Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cognitive and Emotional Empathy in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

Background Empathy has been conceptualized as comprising a cognitive and an emotional component, the latter being further divided into direct and indirect aspects, which refer, respectively, to the explicit evaluation of the observer's feelings while attending someone in an emotional situation and to the physiological response of the observer. Empathy has been previously investigated in several neurological disorders. Objective This study is aimed at investigating empathy in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). We hypothesize that, due to deafferentation following their injury, SCI patients will display difficulty in the processing of emotional stimuli and blunted empathic responses as compared to healthy controls. Materials and Methods 20 patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) (12 males and 8 females, mean age = 50.9, standard deviation (SD) = 16.1 years; mean education = 10.9, SD = 4.1 years) were included in the study and compared to 20 matched healthy subjects. Participants were investigated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y) (STAI-Y), the Beck Depression Scale, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Moreover, participants were further evaluated by means of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), which explores both cognitive and emotional aspects of empathy, and through an experimental protocol based on the use of a modified version of the computerized Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET) to evaluate emotional (direct and indirect) empathy and the ability to judge the valence of complex emotional scenes. Results As compared to healthy controls, SCI patients reported higher scores on the Perspective-Taking subscale of the IRI, while, on the modified MET, they were less accurate in identifying the valence of neutral scenes, notwithstanding their spared direct and indirect emotional empathy ability. Furthermore, we found a significant negative correlation between the time interval since injury and the direct emotional empathy scores on the positive images, as well as a negative correlation with the indirect emotional empathy scores on both positive and neutral images, indicating a blunting of the empathic responses as time elapses. Conclusion Results suggest that SCI patients, when analyzing the meaning of emotional stimuli, tend to rely on a cognitive empathy strategy rather than on emotion simulation.
Efficacy of AVAST! (trademark) Fluridone Formulation Against Eurasian Watermilfoil and NOntarget Submersed Plants

Abstract : Experiments were conducted in a laboratory and an outdoor mesocosm system to evaluate the liquid AVAST fluridone formulation for control of Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). In addition, physiological assays were used to monitor plant injury during herbicide exposure. Eurasian watermilfoil was planted in 52-L aquaria, grown to precanopy condition (21 days), then dosed with 0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 microng L(exp -1) active ingredient (ai) fluridone for exposure times of 45 and 90 days. Elevated phytoene concentrations indicated herbicide exposure in all treated plants at 7 days after treatment (DAT). Visually, plants did not manifest symptoms of injury from fluridone until 14 DAT. Beta-carotene concentrations suggested that fluridone disrupted photosynthesis as soon as 7 DAT. Both formulations were effective in controlling Eurasian watermilfoil. Biomass decreased by 90 percent at all application rates following the 45-day exposure and decreased by 99 percent following the 90-day exposure time. No significant differences occurred between application rates at either exposure time. Based on these results, rates of 6, 12, and 24 microng ai L(EXP -1) fluridone were applied to Eurasian watermilfoil and four nontarget submersed aquatic species in an outdoor mesocosm system for a 56-day exposure time. Gradual herbicide dissipation in the mesocosms resulted in half-lives ranging from 23 to 24 days. Again, the AVAST fluridone formulation was effective in controlling Eurasian watermilfoil. Biomass was reduced by >85 percent at all doses compared to the untreated reference. The AVAST formulation did not significantly decrease biomass from wild celery (Vallisneria americana) and Illinois pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis) at any application rate. Biomass levels from elodea (Elodea canadensis) and sago pondweed (Stuckenia pectinata) were reduced at 12 and 24 microng ai L(EXP -1).
The effects of post stroke Captopril versus Losartan treatment on cerebral blood flow autoregulation after hemorrhagic stroke

Kyoto Wistar stroke prone hypertensive rats (SHRsp) lose the ability to regulate constant cerebral blood flow (CBF) in response to varying mean arterial pressures (MAP) after hemorrhagic stroke (HS). We tested the ability of Captopril (CAP) and Losartan (LOS) treatment to restore CBF autoregulation after stroke. CAP (50mg/kg/day) or LOS (35 mg/kg/day) were administered orally at the first signs of stroke. Laser Doppler techniques measured alterations in CBF in response to varying MAP (90 to 300 mmHg). Both post stroke treatments expanded the lifespan of SHRsp from 14 to > 60 days without greatly altering blood pressure. Two weeks before HS, SHRsp regulated near constant CBF up to an MAP of 200 mmHg. CBF regulation was lost at the first symptoms of stroke. CBF (relative to maximal flow) increased linearly with MAP and was 2 fold higher than pre‐stroke levels. Post stroke CAP and LOS treatment restored CBF regulation to pre‐stroke levels within 12 days. However, CAP treated SHRsp lost the ability to autoregulate CBF after 32 days of treatment whereas LOS treated rats retained this function to 60 days. It is possible that the ability of angiotensin II to stimulate AT‐2 receptors under conditions of AT‐1 receptor blockade by LOS may be of advantage in producing a more permanent restoration of cerebrovascular function after HS.
La résistance aux maladies fongiques de lignées de blé transgénique en plein champ

Certaines exploitations suisses utilisent des agents conservateurs chimiques pour conserver le foin humide. Pour reussir, le procede implique des connaissances precises quant aux teneurs en MS du fourrage et un dosage approprie de l'agent conservateur. Un essai a ete realise pour tester l'efficacite de l'agent conservateur Selko Heu, applique a raison de trois dosages distincts, dans un fourrage a deux teneurs en MS differentes. Une variante non traitee a servi de controle negatif. Au cours de ces controles negatifs, plusieurs densites ont par ailleurs ete examinees. Les temperatures ont ete relevees en continu pendant les trente jours d�essai. Les teneurs en MS et divers autres parametres ont egalement ete analyses, avant et apres cette periode. Le fourrage non traite s'est fortement echauffe dans les deux niveaux de MS et etait entierement moisi. Les resultats demontrent que plus le fourrage est compresse, plus il s'echauffe et s'altere. Par rapport aux controles negatifs, l'ajout de Selko Heu a permis d'eviter totalement ou partiellement l'echauffement et l'alteration du fourrage, dans les deux niveaux de MS etudies. La reussite de l'operation depend beaucoup d'un dosage approprie.
Modulation of PrP aggregation and cellular prion transfer

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal neurodegenerative diseases which affect many mammals, including humans. A unique feature involves the conversion of the prion protein (PrP) to an abnormal isoform. Previous studies indicate interconversion of PrP is associated with the binding of metals and glycosaminoglycans (GAGS) such as heparin. However, the impact of metals or heparin on the formation of disease-related PrP forms is not well understood. To determine whether metals and GAGs play a role in transfer of prion infection, a cell culture infection model was developed. Data from these studies show that prion infectivity was reduced with depletion of metals, but enhanced with the addition of heparin. Isothermal titration calorimetric experiments, a novel method to study heparin-PrP interactions, were performed to further classify heparin binding regions of PrP. Four sites were identified, and mutation analysis confirmed that at least two sites are located within the first 90 residues of the N-terminus. Finally, to address whether the effects seen in the cellular infection model were due to PrP-metal or PrP-GAG interactions, a aggregation method was developed to characterise recombinant PrP under physiologically relevant conditions. This is important to do as many in vitro prion conversion studies are performed in conditions not seen in vivo including extreme temperature or pH or in the presence of denaturants. The results of these studies showed that metals are able to significantly increase the conversion of PrP mutants containing deleted regions within the octameric repeat domain. In contrast, no significant promotional effect was seen with the heparin aggregation experiments. This result suggests a possible explanation of the cell culture data is that other cellular interactions besides PrP-heparin associations must be considered to fully account for these findings. This body of work establishes that PrP interactions with metals and glycosaminoglycans play a role in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies through prion conversion.
Freshness criteria based on physical and chemical modifications occurring in eggs during aging

The aim of this study was to investigate some physical and chemical modifications that take place in eggs during aging in order to propose objective criteria for judging egg freshness. The proportion of albumen, yolk, thick and thin albumen, pH and the content of pyroglutamic acid, uridine, glucose and uric acid in both albumen and yolk were investigated during the storage of eggs at different temperatures. Except for glucose and uric acid, all the variables considered changed during storage. Some of these can be considered useful indices of freshness and tentative suggestions for appropriate limits for grade A and A-extra eggs are given. The limits proposed for grade A eggs are the pH of the albumen ≤ 9.4, the thick to thin albumen ratio ≥ 0.4, the concentration of pyroglutamic acid and uridine in albumen ≤ 15 ppm and ≤ 50 ppm, respectively. A critical discussion of European Union regulations on eggs is also presented.
Development and use of parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae & Aphelinidae) for biological control of aphids in China

Abstract A review of aphid parasitoids in China with special emphasis on their production, utilization, and conservation is presented with a brief history of Chinese biological control. Twenty genera, 99 species of Aphidiidae and two genera, 11 species of Aphelinidae were recorded in China. Each parasitoid is listed with a brief description of aphids, host plants, areas of study such as taxonomy, biology, bionomics, geographic distribution, rearing, and literature citations. Achievements, status, and problems in aphid parasitoid production, utilization, conservation, and future prospects are detailed for dominant aphid parasitoids such as Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead, A. ervi Haliday and Aphelinus mali Haldeman. Finally, opportunities and challenges of commercialization of natural enemies, especially aphid parasitoids, in China, are analyzed and discussed.
D-loop deletion in the mitochondrial DNA of the Black Stork Ciconia nigra

The black stork Ciconia nigra is a migrant species which is poorly known and has a history of strong decline in the last century, with local extinctions and recolonizations in Central Europe. Few genetic studies have been reported for this species, and only a few conservative regions of DNA sequences are known. Using black stork samples from several European locations, we have been able to characterise a short variable region of Ciconia nigra mitochondrial D-loop. A 22 bp deletion was found, in comparison to available mitochondrial sequences from other stork species - Ciconia ciconia and Ciconia boyciana. This molecular data provides additional information on the unresolved phylogenetic relationships among storks of the genus Ciconia. This work is the first report on D-loop sequences from the black stork.
Water requirements in growth stages and effects of deficit irrigation on fruit productivity of drip irrigated Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata)

The field experiment on irrigation scheduling based on pan evaporation replenishment through drip irrigation system was conducted to find out the water requirements in critical growth stages of 8-10 years old bearing Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) during 2009-2012 at NRC for Citrus, Nagpur. In this trial five levels of pan evaporation based irrigation schedules with respect to critical water requirement, plant growth, soil and leaf nutrient status, yield and fruit quality was investigated. The irrigations were scheduled on percent of pan evaporation replenishment (ER) in various stages of growth and fruit development. The different stages considered in this study are: Stage-I (Jan-Feb), Stage-II (Mar-Apr), Stage-III (May-Jun), Stage-IV (Jul-Aug), Stage-V (Sep-Oct) and StageIV (Nov-Dec). The treatments were irrigation schedule with 30% ER in stage-I, III, V and 40% ER in stages II, IV and VI (T1), irrigation schedule with 40% ER in stage-I, III, V and 60% ER in stages II, IV and VI (T2), irrigation schedule with 60% ER in stage-I, III, V and 80% ER in stages II, IV and VI (T3), irrigation schedule with 80% ER in stage-I to VI (T4) and irrigation schedule with 30% ER in stage-I to VI (T5) with three replications in Randomized Block Design. The study indicated that the irrigation water requirement of drip irrigated Nagpur mandarin scheduled at 80% ER in stages I to VI ranged from 35.3 to 188.1 litres during 2009-2012. The growth of plant height (4.73 m) and stock girth (66.37 cm) was more in irrigation scheduled at 80% ER in stages I to VI. There is a significant in increase in canopy volume (68.97 m3) in irrigation scheduled at 80% ER in stages I to VI. The average fruit yield recorded was 16.09 tonnes per ha. in irrigation scheduled 80% ER in stages I to VI. The average fruit weight, Total Soluble Solids, juice percentage was high in irrigation at 80% ER in stages I to VI in comparison with other irrigation schedules. The study revealed that the irrigation scheduling at critical water need affect the plant growth, yield and fruit quality of Nagpur mandarin with drip irrigation scheduling less than 80% ER in all stage.
Screening of Brazilian Marine Algae for Hemagglutinins

Twenty Brazilian marine algal species (sixteen red and four green) were analyzed for hemagglutinating activity using trypsin-treated erythrocytes of human A, B, 0 and AB groups, in addition to those of chicken, rabbit, sheep, goat and cow. Saline extracts from ten marine algae agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes, whereas seven, six, and four extracts agglutinated chicken, cow and sheep erythrocytes, respectively. Goat erythrocytes were not agglutinated by any of the algal extracts tested. The non-specific agglutination of human red blood cells was observed in extracts of two red algae (Gracilaria ferox and Hypnea musciformis) and one green alga (Caulerpa cupressoides).
Evaluation of Blood Pressure Control Medicines Using Health and Medical Checkup Data in Japan: Alternative Methods for Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Many people take medicines to control high blood pressure (BP), or hypertension. Randomized clinical trials (RCT) are usually used for the evaluation of effects of medicines. However, RCT have some serious problems. Data and Methods: We evaluated the effects of BP medicines in Japan using a dataset containing 113,979 cases. We employed four statistical methods in the analysis. First, we simply compared the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of individuals with and without BP medicines. We then used a regression model with a dummy variable, representing taking medicines or not. We replaced the dummy variable by its expected value, and estimated the regression model again. Finally, we selected individuals who had both taken and not taken medicines at different times. The effect of sample selection was also considered in the estimation. Results: For the simple comparison, SBP with BP medicines was 11 mmHg higher than without medicines. In the next regression analysis, SBP with BP medicines was still 5 mmHg higher. When the dummy variable was replaced by its expected value, SBP with medicines decreased by 7 mmHg. For individuals taking medicines at some times and not at others, SBP decreased by 9 and 8 mmHg in models with and without a sample bias correction, respectively. Conclusion: The methods eliminated some problems of RCT and might be attractive. However, we obtained contradictory conclusions depending on the statistical methods employed, despite using the identical dataset. Statistical methods must be selected carefully to obtain a reliable evaluation. Limitations: The dataset was observatory, and the sample period was only 3 years.
EFFECT OF EVIDENCE BASED CLINICAL NURSING PRACTICE GUIDELINES ON PRACTICE OF NURSING PERSONNEL RELATED TO ORAL CARE OF CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS

Background: Critical Care Nursing is a specialized field of Nursing requiring focused knowledge and technical skills, compassionate care and skilful practice. This study was designed to develop and test Clinical Nursing Practice Guidelines (CNPG) for oral care of critically ill patients Methods: Clinical Nursing practice Guidelines were formed with evidence sources and consensus from relevant stakeholders. Quasi experimental pretest posttest research design was used to assess the effect of CNPG on oral care practice of Nursing personnel. Data was collected with non participant observation. Results : Implementation of Clinical Nursing practice Guideline showed a significant difference in the oral care practice of nursing personnel . Conclusion: The study highlights how evidence gathered from research studies can be translated into bedside care through Clinical Nursing Practice Guidelines. It also shows the effect of the CNPG on practice of nurses.
Electroencephalographic and cardiovascular responses to castration in Bos indicus bull calves and the mitigating effects of lidocaine or meloxicam administration

Australian Bos indicus cattle are legally able to be castrated without anaesthesia or analgesia up to the age of 12 months. Castration surgery is known to cause pain to cattle, though a reliable and consistent assessment of pain must be first optimised before analgesic therapies can be tested for this procedure. Studies in conscious cattle have demonstrated the difficulty in isolating pain responses from the stress of handling and human contact. This study aimed to investigate electroencephalographic and cardiovascular responses indicative of nociception in Bos indicus bull calves undergoing surgical castration whilst under general anaesthesia. Further, the mitigating effects of administration of local anaesthetic or systemic meloxicam on these electroencephalographic and cardiovascular responses were investigated. A total of 36 six-to-eight month old Bos indicus bull calves were included in this prospective, randomised, experimental study. Animals were randomly allocated to three groups of twelve (groups L – 260 mg of 2% lidocaine subcutaneously and intratesticularly five minutes prior to castration, M - 0.5 mg kg-1 of meloxicam subcutaneously 30 minutes prior to castration and C – no preoperative analgesia administered). Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with halothane (0.9-1.1%) in oxygen. Electroencephalogram, heart rate (HR) and mean blood pressure (MAP) were recorded for 300 seconds prior to (baseline, B) and from the start of surgery (first testicle incision, T1). HR and MAP were compared at ten-second intervals for 90 seconds from the start of T1. Median frequency (F50), spectral edge frequency (F95) and total power of the electroencephalograph (Ptot) were analysed using area-under-the-curve comparing T1 to B. All electroencephalographic variables were significantly different between B and T1. No differences in F50 were found between groups during T1. F95 and Ptot were significantly different between group L and groups C and M during T1. There were transient significant changes in HR and MAP in groups L and M compared to group C during the 20-50 second periods. This study is the first description of electroencephalographic and cardiovascular responses to castration in Bos indicus cattle, and the effect of two different analgesic strategies in reducing these responses. Administration of lidocaine prior to castration significantly attenuated the acute post-operative nociceptive response. In addition, the preoperative administration of meloxicam attenuated the cardiovascular, but not the electroencephalographic, responses to castration in the peracute period. These findings provide support for the preoperative administration of lidocaine and give impetus for further research into the peracute anti-nociceptive effects of meloxicam for castration in Bos indicus bull calves.
A case study of the institutional development of Mount Carmel College of Nursing

Since 1984, 21 specialized (single-purpose) colleges o f nursing offering the bachelor o f science degree in nursing have come into being in the United States. There is a lack of information regarding the organizational development and issues encountered in the development o f these institutions. This study describes and analyzes the institutional development o f Mount Carmel College of Nursing according to the framework developed by Nadler, Gerstein, and Shaw (1992). The institutional design process and analysis of selected issues encountered in the transformation of Mount Carmel School o f Nursing, a three-year nondegree diploma-granting institution, to Mount Carmel College o f Nursing, a specialized degree-granting institution o f higher education is described. During the transformation process, the School o f Nursing closed in June 1993. The College enrolled its first class in August 1990 and graduated this class o f students in May 1994. North Central Association regional accreditation was received by the College in August 1994, and the nursing program received accreditation by the National League for Nursing in March 1995. The methodological approach to this case study was based largely on the methodology suggested by Yin (1989). The case study covered the time period from 1985 to March 1995. Analysis of the development process and related issues in the development of Mount Carmel College o f Nursing caused this writer to conclude that (a) the utilization o f organizational design theory and (b) the use o f an appropriate organizational design model would facilitate the development process o f new institutions o f higher education.
The Impact of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy on the Frequency of Ventricular Arrhythmias

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has a proven role in improving mortality in patients with heart failure and ventricular dyssynchrony. However, the effects of biventricular pacing (CRT) on ventricular arrhythmia susceptibility have not been definitely established, and data regarding the risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) with CRT has been limited and conflicting.The aim of this study was to compare the burden of VA in the short term before and after an upgrade to a cardiac resynchronization device in order to avoid the long term effects of myocardial remodeling.Methods: We analyzed 44 consecutive patients with severe LV systolic dysfunction who underwent an upgrade from a single chamber defibrillator to biventricular defibrillator due to worsening heart failure status.Results: CRT was associated with a decrease in VA in patients with high arrhythmic burden, in women and in patients older than 65.Conclusion: In this study we provide convincing evidence that in patients with identical electrophysiological substrate, biventricular pacing alone is associated with a decrease in VA burden.