Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Infant and maternal behavior moderate reactivity to novelty to predict anxious behavior at 2.5 years

The degree to which infant regulatory behaviors, together with infant reactivity to novelty, predicted anxious behavior at 2.5 years, and the moderating effect of maternal behavior were tested. Sixty-four low-risk mothers and infants participated. Mothers rated infant negative reactivity and anxious behavior; infant and maternal behaviors were observed at 6 months postpartum. Based on results of hierarchical, multiple regressions, infant regulatory behaviors (i.e., attention control, withdrawal) moderated associations between reactivity to novelty and later anxious behavior, but predictions depended also on maternal behavior. High reactivity to novelty, in conjunction with withdrawal and with poor attention control, predicted anxious behavior only when mothers were less engaged or less sensitive, suggesting that maternal behavior alters developmental trajectories associated with infant temperament.We are grateful to participating families; the Visiting Nurse Association, Beginnings, and Primetime for help recruiting; David Howell and Roger Bakeman for help with data analysis; James Long for his technical assistance; Emma Burrous for help developing and applying coding schemes. We are also grateful to these undergraduates and volunteers: Kerry Modry, David Centerbar, Julie Mulhern, Amanda Werner, Regina Miller, Jeannine Pablo, Maya Carlet, Samantha Thomas, Kerstin Grieshaber, Erica Hendalion, Amanda Heldt, Allyson Stern, Lisa Badanes, Lynne Babchuck, Emily Vilardo, Heather Kline, Michelle Clancy, Gina Berrera, and Shamila Lekka.
A promising retrieval algorithm for systems based on the conceptual graphs formalism

Conceptual graphs can be used as a simple and expressive language for indexing and retrieving non-textual documents. In this knowledge representation formalism, the implementation of the matching function between a query and a document is obtained by the so-called projection operator between two conceptual graphs. A good implementation of the projection algorithm is therefore crucial for managing large bases of text and image documents. We present a new promising implementation. It has the important feature that it applies the projection to the whole document index database. We implemented the approach on top of the OO-DBMS O/sub 2/. As the matching function is reduced to a sequence of set operators, the time performance is improved as compared to previous implementations of the projection as an inference process. The experimental results prove the feasibility of the approach in terms of retrieval time performance.
Correlated evolution between host immunity and parasite life histories in primates and oxyurid parasites

Maturation time is a pivotal life–history trait of parasitic nematodes, determining adult body size, as well as daily and total fecundity. Recent theoretical work has emphasized the influence of prematurational mortality on the optimal values of age and size at maturity in nematodes. Eosinophils are a family of white blood cells often associated with infections by parasitic nematodes. Although the role of eosinophils in nematode resistance is controversial, recent work has suggested that the action of these immune effectors might be limited to the larval stages of the parasite. If eosinophils act on larval survival, one might predict, in line with theoretical models, that nematode species living in hosts with large eosinophil numbers should show reduced age and size at maturity. We tested this prediction using the association between the pinworms (Oxyuridae, Nematoda) and their primate hosts. Pinworms are highly host specific and are expected to be involved in a coevolutionary process with their hosts. We found that the body size of female parasites was negatively correlated with eosinophil concentration, whereas the concentration of two other leucocyte families––neutrophils and lymphocytes––was unrelated to female body size. Egg size of parasites also decreased with host eosinophil concentration, independently of female size. Male body size was unrelated to host immune parameters. Primates with the highest immune defence, therefore, harbour small female pinworms laying small eggs. These results are in agreement with theoretical expectations and suggest that life histories of oxyurid parasites covary with the immune defence of their hosts. Our findings illustrate the potential for host immune defence as a factor driving parasite life–history evolution.
Randomized trial of automated, electronic monitoring to facilitate early detection of sepsis in the intensive care unit*

Objective:To determine whether automated identification with physician notification of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome in medical intensive care unit patients expedites early administration of new antibiotics or improvement of other patient outcomes in patients with sepsis. Design:A prospective randomized, controlled, single center study. Setting:Medical intensive care unit of an academic, tertiary care medical center. Patients:Four hundred forty-two consecutive patients admitted over a 4-month period who met modified systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria in a medical intensive care unit. Intervention:Patients were randomized to monitoring by an electronic “Listening Application” to detect modified (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) criteria vs. usual care. The listening application notified physicians in real time when modified systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria were detected, but did not provide management recommendations. Measurements and Main Results:The median time to new antibiotics was similar between the intervention and usual care groups when comparing among all patients (6.0 hr vs. 6.1 hr, p = .95), patients with sepsis (5.3 hr vs. 5.1 hr; p = .90), patients on antibiotics at enrollment (5.2 hr vs. 7.0 hr, p = .27), or patients not on antibiotics at enrollment (5.2 hr vs. 5.1 hr, p = .85). The amount of fluid administered following detection of modified systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria was similar between groups whether comparing all patients or only patients who were hypotensive at enrollment. Other clinical outcomes including intensive care unit length of stay, hospital length of stay, and mortality were not shown to be different between patients in the intervention and control groups. Conclusions:Realtime alerts of modified systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria to physicians in one tertiary care medical intensive care unit were feasible and safe but did not influence measured therapeutic interventions for sepsis or significantly alter clinical outcomes.
Whole-Body Vibration Therapy for Osteoporosis: State of the Science

Clinical guidelines for osteoporosis recommend dietary and pharmacologic interventions and weight-bearing exercise to prevent bone fractures. These interventions sometimes have low adherence and can cause adverse effects. A proposed alternative or adjunctive treatment is whole-body vibration therapy (WBV), in which energy produced by a forced oscillation is transferred to an individual from a mechanical vibration platform. Whole-body vibration platforms are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for medical purposes. This review provides a broad overview of important issues related to WBV therapy for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Relying on key informants and a search of the gray and published literature from January 2000 to August 2011, the investigators found that the designs of WBV platforms and protocols for their use vary widely. The optimal target population for the therapy is not defined. Although WBV has some theoretical advantages, key informants have voiced several concerns, including uncertain safety and potential consumer confusion between low-intensity vibration platforms intended for osteoporosis therapy and high-intensity platforms intended for exercise. Finally, the scant literature did not establish whether WBV therapy leads to clinically important increases in bone mineral density or reduces risk for fracture.
Short-term MRI measurements as predictors of EDSS progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: grey matter atrophy but not lesions are predictive in a real-life setting

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the best biomarker of inflammatory disease activity in relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) so far but the association with disability is weak. Appearance of new MRI-lesions is used to evaluate response to immunotherapies in individual patients as well as being the most common primary outcome in phase-2 trials. Measurements of brain atrophy show promising outcomes in natural cohort studies and some phase-2 trials. From a theoretical perspective they might represent irreversible neurodegeneration and be more closely associated with disability. However, these atrophy measurements are not yet established as prognostic factors in real-life clinical routine. High field MRI has improved image quality and resolution and new methods to measure atrophy dynamics have become available. Objective To investigate the predictive value of MRI classification criteria in to high/low atrophy and inflammation groups, and to explore predictive capacity of two consecutive routine MRI scans for disability progression in RRMS in a real-life prospective cohort. Methods 82 RRMS-patients (40 untreated, 42 treated with immunotherapies, mean age 40 years, median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of 2, underwent two clinically indicated MRI scans (3 Tesla) within 5–14 months, and EDSS assessment after a mean of 3.0 (1.5–4.2) years. We investigated the predictive value of predefined classifications in low/high inflammatory and atrophy groups for EDSS progression (≥1.5 if baseline EDSS = 0, ≥1.0 if baseline EDSS <5, ≥0.5 for other) by chi-square tests and by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The classifications were based on current scientific or clinical recommendation (e.g., treatment response criteria). Brain atrophy was assessed with three different methods (SIENA, SIENAX, and FreeSurfer). Post-hoc analyses aimed to explore clinical data and dynamics of MRI outcomes as predictors in multivariate linear and logit models. Results Progression was observed in 24% of patients and was independent from treatment status. None of the predefined classifications were predictive for progression. Explorative post-hoc analyses found lower baseline EDSS and higher grey matter atrophy (FreeSurfer) as best predictors (R2 = 0.29) for EDSS progression and the accuracy was overall good (Area under the curve = 0.81). Conclusion Beside EDSS at baseline, short-term grey matter atrophy is predictive for EDSS progression in treated and untreated RRMS. The development of atrophy measurements for individual risk counselling and evaluation of treatment response seems possible, but needs further validation in larger cohorts. MRI-atrophy estimates from the FreeSurfer toolbox seem to be more reliable than older methods.
Effect of additives on fermentation of cassava leaf Silage and ruminal fluid of West African Dwarf goats

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of different additives on the fermentation quality of ensiled cassava leaves and its effects on the ruminal fluid parameters using eighteen West African dwarf goats. Cassava leaves were ensiled alone (ECF), with 5 % (w/w) molasses (ECFM) and caged layer waste (ECFP) respectively as additives for 30 days. Results of chemical composition of the additive and non-additive silages indicated that ensiling with 5 % molasses reduced the DM content from 252.4 g/kg in ECF to 238.9 g/kg in ECFM and increased with 5 % caged layer waste (ECFP) to 267.6 g/kg. The CP content of ECF was 207.6 g/kg and this decreased to 198.5 g/kg DM in ECFM. Addition of molasses and caged layer waste caused a reduction in the HCN contents from 95.8 mg/kg in non-additive silage (ECF) to 89.3 mg/kg in ECFP and 84.7 mg/kg in ECFM. The mean pH of non-additive silage of 3.66 was significantly (p 0.05) in the pH, BC and lactic acid concentration in both the non- additive and additive silages. Ammonia-nitrogen concentration (NH3-N) however, ranged signi-ficantly (p<0.05) from 15.93 ± 0.20 (mg/dL) in ECF to 22.43 ± 0.61 (mg/dL) in ECFP. The study showed that ensiling cassava leaves with 5 % molasses and caged layer waste improved the silage conditions and the ruminal fluid parameters of West African Dwarf goats.
Nourseothricin Acetyltransferease: A Positive Selectable Marker for Toxoplasma gondii

Molecular analysis of parasite genomes will require new molecular genetic tools. The nat1 gene of Streptomyces noursei encodes nourseothricin acetyltransferase, conferring resistance to the aminoglycoside antibiotic nourseothricin. Electroporation of nat1 cassettes into RH or Prugniaud strains of Toxoplasma gondii allows for selection of stable nourseothricin-resistant clones.
Bone Cell Autophagy Is Regulated by Environmental Factors

The goal of this investigation was to ascertain whether bone cells undergo autophagy and to determine if this process is regulated by environmental factors. We showed that osteocytes in both murine and human cortical bone display a punctuate distribution of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3, indicative of autophagy. In addition, we noted a basal level of autophagy in preosteocyte-like murine long bone-derived osteocytic (MLO)-A5 cells. Autophagy was upregulated following nutrient deprivation and hypoxic culture, stress conditions that osteocytes encounter in vivo. Furthermore, in response to calcium stress, the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor 1 regulated MLO-A5 autophagy. Finally, we showed that the more differentiated MLO-Y4 osteocyte-like cells exhibited a significant basal autophagic flux. Based on these findings, we suggest that raising the level of autophagic flux is a mechanism by which differentiated bone cells survive in a stressful environment.
Comparison of methods for parametric model order reduction of instationary problems

Dynamical systems of large order appear in many applications. For an efficient simulation it can become necessary to reduce the system dimension using a reliable model order reduction method, in particular in a many-query context when the system is to be solved for varying parameters and input signals. Nowadays, it is often required that the models include physical parameters to allow more flexibility in simulation. These parameters should be preserved in the reduced-order system; a task that motivates the development of new approaches to model order reduction referred to collectively as parametric model order reduction. In this work, we compare several methods for parametric model order reduction using common benchmark problems from the literature.
An Analysis of the Implementation and Effectiveness of Management by Objectives (MBO) in Texas State Government.

A study reviewed the progress of the 1978 Management by Objectives (MBO) and other management effectiveness programs initiated in Texas state agencies, 10 years after implementation. Questionnaires were distributed to a 25% random sample of executives, middle managers, and first level supervisors across the 11 largest state agencies. Over 1,700 responses were analyzed, and results addressed issues concerning the successful implementation of MBO, communication factors, outcome factors (i.e. satisfaction, commitment, and productivity), development needs of managers, and demographics. Findings revealed that even though differences exist across agencies, the MBO program has received wide adoption at the managerial level and is producing positive results. In addition, results indicated that the best predictors of effectiveness in Texas state agencies were good communication with the immediate supervisor, good communication with individuals in the agency, clear job objectives, and good downward communication from top management. (Seven tables of data and 42 references are appended.) (Author/MM) Reproductions suprl.Led by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES (MBO) IN TEXAS STATE GOVERNMENT 4) "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS 0 MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) M. Lee Williams Professor of Speech Communication Department of Speech Communicrtion Southwest Texas State University San Marcos, TX 78666 512-245-2166 Carol Whitcraft U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office oi Educatoonr Research and improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) C This document has been reproduced as received Iron) the perscn or otganization 0r/9/eating 11 P0,0 Changes have by en made to improve reprOCluClion quallty _ _ Po/n15 &knee or opir ions stated in this docu rnent do not necesseniv represent official OERI Position or POI cY Coordinator of the Governor's Executive Development Program LBJ School of Public Affairs Drawer Y, University Station University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 78713-7450 512-471-4962
Annexin A1 regulates neutrophil clearance by macrophages in the mouse bone marrow

Under homeostatic conditions, a proportion of senescent CXCR4hi neutrophils home from the circulation back to the bone marrow, where they are phagocytosed by bone marrow macrophages. In this study, we have identified an unexpected role for the anti‐inflammatory molecule annexin A1 (AnxA1) as a critical regulator of this process. We first observed that AnxA1−/− mice have significantly increased neutrophil numbers in their bone marrow while having normal levels of GM and G colony‐forming units, monocytes, and macrophages. Although AnxA1−/− mice have more neutrophils in the bone marrow, a greater proportion of these cells are senescent, as determined by their higher levels of CXCR4 expression and annexin V binding. Consequently, bone marrow neutrophils from AnxA1−/− mice exhibit a reduced migratory capacity in vitro. Studies conducted in vitro also show that expression of AnxA1 is required for bone marrow macrophages, but not peritoneal macrophages, to phagocytose apoptotic neutrophils. Moreover, in vivo experiments indicate a defect in clearance of wild‐type neutrophils in the bone marrow of AnxA1−/− mice. Thus, we conclude that expression of AnxA1 by resident macrophages is a critical determinant for neutrophil clearance in the bone marrow. —Dalli, J., Jones, C. P., Cavalcanti, D. M. , Farsky, S. H. , Perretti, M. , Rankin, S. M. Annexin A1 regulates neutrophil clearance by macrophages in the mouse bone marrow. FASEB J. 26, 387–396 (2012). www.fasebj. org
Static Test Data Volume Reduction Using Complementation or Modulo-$M$ Addition

Both test compaction and test data compression methods provide an opportunity for a tester to apply modified versions of each test, in addition to the original test. We take advantage of this opportunity to achieve additional test data volume reductions. One way to modify a test is to complement some or all of its bits. We represent the way in which modified tests will be obtained by a complementation vector. Experimental results demonstrate that, even when a test set has minimum or close-to-minimum size, the use of a complementation vector allows us to reduce the size of the stored test set further, and almost always below the known lower bound on the size of a test set. The use of a complementation vector is equivalent to a modulo-2 addition operation. We generalize it to modulo- M addition, for a constant M ≥ 2. With modulo-M addition, each stored test yields up to M tests. It is thus possible to reduce the size of the stored test set even further.
Long Run Price Performance of IPO Stocks in Bangladesh

This study was conducted to analyze the short and long run price performance of IPOs in Bangladesh. Based on a sample of 163 IPOs that were issued during the period between 1992 and 2006, this study documents short run out-performance and long run underperformance of IPOs in the secondary market. The short run out-performance of IPOs peaks in the first month of trading in the secondary market. In the long run IPOs under perform the industry and the market in general. But the underperformance to industry is much severe than underperformance to market. Further analyses reveal that the long run underperformance is much higher for IPOs issued in few years, particularly the hot issue periods. IPOs belonging to Leather, Engineering, Paper, Ceramic and Food industries underperform their respective industry and the market severely in the long run. On the other hand, IPOs belonging to Banking and Non-bank Financial Institutions industries outperformed the industry and the market significantly.
HOME TELEMONITORING FOR CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT: AN ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT

Objectives: There have been very few assessments of the economics of home telemonitoring, and the quality of evidence has often been weakened by methodological flaws. This has made it difficult to compare telehomecare with traditional home care for the chronic diseases studied. This economic analysis is an attempt to address this gap in the literature. Methods: We have analyzed the consumption of healthcare services by 95 patients with various chronic diseases over a 21-month period, that is, 12 months before, 4 months during home telemonitoring use, and over 5 months after withdraw of the technology. Results: Our findings indicate significant benefits to the home telemonitoring program as evidenced by large reductions in number of hospitalizations, length of average hospital stay, and, to a lesser extent, number of emergency room visits. Contrary to expectations, however, the number of home visits by nurses increased both during and after the telemonitoring intervention. In terms of the financial analysis, the telehomecare program resulted in significant savings: the equivalent of over CAD1,557 per patient as calculated on an annualized basis. This represents a net gain of 41 percent as compared to traditional home care. Conclusions: While the present economic analysis led to positive results, additional assessments should be conducted to confirm the cost-effectiveness of this mode of care delivery.
Core Specialization, Forecast Accuracy, and the Market for International Analysts

We investigate the relation between core specialization, earnings forecast accuracy, and the employment prospects of international equity analysts over the period 1996-2002. Specifically, we address the following issues: (1) Are analyst earnings forecasts more accurate for core stocks than for non-core stocks? (2) How is an analyst's forecast accuracy for core stocks affected by the inclusion of non-core stocks in her research portfolio? (3) Is there a relation between the size of the core and an analyst's overall accuracy, accuracy in core stocks, and accuracy in non-core stocks? (4) Does the market for analysts draw a distinction between performance in the core and non-core in making the job promotion (separation) decision? Seeking answers to these questions is important because the manner in which analyst research coverage is organized by brokerages has implications for the efficiency of information production in the economy. Our analysis suggests that forecast accuracy varies systematically across components of analysts' research portfolios, and some of this variation is attributable to the manner in which analysts are evaluated by the market for international analysts. Analysts who diversify their portfolios benefit from information spillovers that flow from core to non-core stocks, and may enjoy economies of scale in information production in the coverage of core stocks. Our evidence is also consistent with analysts focusing their coverage on the country-sector for which they have the greatest aptitude in researching stocks. Due to these influences, analysts produce the most accurate forecast when their portfolios are slightly diversified. While the extant literature focuses on the determinants of overall forecast accuracy, the novel aspect of our study is that it examines how forecast accuracy varies across components of analysts' research portfolios.