Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR PLANTAR HYPERHIDROSIS: USE OF URINE THERAPY

First morning urine is the most efficacious against combating disease and maintaining optimum health. The rationale is that after the body has rested during the night, the accumulation of minerals, hormones and vital elements contained in the urine are in higher concentration, making the first morning urine the most potent elixir. This study was confined to the external application of urine and it aimed at assessing the efficacy of urine therapy as alternative treatment, compared to a control solution (25% aluminum chloride) known as a first line of treatment for plantar hyperhidrosis. This study employed a prospective-qualitative design carried among patients suffering from plantar hyperhidrosis. Severity and the initial sweat intensities of the soles were assessed by a dermatologist. The final sweat intensities of the patients were determined after the 3-week duration of treatment. The efficacy of treatments was based on self-improvement reports from the patients, and the physicians’ assessment. Result of the study revealed that urine therapy controlled hyperhidrosis in 95% of cases. The final sweat intensities were significantly reduced after 3 weeks of regular treatments. No undesirable side effects were noted. Urine as alternative treatment appears to control hyperhidrosis on the soles only if consistent treatment is practiced. Urine therapy is simple and its efficacy is comparable to topical treatment for plantar hyperhidrosis. However, a long-term maintenance therapy is proposed.
Virtual Laboratories and their implementation

In the context of engineering studies, Virtual Laboratories (VL) are one of the most mentioned learning tools. However, opinions on what different authors consider a virtual laboratory lead us to very disparate interpretations, with the consequent lack of consensus. In this work we focus on VL applied to e-learning in technical studies. The state-of-the-art concerning these laboratories is reviewed in order to find the goals that a VL has to achieve and the requirements that it has to accomplish and it is proposed a 6 steps process to design and implement a VL. Finally, a definition of VL is proposed and it is analysed to what extent current VL satisfy this definition and all the suggested requirements.
The Factors of the Capital Structure in Eastern Europe

The paper proposes a test of the extent to which the financial indicators of the companies listed on the stock exchanges in Romania, Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic and representing four sectors of activity - Food, Chemistry, Energy and Farmaceuticals - influence the debt ratios of these companies. We use linear regression and principal components analysis in order to test for the influence of 12 different financial indicators in each of the years from 2002 until 2006. The results show that there is evidence in support of the influence of the proposed factors because the coefficients are significant and maintain their signs in all the years of our analysis.
Early Urologic Complications After Pediatric Renal Transplant: A Single-Center Experience

Background. Urologic complications cause substantial morbidity in the pediatric population after renal transplantation, but their impact on graft survival and transplant costs is poorly understood. In this retrospective review, we evaluated the records of all pediatric renal transplant recipients at our center from 1995 to 2004. Methods. Patient demographics, presence of urinary leak, stricture, compression, or vesicoureteral reflux, and hospital costs were analyzed. Univariable analysis identified predictors of complications and of need for reoperation, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess graft survival in relation to urinary complications. Results. One hundred forty-seven children received renal transplants; mean follow-up was 1478±965 days. Nine (6.1%) patients had urologic complications and seven (4.8%) patients developed vesicoureteral reflux requiring reoperation. Sex, ischemia time, race, previous transplant, donor type, nephrectomy technique, and stent use did not affect the incidence of urologic complications. Previous urologic reconstruction and pretransplant ureteral pathologic conditions increased the risk of urologic complication and vesicoureteral reflux. Patients with urologic complications had equivalent graft survival, but triple the hospital costs of unaffected recipients. Conclusions. Prior urologic surgery is associated with increased risk of urologic complications posttransplant. Posttransplant urologic complications are associated with substantially increased costs in the first year after transplant, but not with decreased graft survival.
Autism: Too eager to learn? Event related potential findings of increased dependency on intentional learning in a serial reaction time task

It has been suggested that people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have an increased tendency to use explicit (or intentional) learning strategies. This altered learning may play a role in the development of the social communication difficulties characterizing ASD. In the current study, we investigated incidental and intentional sequence learning using a Serial Reaction Time (SRT) task in an adult ASD population. Response times and event related potentials (ERP) components (N2b and P3) were assessed as indicators of learning and knowledge. Findings showed that behaviorally, sequence learning and ensuing explicit knowledge were similar in ASD and typically developing (TD) controls. However, ERP findings showed that learning in the TD group was characterized by an enhanced N2b, while learning in the ASD group was characterized by an enhanced P3. These findings suggest that learning in the TD group might be more incidental in nature, whereas learning in the ASD group is more intentional or effortful. Increased intentional learning might serve as a strategy for individuals with ASD to control an overwhelming environment. Although this led to similar behavioral performances on the SRT task, it is very plausible that this intentional learning has adverse effects in more complex social situations, and hence contributes to the social impairments found in ASD. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1533–1543. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nutritional supplementation and anabolic steroid use in adolescents.

PURPOSE To examine nutritional supplementation and anabolic steroid (AS) use in adolescent males and females in a multistate, cross-regional study. A secondary purpose of the study was to investigate the knowledge, beliefs, and sources of education on nutritional supplementation and AS in these students. METHODS A confidential self-report survey was administered to 3248 students representing grades 8-12 in 12 states in the continental United States by their teachers during homeroom or physical education class. RESULTS Use of at least one supplement was reported by 71.2% of the adolescents surveyed. The most popular supplements used were multivitamins and high-energy drinks. The use of supplements to increase body mass and strength, and to reduce body fat or mass, increased across grade and was more prevalent in males than females. The number of students that self-reported AS use was 1.6% (2.4% males and 0.8% females). The number of supplements used was related to AS use among adolescents, and this effect was greater among males. Adolescents also seemed willing to take more risks with supplements to achieve their fitness or athletic goals, even if these risks reduced health or caused premature death. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that reliance on nutritional supplements increases as adolescents mature. The apparent willingness of adolescents to use a supplement that may harm their health or shorten their life highlights the need for greater involvement of teachers, coaches, and physicians to provide continued education on the risks and benefits associated with nutritional supplementation and AS use.
Environmental heat effects on bovine luteinizing hormone.

Abstract Six animals with synchronous estrous cycles were housed in the climatic chambers under controlled conditions of 18.2C, 55% relative humidity and 33.5C, 55% relative humidity and followed for four full estrous cycles. Two cycles were measured at 18C and two successive cycles at 33.5C. Plasma luteinizing hormone was measured by double antibody radioimmunoassay. At 18.2C, luteinizing hormone peaked at 61 ±5ng/ml near the onset of estrus; the surge persisted 8 to 16h. Basal luteinizing hormone was approximately 2.43ng/ml for all heifers, rose significantly during the luteal phase of the cycle on day 10 to 3.5±. 27ng/ml, and declined thereafter. Under high temperature conditions of 33.5C where body temperature remained elevated by 1 to 1.5C, base line as well as peak luteinizing hormone was lower at 1.25±. 48ng/ml (day 1 post-estrus) and 44.5±4.3ng/ml. The mean average duration of estrus of 16.8h at 18.2C differed from 11.9h at 33.5C. The mean length of estrous cycle was 19.5 days at 18C and 21.6 days at 33.5C with some cycles being as long as 23 days under the hot conditions.
Dotlike Hemosiderin Spots Are Associated With Past Hemorrhagic Strokes in Patients With Lacunar Infarcts

Background and Purpose. Dotlike hemosiderin spots ongradient‐echo T2*‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain have been histologically diagnosed as old microbleeds associated with small vessel disease (SVD). The authors hypothesize that the presence of many dotHSs may be correlated with the fragility of small vessels and the recurrence of SVD, including lacunar infarction and deep intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods. To investigate how dotHSs are related to past history of SVD, the number of subcortical or deep dotHSs was investigated in 146 patients with lacunar infarctions (95men, 51 women, age 38 to 90 [66.6 ± 9.4] years). They were divided into 2 subgroups according to history of deep ICHs or lacunar infarctions. The odds ratio (OR) for past history was estimated from logistic regression analyses with the number of subcortical or deep dotHSs as well as other factors. Results. Of 146 patients with lacunar infarctions, 11 had past symptomatic ICHs and 19 had past symptomatic lacunar infarctions. An elevated rate of history of ICH was found for lacunar infarction patients with many deep dotHSs (≥3; OR, 9.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.6–51, P= .015). However, history of lacunar infarction was not significantly associated with the number of subcortical or deep dotHSs. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that many deep dotHSs on T2*‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging may be correlated with deep ICH—lacunar infarction type of SVD recurrence but not lacunar infarction—lacunar infarction type.
Strategies to increase the lung donors' pool

To the Editors: In a recent issue of the European Respiratory Journal , de Perrot et al . 1 suggested various strategies in order to increase the number of lung donors. Among these strategies, the extension of the lung donors' selection criteria was discussed. We would like to stress some points in a subtype of marginal donors. Most of the transplant coordination centres are reluctant to consider donors who present with brain death after a toxic exposure. Data available from the organ procurement organisations are scarce. Cumulative data recovered from January 1988 to March 2004 by the US Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network revealed that, among the 10,981 lung donors recorded within the interval, the mechanism of death was drug intoxication in only 92 cases (<1%). Similarly, the experience published by Eurotransplant (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxemburg and The Netherlands) is extremely limited. In 1996, a total of 168 lung transplantations were performed. …
Expansion of a Unique Region in the Marek's Disease Virus Genome Occurs Concomitantly with Attenuation but Is Not Sufficient To Cause Attenuation

ABSTRACT Pathogenic Marek's disease viruses (MDVs) have two head-to-tail copies of a 132-bp repeat. As MDV is serially passaged in cell culture, the virus becomes attenuated and the number of copies of the 132-bp repeat increases from 2 to often more than 20 copies. To determine the role of the repeats in attenuation, we used five overlapping cosmid clones that spanned the MDV genome to reconstitute infectious virus (rMd5). By mutating the appropriate cosmids, we generated clones of infectious MDVs that contained zero copies of the 132-bp repeats, rMd5(Δ132); nine copies of the 132-bp repeats, rMd5(9-132); and nine copies of the 132-bp repeats inserted in the reverse orientation, rMd5(rev9-132). After two passages in cell culture, wild-type Md5, rMd5, and rMd5(Δ132) were stable. However, rMd5(9-132) and rMd5(rev9-132) contained a population of viruses that contained from 3 to over 20 copies of the repeats. A major 1.8-kb mRNA, containing two copies of the 132-bp repeat, was present in wild-type Md5 and rMd5 but was not present in rMd5(Δ132), rMd5(9-132), rMd5(rev9-132), or an attenuated MDV. Instead, the RNAs transcribed from the 132-bp repeat region in rMd5(9-132) and rMd5(rev9-132) closely resembled the pattern of RNAs transcribed in attenuated MDVs. When inoculated into susceptible day-old chicks, all viruses produced various lesions. Thus, expansion of the number of copies of 132-bp repeats, which accompanies attenuation, is not sufficient in itself to attenuate pathogenic MDVs.
Resting and ADP‐evoked changes in cytosolic free sodium concentration in human platelets loaded with the indicator SBFI.

1. Cytosolic free Na+ concentration, [Na+]i, was investigated in human platelets loaded with the fluorescent indicator SBFI (sodium‐binding benzofuran isophthalate). 2. SBFI fluorescence from platelet suspensions was measured at excitation wavelengths of 340 and 385 nm and the 340/385 nm fluorescence ratio was calibrated in terms of [Na+]i in situ. [Na+]i was set to known values by resuspending cells in media with various [Na+], in the presence of the Na(+)‐K+ ionophore, gramicidin. 3. Basal free [Na+]i was 5.5 +/‐ 0.3 mM (n = 50). This is considerably lower than estimates of total platelet Na+, suggesting that much intracellular Na+ is sequestered or bound. 4. ADP (40 microM) evoked a rise in [Na+]i from 6.4 +/‐ 0.7 to 18.3 +/‐ 1.1 mM (n = 8). The ADP‐evoked rise in [Na+]i was abolished when external Na+ was replaced with N‐methyl‐D‐glucamine. This indicates that the rise in [Na+]i was due to Na+ entry. 5. In platelets loaded with the fluorescent pH indicator, BCECF, 40 microM‐ADP was shown to evoke a fall in cytosolic pH (pHi) from 7.21 +/‐ 0.03 to 7.12 +/‐ 0.03 (n = 10). Three minutes after ADP addition pHi had only recovered to 7.15 +/‐ 0.03. The recovery was dependent on external Na+, suggesting it was mediated by Na(+)‐H+ exchange. However, this would only account for an increase in [Na+]i of approximately 0.5 mM, indicating most of the ADP‐evoked Na+ entry occurred by other mechanisms. 6. Stopped‐flow fluorimetry showed that the ADP‐evoked rise in [Na+]i commenced without measurable delay and peaked within 1 s. The initial kinetics were thus similar to those reported for ADP‐evoked rises in [Ca2+]i. 7. Cell‐attached patch‐clamp recordings showed that ADP evoked single‐channel inward currents when included in the pipette‐filling solution. The currents were similar whether Ca2+ was present or absent from the pipette. The slope conductance was 11 pS in the presence of external Ca2+ and 10 pS in its absence. Current‐voltage relationships were similar and the reversal potentials were close to 0 mV under both conditions. 8. SK & F 96,365 (20 microM), a blocker of receptor‐mediated Ca2+ entry in several non‐excitable cells, blocked the ADP‐evoked rise in [Na+]i. This compound has been shown to only partly block the biphasic ADP‐evoked rise in [Ca2+]i, being selective for the fast, receptor‐operated phase of entry. 9. These data suggest that ADP rapidly activates a channel in that platelet plasma membrane which is permeable to Na+ and divalent cations.
Hygienic Milk Handling and Processing at Farmer Level in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The study was conducted to assess milk handling and processing from January to May 2015 in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. To undertaken the study, multistage sampling method was used. In the first step, Humbo and bolesoserea woredas were selected randomly; in similar way, in the second step, three districts from each selected Woreda were selected randomly thereby a total of six districts were selected. From these each selected districts, a total of 137 households were interviewed for survey study. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources were obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire; it was pre-tested the questionnaire before the actual data collection was carried out. The result from the pre-test was used to implement for the final questions. The secondary data were collected from different sources such as books, research publications, journals etc. The collected data was analyzed statistically using SPSS (version 17) for windows by using descriptive statistics. The study showed that, hand milking was practiced by 100% of interviewed household. The respondents also indicated that milking of their cows was undertaken by women; most were milking their cows three times per day during the morning, day and evening time this was especially true in wet season. However, some also milk their cows only once a day in morning and sometimes twice a day in morning and evening. Majority of the respondents washed milkier hand (95.6%) and cow udder (86.1%) before milking however, only a few washed their cow udder after milking (14.6%). In the study area, about 16.8% of respondents used individual towel to dry the udder of milking cow and the rest did not use any towel. When clean 26.5, 72.8 and 1.7% of respondents used warm, cold and both warm and cold water respectively but no one used soap or other disinfectant to wash milkier hand or udder or towel. Majority of the respondents (83.0%) were using local plants for washing and fumigating for milk handling equipment. The plants used for the cleaning of milking and fermenting utensils were Hantecha, Gullo, Guntcha, Kosereatea, Azmate, zmano, nech shngurt, Korerima(local name). The study area also showed that , milk was processed due to multiple reasons such as to increase shelf life, to value- add, to have variety of products, to increase all (shelf life, to value- add and to have variety of products) and to increase shelf life and to value –add; almost all of interviewed households, milk were processed either once every day or every three day/every two day. All equipment and utensils used for milking, processing, storage and marketing should be disinfected and rinsed with water hot (detergent) immediately before and after use. In condition where no possible facilitating equipment and utensils; dairy cooperatives should be established so as to assist in selling fresh milk for small holder farmers.
Essays on information asymmetry and financial institutions

The thesis consists of three chapters that investigate informational asymmetry mechanisms surrounding ﬁnancial institutions. In the ﬁrst chapter, my co-authors and I develop a theoretical model to analyse the eﬀect of competition on the conﬂict of interest arising from the issuer pay compensation model of the credit rating industry. We ﬁnd that relative to monopoly, rating agencies are more likely to inﬂate ratings under competition, resulting in lower expected welfare. These results do not depend on the presence of ratings shopping, but instead focus on the trade-oﬀ between maintaining reputation (to increase proﬁts in the future) and inﬂating ratings today (to increase current proﬁts). In the second chapter, I document a direct link between stock mispricing, as proxied by mutual fund ﬂow-driven price pressure, and corporate investment. One standard deviation increase in stock price pressure leads to an increase of 1.3 percent in investment. High price pressure ﬁrms with high investments have lower future stock returns and lower future operational performance than high price pressure ﬁrms with low investments. Investment sensitivity to price pressure is stronger for ﬁrms that are less ﬁnancially constrained, ﬁrms with high churn rates (shorter horizon) and ﬁrms with high R&D intensity (with more opaque assets). Finally, investment sensitivity to price pressure remains positive and signiﬁcant for ﬁrms that do not engage in seasoned equity oﬀerings around the investment period, suggesting there is a channel between stock price pressure and corporate investment that is independent of external ﬁnancing. The third chapter documents a pronounced market timing ability of institutional investors when it comes to selling individual stocks. Based on more than 8 million institutional trades over the period 1999 to 2009, my co-authors and I document that (i) large (block) sales of institutional investors correlate with future negative excess returns, while stock purchases do not predict positive excess returns at the stock level,(ii) the one-sided successful market timing of block liquidations is more pronounced if the block represents a larger share of the investor portfolio or/and the stock capitalization, (iii) international investors have a weaker one-sided timing ability for block liquidations. The evidence strongly supports the hypothesis that proximity of block holding investors to management provides important inside information advantages.
The relationship between physical characteristics and match performance in rugby sevens

Abstract Rugby sevens is a sport that requires a multitude of well-developed physical fitness qualities. Understanding the degree to which different physical characteristics relate to match performance provides practitioners with useful information for training programme design. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship between physical characteristics and activities related to success in rugby sevens matches. Fitness test and match activity data were collected from 40 international and provincial rugby sevens players. Sprint speed over 10 m and 40 m had moderate to large (0.32–0.51) negative correlations (r) with line breaks, defenders beaten and tackle effectiveness. Repeated sprint ability and maximal aerobic capacity were moderately related to a measure of work rate (~0.38). Mixed-model analysis revealed a decrease of two between-player standard deviations in 10 m sprint time to be associated with an increase of 74% more line breaks per match. The results of this study suggest multiple physical characteristics are related to match performance in rugby sevens.
Convertible Bond Design and Long-Run Operating Performance

This paper examines the influence of bond design on the long-run operating performance of convertible bond issuers and the determinants of this performance. Bonds are classified as equity-like and debt-like according to their probability of conversion at the time of the issue. The measure of long-run operating performance is the pre-tax cash flows of the firm. The results show that in the three years before the offering equity-like convertibles have better performance than debt-like convertibles while the performance in the three years after the offering is similar for the two groups of firms. The results also show that the factors that determine the long-run operating performance of equity-like and debt-like offerings are different. For example, the rating of the bond issued has a more positive influence on the performance of equity-like issues compared to debt-like issues. The level of information asymmetry, on the other hand, has a more negative influence on the performance of equity-like issues. The study contributes to the literature by incorporating convertible bond design into the study of the long-run operating performance of these bonds.