Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Balantidium, Cryptosporidium and Giardia species infections in indoor and outdoor pig production units in Croatia

IN order to maximise profit, outdoor production has been implemented on many pig production units in Croatia (Akos and Bilkei 2004). The low animal density on outdoor units positively influences the growth performance of young pigs in units suffering problems with respiratory diseases (Docic and Bilkei 2001) or Lawsonia intracellularis (Bona and Bilkei 2003). However, studies from Germany and Hungary have shown that outdoor production exerts a negative effect on the performance of weaned piglets (Bolcskei and others 1996), growing-finishing pigs (Clark and Bilkei 2003) and breeding sows (Karg and Bilkei 2002) suffering infections with pathogenic Escherichia coli and Ascaris suum. Giardia duodenalis, Balantidium coli and Cryptosporidium species are foodborne, waterborne or environmental pathogens. From the point of view of the practising veterinarian, all three pathogens represent a neglected field in outdoor pig production. This short communication describes a study to evaluate the performance of Giardia-, Balantidiumand Cryptosporidium-infected pigs in outdoor and indoor systems, raised under identical nutritional management programmes and in the same geographical area. Faecal samples were collected from 17 outdoor and 21 indoor pig production units in Croatia (female line F1 Landrace x Large White, mated to Duroc or Landrace boars) in July and August 2004. The units suffered from subclinical enzootic pneumonia causing respiratory health problems, subclinical swine dysentery and proliferative enteropathy causing production losses. Pretrial serological testing, by using an indirect ELISA, had shown that all units were positive for antibodies to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae; immunofluorescent antibody tests showed positive titres to Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and L intracellularis in all the units. The samples were collected from the rectum of five growing-finishing pigs on each unit. All the samples were analysed for the presence of Giardia, Balantidium and Cryptosporidium species antigens by ELISA, using the ProSpec T Giardia, Balantidium and Cryptosporidium Microplate Assays (Alexon-Trend). The average daily gain and the mortality of the pigs were evaluated and statistically compared by using
The Caco-2 cell line in studies of drug metabolism and efflux

Preclinical prediction of intestinal drug absorption is a continuous challenge in drug development. The absorption of a drug from the gastrointestinal tract is a complicated process, involving passive membrane permeability parameters as well as many active transport and metabolism components. Therefore, well characterised and reliable in vitro methods for studying drug absorption are constantly devised and under refinement. In this work, the Caco-2 cell line, a widely used model for intestinal drug absorption, was assessed as a platform to study the interplay of phase II metabolism and MRP (multidrug resistance associated protein) -mediated efflux. Expression and function of several metabolic enzymes and efflux proteins have been observed in the intestine and many drug conjugates produced by UDP-glucunorosyltransferases (UGTs) and sulfotransferases (SULTs) are substrates for the apical MRP2 and/or the basolateral MRPs. The kinetics of these interactions is complex, but the human origin and intestinal-like differentiation under appropriate culture conditions appoint Caco-2 cells as a potential platform for these studies. The Caco-2 cell line studied was thoroughly characterised with regards to different efflux proteins and UGT enzymes. The expression and functionality of MDR1 (multidrug resistance protein 1, P-glycoprotein) and several MRP proteins as well as UGT enzymes were observed in the studied cells, while the expression of SULTs and GSTs (glutathione-S-transferases) have been previously reported by other groups working with Caco-2. In fully differentiated Caco-2 monolayers the expression of most MRPs and UGTs was significantly higher compared to less differentiated cells grown for shorter periods or in flasks, an important observation with direct implications for the sensitivity and specificity of higher throughput cell-based screening assays. Other factors such as the passage number of the cells and the use of inducers also affected the mRNA expression levels. Based on the observed efflux and phase II metabolism activities, a Caco-2 based screening method was developed for compounds interacting with MRP2, either directly or via their phase II metabolites. The kinetics of these interactions were investigated more closely in permeability experiments, where conjugation of model compounds and the efflux of their metabolites (indomethacin glucuronide, paracetamol sulfate and naphthol glucuronide) were detected. Substrate or product inhibition of the UGT enzyme(s) was evident at higher 1naphthol concentrations, whereas the complementary role of basolateral efflux proteins was observed at the highest indomethacin concentration as the apical efflux was saturated. Pharmacokinetic modelling could be utilized as a tool for further interpretation of the results. The combined results of these studies go a long way in improving our understanding of the Caco-2 cell line and its suitability as a model system for drug absorption and metabolism in the intestine.
Low-income students and college attendance: An exploration of income expectations

Some have hypothesized that unrealistic expectations regarding their futures may explain the weak link between expectations and realizations among low-income (particularly minority) youth. Unfortunately, there is little evidence characterizing students' expectations around the time that they make college decisions that would allow one to study this hypothesis. Copyright (c) 2004 by the Southwestern Social Science Association.
A pattern language for tool construction and integration based on the tools and materials metaphor

Why do people prefer to use certain software systems and why do they have problems using others? What is the quality within certain software that makes people soon feel familiar using it and lets them work efficiently? These are questions that we, like a lot of people who develop and use application systems in their everyday work, asked ourselves. We believe that the key to this quality (in the sense of [Pir74]) is found in systems that allow people to work according to their qualification and needs while using their skills and competence. In order to develop software with this quality we, as a group, have put together many of the things which have proved useful in software engineering over the last decades and have integrated these methods and techniques into a unifying approach – the Tools and Materials Metaphor [BCS92, BZ92]. It has guided us and other developers during analysis and design and has helped to envision and finally build systems of quality. The Tools and Materials Metaphor is an approach with a specific underlying view of human work:
Gender Role Ideology, Homophobia and Hate Crime: Linking Attitudes to Macro-Level Anti-Gay and Lesbian Hate Crimes

ABSTRACT The relationship between traditional gender role ideology and homophobia has frequently been suggested in social science literature. Few studies, however, have empirically examined the relationship between these cultural conceptions, and far fewer studies have linked gender roles and homophobia to actual behaviors. This study fills a gap in the existing literature by incorporating attitudinal measures of gender role ideology and homophobia from the General Social Survey with macro level indicators of gender stratification when examining acts of gay and lesbian hate crime victimization. Specifically we estimate whether macro level indicators of attitudes toward gays and lesbians and gender views have direct and indirect effects on incidents of hate crime. We find that homophobia and gender stratification directly influence the incidents of hate crime victimization. Although we also find an empirical relationship between gender role ideology and homophobia, homophobia does not mediate the relationship between gender role ideology and incidents of hate crimes based on sexual orientation. Implications of our findings are discussed.
A NDIR-based CO2 monitor system for wireless sensor networks

The ever-increasing application of wireless sensor networks in many different fields is causing a growing demand of low-cost energy-efficient sensors for monitoring physical variables such as temperature, pressure or gas concentration. This paper presents a conditioning system for low-cost non-dispersive infrared gas sensors used to measure the CO2 concentration in an open air environment. It mainly consists of an amplification and filtering circuit that adapts the small and noisy signal provided by the sensor to a signal which can be easily read by a low-power microcontroller. The proposed interface presents a good tradeoff between energy consumption and accuracy, compatible with the energy requirements of wireless sensor network applications. Test performed connecting the system interface to a node sensor in a wireless sensor network using a simple communications protocol only causes a 5% reduction in the operating life of the node.
Hope Theory, Measurements, and Applications to School Psychology.

School psychologists contribute greatly in helping students, teachers, and schools in general to become more hopeful. As such, we see school psychologists serving in the role of “caring coaches” (Snyder, 1994) who help parents, students, teachers, and staff members to reach their education-related goals. In this article, we provide information so as to expand the already positive influence of school psychologists. To this end, we describe the tenets of hope theory, along with two brief hope scales that can be used with young children and adolescents. Moreover, we summarize the hope research conducted mainly in our laboratory, along with its implications for use by school psychologists.
Prediction and embodiment in dialogue

We argue that embodiment (via use of action-based representations) plays a crucial role in dialogue. To illustrate the argument we use studies of language comprehension. We first compare two distinct literatures, one concerned with the activation of non-linguistic action-based representations of meaning, and the other with representations of linguistic form associated with language production. We then argue that both types of embodiment support emulation and prediction. Hence, such embodiment enables addressees to anticipate both what their partner is likely to say next and what she is likely to do. We conclude by suggesting that such anticipation is essential for fluent and timely social interactions.
From coefficients to samples: a new approach to SOS optimization

We introduce a new methodology for the numerical solution of semidefinite relaxations arising from the sum of squares (SOS) decomposition of multivariate polynomials. The method is based on a novel SOS representation, where polynomials are represented by a finite set of values at discrete sampling points. The techniques have very appealing theoretical and numerical properties; the associated semidefinite programs are better conditioned, and have a rank one property that enables a fast computation of the search directions in interior point methods. The results are illustrated with examples, and a preliminary implementation is compared with previous techniques.
Health Promotion and Life Course Dynamics: Transitions of Brazilian Elderly

Background: Understanding life transitions is important to help people to achieve their developmental needs. No studies have examined the patterns of responses to life transitions, eliciting the experiences of growing old of retired Brazilian older adults. Aim: To identify and describe the patterns of responses to life transitions of retired Brazilian older adults. Design: Using a theoretical perspective of transition as a guide, a qualitative, secondary narrative research design was incorporated to obtain data from 11 interviews. Method: Initial data collection took place during a broader study on the influence of people’s working life history. Eleven autonomous and independent persons, 64 - 82 years old, were interviewed at a geriatric outpatient unit in Rio de Janeiro to obtain their perceptions of old age. The secondary, narrative holistic-content analysis focused on the patterns of responses to life transitions. Results: The first turning point was a childhood event and the next was their first job. The third turning point was moving to another place/house or another city, the fourth starting a family, and retirement was the last turning point. Conclusions: While older people may feel environmentally disconnected throughout life, their patterns of response, together with the available resources and prevention/interventions influence the transition process. Health Promotion actions are needed at vulnerable points during the transition process, thereby facilitating the health outcomes.
Origin of n- and p-type conductivity in undoped α-PbO: role of defects

First-principles calculations have been applied to study the crystallographic defects in α-PbO in order to understand an origin of n- and p-type conductivity in otherwise undoped α-PbO. It was found that deposition in an oxygen-deficient environment defined in our simulations by the Pb-rich/O-poor limit stimulates a formation of O vacancies and Pb interstitials both characterized by quite low formation energies ∼1.0 eV. The O vacancy, being occupied by two electrons, shifts the balance of electrons and holes between these two defects to an excess of electrons (four electrons against two holes) that causes n-type doping. For the Pb-poor/O-rich limit, an excess of oxygen triggers the formation of the O interstitials characterized by such a low formation energy that a spontaneous appearance of this defect is predicted. It is shown that the concentration of O interstitials is able to reach an extreme magnitude equal to the number of possible defect sites (∼1022 cm−3). The localized state formed by the O interstitial is occupied by two holes and because there are no other defects in reasonable concentration to balance the hole redundancy, p-type doping is induced.
A heuristic for logical data buffer allocation in multicore platforms

In the past memory allocation and communication between processors and memories in current MPSoC's, due to the small design space, was not a big challenge. Through advanced MPSoC's and improving techniques to interface Dynamic RAM (DRAM), allocation of logical data buffers to physical memories is no longer manageable manually. We present a heuristic for the mapping of logical data buffers to physical memories and the routing of data flows. Our heuristic use an approximation scheme to obtain an fractional solution, and randomized rounding. We evaluate our implementation for different values of e using representative data of the Long Term Evolution Standard.
Racemic salbutamol and levosalbutamol in mild persistent asthma: A comparative study of efficacy and safety

Aim: The effect of monotherapy with racemic salbutamol and levosalbutamol on symptoms, quality of life, and pulmonary function has been assessed and compared in mild persistent asthma. Materials and Methods: A randomized, open, parallel clinical study was conducted on 60 patients of mild persistent asthma. After baseline assessments, salbutamol was prescribed to 30 patients and levosalbutamol to another 30 for 4 weeks. The efficacy variables were change in asthma symptom scoring, pulmonary function test, and Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ) scoring. At follow-up, the patients were re-evaluated and analyzed by statistical tools. Results: Shortness of breath (P<0.001), chest tightness (P=0.033), wheeze (P=0.01), cough (P=0.024), and overall asthma symptom score (P<0.001) were significantly decreased in the levosalbutamol group in comparison to the salbutamol group. Results of MiniAQLQ revealed that improvement in symptoms (P=0.018), activity limitations (P=0.03), environmental stimuli (P=0.013)-related scoring and overall MiniAQLQ scoring (P<0.001) was statistically significant in the levosalbutamol group. Percentage reversibility of forced expiratory volume at one second (P=0.034), forced vital capacity (P=0.029), peak expiratory flow rate (P=0.0003) was found to be superior in the levosalbutamol group. Conclusion: Levosalbutamol was found to be superior compared to recemic salbutamol in mild persistent asthma.
The human female orgasm: a critical evaluation of its proposed reproductive functions

The review critically examines two functional claims involving the human female orgasm. The first is that it is involved in the transport of spermatozoa by its release of oxytocin to create uterine contractions that suck up more semen at a faster rate. There is no physiological evidence for this scenario and the published experimental studies with oxytocin do not mimic the conditions of natural coitus. There is no evidence that orgasm has a role to play in reproductive fitness. The second claim is that as penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI) and its induced orgasm is the only sexual arousal that involves possible reproduction, evolution has rewarded it, and not clitorally-induced arousal (which it punishes), with highly specific health rewards. Apparently these cannot be generated by clitoral stimulation, moreover, its employment previous to and even at the same time as PVI negates these health advantages. The studies rely not only on women's retrospective self-reports of the genital structures creating their orgasms, which are known to have an “ambiguity problems”, but also on correlations from which causality is claimed or inferred. They have not been confirmed by independent researchers. Despite all women having the same genital structures from which sexual arousal is generated and that orgasm is not involved in reproduction via sperm transport, it is more than surprising that evolution has apparently created a situation where the majority of women do not or cannot generate orgasms from PVI alone and are thus imbued with poorer physical and mental health. This is even more unexpected when it is known that PVI actually stimulates the clitoris through thrusting traction on its attached ligaments via the anterior vaginal wall.
Genes without prominence: a reappraisal of the foundations of biology

The sequencing of the human genome raises two intriguing questions: why has the prediction of the inheritance of common diseases from the presence of abnormal alleles proved so unrewarding in most cases and how can some 25 000 genes generate such a rich complexity evident in the human phenotype? It is proposed that light can be shed on these questions by viewing evolution and organisms as natural processes contingent on the second law of thermodynamics, equivalent to the principle of least action in its original form. Consequently, natural selection acts on variation in any mechanism that consumes energy from the environment rather than on genetic variation. According to this tenet cellular phenotype, represented by a minimum free energy attractor state comprising active gene products, has a causal role in giving rise, by a self-similar process of cell-to-cell interaction, to morphology and functionality in organisms, which, in turn, by a self-similar process entailing Darwin's proportional numbers are influencing their ecosystems. Thus, genes are merely a means of specifying polypeptides: those that serve free energy consumption in a given surroundings contribute to cellular phenotype as determined by the phenotype. In such natural processes, everything depends on everything else, and phenotypes are emergent properties of their systems.
Geometric methods for unknown-state, unknown-input reconstruction in discrete-time nonminimum-phase systems with feedthrough terms

Unknown-state, unknown-input reconstruction in systems with invariant zeros is intrinsically limited by the fact that, for any invariant zero, at least one initial state exists, s.t. when the mode of the invariant zero is suitably injected into the system, the output remains identically equal to zero. Nonetheless, the problem has recently attracted considerable interest, mainly due to its connections with fault diagnosis and fault tolerant issues. This paper discusses the synthesis of a system capable of reconstructing the generic initial state and the generic bounded input in discrete-time nonminimum-phase linear systems with feedthrough terms. The procedure described is developed within the geometric approach.
Aligning business and information systems thinking: a cognitive approach

Business-information systems (IS) alignment has become an important strategic imperative for organizations competing in the global economy. Recent research (Reich and Benbasat [56]) indicates that building a shared understanding between business and IS executives is one way of strengthening this alignment. This paper describes a study that examines the cognitive basis of shared understanding between business and IS executives. Using Personal Construct Theory (Kelly [36]), this study uses cognitive mapping techniques to explore the commonalities and individualities in the cognition between these executives. Eighty business and IS executives in six companies participated in this study. The results indicate that a higher level of cognitive commonality is positively related to a higher level of business-IS alignment. This is supported by findings that greater diversity in cognitive structure and cognitive content of business and IS executives coincide with a lower level of alignment. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed.
Particulate Bioglass Compared With Hydroxyapatite as a Bone Graft Substitute

Bioactive ceramics, notably hydroxyapatite, have been used clinically in various situations in which bone augmentation and restoration are required. Particulate material has been used either alone or in conjunction with freeze dried or autologous bone, with variable clinical success. In this study a bioactive glass, 45S5 Bioglass, has been compared with hydroxyapatite in an animal model to discover whether the 2 major disadvantages of hydroxyapatite may be overcome. These are the difficulty of placing and retaining the particulate in the defect and the length of time needed before full bony restoration is achieved. Bioglass is shown to be easy to manipulate and hemostatic and allows full restoration of bone in 2 weeks, rather than the 12 weeks needed for the particulate hydroxyapatite to produce a comparable response. The Bioglass particulate is used up in the process, and any problems that may be associated with the production of a composite of bone and biomaterial are avoided in the fully restored bone. In any procedure that requires bony augmentation, this rapid response to Bioglass is expected to provide a clinical advantage.
A query language for biological networks

MOTIVATION Many areas of modern biology are concerned with the management, storage, visualization, comparison and analysis of networks, but no appropriate query language for such complex data structures yet exists. RESULTS We have designed and implemented the pathway query language (PQL) for querying large protein interaction or pathway databases. PQL is based on a simple graph data model with extensions reflecting properties of biological objects. Queries match subgraphs in the database based on node properties and paths between nodes. The syntax is easy to learn for anybody familiar with SQL. As an important feature, a query may require a certain structure in the database to exist but return a different subgraph. We have tested PQL queries on networks of up to 16,000 nodes and found it to scale very well. AVAILABILITY The code is available on request from the author.