Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anticipated Benefits of Cloud Computing Adoption in Australian Regional Municipal Governments: An Exploratory Study

It is expected that computing services will increasingly be accessed as another utility a similar way to other services such as water, electricity, telephone or gas. Many organizations including government deliver their services through information and communication technology (ICT) tools including e-government. Cloud computing is a relatively new way of providing services over the internet. In this research in-depth interviews of Australian councils’ IT managers were conducted with the aim of providing insights into the perceived benefits of cloud computing adoption. The research indicated that cloud computing is seen to offer the many benefits that are identified in the research literature; additional anticipated benefits emerged which related to reduced level of risk, remote access, reduce staff, and saving time.
George Miller's magical number of immediate memory in retrospect: Observations on the faltering progression of science.

Miller's (1956) article about storage capacity limits, "The Magical Number Seven Plus or Minus Two . ," is one of the best-known articles in psychology. Though influential in several ways, for about 40 years it was oddly followed by rather little research on the numerical limit of capacity in working memory, or on the relation between 3 potentially related phenomena that Miller described. Given that the article was written in a humorous tone and was framed around a tongue-in-cheek premise (persecution by an integer), I argue that it may have inadvertently stymied progress on these topics as researchers attempted to avoid ridicule. This commentary relates some correspondence with Miller on his article and concludes with a call to avoid self-censorship of our less conventional ideas. (PsycINFO Database Record
Error and failure analysis of a UNIX server

This paper presents a measurement-based dependability study of a UNIX server. The event logs of a UNIX server are collected to form the dependability data basis. Message logs spanning approximately eleven months were collected for this study. The event log data are classified and categorized to calculate parameters such as MTBF and availability. Component analysis is also performed to identify modules that are prone to errors in the system. Next, the system error activity proceeding each system failure is analyzed to identify error patterns that may be precursors of the observed failure events. Lastly, the error/failure results from the measurement are reviewed in the perspective of the fault/error assumptions made in several popular fault injection studies.
When Does Responsiveness Pique Sexual Interest? Attachment and Sexual Desire in Initial Acquaintanceships

Three studies examined the contribution of attachment orientation and perceived partner responsiveness to sexual desire in initial acquaintanceships. In all studies, participants discussed a recent negative event with an unfamiliar, opposite-sex partner and then rated how responsive this partner had been during the interaction and their desire to have sex with him or her. Study 1 examined the association between perceived partner responsiveness and sexual desire in randomly paired strangers. Studies 2 and 3 experimentally manipulated partner responsiveness by standardized Instant Messages (Study 2) and a confederate’s responsive or unresponsive reactions during face-to-face interviews (Study 3). Results indicated that perceiving a partner as responsive was associated with heightened interest in sex with this partner, primarily among less avoidant people. These results are consistent with research showing that secure individuals see sex as a means of becoming close to relationship partners, whereas avoidant individuals tend to approach sex in distancing ways.
Insulin‐Metformin Combination Therapy in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of insulinmetformin combination therapy compared to insulin monotherapy in obese, insulin‐requiring patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Eighteen patients uncontrolled on ≥ 70 U/day of insulin monotherapy were investigated in this prospective, open‐label study. Patients continued their previous insulin and dietary regimens for 4 weeks, after which metformin was added with doses titrated to achieve a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) < 7.8 mmol/l or until the maximum daily dose was reached. Insulin‐metformin combination therapy was continued for an additional 8 weeks. Insulin‐metformin combination therapy resulted in a significant decrease in glycated hemoglobin values with a final mean reduction of 1.5% ± 1.2% (p = 0.001). FPG decreased significantly (p < 0.005) by week4 of insulin‐metformin therapy, but the change was not statistically significant by week 12, and daily insulin requirements were significantly reduced during combination therapy (p < 0.05). These results suggest that in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving ≥ 70 U of daily insulin, the addition of metformin leads to improved glycemic control with lower daily doses of insulin and without adverse effects.
Determinants of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hypertensive Patientsseen in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana

Hypertensive heart disease presenting as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common and potentially modifiable cardiovascular risk factor often overlooked in most sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana. This cardiac marker occurring in hypertension is very important because it affects the overall cardiovascular disease risk assessment and management. We sought to assess the prevalence and determinants of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension seen at the outpatient clinic of a Teaching Hospital in Ghana. A cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted on three hundred and fifty hypertensive patient at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Following informed consent, a questionnaire was used to gather demographic, anthropometric and clinical details of patients. A standard resting 12-lead resting ECG was performed on all the study participants and Scott's criteria was used to determine LVH. Fischer's exact test for statistical significance at 95% confidence interval was used to evaluate associations between categorical variables. Various independent associations with LVH were also assessed using logistic regression analysis. P value of 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The mean (± standard deviation) age of the patients was 59.65 ± 13.52 years. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 141.76 ± 20.26 mmHg, 84.28 ± 10.49 mmHg respectively; and the body mass index was 27.5 ± 6.09 kg/m2. The prevalence of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) among the hypertensive patients was 46.6%. When multiple logistic regression analysis was done, male gender (adjusted OR: 2.40, 95% CI 1.53-3.78, P=0.000), cigarette smoking (adjusted OR: 0.34, 95% CI 0.12-0.95, P=0.040) elevated SBP (adjusted OR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.09-2.93, P=0.200) and uncontrolled BP (adjusted OR: 1.86, 95% CI 1.15- 3.01, P=0.011) emerged as independent determinants of left ventricular hypertrophy. In conclusion, LVH is a common pre-clinical cardiac complication in Ghanaian individuals with hypertension. Male gender, cigarette smoking, elevated systolic blood pressure and uncontrolled BP appear to be the main determinants of this important pre-clinical cardiac damage.
Understanding and effectively addressing breast cancer in African American women: Unpacking the social context

Black women have a higher incidence of breast cancer before the age of 40 years, more severe disease at all ages, and an elevated mortality risk in comparison with white women. There is limited understanding of the contribution of social factors to these patterns. Elucidating the role of the social determinants of health in breast cancer disparities requires greater attention to how risk factors for breast cancer unfold over the lifecourse and to the complex ways in which socioeconomic status and racism shape exposure to psychosocial, physical, chemical, and other individual and community‐level assaults that increase the risk of breast cancer. Research that takes seriously the social context in which black women live is also needed to maximize the opportunities to prevent breast cancer in this underserved group. Cancer 2016;122:2138–49. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Psychosocial determinants of intention to use condoms among Somali and Ethiopian immigrants in the U.S.

Abstract The study examined potential psychosocial determinants of male condom use in steady heterosexual relationships among Somali and Ethiopian immigrants in Minnesota in two sequential phases: the elicitation (Phase I) and cross-sectional quantitative studies (Phase II). Information from Phase I was used to develop the instrument for Phase II. Study participants who self-identified as Somali and Ethiopian immigrants (n = 205) responded to questions on demographic characteristics, attitudes (affective and instrumental), norms (subject and descriptive), perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, and intention to use male condoms. Hierarchical regression models were used to assess the relationship between the main independent variables (attitude norms, perceived behavioral control, and self-efficacy, and the dependent variable, the intention to use male condoms. Overall, participants showed low intention and slightly favorable (affective and instrumental) attitudes toward condom use; had experienced weak, but positive social influence as measured by injunctive and descriptive norms. Moreover, study participants had shown slight perceived behavioral control, but had fairly moderate positive self-efficacy. The Theory of Planned Behavior was moderately effective in predicting condom use; however, the Integrated Behavioral Model, explained nearly 40% of the variations in the intention to use male condoms. Among men, self-efficacy had the strongest influence (β = .44, p < .001) on behavioral intention. Among women, descriptive norms (β = .22, p < .05) exerted the strongest effect (model 3). Improving self-efficacy, specifically, among older men, and fostering desirable normative influence among women, are suggested as main components of public health interventions to promote condom use among Somali and Ethiopian immigrants.
Longitudinal Studies of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand and Puerto Rico: Population Dynamics

Abstract Aspiration collections of adult Aedes aegypti (L.) were made weekly from inside and outside of houses for 3 yr in a rural Thai village (n = 9,637 females and n = 11,988 males) and for 2 yr in a residential section of San Juan, Puerto Rico (n = 5,941 females and n = 6,739 males). In Thailand, temperature and rainfall fell into distinct seasonal categories, but only temperature was correlated with fluctuations in female abundance. Average weekly temperature 6 wk before mosquitoes were collected and minimum weekly temperature during the week of collection provided the highest correlations with female abundance. Accounting for annual variation significantly improved Thai models of temperature and mosquito abundance. In Puerto Rico, temperature, but not rainfall, could be categorized into seasonal patterns. Neither was correlated with changes in female abundance. At both sites the vast majority of females were collected inside houses and most contained a blood meal. Most teneral females were collected outside. Wing length—an indicator of female size—and parity, egg development or engorgement status were not correlated, indicating that feeding success and survival were not influenced by female size. At both sites, females fed almost exclusively on human hosts (≥96%), a pattern that did not change seasonally. In Puerto Rico more nonhuman blood meals were detected in mosquitoes collected outside than inside houses; no such difference was detected in Thailand. Gut contents of dissected females indicated that females in the Thai population had a younger age distribution and fed more frequently on blood than did Ae. aegypti in Puerto Rico. Our results indicated that aspects of this species’ biology can vary significantly from one location to another and 1 yr to the next.
An Analysis of Lateral Predominance in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis With Special Reference to Convexity of the Curve

An analysis of lateral predominance of 51 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is presented. Determination of handedness, the dominant foot, and the dominant eye was performed. Postural equilibrium was studied by stabilometry, and the vestibular function was evaluated with electronystagmography. Central and peripheral nervous function were evaluated as reflected by electroencephalography and nerve-conduction velocity measurements. Results were compared with those obtained for a control group and were evaluated with special reference to convexity and location of the curve. Significant differences were found between patients with right convex curves and those with left convex curves in the distribution of eye predominance and in labyrinthine sensitivity. The direction of convexity was correlated with the predominant labyrinth for both groups. An analysis of these findings indicates that they can be of pathogenetic importance.
Sperm and ova conservation: existing standards of practice in North America.

BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURE Rapid advances have occurred in both reproductive medicine and survival from childhood cancer. To establish the current level of best clinical practice for sperm, ovarian, and prepubertal tissue collection and storage, a cross-sectional survey of a major pediatric oncology collaborative study group (Pediatric Oncology Group, POG) was performed. RESULTS Of the 110 centers surveyed, 69 questionnaires (63%) were completed. No responding center had guidelines regarding which young people should be offered sperm, ovarian, or prepubertal testicular tissue conservation; 93% centers had offered sperm and 10% ova conservation; 15% had offered sperm conservation to males prior to completion of sexual development and 3% to girls prior to sexual maturation. All centers were more likely to offer sperm conservation than ova conservation for any given disease. The most common diseases for which conservation was offered were Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and sarcomas. Fertility counseling was offered in a variety of settings by 71% of centers by health care professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and geneticists. CONCLUSION There was little agreement regarding appropriate indications for, and method of, gamete preservation in children's cancer centers. It is hard to establish best clinical practice from these data. Unresolved medical, legal, and ethical issues necessitate the development of a voluntary code of practice and guidelines in order to ensure good clinical practice.
Rapid Generation of Replication-Deficient Monovalent and Multivalent Vaccines for Bluetongue Virus: Protection against Virulent Virus Challenge in Cattle and Sheep

ABSTRACT Since 1998, 9 of the 26 serotypes of bluetongue virus (BTV) have spread throughout Europe, and serotype 8 has suddenly emerged in northern Europe, causing considerable economic losses, direct (mortality and morbidity) but also indirect, due to restriction in animal movements. Therefore, many new types of vaccines, particularly subunit vaccines, with improved safety and efficacy for a broad range of BTV serotypes are currently being developed by different laboratories. Here we exploited a reverse genetics-based replication-deficient BTV serotype 1 (BTV-1) (disabled infectious single cycle [DISC]) strain to generate a series of DISC vaccine strains. Cattle and sheep were vaccinated with these viruses either singly or in cocktail form as a multivalent vaccine candidate. All vaccinated animals were seroconverted and developed neutralizing antibody responses to their respective serotypes. After challenge with the virulent strains at 21 days postvaccination, vaccinated animals showed neither any clinical reaction nor viremia. Further, there was no interference with protection with a multivalent preparation of six distinct DISC viruses. These data indicate that a very-rapid-response vaccine could be developed based on which serotypes are circulating in the population at the time of an outbreak.
Flaxseed supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot randomized, open labeled, controlled study

Abstract A two-arm randomized open labeled controlled clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Participants were assigned to take either a lifestyle modification (LM), or LM +30 g/day brown milled flaxseed for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, body weight, liver enzymes, insulin resistance and hepatic fibrosis and steatosis decreased significantly in both groups (p< 0.05); however, this reduction was significantly greater in those who took flaxseed supplementation (p < 0.05). The significant mean differences were reached in hepatic markers between flaxseed and control group, respectively: ALT [−11.12 compared with −3.7 U/L; P< 0.001], AST [−8.29 compared with −4 U/L; p < 0.001], GGT [−15.7 compared with −2.62 U/L; p < 0.001], fibrosis score [−1.26 compared with −0.77 kPa; p = 0.013] and steatosis score [−47 compared with −15.45 dB/m; p = 0.022]. In conclusion, flaxseed supplementation plus lifestyle modification is more effective than lifestyle modification alone for NAFLD management.
Free Gracilis Tendon Graft in Neglected Tears of the Achilles Tendon

Objective:To report the results of a longitudinal study on reconstruction of neglected Achilles tendon rupture using a free autologous gracilis tendon graft. Design:Cohort study. Participants:Twenty-one patients underwent surgery for a neglected rupture of the Achilles tendon occurring between 65 days and 9 months before the operation. Methods:All participants were prospectively followed up for 2 years, and final review was performed at 28.4 ± 3.5 months from the operation. Functional (anthropometric measurements, isometric strength, return to activities) and clinical assessment was performed. Results:No patients experienced any problems in the wound used to harvest the tendon of gracilis. Five patients were managed conservatively following a superficial infection of the Achilles tendon surgical wound. No patients developed a deep vein thrombosis or sustained a rerupture. All patients were able to walk on tiptoes, and no patient used a heel lift or walked with a visible limp. The maximum calf circumference remained significantly decreased in the operated leg at final review. The operated limb was significantly less strong than the nonoperated one. Conclusions:The management of neglected tears of the Achilles tendon by free gracilis tendon grafting is safe but technically demanding. It affords good recovery, even in patients with a neglected rupture of a duration of 9 months. These patients should be warned that they are at risk for postoperative complications, and that their ankle plantar flexion strength can remain reduced.
Clinical usefulness of fluorescence in situ hybridization for detection of MLL rearrangements in acute myeloid leukemia

1Hematology Department, ICO-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, José Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Badalona, UAB, Spain, 2Hematology Department, ICO-Hospital Duran i Reynals, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain, 3Hematology Department, ICO-Hospital Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain, 4Hematology Department, Hospital Joan XXIII, Tarragona, Spain and 5Hematology Department, Hospital Verge de la Cinta, Tortosa, Spain
The representing brain: Neural correlates of motor intention and imagery

Abstract This paper concerns how motor actions are neurally represented and coded. Action planning and motor preparation can be studied using a specific type of representational activity, motor imagery. A close functional equivalence between motor imagery and motor preparation is suggested by the positive effects of imagining movements on motor learning, the similarity between the neural structures involved, and the similar physiological correlates observed in both imaging and preparing. The content of motor representations can be inferred from motor images at a macroscopic level, based on global aspects of the action (the duration and amount of effort involved) and the motor rules and constraints which predict the spatial path and kinematics of movements. A more microscopic neural account calls for a representation of object-oriented action. Object attributes are processed in different neural pathways depending on the kind of task the subject is performing. During object-oriented action, a pragmatic representation is activated in which object affordances are transformed into specific motor schemas (independently of other tasks such as object recognition). Animal as well as human clinical data implicate the posterior parietal and premotor cortical areas in schema instantiation. A mechanism is proposed that is able to encode the desired goal of the action and is applicable to different levels of representational organization.
Restructuring of the dinucleotide-binding fold in an NADP(H) sensor protein

NAD(P) has long been known as an essential energy-carrying molecule in cells. Recent data, however, indicate that NAD(P) also plays critical signaling roles in regulating cellular functions. The crystal structure of a human protein, HSCARG, with functions previously unknown, has been determined to 2.4-Å resolution. The structure reveals that HSCARG can form an asymmetrical dimer with one subunit occupied by one NADP molecule and the other empty. Restructuring of its NAD(P)-binding Rossmann fold upon NADP binding changes an extended loop to an α-helix to restore the integrity of the Rossmann fold. The previously unobserved restructuring suggests that HSCARG may assume a resting state when the level of NADP(H) is normal within the cell. When the NADP(H) level passes a threshold, an extensive restructuring of HSCARG would result in the activation of its regulatory functions. Immunofluorescent imaging shows that HSCARG redistributes from being associated with intermediate filaments in the resting state to being dispersed in the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The structural change of HSCARG upon NADP(H) binding could be a new regulatory mechanism that responds only to a significant change of NADP(H) levels. One of the functions regulated by HSCARG may be argininosuccinate synthetase that is involved in NO synthesis.