Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of nonadditive genetic influences on standard lactation production (305 days) in upgrading of Serbian-Fleckvieh to Holstein-Friesian cattle breed

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the effects of systematic factors, primarily the degree of crossing, on the standard lactation lengths of 305 days in 6 different genotypes of cows (F1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5) obtained by the upgrading of the Serbian Fleckvieh (SF) to the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed of cattle. The systematic effects included in the general linear model (GLM) exerted a significant (P<0.05) influence on the milk yield, as well as the fat yield and content. During the upgrading process, statistically significant (P<0.05) differences were recorded between the traits of the genotypes examined. With an increase in the share of HF genes, the milk yield increased from 5020 kg (F1) to 5801 kg (R5) and the fat yield from 176.2 kg to 201.6 kg, whereas the fat content simultaneously decreased from 3.55 % (F1) to 3.49 % (R5). The F1 cows had the highest heterosis realized (h R) regarding the milk yield (185.8 kg), while the R1 and R2 cows displayed negative heterosis effects (-21.0 and -205.7 kg) and negative recombination effects (rI). The highest value of hR (regarding the milk fat yield) was recorded in the F1 cows (6.07 kg) in comparison with the R2 cows, which had the negative hR (-3.79 kg), whereas the negative rI was recorded in the R1 and R2 genotypes. The positive r I (regarding the milk fat content) was recorded in the R1, R2 and R3 genotypes accompanied by the positive h R.
Cadmium chloride toxicity suppresses osteogenic potential of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through reducing cell viability and bone matrix mineralization.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cadmium an environmental pollutant, exert several risks to human health. In this study we investigated the effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl 2 ) on Viability, morphology and bone Matrix Miniralization of Rat Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (rMSCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS rMSCs were cultured in DMEM containing 15% FBS and pen-strep. After 21 days of treatment with the selected doses of 750 and 2000 nM of CdCl 2 viability, colony forming unit, population doubling number, DAN breakage and the morphology of the cells were studied. Also to study the effects of CdCl2 on differentiation property, the morphology and bone matrix mineralization via estimation of intracellular calcium concentration and quantitative alizarin red were also evaluated in the cells using Hoechst, Acridine orange and Alizarin red staining. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey ' s test and the means difference was considered significant at P<0.05. RESULTS The mean viability, colony forming unit, population doubling number and also the mean bone matrix mineralization of the rMSCs treated with CdCl 2 significantly reduced in a dose dependent manner. Nuclear fragmentation and cytoplasm shrinkage was also seen in the treated cells. CONCLUSION CdCl 2 can reduce the viability and bone matrix mineralization of rMSCs even at low doses.
Parental and Youth Understanding of the Informed Consent Process for Pediatric Endoscopy

Objectives: Informed consent (IC) is an essential communication between patient/representative and physician that acknowledges patient autonomy; assent is the equivalent process performed between youth and physician. For clinical procedures involving youth, only the IC process between guardian/parent and physician is required to be performed. Nevertheless, experts recommend that youth undergo assent whenever possible. In the present study, we explored both parental and youth understanding of required IC elements in IC discussions before pediatric endoscopy. Methods: Following signing of IC documents on the day of endoscopy at a tertiary care academic medical center, youth and their parents underwent structured interviews to assess comprehension of key elements of the IC process. Results: A total of 88 children and adolescents and their parents were evaluated. Two youth and 12 parents demonstrated comprehensive understanding of key IC elements for pediatric endoscopy. Suboptimal youth understanding was demonstrated for nature of the procedure (25% with adequate understanding) and related risks (17%), and alternatives (14%) to the procedure. Suboptimal parental understanding was demonstrated for procedure alternatives (24%). Youth overall understanding of IC varied by age, whereas parental global understanding of IC varied by physician. Conclusions: Understanding of IC performed for pediatric endoscopy could be improved in both parents and youth. Our findings suggest that interventions targeting parents, youth, and physicians may be helpful. Further study is needed to determine whether our findings are representative of IC understanding at other pediatric endoscopy centers.
Clinical significance of abnormal prothrombin (DCP) in relation to postoperative survival and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES In this study we correlate plasma des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) levels with prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in combination with serum alpha-fetoprotein levels (AFP). METHODS Levels of DCP were measured in 165 patients with HCC by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA, E-1023) with an anti-DCP monoclonal antibody. RESULTS There was no correlation between the plasma DCP levels and the serum AFP levels. The positive rate obtained from the combination assay was 72.1%. The survival rates of the patients with elevated levels of both DCP and AFP were significantly lower than those of the groups with normal DCP and AFP levels (p < 0.05). The disease-free survival rates of patients with elevated DCP and AFP levels were also significantly lower than those of patients with normal DCP and AFP levels (p < 0.05). The recurrence rate within a postoperative period of 2 yr was higher in the patients with elevated DCP and AFP levels than in those with normal levels. CONCLUSIONS The determination of plasma DCP levels combined with AFP levels appears to be useful for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC, and is useful also in postoperative monitoring for recurrence.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENTS FOR MILD-TO-MODERATE OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA IN FRANCE

Objectives: Untreated obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness, increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, and road traffic accidents (RTAs), which impact survival and health-related quality of life. This study, funded by the French National Authority for Health (HAS), aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of different treatments (i.e., continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP], dental devices, lifestyle advice, and no treatment) in patients with mild-to-moderate OSAHS in France. Methods: A Markov model was developed to simulate the progression of two cohorts, stratified by CV risk, over a lifetime horizon. Daytime sleepiness and RTAs were taken into account for all patients while CV events were only considered for patients with high CV risk. Results: For patients with low CV risk, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of dental devices versus no treatment varied between 32,976 EUR (moderate OSAHS) and 45,579 EUR (mild OSAHS) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), and CPAP versus dental devices, above 256,000 EUR/QALY. For patients with high CV risk, CPAP was associated with a gain of 0.62 QALY compared with no treatment, resulting in an ICER of 10,128 EUR/QALY. Conclusion: The analysis suggests that it is efficient to treat all OSAHS patients with high CV risk with CPAP and that dental devices are more efficient than CPAP for mild-to-moderate OSAHS with low CV risk. However, out-of-pocket costs are currently much higher for dental devices than for CPAP (i.e., 3,326 EUR versus 2,430 EUR) as orthodontic treatment is mainly non-refundable in France.
Reproduction in Camelidae.

Sexual activity in Camelidae appears to be acyclic and ovulation is induced by copulation. The duration of sexual activity is variable. When a rutting season exists, it is probably elicited by influences similar to those which induce the advent of oestrus in the female. The pattern of the reproductive cycle appears to relate to the harsh environment in which the camel progenitors evolved. Only calves born in a restricted period of the year had any chance of survival. Selection has, thus, been towards a type of animal with a breeding
Alcoholic macrocytosis–is there a role for acetaldehyde and adducts?

Although alcohol abuse is known to cause a wide array of adverse effects on blood cell formation, the molecular mechanisms by which alcohol exerts its toxic actions have remained poorly defined. Elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV), macrocytosis, is the most typical morphological abnormality induced by excessive ethanol consumption. This paper reviews recent data indicating that acetaldehyde, the first metabolite of ethanol, may play a role in the haematological derangements in peripheral blood cells and in bone marrow of alcoholic patients. Studies in experimental animals and in human alcoholics have shown that acetaldehyde can bind to proteins and cellular constituents forming stable adducts. Elevated adduct levels have been found from the erythrocytes of alcohol abusers, which may also be associated with ethanol‐induced effects in haematopoiesis and adverse consequences in cellular functions.
Development of a fast method for measuring sensitivity to temporal fine structure information at low frequencies

Abstract Recent work suggests that hearing-impaired subjects are relatively insensitive to temporal fine structure (TFS) information, but that sensitivity among subjects varies considerably. 27 developed a fast and easy to administer test of sensitivity to TFS, but it can only be used at medium to high frequencies. Here we describe a binaural method that can be used at lower frequencies. An adaptive two-alternative forced-choice task was used. Each interval contained four tones with frequency f; in one interval all tones were diotic, and in the other tones one and three were diotic while tones two and four had an interaural phase shift, Δϕ. The task was to identify the interval with the phase-shifted tones. For normal-hearing subjects, the effects of sensation level and training on performance were small, and the test could be performed reliably for f = 250, 500, and 750 Hz. Sumario Varios trabajos recientes sugieren que las personas con impedimentos auditivos son relativamente no sensibles a la información temporal de estructura fina (TFS), pero la sensibilidad entre sujetos varía considerablemente. 27 desarrollaron una prueba rápida de sensibilidad TFS fácil de administrar, pero solo puede usarse en las frecuencias medias y altas. Describimos aquí un método binaural que puede usarse en frecuencias graves. Se usó una tarea adaptativa para la selección forzada de dos alternativas. Cada intervalo contenía cuatro tonos con frecuencia f; en un intervalo, todos los tonos fueron dicóticos y con los otros tonos, uno y tres, fueron dicóticos mientras que los tonos dos y cuatro, tuvieron un cambio de fase interaural Δϕ. La tarea fue identificar el intervalo con los tonos que tenían cambio de fase. En los sujetos con audición normal, fueron pequeños los efectos del nivel de sensación y el entrenamiento en el desempeño, y la prueba podría ser realizada confiablemente para f =250, 500 y 750 Hz.
Altered Corneal Nerves in Aqueous Tear Deficiency Viewed by In Vivo Confocal Microscopy

Purpose: To define the alterations of corneal nerves in aqueous tear deficiency dry eye patients with or without Sjögren syndrome and to identify the relationship between the morphologic changes of corneal nerves and the extent of dry eye. Methods: Confocal microscopy was used to examine 38 consecutive aqueous tear deficiency patients (8 Sjögren syndrome and 30 non-Sjögren syndrome) and 30 age- and gender-matched normal controls. Images taken by Confocal2 slit-scanning microscope at subbasal epithelial cell layer of central cornea were analyzed. The number and density of corneal nerves and their size, beads, tortuosity, and branching pattern were compared. These data were correlated with age and the degree of dry eye. Results: Sjögren syndrome patients showed a significant increase in average nerve number and tortuosity as compared with normal controls (P = 0.031 and 0.021, respectively). Severe nerve tortuosity (grade 4) and nerve branching appeared more frequently in aqueous tear deficiency than in normal subjects (P = 0.024 and 0.042, respectively). A decreased nerve number was observed with age in the normal controls (P = 0.002). However, such a correlation did not exist in aqueous tear deficiency. In aqueous tear deficiency, rose bengal staining score correlated positively with nerve density (P = 0.048) and nerve number (P = 0.001). Corneal fluorescein staining score was also positively correlated with nerve number (P = 0.027). Conclusions: Abnormal morphologic changes are observed in aqueous tear deficiency that are more severe in Sjögren syndrome. The distinct changes of corneal nerves include increased nerve number, tortuosity, and chances of branching, suggesting an attempted nerve regeneration. A strong correlation exists between the changes of nerve morphology and the degree of dry eye. These results provide some possible evidence for the abnormal corneal sensation in dry eye.
A Novel Short-Channel Model for Threshold Voltage of Trigate MOSFETs With Localized Trapped Charges

Based on the scaling equation and perimeter-weighted-sum approach, a novel short-channel threshold voltage model for the trigate (TG) MOSFETs with localized interface trapped charges is developed by considering the effects of equivalent oxide charges on the flatband voltage. The model shows how the positive/negative trapped charges, silicon thickness, silicon width, oxide thickness, and normalized damaged zone affect the threshold voltage behavior. The model is verified by the 3-D device simulator “DESSIS” and can be efficiently used to investigate the hot-carrier-induced threshold voltage degradation of the advanced TG charge-trapped memory device.
Flat group delay low pass filters using two CPW topologies

Improved and small flat group delay low pass filters are presented. The design of these filters is based on two CPW stub topologies. The improvement of the flatness group delay is achieved by loading the stub at the appropriate positions. The straight stub filter is realised and measured, and a good agreement is observed. The second topology is based on a reshaped open circuit stub. The optimized structures are well matched beyond the cutoff frequency with a flat group delay.
The effect of stimulus intensity on brain responses evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation

To better understand the neuronal effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we studied how the TMS‐evoked brain responses depend on stimulation intensity. We measured electroencephalographic (EEG) responses to motor‐cortex TMS, estimated the intensity dependence of the overall brain response, and compared it to a theoretical model for the intensity dependence of the TMS‐evoked neuronal activity. Left and right motor cortices of seven volunteers were stimulated at intensities of 60, 80, 100, and 120% of the motor threshold (MT). A figure‐of‐eight coil (diameter of each loop 4 cm) was used for focal stimulation. EEG was recorded with 60 scalp electrodes. The intensity of 60% of MT was sufficient to produce a distinct global mean field amplitude (GMFA) waveform in all subjects. The GMFA, reflecting the overall brain response, was composed of four peaks, appearing at 15 ± 5 msec (Peak I), 44 ± 10 msec (II), 102 ± 18 msec (III), and 185 ± 13 msec (IV). The peak amplitudes depended nonlinearly on intensity. This nonlinearity was most pronounced for Peaks I and II, whose amplitudes appeared to sample the initial part of the sigmoid‐shaped curve modeling the strength of TMS‐evoked neuronal activity. Although the response amplitude increased with stimulus intensity, scalp distributions of the potential were relatively similar for the four intensities. The results imply that TMS is able to evoke measurable brain activity at low stimulus intensities, probably significantly below 60% of MT. The shape of the response‐stimulus intensity curve may be an indicator of the activation state of the brain. Hum. Brain Mapp. 21:154–164, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The tactile hair follicles in the mouse

After investigating the structure of the vibrissae in both normal and hairless mice, we found that the literature contains no good description of their morphology, although there are several extensive papers which deal with the disposition of the nerves (Gegenbaur, 1851 ; Tretjakoff, 'I1 ; Vincent, '13). In this paper we shall be concerned with a clear description of the sinus hairs of the mouse; only brief mention will be made of its innervation.
Health Promotion Practices and Attitudes Among Nurses in Special Education Schools in Greece

Published research concerning health promotion in Greek schools is limited. The aim of the study was to evaluate special education school nurses’ involvement in health promotion activities, examine their attitudes toward it, and to explore the factors influencing their practices. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2005 by mailed questionnaires to all 45 Greek school nurses. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used. The results indicate that 37 (82%) school nurses have had moderate involvement in health promotion programs due to the existing health policies set mainly by the school personnel and the state services. Their attitude toward health promotion was positive and depended on personal health promotion practices and activities and on health policies. Pupils’ participation in health promotion programs changed according to their special health needs. The lack of legislated duties and absence of a specific health promotion programming prevented school nurses from being involved. Children’s special needs inhibited or promoted health promotion activities.
Changing Presentation of Myocardial Infarction With Increasing Old Age

The symptoms associated with acute myocardial infarction in a series of 777 elderly hospitalized patients are reviewed. Their ages ranged from 65 to 100, with a mean of 76.0 years. The spectrum of presentation changed significantly with increasing age. Chest pain or discomfort were less frequently reported, although present in the majority of patients up to 85 years. Syncope, stroke, and acute confusion became more common and were often the sole presenting symptom. Shortness of breath, although the most frequently reported symptom in the absence of chest pain, was equally common at all ages. Thus, in patients aged 85 years or over, “atypical” presentation of myocardial infarction became the rule, and in the very old the clinician must be prepared to screen for the diagnosis in most acutely ill patients.
Intraspecific phylogenetics: support for dental transmission of human immunodeficiency virus

A new method to estimate within-species gene genealogies was used to establish linkages among individuals associated with the Florida dental human immunodeficiency virus transmission case. Phylogenetic relationships were estimated from 103 nucleotide sequences from the V3 region of the env gene representing the Florida dentist, eight of his seropositive patients, and many local controls. The cladogram estimation procedure supports linkages among individuals within the previously described dental clade, whereas local controls and other patients form independent networks or are outliers in the main network, indicating more distant evolutionary relationships. A nested statistical analysis also indicates significant cohesion of the dental clade group.
Cardiac problem diagnosis using SPECT images with statistical neural networks

Electronic medical imaging technologies are growing rapidly and simplifying diagnosis in medical area. The proper use of this technology requires a better understanding, interpretation, and development of new, efficient algorithms. Processing and recognition techniques of patterns related to these medical devices are becoming more important. Among these techniques artificial neural network structures are very promising in the diagnosis decision support mechanisms. In this paper, it is aimed to present the performance of statistical neural network structures on classifying cardiac problems which are obtained from SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) images. Principal component analysis has been used to overcome excessive dimensionality of data. Results show that proper neural network based statistical pattern recognition models will play a fundamental role in medical signal processing and image analysis.
MR imaging of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

PURPOSE To describe the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). MATERIALS AND METHODS MR images obtained in 29 patients who died of CJD (aged 53-77 years at death) were retrospectively reviewed by three neuroradiologists blinded to the diagnosis. RESULTS Moderate to marked bilateral, symmetrically increased signal intensity was demonstrated in the putamen and caudate nucleus on T2- and proton-density-weighted MR images in 23 patients (79%). In six patients (21%), images showed no major signal intensity abnormalities. T1-weighted images revealed no signal intensity abnormalities and no contrast material enhancement. The degree of atrophy in the cortex and basal ganglia corresponded to the time between onset of symptoms and MR imaging. All patients with a disease duration of longer than 4 months had substantial volume loss. CONCLUSION Although approximately 20% of the patients did not have MR imaging abnormalities, MR imaging did show signal intensity alterations due to gliosis and spongiform changes early in the course of CJD in the remaining 80%. The demonstration of bilateral areas of increased signal intensity that predominantly affected the caudate nuclei and the putamina on long-repetition-time MR images in an elderly patient with rapidly progressive dementia represents a specific finding and clearly should suggest the diagnosis of CJD.
Numerical Analysis of the Performance of a Shrouded Vertical-Axis Water Turbine based on the NACA 0025 Blade Profile

This paper presents a numerical analysis of the performance of a five-bladed Darrieus vertical-axis water turbine, based on the NACA 0025 blade profile, for both bare nd shrouded configurations. A complete campaign of 2-D simulati ons, performed for several values of tip speed ratio and based on RANS unsteady calculations, has been performed to obtain the roto r t rque and power curves. Also the effect of a NACA-shaped central hy drofoil has been investigated, with the aim of evaluating the impact of a solid blockage on the performance of the shrouded rotor c onfiguration. The beneficial effect of the shroud on rotor overal l performances has clearly been evidenced, while the adoption of t he central hydrofoil has proved to be detrimental, being the r esulting flow slow down (due to the presence of the obstacle) much hig er with respect to the flow acceleration (due to the solid blockage eff ct). Keywords—CFD, vertical axis water turbine, shroud, NACA 0025