and romantically limiting. Nevertheless, little is known about post-SCI neurocognitive and psychosocial life. Better understanding of the cognitive and emotional worlds of SCI patients is essential to better address and meet their needs and expectations. Methods: Twenty subjects with high-cord (T6 and above) complete (American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] A) SCI (High SCI) were compared with 10 subjects with low-cord (T7 and below) ASIA A SCI (Low SCI) and with 11 Able-Bodied control subjects. Satisfaction with Life and Short Form-36 instruments were used to assess physical and emotional aspects of QOL. Analyses of variance were used to assess potential differences across groups. Results: Overall, satisfaction with life was the same among the groups. Expectedly, High SCI and Low SCI subjects reported lower physical functioning than Able-Bodied subjects (p < 0.0001). But, oddly, there were no differences in perceived physical role, physical health, or social functioning. Furthermore, High SCI subjects reported better perceived mental health than Able-Bodied control subjects (p = 0.004) and a trend over Low SCI subjects (p = 0.06), better perceived emotional role in society (p = 0.02), and greater vitality (p = 0.01) than Low SCI subjects and Able-Bodied subjects. Conclusions: Despite severe physical impairment and disability and frequent medical complications, subjects with complete spinal cord injury at high anatomic levels report better than average quality of life, being overall content. Reasons for these findings are unclear. Psychological adaptive reactions are likely, but the possible role of physiologic and neurocognitive changes needs further exploration.
Undiagnosed Glucose Intolerance in the Community: the Isle of Ely Diabetes Project

The Isle of Ely Diabetes Project is a prospective population‐based study of the aetiology and pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Between 1990 and 1992, 1156 subjects aged between 40 and 65 years underwent a standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A total of 1122 individuals who were not known to have diabetes completed the test and were classified according to WHO criteria; 51 subjects (4.5%) had previously undiagnosed diabetes and 188 (16.7%) had impaired glucose tolerance. The subjects with newly diagnosed glucose intolerance were significantly older, more obese, and shorter than those with normal glucose tolerance. Blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL‐cholesterol concentrations were elevated and HDL‐cholesterol levels were lower among those with abnormal rather than normal glucose tolerance. In multiple regression analyses stratified by gender and including age, body mass index, and the waist‐hip ratio as covariates, there were significant differences between those with normal and abnormal glucose intolerance in blood pressure, triglyceride, and HDL‐cholesterol, but not total or LDL‐cholesterol. In both male and female subjects, height had a significant independent negative association with the plasma glucose at 120 min after administration of oral glucose (standardized β coefficient = ‐0.12, p<0.01).
The Effects of Combined Elastic- and Free-Weight Tension vs. Free-Weight Tension on One-Repetition Maximum Strength in the Bench Press

Bellar, DM, Muller, MD, Barkley, JE, Kim, C-H, Ida, K, Ryan, EJ, Bliss, MV, and Glickman, EL. The effects of combined elastic- and free-weight tension vs. free-weight tension on one-repetition maximum strength in the bench press J Strength Cond Res 25(2): 459-463, 2011-The present study investigated the effects of training combining elastic tension, free weights, and the bench press. Eleven college-aged men (untrained) in the bench press participated in the 13-week study. The participants were first given instructions and then practiced the bench press, followed by a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test of baseline strength. Subjects were then trained in the bench press for 3 weeks to allow for the beginning of neural adaptation. After another 1RM test, participants were assigned to 1 of 2 conditions for the next 3 weeks of training: 85% Free-Weight Tension, 15% Elastic Tension (BAND), or 100% Free-Weight Tension (STAND). After 3 weeks of training and a third 1RM max test, participants switched treatments, under which they completed the final 3 weeks of training and the fourth 1RM test. Analysis via analysis of covariance revealed a significant (p ≤ 0.05) main effect for time and interaction effect for Treatment (BAND vs. STAND). Subsequent analysis via paired-samples t-test revealed the BAND condition was significantly better (p = 0.05) at producing raw gains in 1RM strength. (BAND 9.95 ± 3.7 kg vs. STAND 7.56 ± 2.8 kg). These results suggest that the addition of elastic tension to the bench press may be an effective method of increasing strength.
How CEOs protect themselves against dismissal: A social status perspective

In this study, we address the question of why some CEOs stay in office during a performance downturn while others don't. Taking a social status perspective, we argue that an individual's board network embeddednessas reflected in the number of outside directorshipsplays an important role in dismissal decisions. We predict that a high status of the CEO relative to the chairman of the board protects an underperforming CEO against dismissal, while the relative salience of board network outsiders can counter this effect. Using longitudinal data of large German corporations, we find support for our predictions.
Implementation of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: Interim Evaluation Findings

To understand the implementation quality of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A. T.H. S. , 25 schools and three school social service units were randomly selected to participate in telephone interviews regarding the quality of the implementation process of the Tier 1 Program of the P.A. T.H. S. Project. In the telephone interviews, the participants described the responses of the students and the workers to the program, the perceived benefits of the program, their assessment of the positive and negative features of the program, as well as difficulties involved in the implementation process. Results showed that most workers perceived that the students had positive responses to the program and half of the workers had positive experiences about the program, although negative comments on the program design and difficulties in the implementation were also recorded. Nearly all workers (97.1%) regarded the program to be beneficial to the students and most of them (78.6%) had positive global evaluation of the project. In short, while the program implementers expressed concerns about the program design and the implementation process, they generally regarded the program as helpful to the students and they had positive global evaluation of the program.
Minor malformations characteristic of the retinoic acid embryopathy and other birth outcomes in children of women exposed to topical tretinoin during early pregnancy

Topical tretinoin (Retin‐A®) is used to treat acne and photodamaged skin. Its teratogenic potential is of concern due to its similarity to isotretinoin (Accutane®), a recognized human teratogen. Through the California Teratogen Information Service and Clinical Research Program, between 1983 and 2003, 106 pregnant women with first‐trimester exposure to topical tretinoin were prospectively ascertained and followed. Birth outcomes, including pregnancy loss, major structural defects, and pre‐ and postnatal growth were compared to 389 similarly and prospectively ascertained women with no topical tretinoin exposure during pregnancy. Because a distinct pattern of malformation had already been described for isotretinoin, we also compared exposed (n = 62) and unexposed (n = 191) infants on the prevalence of a specific subset of minor malformations selected to represent the spectrum of defects comprising the retinoic acid embyopathy. There were no significant differences between groups in the proportion of pregnancies ending in spontaneous abortion (6.6% in exposed vs. 8.5% in unexposed; P = 0.53), or infants with major structural defects (2.2% in exposed vs. 1.2% in unexposed; P = 0.62). In addition, the groups were similar in birth weight, length and head circumference, and there were no significant differences between groups in length of gestation. Furthermore, the prevalence of one or more retinoic acid‐specific minor malformations did not differ significantly between groups (12.9% in exposed vs. 9.9% in unexposed; P = 0.51). First‐trimester topical tretinoin exposure in this study was not associated with an increased risk of any adverse pregnancy outcome evaluated. Specifically, there was no indication that topical tretinoin is associated with an increased risk for minor malformations that are consistent with the retinoic acid embryopathy. Although it is impossible to exclude the possibility that some women/infants may be uniquely susceptible to topical tretinoin exposure, this study provides further reassurance for women who are inadvertently exposed early in pregnancy. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Value-Decomposition Networks For Cooperative Multi-Agent Learning

We study the problem of cooperative multi-agent reinforcement learning with a single joint reward signal. This class of learning problems is difficult because of the often large combined action and observation spaces. In the fully centralized and decentralized approaches, we find the problem of spurious rewards and a phenomenon we call the "lazy agent" problem, which arises due to partial observability. We address these problems by training individual agents with a novel value decomposition network architecture, which learns to decompose the team value function into agent-wise value functions. We perform an experimental evaluation across a range of partially-observable multi-agent domains and show that learning such value-decompositions leads to superior results, in particular when combined with weight sharing, role information and information channels.
The role of news media in framing anti-Coptic attacks and Muslim-Coptic relations in Egypt: A frame analysis

APA Citation Mahfouz, E. (2018). The role of news media in framing anti-Coptic attacks and Muslim-Coptic relations in Egypt: A frame analysis [Master’s thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt. edu/etds/1351 MLA Citation Mahfouz, Esraa Fayez. The role of news media in framing anti-Coptic attacks and Muslim-Coptic relations in Egypt: A frame analysis. 2018. American University in Cairo, Master's thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt. edu/etds/1351
Chimeric purine transporters of Aspergillus nidulans define a domain critical for function and specificity conserved in bacterial, plant and metazoan homologues

In Aspergillus nidulans, purine uptake is mediated by three transporter proteins: UapA, UapC and AzgA. UapA and UapC have partially overlapping functions, are 62% identical and have nearly identical predicted topologies. Their structural similarity is associated with overlapping substrate specificities; UapA is a high‐affinity, high‐capacity specific xanthine/uric acid transporter. UapC is a low/moderate‐capacity general purine transporter. We constructed and characterized UapA/UapC, UapC/UapA and UapA/UapC/UapA chimeric proteins and UapA point mutations. The region including residues 378–446 in UapA (336–404 in UapC) has been shown to be critical for purine recognition and transport. Within this region, we identified: (i) one amino acid residue (A404) important for transporter function but probably not for specificity and two residues (E412 and R414) important for UapA function and specificity; and (ii) a sequence, (F/Y/S)X(Q/E/P) NXGXXXXT(K/R/G), which is highly conserved in all homologues of nucleobase transporters from bacteria to man. The UapC/UapA series of chimeras behaves in a linear pattern and leads to an univocal assignment of functional domains while the analysis of the reciprocal and 'sandwich’ chimeras revealed unexpected inter‐domain interactions. cDNAs coding for transporters including the specificity region defined by these studies have been identified for the first time in the human and Caenorhabditis elegans databases.
The effect of ECB forward guidance on the term structure of interest rates

This paper investigates the instantaneous and dynamic effects of ECB forward guidance announcements on the term structure of interest rates. We estimate the static and dynamic impacts of forward guidance on overnight indexed swaps (OIS) rates using a high-frequency methodology and an ARCH model, complemented with local projections. We find that ECB forward guidance announcements have lowered the term structure of private short-term interest rates at most maturities, even after controlling for the macroeconomic information published by the ECB. The effect is stronger on longer maturities and persistent.
Role of angiogenesis in inflammatory bowel disease

&NA; Several studies have shown alterations in vascular anatomy and physiology in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These findings, together with the observed upregulation of the mediators of angiogenesis in IBD patients, suggest that angiogenesis possibly contributes to the initiation and perpetuation of IBD. There is considerable evidence of an interrelationship between the mechanisms of angiogenesis and chronic inflammation in IBD. The increased expression of endothelial junction adhesion molecules found in IBD patients indicates the presence of active angiogenesis. Evidence that angiogenesis is involved in IBD was also obtained from animal models of colitis, most notably from studies of angiogenesis inhibition. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) correlate with disease activity in human IBD and fall with the use of steroids, thalidomide, or infliximab. Pharmacological inhibition of angiogenesis, therefore, has the potential to be a therapeutic strategy in IBD. This review outlines the evidence that the rate of angiogenesis is increased in the inflamed intestine in IBD and proposes lines for future research in this field.
Predictive Value of Serologic Markers of Degree of Histologic Damage in Acute Uncomplicated Colonic Diverticulitis

Background Acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (AUD) may show histologic and serologic signs of inflammation. Goals To assess whether serologic markers of inflammation may be predictive of abnormal histology in AUD. Study Twenty-one consecutive patients affected by AUD were studied (15 Males, 6 Females, mean age 66.19 y, range 43 to 85 y). Diagnosis of AUD was based on specific endoscopic and CT scan patterns. Several serologic markers were assessed [White blood cells (WBC), Erytro-sedimentation Rate, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, α1-acid glycoprotein]. Neutrophilic and lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate was also scored. Results WBC was increased in 4/21 pts (19.4%), Erytro-sedimentation Rate in 12/21 pts (57.14%), CRP in 13/21 pts (61.9%), fibrinogen in 5/21 pts (23.8%), and α1-acid glycoprotein in 6/21 pts (28.57%). All serologic markers were related with the degree of histologic damage. In patients scoring 3 in neutrophilic infiltrate (severe active inflammation), all markers showed a statistical significant relation (ranging from P=0.004 for WBC to P=0.00001 for fibrinogen). CRP was the most sensitive marker of mild-moderate histologic damage, as it was increased in 4/10 (40%) patients scoring 0 or 1 in neutrophilic infiltrate (absence of mild active inflammation) (P=0.005). Conclusions Serologic markers showed a strict relation with the degree of histologic damage in AUD. Moreover, CRP is the most sensitive marker of mild-moderate histologic damage.
[The current prevalence status of body overweight and obesity in China: data from the China National Nutrition and Health Survey].

OBJECTIVE To study on the prevalence of body overweight and obesity in China and its distribution in age, sex and economic development status. METHODS A total of 209,849 in all ages from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey (NNAHS) database were analyzed. The year 2000 population census data was used for age standardization. 1978 WHO criteria using Z scores was applied to age 0-7 years, criteria recommended by the Working Group on Obesity in China was applied to those aged 7-17 years and criteria in the Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Overweight and Obesity in Chinese Adults was applied to those aged 18 years and above. RESULTS The overall prevalence was 17.6% for overweight and 5.6% for obesity. The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was 23.2%. The prevalence of overweight was 25.0%, 21.6%, 17.4%, 15.1%, 19.2% and 12.8%, respectively for large city, middle-and-small city, class 1 rural, class 2 rural, class 3 rural and class 4 rural. For obesity, the rate was 10.6%, 7.2%, 6.4%, 4.3%, 6.0% and 2.7%, respectively for large city, middle-and-small city, class 1 rural, class 2 rural, class 3 rural and class 4 rural. By age groups, the prevalence of overweight was 3.4% in children age 0-6, 4.5% in adolescents age 7-17, 22.8% in adults age 18 and above; the prevalence of obesity was 2.0% in children age 0-6, 2.7% in adolescents age 7-17, 7.1% in adults age 18 and above. The sex difference in overweight and obesity differed between urban and rural, and among age groups. CONCLUSION Overweight and obesity should have affected nearly 1 quarter of the country's total population, and became a threatening hazard to resident's health. As the urbanization progress, obesity might doubly increase. Prevention and control of this hazard should be urgently needed.
Cross-industry growth differences with asymmetric industries and endogenous market structure

Abstract We develop a two-industry R&D growth model with a free-entry endogenous market structure to evaluate the impact of industrial fundamentals on cross-industry differences of TFP growth and R&D intensity. Endogenous market structure in our model allows the firm’s market size to respond to the firm’s entry and exit which complements the models with an exogenous market structure in the previous literature. We find that surprisingly, an industry with a relatively high R&D productivity or appropriability exhibits “relatively” low in-house innovation growth and R&D intensity during transition. Moreoever, we examine the effects of R&D subsidies and patent breadth policies on industry differences by implementing both asymmetric and symmetric policy rules. We find that only asymmetric R&D subsidies have impacts on TFP growth and R&D intensity differences.
Low Back Pain and Subsequent Cardiovascular Mortality

Study Design. This was a prospective cohort study based on data of the Mini-Finland Health Examination Survey collected between 1978 arid 1980, with follow-up until the end of 1991. Objective. A number of studies have revealed associations between smoking, cardiovascular diseases, and low back pain. Therefore, it has been suggested that atherosclerosis could be involve in the etiology of low back pain. Low back pain was studied for its prediction of mortality and, in particular, deaths from cardiovascular disease. Summary of Background Data. Of a nationally representative sample of 8000 people older than 29 years, 7217 (90%) participated in a comprehensive health examination. At interviews, 5459 (76%) had a history of low back pain. In a standardized clinical examination, 1253 (17%) were diagnosed as having chronic low back pain. Methods. The follow-up information on mortality and causes of death was obtained from the Central Statistical Office of Finland. Results. By the end of 1991, 1487 of the examinees had died, 815 from any cardiovascular disease and 501 from coronary heart disease. Neither the history of back complaints nor chronic low back pain predicted mortality. Conclusion. That low back pain does not affect longevity disagrees with the hypothesis that atherosclerosis resulting in death from cardiovascular disease is etiologically linked to low back pain.
Self-organization of highly ordered mosaic structure of porous silicon at long anodic etching of p-type silicon in the electrolyte with internal current source

Self-organization of highly ordered mosaic structure of porous Si at long anodic etching of p-Si (100) in electrolyte with internal source of the current is observed. Sizes of the nanocrystallites islets of porous Si, the period of their location and self-organization of the mosaic structure of porous silicon are defined by the effect of forces of elastically-deformation, defect-deformation and capillary-fluctuation that exist at the interface of electrolyte/porous Si/c-Si/ in process of pores formation. Process of spontaneous formation of mosaic structure por-Si has place in results from relaxation of the elastically-strained layer of porous surface and effect of capillary-fluctuation forces. Conditions of development of these forces depend on the self-coordinated parameters of etching of interface heterophase of electrochemical system the electrolyte/porous Si/c-Si/ and parameters of electrodes and electrochemical cell.