Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of candidate vaccine strategies against Rift Valley Fever virus

Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) is an arthropod-borne bunyavirus that causes a zoonotic disease associated with abortion storms, neonatal mortality in livestock and hemorrhagic fever with a high case/fatality ratio in humans. To date, vaccine developments against RVF have been based on inactivated or attenuated strains but their widespread use has been hampered due to deleterious effects or incomplete protection, justifying further studies to improve the existing vaccines or to develop others. To address this, DNA plasmid and alphavirus replicon vector (VEEV) expressing RVFV Gn glycoprotein were constructed and evaluated for their ability to induce protective immune responses in mice against RVFV. An experimental live-attenuated vaccine (MP12) and its inactivated counterpart (WIV MP12) were developed to serve as benchmarks for comparison. Test vaccine candidates efficiently expressed the RVFV glycoprotein in vitro and elicited anti-RVFV antibody responses in immunized mice, as determined by RVFV specific ELISA, IgG isotype ELISA, and virus neutralization. Interestingly, these vaccine strategies elicited cellular immune responses as determined by Gn specific ELISPOT. More importantly these vaccines not only protected immunized mice from virulent RVFV when challenged via intraperitoneal route, but also conferred protection when challenged via aerosol route. This work is of public health significance as it describes the development of safe and effective vaccine candidates that have the ability to protect both livestock and humans against possible routes of exposure to this zoonotic threat.
Influence of Transplanting Age on Bulb Yield and Yield Components of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

ABSTRACT Optimum age of onion (Allium cepa L.) transplants for use in current and expanding onion-growing areas in Ghana is not well understood. Field studies were conducted at two locations in Ghana during the 1996–97 and 1997–1998 onion growing seasons. Transplants that were 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 or 70 days old, and of uniform size at each age, were used. The effect of transplant age on bulb yield components of onion was determined. The tallest plants were developed from 40-day-old transplants and the shortest were developed from 70-day-old transplants. Harvest index (bulb weight/total biomass weight) of onion decreased significantly as transplant age increased. The heaviest onion bulbs, 57.2 g, were from plants derived from 40-day-old transplants, and the lightest, 26.1 g, were from plants developed from 70-day-old transplants. Plants developed from 20- to 40-day-old transplants produced the highest yields. The results indicate that using 20- to 40-day-old transplants will give optimal bulb yields.
A Review on Multiple Sclerosis: Market, Medications, and Microglia

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the immune-mediated destruction of myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia are unique surveyors of the CNS and serve as first-responders to protect the brain from attack. These cells have multiple phases which can be neuroprotective or neurodestructive in nature, making them an interesting cell to investigate in MS pathogenesis. Renovo Neural, a Cleveland-based contract research organization, is currently validating effective RNA probes for these cell subtypes on the RNAscope® platform, an in situ hybridization assay that allows for identification of an RNA sequence of interest within a fixed tissue or cells. Once able to visualize these distinct subtypes, Renovo will be able to test the effect of drugs that target the microglia populations.
Febrile Convulsions in Children, Arar, Northern Saudi Arabia

Background: Febrile seizure is one of the most common types of seizure in children aged between 5 months and 5 years and accounts for 30% of all childhood seizures, but it is generally considered benign. The objective of the study was to determine the percentage of febrile seizures in Pediatrics Emergency, Maternity and Children's Hospital of Arar City and to study some of the clinical and demographic characteristics of those children. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted during 6 months period, from 1 January to 30 July 2017. All admitted cases (0–12 years) presenting with seizures, both unprovoked and symptomatic (acute and remote), were enrolled. All children 0 to 12 years of age who were hospitalized at the emergency department with seizures were included in this study. Data was recorded in predesigned proforma including age, sex, nature of seizure, fever, history of head trauma, epilepsy, infectious diseases, previous history and family history of seizures and the final diagnosis was fulfilled. Results: Among the studied children presented to the emergency department with attack of convulsions 72.2% of cases had febrile convulsions and 27.8% of cases had convulsions due to other causes. The majority (49.1%) of cases were 1-3 years old. Most (87.7%) of the cases of febrile convulsions had generalized convulsions and in 84.2% it was the first attack but there was a history of repeated attacks in 15.8%. Family history of febrile convulsions was found in 15.8% of the cases. Conclusion: Febrile convulsions was the main etiology of convulsions in children admitted to emergency department of Maternity and Children's Hospital in Arar city. We suggested other researchers to follow the patients to show the recurrence of seizure and the prognosis in them, physical and neurological examinations and good history taking may provide important information for primary emergency physicians when evaluating children with attack of febrile convulsions.
Revision of Lumbrineris de Blainville, 1828 (Polychaeta: Lumbrineridae)

Lumbrineris is restricted and redefined, and species are redescribed based upon type materials. The generic diagnostic features are chaetae of three types: simple and compound multidentate hooded hooks, and limbate chaetae; the maxillary apparatus is labidognath with five pairs of maxillae, maxillae II are as long as maxillae I with wide connecting plate slightly developed along the base of maxillae n. Lumbrineris, as herein redefined includes L. albifrons, L. amboinensis, L. aniara, L. annulata, L. californiensis, L. cingulata, L. coccinea, L. crosnieri sp. nov., L. cruzensis, L. floridana, L. futilis , L. grandis, L. higuchiae sp. nov., L, imajimai sp. nov., L, index, L, indica sp. nov., L. inflata, L. inhacea, L,japonica, L, kerguelensis, L. knoxi sp. nov., L. latreilli, L. limieola, L. magalhaensis, L. mustaquimi sp. nov., L. nasuta, L, nishii sp. nov., L. nonatoi, L, oeulata, L. oxyehaeta, L. pallida, L, paucidentata, L. perkinsi, L. reunionensis sp. nov., L. setosa, L. vanhoeffeni. The taxonomic status of 21 other species originally described as Lumbrineris is discussed. A key to all valid species is included.
Desenvolvimento de insetos em milho armazenado em sistema vedado

An ecological study on the microfauna of insects in stored corn bulks was conducted in closed bins containing damp grain, infested grain, and a control. The aim was to correlate the storage ecosystems represented by the closed bins with the microfauna present. The air-tight bins were sampled only at the beginning (8/21/1991) and at the end the storage period (2/26/1992) in directions North-East (NE), North-West (NO), South-East (SE), South-West (SO), and in the Center, at various depths. Temperatures inside the bins were measured by means of thermocouples; also, grain samples for determination of moisture content were taken at pre-established locations, and, additionally, air relative humidity and temperature were measured to evaluate natural atmospheric conditions. It was concluded that there occurred a succession of insect species. The number of insect species identified were 10, 9 and 11, in the airtight control, damp airtight and infested airtight bin.
Handbook of univariate and multivariate data analysis with IBM SPSS, second edition

Most statistical textbooks are based on theoretical approaches, meaning that the authors use theoretical discussions and/or mathematical concepts to explain data analysis. Using IBM SPSS as the main statistical tool, Ho tries to alleviate the frustration of social sciences students when confronted with data analysis and is more than successful. In addition, this book can be very useful for applied researchers in other disciplines who intend to deal with data. Very efficiently, the author explains how to select and execute appropriate tests, together with interpretation of the relevant SPSS output. The book consists of 19 chapters. Chapters 15–17 deal with different multivariate techniques, while other chapters are dedicated to univariate analysis. Test selection issues and an introduction to SPSS are discussed in Chapters 1 and 2. In the following chapters some basic and advanced statistical techniques are explored (t-test, one way ANOVA, factorial analysis of variance, general linear model, correlation, linear regression, factorial analysis, reliability, and multiple regression). The last chapter deals with nonparametric statistics. To conclude, the reviewer enjoyed reading this book, and I strongly recommend it to both students and researchers who already deal or will deal with data.
Corn

Sweet Corn is a member of the Gramineae (grass family) Zea mays var rugosa is an annual grass which can grow up to 4 meters in height. Male flowers are contained in the tassel and female flowers in rows on a thick cob. Sweet corn is distinguished from other corns by its high sugar content when in the milk and early dough stages and by its wrinkled translucent kernels when dry. It differs genetically by a single recessive gene. Sweet corn cultivars come in 3 colors yellow, white and bicolor. Corn is thought to have originated in Mexico and been domesticated over 5000 years ago. Present day varieties of sweet corn had their introduction around the 1850's in the United States.
Existe relação da via de parto com a amamentação na primeira hora de vida

Objective: To investigate the relation between mode of delivery, sociodemographic factors and breastfeeding. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive study, carried out with mothers of children aged 0 to 2 years seen at health units during a vaccination campaign in a city in the South of Brazil in June 2013. Participants were 905 women, divided into two groups, according to the delivery method: vaginal delivery group (n=334) and Cesarean section group (n=571). They answered a questionnaire comprising sociodemographic information (age, color, schooling, marital status, social class and area of residence) and breastfeeding-related data, such as duration of exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding in the first hour of life, and breastfeeding success. Z-Test was applied for independent samples of parametric variables and Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z-Test was used for non-parametric variables, with significance level at p=0.05. Results: The vaginal delivery group was white (n=210, 62.87%), with a stable union (n=124, 37.13%), elementary school (n=177, 52.99%), social grade C1 (n=114; 34.13%) and resident in the urban area (n=321; 96.11%). C-section group consisted of white women (n=439, 76.88%), married (n=316, 55.34%), high school graduates (n=223, 39.05%), social grade B2 (n=184; 32.22%) and residents in the urban area (n=544, 95.27%). Breastfeeding in the first hour of life predominated in the vaginal delivery group (n=265; 79.34%), with a significant difference (p≤0.001). Conclusion: In the studied group, the mode of delivery was associated to breastfeeding in the first hour of life, and to maternal age, skin color, schooling and social class as well.
Simple components

ABSTRACT Interpretation of principal components is difficult due to their weights (loadings, coefficients) being of various sizes. Whereas very small weights or very large weights can give clear indication of the importance of particular variables, weights that are neither large nor small (‘grey area’ weights) are problematical. This is a particular problem in the fast moving goods industries where a lot of multivariate panel data are collected on products. These panel data are subjected to univariate analyses and multivariate analyses where principal components (PCs) are key to the interpretation of the data. Several authors have suggested alternatives to PCs, seeking simplified components such as sparse PCs. Here components, termed simple components (SCs), are sought in conjunction with Thurstonian criteria that a component should have only a few variables highly weighted on it and each variable should be weighted heavily on just a few components. An algorithm is presented that finds SCs efficiently. Simple components are found for panel data consisting of the responses to a questionnaire on efficacy and other features of deodorants. It is shown that five SCs can explain an amount of variation within the data comparable to that explained by the PCs, but with easier interpretation.
A cross sectional study on knowledge and attitude level of patients demanding implants in Isfahan, Iran, 2016

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Information gathered from patients about dental implants is often incomplete and scattered. The aim of the present study was to measure the level of this information and the attitudes of patients seeking dental implants.METHODS: In the present cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study, 248 people were employed. To discover the level of knowledge and attitudes in dental implants a questionnaire was distributed amongst the participants. Data were collected from people seeking implants in dental colleges and implant dental clinics in Isfahan, Iran. Analyses of the patients' answers in the questionnaire was carried out using SPSS software with t-test, Spearman's rho correlation coefficient, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The mean score of knowledge was 5.3 ± 2.1 (from maximum 12). The average of attitude questions in Likert scale reached to 25.84 ± 3.38 (from maximum 35), and in questions with numerical linear scale it was 21.44 ± 5.38 (from maximum 25). The source of information on dental implants for most of the patients was their dentists. The level of knowledge increased with higher level of education and also with better economic status. The attitude of patients about this method of tooth replacement was also more positive amongst ones with better economic situation.CONCLUSION: The results of the present study demonstrated that the knowledge of patients about dental implants is moderate, and there is a positive attitude toward this treatment method.
ACTINOBACTERIA ISOLATES FROM TIN TAILINGS AND FOREST SOIL FOR BIOREMEDIATION OF HEAVY METALS

HEMA TG, GETHA K, TAN GYA, LILI SAHIRA H, MUHD SYAMIL A & NUR FAIRUZ MY. 2014. Actinobacteria isolates from tin tailings and forest soil for bioremediation of heavy metals. The aim of this study was to screen actinobacteria isolated from Bidor tin tailings for heavy metal tolerance as an early exploration into their bioremediation capabilities. As a comparison, isolates from forest soil in Pasoh were also studied for heavy metal tolerance. At the highest test concentration, rapid metal tolerance screening showed that the numbers of Hg2+, Cd2+ and Cu2+ tolerant isolates were less than 7% of the total isolates screened for both sites. More than 10% of total isolates screened from both sites showed tolerance to Pb2+, As3+ and Zn2+. The number of Ni2+ tolerant isolates was significantly higher for Bidor (12.6%) compared with Pasoh (6.6%). Metal toxicity assay carried out on tolerant isolates from Bidor showed that the final metal concentrations supporting actinobacteria growth were 138.9 mmol L-1 for Ni2+, 43.2 mmol L-1 for Pb2+, 21.8 mmol L-1 for Cd2+, 0.8 mmol L-1 for Hg2+, 182 mmol L-1 for As3+ and 14.1 mmol L-1 for Cu2+. For Pasoh isolates, tolerance was observed at 21.8 mmol L-1 for Cd2+ and 182 mmol L-1 for As3+. Compared with rapid metal tolerance screening, metal toxicity assay clearly showed that metal tolerant isolates from Bidor were capable of tolerating heavy metals at a higher concentration compared with Pasoh isolates. Isolates TY046021 and TY046-078, which showed multimetal tolerance to As3+, Pb2+ and Ni2+ and TY046-017, the only Hg2+ tolerant isolate from Bidor, should be further studied for heavy metal uptake and removal.
Atypical Gender Development–A Review

ABSTRACT In 2003, the Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) ran a small symposium in London, assisted by a Trans Group, founded in 1993, with the aim of moving transsexualism from its current categorisation, in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10), as a psychiatric disorder. GIRES was awarded additional funding for this project from the King's Fund-an eminent charity providing funds for medical and scientific work. The members of the symposium included physicians and specialists in the different areas pertinent to the understanding and the treatment of transsexualism, and also the Member of Parliament who chairs the Parliamentary Forum for Transsexualism. Transsexual people were represented within this group. Members came from the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Belgium, Japan and the United States of America. Professor Milton Diamond (USA) chaired the group who collaborated in producing the following paper. The team endeavoured to provide a balanced and comprehensive review of what is currently understood, in the scientific field, regarding atypical gender development and transsexualism.
Who is saving privately for retirement and how much? New evidence for Germany

Abstract Due to demographic change, the replacement rates of the German statutory pension scheme will decrease over the next decades. Voluntary savings for retirement will therefore increase in relevance as a method of maintaining one’s standard of living during retirement. This article examines the savings behavior for retirement on an individual level in Germany at the extensive as well as the intensive margin. First, the decision to save in general is analyzed, showing that the main determinants for saving are personal income and disposable household income. Furthermore, it is shown that migrants and individuals living in the Eastern part of Germany turn out to be less likely to have additional private savings. Second, the chosen gross saving rates are analyzed using a Tobit model, a log-normal hurdle model and a Type II Tobit model. The results suggest that the decision to save in general, as well as the saving rate, are independent of each other, leading to a loss of information if only a standard Tobit model is used. For example, higher personal income increases the probability to save for retirement, but decreases the resulting saving rate. Modeling both decisions separately thus, leads to a better understanding of the determinants of saving for old-age.
A tale of two Ginis in the US, 1921–2012

Abstract Following a methodology by Jantzen and Volpert (2012), we use IRS Adjusted Gross Income data for the US (1921–2012) to estimate two Gini indices representing inequality at the bottom and the top of the income distribution, and to calculate the overall Gini as a function of the parameters underlying the two indices. A steady increase in the overall Gini since the Second World War actually hides two different periods of distributional changes. First, the increase in inequality from the mid 1940s to the late 1970s is driven by rising inequality at the bottom of the income distribution that more than offsets a decrease in inequality at the top. The implication is that middle-income earners gained relative to high-incomes, and especially relative to low-income earners. Second, the rise in the Gini after 1981 is driven by rising inequality at the top. Third, top-driven inequality follows a U-shaped trajectory consistent with Piketty and Saez (2003, 2006). Fourth, the welfare effects of the different distributional changes behind increasing inequality can be evaluated in light of the Lorenz-dominance criterion by Atkinson (1970): we argue that the rise in inequality since 1981 is much more likely to be associated with a social welfare loss net of compensating growth.
Developing a new post‐liberal paradigm for British religious education 1

The aim of this paper is to articulate a new ‘post‐liberal’ paradigm for religious education in Britain. As criticisms of British religious education have mounted over the last few decades, it is becoming increasingly obvious that familiar inherited ways of conceptualising the nature and practice of religious education in schools are inappropriate to contemporary educational needs. A new model is required to structure, justify and direct learning and teaching in religious education. This paper reviews the commitments, assumptions and beliefs that together constitute the current ruling ‘liberal’ paradigm, identifies and exposes its weakness and concludes by providing a tentative first draft of a new ‘post‐liberal’ paradigm for religious education, which holds more promise of realising socially positive educational aims than the current paradigm.
Cardiovascular effects of mannitol infusion: a comparison study performed on mouse and human

Monitoring blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening is of great interest in terms of brain drug delivery in the treatment of brain lymphoma and maybe in the future in other diseases like dementia. A method involving BBB disruption (BBBD) by mannitol infusion has been developed in University of Portland, USA, and then exploited in Oulu University Hospital in treatment of primary CSN lymphoma. Proper opening of the BBB is crucial for the treatment, yet there are no methods available for its real-time clinical monitoring. Recently, we presented a combined method using direct-current electroencephalography (DC-EEG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for monitoring BBBD in human. Carotid artery mannitol infusion generated a strongly lateralized DC-EEG response and in NIRS a prolonged increase in the oxy/deoxyhemoglobin ratio. This study explores further BBBD, by focusing on monitoring its cardiovascular effects, when measured in human and mouse. For this, we used photoplethysmography (PPG) and opto-electro-mechanical sensors to gather the signals in human and mouse. Mannitol infusion in human causes strong fluctuations in blood pressure, heart rate and PPG signals, and here we discuss how the acquired signals in mouse model compares to human data. In addition, we present our scale-free monitoring concept that enables monitoring physiological signals similarly when performing experiments in mouse and human neuroimaging setups. By combining microscopic and macroscopic imaging in mouse setup enables us to study correlations between mechanistic cellular data and clinical functional data. Further, this allows us to validate and optimize macroscopic sensing and imaging techniques aimed to be used in human imaging.