Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short communication Characteristics of an outbreak of West Nile virus encephalomyelitis in a previously uninfected population of horses

Equine West Nile virus (WNV) encephalomyelitis cases ‐ based on clinical signs and ELISA serology test results ‐ reported to Texas disease control authorities during 2002 were analyzed to provide insights into the epidemiology of the disease within a previously disease-free population. The epidemic occurred between June 27 and December 17 (peaking in early October) and 1698 cases were reported. Three distinct epidemic phases were identified, occurring mostly in southeast, northwest and then central Texas. Significant (P < 0.05) disease clusters were identified in northwest and northern Texas. Most (91.1%) cases had no recent travel history, and most (68.9%) cases had not been vaccinated within the previous 12 months. One-third of cases did not survive, 71.2% of which were euthanatized. The most commonly reported presenting signs included ataxia (69%), abnormal gait (52%), muscle fasciculations (49%), depression (32%) and recumbency (28%). Vaccination status, ataxia, falling down, recumbency and lip droop best explained the risk of not surviving WNV disease. Results suggest that the peak risk period for encephalomyelitis caused by WNV may vary substantially among regions within Texas. Recumbent horses have a poor prognosis for survival. Vaccines, even if not administered sufficiently in advance of WNVinfection within a district, may reduce the risk of death by at least 44%.
Dual selection diversity over Rician fading channels in the presence of multiple cochannel Nakagami-m interferences

In wireless communication systems, antenna diversity is used to mitigate the effects of fading and cochannel interference (CCI). Dual signal-to-interference ratio (SIR)-based selection diversity system over correlated Rician fading channels in the presence of arbitrary number of correlated Nakagami-m CCIs is studied in this paper. Useful analytical expressions for the probability density function (PDF) and cumulative distribution function (CDF) of SIR at the output of dual selection diversity receiver are derived. These expressions are used to study the outage probability and average bit error probability (ABEP) of the proposed system. Numerical results are also presented to support mathematical analysis.
Long-term effects of pergolide in the treatment of restless legs syndrome

An open follow-up of a controlled study in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) shows that the beneficial effect of pergolide on RLS symptoms persists throughout at least 1 year. Twenty-two patients of 28 (78.6%) continued to take pergolide. Polysomnographic measurements showed a persistent improvement of PLM index, PLMS arousal index, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency (p = 0.0001). Side effects, in particular nausea, were common but were well controlled by domperidone in most patients.
Direct To Consumer Advertising: A Mixed Blessing

s: Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) is a tool used by pharmaceutical companies to market and promote medicines directly to potential consumers by means of different media but the debate for and against this is ongoing and fairly balanced. Direct to consumer promotion of pharmaceutical product is considered illegal in many parts of the world. United States and New Zealand are the only two countries which have legalized DTCA, but the advent of internet has broken all barriers. Advertisement of prescription medicines through internet and social media has made it difficult for government and regulatory authorities to effectively implement the laws which govern DTCA. In India Despite the existing legislations banning the advertisement of drugs in certain diseased conditions, lucrative advertisements of drugs and medical remedies are freely flowing in the Indian mass media nowadays. These advertisements allure the vulnerable consumers thus increasing the threat of self-medication in the society. A multi prong strategy involving government, pharmaceutical industry, doctors, medical associations and consumers is urgently required to curb the inappropriate use of DTCA. Through this article it is tried to critically appraise the advantages, disadvantages and remedies regarding direct to consumer drugs advertisement in India. [Goyal M NJIRM et al 2015; 6(3):113-117]
Contributions of lower extremity joints to energy dissipation during landings.

PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to investigate changes in lower extremity joint energy absorption for different landing heights and landing techniques. METHODS Nine healthy, active male subjects volunteered to perform step-off landings from three different heights (0.32 m, 2.5 m(-s); 0.62 m, 3.5 m(-s); and 1.03 m, 4.5 m(-s)) using three different landing techniques (soft, SFL; normal, NML; and stiff landing, STL). Each subject initially performed five NML trials at 0.62 m to serve as a baseline condition and subsequently executed five trials in each of the nine test conditions (3 heights x 3 techniques). RESULTS The results demonstrated general increases in peak ground reaction forces, peak joint moments, and powers with increases in landing height and stiffness. The mean eccentric work was 0.52, 0.74, and 0.87 J x kg(-1) by the ankle muscles, and 0.94, 1.31, and 2.15 J x kg(-1) by the hip extensors, at 0.32, 0.62, and 1.03 m, respectively. The average eccentric work performed by the knee extensors was 1.21, 1.63, and 2.26 J x kg(-1) for the same three heights. CONCLUSIONS The knee joint extensors were consistent contributors to energy dissipation. The ankle plantarflexors contributed more in the STL landings, whereas the hip extensors were greater contributors during the SFL landings. Also a shift from ankle to hip strategy was observed as landing height increased.
The Impact Of Micro-Credit Projects On Poverty Alleviation: A Case Of Farming Households In Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area Of Ogun State, Nigeria

In an attempt to reduce the poverty level of the populace especially the rural households, Nigerian government introduced poverty alleviation programme. One of the programmes is the introduction of micro-credit projects. This study therefore examined the impact of micro-credit projects on poverty alleviation among farming households in Imowo community in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area (LGA) of Ogun state, Nigeria. The study focused on the evaluation of community development as a result of the introduction of some micro-credit projects. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information from the respondent in the farming households. The information collected included the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents as well as the level of income of the beneficiaries before and after the micro-credit projects. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that 90 percent of the respondents were aged between 21 and 60 years while 80 percent of the household heads had formal education. Eighty six percent of the households had Child Dependency Ratio (CDR) of between 0.01 and 1.0 with 10 percent having zero CDR. The monthly expenditure analysis revealed that the Mean Per Adult Equivalent Household Expenditure (MPAEHE) ranged from N845.14 (US$5.63) for the first expenditure decile to N3,879.42 (US$25.86) for the tenth decile. However, the share of food in the total household expenditure was 64.5 percent for the first decile and 45.3 percent for the tenth decile. Meanwhile, a poverty line of N2,586.28 (US$17.24) was obtained for the study area and a sum of N1,586.53 (US$10.57) would be required to provide a food basket that will meet the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 69,000kcal per month. Furthermore, the study revealed that there is significant difference between the mean income of the beneficiaries before and after the micro-credit project (p less than 0.05). The study recommended that in as much that the project had positi
Corporate Environmental Performance: Determinants and Real Effects

This study mainly addresses two questions. The first question is: what determine the “greenness” of a company? The second question is: what are the impacts of a company’s green policies on its investment decisions and financial performance? Using the green score published by Newsweek in 2009, 2010 and 2011, we find that firms are more likely to adopt good practices in their environmental policies if they have more top women executives and have more operations overseas. Furthermore, we document that more environmentally responsible companies invest less, but their investments contribute more to firm performance, suggesting that good environmental policies help companies reduce agency problems by avoiding over-investments.
Managerial Disclosure vs. Analyst Inquiry: An Empirical Investigation of the Presentation and Discussion Portions of Earnings-Related Conference Calls

Using a sample of over 10,000 earnings-related conference call transcripts, we examine the determinants of within-firm variation in the length of managers' presentation and analyst discussion periods during earnings-related conference calls. We find that managers' presentations are longer when reporting poor performance and when earnings are a potentially downward-biased signal of future performance. This result contrasts with prior studies that generally find firms disclose more when performance is good, which is likely due to 1) the fact that the choice to host a conference call is a policy choice that is not easily changed and 2) analysts' direct involvement in the call temper managers' incentives to expound on good performance. We also find that analyst discussion periods are longer when market performance is poor, suggesting that the non-earnings related information disclosed in the presentation is insufficient for analysts' information needs. Finally, we find that longer calls are associated with larger price reactions, larger trading volume, larger analyst forecast revisions and improvements in analysts' forecast accuracy - indicating longer calls are more informative to the market.
Correlates of Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women with Multiple Sclerosis

&NA; Sexual dysfunction (SD) is an often overlooked disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between SD and other disabilities in men and women with MS. The sample included 32 men and 219 women. The men ranged in age from 32 to 65 years with a mean of 47.6 years. The women ranged in age from 22 to 77 years with a mean of 45.4 years. Data were collected using Guy's Neurological Disability Scale and a demographic questionnaire. In men, a significant positive relationship was found between SD and lower‐limb and bladder disability. No relationship was found between SD and other MS disabilities. The most common problems for men involved erection and ejaculation. For women, a significant positive relationship was found between SD and all other MS disabilities. The strongest correlation was between SD and fatigue. The most common problems for women involved vaginal lubrication and orgasm. No relationship was found between SD and number of years with MS or age in either men or women. An open dialogue about SD may improve quality of life for people with MS. Interventions may include symptomatic treatment, referral of the couple for sexual counseling, and other approaches that may include sensory body mapping to enhance communication and pleasure for the couple living with MS.
Factors Determining the Purchase Intention of Bank Services in the Republic of Yemen

The issue of motivating consumers to use the banking system was solved in developed countries and in some Middle Eastern countries. However, it is still unpredictable in Yemen where the majority of the people do not use banking services to facilitate their financial needs. Therefore, it shapes a real problem and negatively impacted the Yemeni economy. This research project aimed to provide better awareness of the variables that might affect people to use the Yemeni banking system by applying the theory of reasoned action. This study is cross-sectional, 850 questionnaires were distributed to part time university students. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine the contribution of independent variables in predicting behavioral intention, the dependent variable. Moreover, hierarchical regressions were used to test the effect of trust as a moderator variable. Eight variables of attitude and subjective norm were significantly and positively influence university student's behavioral intention to use banking services namely, attitude toward bank usage, attitude towards banking services, attitude toward service quality, attitude towards banking legal framework, social influence, recommendation by others on bank services, and bank advertisement. On the other hand, cultural belief was significant but in the negative direction. As well as, student’s trust had a statistically moderating effect with only three out of eight variables on the behavioral intention namely attitude toward bank usage, recommendation by others on bank services, cultural belief. The study had a significant contribution to the academic understanding of consumer's behavioral intention in Yemen, which might guide bankers and policy makers to use the right strategy in order to attract more consumers to use the banking system.
Prevention of Sexual Harassment in the Medical Setting

Abstract This paper is an examination of how Inoculation Theory can be applied in the prevention of sexual harassment in the medical setting. The basic tenet of the theory is the study of the processes through which we withstand and oppose attitude transformation during social interactions that may influence or change our attitudes. More importantly, this paper analyzes sexual harassment as a pervasive phenomenon in the medical setting. As such, it defines what sexual harassment is, explains the prevalence of sexual harassment between the physician and the patient, describes some of the general studies conducted in medical settings, provides a case scenario of doctor-patient sexual harassment, and identifies some key consequences to doctors, patients, and society.
Classroom postures of 8–12 year old children

This study examined classroom postures of 8–12 year old school children in Flanders and related the outcomes to self-reported back or neck pain. Postural behaviours using the portable ergonomic observation (PEO) method and self-reported one-week back and neck pain were studied in 105 children from 41 different class groups. Pupils sat statically for 85% of the time, 28% of which the trunk was bent or flexed forward. For 9% of the time, children sat dynamically and for 36% they used a back rest. Children who spent more time sitting with a flexed trunk reported significantly more thoraco-lumbar pain compared to pain-free children and to children with cervical pain (p < 0.05). Children reporting pain stood for a longer period of time than pain-free children (p < 0.05). It is concluded that prolonged static kyphotic sitting without use of a backrest is common in elementary school children in Flanders.
Modeling adherence to colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND An explanatory framework referred to as the Preventive Health Model was used to identify factors associated with prospective adherence to colorectal cancer screening. METHODS Data on sociodemographic, psychosocial, social influence, and program factors were collected via telephone survey for 501 older adult members of an independent practice association-type health maintenance organization. Subjects were later mailed fecal occult blood tests for completion and return. Adherence was defined as the return of the tests within 90 days. RESULTS Structural analysis shows that for men (N = 145), perceived self-efficacy (OR = 1.4), salience and coherence of testing (OR = 2.3 for a 5-point increment on a 30-point scale), and exposure to health education interventions (OR = 6.8) were significant independent predictors of intention to adhere and of adherence. Among women (N = 185), predictors were age (OR = 1.8) and salience and coherence of testing (OR = 1.8 for a 5-point increment on a 30-point scale). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that for both men and women, adherence is influenced strongly by the extent to which the behavior is judged to make sense in everyday life. It also appears that additional education and encouragement may persuade men and younger women to participate in screening.
Studies of the zein‐like α‐prolamins based on an analysis of amino acid sequences: Implications for their evolution and three‐dimensional structure

α‐Prolamins are the major seed storage proteins of species of the grass tribe Andropogonea. They are unusually rich in glutamine, proline, alanine, and leucine residues and their sequences show a series of tandem repeats presumed to be the result of multiple intragenic duplication. Two new sequences of α‐prolamin clones from Coix (pBCX25.12 and pBCX25.10) are compared with similar clones from maize and Sorghum in order to investigate evolutionary relationships between the repeat motifs and to propose a schematic model for their three‐dimensional structure based on hydrophobic membrane‐helix propensities and helical “wheels. ” A scheme is proposed for the most recent events in the evolution of the central part of the molecule (repeats 3 to 8) which involves two partial intragenic duplications and in which contemporary odd‐numbered and even‐numbered repeats arise from common ancestors, respectively. Each pair of repeats is proposed to form an antiparallel α‐helical hairpin and that the helices of the molecule as a whole are arranged on a hexagonal net. The majority of helices show six faces of alternating hydrophobic and polar residues, which give rise to intersticial holes around each helix which alternate in chemical character. The model is consistent with proteins which contain different numbers of repeats, with oligomerization and with the dense packaging of α‐prolamins within the protein body of the seed endosperm. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PENGARUH PAJAK HOTEL & RESTORAN, RETRIBUSI DAERAH DAN PAJAK DAERAH TERHADAP PENDAPATAN ASLI DAERAH PADA KABUPATEN/KOTA PROVINSI JAWA TENGAH TAHUN 2007 – 2012

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh pajak hotel & restoran , retribusi daerah dan pajak daerah terhadap pendapatan asli daerah pada Kabupaten / Kota di Jawa Tengah. Penelitian dilakukan menggunakan data tahun 2007 – 201 2 untuk menguji pengaruh Pendapatan Asli Daerah, Pajak Hotel & Restoran , Retribusi Daerah dan Pajak Daerah terhadap Belanja Daerah dengan mengambil obyek penelitian yaitu Kabupaten/Kota di Jawa Tengah yang berjumlah 35 kab/kota . Metode analisis data menggunakan regresi linier. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa (1) tidak ada pengaruh yang signifikan antara Pajak Hotel & Restoran terhadap Pendapatan Asli Daerah , (2) ada pengaruh yang signifikan dan positif antara Retribusi Daerah terhadap Pendapatan Asli Daerah dan (3) ada pengaruh yang signifikan antara Pajak Daerah terhadap Pendapatan Asli Daerah . Saran dari hasil penelitian yaitu Pendapatan asli daerah yang diperoleh kabupaten / kotamadia di Provinsi Jawa Tengah penting untuk ditingkatkan agar kabupatan / kota dapat mengalami pertumbuhan ekonomi yang relatif tinggi karena pendapatan asli daerah untuk perkembangan wilayah yang diterimanya akan meningkat. Cara yang dapat dilakukan pemerintah daerah kab/kota antara lain dengan meningkatkan penerimaan pajak daerah dan meningkatkan retribusi daerah agar meningkatkan pendapatan asli daerah untuk kepentingan masyarakat. Kata kunci : pajak hotel dan restoran, retribusi daerah, pajak daerah dan pendapatan asli daerah
ANTAGONISTIC EFFECTS OF TRICHODERMA SPP. AGAINST FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F.SP. LYCOPERSICI CAUSAL AGENT OF TOMATO WILT

In this study, the mycoparasitism inhibitory effects of five Trichoderma species (T. harzianum, T. koningi, T. longiconis, T. hamatum and T. viride) on the growth of the causal agent of tomato Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici) were investigated by dual culture in laboratory condition. In this step, the maximum and minimum inhibitory effect was caused by T. harzianum and T. viride. In the greenhouse, the comparison of the efficacy of disease decrease was carried out between soil and seed treatments affected by T. harzianum spores. Results showed that seed treatment did not cause disease decrease but soil treatment caused disease decrease by 92%.
Extravascular lung water after pneumonectomy and one-lung ventilation in sheep

Objective:To compare the single thermodilution and the thermal-dye dilution techniques with postmortem gravimetry for assessment of changes in extravascular lung water after pneumonectomy and to explore the evolution of edema after injurious ventilation of the left lung. Design:Experimental study. Setting:University laboratory. Subjects:A total of 30 sheep weighing 35.6 ± 4.6 kg. The study included two parts: a pneumonectomy study (n = 18) and an injurious ventilation study (n = 12). Methods:Sheep were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated with an Fio2 of 0.5, tidal volume of 6 mL/kg, and positive end-expiratory pressure of 2 cm H2O. In the pneumonectomy study, sheep were assigned to right-sided pneumonectomy (n = 7), left-sided pneumonectomy (n = 7), or lateral thoracotomy only (sham operation, n = 4). In the injurious ventilation study, right-sided pneumonectomy was followed by ventilation with a tidal volume of 12 mL/kg and positive end-expiratory pressure of 0 cm H2O (n = 6) or by ventilation with a tidal volume of 6 mL/kg and positive end-expiratory pressure of 2 cm H2O for 4 hrs (n = 6). Volumetric variables, including extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), were measured with single thermodilution (STD; EVLWISTD) and thermal-dye dilution (TDD; EVLWITDD) techniques. We monitored pulmonary hemodynamics and respiratory variables. After the sheep were killed, EVLWI was determined for each lung by gravimetry (EVLWIG). Results:In total, the study yielded strong correlations of EVLWISTD and EVLWITDD with EVLWIG (n = 30; r = .83 and .94, respectively; p < .0001). After pneumonectomy, both the left- and the right-sided pneumonectomy groups displayed significant decreases in EVLWISTD and EVLWITDD. The injuriously ventilated sheep demonstrated significant increases in EVLWI that were detected by both techniques. The mean biases (±2 sd) compared with EVLWIG were 3.0 ± 2.6 mL/kg for EVLWISTD and 0.4 ± 1.6 mL/kg for EVLWITDD. Conclusions:After pneumonectomy and injurious ventilation of the left lung, TDD and STD displayed changes in extravascular lung water with acceptable accuracy when compared with postmortem gravimetry. Ventilator-induced lung injury seems to be a crucial mechanism of pulmonary edema after pneumonectomy.
Pyriform Sinus Cancer: A Clinical and Laboratory Study

In our patient population, cancer of the hypopharynx arose 19 times as often in the pyriform sinus as in the postcricoid space (152:8). Most of the growths were far advanced when first seen (90% T3), and enlarged cervical nodes were present in 66% of the patients. Three year survival rates free of disease were as follows: primary surgical treatment (laryngectomy, radical neck dissection) (8/28) 29%; primary radiotherapy (2/55) 4%; and combined preoperative radiation (12/33) 36%. Serial section studies of 51 surgical specimens indicate that T1 and T2 lesions, especially those confined in the medial wall, are probably curable by radiotherapy. Larger lesions invade deeply into the larynx and resemble transglottic growth in their pattern of spread. Conservation surgery would have been inadequate for all but perhaps one growth in this series of 51 lesions, because of the high rate of invasion by cancer into and through the thyroid cartilage and cricoid ring (22/51). Although surface presentation of this group of pyriform sinus cancers rarely reflected the extent of invasion, each of the 22 growths that invaded portions of the thyroid or cricoid cartilages was characterized by clinical involvement of the apex and lateral wall of the pyriform sinus on laryngoscopy or barium swallow.