Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Praxis-Induced Myoclonic Seizures are Significantly Associated with Different Self-Perception Trigger Factors

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) with praxis-induced seizures consists of a complex group of generalized epileptic syndromes. The aim of the present study was identifying the association between self-perception trigger factors and myoclonic jerks. Twenty-two patients were submitted to a protocol of neuropsychological activation (NPA) during video-electroencephalography (video-EEG) methods for 4-6 hours. A questionnaire was applied regarding patients' self-perception of factors that precipitate of seizures comparing with the video-EEG findings. Stress and sleep deprivation were perceived as triggers by 81.82%, followed by mental concentration (36.36%) and manual activities (31.82%). Praxis-induced seizures occurred in 36.4% of these patients. Self-perception of stress (81.82%), flashing lights (22.73%) and reading (13.64%) as triggering factors was significantly associated with triggering myoclonic seizures during video-EEG. We conclude that main finding of this study is the strong correlation between self-perception of trigger factors and actual trigger factors for seizures.
To Identify the Causes of Stress among Nurses Working in Intensive Care Unit of Ittefaq Hospital Lahore

The study is aimed at identifying the causes of stress amongst daily routine of nurses working in the ICU unit of Ittefaq Hospital Lahore. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to gain an insight into factors which may be causing stress to the nurses. The results were analyzed using statistical tools. An overall finding of the study is that all the nurses were suffering from stress however, the reasons of stress are different. Consensus was that three biggest causes of stress are prolonged shifts and extra duties, shortage of staff and excessive workload. The other major causes of stress identified are inappropriate or poor communication between doctors and nurses, lack of support and motivation, unexpected deaths or patients undergoing painful procedures, lack of breaks, lack of cooperation from peers and supervisors/managers. The patients themselves can also be a source of stress for example, problematic patients or their aggressive family members as well as improper work environment also contribute to stress. There is a dire need to develop stress alleviating programs and therapies at the hospitals. Nurses, doctors and managers should be encouraged to participate in such programs towards building stress-free work environment where patients can be served better. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 4, Issue-2: 96-109
b-Carotene affects antioxidant status in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Oxidative injury by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suggested to explain excess prevalence of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus. ROS are normally trapped by antioxidants such as b-carotene, vitamins C and E and glutathione. The consumption of reducing equivalents in the form of NADPH may interfere with the regeneration of glutathione and ascorbic acid in diabetes mellitus. We have compared 20 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) with no vascular complications to age and sex matched healthy control subjects, and later treated them with natural (Dunaliella) b-carotene, 60 mg daily for 3 weeks. Compared with control patients there was a significant decrease in plasma glutathione by 50% (PB0.01) and in erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase by 30% (PB0.01) in the patients with NIDDM. Upon b-carotene treatment there was a 3.3-fold increase in plasma b-carotene as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; from 0.29690.072 to 0.96890.133 mg/ml, PB0.001). Plasma glutathione increased by 77%, erythrocyte glutathione increased by 39% (PB0.05) and glutathione peroxidase increased by 21% (PB0.01). Thus, basal plasma glutathione, erythrocyte glutathione and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase levels are higher in age matched healthy controls than in NIDDM patients. Natural b-carotene affects the glutathione and part of its redox cycle enzymes by potential augmentation of its regeneration. Restoring antioxidant status may slow the rate of development of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Genetic and non-genetic analysis for milk production and reproductive traits in Holstein cattle in Egypt

This study was carried out to investigate genetic, non-genetic affecting factors and estimate genetic parameters for milk production and reproductive traits of Holstein cows via animal model. The data was obtained from a commercial farm (Safi Masr for Developing the Animal Resources), located in the Nile Delta, Dakahlia, Egypt. Data included 4791 records of 1797 cows, 794 dams and 67 sires that represented the period from 2002 to 2012. The means and coefficient of variability (CV%) of milk traits as total milk yield (TMY), 305 day milk yield (305-dMY), lactation period (LP) and dry period (DP) were 5787.8 kg (31.1%), 4695 kg (22.1%), 332 day (14.9%) and 72.3 day (27.7%), respectively. Also, the means (CV%) of reproductive traits as days open (DO) and age at first calving (AFC) were 157.9 day (22.6%) and 30.5 month (16.8%), respectively. Sire, dam, parity of cow, year and season of calving had significant effects on traits studied. Heritability estimated were 0.223, 0.184, 0.112, 0.118, 0.105 and 0.285 for TMY, 305-dMY, LP, DP, DO and AFC, respectively. Estimated r G and r P among milk production traits were positive but it takes negative trend with DP and DO. Moderate heritability estimates and positive genetic correlation for most of traits studied suggested that genetic improvement of these traits would be achieved via multi-trait selection.
Antibiotic- and heavy-metal resistance in bacteria isolated from deep subsurface in El Callao region, Venezuela Resistencia a antibioticos y metales pesados en bacterias aisladas de subsuelo en la región El Callao, Venezuela

The effect of contamination with mercury (Hg) in the deep subsurface bacterial communities in the region of El Callao (Bolivar State, Venezuela) was investigated. Bacterial communities from two deep levels (-288 m and -388 m) in a gold mine were studied with the aim of describe the most relevant features of their colonizing indigenous culturable bacteria. Antibiotic and heavy metals resistance patterns, presence of the merA gene and plasmids in resistant isolates were evaluated. A high frequency of resistant indigenous bacteria to Hg and other heavy metals was found. From 76 Hg-resistant isolates tested 73.7 % were, in addition, resistant to ampicillin, 86.8% to chloramphenicol, 67.1 % for tetracycline, 56.6 % streptomycin, and 51.3 % kanamycin. Furthermore, it was found that 40.74 % (-328 mm) and 26.53 % (-388 m) of Hg-resistant bacteria were simultaneously resistant to both four and five of these antibiotics. The presence of low and high molecular weight plasmids was detected and, despite that isolated showed resistance to mercurial compounds, the presence of the gene merA was detected only in 71.05 % of strains. These results suggest that exposure to Hg could be a selective pressure on the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and promote the preservation and propagation of these resistance genes. However, the existence of such resistances to these depths could also support the idea that antibiotic resistance in these bacteria is natural and has a more ancient origin than their exposure to Hg.
Perceptions of facial attractiveness, dominance and trustworthiness predict managerial pay awarded in experimental tasks

Positive associations between physical attractiveness and employee reward are well-documented within the organizational literature. Although the impact of facial cues to trustworthiness and dominance on a number of social outcomes has been established outside of the workplace, the extent to which they affect pay at different managerial levels in addition to attractiveness is yet to be investigated. This paper presents research into this issue using a face payment task for shop floor managers (Retail Managers) and senior managers (Heads of Retail Operations). Evaluations indicated that all three facial cues were positively associated with awarded pay at both managerial levels. Moreover, attractiveness had a significantly stronger link with shop-floor managers’ than senior managers’ pay, whereas perceived trustworthiness and perceived dominance had significantly stronger links with pay for senior managers than shop-floor managers. It further emerged that women were paid more in this experimental task where pay was awarded solely based on facial features and that the facial features were more predictive of women’s than men’s pay. Awareness of the role of physical cues in pay awards can be considered by organizations to reduce biases in remuneration.
Interactive comment on “ Effects of interannual variability in snow accumulation on energy partitioning and surface energy exchange in a high-Arctic tundra ecosystem ” by C . Stiegler

The last part of the final sentence in the abstract is rather vague. Simply "increasing interannual variability" seems rather general and less interesting that what you actually found. I suggest thinking about how your could "sharpen" this final state-ment to make it more specific and impactful. I could imagine you might want to say something about how interannual climate variability (winter precip) has been shown to have different feed backs to surface energy partitioning depending on ecosystem type.  The final section of the abstract was rephrased, focussing on the different effects of ecosystem type and surface properties on surface energy balance. p 4, Measurements. Accepted that you are using standard CarboEurope type proce-dures, but can you add a citation to a paper from your flux site that explains site-specific procedures and conditions? If not, then can you please add just a brief description of key site specific information such as how data were screened (spikes, low turbulence, unfavorable meteorological conditions) and how many gaps (what percentage of the record, what percentage of the daytime values that went into the energy budget mea-surements, or whatever you think is relevant)? I see that you later explain that you used the MPI online gap-filling tool to do the gap filling. I am just requesting a little info to characterize data screening and the overall situation with gaps at the two towers. And any other key, site-specific information or procedures that you think are important to the reader. If all of this is summarized in a different flux paper, then it is fine to simply cite it as above, and say that those details are provided in the cited paper.  Data processing for both study locations is summarized in Soegaard et al., 2001 and Lund et al. (2012, 2014). The sentence was added to the paragraph (p. 4, l. 6-11). p 7, line 10-11: It is very difficult to see the negative values of Rnet in the figure because of its vertical scale and the bar type. Please see general comment above on the figures.  The figure was updated (see Figure 4).
STUDIES OF METHODS AND PHILOSOPHIES FOR DESIGNING HYBRID LAMINAR FLOW WINGS

An investigation into methods of controlling attachment line, crossflow and TollmienSchlichting instabilities in order to delay transition and the implications for designing hybrid laminar flow (HLFC) wings for civil transport aircraft has been carried out. The control of these instability modes has been investigated in the form of a parametric study for a range of pressure distributions and flow conditions. A control technique commonly used is surface suction in the leading edge region. Results show that with this technique, the structural constraint of requiring the porous surface to be forward of the wing front spar would limit the extent of laminar flow that can be obtained. This constraint may be overcome by the use of surface cooling instead of suction downstream of the front spar for suppressing TS instability in order to achieve a greater extent of laminar flow. For HLFC wing design, it is important to consider the drag rise characteristics and lift capability in addition to viscous drag reduction. Analysis of the aerodynamic performance characteristics of aerofoils with different types of pressure distribution suggests that the same type of upper surface pressure distribution with an adverse ‘rooftop’ gradient may be chosen for an HLFC wing as for a turbulent wing. This type of pressure distribution may be suitable for the inner wing leading to performance benefits in terms of lift increment and skin friction drag reduction.
Impact of Materials Science and Engineering Clubs on Student’s perceptions and aspirations towards STEM

This research evidences the impact of Materials Science and Engineering Clubs as an outreach effort to expand the education and training required for a competitive Nanotechnology workforce beyond traditional STEM areas. An engineering perception questionnaire was implemented as a pre-test/post-test to track student perceptions and goals throughout the academic year to identify trends amongst gender and school level groups. Findings (107 students) show a perceived increase in student knowledge and interest for different fields of study, based on pre/post-test responses, with differences amongst gender and school level groups (middle school and high school). Also, significant differences in students’ aspirations for higher education degree were found among school level and gender. Results show that over 20% of participants increased their aspirations to higher education degrees and their interests in pursuing STEM degrees at end of the academic year. Specific findings on engineering perceptions and perceived level of knowledge and interest in science, engineering, materials, and nanotechnology as a result of club participation and student’s educational aspirations, expectations and future study plans are discussed along with implications for future STEM education.
EFFECTS OF INTERNATIONAL DIFFUSION OF A GENERAL PURPOSE TECHNOLOGY ON WAGE INEQUALITY

This paper studies the effects of the diffusion of a General Purpose Technology (GPT) that spreads first within the developed North country of its origin, and then to a developing South country. In the developed general equilibrium growth model, each final good can be produced by one of two technologies. Each technology is characterized by a specific labor complemented by a specific set of intermediate goods, which are enhanced periodically by Schumpeterian R&D activities. When quality reaches a threshold level, a GPT arises in one of the technologies and spreads first to the other technology within the North. Then, it propagates to the South, following a similar sequence. Since diffusion is not even, neither intra- nor inter-country, the GPT produces successive changes in the direction of technological knowledge and in inter- and intra-country wage inequality. Through this mechanism the different observed paths of wage inequality can be accommodated.
Feeding of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus larvae in the northwestern Adriatic Sea in response to changing hydrobiological conditions

Results from depth integrated and vertically stratified plankton sampling in the northwestern Adriatic Sea were used for comparison of gut contents of larvae of European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus with composition and concentration of potential prey in the plankton. Sampling was carried out over a grid of stations both before and after a period of increased wind mixing to investigate changes in food availability and larval feeding success. All larvae had empty guts soon after dusk, indicating daytime feeding and rapid gut clearance. With increasing larval length there was a greater percentage of specimens with empty guts, despite suitable food being available in the plankton for these larger larvae; this suggests differential gut evacuation during sampling-possibly related to the degree of gut development. Larval diet was principally the various developmental stages of copepods, especially calanoid and cyclopoid nauplii, which were preferentially selected by larvae, whereas selection was against harpacticoid nauplii. Lamellibranch larvae and Peridinium were generally abundant in the plankton, but were only present in the gut contents in any number when the preferred dietary organisms were present in the plankton at low concentrations. The number of food organisms in the gut contents increased with concentration of the preferred food organisms in the plankton up to a limit of similar to 50 organisms/l. Within the upper 18 m of the water column, there was a reduction in the proportion of larvae with food in their guts with increasing depth, irrespective of the vertical profile of food concentration. Following a period of wind mixing the composition of the plankton changed. This was reflected in the diet of anchovy larvae, which altered in parallel. There was also an overall 41% decrease in concentration of the preferred food particles of larvae in the plankton following the period of wind mixing, but larvae were still able to maintain their food intake. These results show that anchovy larvae can successfully adapt their diet to a changing prey field and suggest that in the conditions observed in the northern Adriatic, quite radical changes in the feeding environment were probably insufficient to affect overall larval mortality.
Dialysis adequacy of chronic hemodialysis patients in Zanjan-Iran, 2016

Background: Dialysis adequacy is one of the most important factors in determining the survival rate and mortality of dialysis patients. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the dialysis adequacy of patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis at dialysis centers located in the province of Zanjan, located in northwest Iran. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 257 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis with an available sampling method in 6 dialysis centers in the province of Zanjan. The hemodialysis sessions were performed for 3 to 4 hours using via synthetic filters and bicarbonate dialysate. To determine the adequacy of dialysis, serum BUN levels were assessed before and after dialysis. The standard software provided by the Ministry of Health was used to calculate the adequacy of dialysis and Kt/V was considered to be at least 1.2. Results : The most common underlying causes of chronic dialysis were hypertension (41.2%) and diabetes mellitus (35.8%), respectively. Mean Kt/V and URR were 1.26±0.34 and 63.55±9.5%, respectively. The difference among these indexes was significant between men and women (p<0.05). Also, dialysis adequacy was significantly associated with increased dialysis frequency, blood flow rate, interdialytic weight gain, vascular access and dialysis shift (p<0.05). Conclusion: Despite the relatively favorable dialysis adequacy among patients, this index is highly variable based on patient gender, the dialysis center, location, frequency of dialysis, blood flow rate, interdialytic weight gain, type of vascular access and dialysis shift. Therefore, serious attention and greater caution are recommended among the dialysis centers of the province.
APPLICATION OF OSL METHOD IN DATING PAST EARTHQUAKES

Σκοπός αυτής της μeλέτης ήταν να δημιουργήσeι ένα χρονολογικό πλαίσιο των παλαιοσeισμών στο ρήγμα Γυρτώνης, (Θeσσαλία, Κeντρική Eλλάδα), μe τη χρήση της μeθόδου χρονολόγησης OSL. Το ρήγμα Γυρτώνης, ορίζeι το βόρeιο-ανατολικό όριο της Λeκάνης Τυρνάβου, και έχeι eρeυνηθeί στο παρeλθόν μe γeωλογικές μeθόδους. Eίκοσι πέντe δeίγματα ιζημάτων, ποτάμιας-κολλουβιακής προέλeυσης και κeραμικά δeίγματα συλλέχθηκαν από δύο παλαιοσeισμολογικές τάφρους, κατά μήκος του ρήγματος Γυρτώνης, τόσο από το ανeρχόμeνο όσο και από το κατeρχόμeνο τέμαχος του ρήγματος. Η μέθοδος της οπτικά προτρeπόμeνης φωταύγeιας (OSL) χρησιμοποιήθηκe για τη χρονολόγηση κόκκων χαλαζία σύμφωνα μe το πρωτόκολλο αναγeννόμeνης δόσης μeμονωμένου δισκίου (SAR). Η έρeυνα των χαρακτηριστικών φωταύγeιας, eπιβeβαίωσe την καταλληλότητα του υλικού για χρονολόγηση μe τη μέθοδο OSL, χρησιμοποιώντας το πρωτόκολλο SAR. Μeτρήσeις ραδιeνέργeιας διeνeργήθηκαν για την eκτίμηση του eτήσιου ρυθμού δόσης των eδαφών στον οποίο υποβλήθηκαν οι κόκκοι χαλαζία κατά τη διάρκeια της πeριόδου ταφής των δeιγμάτων. Οι eκτιμώμeνeς ηλικίeς συμφωνούν eπίσης μe τα διαθέσιμα στρωματογραφικά, και αρχαιολογικά δeδομένα. Από τη συνeκτίμηση στρωματογραφικών δeδομένων και του χρονολογικού πλαισίου προέκυψαν τρία σeισμικά γeγονότα σe ένα χρονικό διάστημα μeταξύ 1.42 ± 0.06 ka και 5.59 ± 0.13 ka eνώ eπίσης eκτιμήθηκe ένα παλαιότeρο σeισμικό γeγονός (τέταρτο) μe πιθανή ηλικία μeγαλύτeρη από 5.59 ± 0.13 ka.
Comparison of growth and yield adaptability indicators of two maize ( Zea mays L. ) cultivars under planting basin technique in Zimbabwe

In eastern semi-arid Zimbabwe, planting basins are mostly used to boost maize yields, but still low yields are often obtained due to poor choices of varieties to grow. A comparative study of growth and yield of the only two locally and commonly grown Pioneer cultivars (P2859W and PHB3253) under planting basin technique (PBT) was carried out to determine a more adaptable cultivar in Guhune, eastern Zimbabwe (NR IV). The study was done in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 growing seasons. An experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), with the two cultivars, each replicated four times. Yield, leaf length and plant height were measured and averaged. Results showed that PHB3253 had growth of 75.2 cm after measuring at 2 weeks interval for 10 weeks. Its growth was significantly (p 0.05) greater than PHB3253. Grain yield of PHB3253 (35.1 kg) was significantly (p<0.05) greater than that of P2859W (26.6 kg). PHB 3253 is therefore more adaptable to semi-arid conditions under basin technique as signified by its higher growth and yield than P2859W. It is therefore recommended that farmers who use planting basins in semi-arid areas for growing short season maize cultivars (P2859W and PHB3253) should opt for PHB3253 for better productivity. Key words : Early maturing cultivars, PHB3253 and P2859W performance, adaptation.
Grain yield and N-Uptake by rabi maize (Zea mays L.) at varying planting densities and nitrogen levels

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season 2014-15 at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla to study the “Growth and yield of rabi maize at varying planting densities and nitrogen levels”. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design and replicated thrice. The results revealed that planting density of M1 (1,00,000 plants ha-1) and S8 (300 kg N ha-1+ 0.5% ZnSO4 as foliar spray at tasseling) which was on a par with M1 (1,00,000 plants ha-1) and S4 (300 kg N ha-1) recorded highest yield attributes and yield. Foliar application of ZnSO4 with nitrogen at tasseling influence the yield attributes, grain & straw yield significantly. The interaction between planting densities and nitrogen levels was found to be non significant.
Acute Exposure to Low-Level Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE): Human Reactions and Pharmacokinetic Response

AbstractThis two-part investigation assessed the effects of 1-h exposures to methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) at an ambient concentration of 1.7 ppm on healthy adults. In one part, four subjects participated in a pharmacokinetic study of blood levels of MTBE. Concentration in blood rose 20-fold from baseline to 17 μg/L by the end of exposure and declined to one-half that level at 40 min after exposure. In another part, 43 subjects participated in a double-blind study of reactions to exposures to MTBE (1.7 ppm), to a mixture of 17 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (7.1 ppm), and to air. Subjects rated symptoms (e.g., irritation, headache, mental fatigue), their mood, and various environmental attributes (e.g., odor, air quality, temperature), and also took computerized performance tests during exposures. Measures of eye irritation (e.g., tear-film breakup, eye redness) and nasal inflammation (i.e., measurement of polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes, PMNs) were taken before and after exposure as obj.