Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local variation in endoparasite intensities of bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) from ecologically similar sites: morphometric and endocrine correlates

Abstract Much interest has centred recently on the role of adaptive trade-offs between the immune system and other components of life history in determining resistance and parasite intensities among hosts. Steroid hormones, particularly glucocorticoids and sex steroids, provide a plausible mechanism for mediating such trade-offs. A basic assumption behind the hypothesis, however, is that steroid activity will generally correlate with reduced resistance and thus greater parasite intensities. Here, we present some findings from a field study of bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in which we have looked at associations between parasite intensities, anatomical and morphometric measures relating to endocrine function and life history variation in three local populations inhabiting similar but mutually isolated woodland habitats. In general, sites with greater parasite intensities were those in which male C. glareolus had significantly larger adrenal glands, testes and seminal vesicles for their age and body size. Females also showed a site difference in adrenal gland weight. Some aspects of site-related parasite intensity were associated with asymmetry in adrenal gland weight and hind foot length, which may have reflected developmental effects on glucocorticoid activity.
KETOCONAZOLE IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY

Purpose: To determine the effect of an adrenocorticoid antagonist (ketoconazole) in the treatment of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods: Ketoconazole was given at an oral dose of 600 mg per day for 4 weeks. Laboratory monitoring included 24-hour urinary cortisol and liver function tests at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Changes in greatest linear dimension were followed with fluorescein angiography at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Posterior pole anatomy was assessed with optical coherence tomography at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Ophthalmic examination and best-corrected visual acuity were assessed at each interval visit. Results: Median visual acuity in the study eye remained stable at 20/40 throughout the 8-week follow-up. Median lesion height and greatest linear dimension were stable at 4 weeks and decreased at 8 weeks. Conclusion: Ketoconazole lowered endogenous cortisol after 4 weeks of 600 mg daily. While median visual acuity, lesion height, and greatest linear dimension remained unchanged during the month of drug treatment, there may have been a delayed therapeutic response seen at 8 weeks.
Ferroelectric properties of polymeric bilayer systems

Bilayers of VDF-TrFE ferroelectric copolymer thin films have been characterised in terms of polarisation behaviour and dielectric nonlinearities. The effective properties of the ferroelectric bilayers have been investigated and compared with those of the individual layers in the stack. It has been demonstrated that the effective permittivity of the bilayer is not fully described by a simple series model. The remanent polarisation Pr in the bilayer shows essentially a linear decrease with temperature and reaches zero at around 120 ° C, i.e. above the Curie temperatures of the two copolymers involved. The two observations are attributed to electric bias fields in the bilayer which cause a coupling between the two layers and lead to a temperature dependence of the polarisation which is phenomenologically similar to observations in superlattices.
Investigational treatments for multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma remains a fatal neoplasm and new treatments are urgently needed. In recent years, advances in understanding the molecular pathophysiology of myeloma and the mechanisms of drug resistance led to the development of several novel agents. The drugs with the most available clinical data are thalidomide, bortezomib and lenalidomide. Impressive results obtained with these agents – both in relapsed disease and in newly diagnosed patients – have significantly improved the outcome of myeloma patients. Several other new targeted agents are presently under investigation. These include monoclonal antibodies, agents that target mammalian target of rapamycin, histone acetylation, heat-shock proteins, growth factor signalling cascades, oncogenes, signal transducer and activators of the transcription pathway, Akt pathway and MAPK pathway. Their mechanisms of action, the available knowledge on their efficacy, safety and possible future clinical application are reviewed.
Influence of body mass index and antibiotic dose on the risk of surgical site infections in pediatric clean orthopedic surgery.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate body mass index (BMI) and antimicrobial dose as risk factors for surgical site infections in pediatric patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Children between 2 and 19 years of age undergoing clean orthopedic procedures and receiving at least one dose of perioperative antibiotics (cefazolin, vancomycin, or clindamycin) were studied. The retrospective case-controlled study was conducted at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, a 180-bed tertiary-care academic pediatric hospital in Wilmington, DE. Data were collected from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2005. RESULTS Underweight children had a higher risk for SSIs than overweight and normal-weight children. American Society of Anesthesiologists classes II and greater were associated with a greater risk of SSI. Longer procedures were also associated with a higher risk of SSI, specifically, duration of surgery >2 h. Children weighing ≥70 kg who received a standard dose of cefazolin (maximum of 1 g) had a higher risk of SSI caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). CONCLUSIONS Being underweight and undergoing an operation lasting >2 h created significant risks for SSI. Children weighing ≥70 kg receiving a standard 1-g dose of cefazolin had a greater risk of MSSA SSIs than children weighing <70 kg who received an appropriate weight-based dose of this antibiotic.
Student Attendance Management System with Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon and Android Devices

An attendance management system is developed such that the students present in the class can register their attendance by scanning their student ID cards over not only the teacher's terminal device but also their own personal Android devices. This system solves the problem with the conventional system that it took a long time for all the students to scan their cards by a single terminal device. In order to spoil cheating students who try to resister their attendance illegally from outside the classroom, we employ a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacon device to transmit a magic number necessary for proper registration within the classroom.
Organization and efferent connections of the archistriatum of the mallard, Anas platyrhynchos L.: An anterograde and retrograde tracing study

The intratelencephalic and descending connections of the archistriatum of the mallard were studied using anterograde and retrograde tracers. Autoradiography after injections of [3H]‐leucine served to visualize the intratelencephalic and extratelencephalic efferent connections of the archistriatum. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), HRP–wheatgerm agglutinin, and fluorescent tracers were used to identify the precise origin of the projections to the various terminal fields found in the anterograde experiments. Four main regions can be recognized in the archistriatum of the mallard: (1) the rostral or anterior part that is a source of contralateral intratelencephalic projections, in particular to the contralateral archistriatum; (2) the dorsal intermediate archistriatum that is the origin of a large descending fiber system, the occipitomesencephalic tract, with projections to dorsal thalamic nuclei, the medial spiriform nucleus, the intercollicular nucleus, the deep tectum, parts of the mesencephalic and bulbar reticular formation, and the subnuclei of the descending trigeminal tract. There are no direct projections to motor nuclei. This part corresponds to the somatic sensorimotor part as defined by Zeier and Karten (1971, Brain Res. 31:313–326); it also contributes to the ipsilateral intratelencephalic connections and, to a lesser degree, to contralateral intratelencephalic connections. (3) The ventral intermediate archistriatum is another region that is also a source of intratelencephalic projections, in particular of those to the lobus parolfactorius. The most lateral zone sends fibers to the septal area. (4) The caudoventral intermediate and posterior archistriatum is another region that is a source of the projections to the hypothalamus and thus corresponds to the amygdaloid part of the archistriatum as defined by Zeier and Karten; it also contributes a modest component to the occipitomesencephalic tract. The different cell populations are not spatially separated, which makes it impossible to recognize distinct subnuclei within the four main regions of the archistriatum of the mallard. J. Comp. Neurol. 388:632–657, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Disaggregating input–output tables in time: the temporal input–output framework

ABSTRACT The input–output framework has evolved dramatically since its initial formulation. New analytical techniques and extensions have allowed a more comprehensive assessment of the economy and expanded its applicability. Nonetheless, the core of the framework has remained unchanged: an annually compiled input–output table, which conveys monetary flows between sectors in a region in a particular year. Hence, the technical coefficients derived from it are ‘average’ input compositions, neglecting fluctuations in production capacity, seasonality and temporal shocks within that period. This paper develops a consistent methodology to disaggregate the annual input–output table in its time dimension in order to estimate intra-year input–output matrices with distinct technical structures for a particular year. The main advantages in relation to the annual model are to allow seasonal effects to be studied within the input–output framework, to better understand the process of coefficient change and to offer a more comprehensive dynamic view of production.
Employee–organization exchange and employee creativity: a motivational perspective

Abstract A critical omission in employee creativity literature is lack of a clear understanding of why and how employee–organization exchange (EOX) affects employee creativity. We collected three-phrase data from 384 employees working with 64 supervisors in Guangdong Province, China. Results of Mplus (using design-based modeling approach) suggest that (i) need satisfaction mediates the EOX-creativity relationship, (ii) leader-member exchange (LMX) enhances the positive EOX-need satisfaction relationship, (iii) creative self-efficacy (CSE) neutralizes the positive need satisfaction-creativity relationship, and (iv) the indirect effect of EOX on creativity via need satisfaction is stronger for employees with high quality LMX and with low CSE. Using inducement-contribution framework, the study integrates social exchange and self-determination theories to explicate the mediating role of need satisfaction in the EOX-creativity relationship. Further, the study contributes to the understanding of the EOX-creativity relationship by examining the boundary conditions of LMX (as a synergistic enhancer) in the first stage and CSE (as a neutralizer that diminishes gains) in the second stage of indirect effect.
Analisis Peran Pemerintah Desa dalam Penyusunan Anggaran Dana Desa untuk Pengembangan Program Kesehatan di Posyandu Kecamatan Srengat Kabupaten Blitar

Since 2015 source of village income increased, it was because getting allocations from the central government called (the village fund). However, the budgetary funds provided for Posyandu as one of the basic services in the village center was still low, while there are many health problems that occur. This is possible because of the lack of concern for the government in improving the utilization of the village fund for Posyandu. This study aims to determined the government’s role in the preparation of the budget for the development of health programs in the Posyandu. This study used a qualitative method by which data were obtained from 4 (four)- depth interviews with the village chief. The results showed that interpersonal’s role in participation and evaluation budgetary had not been good. This is indicated by the exclusion of Posyandu cadres in the preparation of the budget in one of the villages and the lack of coordination in evaluating the budget in several villages. The village chief related to informational’s role in the preparation of the budget was also not optimal, it was indicated by the complaints of cadres in Posyandu who felt the village chief did not find out about the clarity of targets, difficulty of targets, and evaluation of the existing budget in Posyandu. In a decisional’s role was also not going optimally, as indicated by the complains of the secretary of the village who said in decision-making related to difficulty of targets and evaluation of budgets submitted to him. Where the village chief should also be required to had decision making skills in solving problems that exist within the organization he leads. This is expected village chief can improve coordination and good communication both with the village secretary and cadres in order to avoid misunderstandings and differences of perception related to the budget given to Posyandu .
Tonotopic organization, architectonic fields, and connections of auditory cortex in macaque monkeys

Microelectrode recordings were used to investigate the tonotopic organization of auditory cortex of macaque monkeys and guide the placement of injections of wheat germ agglutininhorse radish peroxidase (WGA‐HRP) and fluorescent dyes. Anatomical and physiological results were later related to histological distinctions in the same brains after sections were processed for cytoarchitecture, myeloarchitecture, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), or cytochrome oxidase (CO). The experiments produced serveral major findings. (1) Neurons throughout a broad expanse of cortex were highly responsive to pure tones, and best frequencies could be determined for neurons in arrays of recording sites. (2) The microelectrode recordings revealed two systematic representations of tone frequencies, the primary area (AI) and a primary‐like rostral field (R) as previously described. The representation of high to low frequency tones in A1 was largely caudorostral along the plane of the sulcus. A reversal of the order of representation of frequencies occurred in R. (3) AI and R together were coextensive with a koniocellular, densely myelinated zone that expressed high levels of AchE and CO. These architectonic features were somewhat less pronounced in R than AI, but a clear border between the two areas was not apparent. (4) Cortex bordering AI and R was less responsive to tones, but when best frequencies for neurons could be determined, they matched those for adjoining parts of AI and R. (5) Architectonically distinct regions were apparent within some of the cortex bordering AI and R. (6) The major ipsilateral cortical connections of AI were with R and cortex immediately lateral and medial to AI. (7) Callosal connections of AI were predominately with matched locations in the opposite AI, but they also included adjoining fields. (8) Neurons in the ventral (MGV), medial (MGM), and dorsal (MGD) nuclei of the medial geniculate complex projected to AI and cortex lateral to AI. (9) Injections in cortex responsive to high frequency tones labeled more dorsal parts of MGV than injections in cortex responsive to low frequency tones. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Children's symptoms in the wake of Challenger: a field study of distant-traumatic effects and an outline of related conditions.

OBJECTIVE The Challenger space shuttle explosion in January 1986 offered an opportunity to determine what, if any, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bereavement normal latency-age children and adolescents would develop after a distant, horrifying event. METHOD With a structured interview, the authors assessed the symptoms of 153 randomly selected children from Concord, N.H. , and Porterville, Calif. Responses were statistically compared between East Coast children, who saw the event on television and who generally cared more about the teacher aboard Challenger, and West Coast children, who heard about it first; between latency-age children and adolescents; and between children seen 5-7 weeks later and those same children seen 14 months later. RESULTS More than 60% of the subjects feared at least one stimulus related to Challenger within the first 5-7 weeks of the explosion. The East Coast and latency-age groups appeared significantly more symptomatic than did the West Coast and adolescent groups. Over the 14-month study period, most symptoms dramatically faded. However, adolescents' diminished expectations for the future in general increased, and latency-age children's changed approach to space careers held relatively steady. Three East Coast latency-age children met the DSM-III-R symptom requirements for PTSD in 1986; no children met these in 1987. CONCLUSIONS Children's symptomatic patterns after Challenger relate to the patterns for PTSD listed in diagnostic manuals and to three symptoms not in the DSM-IV list. To the authors, distant traumas appear to be one of a newly defined spectrum of trauma-related conditions that include relatively evanescent symptoms and a few longer-lasting ones. These symptoms may affect large numbers of normal children.
Spiral of Silence Theory

Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann’s name is closely connected to the “spiral of silence” – a theory that reverberated far beyond the scientific community.1) Anchored in social psychology, the theory explains how sways in public opinion may come about, especially in morally and emotionally laden debates. Possibly because Noelle-Neumann’s assumptions about the social influences on human behavior are controversial and contradict widely held views of the rational, autonomous individual, the spiral of silence counts among the most cited and replicated theories in social sciences.2)
Convergent evolution and orphan genes in the Fur4p‐like family and characterization of a general nucleoside transporter in Aspergillus nidulans

The function of seven paralogues phylogenetically related to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fur4p together with a number of functionally related transporters present in Aspergillus nidulans has been investigated. After deletion of the cognate genes we checked the incorporation of radiolabelled substrates, utilization of nitrogen sources, resistance to toxic analogues and supplementation of auxotrophies. FurA and FurD encode allantoin and uracil transporters respectively. No function was found for FurB, FurC, FurE, FurF and FurG. As we failed to identify Fur‐related transporters for uridine, pyridoxine or thiamine, we deleted other possible candidates for these functions. A FCY2‐like gene carrying in its 5′ UTR a putative thiamine pyrophosphate riboswitch, and which encodes a protein similar to the pyridoxine transporter of yeast (Tpn1p), does not encode either a major thiamine or a pyridoxine transporter. CntA, a member of the concentrative nucleoside transporter family, is a general nucleoside permease, while no function was found for PnpA, a member of the equilibrative transporter family. Phylogenetic analysis shows that within the ascomycetes, the same transport activity could be catalysed by totally unrelated proteins and that within the Fur subfamily convergent evolution towards uracil and allantoin transport activity has occurred at least three and two independent times respectively.
The 'Golden Keys' to health - a healthy lifestyle intervention with randomized individual mentorship for overweight and obesity in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To conduct a pilot study designed to measure the impact of a healthy lifestyle intervention with or without individualized mentorship on adiposity, metabolic profile, nutrition and physical activity in overweight teens. METHODS A total of 38 overweight adolescents (body mass index above the 85th percentile) 12 to 16 years of age, who were enrolled in a healthy lifestyle intervention program for six months, were randomly assigned to a nonmentored or individualized mentored intervention. RESULTS For the entire cohort (final n=32), there was a nonstatistically significant reduction in mean (± SD) body mass index z score (2.08±0.38 to 2.01±0.47, P=0.07) and waist circumference (98±10 cm to 96±11 cm, P=0.08), and significant improvements in high-density lipoprotein level (1.08±0.24 mmol/L to 1.20±0.26 mmol/L, P<0.001), and low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio (2.55±0.84 to 2.26±0.87, P<0.001) from baseline to the end of the intervention. Subjects consumed fewer high-calorie foods (3.9±1.9 to 3.0±1.5 servings/day, P=0.01) and snacks (9.7±5.5 to 6.8±4.0 servings/day, P=0.02), made fewer fast food restaurant visits (1.4±1.3 to 0.8±0.9 visits/week, P=0.02), and had less screen time (8.3±3.8 to 6.9±3.6 h/day, P=0.01). In addition, mentorship was found to be a feasible approach to supporting weight management in obese teens. Our study was underpowered to determine treatment effect, but promising modifications to lifestyle were observed despite the absence of statistically significant improvements in outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The healthy lifestyle intervention improved subjects' lifestyles and lipid profiles, and the addition of mentorship in this context is feasible. A larger study with a longer intervention time is required to determine whether behavioural changes are associated with clinical improvement and to determine the role of mentorship in promoting lifestyle change.
A Factor Portfolio Asset Pricing Model Based on the Optimal Distribution of Risk and Return

After analyzing the relationship and risk type of factors, this paper proposes a new factor pricing model consisting of factor portfolios derived from the optimal distribution of risk and return. The new factor model outperforms the Sharp-Lintner (1964, 1965) CAPM, the Fama-French (1993) three-factor model, the Carhart (1997) four-factor model, the Hou-Xue-Zhang (2015) four-factor model and the Fama-French (2015, 2016) five-factor model in 16 of the 17 mimicking pricing portfolios. So far portfolios used for tests are limited and there are no studies investigating robustness of the models. To solve this problem, we propose using time-series simulation tests and anomaly portfolio reconstruction tests to conduct the robustness tests and GRS tests. The empirical results confirm our new factor models are more robust and has higher pricing power than others. The research of this paper is helpful to expand the modern financial pricing theory, and has a certain reference value for financial practice.