Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Women and absenteeism: health or economics?

Full-time workers in the United States lost 3.5 percent of scheduled work time due to unscheduled work absences in 1978. Nearly 7 out of 100 workers experience at least one spell of absence a week. However, U.S. absentee rates have remained fairly constant over the past several years and are generally well below the rates of Western Europe (for example, West Germany lost 11 percent of scheduled work time to unscheduled work absences, Holland lost 10 percent, and Italy lost 15 percent in 1972-73). Part of the higher absentee rates in Western Europe is thought to be caused by the high prevalence of sick leave availability in these countries. Work loss from unscheduled absences is substantially higher among female workers than among male workers in the United States. In May 1978, women lost 4.3 percent of scheduled work time compared to 3.1 percent for men. Absence incidence rates are also higher for women; 8.6 percent of women workers experience a spell of absence during a typical work week compared to 5.4 percent of men workers. The large majority of unscheduled work absences are due to illness and injury. The average female worker lost 5.4 days from work for health reasons compared to 4.7 days for the average male worker in 1979. There have been several recent research efforts on the causes and consequences of worker absenteeism. Steve Allen (1981) found evidence that observed differences in absentee rates between the sexes could be accounted for by differences in marginal earnings and the flexibility of the work schedule. My 1978 study found that women generally lost fewer days from work than men for most common illnesses. There has been little research to date on gender differences in work loss due to illness that takes into account differences in the occupational distribution of workers, and differences in marginal earnings as well as variations in health status. This paper reports on an empirical investigation of the determinants of gender differences in illness related absentee rates. In this investigation, labor market characteristics such as differences in earnings and occupational mix between men and women, differences in health status, and the impact of family are analyzed using a regression framework.
Use of Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Enzyme Analysis to directly detect and identify Salmonella typhimurium in food

A primer set of oligonucleotides (Salm 3 and Salm 4) from the invA gene of Salmonellae has been evaluated for the specific detection of Salmonella spp. by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This primer set amplified 33 Salmonella serovars but did not amplify 16 non‐Salmonella bacteria. Moreover, after PCR amplification, it was possible to identify Salm. typhimurium by restriction enzyme analysis. The PCR‐RE method developed could represent a helpful tool for detecting Salmonella spp. , and for directly and rapidly identifying Salm. typhimurium in food.
Plantar fasciitis: a prospective randomized clinical trial of the tension night splint.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a tension night splint (TNS) as part of a treatment regimen for the management of plantar fasciitis. DESIGN The design was a randomized clinical trial. SETTING The setting was a university-based primary care sports medicine clinic in California. PATIENTS Forty patients with plantar fasciitis entered the study (age range, 20-74 years; average age, 45.7 years). Excluded from the study were patients with other concomitant ankle or foot pathology. Thirty-two patients (21 women, 11 men) completed the study with 33 treated feet. INTERVENTION The patients were randomized to one of two treatment groups. The control group (n = 17) received standard treatment of antiinflammatory medication (Ibuprofen), a Viscoheel sofspot heel cushion (Bauerfeind USA, Kennesaw, GA, U.S.A.) and a stretching program for the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. The tension night split group (n = 16) received the same standard treatment protocol and additionally an office manufactured custom fitted posterior splint to be used at night. Those patients in the control group not responding to treatment after 8-12 weeks were crossed over to the tension night splint group. Patients were reviewed every 4 weeks for symptom assessment and compliance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measures were subjective assessment of pain (Visual analogue scale), plantar fascial tenderness, and ankle range of motion. Patients were discharged from either arm of the trial when they had resumed normal activities with minimal or no discomfort. This end point was recorded as weeks to cure. MAIN RESULTS There was no significant difference in the demographics of the two groups (p > 0.05). In the control group, 6 of 17 were cured after an average interval of 8.8 weeks. The remaining 11 of 17 control group patients were crossed over to receive a TNS in addition to control modalities. Following cross over 8 of 11 of this group were cured after an average of 13 weeks. Three of the 11 failed to significantly respond. Of the 15 patients (16 feet) originally randomly assigned to the TNS group 16 of 16 were cured with an average treatment time of 12.5 weeks. The TNS treatment protocol was a significantly more efficacious treatment regime (p < 0.05). Thus, of 33 cases of plantar fasciitis treated in this study three failed treatment. CONCLUSION When used in combination with a visco-elastic heel pad, stretching program and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the TNS is an effective treatment of plantar fasciitis.
Phosphate buffers in ophthalmology - Risk of corneal calcification

Phosphate buffers are used in many ophthalmological preparations for adjustment of the pH. The use of eye medication containing a phosphate buffer in patients with pronounced damage to the corneal surface can result in corneal calcification as a result of precipitation of calcium phosphate. On the basis of individual case reports, ophthalmological preparations containing phosphate were subjected to a benefit-risk assessment in Europe in 2011/2012.
In Situ Detection of Aspergillus 18s Ribosomal RNA Sequences Using a Terminally Biotinylated Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) Probe

Locked nucleic acids (LNA) are modified nucleotides where a ribonucleoside is linked between the 2′-oxygen and the 4′-carbon atoms with a methylene unit. LNA oligonucleotides exhibit increased thermal stability toward complementary DNA and RNA with characteristically higher melting temperatures. In situ hybridization (ISH) using LNA oligonucleotide probes targeting fungal ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences has not been described. This study details an ISH procedure by using a biotin-labeled LNA probe targeting Aspergillus spp.18s rRNA sequences. A genus-specific 3′ terminally biotin-labeled oligonucleotide probe was commercially synthesized by using a mixture of DNA (60%) and LNA (40%). A rapid, 2-hour, nonisotopic ISH procedure was developed and performed on 20 culturally proven formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cases of Aspergillus spp. By ISH, the LNA probe effectively detected Aspergillus spp. rRNA sequences in all specimens. Compared with a DNA probe with the same sequence, the LNA probe produced a stronger signal. ISH with the Aspergillus-specific LNA probe was negative on culture-proven cases of other fungal pathogens including Zygomyces and Fusarium. ISH with an LNA oligonucleotide probe targeting Aspergillus 18s rRNA sequences is useful for rapidly detecting Aspergillus spp. in paraffin-embedded tissue specimens. This test could be used when fungal pathogens are observed in tissue but cultures are negative or have not been performed. ISH with LNA probes may be useful for detecting a variety of fungal pathogens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens.
Common U.S. Math Standards

The United States has never had national standards or curricula for mathematics. Instead, each state decides, for example, what version of high-school algebra should be taught and how to assess whether students have learned it. In March 2010, the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers released Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English language arts and mathematics (www.corestandards.org). The goal is to have all states adopt these as their standards, making more uniform the knowledge and skills expectations for students in preparation for success in college and careers.
Divisible Load Scheduling on Multi-level Processor Trees

Divisible Load Theory (DLT) is an effective tool for blueprinting data-intensive computational problems. Heuristic algorithms have been proposed in the past to solve for a DLS (Divisible Load Schedule) with result collection on heterogeneous star networks. However scheduling on heterogeneous multi-level trees with result collection is still an open problem. In this thesis, new heuristic algorithms for scheduling divisible loads on heterogeneous multi-level trees (singleand twoinstallment) including result collection are presented. Experiments are performed on both random networks and cluster networks. Results show that scheduling using multi-level trees produces lower solution times compared to the traditional star network in the majority of cases, however efficiency of resources in multi-level trees tends to be lower, i.e., more processors were used. Cluster results with multi-level trees are found to outperform the star when there are enough clusters available to provide good overlap of communication and computation. Experiments on random networks with varying levels of heterogeneity of resources show that multi-level trees outperform star networks in the majority of cases. Experiments were conducted comparing schedules with and without latency costs. The results from all schedules where latency was considered had signifiantly lower solution times and higher efficiency of resources. Overall, scheduling on single-installment multi-level trees in either clusters or random networks had the lowest solution times, but the star had highest efficiency of resources.
A Unified Approach to Motion Control of Mobile Manipulators

This paper presents a simple on-line approach for motion control of mobile manipulators comprising a manipulator arm mounted on a mobile base. The proposed approach is equally applicable to nonholonomic mobile robots such as rover-mounted manipulators and holonomic mobile robots such as tracked robots and compound manipulators. For wheeled mobile robots, the nonholonomic base constraints are incorporated directly into the task formulation as kinematic constraints. The configuration control approach is ex tended to exploit the redundancy introduced by the base mobility to perform a set of user-specified additional tasks during the end- effector motion while satisfying the nonholonomic base constraints (if applicable). This approach treats the base nonholonomy and the kinematic redundancy in a unified manner to formulate new task constraints. The computational efficiency of the proposed control scheme makes it particularly suitable for real-time implementation. Two simulation studies are presented to demonstrate the applica tions of the motion control scheme to a rover-mounted arm (non holonomic system) and to a tracked robot (holonomic system).
Double intratracheal instillation of keratinocyte growth factor prevents bleomycin‐induced lung fibrosis in rats

Alveolar re‐epithelialization is necessary in the repair of damaged alveolar epithelium after lung injury. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) has been shown to be a potent proliferation and differentiation factor for rat alveolar type II cells. The present study examined whether KGF would prevent bleomycin‐induced lung fibrosis. Adult rats were anaesthetized and recombinant human KGF (rhKGF) (150 μg/kg) or saline was injected intratracheally at 48 h before and 24 h after bleomycin (Bleo, 5 mg/kg) instillation. Seven and 14 days after the last administration, rat lungs were processed for lung physiology, immunohistochemistry, and in situhybridization. Double instillation of KGF prevented the loss of body weight and reduction in total lung capacity (TLC) due to Bleo, and markedly attenuated the protein accumulation and mRNA expression of collagen types I and III and the decreased expression of surfactant protein mRNAs in the fibrotic lesions of Bleo‐treated rats. KGF may play an important role in maintaining alveolar epithelium and repairing the damaged epithelium after lung injury. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Urinary fluoride excretion in fluoride exposed workers with diminished renal function.

Studies were made on the usefulness of measureing the fluoride con-centration in the serum and urine as an index for the health care of hydrofluoric acid (HF) workers, particulary for those with diminished renal function. Renal clearance of fluoride (CF), the amount of fluoride filtered by the glomeruli per minute (FF) and tubular reabsorption of fluoride (TrF), which were calculated from the serum concentration, as well as the quantity concurrently excreted in the urine and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), were investigated in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and healthy controls after the oral administration of sodium fluoride (as 4 mg F-) with water loading. After the administration the 24-hour excretion of fluoride in the patients with CRF was significantly lower (p<0.0.01) than controls. CF, FF, and TrF were also lower in the patients. CF and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were well correlated (r= +0.87) with CF averaging 48% of the Ccr. Elevated concentrations of fluoride were observed in the serum of patients with CRF and HF workers. Three HF workers who had clinical evidence of renal failure showed a higher level of serum fluoride. However, their urinary level of fluoride showed normal values. The results showed that the urinary excretion of fluoride decreased with the reduction of renal function. Moreover, compared to urinary levels the fluoride concentration in the serum may be a more direct indicator of exposure in patients with kidney hypofunction.
Interactions between Photosynthesis and Respiration in the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Characterization of Light-Enhanced Dark Respiration)

The rate of respiratory O2 consumption by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cell suspensions was greater after a period of photosynthesis than in the preceding dark period. This “light-enhanced dark respiration” (LEDR) was a function of both the duration of illumination and the photon fluence rate. Mass spectrometric measurements of gas exchange indicated that the rate of gross respiratory O2 consumption increased during photosynthesis, whereas gross respiratory CO2 production decreased in a photon fluence rate-dependent manner. The rate of postillumination O2 consumption provided a good measure of the O2 consumption rate in the light. LEDR was substantially decreased by the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea or glycolaldehyde, suggesting that LEDR was photosynthesis-dependent. The onset of photosynthesis resulted in an increase in the cellular levels of phosphoglycerate, malate, and phosphoenolpyruvate, and a decrease in whole-cell ATP and citrate levels; all of these changes were rapidly reversed upon darkening. These results are consistent with a decrease in the rate of respiratory carbon flow during photosynthesis, whereas the increase in respiratory O2 consumption during photosynthesis may be mediated by the export of photogenerated reductant from the chloroplast. We suggest that photosynthesis interacts with respiration at more than one level, simultaneously decreasing the rate of respiratory carbon flow while increasing the rate of respiratory O2 consumption.
Proactive estimation of the video streaming reception quality in WiFi networks using a cross-layer technique

The quality of service (QoS) in a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network can not be guaranteed due to intermittent disconnections, interferences and so forth because they reduce considerably the necessary QoS for multimedia applications. For that reason it is essential a software as the one we present in this paper that evaluates if there are the appropriate conditions to receive the streaming measuring the congestion, radio coverage, throughput, lost and received packets rate, and so on. Our software makes a proactive estimation using a bottom-up cross-layer technique measuring physical level parameters, Round Trip Time (RTT) and getting traffic statistics for the overall WiFi network and for each ongoing Real Time Streaming Protocol/Real Time Protocol (RTSP/RTP) streaming session. Experimental results show a high percentage of good decisions of the software to detect the wireless channel degradation and its recovery.
Acceptable age for prophylactic surgery in children with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a.

AIMS Germline mutated RET proto-oncogene, causing multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN)-2a syndrome is the indication for prophylactic total thyroidectomy. Literature regarding the risk and the extent of early surgical intervention is scarce and the optimum age for surgery is still controversial. To optimize management in these young children we evaluate our experience and results. PATIENTS AND METHODS From 1990 to 2001 preventive total thyroidectomy was performed in 13 MEN-2a gene carriers (4 boys and 9 girls; median age 7 (4-14) years). Preoperative assessment, surgical procedure, pathological examination, postoperative complications and treatment results were studied. RESULTS Surgery existed of a total thyroidectomy alone (n=3) in children with normal basal calcitonin and in combination with tracheo-esophageal exploration (n=6) or central compartment dissection (n=4) in case of abnormal calcitonin levels. Eight children presented with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), three (median: 5 (4-12) years) with microscopic MTC and five (median 6 (4-14) years) with frank invasive MTC. Four of these five patients were younger than 6 years. Except for long-lasting hypoparathyroidism in one patient there were no complications. At a median follow-up of 6.5 years all patients are disease free. CONCLUSION MTC in RET mutated MEN-2a gene carriers in childhood are found at the age of 4 years. Therefore, DNA testing should be done preferably before that age. Preventive surgery can be performed safely at that age and may be limited to total thyroidectomy when baseline calcitonin levels are normal.
Temocillin efficacy in experimental Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis after infusion into rabbit plasma to simulate antibiotic concentrations in human serum

An infusion system was developed to simulate in the plasma of rabbits the concentrations of temocillin in human serum measured after administration of a 2-g intravenous bolus dose. The efficacy of therapy with this infusion against experimental Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis was compared with that of a conventional bolus dose to the animals. The marked difference between the elimination half-life (t1/2) of temocillin in rabbit plasma and human serum (0.3 and 5 h, respectively) was reflected in concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The mean peak concentration after infusion occurred 3.5 h later than after bolus dosing, and levels were more prolonged (t1/2 in CSF was 6.3 h compared with 0.83 h following the bolus dose). After infusion, the mean viable count in CSF decreased by 4 log10 CFU/ml, whereas the bolus dose was ineffective because of the rapid fall to subinhibitory concentrations. These results suggest that the infusion system used is valuable for experimental studies with antibacterial agents whose elimination kinetics differ markedly between animals and humans.
Effect of fermented porcine placenta on physical fatigue in mice

The fatigue spreads among the people who live under stressful life and brings about a negative impact on physical function. Here we evaluated the anti-fatigue effects of fermented porcine placenta (FPP) and main constituents, lysine (Lys) and leucine (Leu) with treadmill stress test and forced swimming test (FST) in animal models. The mice were administrated with FPP, Lys, and Leu for 21 days. After treadmill exercise, FPP, Lys, and Leu significantly reduced fatigue-related biochemical parameters, including lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, creatine kinase, urea nitrogen, cortisol, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas superoxide dismutase activity and glycogen levels were significantly increased by FPP, Lys, and Leu. In the FST, FPP, Lys, and Leu significantly decreased immobility times and up-regulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in brain. Furthermore, FPP, Lys, and Leu significantly decreased production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and IL-4 through blockade of caspase-1/nuclear factor-κB pathway in stimulated splenocytes. In addition, FPP, Lys, and Leu significantly promoted proliferation of splenocytes. In conclusion, these findings suggest the potential of FPP as a novel functional food for the regulation of fatigue.
Zinc-Coated Carbonate Apatite Derived From Avian Eggshell for Potential Use as Bone Substitute. Part I: Preparation and Properties

Purpose:To develop antibacterial bone substitutes derived from avian eggshell using microwave processing to convert natural calcium carbonate (CaCO3) into zinc-coated carbonate apatite (CHA). Methods:Zinc-coated carbonate apatite was prepared using domestic microwave and then characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA). The trial animal study was conducted by filling different bone substitutes into 5-mm-diameter standard defects on the parietal bone of New Zealand rabbits to observe new bone formation for 8 weeks. Results:SEM, XRD, FT-IR, and EDXA confirmed characteristics of zinc-coated CHA derived from avian eggshell using microwave method. Histological analysis demonstrated that the defects filled with carbonate apatite had more calcified bone and less uncalcified bone formation than other groups. Conclusions:The present research demonstrated the efficient use of microwave in the conversion of natural CaCO3 into CHA with zinc coating. The examined properties showed the potential use of the new material as an antibacterial bone substitute in oral surgery. The trial animal study implied favorable osteoconductive ability of carbonate apatite in new bone formation.
Hepatic lipase polymorphism and increased risk of peripheral arterial disease

Background. Hepatic lipase plays a key role in the metabolism of pro‐atherogenic and anti‐atherogenic lipoproteins affecting their plasma level as well as their physico‐chemical properties. We hypothesized single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of the hepatic lipase gene to be associated with an increased risk for peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
A new case of Yq microdeletion transmitted from a normal father to two infertile sons

During the last few years, microdeletions of the long arm of the Y chromosome, involving loci AZFa, AZFb, and AZFc, have been identified as a major cause of infertility, leading to the disruption of genes involved in spermatogenesis. These microdeletions are usually de novo mutations, but in six cases transmission from fertile fathers to infertile sons has been reported. In four cases, the transmission occurred to a single son, and in one of these a widening of the deletion was shown.1–4 In the remaining two cases, the microdeletion was transmitted to multiple sons, resulting in different defects of spermatogenesis.5,6 Here, we describe a third family with a Yq microdeletion transmitted by a father to his two infertile sons.