Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Telomere Length in Age-Matched Primiparous and Multiparous Brahman Cows

Simple Summary The productive longevity of cattle is a difficult trait to quantify, but it is believed to be influenced by genetic factors, which, in turn, may be influenced by environmental stressors. One potential biological marker for cow longevity is the length of the telomere (TL), which is the highly plastic nucleic sequence responsible for protecting the chromosomes’ integrity. Stressors negatively affect the TL in many vertebrate species. Stressors are encountered in all segments of beef production, from breeding and calf production through the finishing phase. We assessed whether the number of parities, duration of labor, and raising a calf were related to the TL in age-matched Brahman females that were pregnant for the first or second time. The parity was negatively associated with peripheral blood leukocyte TL in Brahman cows. In addition to its appeal as a selection criterion for longevity, the TL may be an indicator of welfare due to its susceptibility to stress. The mechanisms subserving the bovine telomere dynamics between birth and culling (or survival) constitute a worthy topic for further exploration, particularly in consideration of stressors that are associated with a changing climate. Abstract Physiological and psychological stressors have been associated with the attrition of telomeres, which are the protective caps of chromosomes. This study compares the telomere length (TL) in 4-year-old Brahman cows grouped by the first parity (n = 8) and the second parity (n = 11). The cows were bled via jugular venipuncture, weighed, and had their body condition scores recorded at Day −28 prior to calving and at Day + 7 and Day + 28 post-calving. The duration of labor (Dlabor) and parturition ease were recorded. The peripheral leukocytes were isolated, the leukocyte blood count with differential was recorded, and the genomic DNA was extracted. The relative quantity of telomere products, which is proportional to the average TL, was determined via multiplex quantitative PCR using the ratio (T/S ratio) of bovine telomere and β-globulin DNA. Standards of the bovine telomere (1012–107 dilution series) and β-globulin (109–104 dilution series) genes were utilized to produce relative copy numbers. The samples were assayed in triplicate and were included if the triplicate Cq difference was less than 0.25 cycles. The parity was the fixed effect, and the random effects included the sire and day repeated with the cow as the subject. Statistical significance was not observed in the leukocyte number or type (p > 0.1). A reduction in the TL of approximately 9225 telomeric copies was found between Parity 1 and Parity 2 (p = 0.02). A trend was found between the TL and Dlabor (p = 0.06). The stress of parturition and raising the first calf of a cow’s life may be responsible for TL attenuation. Parity may be considered a stressor of cow longevity.
Redundant Trojan horse and endothelial-circulatory mechanisms for host-mediated spread of Candida albicans yeast

The host innate immune system has developed elegant processes for the detection and clearance of invasive fungal pathogens. These strategies may also aid in the spread of pathogens in vivo, although technical limitations have previously hindered our ability to view the host innate immune and endothelial cells to probe their roles in spreading disease. Here, we have leveraged zebrafish larvae as a model to view the interactions of these host processes with the fungal pathogen Candida albicans in vivo. We examined three potential host-mediated mechanisms of fungal spread: movement inside phagocytes in a “Trojan Horse” mechanism, inflammation-assisted spread, and endothelial barrier passage. Utilizing both chemical and genetic tools, we systematically tested the loss of neutrophils and macrophages and the loss of blood flow on yeast cell spread. Both neutrophils and macrophages respond to yeast-locked and wild type C. albicans in our model and time-lapse imaging revealed that macrophages can support yeast spread in a “Trojan Horse” mechanism. Surprisingly, loss of immune cells or inflammation does not alter dissemination dynamics. On the other hand, when blood flow is blocked, yeast can cross into blood vessels but they are limited in how far they travel. Blockade of both phagocytes and circulation reduces rates of dissemination and significantly limits fungal spread distance from the infection site. Together, this data suggests a redundant two-step process whereby (1) yeast cross the endothelium inside phagocytes or via direct uptake, and then (2) they utilize blood flow or phagocytes to travel to distant sites. Author summary Although Candida albicans is the most common cause of fungal bloodstream infection, we know little about how it spreads from one tissue to another. Host processes often inadvertently assist pathogens that can hijack immune cells or induce endothelial endocytosis. Here we have used transparent zebrafish to visualize how specific host cells and processes contribute to yeast spread in vivo. We find that Candida is a sophisticated pathogen that uses redundant strategies to disseminate in the host: it can either use host immune cells or cross into the circulatory system and use blood flow. These data suggest that both of these mechanisms must be targeted to limit Candida dissemination during infection.
A study on surgical complications of peptic ulcer disease: a prospective study at a tertiary care center

The history of management of peptic ulcer disease is one of the great stories in the history of general surgery. Medical therapy cures peptic ulcer in the vast majority of cases, therefore in many areas of the world elective surgery for peptic ulcer disease has almost but disappeared. Currently, up to 90% of all ulcer operations are interventions for complications, including hemorrhage, perforation and gastric outlet obstruction. However, the absolute number of elective procedures performed has significantly diminished in recent years. Some believe that the need for emergency surgery has not reduced, probably because of the increasing incidence of NSAID'S associated complications.
The entropy wave generation in a heated one-dimensional duct

This paper presents a theoretical analysis on entropy wave generation in a heated one-dimensional duct, which is a simple thermoacoustic model of a combustor. Following a new observation that an entropy wave is caused by the fluctuations of heat/flow power ratio, the entropy transport equation is analytically solved for a heat input uniformly distributed over an acoustically compact zone. Investigating transfer functions from heat and acoustic fluctuations to the entropy wave, we obtain a deeper understanding on the low-pass filtering property of entropy waves with a closed-form expression of the entropic cutoff frequency. A theoretical explanation on why a thinner flame generally results in a stronger entropy wave is also given. These findings are extended to a general flame distribution from a temporal-spatial filtering interpretation of the entropy transport equation. Furthermore, the thin flame limits of our entropy wave models are compared with a popular entropy model based on the thin flame assumption and jump conditions. A numerical example supporting our theoretical findings is also presented.
The Microbiologic Pattern in Pediatric Cancer Patients with Febrile Neutropenia and Bacteremia: A Referral Hospital-Based Study in Northwest of Iran

Background: Neutropenia is a side eﬀect of chemotherapy in children with cancer, among which, bacteremia is the most com-monlydocumentedinfection. Microbiologicalpatternof organismscausingbacteremiadiﬀersfromonemedicalcentertoanother. Due to the lack of comprehensive studies in Iran on bacteremia and resistance pattern of involved bacteria in febrile neutropenic childrenwithmalignancy,thisstudyintendedtoinvestigatebacterialfactors,andtheirantibioticsusceptibilityandresistancepat-terns in these children. Methods: In a retrospective study in the Children’s hospital of Tabriz from October 2007 to October 2013, medical records of 96 children hospitalized for malignancy with febrile neutropenia and positive blood culture, were reviewed on account of isolated bacteria, and their antimicrobial susceptibility or resistance. Results: Themeanageof thepatientswas4.96 ± 3.08years,and52.1% (50children)of themwerefemale. Themajorityof malignant cases were hematologic with a prevalence of 60.4%, consisting of 35.4% Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), 15.6% Acute Myeloid Leukemia(AML),and10.4% neuroblastoma. Amongtheisolatedorganismsfrombloodculture,67.7% and32.3% wereGram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (28.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (24%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.4%)werethemostcommonisolatedorganisms. Therateof antibioticsusceptibilityforGram-negativeorganismstoampi-cillin, gentamicin, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, amikacin, imipenem, and ciproﬂoxacin were 61.5%, 66.7%, 37.9%, 16%, 61.5%, 85.2%, and 93.3%, respectively. In addition, 88% of coagulase-negative staphylococci and 77.3% of S. aureus isolates were oxacillin resistant. All cases of S. pneumoniae and Viridans streptococcus , and 50% of non-group A, B or D streptococci were penicillin resistant. Conclusions: The maximum bacterial resistance was observed against older antibiotics. High rate of antibiotic resistance in most organisms, especially coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus , is a serious warning to promote the proper use of new antibiotics in empiric and prophylactic therapies.
Differences between decisions made using verbal or numerical quantifiers

Abstract Past research suggests that people process verbal quantifiers differently from numerical ones, but this suggestion has yet to be formally tested. Drawing from traditional correlates of dual-process theories, we investigated whether people process verbal quantifiers faster, less accurately, and with less subjective effort than numerical quantifiers. In two pre-registered experiments, participants decided whether a quantity (either verbal or numerical) of a nutrient, summed with a pictorial quantity, exceeded a recommended total. The verbal quantifiers were matched to average numerical translations (Experiment 1) as well as translations from participants themselves (Experiment 2). Across experiments, participants did not answer faster or find verbal quantifiers less effortful than numerical ones, but they made less accurate decisions on average with verbal quantifiers because they used more context-based decision shortcuts (e.g., ‘minerals are healthy’). Our findings suggest that it is how much people rely on context that distinguishes their decisions with verbal and numerical quantifiers.
A Novel Finite-Control-Set Model Predictive Current Control for Five-Phase PM Motor With Continued Modulation

The conventional five-phase finite-control-set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) suffers from heavy computational burden. Meanwhile, the control set with finite vectors inevitably leads to deteriorated operation performance. This article proposes a novel FCS model predictive current control (MPCC) with continued modulation. A cascaded optimization procedure is proposed, which includes main virtual voltage vector (VV) selection, determination of optimal combination of adjacent two VVs, and amplitude optimization. In this cascaded optimization procedure, the phase angle and the amplitude of the synthesized vector can be obtained in different steps. Also, there are two duty cycles calculated in different steps independently, which avoid overflow. By using this cascaded procedure, the continued modulation can be realized without using a modulator. Meanwhile, a vector selection method is introduced to reduce computational burden. This vector selection method avoids evaluation of all the candidate vectors without any negative effects. Moreover, the merits of conventional FCS-MPCC can be preserved. The experimental results verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed FCS-MPCC method.
The role of associative ionization reactions in the memory effect of atmospheric pressure Townsend discharges in N2 with a small O2 addition

In this work, we investigate the role played by associative ionization reactions in the memory effect of atmospheric pressure Townsend dielectric barrier discharges working in N2 with a small addition of O2. Systematic laser-induced fluorescence measurements are carried out in order to provide the absolute densities of N and O atoms and NO molecules for different oxygen concentrations. The use of these data in a dedicated model allows us, in particular, to estimate the rate of the reaction N(2P)+O(3P)→NO++e suspected of playing a significant role. According to the obtained results, this reaction is found responsible for a significant enhancement in the production of seed electrons between two successive discharges at 25 ppm of O2, in good agreement with experimental observations. It confirms the importance of this associative ionization reaction in these experimental conditions.
Virtual reality environments for health professional education (Protocol)

Objectives: To assess the effects of virtual reality environment (VRE)-based educational interventions for health professionals on knowledge, skills, and participants’ attitude towards and satisfaction with the interventions. Additionally, this review will assess the interventions' economic impact (cost and cost effectiveness), patient-related outcomes and unintended adverse effects of VRE-based educational interventions for post-registration healthcare providers.
What influences industry to offer clinical placements for pre-registration nursing students?

i Certificate of authorship and originality of thesis . iii Copyright statement . iv List of Figures . vii List of Tables . viii List of Appendices . viii Acronyms, Initialisms and Glossary . ix Acknowledgements . xii CHAPTER ONE . 1 Research overview . 1 Research purpose . 3 Research aim . 4 Research question . 4 What this Master’s research contributes? 4 Organisation of the thesis . 5 CHAPTER TWO . 7 Background and context . 7 The profession of nursing . 7 The evolution of nursing in Australia . 10 The need to boost registered nurse numbers for the future . 15 The demand for clinical placements. 16 The importance of clinical placement in pre-registration nursing . 18 CHAPTER THREE . 24 Research design . 24 The researcher’s relationship to the study . 24 Research paradigm . 25 Grounded Theory . 26 Research methods . 28 Data analysis . 36 CHAPTER FOUR . 48 Research findings . 48 Overview . 48 Central category – Strength of the Relationship . 48 Communicating . 52
The Role of Well-Being on the Impact of High Performance Work Systems on Physicians’ Job Burnout

This is a theoretical paper which examines the role of physicians’ well-being in the relationship between utilization of High Performance Work Systems (HPWS) and Physicians’ job burnout. The research is aimed at recommending a new model which should be adopted when researchers are identifying gaps that exist in theory and methodology on the link between HPWS and employee outcomes. The paper adopts among other theories a Critical Theory perspective which calls for Axel Honneth’s three spheres of relationships in the communication between employees and employers. The paper starts by mapping key concepts on HPWS, physicians’ well-being and physicians’ burnout. The paper also identifies types of evidence that link HPWS with physicians’ well-being and physicians’ burnout. It ends with synthesizing existing knowledge on reducing physicians’ burnout and improving physicians’ well-being. Overall, the study proposes that in order to improve employee well-being and get away with the ‘pessimistic perspective’ which claims that HR practices are harmful to the employees’ well-being, employers are obligated to examine operations which are based on ‘personal relationships’ which are either contractual or non-contractual, but still legally binding. In this way, workplaces which are using HPWS will reduce physicians’ burnout and improve their well-being. Discussion, recommendation for future research and conclusion are made.
Influence of Intramasseteric Injection of Botulinum Toxin Type A on the Ipsilateral Submandibular Salivary Gland of Albino Rats

Background:Botulinum toxins are used in treating involuntary muscle contraction such as hemifacial spasm and facial nerve palsy, hyperhidrosis or excessive saliva production. Minor side effects are reported like local hematoma, pain, dry mouth and viscous saliva. However; major complications may occur such as loss of motor head control and aspiration pneumonia. Some animal studies showed minimal histological changes. While, some authors have demonstrated significant structural and functional changes in the parotid gland of rats and the submandibular gland of rabbits after being injected with botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) . Aim of the study: to evaluate the effect of intramasseteric injection of BTX-A on the ipsilateral submandibular gland in Albino rats.Materials and methods:Fifty six adult male Albino rats were divided into four groups. Rats of group (I) and group (II) received intramasseteric injection of 0.05 ml or 0.1 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution respectively. Rats of group (III) and group (IV) received intra-masseteric injection of 2.5 units or 5 units of BTX-A respectively. Each group was further subdivided into two subgroups according to the time of sacrifice which was at three or fourteen days. Sections of glands were stained by H&E and S100 protein antibody.Results:Glands’ acini of group III and IV showed cytoplasmic vacuolations. Acini of group IV at fourteen days showed irregular outline with areas of complete degeneration. Duct system of both groups showed signs of degeneration. Using immunohistochemical staining, group III and IV showed increased area percentage of positive reaction than control groups. Statistical analysis of acini diameter and area percentage of anti-S100 protein revealed significant increase in botox injected subgroups. Conclusion: intramasseteric injection with BTX-A was able to induce histological changes in submandibular gland of the ipsilateral side.
Architecture to improve the accuracy of automatic image annotation systems

Automatic image annotation (AIA) is an image retrieval mechanism to extract relative semantic tags from visual content. So far, the improvement of accuracy in newly developed such methods have been about 1 or 2% in the F1-score and the architectures seem to have room for improvement. Therefore, the authors designed a more detailed architecture for AIA and suggested new algorithms for its main parts. The proposed architecture has three main parts: feature extraction, learning, and annotation. They designed a novel learning method using machine learning and probability bases. In the annotation part, they suggest a novel method that gains the maximum benefit from the learning part. The combination of the proposed architecture, algorithms, and novel ideas resulted in new accuracy milestones in F1-score on most commonly used datasets. In their architecture, N+ measure which shows the number of tags with non-zero recalls showed that they could recall all tags for IAPRTC-12 and ESP-Games datasets.
conscious dogs. Diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine compared Reflex chronotropic and inotropic effects of calcium channel-blocking agents in

SUMMARY. In chronically instrumented, conscious dogs, rapid injection of equihypotensive dosesof three calcium channel-blocking agents, verapamil (250 fig/kg), diltiazem (200 fig/kg) and nifedi-pine (50 /ig/kg), produced disparate chronotropic and inotropic responses. Although they alldecreased mean arterial pressure by about 10%, heart rate (93 ± 4 beats/min) was markedlyincreased to 175 ± 12 with nifedipine, to 16 135 wit ± h verapamil, and only slightly increased to 118± 7 with diltiazem. Contractile responses measured before max (lef , 274t ventricula9 ± 131 r dP/dtmm Hg/sec) and during left ventricular ejection (endocardial dimensiomax, 57 ± 4n mm/sec dD/dt)were increased by 24% and 14% with nifedipine, decreased by 26% and 22% with verapamil, andwere unchanged with diltiazem. These chronotropic and inotropic responses to rapid intravenousadministration of the three drugs were increased in a dose-dependent manner. Similar results alsowere observed after slow infusion of these drugs. To determine the extent to which autonomicreflexes participated in these cardiac responses, propranolol (0.5 mg/kg) or propranolol plus atropine(0.1-0.2 mg/kg) was administered prior to injection of each calcium channel-blocking agent.Propranolol abolished the positive inotropic response to nifedipine and potentiated the negativeinotropic response to verapamil. Positive chronotropic responses to verapamil, nifedipine, anddiltiazem were attenuated by propranolol plus atropine. These results suggest that equihypotensivedoses of the three prominent calcium channel-blocking agents exert different degrees of autonomicreflex activation in awake, unsedated dogs. These reflexes, which modulate the direct effects ofcalcium channel-blocking agents on chronotropic and inotropic variables of the heart, may haveimportant clinical implications. (Cir 52:c 302-311, Res 1983)
Hoop winding tension design of thick-walled cylinder using superposition and unloading methods

ABSTRACT This paper proposes the superposition and unloading methods to realize different gradients and certain residual tension in winding tension design, and to clarify the relationship between hoop winding and residual tensions. The integral relationship between the winding and residual tensions is described. The hoop stress reduction was calculated during superposition. The analytical formulae of residual tension were obtained under different conditions. The integral relationship was transformed into a differential equation, and the analytical winding tension formulae were deduced under equal residual tension. According to the increasing tension of the inner winding layers produced by unloading the outer layers, the tension reductions at the inner layers were calculated. The relationship between the residual and winding tension for winding with an infinitely thin model was derived and described by a differential equation. The winding tension was determined based on the given residual tension, and the relationship between them was clarified.
Assessment of clinical trials registered at clinical trial registry of India over past decade: an audit

Background: Clinical trial registry of India (CTRI) was launched in 2007. In this audit we attempted to assess the clinical research scenario over the past decade by looking at the information about clinical studies registered at the CTRI from 2007 to 2016. Methods: We accessed the official website of the CTRI i.e. www.ctri. nic.in and the required information was downloaded and descriptive statistics were used. Results: We found that the number of studies went on increasing from 31 in 2007 to 7060 in 2016 (as on 22 nd June 2016). Majority studies were of interventional in nature as compared to observational and bioavailability and bioequivalence (BABE) studies. Pharmaceutical industry sponsored studies were comparatively higher in number than any other sponsored studies. However their number went on decreasing, while increase in registration of post graduate thesis and investigator sponsored studies was observed. Conclusions: Though a decrease in Pharmaceutical industry sponsored studies was observed the overall clinical research scenario appears to have improved due to investigator initiated studies and post graduate thesis.