Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Natural History of Individuals With Asymptomatic Disc Abnormalities in Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Predictors of Low Back Pain–Related Medical Consultation and Work Incapacity

Study Design. Prospective study on individuals with asymptomatic lumbar disc abnormalities detected in magnetic resonance imaging. Objectives. To determine the natural history of asymptomatic disc abnormalities in magnetic resonance imaging and to identify predictors of future low back pain–related medical consultation and work incapacity. Summary of Background Data. The natural history of individuals with asymptomatic disc herniations has not been well established, but the high rate of lumbar disc alterations recently detected in asymptomatic individuals by magnetic resonance imaging demands reconsideration of a pathomorphology-based explanation of low back pain and sciatica. Methods. Forty-six asymptomatic individuals who had a high rate of disc herniations (73%) were observed for an average of 5 years (range, 54–72 months). Four classes of variables (medical data including magnetic resonance imaging–identified disc abnormalities, general psychological factors, physical job characteristics, and psychosocial aspects of work) were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Results. Disc herniations and neural compromise did not significantly worsen at follow-up, whereas disc degeneration progressed in 17 individuals (41.5%). Minor episodes of low back pain occurred in 19 individuals (41.3%), 6 of whom had to seek medical treatment and 5 of whom had to stop work temporarily. The requirement for low back pain–related medical consultation was predicted with high accuracy by listlessness, job satisfaction, and working in shifts (P < 0.001). Work incapacity was best predicted by physical job characteristics, job disaffection, and working in shifts (P < 0.01). Conclusion. Physical job characteristics and psychological aspects of work were more powerful than magnetic resonance imaging–identified disc abnormalities in predicting the need for low back pain–related medical consultation and the resultant work incapacity. However,the conclusions are still preliminary, and replication of the findings in larger and more representative study samples is needed.
India : Education Sector Development in the 1990s, A Country Assistance Evaluation

World Bank lending in education has taken place through a unique working relationship in line with India's principle of self-sufficiency and domestic development. Until the late 1980s, the government of India strongly resisted external funding for education programs. Subsequently, the goal of universal elementary education resulted in demand for additional resources, leading the department of education (DOE) to review its policy on external funding in education. The Bank's continued efforts towards a dialogue with DOE aimed at confidence building also contributed to this change in policy. Since 1980, the Banks investments in education in India have grown from an almost negligible amount to 2 billion dollars. The Bank has approved four vocational and technical education and training (TVET) projects and six basic education projects. Overall, their capacity increased more than 50 percent, by roughly 100,000 student places, and expansion often exceeded targets. The operations evaluation department (OED) has rated project performance as satisfactory or highly satisfactory, though substantial improvements are still needed in industry linkages, quality of trainers, and academic flexibility.
The role of emotional intelligence in B 2 B customer relationships An analysis of a Finnish recruitment company

This master’s thesis examines the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in business-tobusiness personal selling in a company that operates in the recruiting industry in Finland. The objective was to discover how EI is manifested and which of its elements are highlighted in the analyzed context. A growing body of research suggests that EI plays a central role in buyer-seller interaction and that it can significantly contribute to sales success, which makes it an important topic to be studied. This study takes a qualitative perspective and an interpretive approach, which is built on the fundamental idea of a shared, subjective reality. My aim was to gain understanding of how salespeople create meanings and intentions when interacting with their customers. I investigated the sales efforts of the chosen company through four personal in-depth interviews, which were followed by a content analysis of the transcribed material. As the basis of my analysis I selected Goleman’s (1998) EI framework, which has continued to be one of the primarily utilized EI models and is most applicable to the organizational context. The findings revealed strengths and weaknesses of the studied company’s salespeople with regard to their use of EI, as well as some differences in their interaction with new, established, and diminished customers. Strengths included the EI competences of selfconfidence, self-control, innovation, and service orientation, as well as two competences that were introduced as new additions into Goleman’s framework: enthusiasm and the desire to help. Weaknesses comprised emotional awareness, accurate self-assessment, adaptability, building bonds, and reflection, the latter of which was also suggested as a new addition into the framework in the form of an overarching umbrella competence. Other additions include the umbrella competences of authenticity and trust. Reflection and authenticity can be regarded as crucial elements that enable the objective of trustbuilding to be reached. Lastly, this research also shed light on some potential downsides that may either reside in an EI competence inherently or result from its exaggerated or inefficient utilization.
Effects of Pancreatic Islet Transplantation on the Increased Urinary Albumin Excretion Rates in Intact and Uninephrectomized Rats with Diabetes Mellitus

The effects of reduced renal mass and of islet transplantation on urinary albumin excretion (UAE) rates in diabetic rats were examined. Increased UAE rates were noted two months after the induction of streptozotocin diabetes in 100-gm. inbred Lewis rats. Over the subsequent seven months, UAE rates remained constant in controls but were increasing in diabetic rats at the end of this time. Uninephrectomized nondiabetic rats had increasing UAE with time as compared with intact controls. Uninephrectomized diabetic rats had greater UAE than their respective controls, and the magnitude of this difference increased over the nine-month period of these studies. Uninephrectomized and intact rats, diabetic for seven months, were cured of the diabetic state by neonatal pancreatic tissue administered via the portal vein. Within one month of transplantation, UAE values decreased in these animals as compared with their pretransplant values and, within two months, were no longer different from values in their respective nondiabetic controls. In contrast, untreated uninephrectomized and intact diabetic rats increased their UAE over these same two months. At two months posttransplant, glomerular mesangial thickening was decreased in transplanted uninephrectomized and intact diabetic rats when compared with their respective untreated diabetic littermates. Thus, the albuminuria of diabetes in rats is reversed by pancreatic islet transplantation. It is unclear whether this reversal is primarily due to improvement in functional or structural abnormalities in glomeruli of diabetic rats.
The structure of common mental disorders: A replication study in a community sample of adolescents and young adults

Previous research suggests that patterns of comorbidity of common mental disorders among adults are best reflected by a hierarchical three‐factor structure with two correlated factors (‘anxious‐misery’ and ‘fear’) summarized in a second‐order ‘internalizing’ factor and one ‘externalizing’ factor. This three‐factor structure has not been examined yet in a sample of adolescents and young adults.
Roles of SigB and SigF in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Sigma Factor Network

ABSTRACT To characterize the roles of SigB and SigF in sigma factor regulation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, we used chemically inducible recombinant strains to conditionally overexpress sigB and sigF. Using whole genomic microarray analysis and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, we investigated the resulting global transcriptional changes after sigB induction, and we specifically tested the relative expression of other sigma factor genes after knock-in expression of sigB and sigF. Overexpression of sigB resulted in significant upregulation of genes encoding several early culture filtrate antigens (ESAT-6-like proteins), ribosomal proteins, PE-PGRS proteins, the keto-acyl synthase, KasA, and the regulatory proteins WhiB2 and IdeR. Of note, the induction of sigB did not alter the expression of other sigma factor genes, indicating that SigB is likely to serve as an end regulator for at least one branch of the M. tuberculosis sigma factor regulatory cascade. Analysis of the 5′-untranslated region (UTR) of SigB-dependent transcripts revealed a putative consensus sequence of NGTGG-N14-18-NNGNNG. This sequence appeared upstream of both sigB (Rv2710) and the gene following it, ideR (Rv2711), and in vitro transcription analysis with recombinant SigB-reconstituted RNA polymerase confirmed SigB-dependent transcription from each of these promoters. Knock-in expression of sigF revealed that only the sigC gene was significantly upregulated 6 and 12 h after sigF induction. The previously identified SigF promoter consensus sequence AGTTTG-N15-GGGTTT was identified in the 5′ UTR of the sigC gene, and SigF-dependent in vitro transcription of the promoter upstream of sigC was confirmed by using recombinant SigF-reconstituted RNA polymerase. These two knock-in recombinant strains were tested in a macrophage model of infection which showed that overexpression of sigB and sigF resulted in reduced rates of M. tuberculosis intracellular growth. These results define the SigB promoter consensus recognition sequence and members of the SigB regulon. Moreover, the data suggest that, in addition to serving as an end regulator in a sigma factor cascade, SigB may auto-amplify its own expression under certain conditions.
Ancient maize from Chacoan great houses: Where was it grown?

In this article, we compare chemical (87Sr/86Sr and elemental) analyses of archaeological maize from dated contexts within Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, to potential agricultural sites on the periphery of the San Juan Basin. The oldest maize analyzed from Pueblo Bonito probably was grown in an area located 80 km to the west at the base of the Chuska Mountains. The youngest maize came from the San Juan or Animas river floodplains 90 km to the north. This article demonstrates that maize, a dietary staple of southwestern Native Americans, was transported over considerable distances in pre-Columbian times, a finding fundamental to understanding the organization of pre-Columbian southwestern societies. In addition, this article provides support for the hypothesis that major construction events in Chaco Canyon were made possible because maize was brought in to support extra-local labor forces.
Production of rutin from buckwheat.

Methods for the extraction and purification of rutin from either green or dried buckwheat meal are described. The best solvent and extraction time for optimum yields of rutin were determined by comparing and evaluating various solvents. For the green plant ten minutes extraction time with hot 85 per cent isopropyl alcohol is recommended. For buckwheat meal 70 to 85 per cent isopropyl alcohol, either hot or cold, is the most efficient extraction solvent for rutin.
Hospital Adoption of Information Technologies and Improved Patient Safety: A Study of 98 Hospitals in Florida

Most of the studies linking the use of information technology (IT) to improved patient safety have been conducted in academic medical centers or have focused on a single institution or IT application. Our study explored the relationship between overall IT adoption and patient safety performance across hospitals in Florida. Primary data on hospital IT adoption were combined with secondary hospital discharge data. Regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between measures of IT adoption and the Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. We found that eight PSIs were related to at least one measure of IT adoption. Compared with administrative IT adoption, clinical IT adoption was related to more patient safety outcome measures. Hospitals with the most sophisticated and mature IT infrastructures performed significantly better on the largest number of PSIs. Adoption of IT is associated with desirable performance on many important measures of hospital patient safety. Hospital leaders and other decision makers who are examining IT systems should consider the impact of IT on patient safety.
A NUTRIÇÃO ESPORTIVA NO CURSO DE EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA: VERIFICAÇÃO SOBRE O CONHECIMENTO DOS ACADÊMICOS

Esta pesquisa teve o objetivo de verificar o nivel de conhecimento sobre nutricao esportiva de academicos concluintes do curso de Educacao Fisica da Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros. A pesquisa e descritiva, quantitativa, de natureza exploratoria. Participaram 40 academicos, de ambos os sexos, dos turnos diurno e noturno. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comite de Etica da Unimontes atraves do Parecer No 714/2007. Os resultados evidenciaram porcentagem de acertos de: Q1-57%; Q2-95.5%; Q3-92.5%; Q4-82.6%; Q5-65%; Q6-85%; Q7-47.5%; Q8-72.5%; Q9-95%; Q10-52,5%; Q11-32.5%; Q12-65%; Q13-52.5%; Q14-72.5%. O nivel de conhecimento acerca da nutricao desportiva apresentado pelos concluintes e insuficiente em alguns aspectos considerados. Somente em tres questoes foi demonstrado saber bem consolidado acerca do tema. Alem disso, na analise dos conhecimentos por sexo, as mulheres mostraram estar mais bem preparadas do que os homens. O turno noturno obteve uma media superior em relacao aos academicos que cursam o turno diurno.
Therapeutics in Alzheimer ' s and Prion Diseases

There is increasing recognition that numerous neurodegenerative conditions have the same underlying pathogenetic mechanism, namely a change in protein conformation, where the P-sheet content is increased. In Alzheimer's disease, amyloid deposition in the form of neuritic plaques and congophilic angiopathy is driven by the conversion of normal soluble amyloid-l) peptide (SAP) to AP plaques; while in the prionoses the critical event is the conversion of normal prion protein, PrP', to the disease-associated form, PrPsr. This common theme in the pathogenesis of these disorders and the extracellular localization of the accumulating abnormal protein make them highly amenable to therapeutic approaches based on experimental manipulation of protein conformation and clearance. A number of different approaches under current development include drugs which affect the processing of the precursor proteins drugs the clearance of the amyloidogenic protein, and which inhibit or prevent the conformation change and immunological approaches. Particularly interesting are compounds termed 'P-sheet breakers' that directly target the abnormal conformational change both for APand PrPs"-related deposits. In addition, immune system activation can serve as P-sheet breakers and/or to increase the clearance of the disease
Full W -band Waveguide-to-microstrip Transition With New E-plane Probe

A design for waveguide-to-microstrip transitions at millimeter-wave frequencies is proposed in this letter. It features two major transformations in sequence. An E -plane probe is chosen to conduct the transformation from waveguide to a suspended line. Then, a transitional pattern on the printed circuit board is employed to transform the suspended line into a shielded microstrip line. To complete the design, a metallic buffer is introduced for the transformation between the shielded microstrip line and a microstrip line. A proposed transition at W-band is presented based on the results from numerical simulations. Two of the transitions in back-to-back connection are measured for the purpose of verification. The results show that the proposed waveguide-to-microstrip transition can offer the advantages of low insertion loss, good return loss, broadband nature, and stable performance at millimeter-wave frequencies.
Anatomy and Physiology of Cervical Ripening

The uterine cervix is a unique organ composed predominately of the extracellular matrix proteins, collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans. During pregnancy and labor, this organ is metabolically active, which is rare in adult tissue. The metabolism is under reproductive hormonal control and is more complex than previously appreciated. Smooth muscle cells, which comprise 10-15% of cervical tissue, undergo programmed cell death and play a role in cervical softening. Apoptosis is a genetically timed event and could explain the species-specific length of gestation. Further research in the next several years will reveal more completely the exciting process of cervical ripening. Only when this phenomenon is understood will rational therapy for preterm labor and post-term pregnancy with an unripe cervix be available. Specific defects in cervical ripening will then be diagnosed and treated. For example, if apoptosis is shown to play an important role in the process of cervical ripening, it could be inhibited. Conversely, it could be induced in the unripe cervix. If we would look for it, we would find that it is probably occurring today in the clinical use of cervical ripening agents. The most important contributor to cervical softening, however, is a rearrangement and realignment of the collagen, elastin, and smooth muscle cells, which occurs due to mechanical forces and to a rearrangement of the collagen that occurs as the content of glycosaminoglycans varies in the cervix with time. One form of dermatan sulfate, decorin, may help to separate the collagen fibrils and then open them up. This rearrangement also involves fiber shortening below the critical length for tensile strength, allowing for extensibility of the cervix. Because of its orientation in the cervix, elastin contributes to the ratchet-like mechanism of dilatation. Finally, the cervix undergoes change in two phases--softening, which involves collagen realignment, and dilatation. The proteolytic enzymes in the cervix degrade cross-linked, newly synthesized collagen, and they help activate other enzymes in a cascade. However, the predominate anatomic and physiologic change in ripening is the rearrangement of collagen.
Cross-Validation of a Model Predicting Discharge Home after Stroke Rehabilitation

A new sample of 116 stroke patients was collected in order to validate a logistic regression model, predicting the chances of severely affected stroke patients being discharged home to independent living. The model was found to be accurate in the new sample, especially for those patients who had a high estimated probability of being discharged home. When the dividing line for the predicted probability for discharge home was set at a value of ≥0.5, the positive and negative predictive values were 74 and 73%, respectively. Further modelling resulted in a new extended model including the variables postural stability on admission, cohabiting, age and perceptual impairment on admission that formed the basis for an index predicting discharge home. This index was then validated in the sample of 93 patients that the first developed model was derived from and showed positive and negative predictive values of 85 and 77%, respectively.
Cox multivariate regression models for estimating prognosis of patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus who underwent thorough surgical staging

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) adopted surgical staging criteria in 1988. Many studies have shown that histologic grade, nuclear grade, lymph‐vascular space invasion and cell type are also important predictors of survival. It has not been clarified, however, how to integrate these histopathologic variables into the process of estimating individual prognosis. We performed Cox multivariate regression analysis to create models that incorporate various histopathologic factors for estimating the prognoses of patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus. Our study was based on data from 206 patients who underwent complete surgical staging, including systematic pelvic and para‐aortic lymph node dissection. Two models resulted: one included depth of myometrial invasion, para‐aortic node metastasis and the number of sites involved by the tumor among the cervix, ovary and pelvic lymph nodes (which we designated as extracorporeal spread score, ECS) and the other incorporated nuclear grade and lymph‐vascular space invasion as variables. These 2 models enabled the prognosis for patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma to be stratified into several levels according to hazard ratio. Comprehensive integration of the histopathologic prognostic factors, categorized into those relating to tumor extent and those relating to tumor virulence, should facilitate the estimation of individual prognosis more accurately than FIGO staging alone. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 79:521–525, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A simulation tool for ad hoc low voltage DC grids with decentralized control

This paper presents a simulation tool for ad hoc low voltage dc grids operating with decentralized control. With increasing interest in such grids, researchers require a tool with which they can explore aspects such as scalability and control techniques of these grids. A new tool has been developed in MATLAB which meets two goals: (1) non-graphical construction through netlists, and (2) scripted control laws. The tool uses simple circuit models where sources are modelled as current sources. The tool also incorporates time profiles for varying sources and loads. Various test cases are used to demonstrate the tool which is also verified against physical experiments.
Dissecting the obesity disease landscape: Identifying gene-gene interactions that are highly associated with body mass index

Despite heritability estimates of 40-70% for obesity, less than 2% of its variation is explained by Body Mass Index (BMI) associated loci that have been identified so far. Epistasis, or gene-gene interactions are a plausible source to explain portions of the missing heritability of BMI. Using genotypic data from 18,686 individuals across five study cohorts - ARIC, CARDIA, FHS, CHS, MESA - we filtered SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) using two parallel approaches. SNPs were filtered either on the strength of their main effects of association with BMI, or on the number of knowledge sources supporting a specific SNP-SNP interaction in the context of obesity. Filtered SNPs were specifically analyzed for interactions that are highly associated with BMI using QMDR (Quantitative Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction). QMDR is a nonparametric, genetic model-free method that detects nonlinear interactions in the context of a quantitative trait. We identified seven novel, epistatic models with a Bonferroni corrected p-value of association <; 0.06. Prior experimental evidence helps explain the plausible biological interactions highlighted within our results and their relationship with obesity. We identified interactions between genes involved in mitochondrial dysfunction (POLG2), cholesterol metabolism (SOAT2), lipid metabolism (CYP11B2), cell adhesion (EZR), cell proliferation (MAP2K5), and insulin resistance (IGF1R). This study highlights a novel approach for discovering gene-gene interactions by combining methods such as QMDR with traditional statistics.