Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Bayesian hierarchical assessment of gastric emptying with the linear, power exponential and modified power exponential models

Background Many studies assessed gastric retention over time utilizing different models, mostly with scintigraphic measures at varied endpoints from limited number of normal volunteers. With a standardized 4‐h gastric emptying (GE) protocol, we compared model fit by the linear, power exponential (PE), and modified power exponential (MPE) models to contrast differences in GE among different groups based on clinical diagnosis and gender.
Pornography Viewing among Fraternity Men: Effects on Bystander Intervention, Rape Myth Acceptance and Behavioral Intent to Commit Sexual Assault

College men's exposure to pornography is nearly universal, with growing viewing rates nationwide. Substantial research documents the harmful effects of mainstream, sadomasochistic, and rape pornography on men's attitudes and behavior related to sexual assault. The present study surveyed 62% of the fraternity population at a Midwestern public university on their pornography viewing habits, bystander efficacy, and bystander willingness to help in potential rape situations. Results showed that men who view pornography are significantly less likely to intervene as a bystander, report an increased behavioral intent to rape, and are more likely to believe rape myths.
Role of Exotoxin and Protease as Possible Virulence Factors in Experimental Infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Evidence is presented which suggests that both the proteases and the exotoxin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa multiplying in situ in a burned mouse model are virulence factors. A 50% decrease in functional elongation factor 2 (EF-2) was seen 16 h postinfection in the liver of mice infected with the toxigenic, protease-producing P. aeruginosa strain M-2; at the time of death EF-2 was depleted by 80%. This correlates with a reduction in the level of protein synthesis in the liver of infected animals. Treatment with specific antitoxin extended the mean time to death and blocked depletion of EF-2. Administration of gentamicin 24 h after infection caused rapid clearance of bacteria and extended the mean time to death, but all animals treated with either antitoxin or gentamicin eventually died. In contrast, treatment with both antitoxin and gentamicin provided virtually complete protection. Infection of mice with P. aeruginosa WR5 (protease-producing, nontoxigenic) or with P. aeruginosa PA103 (toxigenic, slow protease producer) required several logs more bacteria and did not result in the same extensive depletion in EF-2 content. When challenge with PA103 was supplemented by injection of purified Pseudomonas protease, the mean time to death was shortened and significant reduction in liver EF-2 was observed. It is suggested that both toxin and proteases are required for the full expression of virulence in Pseudomonas infections.
Minimum Wage Increases and Individual Employment Trajectories

Using administrative employment data from the state of Washington, we use short-duration longitudinal panels to study the impact of Seattle’s minimum wage ordinance on individuals employed in low-wage jobs immediately before a wage increase. We draw counterfactual observations using nearest-neighbor matching and derive effect estimates by comparing the “treated” cohort to a placebo cohort drawn from earlier data. We attribute significant hourly wage increases and hours reductions to the policy. On net, the minimum wage increase from $9.47 to as much as $13 per hour raised earnings by an average of $8-$12 per week. The entirety of these gains accrued to workers with above-median experience at baseline; less-experienced workers saw no significant change to weekly pay. Approximately one-quarter of the earnings gains can be attributed to experienced workers making up for lost hours in Seattle with work outside the city limits. We associate the minimum wage ordinance with an 8% reduction in job turnover rates as well as a significant reduction in the rate of new entries into the workforce.
Characterization of lipoteichoic acid binding to polymorphonuclear leukocytes of human blood

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were shown to possess specific binding sites for lipoteichoic acid (LTA). LTA binding was reversible and time and temperature dependent. Scatchard plot analysis revealed an apparently single population of 6.6 X 10(6) LTA binding sites per PMN with a dissociation constant of 5.6 microM. Attachment of an avirulent, unencapsulated, M-negative strain of group A streptococci to PMN was inhibited by LTA, but not by other bacterial somatic antigens tested. Occupation of 30% of the LTA binding sites resulted in greater than 70% inhibition of streptococcal attachment to PMN. In contrast, LTA failed to block attachment of Escherichia coli or antibody-coated streptococci, indicating that binding sites for E. coli and the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G are distinct from those for LTA. Immunofluorescent studies demonstrated that LTA remained uniformly bound to PMN membranes for as long as 2 h at 37 degrees C. Cross-linking of PMN-bound LTA with anti-LTA resulted in rapid capping of LTA receptor sites. The results suggest that LTA is a monovalent ligand interacting with mobile receptors in the plasma membrane of PMN.
Expression of cytokeratin 10, 13, and involucrin as prognostic factors in low stage squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Background. The identification of pretreatment markers with predictive significance for the presence of lymph node metastases and treatment outcome in low stage cancer of the uterine cervix is clinically important. Because the presence of differentiation‐related markers varies in this type of cancer, the authors investigated whether loss of these markers is related to a poor clinical course.
Lessons Learned and Wisdom Earned: A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Mentoring Experiences of Ontario's Vice-Principals

Succession planning, leadership development, effective instructional methods, and successful mentorship practices are vital to the growth of today’s school boards. Existing research shows those willing to grasp the reins of leadership have benefitted from a district’s formalized mentoring program. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to determine the mentoring needs of beginning Vice-Principals and determine their views of the most critical areas that need addressing in the mentoring program at the Ottawa Valley District School Board (a pseudonym). This study uses a phenomenological design to explore the experiences of ten administrators who are new to the role of Vice-Principal. The setting for this study is the Ottawa Valley District School Board. Interviews, observations, and a focus group were used to collect data. Data was analyzed by organizing data into computer files. In turn, these files were converted into appropriate text units for analysis by hand and computer. Moustakas’ (1994) Seven Steps of Data Analysis were used to arrive at meaning and essence for the participants. Triangulation, member checking, rich thick description, and bracketing are used to address issues of trustworthiness.
Atomic force microscopy study regarding the influence of etching on affected and sclerotic dentine.

UNLABELLED Aim of study is to compare the effect of etching with ortho-phosphoric acid on sound dentine, affected dentine and sclerotic dentine through AFM analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The group study included 30 extracted third molars, 20 with acute and chronic carious lesions and 10 intact teeth. Teeth were sectioned in long axe to prepare sections with carious lesions surrounded by sound dentine. The sound teeth were sectioned to a depth of dentine comparable with carious lesions depth. The sections were etched with 37% ortho-phosphoric acid. The surface roughness was determined initially and after etching using AFM analysis. The results were expressed as relative variation of squared roughness. RESULTS The values of relative roughness indices were between 2.78 and 3 for sclerotic dentine, 3.18 and 3.26 for sound dentine, 3.32 and 3.38 for affected dentine. The highest values of roughness index were recorded for the affected dentine samples. Significant statistically values were recorded when comparing relative roughness indices for sclerotic dentine with relative roughness indices for affected dentine and sound dentine. CONCLUSIONS clerotic dentine has significant higher resistance to the action of ortho-phosphoric acid than affected dentine and sound dentine. The lowest resistance to the action of etching agent was recorded for the affected dentine.
Effects of Price Regulation on Stock Returns of Publicly Traded Companies in the Healthcare Industry

During the 1980s, governmental changes were enacted to suppress the rising costs of healthcare. The primary forms of legislation were the implementation of the Prospective Payment System (PPS), the passage of Deficit Reduction Act and the proposal to shift capital costs to a prospective payment system. The main emphasis of the study is to examine the price reaction of hospital management companies for the above governmental changes. Using an intervention analysis, the findings show that the market reacted negatively at the passage of PPS and the future proposal to implement capital costs on a prospective basis for hospital management companies. In addition, hospital management companies level of risk increased for all the key event dates.
Search for hepatitis C virus extrahepatic replication sites in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: Specific detection of negative‐strand viral rna in various tissues

The existence of extrahepatic reservoirs of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication remains highly controversial. We searched for the presence of HCV‐RNA negative strand in various tissues from eight HCV‐infected patients who died of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)‐related complications. Negative‐strand RNA was detected by a Tth‐based reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), which was optimized for sensitivity and strand specificity on synthetic RNA templates. This assay was capable of detecting about 102 genomic Eq molecules of the correct strand while unspecifically detecting ≥108 genomic Eq molecules of the incorrect strand. Negative‐strand viral RNA was detected in all but one liver, in lymph nodes (5 cases), in pancreas (5 cases), in adrenal gland (2 cases), in thyroid (2 cases), in bone marrow (1 case), and in spleen (1 case). These data suggest a possible presence of HCV replication sites outside the liver, at least in AIDS patients. Whether these findings relate to various extrahepatic manifestations of HCV infection remains to be determined.
Performance of QOS parameters for IPTV through NGN

This paper describes in details the IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) system. Also, measurement methods of the QoS parameters are analyzed, debating a practical application for evaluation of IPTV traffic parameters. QoS (Quality of Service) parameters such as IP Packet Transfer Delay (IPTD), IP Packet Delay Variation (IPDV) and packet loss Ratio (IPLR). The recent Internet is working under TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) protocol stack and is based on two main fundamentals, which are: network offers only one class of service named best effort service, and network resources are overprovisioned as possible in order to minimize packet losses and packet delays. The Internet providers aim to provide packet transfer to users as fast as possible, However they are far from guaranteeing, so called, rigid quality of service (QoS) that is measured by the maximum allowable values of such parameters as IPTD, IPDV and IPLR. Furthermore, network abilities of packet transfer determine the range of applications which users may use with appropriate satisfaction these applications such as IPTV. ANYLOGIC Professional6 software was used to analysis the QoS parameters for IPTV and our results help in critically analyzing QOS parameters for IPTV applications.
Poly‐β‐hydroxyalkanoates consumption during degradation of 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol by Sphingopyxis chilensis S37

Aims: To analyse the possible effect of poly‐β‐hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) consumption on 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (2,4,6‐TCP) degradation during starvation by Sphingopyxis chilensis S37 strain, which stores PHAs and degrades 2,4,6‐TCP.
Stability and folding of the SH3 domain of bruton's tyrosine kinase

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) plays an important role in B cell development. Deletion of C‐terminal 14 amino acids of the SH3 domain of BTK results in X‐linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA), an inherited disease. We report here on the stability and folding of SH3 domain of BTK. Peptides corresponding to residues 216–273 (58 residues) and 216–259 (44 residues) of BTK SH3 domain were synthesized by solid phase methods; the first peptide constitutes the entire SH3 domain of BTK while the latter peptide lacks 14 amino acid residues of the C‐terminal. The 58 amino acid peptide forms mainly a β‐barrel type folding unit. Although small and lacking disulfide bonds, this peptide is extremely stable to thermal denaturation. Based on circular dichroism measurements, its melting temperature was found to be high, 82°C at pH 6.0. However, the Gibbs free energy (ΔG H 2O ) of the intrinsic stability and thermodynamic spontaneity of unfolding were found to be low, 2.6 kcal/mol by Gdn·HCl denaturation experiments, as compared to 12 kcal/mol obtained for larger single domain proteins, indicating poor stability of SH3 domain. Addition of 500 mM of Na2SO4 increased the free energy change ΔG H 2O to 4.0 kcal/mol, suggesting an ionic strength effect. The truncated peptide fails to fold correctly and adopts random coil conformation in contrast to 58 amino acid β‐barrel peptide, which exhibits high thermal stability but normal or low stability at ambient temperature. These results, to our knowledge the first to delineate the importance of C‐terminal in structural integrity of SH3 domains, indicate also that improper folding and/or poor stability of mutant SH3 domain in BTK likely causes XLA. Proteins 28:465–471 © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
THE RADICALIZATION OF THE WEST AND THE CLASH OF WORLD ORDERS An interview with RICHARD SAKWA, Professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent (Great Britain)

The interview with Richars Sakwa has been held in dramatic days when the New Cold war became an evident reality and the British-Russian crisis provoked the fall of diplomacy between Russia and vast majority of the western countries. The discussion was based on ideas of Richard Sakwa’s recent book «Russia against the Rest. The Post-Cold War Crisis of World Order»: Cold war and Cold peace phenomena and the evolution of post bipolar world. The radicalization of the West puts Russia and the whole world in a very challenging situation when the International society is about to break up and the world orders are almost clashed.
An Update on the Potential of North American Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) to Transmit West Nile Virus

Abstract Since first discovered in the New York City area in 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has become established over much of the continental United States and has been responsible for >10,000 cases of severe disease and 400 human fatalities, as well as thousands of fatal infections in horses. To develop appropriate surveillance and control strategies, the identification of which mosquito species are competent vectors and how various factors influence their ability to transmit this virus must be determined. Therefore, we evaluated numerous mosquito species for their ability to transmit WNV under laboratory conditions. This report contains data for several mosquito species not reported previously, as well as a summary of transmission data compiled from previously reported studies. Mosquitoes were allowed to feed on chickens infected with WNV isolated from a crow that died during the 1999 outbreak in New York City. These mosquitoes were tested ≈2 wk later to determine infection, dissemination, and transmission rates. All Culex species tested were competent vectors in the laboratory and varied from highly efficient vectors (e.g., Culex tarsalis Coquillett) to moderately efficient ones (e.g., Culex nigripalpus Theobald). Nearly all of the Culex species tested could serve as efficient enzootic or amplifying vectors for WNV. Several container-breeding Aedes and Ochlerotatus species were highly efficient vectors under laboratory conditions, but because of their feeding preferences, would probably not be involved in the maintenance of WNV in nature. However, they would be potential bridge vectors between the avian–Culex cycle and mammalian hosts. In contrast, most of the surface pool-breeding Aedes and Ochlerotatus species tested were relatively inefficient vectors under laboratory conditions and would probably not play a significant role in transmitting WNV in nature. In determining the potential for a mosquito species to become involved in transmitting WNV, it is necessary to consider not only its laboratory vector competence but also its abundance, host-feeding preference, involvement with other viruses with similar transmission cycles, and whether WNV has been isolated from this species under natural conditions.
Association between childhood sleep problems and perinatal factors, parental mental distress and behavioral problems

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of age, gender and perinatal risk factors on the risks for sleep problems, and investigate the relation between childhood sleep problems and children's behavioral syndromes and parental mental distress in early and middle childhood. We recruited a representative sample of 1391 children, ages 4–9, from nine kindergartens and three elementary schools by using a multistage sampling method. Parents of child participants completed a questionnaire including perinatal risk factors, sleep habits and problems, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ). A mixed model was used for data analysis to address cluster effect from the same classes and schools. Results showed that boys suffered from more sleep problems than girls. Early insomnia, sleep terrors and enuresis decreased with ages, but sleepwalking increased with ages. Perinatal exposure to alcohol, coffee and non‐prescribed medication, vaginal bleeding, artificial delivery, first‐born order and higher parental CHQ score (≥4) were significantly associated with several childhood sleep problems. In addition, children with sleep problems had higher T‐scores of the eight behavioral syndromes derived from the CBCL. Our findings indicated that the childhood sleep problems were associated with perinatal risk factors, parental psychopathology and children's behavioral problems.
The seasonal variation of thermophilic campylobacters in beef cattle, dairy cattle and calves

The epidemiology of clinical cases of campylobacter in temperate climates shows a striking seasonality. In the search for a seasonal environmental reservoir changes in the carriage rate and population size of campylobacters in bovine hosts with time have been measured. Most probable number (MPN) methodology was used to enumerate thermophilic campylobacters in samples taken from the small intestines of beef cattle at slaughter and the fresh faeces of four dairy herds and new‐born calves. Statistical analyses revealed significant evidence for seasonal periodicity in the data from dairy herds (P = 0·044). Not only was there a departure from constancy within a 12‐month interval but these data revealed a true seasonality, that is, the same periodicity in numbers from one year to the next. Each herd had two peaks per year, in approximately spring and autumn. Peaks coincided in herds on neighbouring farms but those on farms in the north preceded those on farms in the south by 2 and 1 months, respectively (P = 0·0057). Intestinal carriage by beef cattle at slaughter was 89·4% (n = 360) with an average MPN campylobacters per gram fresh weight (MPN gfw−1) of 6·1 × 102. Average MPN gfw−1 in faeces from the dairy herds and calves were 69·9 (S.D. 3) and 3·3 × 104 (S.D. 1·7 × 102). There was no evidence of seasonal periodicity in the size of the campylobacter population in beef cattle at slaughter. Calves were campylobacter free at birth but became colonized within a few days.
Identification and characterization of two novel truncated but functional isoforms of the somatostatin receptor subtype 5 differentially present in pituitary tumors.

CONTEXT Somatostatin and its related peptide cortistatin exert multiple actions on normal and tumoral tissue targets through a family of receptors termed somatostatin receptor (sst)1-5. Despite the considerable advances in the knowledge on these receptors and their (patho)physiological roles, there is still evidence that additional receptors for these peptides should exist to fully explain their actions. OBJECTIVE The growing number of spliced variants found in similar receptor families, often present in tumors, and results from our group obtained on sst5 from other species (pig) led us to explore the existence of new human sst5 isoforms. DESIGN AND RESULTS A rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR approach on samples from a human pituitary tumor and a cell line enabled identification of two novel alternatively spliced sst5 receptor variants. The sequences obtained encode putative proteins that correspond to truncated isoforms of five and four transmembrane domains (TMDs), accordingly named sst5TMD5 and sst5TMD4, respectively. Both novel receptors show a differential expression pattern in normal tissues and are also present in pituitary tumors of diverse etiology including nonfunctioning adenomas, corticotropinomas, somatotropinomas, and a prolactinoma. In contrast to the predominant plasma membrane localization of full-length sst5, both sst5TMD5 and sst5TMD4 show a preferentially intracellular localization. Despite their truncated nature, both receptors are functional, as shown by their ability to mediate selective, ligand-induced rises in free cytosolic calcium concentration. Specifically, whereas sst5TMD5 is selectivity activated by somatostatin compared with cortistatin, cells transfected with sst5TMD4 almost exclusively respond to cortistatin and not to somatostatin. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the existence of two previously unidentified sst5 spliced variants with distinct distribution in normal tissues and pituitary tumors, unique ligand-selective signaling properties, and subcellular distribution, which could contribute to somatostatin and cortistatin signaling in normal and tumoral cells.