Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inadequate dietary intakes among pregnant women.

PURPOSE Eating behaviours were assessed among pregnant women in a mid-sized Canadian city. METHODS As part of the Prenatal Health Project, we interviewed 2313 pregnant women in London, Ontario. Subjects also completed a food frequency questionnaire. Recruitment took place in ultrasound clinics at 10 to 22 weeks of gestation. The main outcome measures were number of daily servings for each food group, measured against the minimum number recommended by the 2007 Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide (CFG), the proportion of women consuming the recommended number of servings for each and all of the four food groups, and factors associated with adequate consumption. We also determined the number of servings of "other foods. " Analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression, all at p<0.05. RESULTS A total of 3.5% of women consumed the recommended number of servings for all four food groups; 15.3% did not consume the minimum number of servings of foods for any of the four food groups. Women for whom this was their first pregnancy were less likely to consume the recommended number of servings from all four food groups (odds ratio=0.41; confidence interval=0.23, 0.74). CONCLUSIONS Very few pregnant women consumed food group servings consistent with the 2007 recommendations. Strategies to improve dietary behaviours must focus on the establishment of healthy eating behaviours among women of reproductive age.
Endothelin-1 enhances nuclear Ca2+ transients in atrial myocytes through Ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent Ca2+ release from perinuclear Ca2+ stores

Nuclear Ca2+ plays a key role in the regulation of gene expression. Inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3)] might be an important regulator of nuclear Ca2+ but its contribution to nuclear Ca2+ signalling in adult cardiomyocytes remains elusive. We tested the hypothesis that endothelin-1 enhances nuclear Ca2+ concentration transients (CaTs) in rabbit atrial myocytes through Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ release from perinuclear stores. Cytoplasmic and nuclear CaTs were measured simultaneously in electrically stimulated atrial myocytes using confocal Ca2+ imaging. Nuclear CaTs were significantly slower than cytoplasmic CaTs, indicative of compartmentalisation of intracellular Ca2+ signalling. Endothelin-1 elicited a preferential (10 nM) or a selective (0.1 nM) increase in nuclear versus cytoplasmic CaTs. This effect was abolished by inhibition of endothelin-1 receptors, phospholipase C and Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors. Fractional Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and perinuclear stores was increased by endothelin-1 at an otherwise unaltered Ca2+ load. Comparable increases of cytoplasmic CaTs induced by β-adrenoceptor stimulation or elevation of extracellular Ca2+ could not mimic the endothelin-1 effects on nuclear CaTs, suggesting that endothelin-1 specifically modulates nuclear Ca2+ signalling. Thus, endothelin-1 enhances nuclear CaTs in atrial myocytes by increasing fractional Ca2+ release from perinuclear stores. This effect is mediated by the coupling of endothelin receptor A to PLC-Ins(1,4,5)P3 signalling and might contribute to excitation-transcription coupling.
Influence of mist-netting intensity on demographic investigations of avian populations

We evaluated capture rates of juvenile and adult passerines, comparing two different netting regimes on the same study plot at the Palomarin Field Station, Point Reyes National Seashore, California. One set of nets was run approximately 5x as often as the other during the breeding season. For four resident species breeding in the immediate vicinity of the nets, results were compared to direct measures of productivity and breeding density as determined from nest monitoring, color banding of nestlings, and known densities of adults from spot-mapping censuses of color-banded individuals. Nets run 6 days/week captured an average of 42% of the Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) breeding within 100 m of the nets, whereas nets run 1 day/week averaged 10%. Capture rates of adult Wrentits (Chamaea fasciata) did not differ significantly between netting regimes. Nets run with higher frequency detected direction of change in productivity in Song Sparrows accurately, whereas nets run with lower frequency did not. The reverse was true for Wrentits, though Wrentit fledglings were twice as likely to be caught in the higher frequency nets. Distance from nest to net also influenced juvenile capture probability. Results indicate the importance of using standardized netting protocol, and show that demographic indices based on mist netting should not be directly compared among species. Optimal netting frequency to attain study goals should be evaluated separately for each species. We caution investigators from drawing conclusions regarding songbird population size and demography based on mist-netting data alone.
Validation of visualized transgenic zebrafish as a high throughput model to assay bradycardia related cardio toxicity risk candidates

Drug‐induced QT prolongation usually leads to torsade de pointes (TdP), thus for drugs in the early phase of development this risk should be evaluated. In the present study, we demonstrated a visualized transgenic zebrafish as an in vivo high‐throughput model to assay the risk of drug‐induced QT prolongation. Zebrafish larvae 48 h post‐fertilization expressing green fluorescent protein in myocardium were incubated with compounds reported to induce QT prolongation or block the human ether‐a‐go‐go‐related gene (hERG) K+ current. The compounds sotalol, indapaminde, erythromycin, ofoxacin, levofloxacin, sparfloxacin and roxithromycin were additionally administrated by microinjection into the larvae yolk sac. The ventricle heart rate was recorded using the automatic monitoring system after incubation or microinjection. As a result, 14 out of 16 compounds inducing dog QT prolongation caused bradycardia in zebrafish. A similar result was observed with 21 out of 26 compounds which block hERG current. Among the 30 compounds which induced human QT prolongation, 25 caused bradycardia in this model. Thus, the risk of compounds causing bradycardia in this transgenic zebrafish correlated with that causing QT prolongation and hERG K+ current blockage in established models. The tendency that high logP values lead to high risk of QT prolongation in this model was indicated, and non‐sensitivity of this model to antibacterial agents was revealed. These data suggest application of this transgenic zebrafish as a high‐throughput model to screen QT prolongation‐related cardio toxicity of the drug candidates. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Influence of Country-Level Religiosity on Accounting Conservatism

This study investigates how religiosity (i.e., the strength of religion) differences across countries influence an important characteristic of financial reporting, accounting conservatism. Prior literature suggests that religious individuals are more risk averse and have higher ethical standards, while accounting conservatism has been shown to reduce various risks to the firm (e.g., bankruptcy and stock price crashes) at the expense of higher reported earnings. We find that managers in more religious societies report more conservatively. Specifically, our cross-country analysis reveals that firms headquartered in countries with higher levels of religiosity exhibit, on average, higher accounting conservatism in financial reporting. This positive association is stronger in countries following IFRS or U.S. GAAP, and weaker in countries with a high degree of uncertainty avoidance, strong legal enforcement, and countries with greater numbers of religions. JEL Classifications: G34; M41; Z12. Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text.
Solving the Maximum Matching Problem on Bipartite Star123-Free Graphs in Linear Time

The bipartite Star123-free graphs were introduced by V. Lozin in [1] to generalize some already known classes of bipartite graphs. In this paper, we extend to bipartite Star123-free graphs a linear time algorithm of J. L. Fouquet, V. Giakoumakis and J. M. Vanherpe for finding a maximum matching in bipartite Star123, P7-free graphs presented in [2]. Our algorithm is a solution of Lozin’s conjecture.
Identification of RtGST‐1, a novel germ cell‐specific mRNA‐Like transcript predominantly expressed in early previtellogenic oocytes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Noncoding mRNA‐like transcripts play important roles in a wide range of biological events such as cell differentiation and organogenesis. We report here the identification of a novel germ cell‐specific mRNA‐like transcript (RtGST‐1) from a rainbow trout oocyte cDNA library. The novel transcript of 1,165 bp was confirmed to be full‐length based on Northern blot and 5′ RACE analyses. The transcript is polyadenylated but does not contain a significant open reading frame (ORF). The presumable ORF (encodes a peptide of 71 amino acids) has poor codon usage for rainbow trout and the AUG codon is in a poor context for translation initiation. RT‐PCR showed that the novel gene is specifically expressed in ovaries of various stages and immature testis, whereas no transcripts of this gene were detected in mature testis and somatic tissues. Quantitative real‐time PCR analysis revealed that the mRNA level of this novel gene is extremely high in early previtellogenesis stage ovaries relative to vitellogenesis stage ovaries. In situ hybridization analysis further demonstrated that the novel transcript is localized exclusively in early previtellogenic oocytes and spermatocytes. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report of a germline‐specific mRNA‐like transcript in fish. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 723–730, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Implementation of automatic gain controlled bidirectional EDFA in WDM networks

Wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) techniques combined with n erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) is essential for realizing high capacity lightwave transmission and flexible optical networks. Compared with unidirectional transmission, bidirectional transmission over a single fiber has the advantage of reducing not only the number of fiber link, but also the number of passive components such as splitters and WDM multiplexers. Recently, lots of problems in bidirectional EDFAs were investigated, and various structure schemes of the EDFA were reported to overcome the problems, such as back reflections. An automatic gain control (AGC) function for bidirectional EDFAs, however, has been rarely reported. In a bidirectional EDFA, optical gains of survival channels are subject to change with the input variations of both directions, such as the addition or dropping of channels. To preserve the system performance, these gain changes should be suppressed by using thee AGC function. For the unidirectional EDFA, several AGC functions demonstrated such as optical clamping methods, link control laser methods and pump control methods. Nowadays, the AGC method by using the pump control is attractive because the implementation is simple and less costs. It may be modified for the bidirectional EDFA, which shares the same port for input and output. In the paper, we propose and demonstrate an AGC scheme for the bidirectional EDFA by means of pump control.
An Adaptive MIMO Detection Approach for LTE Advanced Uplink

OSIC (Order Successive Interference Cancellation) is a conventional MIMO detection algorithm for MIMO OFDM in LTE/LTE-A due to its significant performance gain over linear detection algorithm. But, it suffers from error diffusion, leading to performance decrease in low SNR. The tradeoff between complexity and detection performance is not optimal enough. In this paper, we proposed an adaptive MIMO detection approach for the suppression of error diffusion and reduction of complexity in LTE/LTE Advanced System (Uplink) based on the analysis of OSIC and its modification. This approach combines linear and nonlinear algorithm according to real-time SINR and the symbol error rate threshold. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm suppresses the error diffusion and reduces the complexity successfully with the appropriate threshold.
Intravenous contrast material administration at 16-detector row helical CT coronary angiography: test bolus versus bolus-tracking technique.

PURPOSE To compare test bolus and bolus-tracking techniques for intravenous contrast material administration at 16-detector row computed tomographic (CT) coronary angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study had institutional review board approval, and patients gave informed consent. Thirty-eight patients (mean age, 60 years; three women) were randomized into two groups according to bolus timing technique: group 1 (20-mL test bolus with 100-mL main bolus) and group 2 (bolus tracking with 100-mL main bolus). All patients underwent electrocardiography-gated 16-detector row CT coronary angiography with 12 detectors (collimation, 0.75 mm; rotation time, 420 msec). In group 1, test bolus peak attenuation was used as a delay, while in group 2, a +100-HU threshold in ascending aorta triggered angiographic acquisition, with an additional 4-second delay for patient instruction. Attenuation was measured in the longitudinal direction throughout the examination in three main vessels: ascending aorta (region of interest [ROI] 1), descending aorta (ROI 2), and main pulmonary artery (ROI 3). Mean attenuation and slope of bolus geometry curve were calculated in each patient and ROI. Attenuation at origin of coronary arteries was measured. Student t test was used to compare results. RESULTS Mean scan delay was 6 seconds longer in group 2 (P < .05). Average attenuation values were 306.6 HU +/- 44.0 (standard deviation) and 328.2 HU +/- 58.6 (P > .05) in ROI 1, 291.6 HU +/- 45.1 and 326.4 HU +/- 62.6 (P > .05) in ROI 2, and 354.7 HU +/- 78.0 and 305.3 HU +/- 71.4 (P < .05) in ROI 3 for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Average slope values were 5.8 and -0.8 (P < .05) in ROI 1, 7.7 and 0.7 (P < .05) in ROI 2, and -1.0 and -13.3 (P < .05) in ROI 3 for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Average attenuation values in left main, left anterior descending, and left circumflex arteries were higher in group 2 (P < .05); there were no differences (P > .05) between groups in right coronary artery. CONCLUSION Bolus-tracking yields more homogeneous enhancement than does the test bolus technique.
Rectal nitric oxide assessment in children with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. Indicator of ileocaecal and colorectal affection.

BACKGROUND Nitric oxide (NO) production is increased in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Measurements of luminal NO in Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis have revealed that levels are increased during active disease. We aim to evaluate whether rectal measurements of NO can reveal active disease of the colon as well as ileum. METHODS Sixteen children with active Crohn disease in the ileocaecal or colorectal regions of the gut and 6 children with active ulcerative colitis were compared to a group of 14 healthy children. Gaseous samples for analysis of luminal NO were collected using a Foley catheter inserted into rectum. The balloon of the catheter was filled with NO-free air and incubated for 10 min. After aspiration, samples were analysed using chemiluminescence. Values are expressed as median and range. RESULTS In healthy children, rectal NO values were 60 (0-275) ppb. In children with Crohn disease of the colorectal region, NO concentrations were 5,675 (300-49,350) ppb (P < 0.001), while those with Crohn disease of the ileocaecal region had NO levels of 2,625 (300-15,000) ppb (P < 0.01). In children with ulcerative colitis, NO values of 5,500 (950-34,000) ppb were found (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Rectal NO levels are greatly increased in children with IBD. Highest values were found in patients with colorectal engagement, but rectal NO was increased also in ileocaecal disease. Rectal sampling of luminal NO is a simple and minimally invasive method and should be considered a diagnostic tool for intestinal inflammatory activity in children regardless of primary disease location.
Flexible working arrangements in residential aged care: applying a person–environment fit model

Ensuring sufficient staff numbers to accommodate an increasing need for aged-care services is one challenge facing the residential aged-care sector. Human resources management (HRM) policy and practice need to explore ways flexible working arrangements can be utilised to improve recruitment and retention. This study applied a person–environment (P–E) fit model to understanding the role of flexible working arrangements in contributing to the successful operation of residential aged-care facilities in Victoria, Australia. A sample of 108 residential aged-care workers participated in semi-structured interviews to discuss flexible working arrangements, facilitators and barriers affecting their use and uptake, and individual and organisation outcomes resulting from their use. HRM should encourage the development and implementation of policies and practices related to flexible working arrangements in residential aged care, and their uptake by staff, to enhance P–E fit, thus supporting people to remain in their jobs.
[matK and its nucleotide sequencing of crude drug chuanxiong and phylogenetic relationship between their species from China and Japan].

AIM To provide more molecular evidences for species relationship between Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) from China and Japanese Chuanxiong (Senkyu in Japanese) (Cnidium officinale Makino). METHODS To sequence such two genes as internal transcribed spacer (ITS) from nuclear rDNA and maturase for lysine (matK) in tRNA(lys) (UUU) intron from chloroplast DNA of both Ligusticum chuanxiong and Cnidium officinale using PCR direct sequencing and to analyze the sequence variation of two genes between these two species. RESULTS The matK gene sequence of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Cnidium officinale is 1268 bp in length, coding 422 amino acids of maturase protein. ITS gene sequence 699 bp, consisting of 54 bp of 18S rRNA-3', 215 bp of ITS1, 162 bp of 5.8S rRNA, 222 bp of ITS2, 46 bp of 26S rRNA-5'. Multiple sequence alignment shows that the sequence of two genes between dried crude drug and fresh voucher material of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Cnidium officinale, there is 1 variable site (T-->C) in matK (upstream at 595 nt) and ITS (ITS1 at 54 nt) between Ligusticum chuanxiong and Cnidium officinale. CONCLUSION Based on homology analysis of two genes plastid matK and nuclear ITS, the origin of Chuanxiong from China and Japan ought to be identical, the scientific name Cnidium officinale of Japanese Chuanxiong should be changed to Ligusticum chuanxiong.
Purified hematopoietic stem cell allografts reconstitute immunity superior to bone marrow

Antigen-specific immune responses are impaired after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The events contributing to this impairment include host hematolymphoid ablation and donor cell regeneration, which is altered by pharmacologic immune suppression to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). A generally accepted concept is that graft T cell depletion performed to avoid GVHD yields poorer immune recovery because mature donor T cells are thought to be the major mediators of protective immunity early post-HCT. Our findings contradict the idea that removal of mature donor cells worsens immune recovery post-HCT. By transplantation of purified hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) compared with bone marrow (BM) across donor and recipient pairs of increasing genetic disparity, we show that grafts composed of the purified progenitor population give uniformly superior lymphoid reconstitution, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Subclinical GVHD by T cells in donor BM likely caused this lympho-depleting GVHD. We further determined in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched pairs, that T cell restricted proliferative responses were dictated by donor rather than host elements. We interpret these latter findings to show the importance of peripheral antigen presentation in the selection and maintenance of the T cell repertoire.
A communities Eden – grazing Exclosure success in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT The traditional significance of livestock to rural communities in Ethiopia has resulted in intense pressures on available grazing areas, resulting in vegetation loss, reduced infiltration and increased runoff, greater erosion and land degradation. Unfortunately, the uptake of sustainable land management (SLM) practices in communal grazing land is constrained by a lack of land tenure security. Recently the International Fund for Agricultural Development, working with the Government of Ethiopia, has invested in the capacity of local administrations, to improve land demarcation and the issuance of both individual and community land certificates. This is concurrent with the promotion of improved SLM, particularly zero grazing of communal lands, known by communities as Exclosures. This pilot study reports the biophysical changes observed in four different Exclosures in the Amhara region compared to adjacent communal lands. Irrespective of age, it was found that vegetative cover, biodiversity levels and infiltration rates, all increased in Exclosures, enhancing ecosystem services and function. Results suggest that Exclosures are most effective for large sites with effective cut and carry forage systems. It is evident that the issuance of land titles increases the adoption of SLM practices. Further studies are required to assess the economic and social impacts of Exclosures.
Characterization of the release profile of doxycycline by PLGA microspheres adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy

The aim of this pilot study was to assess the release of locally delivered doxycycline by poly (l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres in the periodontal pocket of patients with chronic periodontitis, treated by non-surgical periodontal therapy. Nineteen sites of non-adjacent teeth of four different patients were evaluated. Five milligram of PLGA microspheres loaded with 16 doxycycline hyclate (DOX) was administered per periodontal site. To quantify DOX released into the periodontal pocket, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected from the sites on days 2, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 after DOX application, and high-performance liquid chromatography was performed. Data were statistically assessed by ANOVA/Tukey test. At days 2, 5, and 7, the DOX concentration was stably sustained (23.33 ± 1.38, 23.4 ± 1.82, and 22.75 ± 1.33 μg/mL, respectively), with no significant differences over these assessment times (p > 0.05). At days 10 and 15, a tendency was observed toward a decrease in DOX concentration (21.74 ± 0.91 and 20.53 ± 4.88 μg/mL, respectively), but a significant decrease in GCF drug concentration (19.69 ± 4.70 μg/mL) was observed only on day 20. The DOX delivery system developed demonstrated a successful sustained release after local administration, as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy.