Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Infectious Bursal Disease Viruses from Four Layer Flocks in the United States

Abstract Twenty bursal samples were obtained from four infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)–vaccinated layer flocks experiencing problems with immune suppression that was thought to be infectious bursal disease. All the samples were found to be positive for IBDV by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the samples identified them as classic molecular group 3 and group 4 viruses. Two samples from each of the four flocks were sequenced, and within a flock, these sequences were identical; however, between flocks, some differences were observed. One virus from each of the four flocks was selected for further analysis. The VP2 hypervariable sequence region of samples GA-1, H-30, and CS-2-35 had nucleotide and amino acid similarities with the D78 and Vi Bursa G classic vaccines that were used in those flocks. The sequence of HPR-2 was similar to the Bursa Vac 4 vaccine used in that flock and the STC virulent classic IBDV strain. The deduced amino acid sequence of these isolates revealed that all the isolates had proline at position 222, which is characteristic of U.S. classic viruses. The phylogenetic analysis of these isolates on the basis of the VP2 hypervariable amino acid sequence clustered GA-1, H-30, and CS-2-35 with the D78 vaccine and HPR-2 with STC. The pathogenicity of these isolates was tested in specific-pathogen-free chickens. Bursa–body weight (B-BW) ratios and histopathologic lesion scores in the bursa were determined. Gross lesions were observed in the bursa, and the B-BW ratios of the birds infected with all four wild-type viruses were significantly different compared with the D78 vaccine and uninoculated control groups. Histopathology of the bursa from groups infected with GA-1, H-30, CS-2-35, and HPR-2 showed different degrees of follicular depletion and necrosis. A very slight lymphoid depletion was observed in the D78-infected group at 5 days postinoculation, and no microscopic lesions were observed in this group at 8 days postinoculation or at any time in the uninoculated control group. The bursa collected from the field virus and D78-infected birds at necropsy revealed the presence of IBDV via RT-PCR, and the VP-2 hypervariable nucleotide sequences of the GA-1, H-30, CS-2-35, HPR-2, and D78 samples were identical to the original viral isolates and vaccine, respectively.
DR Resources for Energy and Ancillary Services in the West (Presentation)

Demand response (DR) resources present a potentially important source of grid flexibility however, DR in grid models is limited by data availability and modeling complexity. This presentation focuses on the co-optimization of DR resources to provide energy and ancillary services in a production cost model of the Colorado "test system". We assume each DR resource can provide energy services by either shedding load or shifting its use between different times, as well as operating reserves: frequency regulation, contingency reserve, and flexibility (or ramping) reserve. There are significant variations in the availabilities of different types of DR resources, which affect both the operational savings as well as the revenue for each DR resource. The results presented include the system-wide avoided fuel and generator start-up costs as well as the composite revenue for each DR resource by energy and operating reserves.
An elliptical shadow algorithm for motion prediction and resource reservation in wireless cellular networks

This paper proposes an elliptical shadow algorithm for motion prediction and resource reservation in the cellular mobile network which can be used to improve the call admission procedures in wireless networks. This algorithm is based on the history information of the mobile entity and predicts an elliptical shadow around it, which covers all spots to which the mobile is going to move with a high possibility in a given time. The cells, and only the cells that overlap the ellipse should reserve the resource for the mobile connection to achieve a low hand-off dropping rate and reduce remarkably the unnecessarily reserved resource. The algorithm is also adaptive when the motion is very unpredictable, by observing the mobile's actual movement and automatically adjusting the elliptical shadow. Our simulation proved it to be effective in achieving both satisfactory connection quality and economical bandwidth utilization. We also suggest a distributed system framework to apply the algorithm effectively.
Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces Competition during Microvinification under Different Sugar and Nitrogen Conditions

The inoculation of wines with autochthonous yeast allows obtaining complex wines with a peculiar microbial footprint characteristic from a wine region. Mixed inoculation of non-Saccharomyces yeasts and S. cerevisiae is of interest for the wine industry for technological and sensory reasons. However, the interactions between these yeasts are not well understood, especially those regarding the availability of nutrients. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of nitrogen and sugar concentration on the evolution of mixed yeast populations on controlled laboratory-scale fermentations monitored by density, plate culturing, PCR-DGGE and sugar and nitrogen consumption. Furthermore, the effect of the time of inoculation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae respect the initial co-inoculation of three non-Saccharomyces yeasts was evaluated over the evolution of fermentation. Our results have shown that S. cerevisiae inoculation during the first 48 h conferred a stabilizing effect over the fermentations with non-Saccharomyces strains tested and, generally, reduced yeast diversity at the end of the fermentation. On the other hand, nitrogen limitation increased the time of fermentation and also the proportion of non-Saccharomyces yeasts at mid and final fermentation. High sugar concentration resulted in different proportions of the inoculated yeast depending on the time of S. cerevisiae inoculation. This work emphasizes the importance of the concentration of nutrients on the evolution of mixed fermentations and points to the optimal conditions for a stable fermentation in which the inoculated yeasts survived until the end.
Strategic relatedness in mergers and financial performance: the case of the health maintenance organization industry in the United States

Knowledge and identification of strategic factors associated with favourable post-acquisition performance can be of benefit to both managers and shareholders. From a management perspective, the identification of contextual factors that can influence postmerger performance is 'strategic' in nature, and should be considered in the analysis of future acquisitions. Within the context of the health maintenance organization (HMO) industry, this study examines the impact of strategic relatedness on postmerger financial performance. Strategic relatedness is conceptualized as similarity between the acquirer and target HMOs in terms of operational efficiency, marketing orientation, organizational structure and profit orientation. Regression analysis showed that similarity in operational efficiency and similarity in HMO structure were associated with better postmerger financial performance. However, marketing orientation similarity and profit orientation similarity were not significantly related to postmerger performance. This finding suggests that HMO mergers involving firms with similar strategic orientations and similar approaches to the delivery of care have greater strategic fit and experience better financial performance.
Development of a Two-Color Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Technique for Species-Level Identification of Human-Infectious Cryptosporidium spp

ABSTRACT A two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization assay that allows for the simultaneous identification of Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis was developed. The assay is a simple, rapid, and cost-effective tool for the detection of the major Cryptosporidium species of concern to public health.
In Vitro Correction of a Pseudoexon‐Generating Deep Intronic Mutation in LGMD2A by Antisense Oligonucleotides and Modified Small Nuclear RNAs

Limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A) is the most frequent autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy. It is caused by mutations in the calpain‐3 (CAPN3) gene. The majority of the mutations described to date are located in the coding sequence of the gene. However, it is estimated that 25% of the mutations are present at exon–intron boundaries and modify the pre‐mRNA splicing of the CAPN3 transcript. We have previously described the first deep intronic mutation in the CAPN3 gene: c.1782+1072G>C mutation. This mutation causes the pseudoexonization of an intronic sequence of the CAPN3 gene in the mature mRNA. In the present work, we show that the point mutation generates the inclusion of the pseudoexon in the mRNA using a minigene assay. In search of a treatment that restores normal splicing, splicing modulation was induced by RNA‐based strategies, which included antisense oligonucleotides and modified small‐nuclear RNAs. The best effect was observed with antisense sequences, which induced pseudoexon skipping in both HeLa cells cotransfected with mutant minigene and in fibroblasts from patients. Finally, transfection of antisense sequences and siRNA downregulation of serine/arginine‐rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1) indicate that binding of this factor to splicing enhancer sequences is involved in pseudoexon activation.
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria during Pregnancy: Causative Agents and Their Sensitivity in Rajshahi City

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among the pregnant mothers of 2nd trimester in the metropolitan area of Rajshahi city. Total 2000 apparently healthy pregnant mothers were selected by random sampling with the view to estimate the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in apparently healthy pregnancy, its causative agents and their sensitivity pattern in the Rajshahi city. These 2000 pregnant mothers were selected from 20 wards by applying 2-stage random sampling. Two consecutive morning midstream urine samples were collected for culture and sensitivity test. The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the rural Rajshahi was 14.5%. E.Coli was the commonest causative bacteria (94.83%). The urinary pathogens causing asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy in the Rajshahi city were resistance to amoxicillin, cephalexin and cephradine, moderately sensitive to doxycycline and highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, nitrofurantoin and nalidixic acid. Screening of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy must be considered as an essential part of antenatal care like routine checkup for albumin and sugar in urine in this city community. doi: 10.3329/taj.v19i2. 3153 TAJ 2006; 19(2): 66-69
Totally Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Aortobifemoral Bypass

Abstract The classic procedure for aortobifemoral bypass is open surgery. Since the first totally laparoscopic aortobifemoral bypass reported in 1997 by Yves-Marie Dion, laparoscopy has been accepted by several authors as a possible minimally invasive alternative for aorto-iliac occlusive disease. The transperitoneal left retrocolic and retrorenal ways are generally used. The totally retroperitoneal laparoscopic procedure has been described as an alternative to the transperitoneal approach. We report here a totally laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach to performing aortobifemoral bypass. This approach was proposed to a 51-year-old man with aorto-iliac occlusive disease. There was no indication for endovascular revascularization. The patient suffered from 10 metres of bilateral intermittent claudication and lower limb ulcers. During the surgical procedure our patient was placed in a 30-degree right lateral decubitus position. The optical system was first placed in an intra-abdominal position to check the positioning of the trocars in the left retroperitoneal space. The dissection of the retroperitoneal space was performed by CO2 insufflation and by blunt dissection using laparoscopic forceps. The infrarenal aorta was exposed and clamped by laparoscopic clamps. A bifurcated graft was sutured on the left-hand side of the aorta by a running suture. Both prosthetic limbs were tunnelized retroperitoneally to the groin under optical control. The femoral anastomoses were performed by classic open surgery.
Distributing Authoritative Name Servers via Shared Unicast Addresses

This memo describes a set of practices intended to enable an authoritative name server operator to provide access to a single named server in multiple locations. The primary motivation for the development and deployment of these practices is to increase the distribution of Domain Name System (DNS) servers to previously under-served areas of the network topology and to reduce the latency for DNS query responses in those areas.
Determination of markers in digesta and feces by direct current plasma emission spectroscopy.

A method is described for the preparation of bovine ruminal contents, duodenal digesta, and feces for analysis of Co, Cr, La, Sm, Eu, and Yb by direct current plasma emission spectroscopy. Ground, dried sample was refluxed in concentrated nitric acid until 2 to 3 ml of acid remained. The ash was redissolved in 6N HCl. Lithium hydroxide was added to suppress ionization, and the samples were diluted with distilled water for analysis. Element recovery, expressed as the ratio of element recovered from digesta samples augmented prior to ashing compared with those augmented after sample digestion, ranged from 71.5 to 100.5% and was affected by digesta type. Addition of 1000 ppm of Li to the sample matrix improved recovery of Co and La from 93.4 and 83.3% to 97.8 and 98.3%, respectively. Lithium did not affect recovery of the other elements. Type of digesta matrix affected emission intensity. Addition of 1000 ppm of Li to the sample matrices enhanced signal output in the digesta matrices by 25 to 30% for each element. Lithium tended to minimize differences in signal output caused by the organic matrix but did not eliminate them. Increasing Li concentration from 1000 to 4000 ppm did not increase signal output or completely buffer out the higher emission intensity associated with the organic matrix. Sensitivity of analysis of Co, Cr, and rare earth elements was comparable with or better than sensitivities reported with neutron activation analysis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
What Supports Do Teachers Need to Help Students Meet Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

Mathematics teachers across the United States have been working to adjust their instruction in response to states’ adoption of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M) or other standards adapted from CCSS-M. In this report, we document the extent to which U.S. teachers are expected to address new mathematics standards in their instruction, teachers’ familiarity with these standards, the professional development (PD) opportunities that teachers report receiving, and the PD opportunities they feel they need to help them implement standards effectively. Our findings draw on RAND’s American Teacher Panel (ATP) and American School Leader Panel (ASLP). The ATP and ASLP are new survey tools that take the pulse of the nation’s educators on key issues of education policy and practice through periodic surveys of a representative sample of teachers and principals across the United States. Through these unique panels, RAND collects accurate, longitudinal data regarding educators’ perspectives on and implementation of major federal, state, and district policies put in place over the past several years, including those related to standards, assessment, and evaluation. C O R P O R A T I O N
Effects of the PWM inverter parameters on the eddy current losses and thermal analysis of the flameproof induction motor

Pulse width modulation (PWM) inverters are widely applied to control motors. It will often increase the eddy current losses in the motors. In this paper, the authors deal with the effects of eddy current losses with amplitude modulation and switching frequency in an induction motor fed by PWM Inverter. The method is employed by a time-stepping finite element analysis (FEA). The FEA model of motor is coupled to an inverter circuit model, in order to analyze the effects of the inverter parameters on the eddy current losses. The temperature rise of flameproof induction motor are analyzed and computed by using finite element method. The temperature distribution of the motor is simulated and the result is analyzed in this paper. An experiment system is built and an experiment of rotor temperature is carried out. It is the foundation of flameproof induction motor for optimal design.
Gravity Models and Asymmetric Exchange Rate Effects: Insights from German Beer Exports

ABSTRACT Recent developments in trade literature suggest that in the presence of strategic pricing in some markets and an incomplete exchange rate pass‐through resulting from it, the standard gravity model has to be augmented with an exchange rate variable. As symmetry of pass‐through has been questioned in new pricing‐to‐market (PTM) studies, we argue that this asymmetric impact of the exchange rate on trade should be explicitly modeled within the gravity framework. This consideration of asymmetric effects of exchange rate appreciations and depreciations on export values and quantities might provide insights into the driving forces of PTM in a particular market (or group of markets) given that the existing literature emphasizes two main hypotheses that explain the occurrence of an asymmetric PTM (market share hypothesis and marketing bottleneck hypothesis). In this paper, we propose a way to integrate individual (asymmetric) long‐run effects of currency appreciations and depreciations on trade flows into the gravity model and empirically investigate which of the driving forces is relevant for the case of German beer exports. PTM studies often argue that the market share protection is a reason for local currency price stabilization mechanisms applied in the most important markets. Yet, the results of our analysis reveal that this might no longer be the case when all trading partners are considered. [EconLit citations: C33; F14; L66].
Action Research: An appropriat Action Research: An appropriate research methodology for improving healthcare practice

Aim To describe action research and to discuss why it is an important and appropriate methodology for improving health care practice, compared with other methodologies. Key Issues While the definition of action research varies, it encompasses four basic themes: empowerment of participants, collaboration through democratic participation, acquisition of knowledge, and individual & social change. It, therefore, incorporates the concepts of participation, equality, collaboration, reflection and emancipation. Three types of action research include the scientific-technical view of problem solving, interpretative-collaborative action research, and critical-participatory action research. Variety philosophies in action research depend on typology. Pluralism provides the philosophical basis for most action research, and qualitative and quantitative approaches are used to answer research questions. Action research focuses on working with people that are stakeholders in real situations, to access and identify problems, to implement and action the research process and ultimately, to achieve change that is sustainable. Ethical issues are an important component of action research because it is carried out in real-world circumstances. Researchers accept, respect, and negotiate with all participants involved in the action research process, and accept responsibility for maintaining confidentiality. Current health care practices call for increased collaboration between interdisciplinary health professionals and stakeholders, in an environment of equality. Action research is a bridge in the theory-practice gap and provides a feasible means ofconducting research in real situations. The results of action research benefit all stakeholders, including researchers, theorists, practitioners, and patients. Conclusion Action research requires imagination, thought, collaboration, and participation to affect sustainable change and to improve health care practice.
Gender and HIV/AIDS in a Ugandan context: a participatory action inquiry

The article argues that people and communities perceive and deal with HIV/AIDS as only of the many problems and tensions they experience as affecting their well being. Thus the intervention for the control of HIV/AIDS through the creative other than the reactive-responsive orientation in the development process is being proposed. It is also noted that the discussion of the issues related to HIV/AIDS and sexuality is blocked by deeply held views that men have about women and sex. This is the reason why the issue of gender is central when discussing with the people to determine the health they truly want including how to manage the HIV/AIDS problem. The study team brought together rural youth of 13-25 years and men and women of 26-45 years and used participatory action research methodologies to reflect and exchange information knowledge and skills on the issues related to gender and HIV/AIDS. This empowering knowledge was useful for launching advocacy for attitude and behaviour change toward riskysexual behaviours and for supporting communities in developing visions of healthy communities the people truly cherish. The study process generated information which was used to develop the content for a facilitators guide on Gender and HIV/ AIDS that should be used in all communities in Uganda and elsewhere to adequately manage HIV/ AIDS problem. (authors)
A new approach for non-intrusive monitoring of blood pressure on a toilet seat

Pulse arrival time (PAT) was measured non-intrusively to estimate each individual's blood pressure. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was measured with copper-coated electrodes and photoplethysmogram (PPG) was measured using a specially designed toilet seat apparatus. Non-intrusively measured PATs were compared with PATs measured by the standard method, and the results showed a good correlation. An equation was used to estimate blood pressure from the measured PAT during a training period for each individual. Estimated blood pressures were compared with measured blood pressures in a series of blood pressure varying experiments. For each individual, the estimated blood pressure was similar to the measured blood pressure within a tolerable error range. This method was also practiced for long-term monitoring, and the results show the value of this method for continuous home monitoring of blood pressure.
Data Management in the Cloud

We are in the midst of a computing revolution. As the cost of provisioning hardware and software stacks grows, and the cost of securing and administering these complex systems grows even faster, we're seeing a shift towards computing clouds. Clouds are essentially services accessed over a network, and offer developers scalable, robust computing infrastructure on a "pay as you go" basis, with the ability to dynamically adjust the amount of "rented" resources, and thereby, the bill. For cloud service providers, there is efficiency from amortizing costs and averaging usage peaks. Internet portals like Yahoo! have long offered application services, such as email for individuals and organizations. Companies are now offering services such as storage and compute cycles, enabling higher-level services to be built on top. In this talk, I will discuss Yahoo! 's vision of cloud computing, and describe some of the key initiatives, highlighting the technical challenges involved in designing hosted, multi-tenanted data management systems.