Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of Three β Lactamase Test Methods in Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Two Nepalese Hospitals

Background: β lactamase is a plasmid-encoded enzyme that hydrolyzes β lactam ring of β lactam antibiotics rendering them ineffective. These enzymes, produced by Staphylococcus aureus along with many other organisms, have hindered the use of many useful and once life-saving β lactam antibiotics from clinical practice. Methods: This study was aimed to compare three test methods-chromogenic, acidimetric and iodometric-for the detection of β lactamase enzyme produced by 404 nosocomial induced S. aureus isolated from two Nepali hospitals, Kathmandu based hospital (KBH) and Lalitpur based Hospital (LBH). The study was carried out following standard methodology during November 2007 to June 2009 in the Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal. Sensitivity, specificity, efficiency, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values of the tests were calculated taking penicillin resistance and sensitivity as the standard. Results: Chromogenic method was found to be the most sensitive (98.93%) and efficient (98.51%) test and had a high positive predictive value (99.46%). Sensitivity (98.4%) and efficiency (98.27%) of iodometric method was found to be comparable to chromogenic test; its specificity (96.55 %) and positive predictive value (99.73%) were the highest among the 3 tests. Acidimetric test was the least sensitive (97.33%) and efficient (96.78%). Of note, the sensitivity and specificity of these test methods have been compromised due to the negativity of few penicillin resistant isolates and positivity of some penicillin sensitive isolates, respectively. Conclusion: Chromogenic method was found comparatively to be the best test method for the detection of β lactamase production. However, in contrast to the other two test methods whose reagents can be locally and economically prepared, chromogenic test’s use has been impeded by its cost and unavailability in the local Nepali market.
PrP Deposition, Microglial Activation, and Neuronal Apoptosis in Murine Scrapie

The present study investigated the relationship among PrP deposition, microglial activation, vacuolation, and neuronal death in the hippocampus of the 301V/VM murine scrapie model (mean incubation period 117 +/- 1 days). PrP deposition was first detected after 30 days and microglial activation after 60 days. Vacuolation in the CA1 and CA2 pyramidal layer was present from 90 days onward. Only occasional in situ end labeling (ISEL)-positive neurons were present in the hippocampus of scrapie-infected mice from 75 days postinoculation (d.p.i.), except at 105 d.p.i. when relatively large numbers of apoptotic, ISEL-positive neurons in the CA1 hippocampal region were observed. Terminally ill animals showed almost complete loss of CA1 pyramidal neurons. Electron microscopy of the CA1 region at 105 days confirmed that these neurons were dying by apoptosis. These data suggest that microglial activation in scrapie is a response to abnormal PrP deposition rather than a response to neuronal cell loss.
Sliding hiatus hernia with reflux oesophagitis in two dogs.

Vo cases of sliding hiatus hernia with gastro-oesophageal reflux and oesophagitis the dog are described. The diagnosis was based on fluoroscopic examination d confirmed by oesophagoscopy. In both cases corrective surgery was attempted. Resume. On decrit deux cas d'hernie glissante de l'hiatus chez le chien, avec reflux gastroe sophagien et oesophagite. On a base le diagnostic sur un examen fluoroscopique et on en a donne confirmation par oesophagoscopie—Dans les deux cas on a tente la chirurgie corrective. Zusammenfassung. Zwei Falle von Hiatusgleitbruch mit Magenspeiserohren Reflux und Speiserohrenentzundung in Hunden wurden beschrieben. Die Diagnose wurde anhand einer Rontgenuntersuchung gestellt und durch Speiserohrenbetrachtung befestigt. In beiden Fallen wurde korrigierende Chirurgie versucht.
Ultrastructural observations on the redial tegument of Paramphistomum epiclitum from the planorbid snail, Indoplanorbis exustus

ABSTRACT The morphology of the tegument in the redia of Paramphistomum epiclitum (Digenea: Paramphistomidae) resembles that shown by most larval and adult digeneans; an outer surface syncytium is in continuity with the cytoplasm of in-sunken, nucleated cytons. Although tegumental cytons usually contain a single nucleus, some display up to six nuclei. The tegumental syncytium lining the pharynx of P. epiclitum rediae lack underlying cytons. The apical membrane of the tegument is elaborated by folds and microvilli, which presumably facilitate uptake of nutrients and/or exchange of ions involved in osmoregulation. A single type of secretory body, resulting from the fusion of smaller vesicles produced at Golgi complexes in the cytons, occurs throughout the tegument. Uniciliate sensory receptors occur in the surface syncytium particularly around the oral opening.
Preserving invariance properties of reaction–diffusion systems on stationary surfaces

We propose and analyse a lumped surface finite element method for the numerical approximation of reaction–diffusion systems on stationary compact surfaces in R3. The proposed method preserves the invariant regions of the continuous problem under discretization and, in the special case of scalar equations, it preserves the maximum principle. On the application of a fully discrete scheme using the implicit–explicit Euler method in time, we prove that invariant regions of the continuous problem are preserved (i) at the spatially discrete level with no restriction on the meshsize and (ii) at the fully discrete level under a timestep restriction. We further prove optimal error bounds for the semidiscrete and fully discrete methods, that is, the convergence rates are quadratic in the meshsize and linear in the timestep. Numerical experiments are provided to support the theoretical findings. We provide examples in which, in the absence of lumping, the numerical solution violates the invariant region leading to blow-up.
USES AND ABUSES OF ANTIPARKINSONIAN MEDICATION.

The antiparkinsonian medication of 30 mental hospital patients was suddenly removed. Half the patients were then placed on placebo. During the ensuing month they did not manifest any significant change in extrapyramidal symptomatology. The other half of the patients received no replacement and during the ensuing month their extrapyramidal symptoms became significantly worse (p≤.02) than during the pretrial period. In other words, it was not the withdrawal of the actual antiparkinsonian compound, but the withdrawal of the factor of non-specific psychological treatment which brought about an increase of parkinsonian manifestations. It should be added that one-third of those who received no replacement whatsoever showed no increase of parkinsonian manifestations. These results would imply that potentially toxic antiparkinsonian medication was unnecessary in the vast majority of patients, although two-thirds would require some sort of non-specific psychological treatment to keep their symptoms in check.
A hybrid connector for efficient web servers

In this paper we introduce a novel web server architecture that combines the best aspects of both the multithreaded and the event-driven architectures, the two major existing alternatives, to create a server model that offers an improved performance in terms of user session completions without losing the natural ease of programming characteristic of the multithreading paradigm. We describe the implementation of this architecture on the Tomcat 5.5 server and evaluate its performance. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility of the hybrid architecture and the performance benefits that this model introduces for e-commerce applications.
TEACHER’S JOB SATISFACTION AND SELF- EFFICACY: A REVIEW

The main aim of the present study is to provide a clear picture and investigate the relation between job satisfaction and self-efficacy experienced by general employees and teachers, as it rises through literature review. There seems to be no consensus about how job satisfaction should be defined, as the definition depends on the research subject and on each individual’s priorities. During the past decades, many different theories and models of job satisfaction have been developed. In addition, different factors that are likely to have an influence on job satisfaction have been distinguished, as well as several consequences emerging from job satisfaction. In addition, the concept of self-efficacy has been defined in many different ways. In general, an educator is conceived as one of the most important persons responsible for shaping a nations’ future. The review shows that schools must pay more attention to improving teacher’s job satisfaction and self-efficacy, investigating and enhancing those factors which promote teachers’ job satisfaction and personal efficacy. Moreover, the current review provides information about instruments to measure teacher’s job satisfaction and self-efficacy. The review shows that different factors of teachers’ job satisfaction are related and have a positive influence on different factors of teachers’ efficacy. Implications and suggestions for future empirical research of findings are drawn as well.
Macrophage-lymphocyte interaction in the antigen-induced blastogenic response of human peripheral blood leukocytes.

Glass bead column purified lymphocyte suspensions have reduced blastogenic responses to antigen when compared to unseparated leukocyte suspensions in vitro. Culture of these purified lymphocytes on macrophage monolayers generally restored the cells response to antigen. The response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was unaffected by column purification. The antigens used were streptolysin O (SLO), streptokinase-streptodornase (SK-SD), purified protein derivative (PPD) and small pox vaccine (POX). The response of the unseparated leukocytes, separated lymphocytes and separated lymphocytes on monolayers were 76%, 74% and 74% blasts generated in response to PHA; 18%, 0.0% and 10.0% blasts generated in response to SLO; 14.0%, 0.5% and 8.5% in response to SK-SD; 6%, 0% and 6% in response to PPD; and 7.5%, 0% and 1% in response to POX. The response of separated and unseparated cells to antigen but not to PHA was found to be dependent on the density of cells in culture. For Leighton tubes the optimal cell concentrations were 3 to 4 × 106 lymphocytes and 0.2 to 0.6 × 106 macrophages per culture. Separation of the lymphocytes and macrophages by a semi-permeable membrane prevented the restoration of blastogenesis. These results are consistent with the view that macrophage uptake of antigen and macrophage-lymphocyte interaction are necessary for the blastogenic response of lymphocytes to antigen in vitro.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ANTIBIOTIC ACTIVITY IN THE CHLORAMPHENICOL SERIES. PART II *

IN Part P an attempt was made to define broadly the structural features associated with antibiotic activity in the chloramphenicol series. Since then additional studies have been carried out in this and other laboratories which permit further elaboration of the concepts developed in the earlier publication. The present investigation is concerned largely with the preparation of some analogues of chloramphenicol (I) in which the hydrogen atoms marked a, b and c are replaced by methyl groups. Interpretation of the results obtained is included in the discussion. Experiments on the synthesis of 3-methylchloramphenicol (V ; R = -CHCl,; R’ = -Me) in which Ha of (I) is replaced by Me, have been recorded by Rebstock? who obtained a compound of unknown configuration, hereafter termed the “a”-isomer, by reduction of isonitrosobenzoylacetone, followed by nitration and dichloroacetylation of the resulting amino-alcohol. The asymmetric configuration of the structural type (V), however, provides for the existence of 4 pairs of enantiomorphs, of which 2 pairs may be regarded as derived from erythroand two from threo-2-acetamido1-p-nitrophenylpropane1 : 3-diol. We have, therefore, carried out experiments in order to prepare further compounds of this type.
Remineralization potential of fluoride and amorphous calcium phosphate-casein phospho peptide on enamel lesions: An in vitro comparative evaluation

Aim: This in vitro study was conducted on enamel blocks of human premolars with the aim of evaluating the remineralization potential of fluoride and ACP-CPP and the combination of ACP-CPP and fluoride on early enamel lesions. Materials and Methods: Fifteen intact carious free human premolars were selected. The coronal part of each tooth was sectioned into four parts to make 4 enamel blocks. The baseline SMH (surface microhardness) was measured for all the enamel specimens using Vickers microhardness (VHN) testing machine. Artificial enamel carious lesions were created by inserting the specimens in demineralization solution for 3 consecutive days. The SMH of the demineralised specimens was evaluated. Then the four enamel sections of each tooth were subjected to various surface treatments, i.e. Group 1- Fluoride varnish, Group 2- ACP-CPP cream, Group 3- Fluoride + ACP-CPP & Group 4- Control (No surface treatment). A caries progression test (pH cycling) was carried out, which consisted of alternative demineralization (3hours) and remineralization with artificial saliva (21 hours) for five consecutive days. After pH cycling again SMH of each specimen was assessed to evaluate the remineralization potential of each surface treatment agent. Then, to asses the remineralization potential of various surface treatments at the subsurface level, each enamel specimen was longitudinally sectioned through the centre to expose the subsurface enamel area. Cross-sectional microhardness (CSMH) was evaluated to assess any subsurface remineralization Results: Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA followed by multiple comparisons test was applied to detect significant differences at P ≤ 0.05 levels between various surface treatments at different phases. Conclusions: With in the limits, the present study concludes that; ACP-CPP cream is effective, but to a lesser extent than fluoride in remineralizing early enamel caries at surface level. Combination of fluoride and ACP-CPP does not provide any additive remineralization potential compared to fluoride alone. Fluoride, ACP-CPP and their combination are not effective in remineralizing the early enamel caries at the subsurface level.
Correlates of change in adults' television viewing time: a four-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE Adults tend to increase their television (TV) viewing time as they age, but little is known about attributes associated with change in TV viewing over time. This study examined individual, social, and environmental correlates of change in TV viewing time for 4 yr. METHODS Adult participants (n = 897) from a longitudinal epidemiological study in Adelaide, Australia, reported TV viewing time at baseline (2003-2004) and at follow- up (2007-2008). Generalized linear modeling was used to examine correlates of change in TV viewing time. RESULTS The mean TV viewing time increased from 112 to 116 min·d(-1) from baseline to follow-up. Adjusted for TV viewing time at baseline, having a tertiary education was associated with a 13% lower TV time at follow-up (P = 0.007). Each additional hour of occupational and transport physical activity at baseline was associated with a 2% and 7% lower TV viewing at follow-up (P = 0.031 and P = 0.023, respectively). For men, an additional hour of domestic physical activity was associated with a 7% higher TV viewing time at follow-up (P = 0.006). A significant neighborhood walkability × working status interaction (P = 0.035) indicated that, for those who were not working, living in a highly walkable neighborhood was associated with a 23% lower TV viewing time at follow-up (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Adults with lower educational attainment, adults with lower occupational and transport physical activity, men with higher domestic physical activity, and nonworking adults living in lowly walkable neighborhoods were at higher risk of increase in TV viewing time. Interventions should target multiple variables at the individual, social, and environmental levels to address age-related increases in TV viewing time.
Physico-chemical assessment of commercial honey from EDO state, Nigeria

In this study, fifteen honey samples obtained from different sources within Edo State, Nigeria were evaluated for physico-chemical authenticity. Physicochemical properties such as pH, colour, acidity, ash content, moisture content, electrical conductivity, refractive index, total sugar concentration, hydroxymethylfurfuraldehyde (HMF) and viscosity were examined according to the official methods of AOAC and harmonized methods of the European Honey Commission. Results of physico-chemical properties shows that the studied parameters were within recommended limits with the exception of moisture and HMF contents which recorded values beyond the maximum recommended limits for some of the studied samples. Moisture content ranged between 15.40±0.02 to 24.96±0.02 while the values observed for HMF contents were within the range of 1.99±0.43 to 71.73±0.78mg/kg.
Lupus Anticoagulant, Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Migraine

ABSTRACT: The records of fifteen patients referred for neurological assessment and found to have lupus anticoagulant or elevated anticardiolipin antibodies were reviewed. The mean age for females in the group was 29.4 years and for males was 35. A diagnosis of migraine, either as an acute or chronic problem, was made in 10 (66%) of these patients. Seven of the 15 patients had ischemic stroke and two patients had other thrombotic complications associated with lupus anticoagulant. Three of the nine female patients with migraine had histories of spontaneous abortions. All migraine patients experienced transient or more prolonged neurological deficits with their headaches. An association between lupus anticoagulant and migraine can only be suggested. Data on the incidence of migraine in patients with lupus anticoagulant in the general medical population does not exist. Furthermore the prevalence of lupus anticoagulant in migraine sufferers is unknown. Therefore further studies are required to investigate this possible association.
Metals distributions in activated sludge systems

Despite extensive laboratory and field studies over the past 25 years, little advance has been made in prediction of metals distribution and removal in activated sludge treatment systems. This paper reports the results of carefully controlled pilot studies, from which empirical metals distribution models were developed. The models accurately predict the distribution of process stream metals at each point in the activated sludge process between the soluble and solids phases. The distribution models together with data on primary and secondary clarifier suspended solids removal efficiencies, are easily applied to predict the removals of influent metals in activated sludge systems. 36 references, 2 figures.
Measuring Effectiveness of a College-Level Environmental Earth-Science Course by Changes in Commitment to Environmental Issues.

A scale for measuring commitment to environmental issues was developed to test the effectiveness of an environmental earth-science course in bringing about an increase in commitment. The elements of the sequential commitment scale are: awareness of, concern for, establishing a position on, and taking action on environmental issues. Using correlated (pre-course and post-course) t-test analyses, one can determine if significant changes took place over the period of time of the course in question. In my course, there was an apparent significant increase in the commitment level when the whole suite of issues was analyzed, and there was a significant increase in the commitment level on ten of fourteen individual issues.
Epidemiology and regional variations in cardiovascular disease and risk factors in India

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are important cause of morbidity and morbidity in India. Mortality statistics and morbidity surveys indicate substantial regional variation in CVD mortality rates and prevalence. Data from Registrar General of India has reported greater age-adjusted cardiovascular mortality in Southern and Eastern states of the country. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) mortality is greater in South India while stroke is more in the eastern Indian states. CHD prevalence is more in urban Indian populations while stroke mortality is greater in rural regions. Case-control studies in India have identified that standard major risk factors explain more than 90% incident myocardial infarctions (MI) and stroke. INTERHEART and INTERSTROKE studies reported that hypertension, lipid abnormalities, smoking, obesity, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, low fruits and vegetables intake and psychosocial stress are as important in India as in other populations of the world. Individual studies have reported that there are substantial regional variations in risk factors in India. At a macro-level these regional variations in risk factors explain some of the regional differences in CVD mortality. However, there is need to study prevalence of multiple CVD risk factors in different regions of India and to correlate them with variations in CVD mortality using common protocol. There is also a need to determine the “causes of the causes” or primordial determinants of these risk factors. n
Phylogenetic lineages of tuberculosis isolates in New Zealand and their association with patient demographics.

SETTING In New Zealand, the lineage genotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates and their role in the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) are currently unknown. OBJECTIVE 1) To measure the relative frequency of each phylogenetic lineage of the M. tuberculosis complex in New Zealand, and 2) to examine its relationship with patient demographics and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). METHODS All non-duplicate M. tuberculosis complex isolates recovered in 2010 and 2011 underwent large sequence polymorphism and/or single nucleotide polymorphism analyses. Mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRU) profiling was also performed for cluster identification. RESULTS New Zealand isolates were dominated by lineage 4 (Euro-American: 37.8%, 95%CI 33.6-42.2), followed by lineage 1 (Indo-Oceanic: 22.6%, 95%CI 19.1-26.5), lineage 2 (East Asian: 19.5%, 95%CI 16.2-23.3) and lineage 3 (East-African Indian, which included Central Asian: 17.7%, 95%CI 14.5-21.3). Lineage 2 accounted for 58.1% of MDR-TB cases from 2002 to 2011. Among immigrants, the predominant lineages corresponded to high prevalence lineages in the country of origin. In New Zealand-born individuals, Māori and NZ Europeans share the same predominant lineage, lineage 4, with a higher proportion of non-unique MIRU types observed in Māori cases. Lineage 3 was more prevalent in Māori than in NZ Europeans. CONCLUSION In New Zealand, M. tuberculosis complex phylogenetic lineage is associated with TB epidemiology in terms of ethnicity, country of origin and MDR-TB.
Preserving Abstraction in Concurrent Programming

Recent programming languages have attempted to provide support for concurrency and for modular programming based on abstract interfaces. Building on experience of adding monitors to CLU, a language oriented towards data abstraction, it is explained how these two goals conflict. In particular, the clash between conventional views on interface abstraction and the programming style required for avoiding monitor deadlock is discussed. It is argued that the best compromise between these goals is a combination of a fine-grain locking mechanism together with a method for explicitly defining concurrency properties for selected interfaces. >